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 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd 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 50 th 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