History of Caloosa Elementary

History of Caloosa Elementary
1971-72 – Construction was completed for the first open-concept
elementary/middle school in Lee County. Team teaching and individual
instruction were stressed. The building was one quarter the size of the
present structure.
1972-73 – Portable classrooms were added to keep up with the growing
Cape Coral population. There were no special area teachers and lunches
were served in the classrooms.
1973-74 – Kindergarten began in Lee County Schools this year.
Enrollment reached 475 students. In order to accommodate this larger
number, double sessions were held for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades.
Construction began on three more pods and a cafeteria. The cafeteria
would be shared with the middle school.
1974-75 – The new pods were put in service, and the Caloosa Elementary
got its own cafeteria.
1975-76 – Enrollment grew to 739. The present football field, track, and
soccer field were added to the campus. Caloosa remained an openconcept school in one of the pods.
1976-77 – A structured setting for learning became a top priority.
Discipline standards were put into practice.
1977-78 – Enrollment grew to 985. Walls were installed in the pods and
the library was separated from the middle school. Individual desks were
given to third through fifth graders in place of tables. Principal Parties
were started for positive reinforcement of the students.
1978-79 – The volunteer program was started. There were 50 volunteers
the first year. Fundraisers helped purchase landscaping and the pavilion
on our lunch playground. The “Happy Gram” was started for good news
to bring home.
1978-79 Lunchboxes Were Very Popular
1978-79 Firefighters Inspire Young Students
1978-79 Fifth Grade Graduation
1978-79 Teachers Wave Goodbye on Last Day of School
1979-80 – The Young Authors contest was started.
1979-80 Young Authors Contest Winners
1979-80 Kindergarten Play Down on the Farm
1979-80 Easter Egg Hunt
1980-81 – A TV studio was added to air special programs in all classrooms.
New spring animals and a swing set were added to the playground. Grade
level programs were started and second grade’s “circus extravaganza”
was so impressive it made the local news.
1981-82 - Spelling bees were started and Caloosa put on its first
Broadway play, Oliver. The kindergarten pavilion and the “Wade PE
Pavilion” were built. It was named “Wade” because the Wade family
donated time and materials to this project. Many thanks to them.
1982-83 – The Caloosa Postal System was started with the school being
divided into four communities. The post office was operated by students.
1983-84 – Fourth graders began a banking system with their own
checking account to fill with Caloosa dollars. The cafeteria became
“Cougie’s Restaurant” and the students could pay from their account.
1984-85 School Play
1984-85 Students Perform in Public Service Announcement for TV
1984-85 CalMart shoppers
1984-85 – CalMart classroom stores were created and all grade levels
started using Caloosa dollars. Color TVs were purchased for classrooms.
Kindergarten got their own kitchen area. The Nature Center was started
and the Wade family put in a pond. Caloosa Government was started and
all students became registered voters of Caloosa.
1985-86 – Our school was recognized as a “National School of
Excellence.” President Reagan talked about Caloosa in one of his
speeches. Secretary of Education William Bennett wrote about our school
in his Report to the Nation, First Lessons. Caloosa Publishing Co.
published its first magazine, Autumn Amblings.
1987-88 Front Office Staff
1987-88 Volunteer Orientation
1987-88 Classroom Visit
1987-88 – A student council was started this year. CAL-TV was expanded
with a studio built by our custodians.
1988-89
1989-90 CalMart shoppers
1989-90 Caloosa Dollars Banking System
1989-90 Cafeteria
1989-90 Florida Governor Martinez visits Caloosa on CAL-TV.
1989-90 Polls Open for Student Voting
1989-90 – The S.S. Caloosa was christened to “sail around the world” and
travel to a new continent each month. Everyone had a passport, and the
administration debriefed each class and gave them a souvenir before
moving to the next continent. Caloosa kids helped children around the
world by collecting food and clothing for the poor, dimes for the Ronald
McDonald House, books for African schools, and money to build a well in
Nepal through UNICEF.
1990-91 CAL-TV
1990-91 Circus comes to Caloosa
1990-91 Classroom Projects
1990-91 – We started “What in the World is Going on?” We traveled to
the continents as foreign correspondents. A newsstand was added, with
the Cape Coral Daily Breeze donating papers daily to all students and
staff.
1991-92 Parents Sign Up for Sunset Afterschool Program
1991-92 Class Reads Out Loud Outside
1991-92 The Store is Open!
1991-92 Talent Show
1991-92 – Our theme was “A Journey Through Time,” with emphasis on
history. Each month a grade level highlighted a period of history on a
timeline in the cafeteria.
1992-93 Challenge Bowl
1992-93 Trip to Washington, DC
1992-93 – Our theme was “Caloosa Gets to the Core of Knowledge.” Fifth
grade went to Sea World and the safety patrols visited Washington DC.
First Union Bank sponsored our payroll clerks as they paid employees of
the post office, CAL-TV and custodial helpers.
1994-95 Truckers Day
1994-95 – The baby cougar was our school mascot. Students provided
seasonal decorations for the lobby of our local Perkins restaurant.
1995-95 Steel Drum Band
1995-96 – Our theme was “Give Peace a Chance.” Students learned about
peace education and conflict resolution.
1996-97 Front Entrance
1996-97 – Our theme as “25 Years of Excellence and Still Making Tracks.”
We had a school-wide birthday celebration for students and an evening
reunion for former staff, students, and friends.
1997-98 Staff
1997-98 – Caloosa achieved Five Star status from the State Department.
Staff met with architects to plan the new facility and prepared for a move
to a temporary portable location in the North Fort Myers Community
Park.
1998-99 Parent Pickup
1998-99 Portables As Far As The Eye Can See!
1998-99 Architectural Concept of New Caloosa
1998-99 – Our theme was “See the USA the Caloosa Way.” We stayed
two years in the community park. School was deemed “our first job.” We
had parent picnics in the park, and dressed for success with school
uniforms.
1999-2000 Classroom is Live on Air on CAL-TV
1999-2000 CAL-TV Teleprompter
2001-02 Bike Riders Now Wear Helmets
2001-02 Students Display Their Creations
2001-02 The School Store
2000-01 – We moved out of the park and into the brand new two story
building we are in today. “Catch the Magic of Caloosa” was the theme. A
dedication was held.
2002-03 Ravenclaw Club
2002-03 Playground
2002-03 Pledge
2002-03 – “Open a Book, Open Your Mind” was our theme. We expanded
our Accelerated Reader program. Our population was 1,000 students.
2003-04 Third Grade Program Tall Tales
2003-04 PTO Sponsors Limo Ride
2003-04 MWA Field Trip
2003-04 – Our theme was “Today’s Achievers, Tomorrow’s Leaders.” We
maintained our “A” from the State of Florida.
2004-05 Cooperation in the Computer Lab
2004-05 Art on Paper Plates
2004-05 – Our theme was “Caloosa Kids Measure Up to Success.” Coteaching units to address class size were first considered. Teaching staff
increased to 72 to teach 1,100 students.
2005-06 Art Drawings
2005-06 Who Is My Teacher?
2005-06 Physical Education Class
2005-06 – “Cougars Explore More Through Caloosa’s Doors” was our
theme. Five classrooms added Smart Board technology and the option of
classroom responders for tests and quizzes.
2006-07 Open House
2006-07 Computer Lab
2006-07 – The theme was “Kids at Work, Building Better Readers.” Due
to a growing population, a second two story building with 18 classrooms
was added to the campus.
2007-08 Smartboard
2007-08 Pledge on CAL-TV
2007-08 – “Start Your Engines-Caloosa is Driven to Succeed” was our
theme. Race cars and victory flags decorated the building. Classrooms
were equipped with LCD projectors and document cameras, and 32
classrooms had Smart Boards. The state and district had budget deficits
due to economic conditions, but current staff was able to be maintained.
2008-09 Growing a Plant From Seed
2008-09 Book Fair
2008-09 Classroom
2008-09 – “Caloosa Leaders are Launched Here” is the theme, with a
focus on the 50th anniversary of NASA. Several programs throughout the
year were about space. A special exhibit from NASA was hosted during
Education Fair.
2009-10 Ten Years of “A” Status
2009-10 Fire Safety
2009-10 School Welcomes Sheriff Scott
2009-10 – “The Heart of Caloosa is the Pride Within” was our theme.
More budget cuts and economic conditions created a back to basics
theme. Recycling and reducing paper use were components of the
theme. For the tenth year in a row, Caloosa achieved an “A” from the
state of Florida. Mrs. Markgraf became the principal.
2010-11 Fifth Grade Awards
2010-11 Earth Day
2010-11 Field Day Grades 2 and 3
2011-12 Fall Festival
2011-12 Media Center book checkout
2011-2012 Safety Patrol Meeting
2012-13 Florida Reperatory Theater
2012-2013 Read Across America
2012-2013 Mito Week
2013-14 Bead Bracelets for Sale
2013-14 Bell Performers
2013-14 Fall Festival
2014-15 Healthy Living Lab with Mary Fischer
2014-15 Principal’s Party
2014-15 Student Picture Day
2015-16 Turkey Trot
2015-16 Veterans’ Day Assembly
2015-16 Bike Rodeo