UPPER CAMPUS NEWS

Saturday, August 12, 2023



Imagine School at North Port

2757 Sycamore Street

North Port, Florida 34289

John B. Halcomb, Principal

john.halcomb@imagineschools.org

(941) 426-2050 extension 706

Hello ISNP Upper Campus Families,

It has been exciting these last few days to welcome back our returning students and to meet those that are new to us this year. Parents, you have done a phenomenal job in helping the arrival and dismissal processes go smoothly! Thank you! Please continue to follow the car line procedures, so we can keep all of our students and staff safe during arrival and dismissal.

The past two newsletters have been packed with a great deal of information provided to assist everyone in having a successful start to the new school year. I have kept that information in this newsletter for your convenience and for the benefit of those families that are new to us this week. Additionally, throughout the school year, you will have access to this information in the Informational Links section of every weekly newsletter.

It is already time to conduct our first session of benchmark testing. The STAR testing window for middle school students opens this week. Math students in grades 6-8 will take the STAR Math Assessment on Wednesday, August 16, during their math class. ELA students in grades 6-8 will take the STAR ELA Assessment on Thursday, August 17, during ELA class. The data from these important exams are used to guide instruction for students, so please encourage your child to be well-rested, to eat a healthy breakfast, and to give his or her very best effort when taking these exams. More information is available here, and you may contact Mrs. Char Tollar, ISNP Upper Campus Testing Coordinator, at Char.tollar@imaginenorthport.com for any questions related to student assessments.

Thank you for choosing Imagine School at North Port. We look forward to the year ahead!

John B. Halcomb

Principal ISNP Upper Campus

Mark Your Calendar

Monday, August 14

• Senior Meeting High School Lunch, Rm 205
• 8th Grade Team Meeting, 5th Period, Rm 409
• ASAP, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Rm 501
• ISNP Boys Golf Club Practice, 4:15 p.m., Heron Creek Country Club
• Band & Choir Parent Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Cafeteria

Tuesday, August 15

• ASAP, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Rm 501
• Band and Choir Spirit Night, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Chipotle North Port
• Girls JV Volleyball at Sarasota Christian, 5:30 p.m., Away
• Governing Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Upper Campus

Wednesday, August 16

• STAR Math Testing
• 6th Grade Team Meeting, 2nd Period, Rm 804
• 7th Grade Team Meeting, 3rd Period, Rm 404
• ASAP, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Rm 501

Thursday, August 17

• STAR Reading Testing
• ASAP, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Rm 501
• FCA Leadership Meeting, 12:04 - 12:30, Rm 705

Friday, August 18

• High School Lunch Meeting, Rm 501
• ASAP, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Rm 501
• Student Government Association, 3:45 p.m., Rm 702

Saturday, August 19

• Band and Choir Car Wash, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Advanced Auto Parts

 Upcoming Events:

Access the Upper Campus School Calendar HERE

Meet Our New Teachers and Staff!

Kim Smith

My name is Kim Smith, and I am so excited to start the school year at Imagine School at North Port as an Intensive Reading Teacher. I have a master's degree in Exceptional Student Education and am beginning my 18^th year of teaching. My first 15 years teaching were in Georgetown, Kentucky and the past two years in Port Charlotte, Florida.

My husband and I love it here in Florida! No more snow and ice storms! We have two daughters and a one-year-old grandson that live in Colorado. Our son lives in North Carolina, and my parents live in West Virginia. Needless to say, we travel quite a bit during the summer. 

I can't wait to meet and work with all of you!

Kaitlin McCall

Introducing Ms. McCall, the High School Art Teacher! With a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for the arts, Ms. McCall finds joy in creating her own masterpieces and is equally thrilled to guide her students on their artistic endeavors. She firmly believes that everyone is capable of becoming an artist. No matter their skillset, everyone can learn! She extends this philosophy into the classroom. She recently moved to the Sunshine State from Colorado and is excited to join the ISNP Shark family!

Michael Moodie

Mr. Moodie is a math enthusiast who holds a Bachelor or Arts in Mathematics from the University of Florida. He enjoys working with children and young adults, helping them to develop the tools they need for success in life. He is very excited about his new adventure here at Imagine School at North Port and is happy to be part of the family. One interesting fact about Mr. Moodie is that if you ever happen to be in Houston, Texas and see his look alike, that’s probably his twin brother. Yes, there’s another Mr. Moodie, and he’s a math professor at a college in Houston. They say great minds think alike, or maybe they’re just twins!

Jamie Trina

My name is Jamie Trina, and I am beginning my second year of teaching. After spending 20 years in the financial industry, I decided to embark on a new career in education. I am originally from Ohio, and relocated to Florida four years ago. With two children of my own in high school, I have grown to highly respect teachers. The ability to make connections with students and to lead young people are characteristics that I saw in myself when deciding to become an educator. I aspire to be someone that makes a difference in a student's life and to lead them towards success. I look forward to becoming a leader for your child and helping them grow into a well-rounded young adult.

Colonel Richard Borkowski

Richard Borkowski is our new Young Marines Unit Commander. He was born in Wisconsin and has lived in Florida for the past 2 years. He served in the military for over 33 years, and during that time, he went on multiple overseas tours around the world. Colonel Borkowski has three master’s degrees and has taught in the high school classroom setting as well as worked in various administrative positions. Outside of Young Marines work, he is a major NFL fan. Go Packers!

Jade Lewis

Ms. Lewis is a computer and financial literacy teacher and previously worked for Charlotte County Public Schools. Her innovative approach to teaching has certified numerous students in Digital Literacy.

She is passionate about integrating technology into her lessons, and

her educational philosophy centers on enjoyment as the most efficient way to learn. In her classes, she works to have students develop critical-thinking skills through interactive discussions and custom projects based on real-world scenarios.

Ms. Lewis received her Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice from The University of Tampa and a Bachelor of Science in Business and Free Enterprise from Florida Southern College.

Tom Mullins

This is Tom Mullins, our new Facility Manager. Tom moved to North Port from Massachusetts with his family in 2021. He has a background in law enforcement and has been involved in various construction trades for many years.

In his time off he enjoys being outdoors reconnecting with nature alongside his wife Danielle and his children Elias and Vivian. He is actively involved in his children's recreational activities and proud to be a baseball and dance Dad. He is a stand up comedy enthusiast with aspirations of owning his own comedy club. 

Tom is excited to learn, grow and contribute to the success of Imagine Schools. 

Rob Edson

Hello, my name is Rob Edson, and I am thrilled to be joining Imagine School at North Port as a sixth grade math teacher this year. My wife and I have recently relocated from New Hampshire and love the area. I have been an educator for more than 30 years and can honestly say I love what I do now as much, or more, than ever. My goal is to create a safe and supportive classroom environment where students are free to grow and learn from mistakes as they strive to reach their full potential. When I am not in the classroom, you can find me going for a run with my wife, playing disc golf, or reading a book. I enjoy soccer, and my favorite soccer club is Liverpool. See you soon!

Daniel Belitch

Mr. Belitch will be teaching High School Math for the ISNP Upper Campus. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2016, and has lived in Port Charlotte most of his life. He has been a proofreader for the Charlotte newspaper and worked for the Mathnasium. Most recently, Mr. Belitch worked for Charlotte County Schools as a GED teacher. He has been self-studying Japanese for 3 years and enjoys puzzles, games and catching up with friends.

Allison Mille

Ms. Mille will be teaching sixth grade Language Arts this year. She was born and raised in Wisconsin and moved to the North Port area a little less than a year ago. She is a first year teacher and was a long-term substitute at ISNP last school year. Additionally, Ms. Mille is one of the middle and high school volleyball coaches for the Upper Campus! 

Josh Santoro

Mr. Joshua Santoro is joining us from the state of Pennsylvania. He is an experienced Physical Education (PE) teacher who will be working with Imagine students in a wide variety of PE classes, as well as HOPE classes. He has coached for over twenty years at both the middle and high school levels in soccer, basketball, and baseball. Mr. Santoro proudly relates that over ten of his high school athletes have met with much success and moved on to play at the collegiate level. Mr. Santoro has been married for over twenty-five years and has two sons. One is currently serving in the United States Army!

New Legal Requirement Regarding Student Names

One of the recent legal developments is an administrative rule pertaining to the names by which school personnel refer to students. As in the past, our default will continue to be the use of students' legal names under which they are registered. However, Florida's Department of Education has proposed a new rule (FAC 6A-1.0955(8)(m)) that necessitates some changes.

This rule aligns with Florida's Parents' Bill of Rights and requires school districts to create and distribute a form allowing parents to specify names other than the student's legal name for school personnel to use. Parents/guardians are now required to formally authorize the use of alternative names at school.

For example, if a student's name is "William," parents may express written permission for school personnel to refer to the student as "Will," "Bill," "Willie," "Billie," or another name. Without such authorization, school personnel must refer to each student by their legal name on file with the school.

If you would like for your student to be called by a nickname or another name other than the student's legal name, please fill out the Name Authorization Form and return it to your student's advisory teacher. You can request a copy of the form from the office or you cam access it by clicking here. The authorized name(s) will be uploaded to our Student information System and will appear in GradeBook once fully integrated. During the transition, school personnel are required to refer to the student by their legal name. Please expect a reasonable lag time for the name changes to be processed.

Student and Family Handbook

An essential element to school success is for parents and students to know the expectations! Important information regarding ISNP rules and procedures can be found in the 2023-2024 ISNP Upper Campus Student and Family Handbook. You may access it here. Please be sure to read the handbook thoroughly and review it with your child. Signature pages will be sent home the first week of school and must be signed and returned by August 15. You may also access the handbook signature page here, print and sign it, and have your child return it to his or her advisory teacher.

School Hours and Attendance

School hours for the Upper Campus (grades 6-12) are 8:20 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. This is the same as last year. Attendance and punctuality make a major difference in a student's success at school. It is important that students are in class, seated, and ready to learn by 8:20 a.m. Information regarding the ISNP Upper Campus Attendance Policy is available here and in the 2023 ISNP Student and Family Handbook. Additional information about building good habits for attendance can be found here.

Student Uniforms

You will find the ISNP Upper Campus Dress Code Policy on pages 13-14 of the Student and Family Handbook. You may also access it here. Information on how to purchase school uniforms is available on our website and linked here for your convenience. ISNP uses two vendors for uniforms, Buffalo Graffix and In Unison. If you have any questions regarding uniforms, please contact Mr. Graham, Assistant Principal, at 941-426-2050, ext. 713, or you can email him at Tony.graham@imaginenorthport.com.

School Calendar of Events

The ISNP School Calendar of Events is available on our website and linked here for your convenience. This calendar is updated frequently, so please visit it often to obtain the most recent and available information regarding school events. For questions regarding the school calendar or school events, please contact Ms. Robyn Bombenger in the front office at Robyn.bombenger@imaginenorthport.com or by calling 941-426-2050.

Arrival

The ISNP Upper Campus arrival (morning) and dismissal (afternoon) car lines will be the same as last year. Parents and children must remain in car line and inside their vehicle at all times. Please do not park and walk your student onto the campus or into the buildings. You can access a copy of the map for the morning car line by clicking here. Gates between the cafeteria and 400 building are opened at 7:00 a.m. and parents may begin dropping off their students inside the gates at that time. Students with 1st period classes at the gym may also be dropped off in the gym car line between 7:45 a.m. and 8:10 a.m.

Students who eat a school provided breakfast will report directly to the cafeteria upon arrival. Students who arrive at, or after, 8:15 a.m. will report directly to their first period class.

Dismissal

Student dismissal will begin at 3:30 p.m. All students will be dismissed at this time. You can access a copy of the dismissal car line map by clicking here. There are two dismissal car lines, the cafeteria car line, and the gymnasium car line. The only students that may be picked up at the gymnasium are 6th grade students and students that have their last class of the day in the gymnasium.

Parents will line up along Sycamore Street approaching from Plantation Boulevard. If you have a student that qualifies for gym pick up, you will turn left into the gym parking lot at the gate closest to the athletic field. After picking up your student, you will continue to follow the flow of traffic out of the parking lot making a right-hand turn onto Sycamore Street.

If you do not have a sixth-grade student or a student who has eighth period class at the gym, you will follow traffic through the cafeteria car line. Parents will pick up students in grades 7 through 12 via this route if their student(s) have their last class of the day in the 200, 400, 500, 600, 700 or portable buildings. Please remember that traffic on Sycamore Street from the gym to the front office building is one way only.

Car line traffic is usually heaviest during the first few weeks of school, so please be patient and allow everyone to get used to the process. Expect afternoon pick up to take a little longer during the first few weeks. Please contact Mr. Tony Graham, Assistant Principal, for any questions regarding our arrival and dismissal procedures.

Student Schedules

Student schedules were provided at Meet the Teacher and are now available in the parent portal. You may access the parent portal by clicking here. If you have not previously signed up through this portal, you need to do so at this time by following the directions provided via the link.

Questions regarding student schedules may be addressed with the school counselors. Mrs. Van Pelt and Mrs. Gillispie will be available in the cafeteria beginning at 8:00 a.m. on August 10 and 11 to help students with schedule issues. You may also reach them at the following email addresses: Mrs. Amy Van Pelt at Amy.vanpelt@imaginenorthport.com for high school schedules; Mrs. Danielle Gillispie at Danielle.gillispie@imaginenorthport.com for middle school schedules.

Student Drivers

All student drivers, regardless of their schedule, must park in the gym parking lot. Student parking passes must be displayed in all student vehicles while parked on school grounds. Parking passes are $30.00 each and may be purchased from Mr. Robert Stetter, Transportation Director, during lunches at his office located in the back of the cafeteria. Student vehicles parked in the front office parking lot, in the business adjacent to the front office, or anywhere other than the student parking area will be towed.

Bus Transportation

ISNP bus transportation is provided for students in kindergarten through grade 12 that live more than 2 miles from school. However, your child must be registered online to ride, and students who rode a bus during the last school year must be re-registered if they plan to ride again this year. To register, you will need to submit an online Student Transportation Request Form. The form can be found by clicking here.

Early registration opened July 1 and closed August 1. Registration will reopen during the second week of school. Anyone who registers after August 1 will be contacted as seats become available in the order that their registration was received. 

Students are required to hand a copy of their registration ticket to the bus driver on the first day that they ride the bus.  Students without a ticket will not be allowed on a bus. Please keep in mind that routes may change each year. Our current bus routes can be found here.

If you have not received an email confirmation by August 8, or if you have any questions regarding ISNP bus transportation, please contact the Transportation Director, Robert “Dug” Stetter, at Dug.stetter@imaginenorthport.com.