The third annual fundraiser for the Estero High School Culinary Program at the Shadow Wood Golf & Country Club on December 17, 2018, was completely sold out. The students offered the crowd a special treat, conducting a one-hour competition team demonstration where they created their signature three-course meal in front of their guests. Dinner featured filet mignon accompanied by a signature salad and a trio dessert. This unique dining experience will generate funds to send the high school competition team to Orlando to compete in the Florida ProStart state culinary competition as well as expand this premier Estero High School Culinary Program. Village Councilmembers were among the 256 attendees enjoying the music, the live and silent auctions, and the food, all while supporting these future chefs.

The Estero Educational Initiative was established to create a partnership between the Village of Estero and the Lee County School District to help make the schools in Estero the best they can be. It is the goal of this Initiative to create a public/private partnership between the Village of Estero and the Lee County School District, businesses, civic organizations, residents, parents and school staff to work together to encourage volunteerism in our schools and to raise funds to improve educational, recreational and esthetic experiences in our schools. This Initiative is a volunteer-run program and is funded through donations from residents and businesses. Donations go to the Estero Education Initiative which supports the schools in Estero. A new section has been added to the Village website which includes the scheduled public meetings of the task force, some of the achievements to date, Initiative partners, documents and articles thus far as well as a page where residents and businesses may contribute to the Estero Education Initiative. You may visit the page here.

The Village of Estero and the Lee County School District will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Joint Educational Advocacy Task Force at 10 a.m., Monday, May 21, 2018, at the Estero High School, 21900 River Ranch Road. Village Councilmembers and staff, the principals of the four Estero schools and District staff will be taking part in the signing ceremony. The official Memo of Understanding will: Create mentoring and tutoring possibilities Promote the development of career academies and job skill programs with local businesses Encourage student internship programs Promote the colocation of future educational and recreational facilities Promote coordination and shared financing of infrastructure projects Encourage the use of school facilities by Estero residents when not in use by students   Village of Estero officials and staff, and the principals of the four Estero schools and District staff will sit on the task force.  Its members will find, plan and implement programs, partnerships and promotional opportunities.  They will meet at least quarterly to work on their objectives. “It is truly exciting to be involved with the School District to develop a collaboration which will help meet the needs of the students in the schools in [Read More.]

Left to right: Vice-Mayor Bill Ribble, Councilmember Howard Levitan, Jessica Walsh, Councilmember Jon McLain, Cody Hutcheson, Councilmember Jim Wilson, Mayor Jim Boesch, and Councilmembers Nick Batos and Katy Errington. Some of the 45 Estero High School students recognized for outstanding performance in the November 2017 Cambridge examination series. Estero High School students recently recognized by the Cambridge Assessment International Education were congratulated and presented proclamations by Mayor Jim Boesch, Vice-Mayor Bill Ribble and Council at the beginning of this meeting. Cody Hutcheson, a junior, received the organization’s top grade in the United States for AS Sociology as well as Scholar Level with Merit, and senior Jessica Walsh was recognized at Scholar Level with Distinction.  An additional 43 Estero High School students were recognized for their outstanding performance in the 2017 Cambridge examination series. Here is the list of all of the students. Every AICE/Cambridge exam that a student passes gives the student 3-4 college credits.  In addition, most of these students have earned or will have earned their AICE/Cambridge Diploma which guarantees them the highest level Bright Futures Award given by the State of Florida, which gives them full tuition and a $300 [Read More.]