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| September 2025 |
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| September is School Attendance Awareness Month. Thanks to our families, students, and staff, CCPS currently leads Florida with the lowest percentage of chronically absent students! Missing 2 days a month (18 days a year) means a student misses 10% of the school year. The mantra for CCPS for many years has been On Time, All Day, Every Day, and we understand extenuating circumstances, including illness, may cause a student to miss school. At the September Board Meeting, we heard parents often have questions about absences and wanted more information. School Board Policy 5200 provides you with all things pertaining to absences from school. |
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| September 22 may have marked the first day of fall, but we are still in the middle of hurricane season. I want to make sure our community knows how our district prepares for and communicates about severe weather. Our goal is simple: to keep you informed with clear, timely, and trusted updates that prioritize safety and minimize disruption. Click here to learn more. |
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| Periodically, Florida's Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas shares information with our district's stakeholders on a variety of topics. We have made these memorandums available on our district website in the CCPS Newsroom and on this newsletter via the Florida Department of Education button in the next section. We will upload any new memorandums as they become available. |
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| We have just started our 7th week of school for the 2025-2026 school year, and I am encouraged by what I have been seeing in classrooms, on campuses, and at extra-curricular events. Thank you for reading this newsletter all the way through. By staying connected with Collier County Public Schools, you embody the Power of WE! |
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| ~ Dr. Leslie C. Ricciardelli |
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| UPCOMING |
| DATES TO NOTE |
| September 23 |
| No School for Students (Teacher Professional Learning Day) |
| October 2 |
| No School for Students and Teachers |
| October 8 |
| Regular School Board Meeting at 9:00am |
| October 13 |
| No School for Students (Teacher Planning Day) |
| October 15 |
| School Board Work Session (Legislative) at 4:30pm |
| October 31 |
| Early Dismissal Day (Professional Learning for Teachers) |
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| I ran into one of our CCPS high school basketball coaches at the grocery store the other day. We had never met before, but we were talking about athletics, and he spoke a lot about using sports to prepare these young athletes to become better men in all aspects of life. I was so impressed by not only his commitment to our students but how seriously he took his role as their coach and mentor. It was obvious in a five-minute conversation how passionate he was about his job, his team, and his pride to work in Collier County Public Schools. |
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| Youth sports has changed a lot since I was a young girl growing up in Indiana. After playing multiple sports during my childhood, I became a coach in various sports for young women. Through my experience participating in athletics and coaching, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. As a school board member, I think it is critical for our district to set high standards and expectations for student athletes and coaches and ensure we uphold those standards in everything we do. |
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| Sports aren’t just about the score at the end of the game. They’re about sportsmanship and character. When athletes wear their jerseys, they’re not only representing their team—they’re also showing what it means to compete with respect. Good sportsmanship means playing hard but fair, supporting teammates, respecting opponents, and remembering that the way you play matters just as much as the result. |
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| Sports also helps build character in ways that last far beyond the season. These athletes learn about accountability, loyalty, and commitment. Other valuable lessons include time management and responsibility as they need to balance homework and practice. From tough losses to big wins, they build resilience and humility. And most importantly, they learn what it takes to work together toward a common goal. |
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| I am about as competitive as they come, but I do not believe in winning at all costs. While winning and receiving accolades are great, I hope our student-athletes and coaches put character and sportsmanship above all else. Best of luck this season on and off the field or court! |
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| With gratitude, |
| Kelly Mason, School Board Chair |
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| “Sports do not build character; they reveal it.” - John Wooden |
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| Board member notes are submitted directly by a school board member without edits from district staff. |
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| HONORING HEROES - PAST AND PRESENT |
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| In remembrance of 9/11, students at Manatee Elementary School held their first-ever Heroes’ Walk, welcoming local first responders. Watch the video linked below until the end to see first graders sing a heartfelt song about heroes. This event connected students with the everyday heroes who serve our community — a living tribute to those we lost and those who continue to protect us. |
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| Click here to watch video |
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| SCHOOL CURRICULUM NIGHTS |
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| All our schools host events where parents have an opportunity to step inside classrooms, talk with teachers, and see expectations firsthand, with each event tailored to maximize engagement. |
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| Click here to watch video |
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| FEEDBACK WELCOME |
| Let us know what you think about the newsletter, our website, or if you have suggestions for future newsletters. |
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| Collier County Public Schools |
| p: (239) 377-0001 |
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| School Board |
| Ms. Kelly Mason, Chair • Mrs. Stephanie Lucarelli, Vice Chair |
| Mr. Erick Carter, Member • Mr. Tim Moshier, Member • Mr. Jerry Rutherford, Member |
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| Superintendent |
| Dr. Leslie C. Ricciardelli |
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| Copyright © 2025 Collier County Public Schools |
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