Students, faculty at The Sanibel School celebrate last day
The Sanibel School marked the last day of school on May 30 as classes let out for the summer.
“It goes by so fast. Some of them are really sad, but most of them are excited,” Assistant Principal Jamie Reid said of the students, adding that the year was a success. “It’s been a great year.”
Approximately 300 students in kindergarten to eighth grade were enrolled in 2017-18.
Reid explained that most of the youth will return in August, minus the existing eighth-graders and families who move out of or into the area. In total, 38 students were promoted on to high school.
“Most of our student body will stay the same,” she said.
This past year, the school implemented some new initiatives and programs and expanded upon others currently in place. According to Reid, the innovative model called “The Leader in Me” was new.
“We didn’t go full blast into it,” she said.
The idea came from Principal Chuck Vilardi, who had it in place at his previous school.
Not really a curriculum or instructional method, it centers on Dr. Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Happy Kids,” which is a spin-off from his original book, titled “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
“It’s basically leadership skills for students and habits that will help them be successful in life,” Reid said, adding that it is a great fit. “These kids at this school, they are such natural leaders.”
As part of the new initiative, the school swapped out its annual educational fair for its first-ever Leadership Day. The community was invited out to the school to see what the students had done over the past year, and the activities involved speeches from the students, student-led tours and more.
“It was all pretty much student-led,” she said of the event.
The school plans to expand upon the model next year.
“We are funded to implement it fully,” Reid said.
Over the past year, The Sanibel School also implemented more STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – activities for the students and the youth took part in competitions.
“So we’re expanding a lot into the area, also,” she said.
Reid noted that the fifth-graders received a grant for a recycling programming.
“They actually turned it into a science lesson,” she said.
Also, the middle school implemented a new, reading incentive program with an Olympic theme.
“It was successful and the kids loved it,” Reid said.
The students kicked off their last day at school with the annual end-of-year Talent Show.
“The kids did great this morning,” Principal Chuck Vilardi said.
He noted that the program lasted for about an hour and a half and everyone who tried out made it.
“It’s for fun,” Vilardi said of the show.
“The last day of school was amazing,” he added.
Third-grader Liam Nuckolls, 9, agreed.
“Awesome,” he said when asked how his last day went.
Headed next into fourth grade, Liam said he loved the past school year.
“It was fun,” he said.
His favorite moments were making superhero stuff, the lemonade war and playing games.
Second-grader Maja Mossberg, 7, said she is really excited about the summer because her family is traveling overseas to visit Sweden and Portugal. Born in Sweden, Maja said she has been before.
Asked about her favorite part of the year, she had a quick answer.
“We didn’t have a school uniform,” Maja said.
Third-grader Elin Mossberg, 9 – her older sister – was also looking forward to summer.
“I think going to horse camp,” she said of something exciting that she has planned.
One of her favorite parts of the school year was her teacher, Karen Thompson.
“Having an awesome teacher,” Elin said. “And spending time with my best friend.”
Lee County Public Schools will resume on Aug. 10.
For more information about the school, visit sbl.leeschools.net.
The Sanibel School is at 3840 Sanibel Captiva Road.