Shark Scoop
December 2024
Dear Naples Park Families,
December has arrived at Naples Park Elementary School. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and break. This month is once again filled with academic opportunities to shine, and a lot of fun in learning.
Academically, all grade levels will show off their reading success with our second iReady Diagnostic assessments. These assessments help us see how our students are learning and how we are teaching. We are then able to tailor their learning moving forward to each student’s individual needs. It is important that each student tries their best to ensure our results are accurate, and any support from home, helping your child prepare for these assessments would be appreciated.
NPE’s annual Winter Wonderland/Breakfast with Santa leads the fun in learning events, coming up on Saturday, December 7th from 8am – 12pm. Our amazing PTO, staff and of course Dewey the NPE Elf, has transformed the school into a true Winter Wonderland in preparation for this celebration. I hope to see you here to enjoy the Magic of the Season, Shark style! We also have our upcoming annual Field Day on December 19th. Our Winter Break will begin on December 23rd, and we will welcome students back to campus on Monday, January 6th. I hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable Holiday Season.
As always, it is good to be at Naples Park Elementary School…Home of the Sharks.
Stephanie Jonas
Principal
Hello Amazing Families,
We will conduct our second round of testing (mid-year) in December and January. The two assessments students will be taking are the i-Ready Diagnostic 2 Assessment and the FAST State Assessment (PM2). Naples Park Elementary will observe a closed campus on state and district testing days. Visitors and Volunteers will not be able to visit on these dates. This includes visiting your child for lunch. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.
Dates for Closed Campus: December 9th and 10th: January 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd.
Testing Schedule
- December 9th: Kindergarten, 2nd and 5th Grade i-Ready
- December 10th: 1st, 3rd and 4th Grade i-Ready
- January 15th: 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade FAST Reading
- January 16th: KG, 1st and 2nd Grade FAST Reading
- January 22nd: KG, 1st and 2nd Grade FAST Math
- January 23rd: 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade FAST Math
On Testing Days:
1. Make sure your child is on time for school. They should be well rested and have eaten a good breakfast or arrive with time to eat breakfast at school. Testing starts promptly at 8:30am.
2. If your child is feeling ill, please keep him/her home.
3. It is important that all students be at school all day. Please avoid doctors appointments and picking up your child early on these days.
See below for attached Testing Parent Letters.
Thank you and as always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Mrs. Summers
239-377-7702
- December 3rd- PTO Meeting 5:30PM
- December 5th- Q2 Interims Published and Sent Home
- December 6th- Science Assembly
- December 7th- Winter Wonderland
- December 19th- Field Day
- December 20th- Polar Express/Holiday Celebrations
- December 23- January 5th- School Closed- Winter Break
- January 6th- Students and Staff Return
You will login to the CCPS Portal to access FOCUS to review and update your child's emergency and health information for the current school year. Directions to access forms are below and you can get to the CCPS Portal by clicking on this link: https://origin.collierschools.com/app/Portal
Holiday Field Day Fun
Let’s celebrate the upcoming Holidays and Winter break with some physical activity and fun games. On Thursday, December 19th NPE will be having our annual Winter Holiday Field Day. Field Day 2024 plans to be one of the best P.E. days of the school year! Students, please wear activity type clothing, tennis/athletic shoes (Please No Crocs or Sandals) and bring a water bottle so you can participate safely and have loads of fun!
Happy Holidays from your Related Arts Teams!!!
The Café staff wishes you all a very Blessed Holiday Season and a Happy Healthy New Year!
December 19th is our WINTER CELEBRATION! We will be serving sliced turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and fresh green beans with a special holiday dessert! Regular pricing applies.
Should your Shark require a special dietary need, please contact me or Nurse Angela. The system must be marked accordingly to avoid any errors in service.
Lactose free milk is available daily.
January 30th we will celebrate the Luna New Year with a special menu – look for details in the January newsletter.
FUN FACT:
Santa’s sleigh is the fastest vehicle ever! On Christmas Eve, Santa has to travel around the world to deliver presents to all the children on the nice list. There about 2.5 billion children in the world – so Santa’s sleigh has to move at a speed of around 1,800 miles per second, wow!
Why are there 9 lights on a menorah?
As the story goes, one day's worth of oil miraculously lasted for eight days. That's why the Hanukkah menorah has nine candles: one for each of the eight days, and one to light the rest.
Hello Families!
As we continue to "swim" through the school year, it's important to highlight one area that has a lasting impact is learning about money. Understanding money helps students connect math to real-life situations, making it a fun and practical way to build foundational skills.
For our younger learners (K-2), recognizing coins, understanding their values, and practicing simple counting are key skills that support early numeracy. As students progress (3-5), they start to use money to solve problems involving addition, subtraction, and even multiplication and division. Whether they’re making change, budgeting for a small purchase, or learning to make comparisons, these skills will serve them well throughout their lives. As we enter the holiday season, I encourage you to involve your students in shopping and budgeting to continue familiarizing themselves with coin & dollar values as well as addition and subtracting when making change.
Dear Parents and Families,
The holiday season is upon us, and it's a wonderful time to come together and celebrate the joy of reading with our children! Whether you're curled up on the couch with a good book or making memories with family, the magic of this season offers so many opportunities to foster a lifelong love of reading in your children.
Cozy Reading Time: Make Reading Part of Your Holiday Traditions
As parents, you play a crucial role in nurturing your child's reading skills. Here are some ideas to make reading a special part of your family's celebrations:
- Create a "Holiday Reading Nook": Designate a cozy space in your home for reading. You can fill it with festive decorations, comfy pillows, and a basket of holiday-themed books. Encourage your child to spend time in their reading nook each day.
- Book Advent Calendar: Countdown to Christmas with a book advent calendar. Wrap up 24 books (holiday-themed or otherwise) and open one each day. This makes reading a fun, daily tradition and exposes children to a variety of stories and genres.
- Create a Holiday Writing Project: Help your child write letters to family members or create a holiday wish list. Writing reinforces reading skills and provides an authentic way for your child to practice writing in a fun, festive way.
- Limit Screen Time: While technology is an important part of our world, balancing screen time with reading is key. Consider turning off the TV or setting aside devices for a certain period each day to encourage family reading time instead.
Celebrating the Joy of Reading with Fun Activities
Reading doesn’t have to be limited to books! Here are some festive and creative ways to make reading fun during the holidays:
- Holiday Story Crafts: After reading a holiday story, do a simple craft related to the book. For example, after reading The Polar Express, children can make their own train out of cardboard or create a snowman to complement the story.
- Make a Family Storybook: Have each family member contribute a page to a holiday story, whether it's about your own holiday traditions or an imaginative adventure. Bind the pages together and read your family storybook aloud.
- Holiday Book Swap: Invite friends or neighbors to participate in a holiday book swap. Each child can pick out one gently used book to exchange, offering them a new (to them) book to enjoy over the break.
- Sing Christmas Carols with a Twist: Choose holiday songs that tell stories, like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" or "Frosty the Snowman." Encourage your child to sing along and discuss the characters and plot of the song.
Reflecting on the Power of Reading
As we reflect on the season of giving, it's a perfect time to consider the gift of reading. By sharing stories, we connect with our children in meaningful ways and help them develop skills that will last a lifetime. Your involvement in their literacy journey is invaluable, and your encouragement can ignite a passion for reading that extends far beyond the holiday season.
Thank you for all that you do to support your child's education and love of learning. Wishing you and your family a joyful, peaceful holiday season filled with good books, great stories, and memorable moments.
Plan ahead! It is important that students are at school, on time, every day! Every moment of learning is important to your child’s development and progress.
*Please note- If your child is absent for any reason, please call the front office at 377-7700 to let us know why your child is absent so we can properly notate that. In addition, all absences are unexcused unless a doctor’s note is provided. Per Florida Statute (1003.26(1)(b), students with 5 unexcused [or validated] absences within a calendar month, or 15 unexcused [or validated] within a 90 day period are considered truant and an attendance meeting may be scheduled with the school and district personnel.
🎄✨ Looking for a way to spread some cheer?
Check out the Staff Favorites list this year! 🎁🎅
Head to https://www.collierschools.com/domain/492 to find their fave things,
From coffee to candles to classroom bling! 🎀☕
Choose the grade and under the names, you’ll see the Staff Favorites link,
Check out their favorite gifts – it’s easier than you think! 🎄☕
Give a gift that's sure to delight,
And make their holidays merry and bright! 🎄❤️
Stay connected with all the latest PTO updates! 📬 Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved in our school community. Don’t miss out—subscribe today! 🎉
📩 Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4ZQh96DlmeXPNqIPYXbgDthvYAfUdsUzqq44DK7lTOFpUjg/viewform
For questions, email us at ptonaplespark@gmail.com.
1. All volunteers, new and returning must reapply every year.
- Apply to volunteer by clicking "Apply to Volunteer” - https://www.collierschools.com/volunteer
2. Please come to our front office to complete the registration process once school starts.
- Please bring a valid US-issued photo identification which will complete your background check
- Please visit our front office from 8:30am–10:00am or by appointment
3. If you have any questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Mrs. Serrano.
- Laura Serrano- serral1@collierschools.com, 377-7710
Naples Park Elementary
