Would you like to find out what is taught in each grade level at FMCS? do you want to see how we are working on aligning with our state’s standards? Welcome to our new “curriculum map” website provided by Rubicon Atlas.

BEFORE YOU GO THE SITE: FMCS teachers have been working very hard for many years uploading and updating information for each subject and each grade level. Not every subject and level is complete…yet. (Overall as a school, Bible will appear in 2011; teachers are still working on other subject areas) This will never be a finished product – it is ALWAYS updating every year if we want to provide the best for your children.

Please be sure to read the directions so that you understand these are not lessons plans, they are maps that will help you see the road to learning at FMCS – the content, skills, and the very important, faith integration,  that takes place. FMCS would like to thank former Principal, Shelton Gwaltney and Assistant Principal, Denise Encarnacion – they helped us get this process started in 2004.

Benefits of Mapping (From the Rubicon Atlas Site)

Atlas allows educators to look through the macro lens at a student’s learning experience and build on what students have learned in previous years to prepare them for future classes and achievement.

Using Atlas, curricular information can be assembled and used by curriculum decision makers to:

• Determine what is taught, as it actually occurs in the classroom.
• Understand how students are being taught.
• Make appropriate, immediate modifications to the curriculum.
• Determine “why” certain performance results have been achieved.

Atlas can also allow parents a larger view of what their children are experiencing in the classroom and the requirements needed to excel. It has the capability to enable community leaders and board members to see how schools are planning students’ educational careers and what support is needed to ensure success.

TO GO TO THE FMCS PUBLIC SITE, CLICK HERE

We want to thank everyone for their support this year of the 2011 FMCS Annual Golf Tournament. Mrs. Anne Kearns, golf tournament event chairperson, and a great staff of volunteers did a outstanding job. We also want to thank every golfer and every sponsor. Over $5000 was raised for the David Benton Scholarship Fund! FMCS is also thankful for the support of The Forest Golf and Country Club – see you May 5, 2012.

And now a word from our sponsors…FMCS would like to thank:

Platinum Sponsors:
- First Assembly of God
- KAIO Student Ministries
- Mathis, Gnatek, Jessen, & Associates, Inc
- Wittenborn Plastic Surgery

Silver Sponsors:
- Ft. Myers Masters Commission
- Hatfield Tree Service
- Lusk, Drasites, Tolisano and Smith P.A.
- Prestige Health Choice, L.L.C.
- Prudential Florida Realty – The Ryba Team
- W.C.I. Inc.

Bronze Sponsor:
- Merril Lynch

Hole Sponsors:
- Flint Financial Group
- Osterhout, McKinney, & Prather, PA
- Pool Doctor

COMPREHENSIVE LIST – CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE:

Our 2011 winners: left to right,Bob Legters, Jeff Brinkert, Mike Gronow, and Richard Hubbard.

Recap from 2010:Our Annual FMCS Golf Tournament was held Saturday, May 1, 2010 at The Forest. This has been one of best days of fun, fellowship and food on the school calendar every year. Our chairpersons, Wendy Fulton and Anne Kearns, did a great job. Many thanks to the parent volunteers that came out that day! We had 43 golfers that signed-up to join us for a sunny day at the Forest Golf and Country Club. Congratulations to the team of (from left to right in their photo): Ron Tyre, Chuck Basinait, Kevin Kearns (FMCS parent of Thomas Kearns), Chris Parker. They shot a 57!

Recap from 2009: May 3rd was a great day for golf, food and fellowship! The end of our three busy days of great events ended today with our annual golf tournament at The Forest Golf Club. We want to thank the 76 golfers that joined us today – we had an excellent turnout on a beautiful day. Many thanks to The Forest – first class all the way! And to Colleen Marinello, Sissy Felice, John Ryba and all our volunteers – including alumni, Christine O’Brien, who is faithful to join us every year. Congratulations to the top three teams: Third: Pastor Dan Betzer, David Betzer, Joe Micale, and Chocky Warriner; Second: Charlie Fulton, Ash Fulton, Butch Fulton and Randy Cline; and First Place: Bill Miller, Bill O’Connell, Jeff Hemenway, and Gene Taylor

2011 – From March 30 to April 5th, the 8th grade missions team of 18 students and 11 adults ministered in churches, bus stops, homeless mission, parks and nursing home in Corpus Christi, Tx. See all the highlights at www.fmcsmissions.blogspot.com

Two middle school students from Ft. Myers Christian School experienced the trip of a lifetime. Sixth grader, Austin O’Grosky (group picture, far left) and 7th grader, Sarah Swiersz (pictured far left) attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) in Washington D.C. The students joined with other students from around the country to participate in a week that helps scholars develop and sharpen their leadership skills by examining the leaders of the past and empowering them to make a positive social impact in their community and the world. Geared toward looking at leadership through a practical, everyday lens, JrNYLC incorporates a detailed examination of eight leadership traits and focuses on leaders in American history and social advocacy. Distinctive site experiences, hands-on exercises and workshops bring these concepts to life, while students work together to develop action plans that affect change within their homes and communities.

Here are some quotes from the students on their experience:

- 7th grader, Sarah Swiersz: “My experiences at the Jr. National Young Leaders Conference showed me what a leader was.  The conference used American History to show us what a leader is… I read about MDA’s, Goodwill Ambassador, Mattie Stepanek, who served from 2001-2004.  I liked when he said “although ‘To be or not to be’ is a famous question, another famous question is ‘To do or not to do?’ in life.”  Too often, we choose not to do, because it is easier that way.  I thought that is really what makes you a leader.  My favorite part about the conference was that they didn’t just tell you to be a leader; they showed you leaders around D.C.  I feel the Jr.N.Y.L.C. was very beneficial and helped me to really become a better leader.”

- Sixth grader, Austin O’Grosky: “I loved Washington D.C… It was a great experience… Some of the things I got to experience were:  The Smithsonian Institute, sleeping over at the Maryland science museum, seeing the White House, seeing the Capitol and going to the Lincoln Memorial…we also learned about leadership.  I think I really grew as a leader and would encourage others to go too.”

 Taken from http://www.cylc.org/jrnylc/

FMCS has been blessed with an excellent library on the second floor of the Children’s Center. This library contains books for elementary and middle school students. During the course of the year, we two Book Fairs! Please feel free to visit when you are on the campus! Click here to link to the library site.

Walsworth Publishing Company Award

The Walsworth Publishing Company has awarded the 2008-2009 Fort Myers Christian School yearbook staff one of the company’s most distinguished awards. The 2009 edition of the FMCS “Talon” yearbook will be included in the Walsworth Publishing Company’s Gallery of Excellence. The Gallery of Excellence is a national showcase of the best yearbooks published by Walsworth. Only a small percentage of the company’s yearbooks receive this honor. (This marks two years in a row!)

Walsworth company representatives use Gallery of Excellence yearbooks nationwide as high-quality examples, loaned to schools as idea generators, and are often displayed at regional, state, and national conventions and workshops. Gallery books are selected based on how well they provide thorough coverage of the school year with intriguing stories, superior photography and innovative design.

Accelerated Reader Program (AR program)

This national program encourages students to read! To find out more information about the AR program, go to http://www.renlearn.com/ar/ | Complete list of AR Quizzes |

2010-11: K thru 5th grade , 118 students took 8402 AR quizzes, read 57,010,803 words, and earned combined total of 10,307.8 AR points!

AR Incentives 11-12

Accelerated Reader Winners 11-12 1st qtr

Accelerated Reader qtr 2

Congratulations: SCHOOL RECORD, SET IN 2009-2010: Blair Colbert beats Zachary Liebetreu (515.5) - NEW RECORD, 594.6 PTS.! 2010-11 top points: Alana Dukas, 400!

This year’s remaining party dates: (1:30 pm in the Children’s Center Cafteria)

► January 19,20, 2011

► March 30,31, 2011

► May 18, 19, 2011

We have been blessed for over 25 years with great students and families that have been a part of Fort Myers Christian School (FMCS). We are looking for alumni that can help us with this information page and we are always looking for praise report news on our former students. If you can help us, feel free to contact us.

Jan 27, 2009
School history made: For the first time, your chapel offerings are helping support a former FMCS graduate who is on the mission field – Mr. Nolan Tarantino. THANK YOU! Check out the video at http://whereintheworldarethetarantinos.com/downloads/fmcs.mov

September 2008
Matt Caldwell, class of 1995, is running for the District 27 senate seat for the state of Florida. You can visit his website at http://www.votecaldwell.org/ “I

September, 2006
Congratulations to class of 2005, Kelsie Krohn and 2006, Lane Joslin who made the homecoming court at ECS this year!

September, 2006
Congratulations to Courtney Creamer, Class of 2003, Cape Coral Breeze Female Athlete of the Week, volleyball for Ida Baker High School

 June, 2006
Congratulations those alumni selected as salutatorian or valedictorian of their graduating high school classes: Barbara Fischer (SFCA), Ryan Kelly (SFCA) and Arianne Williams (Ft. Myers High School)

Class of 1986
The official reunion website link is http://www.fmcsclassof86.com/ (Thank-you Frank Wanicka)

November, 2005
Ty Turner, Class of 2002, voted Homecoming King at ECS!

October 2005
Congratulations to two of our 2005 graduates: Kelsie Krohn was selected for the Homecoming Court at ECS. Trey Yeatter has been voted freshman Class President at North Fort Myers High!

September 2005
Our prayers go out to 2001 graduate, Aimee Dube, who is serving the Lord on the mission field in Quito, Ecuador! She is helping in a school office and working with children.

August 2005
Andrew Richter, Class of 2001, has entered the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

August 15, 2005:
I have been married 16 years. I live in Mobile, Alabama now. My husband is a full time Associate Pastor/Minister of Music of a church of about 800. We love it. I am doing exactly what I put in the yearbook. I am a real estate Paralegal. How often does that happen?
I just wanted to say Hello. I hope all is well. My son who is in the 9th grade this year is going to a christian private school. I told him that I would not trade my expierence for the world.
Have a great year. God Bless!

Former student Stacy Kilgore (Hilyer)

►Eighth grade Mexico Missions Trip: due to the current violence in Juarez, Mexico, the location of the trip was moved to Corpus Christi, Tx for the  first time since 1991. information on the 2012 Missions Trip to Corpus Christi, Texas. Dates are March 8-14, 2012.

►Kingdom Assignment – begins February 1st each year! In 2009, the school received an award from the founders, Denny and Leesa Bellesi.  Students and families raising money for our financial aide program in a unique way – over $50,000 in 7 years! Read about this project and the award by clicking this link – The Kingdom Assignment

►Community Service is a requirement for our 6th, 7th and 8th graders. During the first semester of the 08-09 school year, you would have seen our students serving in churches, at the Sanibel Coastal Clean-Up, Edison-Ford Estates, animal shelters, bell ringers for the Salvation Army, tutoring other students, soup kitchens, Harry Chapin Food Bank, homeless shelter, babysitting, Boy Scouts, helping an injured Veteran, wrapping presents, and helping organizations that provide Christmas gifts for the needy. 

►Mission 25:40 – our award winning outreach program was recognized by the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) as an Exemplary Program! Mission 25:40

►Salvation Army Can Food Drive – FMCS has been the number one K-8 and Private school in Lee County the last two years – 2501 in 2006; 4506 in 2007.  NEW: FMCS was once again the number one private elementary school in Lee County!

►Africa Well Project: In conjunction with Pastor Dave Richards of Kidztown, we helped raise money to build a well in Africa for those needing water

►Operation Christmas Child: over the last five years, FMCS families have contributed over 1500 Christmas shoeboxes around the world thru Samaritans Purse. In June of 06, Jacob Edwards (a fifth grader at FMCS) was surprised to receive a letter from a child from India. Here is what was said in the letter:

May 2007

Good friend,

Hello, My name is Jaison from india. I am 14 years old. Thank-you very much for your lovely Christmas gifts through Samaritans Purse. Thanks for your love and sacrifice towards me. I would love to be your friend if you wish it would be for me a great joy and pride to become your friend. Please write me in detail about you.

►Weekly Chapel Offerings:

Two children sponsored thru Latin American Childcare

88.7 WAY-FM – Christian hit radio’s ministry to SW Florida (FM 88.7)

Missionaries – alumni Nolan Tarantino (Belgium)

As part of our commitment to the strongest academic program possible, we endeavor to utilize the best curriculum available. When possible, Christian publishers are used, but in some cases other types of curriculum are better in development and quality.  The following list gives the publishers of the texts for our classes:

Middle School Curriculum – Grades 6-8 (subject to change)

*Electives include yearbook, drama, computer, teacher aide, study hall, Photoshop, chorus and art.
* Each middle school student is required to have a New International Version (NIV) Bible.

More program highlights:

Curriculum Textbooks