Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort MyersSun and clouds with a stray shower possible
FORT MYERS Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort Myers Drivers along Interstate 75 near Colonial Boulevard can expect changes soon.
the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
FORT MYERS Colonial Boulevard continuous flow intersection opens Sunday in Fort Myers Drivers along Interstate 75 near Colonial Boulevard can expect changes soon.
the weather authority Sun and clouds with a stray shower possible The Weather Authority says sun and clouds overhead will lead to another day with above-average temperatures.
FORT MYERS LCSO offering youth boxing program The Lee County Sheriff’s Office youth boxing program is your kid’s golden ticket to mastering the art of self-defense.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man speaks on helping apprehend armed 13-year-old The man who helped apprehend an armed 13-year-old spoke on the incident.
NAPLES Naples Cars on Fifth event fuels $2M for local charity efforts For over two decades, car enthusiasts in Southwest Florida have gathered on Fifth Avenue in Naples.
MARCO ISLAND Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island set to reopen Collier County announced the reopening of the Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Animal Shelter to host Puppy Bowl 3 ahead of big game Ahead of the big game on Sunday, Cape Coral Animal Shelter will be featuring its very own Puppy Bowl III.
FORT MYERS From the ballpark to the beach: the Minnesota Twins are back for Spring Training 1700 miles later the Twins truck is here and the team from Minnesota is ready to spend the next six weeks here in Fort Myers.
the weather authority Warm stretch continues throughout this weekend The Weather Authority says if you are a fan of the warmer weather, you are going to love this weekend.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s red tide raises health alerts and wildlife concerns With great weather in the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a perfect beach weekend. However, visitors to the barrier islands should exercise caution.
NAPLES Naples Automotive Experience raises funds for St. Matthew’s House The Naples Automotive Experience brought excitement and philanthropy to the community, raising money for St. Matthew’s House.
MATLACHA Little Pine Island bridge work causes delays, FDOT promises progress Construction on the Little Pine Island Bridge has narrowed traffic to one lane, causing significant delays for drivers.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
FILE: Classroom at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School. (Credit: Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School/FILE) In a few weeks, kids head back to class. But for a lot of teachers, their summer break is over. They are getting ready for another school year and that means buying school supplies. Kaisha Louis, a sixth-grade teacher at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School, likes to make her lessons as attention-grabbing as possible. “We have a lot of standards we have to get through during the school year,” Louis said. “It’s really important for them to really want to go over their standards.” That includes everything from interactive notebooks to hands-on projects and motivational candy. “It’s really good and engaging for the students,” Louis said. “But, it kind of gets a little pricey sometimes.” A couple of hundred dollars a year, pricey. While she takes advantage of the teacher sales at big box stores, she said those visits add up. To help reduce costs, Louis shops at thrift stores and on social media. Louis even created the Facebook page, Teachers of Lee County Swap, where teachers can trade or sell supplies. “Teachers from Lee County, Charlotte County, they’ve gone on there and post things they don’t need,” Louis said, “if they’re switching from third grade to sixth grade.” For projects beyond the school budget, Louis uses Donor’s Choose, which is a website where teachers can upload a wishlist and anyone can donate items. “Being able to put that out there for people to contribute is really, really nice,” Louis said. Some teachers also keep an Amazon wishlist. Teachers receive a supplies stipend from the state and local districts tell us it is between $200 to $300 per year. But hundreds of teachers took a WINK News poll. Our results show that more than a third said they spend at least $600 a year on top of that. “It’s so worth it,” Louis said. “Like that light bulb that just pops up above their head, and they want to keep going, that’s worth every cent honestly.” The community can also help out schools without spending any extra money. On some household items like cereal or plastic bags, are Box Tops for Education valued at ten cents a piece. Class photo from students at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School. (Credit: Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School) Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School principal Dr. Nathan Shaker says their Box Top funds go toward expenses associated with the Special Olympics, and competition registrations– like robotics competitions, or math team events. Charlotte County tells us their Box Tops funds go towards things like student and teacher supplies, field trips and yearbooks. Louis says people can also donate their time by offering to be a career speaker or volunteering for their children’s events.