Welcome back, Summit…SHARKS!
That’s right! We’re now the Summit Christian School Sharks! To celebrate our unique geography and the incredible privilege of living near the Gulf, we are thrilled to introduce our new athletic mascot and logo. Sharks are fascinating creatures with a rich identity, and we're excited to spend some time this year learning about how our creative God made them!
So, Mommy Sharks, Daddy Sharks, Grandma and Grandpa Sharks, and all the other Sharks that love our students…
As the 2024-2025 school year approaches, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for the incredible things God will do in the lives of our students, families, faculty, and staff. Our mission to minister to students and their families by providing an excellent education grounded in God’s Word remains unwavering, and we look forward to the opportunities to minister to and support the Summit Family in the year ahead.
This update will contain important information that will help you acclimate to the new school year at Summit Christian School. Below you'll find information about:
Uniforms (including an important change regarding outerwear)
Click on individual items from the list to jump to that section below.
Welcome Back from the Head of School
I hope you’re having a wonderful summer, Summit Fam! We’ve missed your kiddos in our classrooms and are looking forward to their return in a few weeks. We’re also excited to see all the new families who are joining our school community this year! Our summer has been a busy time as we’ve worked to onboard new staff members who will help manage our growing programs, make facility improvements, purchase and assemble exciting new things like middle school lockers, desks and chairs for some of our classrooms, new computers for our Collab Lab (more about this below!), and so much more.
Our theme this year is “Walking with Jesus”, and our year verse is Colossians 2:6-7: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Please join us on Wednesday mornings from 8:05 - 8:35 in the Sanctuary for chapel each week, where we’ll spend time considering what it means to walk with the Lord, and how we can each grow in it day-by-day over the school year.
I am looking forward to seeing or meeting each one of you in the coming weeks and months. All praise to Christ our King!
Jennifer Mathews, Head of School
School will start at 8:00. The doors will open at 7:50 after staff devotions are complete, and parents may again escort their children to the classrooms. Students must be in their classrooms by 8:00 am to be considered on time.
New this year: We will begin each day with a school-wide “Shark Summit” in the courtyard. Teachers will take attendance at 8:00, then transition their students to the courtyard for an 8:05 school-wide morning meeting. Parents are invited to attend our daily Shark Summit where we will say the Pledge of Allegiance, recite our honor code, year verse, and pray to start the day. After the Summit, students will be dismissed to recess. Elementary morning recess will run from 8:10-8:30. Middle School morning recess will be from 8:10-8:20. Parents are welcome to stay for morning recess. Those staying will return to their cars from the play areas or courtyard. We ask that parents not return to the classroom buildings unless they have a meeting with a faculty member or business in the main office.
Dismissal will be at 3pm each day. Students must be picked up by 3:15, or parents will be charged an aftercare drop-in fee. All regular pick-up must go through the carline. Parents may not walk up to pick up their children. Please ensure whoever comes through the carline has your family’s tag (tags will be passed out at Back to School Night) or is listed as an approved pick-up person in your FACTS Family Portal. Friends and family members picking up students without the carline tag will have to wait until the carline is finished and come into the main office and present their ID before a student will be released to them.
A New Face in the Front Office
We are thankful that God has provided a wonderful new administrative assistant to cover our front office as Miss Lily moves into her new role. Mrs. Alfaro has joined our team this summer and has been working hard to get up to speed on all things Summit. Mrs. Alfaro recently moved to the area from Pennsylvania and has a degree in Youth Ministry with a minor in Counseling from Clarks Summit University. We can’t wait for you to get to know her!
Student Services Update
Hi All- Miss Lily here! I am so excited to transition roles and become our school’s Student Services Coordinator. In this position I will implement and maintain the school’s attendance and disciplinary system, working closely with teachers to maintain a God-honoring and effective learning environment.
As we work together this school year, one of our key focuses is on attendance. Consistent attendance is crucial for student success and achievement. While we understand that illness can occasionally prevent attendance, we expect students and families to recognize the importance of being in class. Our goal is to achieve a minimum attendance rate of 95%.
Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime, and establish a morning routine.
Lay out clothes and pack a backpack the night before.
Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are sick.
Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your child feels anxious about going to school.
Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
Why does attendance even matter?
Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
Missing 10% of a school year can make it harder to learn to read.
Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two every few weeks.
Being late to school may lead to poor attendance and makes it more difficult for your child to follow the day's routines.
Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help catch children up.
Our mission is to minister to students and their families by providing an excellent education rooted in God’s Word. My prayer is that through open communication, teamwork, and a dedication to continuous improvement, this will be a rewarding and enjoyable school year for the children and families we serve.
I’m excited to see what God has planned for us in this new school year! I can’t wait to engage with our students and create a fun, God-honoring culture. If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to email me at lnajarro@summitswfl.org.
Back to School Night will be on August 8th from 5-7 pm for elementary, and 5-8pm for middle school. All parents who attend Back to School Night will earn one parent service hour (must sign in that evening at school for credit). Here’s the evening’s schedule:
5:00 Doors open
5:00 - 5:45 Classroom/locker supply drop-off, bounce houses, snacks (not full dinner) in the
gym; middle school students pick up class schedule in gym
6:00 Entire Summit Family (kids, too!) meets in the Sanctuary. After teacher introduction,
teachers and students will be dismissed to the gym for play time. No snacks will be provided or supervised by the teachers.
6:00 - 6:40 Parent Meeting in the Sanctuary
6:45 Parents pick up students from the gym; middle school students report to first period
class; elementary students may drop off supplies until 7:00pm, then the elementary portion of the evening ends.
6:50 - 7:00 Middle School Preview Period 1
7:05 - 7:15 Middle School Preview Period 2
7:20 - 7:30 Middle School Preview Period 3
7:35 - 7:45 Middle School Preview Period 4
7:50 - 8:00 Middle School Preview Period 5
8:00 Evening Ends
This year, we're introducing an exciting new challenge to our program: The Summit Sharks Reading Frenzy! Students will be encouraged to read 10 chapter books or 30 picture books each trimester, aiming for a grand total of 30 chapter books or 90 picture books by the end of the school year. Our Reading Frenzy will run from August 13, 2024 through May 15, 2025.
To make it even more exciting, we’ll be giving out rewards for milestones reached along the way, and there will be extra-special bonuses for those who exceed the annual goal. Don’t miss our Reading Frenzy board, which will be unveiled at Back to School Night in the main school building. More information will be shared soon. Let’s dive into a year of reading adventures!
Our Reading Frenzy Challenge will be run by our new Academic Coordinator, Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith joins our team from Lee County Schools and has an extensive background as an instructional coach and teacher trainer. She began her career as a middle school math teacher, and we're so excited to have her on our team as she helps us transition fully into Singapore Math this year. Mrs. Smith has been working hard this summer to prepare our campus and programs for the new year. We can't wait for you to meet her!
Technology Update
In a time when many American children are growing up spending much of their childhood looking at screens, we desire to take a careful approach to technology use within our school.
Our aim is that rather than consume technology, Summit Christian School’s students will use technology to create real products for a real audience in a variety of ways, including:
To Communicate with Excellence;
For Engineering and Problem Solving; and
To Express Creativity.
While we desire to use technology primarily for creation, not consumption, we will also integrate technology purposefully into our educational practices, including assessments, to enhance learning experiences and promote academic growth. However, we will not rely on adaptive instructional tools that generate content for students. Instead, Summit’s teachers will use their expertise and take the lead in designing and delivering instruction, while also being responsive and flexible to meet the diverse needs of our students. We will prioritize purposeful and intentional teaching strategies that may utilize technology when it is the best available tool.
You can read more about our approach to technology use in our Family Handbook.
To help us reach these important goals for technology use at Summit, we’re thrilled to announce the creation of our new Shark Collab Lab, which will be used in addition to our iPads and Chromebooks. We thank God that he has provided the money needed to purchase enough iMacs or Apple laptops so that we can accommodate an entire class at a time in this new Mac Collab Lab.
Helping make this vision a reality is our new Technology Coach, Mrs. Taylor. We are so excited to have her join our team! With a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction focused on Educational Technology and experience using a wide variety of technology tools including AI, Mrs. Taylor will be a great resource for our classroom teachers. She will manage the new Shark Collab Lab and work with teachers weekly to create awesome learning experiences for our students. We can’t wait to see what the year holds!
Communications Update
In the 2024-2025 school year, we will be utilizing the School Status Communication App. This new app offers a range of features designed to keep you closely connected with your child’s school experience. You can expect to receive timely notifications directly on your smartphone, keeping you informed about school events, deadlines, and other important announcements. It also provides a window into your student’s day with photos and updates from school activities and events, allowing you to stay engaged with their school life. You should have received login information to your inbox. If you haven’t seen it, please check your spam folder. If you need assistance, Mrs. Polidan can help you (mpolidan@summitswfl.org).
School Status also makes it simple to sign up for volunteer opportunities, ensuring you can easily participate in school activities beyond the classroom. You’ll also have the ability to communicate directly with teachers through the app, facilitating discussions about your student’s progress or addressing any questions you may have. We ask that all messages sent to staff members go through either this app or the staff member’s email address (firstinitiallastname@summitswfl.org), and that no text messages be sent to staff member’s personal cell phone numbers.
One of the most exciting features of School Status is its automatic translation capability, which ensures that all families can access information in their preferred language with ease!
School Uniforms
This year, you'll have the convenience of purchasing uniforms from two different locations. Here are the details for the required uniform items and where you can purchase them. Please see our Family Handbook for a more detailed list of expectations for uniform items.
Polos: Renegades or Sallee
Middle School Polo: Sallee
Skirts: Renegades
Dresses: Renegades or purchase your own from (navy or light blue only) and have them embroidered at Sallee for $12. All dresses must have the mountain logo or the soon-to-be-retired SCS logo if purchased in prior years.
Bottoms (skirts, shorts, pants): Renegades or your preferred retailer (must be "uniform" style. See our handbook for more information). All bottoms must be uniform style (no visible exterior pockets, no jean-like material, etc.). Bottoms should fit loosely and comfortably and be worn at the natural waist with a belt if the bottoms have belt loops. Note: students in K4, K5, and 1st grade do not have to wear a belt with their uniform.
Outerwear: Sallee - MUST have the Summit Logo. NOTE: regular sweatshirts will no longer be allowed. ALL outerwear must be purchased at Sallee and have the Summit logo on it.
Middle School PE Uniforms: Renegades or Sallee
Chapel Shirts: Sallee - can be worn Wednesdays and/or Fridays.
Jeans: Friday only - no holes or frayed edges. Students are asked to bring $1 to support Summit's PTF.
SCS Shirts: On Fridays only, students may wear any SCS shirt they have acquired over time, including but not limited to chapel shirts and athletic shirts. On Wednesdays, only the current year’s chapel shirt may be worn instead of a uniform shirt.
Shoes: Any tennis shoe/sneaker/athletic shoe that laces up and ties, closes with Velcro, or has fitted elastic laces may be worn with ankle socks (white, gray, black, or navy). Boat shoes may also be worn. No Crocs.
Summit Swag: Sallee
Renegades: Online and In-store
Address: 17051 Jean St #10, Fort Myers, FL 33967Phone: (239) 275-6720Website: https://www.renegadesfl.com/
Sallee: Online Only
Address: 8771 College Pkwy Suite 103, Fort Myers, FL 33919Phone: (239) 691-6736Website: https://summitchristianspirit.itemorder.com/shop/home
Please note that Sallee will be operating on an online ordering basis only. However, they will have polos available in-store for trying on. Keep in mind that as the school year approaches, turnaround times at Sallee may be slower. To ensure timely delivery, we recommend placing your orders as soon as possible. Sallee keeps prices lower by not maintaining an inventory in the shop. They offer shipping straight to your home for a small fee or to the school for free.
The following images include all allowed uniforms. (Note: uniforms with the prior logo are allowed, as are prior year’s spirit or chapel shirts on Fridays only.)
Lunch Program Update
Our goal is to provide our families with healthy and affordable meal options in the 2024-2025 school year. This year’s meal program will provide parents with three options:
Lunch: $4.50/day; approximately $90/month
Breakfast and Lunch: $6.75/day; approximately $135/month
Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack: $8/day; approximately $160/month
Lunches will include things like:
Main dish: grilled bbq chicken, baked ziti, chicken alfredo
Side: brown rice, mashed potatoes, whole-grain noodles
Vegetables: corn, green beans, broccoli
Fruit: pineapple, peaches, watermelon, mandarin oranges
Milk: low-fat and fat-free milk
Breakfast and Snacks will be grab-and-go, and include items like:
Fresh fruit
Granola bars
Breakfast burritos
Yogurt
Whole-wheat cereal
Whole-wheat muffins
Students qualifying for free or reduced lunch according to federal lunch program guidelines will receive free or reduced-priced lunches only. Please contact Mr. Sheldrake for more information (bsheldrake@summitswfl.org). Note that the applications will be kept in-house and used for calculation purposes. We are not participating in the federal free meal program this year.
For regular meal purchases (entire week, entire month, entire year), please contact the Business Office (accounting@summitswfl.org). Learn how to order meals a la carte here.
SUFS Update
Thank you to those who have approved your child’s enrollment at Summit Christian School in your family’s EMA SUFS Portal. If you have not yet done so, we need your SUFS Award ID number. From there, we can enroll you in our SUFS program. You will then receive an email guiding you to log into your account and approve your child’s enrollment at SCS so that we can receive funding as soon as possible. Timely attention to this allows us to serve you better.
Once you have enrolled your child, you will not need to do anything until September. Quarterly, when SUFS notifies you, you will need to log into your SUFS EMA account and confirm your child’s continued enrollment at Summit so that we can receive payment for that time period.
STEM Update
We are excited to announce that we have a new STEM teacher this year. Mr. Vedrine is joining us from a nearby Christian school where he taught STEM and 5th grade. He has put together a STEM wishlist that we wanted to share with you in the hope that we can work together to continue to build a great STEM program for our Sharks!
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