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October 2023
 
A Note from Dr. Leslie C. Ricciardelli
 
I want to take a moment to thank all of our Principals as we celebrate National Principals Month! Our school leaders inspire students and staff on a daily basis as they stay laser-focused on student achievement. A special thanks to Immokalee Technical College Director Dorin Oxender and his staff for their hospitality while hosting our Regular School Board Meeting this month. We always enjoy spending time with the Immokalee community.
 
Congratulations to all of our CCPS teachers who recently received Champions For Learning Classroom Grants! A record-breaking 434 grants totaling more than $270,000 were awarded to teachers at 62 schools in Collier County. I was honored to join Champions For Learning on their Surprise Delivery Day at Aubrey Rogers High, Veterans Memorial Elementary, Laurel Oak Elementary, and Gulf Coast High. Witnessing the joy and excitement students had to see their teachers recognized was incredible!
 
As we near the end of the first quarter of the new year, report cards will soon be available. This year, CCPS made some improvements to elementary grade reporting that include a recognizable letter grading system as well as a simplified report card. To learn more about the changes, click here to watch a short video.
 
Our CCPS 5K Walk-Run is under a month away! Join us on November 4 for a competitive run, a fun dash to the finish line, or a healthy walk. Thank you to Suncoast Credit Union and all of our sponsors for their support. Click here to register today! Fees will increase on race day.
 
As we keep the momentum going on Planning the Pathway to our new 5-year strategic plan, keep an eye out for question #2 coming out soon. We evaluated 5,383 comments and more than 140,000 ratings from question #1 and saw that the top themes reflecting the most important next steps for the school district focused on high-quality teachers, curriculum, and class size. We appreciate your participation and look forward to your continued input. Visit www.collierschools.com/StrategicPlan for updated information including an interactive report on the feedback from each question throughout the Planning the Pathway process.
 
Have a great October!
 
~ Dr. Leslie C. Ricciardelli
 
 
 
UPCOMING
DATES TO NOTE
October 16
No School for Students (Teacher Planning Day)
October 28
CCPS Marching Band Show at Barron Collier High 6:30pm
November 1
No School (Teacher Professional Learning Day)
November 14
Regular School Board Meeting at 4:30pm
November 16
School Board Organizational Meeting at 8:00am
November 20 & 21
Hurricane Make-Up Days (no school if not used)
November 22-24
No School (Fall Break)
 
District Calendar
 
 
 
A Note from the School Board
 
Football season is here, and in full swing. Our newest team may have lost the first game, but the season isn’t over.
 
Our School Board has some new players, and may have had a few fumbles, but it’s only the first quarter of the game. We have a great coach named Ricciardelli, and some class “A” assistants to shape us into a winning team. Some may think the new players had to sit on the bench, or be tossed out of the game, but the coach sees the potential, and keeps us in the game. Who knows, maybe one of them may intercept a pass that wins the game!
 
Champions are not made overnight. The game is not over until the time clock runs out. Keep rooting for the home team!
 
Teachers, you are the coaches that produce a great team. The difficulty that you have in putting together a winning team will be rewarded by the results that are shown.
 
Students, every effort to become a team player will be rewarded by the victories attained.
 
From Founder, William Samuel Johnson: You have received a public education, the purpose, whereof, has been to qualify you the better to serve the Creator and your Country. Your first great duty, you understand, are those you owe to heaven and your Creator.
 
~ Jerry Rutherford, Board Member (District 1)
 
 
CCPS
ALUMNI NEWS
 
 
EFRAIN HERNANDEZ
Class of 1982
Immokalee High School
 
While attending a football game last year at his alma mater, Efrain noticed “there was no one taking photos for their team that day. I do not know what came over me, but I knew I had to do my part.” After retiring in 2019 from a 30-year career with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, he continued pursuing his passion of videography and photography. Efrain is currently the media specialist for North Collier Fire Rescue and in his spare time, volunteers to support the community that helped mold him into the man he is today. Not only has Efrain captured amazing sideline photos, he has edited hype videos for the team and created digital football cards for each player.
 
Click here to check out Efrain’s incredible work to support Immokalee High School!
 
 
CCPS
FAMILY NEWS
 
 
CONNECTING GENERATIONS THROUGH JAZZ
 
Music brings people together! That is what a group of Gulf Coast High School students is doing after creating their band "Generation Jazz." The students perform at area assisted living facilities to bring the joy of music to seniors. The group also performed at superintendent Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli's beginning of the school year kick-off event in August.
 
Click here to watch the NBC-2 story
 
 
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Collier County Public Schools
p: (239) 377-0001
 
School Board
Mrs. Kelly Lichter, Chair • Mr. Tim Moshier, Vice Chair
Mr. Erick Carter, Member • Mrs. Stephanie Lucarelli, Member • Mr. Jerry Rutherford, Member
 
Superintendent
Dr. Leslie C. Ricciardelli
 
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