Island school students, staff mark last day of year
The Sanibel School held its final day of school on June 1 as classes let out for the summer.
“It was a great celebration of a lot of learning and a lot of fun,” interim Administrator Jill Gurgal.
Students took part in the Annual Talent Show, with the closing act provided by the faculty.
“The talent show was great,” she said. “We had some students that were singing, some students performing gymnastics, some students dancing.”
Staff prepared a very islandy performance — the song “Kokomo.”
“As always, our middle school team performs a song, which is our final act that everyone looks forward to because you never know what they’ll have up their sleeve,” Gurgal said.
Also on the last day, the eighth graders moving on to high school participated in the traditional parade through the hallways, cheered on by students and faculty holding posters and offering warm wishes.
“Some of the younger students make signs wishing them well,” she said.
“It’s just one final way for the class to be together,” Gurgal said. “To say goodbye.”
The day concluded with the 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony.
The school year began with 210 students enrolled and it ended with 206.
As for programs, it continued with its Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS), themed “SEAS the Day” — Showing respect, Engaging in learning, Acting responsibly, and Safety first.
“It really incentivizes students to do the right thing and have positive behavior,” she said.
Gurgal noted that the school families and community support the program by providing donations. When a student turns in a filled out SEAS card, they get to visit the prize cart to pick something.
“We had almost 3,000 SEAS cards turned in,” she said. “That was an increase from last year.”
Middle school students grew mangroves throughout the year as part of a project and then planted them toward the end of the year. The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) held its annual kayaking trip.
“We continued our partnerships with ‘Ding’ Darling, SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) and CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) to support our environmental education in K-5 and also our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) for grades 6-8,” Gurgal said.
They visited the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, Pick Preserve and more.
“We did lots of walking field trips and biking field trips,” she said.
Some of this year’s achievements included:
– Students competed in the School District of Lee County’s math competition, with one student taking second place in the fifth grade division.
– Two students participated in the district’s Spelling Bee.
– Nineteen students were recognized as Million Word Readers.
– NJHS students attended the LEAD Conference in Washington, D.C.
– The Seahorse Chorale traveled on a field trip to Boston and New York City to perform.
Gurgal explained that while the students’ test results were not back yet as of the end of the year, the preliminary data did look positive. The school is a nationally-recognized Blue Ribbon School.
“We still do expect to be a solid A school,” she said.
Gurgal noted that based on the early information, the school is above the averages for the district and state. The students also showed gains in the areas of proficiency and learning, according to the data.
“We had three students who achieved perfect scores on end-of-year assessments,” she said.
In addition, several students took high school classes this year.
As the faculty bid farewell to students on the last day, it did the same for some co-workers.
Kindergarten teacher Gina Brancatella will not be returning next year as she is relocating out of the area. Recent Principal Jennifer Lusk resigned in early May for an opportunity outside the district.
Gurgal was promoted from assistant principal to serve through the year’s end.
“To continue the stability and consistency within the school,” she said.
As a result of recent budget cuts, the assistant principal job has been eliminated for 2026-27.
“I have chosen not to apply for the principal position. It was a very difficult decision for me,” Gurgal said, explaining that she has a child under age 2 and the position requires a high level of responsibility and dedication. “I have to chosen to put my family first. I can’t give up that much time with my son.”
Pending the school board’s approval, she will transfer to Cape Elementary School on June 30.
Gurgal voiced her thanks and gratitude to the island families and community.
“I’m just grateful for the time that I spent here and for all of the support that I received,” she said. “It’s been an honor to serve the students and the community for the last three years.”
Also pending board approval, Dr. Thomas Millins will serve as the new principal next year.
“He is a fantastic, well respected, experienced administer,” Gurgal said.
With the district for 25 years, Millins is the principal at Edgewood Academy in Fort Myers. He has also served as principal at Pine Island Elementary School and the North Fort Myers Academy for The Arts.
“He really values community and a student-centered mindset,” she said.
According to Edgewood’s website, Millins has been a school-based administrator at elementary and middle schools for the past 20 years. He has worked on district committees, including the Code of Conduct, District Advisory Council, Sterling Quality, and Safety Committees. Millins has worked as staff development site coordinator and crisis prevention instructor and on district grant committees.
As for the year’s end, Gurgal pointed to The Sanibel School PTA and Sanibel School Fund.
“Our PTA and Sanibel School Fund are a huge integral part of our school community,” she said.
Gurgal reported that the Sanibel School Fund supports STEAM and enrichment opportunities for other programs, and it has expanded to extracurricular activities, like athletics, performing arts and music.
“We’re just really grateful for all of that support,” she said.
Gurgal continued that the PTA spoils the teachers and staff, coordinates volunteers for teachers in their classroom and in the lunchroom, plans events to bring the school and community together, and more.
“We are so grateful for everything they do,” she said.
The school has openings for the 2026-27 school year.
“We’re still accepting enrollment for all grades, K-8,” Gurgal said.
Interested families can schedule a tour of the school.
For more information, contact Donna Marks as donnamm@leeschools.net.
For more about the school, visit https://sbl.leeschools.net/.
The Sanibel School is at 3840 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.