Mission: To provide a safe and supportive learning community where every student experiences success.

Vision: We believe that the most promising strategy for achieving the mission of Cape Elementary is to develop our capacity to function as a professional learning community.

Dear Cape Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to be fully immersed in a year of learning and growth here at Cape Elementary School! As we approach the end of the first quarter, it’s been a true joy to watch our students excel and accomplish so much in such a short time.

Be sure to check out our October calendar in this newsletter, your child's planner, or on our website for all the exciting events and important school closures happening this month.

Report cards will be posted in FOCUS on Tuesday, October 15th. Hard copies will not be sent home but if needed you may request one. Please take time to review it with your child.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and our school counselor, Ms. Boeck, has planned several valuable lessons and events to help our Cape students build a kind and inclusive school culture. We encourage you to talk with your children about what they're learning in school and how we can all work together to prevent bullying.

Mark your calendars for Cape’s Annual Trunk or Treat event! Join us on Friday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of fun as we celebrate fall together with our Cape families. We are currently recruiting families to decorate their trunks and looking for donations of candy to make this event special. If you're interested in decorating a trunk, please email Ms. Osterholm at NicoleDO@leeschools.net. If you are interested in donating candy, you can drop it off in the front office.

We want to ensure all our students start their day with a nutritious breakfast. Breakfast is served from 7:25 to 7:45 AM each morning. Please make sure your child arrives before 7:45 if they plan to eat breakfast at school, so they have plenty of time to eat and prepare for the day. As we approach the end of the first quarter, breakfast will close promptly at 7:45 AM, and we will no longer keep breakfast open for students arriving late via the parent drop-off line.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our amazing students, supportive parents, and hardworking teachers and staff. Your dedication and enthusiasm make Cape Elementary the outstanding school that it is, and we are grateful for the community we’ve built together! We look forward to continuing this journey with you.

Sincerely,

Nicole Osterholm and Kristi Sund

Happy Fall Cape Families!

We ended September with one of our favorite events, Candy Bar Bingo, being canceled! We will be rescheduling this event for Friday, October 11th! We hope everyone can make it!

We would also like to thank you for making our Fall Fundraiser so amazing this year! All money raised goes directly back to our school, classrooms and students. With your help we were able to raise over $8,000.00 for our school!

Upcoming News!

We are excited to announce our skip the line VIP raffle has started again! Make sure to buy your raffle ticket on PT BOARD!

We are now selling birthday grams to be delivered to your child’s classroom on their special day!! Check out our Facebook flier or PT BOARD website for ordering information!

Our next Spirit Night will be at TOPGOLF, October 20th from 2-4pm. Sign up on https://capeelementarypto.ptboard.com/ to reserve your spot. Tickets are $15 per person and are available to purchase until November 11. We always need volunteers for our events so please feel free to sign up to volunteer.

Keep an eye out for more details and volunteer opportunities on https://capeelementarypto.ptboard.com/.

As always, thank you for supporting Cape Elementary PTO!

3rd, 4th & 5th Grade: Tuesday, October 15th from 5:45 to 7:30 (Rescheduled)

KG, 1st & 2nd Grade Learning Era Nights

Thanks to all the families who came out and engaged in a fun night of learning. If you were unable to attend, and would like the games and ideas that were passed out, please email Ms. Osterholm and NicoleDO@leeschools.net.

Join us at the Cape Elementary Bus Ramp for our Free Food Pantry Events on select Thursdays throughout the School Year.

Cape Elementary has partnered with Harry Chapin Food Bank to ensure our students, families, and community are able to have regular access to food resources. School Social Worker, Nivine Faraj, will be on site during the event to assist with resource information. Hygiene Items, clothing, and shoes will also be available to our student families-when available (Shoes donated by Laces of Love, Hygiene Items donated by United Way, Clothing Donated by United Way and private donors).

Need help with School or District information? Come visit us at the Food Pantry Event for the latest information.

Can’t make it to the event? Reach out to Miss Faraj at 239-961-7726 (text available) or NivineF@LeeSchools.net to schedule a time to pick up items. We hope to see you there.

Food Pantry Event open from 4 pm-5:30 pm on the Bus Ramp (Entry off of Vincennes Blvd) on these select Thursdays:

October 10, 24

November 7, 21

December 5, 19

January 9, 23

February 6, 20

March 6, 27

April 10, 24

May 8, 22

Florida State Statute 1012.42 recognizes that teachers, at times, must be assigned duties in a class outside the field in which the teacher is certified. The following teachers at Cape Elementary School are enrolled in training to add the English as a Second Language (ESOL) endorsement to their current certificates:

Robin Apold

Kristin Billings

Brandi Coffey

Katelynn Coley

Teresa Davis

Dana Moore

Pride Prause

Maura Scanlan

The safety of your student is our highest priority. The District uses a layered approach to school security so there are steps you can clearly see being taken and more that you cannot. All our schools use the same terms for emergency situations:

• Lockdown: During a lockdown the school’s perimeter is secured and students move to a safe space and stay quiet. Teaching and learning is stopped. Lockdowns use classroom security to protect students.

• Secure: During secure, all outside access points to the school are locked and students stay or move inside. Teaching and learning continue. The school facility provides security to protect students.

• Hold: A hold is used for situations like a medical emergency or severe weather where students need to remain in the classroom. Teaching and learning continue. Once the hold is released, normal activities resume.

During a Lockdown, Secure or Hold the District recognizes parents and guardians who feel their child is in danger will want to respond and protect them. However, in order to keep students safe no one can come on campus and no one can leave campus. We recommend the following steps during emergency situations:

• Remain calm: Training and security is in place to keep your students safe.

• Stay home: Secure perimeters mean there is no way for you to get in the school and no way to release your child out to you.

• Monitor your phone and email: The school or District will send official communications via School Messenger phone calls, text messages and/or emails.

We also understand your student may feel nervous or anxious during a Lockdown, Secure or Hold. Please let them know school staff are trained how to respond and the best thing to do is follow their teachers instructions. Staff is always available for any support needed after an incident.

Notification of the Possible Presence of Asbestos-Containing Materials in the School

Cape Elementary School - October 1, 2024

In 1986 Congress created AHERA (The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act). This act requires all school districts to put the below information out to parents, students, and possible visitors. All district sites have a current AHERA (The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) Inspection and most have a letter of exemption on file from the architect. Certain asbestos-containing materials or assumed asbestos-containing materials such as: fire doors, roofing materials, or other building materials could still contain ACBM and are monitored for no damage. In the School District of Lee County there is an active management plan for each district site. The report listing the location, quantities, and condition of any or all known materials, is available at the school’s front office for inspection during normal school hours. Copies of the school’s asbestos file can be supplied to you at a cost.

C21 Sunbelt Realty

Jim Fischer

Quality Pest Control

Cape Coral First Methodist Church

Vineyards Community Church (Cape Coral)

Culver's

Papa John's Pizza

Wendy's

Publix

Rib City

Cici's Pizza

Applebee's

Dominoes Pizza

Stuff-A-Bagel

Email: nicoledo@leeschools.net
Website: cap.leeschools.net
Location: 4519 Vincennes Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Phone: 239-542-3551
Facebook: facebook.com/CapeElem
Twitter: @CapeElem

Board Members of the LCSD:

Samuel Fisher, District 1 (Chair)

Jada Langford Fleming, District 6 (Vice Chair)

Melisa W. Giovannelli, District 2

Chris N. Patricca, District 3

Debbie Jordan, District 4

Armor Persons, District 5

Cathleen O'Daniel Morgan, District 7

Kenneth A. Savage, Ed.D.

Superintendent