RCPE: Changes aplenty as Lee district begins new school year

Students of Rayma C. Page Elementary will be marching into school like a well-dressed army of learning this year.

The school’s new uniform policy is just one of many changes south Lee schools will be initiating in the school year that starts Monday. New programs, classes, policies, staff and renovations are part of an extensive list of what’s new and improved for 2007.

Students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade at the school have a new uniform policy, which requires them to wear navy blue or tan pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, jumpers or capri pants with short or long-sleeved collared polo shirts or button-down oxford shirts. The shirts can be hunter green, navy blue, white, pale blue or pale pink.

“Those are our school colors; we’re the dolphins, and then they threw in pink,” Assistant Principal Roger Lloyd said. “Some of the girls here wanted to have that option.”

Spring Creek Elementary is offering a new shirt for the uniform they’ve had for years. It features an embroidered school logo and can be purchased from the school. Principal Karen Leonardi said students described the new shirts as “cool.”

The school’s uniform policy is similar to the one at Rayma C. Page, but allows students to wear polo shirts of any color. Students aren’t allowed, however, to wear button-down oxford shirts.

Both schools went through a similar process in getting the uniforms adopted. The process typically begins with a recommendation from a school advisory council, followed by approval from a majority of parents and development of a specific policy. When surveyed, 85.6 percent of parents at Rayma C. Page approved of the uniforms.

“That’s pretty telling when 8 of 10 parents were in favor for it,” Lloyd said.

“You don’t have to sit there and figure out what they’re going to wear,” said Joe Kunkel of his children’s uniforms.

Kunkel’s son, 8, attends Rayma C. Page and his daughter Andie, 11, goes to Three Oaks Middle School, which also has uniforms.

“It’s great for parents of daughters,” he said. “They’re a little more picky than boys. Boys will just take whatever’s on the top of the drawer.”

Rayma C. Page is celebrating some other firsts this year. The school achieved an A grade on its state report card for the first time this year. The grade is determined by student test scores and results in a state funding increase of $100 a student for the year.

Principal Susan Caputo said the school will leave the decision on how the money should be spent up to its school advisory council.

The school also was chosen this year as a model school of positive behavior, one of three in the district. The school won the award for performing highly in the Positive Behavior Support program. The program teaches correct behavior using positive, evidence-based approaches.

Three Oaks Elementary is introducing the same program this year.

Asssistant Principal Shane Nusich, who’s also new this year, said the program does a great job of reinforcing positive behaviors rather than just correcting negative ones. All staff members are being trained in the procedures.

A uniform policy doesn’t exist at Three Oaks, which has a dress code that expands on the district’s student code of conduct. Nusich said the school’s administration hopes to someday enact a uniform policy.

“We are trying to adopt that in the future,” he said.

A new reading program that promises to teach Three Oaks kindergartners 25,000 words is also be introduced at the school. The Core Knowledge Reading Program is being offered as a pilot for the company.

“We’re the only school in Florida piloting the program at the kindergarten level,” Nusich said.

At South Fort Myers High School, the most noticeable change is its growing enrollment. A mere two years old, the school will be educating an additional 225 students this year as it continues to fill its classrooms. The increase in students, Principal Tommy O’Connell said, has led to more teachers and fuller classrooms, including in honors, advanced placement and academy courses.

The school is designated a pet hurricane shelter for the first time this year. It will be responsible for housing pets and their owners during inclement weather.

“We’re a shelter, so we’re ready,” said O’Connell, who is hoping there aren’t any storms. “The hurricanes are a real pain.”

Farther south, Estero High School will be developing a Hospitality and Tourism Academy this year. The school is also offering an updated culinary arts program. The new program has been updated with commercial kitchen equipment and now utilizes a “more workforce ready” curriculum. The school’s baseball field also has been recently renovated.

“It’s not a tough time, it’s an exciting time,” Assistant Principal for Curriculum Marsha VanHook said of preparing for the new year. “There’s just a lot to do to make sure we’re all cooking away.”

The following Lee schools have a uniform policy:

Elementary schools

Bayshore, Caloosa, Colonial, Diplomat, Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton, Edgewood Academy, Franklin Park Magnet, Hector A. Cafferata, Jr., J. Colin English, Mirror Lakes, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts K-8, Rayma C. Page, San Carlos Park, Spring Creek, Trafalgar, Veterans Park Academy for the Arts K-8 and Bonita Springs Charter School

Middle schools

Fort Myers Middle Academy, Lehigh Acres Middle School, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts K-8, Three Oaks Middle School, Veterans Park Academy for the Arts K-8