Collier Citizen School News

Waiting in line has never been this much fun. Each morning, 150 Estates Elementary School students are giving new meaning to the word, “line dancing.” “Our school has lots of soul,” says Bianca Paez, English language learners teacher. “Instead of having the kids sit around, I wanted to incorporate a little fun while they waited for school to start.” So, Paez turned on the music and started dancing.
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Here we are, celebrating the 2008 Thanksgiving holiday. As we reflect on what’s really important in life, we find that the School District of Collier County has much to be thankful for: Full story »

The Garden of Eden is thriving, thanks to members of the Naples Area Board of Realtors. On Nov. 12, the group dedicated a new butterfly garden at Eden Florida’s School for autistic children, on County Barn Road. Through the group’s efforts, most of the items for the garden were donated. NABOR also presented Eden Florida with a check for $3,000 to help with further educational needs.
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We wrote about our new Freshman Academies a couple of weeks ago. This week, we will discuss the “extended learning opportunities” that will enhance these academies. Everyone involved in the School District of Collier County’s Learning Support Services division, headed by chief instructional officer Martha Hayes, believes that these academies will go a long way toward reducing the number of students who fail freshman year and are at high risk of dropping out of school. Full story »

Pat Carroll has been named the new chair of the Collier County School Board. Full story »

Golden Gate High School's JROTC program will be the subject of a special proclamation adopted by the Collier County Board of Commissioners. Full story »

Heather Shepheard knows that the secret to motivating her students is to make them feel comfortable and confident in their abilities. “You can’t fit children to a box,” she said. “You have to fit the box to the child.” Full story »

With their oversized eyes, blue hair and elongated bodies, Japanese anime may look like ‘kid’s stuff,’ but the roots of the popular cartoons date back to 1917. “It is revered as an art form -- the way one would look at a Picasso,” explains Cally Riviello, a member of the Gulf Coast High School Anime Club. “It’s very culturally based, and there are many Japanese folklore references in the story lines.”
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Election Day 2008 is history, but for all of the students attending Collier County’s Public Schools, the best part of their history is yet to be written. They were given an incredible gift by you, the voters, with your resounding approval of the school district’s referendum. Full story »

The first grading period of the new school year has ended and the first report cards of the year tell the tale of progress being made by our students thus far. Full story »

Golden Gate High School students are learning an important lesson in citizenship through Operation Thanks, a collection drive for U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Full story »

Tuesday night was bittersweet for Julie Sprague. After months of hard work, the Gulf Coast High School teacher became the newest member of the Collier County School Board. But, as a School Board member, she will have to leave behind her teaching career, which has spanned 30 years, 20 of them in Collier County. Sprague said she used the word “bittersweet” twice Tuesday night, but said she hasn’t fully processed what it will mean. Full story »

The shoe is definitely on the other foot tonight when Palmetto Ridge hosts Gulf Coast in a Class 4A-District 15 football game.
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Collier County will never be without high school or third grade. But if a proposed referendum doesn’t pass, Collier students might have to live without debate and football and employees might have to take home less money. Full story »

Here we are with General Election Day just around the corner. Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4. We urge you to exercise your right and vote! Full story »