Heights Happenings

Heights Mission: Heights Elementary IB World School is dedicated to developing balanced, lifelong learners through educational excellence, a global perspective, reflection and action.

Heights Vision: To Be A World Class School.

Heights PBIS Statement: We strive to be a school that models positive behaviors which develop the whole child and social skills. We have a common culture and language which supports student growth and high expectations to empower our students to become well-rounded global citizens through teaching and recognizing positive behavior.

At Heights Elementary, we believe that every school day counts! Regular attendance is essential for student success—academically, socially, and emotionally. When students are present and on time each day, they stay engaged in learning, build strong routines, and develop important skills that will benefit them for life.

Missing just two days a month—whether excused or unexcused—can add up to lost learning time and make it harder for students to keep up with their peers. Being on time is just as important, as late arrivals can cause students to miss valuable instruction at the start of the day.

We encourage families to make attendance a priority by establishing morning routines, ensuring students get a good night’s sleep, and scheduling appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. Together, we can help our students build a strong foundation for success!

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring every student is at school, on time, and ready to learn each day.

School Hours: 7:55 am—2:10 pm

Doors open: 7:30 am

Breakfast: 7:30-7:45 am

Heights Contact Information:

Address: 15200 Alexandria Ct. Ft. Myers, FL 33908

Telephone: 239.481.1761 Fax:239.481.3154

Website: het.leeschools.net

Twitter: @HeightsIB

Facebook: Heights Elementary

After School Program: Lisa McElyea

504 Accommodations: Bryanna Van Helden

Contact information Changes: Jennifer Kurowski

Transportation: Suzi Loughren

Gifted testing: Lisa Alexander

Clinic: Zuri Galvan or Nurse Carey

School Counselor: Kathy Morrow

IB PYP Coordinator: Lacey Davis

Reading Coach Kg-2nd grade: Katie Bocchino

Reading Coach 3rd-5th grade: Dodie Lytle

Math Coach: Natasha Edinger

Feb. 3rd-Feb. 7th: Heights Read a Thon continues

Feb. 5th: House Color Day

Feb. 7th: Daddy/Daughter Dance (6:00)

Feb. 8th: STEMtastic

Feb. 13th: Class Picture Day

Feb. 14th: Valentine's Day

Feb. 17th: Presidents Day (Schools closed)

Feb. 24th: 1st grade Student Led Conferences

• 9-9:45

1. Fort

2. Benedon
3. Roth

• 11:15-12:00

1. Eddy
2. Madore
3. Nilsson
4. Joyce

Feb. 28th: Ice Cream on sale during lunch

Feb. 28th: 2nd & 3rd grade Field Day

All campus visitors will need to show their ID at the door and also to receive a visitor pass. Based on the School District of Lee County safety procedures, we are ONLY allowed to accept physical forms of ID when you show up on campus. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept picture IDs on a cell phone or from the Florida Real ID website. Thank you for your understanding and helping to keep our campus safe.

• Did you know our Third Grade Students built a Planetarium for the whole school to enjoy? Through their study about space and the night stars, students researched and built constellations as well as a recorded presentation on their research for students to visit.
• Our Fifth Grade students are in the action phase of their Exhibition Project and will be teaching the rest of the school about what they have learned so far.
• If you have any extra Publix, Target, Walmart (or any other store's) plastic bags that you would be willing to donate to students researching Responsible Consumption and Production, we would appreciate it! Donations can be dropped off in the Media Center and will be RE-USED as shopping bags for our upcoming Book Fair.

As IB learners, we strive to be caring. We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

This IB learner profile is one of 10 attributes recognized and valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

• Start by practicing empathy. Model the caring behavior you would like to see in your child. Your child notices everything you do! Using kind words, helping others and being an active listener will show your child that you care about other people.
• Help your child consider the feelings of others. Ask, "What do you think she's upset about?" "How would you feel if that happened to you?"
• Read books that demonstrate caring and kindness. Discuss the message of the story and how it can be applied in your every day lives. Ask, "What are some things we can do to show kindness?" "Is there anyone we know that could use some extra caring right now?"
• Brainstorm ways your family can get involved in the community. Send cards to residents of a local nursing home. Donate food, clothing or toys to those in need. Place inspiring quotes around the neighborhood for others to see.
• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Sometimes this can be challenging for busy families, but make an effort to establish these habits in your home. By developing children who care about the environment, you are helping the future of the globe.
• Emphasize social skills like saying please, thank you, sharing with siblings and recognizing when others may be having a difficult day.
• Smile.

Kindness rocks are positively designed rocks that can be left around the community for people to find. This brings positivity and a smile to others. Click the picture for a blog with more information.

A huge congratulations to the Heights Run Club for their outstanding participation in the Sheriff's 5K Run for the Youth at Lakes Park! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Not only did our runners show up and give it their all, but we also took home the belt once again for having the biggest team at the event!

A special thank you to our amazing Run Club coaches and parent volunteers for your dedication and hard work in preparing our runners.

Way to represent Team Heights!

Last week, Heights Elementary was recognized at the High Reliability Schools San Antonio Summit for reaching Level 1 certification! Level 1 certification means we have demonstrated that we have a “Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture,” which is the foundation for every level that follows. Without such a culture, student achievement will be compromised. Day-to-day school operations are addressed and evaluated in Level 1.

This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of the Heights staff to build a safe, supportive, and collaborative learning environment for our students. This is a testament to our shared commitment to academic excellence, student success, and a positive school culture.

The High Reliability School (HRS) program was created by Marzano Resources to help transform schools into organizations that take proactive steps to ensure student success.

The Heights Elementary Read-A-Thon started Jan. 27th.

Read-A-Thons get your reader excited about reading and it gives friends and family the opportunity to encourage your child to read even more.

Our Read-A-Thon runs until Feb. 7th

About one week before our Read-A-Thon starts we will send home instructions on how to activate your reader's personal page. This is where you will be able to view and record their progress.

We encourage you to activate your reader’s account today by clicking on https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/323334393739/1 and following the simple instructions.

The Heights Read-A-Thon gives your child a reason to read and develop stronger reading skills.

We hope EVERYONE participates.

Why Attendance Matters: When students attend school consistently and arrive on time, they have more opportunities to learn, connect with peers, and participate in classroom activities. Studies show that regular attendance leads to better academic outcomes, greater social connections, and an increased sense of responsibility.

Did You Know?

• Missing even just two days per month can significantly impact a student's ability to stay on track in reading and math.
• Being 10 minutes late every day adds up to nearly a week of lost learning time over the course of the school year!

How You Can Help:

• Set a routine: Establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine to make getting to school on time easier.
• Plan ahead: Lay out clothes, pack backpacks, and prepare lunches the night before.
• Communicate: If there are challenges impacting attendance, please reach out to our office. We’re here to support your family!

We appreciate your partnership in helping every student arrive at school on time and ready to learn. Together, we can make sure each student has the best chance to succeed every day!

Come one, come all to a night of fun at Hertz Arena on Saturday, March 1st at 7:30pm! Grab your jackets and hang out with us as we watch a thrilling hockey game with the reigning Kelly Cup champs, The Florida Everblades! Supporting our 5th graders is just an extra perk!

Order tickets online at www.BladesTix.com/HES or scan the QR code attached in link!

Ice cream cups will be on sale Feb. 28th during lunch time. Each student will be limited to one ice cream cup during their lunch. The cost is $1 per cup. Money collected from ice cream sales goes to the Principal's Discretionary Fund. This fund is used to celebrate a variety of events and activities for our students and staff throughout the school year.

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 Heights Elementary are certified, but may be assigned one or more classes outside their areas of certification and are required to take appropriate steps to comply with the statutory regulation: Madison Barker (ESE)

In addition, the following teachers are engaged in training to add the endorsement, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), to their certificates: Nicole Berry, Nicole Driscoll, Courtney Sleeper, Jennifer Kee, Gina Celej, Melinda Melendez, Stephanie Bovinett, Reagan Potter, Jamie Leach, & Libby Davis.

District 1 - Samuel Fisher, Board Chair

District 2 - Melisa W. Giovannelli

District 3 - William F. Ribble Jr.

District 4 - Debbie Jordan

District 5 - Armor Persons

District 6 - Jada Langford-Fleming, Board Vice Chair

District 7 - Vanessa M. Chaviano

Superintendent:

Denise M. Carlin, Ed.D