October Newsletter 2026

Hello Cougar families! 

We are moving and grooving right into October! We did it!! We are officially the first place winners in the attendance competition and we brought home the trophy!! Thank you for your dedication with getting your student here ALL DAY, EVERYDAY!!! We are the best school in the district because of OUR PARTNERSHIP !! All of our students are working diligently on showing GROWTH!! We are currently averaging about 28 students a day taking ownership of getting themselves EXTRA HELP with our after school tutoring program!!! It sure is a great thing to see when I walk in after school and we have dedicated teachers and students working toward their GOALS!!! Our BIG fundraiser COLOR RUN is coming up in a few weeks Oct 30th. We will also have a Trunk Or Treat that night as well! We would love for everyone to show up and support our PTO fundraiser and watch our Cougar students have a blast!! Our Cougar Girls Basketball Team is in the finals!! They are undefeated and are planning to hang another banner in the gym!! They said "this will not be the last year either" ! Our girls are dedicated to improving and have set high expectations!! We truly have the best kids around and once again we appreciate YOU and all that you do for our students!! Thank you for your partnership and Thank you for being a part of our COUGAR FAMILY!!!!

Steve Smith

Principal

COUGAR COLOR RUN, FAMILY BBQ & TRUNK OR TREAT

The Cougar Color Run is our biggest event of the year, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our Ainger families!

This is a family event, and parents/guardians are expected to attend with their students.

Be sure to check out the Color Run Race Guide for everything you need to know, including:

Please note: The FREE T-shirt registration is separate from Color Run registration and is completely optional. Be sure to check the Race Guide for all the details!

Important Reminder

STAY CONNECTED

Stay connected with the Ainger PTO so you never miss an announcement, volunteer opportunity, fundraiser, or event!

We are officially entering the holiday shopping season! Cougar

Creations is excited to announce that we will soon be selling our

new line of holiday earrings, ornaments, coasters, and trinkets.

Please keep an eye out for these unique items crafted by our

students. Additionally, we will be taking orders for personalized

charcuterie and cutting boards. Stay tuned for more information

coming soon!

Medication safety may not always be something we think about as parents, but it is an

important part of keeping our children safe. Children and teens can naturally be curious

about medications, so it is important to help them understand that medications are not

something to experiment with or share. There are several simple steps parents and

caregivers can take to teach children about medication safety and help prevent

accidental or intentional misuse.

Talk About Medication Safety

One of the most important things we can do is talk openly with our children about

medications. Teach them that medications should only be taken as directed by a doctor

or other healthcare professional, or according to the instructions on the label.

Talk with your children about the risks of taking more medication than directed, taking

someone else's medication, sharing medication with others, or combining medications without first talking to a healthcare professional. It is also important to discuss the

potential dangers of combining medications with alcohol or other substances.

When having these conversations, consider showing your child the instructions on a

medication bottle and explaining what they mean. Encourage your child to ask

questions, and ask what they may have heard about medications from friends, classmates, or social media. Most importantly, listen without judgment. Creating an environment where your child feels comfortable asking questions can help keep the conversation open in the future.

Model Safe Medication Use Children learn a great deal by watching the adults around them. When you take prescription or over-the-counter medication, use it according to the directions and, when appropriate, explain to your child that you are taking it as directed.

You can also use everyday opportunities—such as giving your child a medication

prescribed for them—to reinforce safe medication practices. Remind them that

medications should only be taken by the person they were prescribed or intended for

and should always be used according to the directions.

Store Medications Safely

Safe medication storage is another important way to protect children. Medications

should be kept out of sight and out of reach of children, preferably in a locked

cabinet or other secure location.

Even medications that are commonly found in the home can be harmful when they are

taken incorrectly. Keeping medications secured can reduce the risk of accidental

exposure, misuse, or a child taking medication out of curiosity.

Remember to consider where you store medications at home, including medications

kept in purses, nightstands, bathrooms, kitchen cabinets, or other easily accessible

locations.

Dispose of Medications Properly

Proper disposal of medications is another important part of medication safety. If you

have medications that are expired, unwanted, or no longer needed, look for an

approved medication take-back or disposal location in your community.

Avoid disposing of medications in ways that are not recommended for that medication.

Proper disposal helps prevent accidental exposure and helps keep medications out of

the hands of children, teens, pets, and others who may be harmed by them. It can also

help protect the environment.

Charlotte County provides medication disposal options through designated locations,

and residents can also check with local pharmacies or law enforcement agencies for

available medication take-back services. Charlotte County's Solid Waste Division

identifies unused medications as household hazardous waste and provides information

about appropriate disposal.

Charlotte County Medication Disposal

Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Medication Disposal Drop Box Locations

Please check with the location before visiting to confirm what types of medication are

accepted and whether there are any current restrictions.

 25500 Airport Road

Punta Gorda, FL 33950

 3110 Loveland Boulevard, Building A

Port Charlotte, FL 33980

Loveland location

 11051 Wilmington Boulevard

Englewood, FL 34224

 17755 Curry Preserve Drive

Babcock Ranch, FL 33982

Other Medication Disposal Locations or Services

CVS Pharmacy

 Address: 4478 S Tamiami Trl, Port Charlotte, FL 33980

 Details: Features a secure CVS Pharmacy Medicine Disposal Box for unwanted

or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Walgreens Pharmacy

 Address: 3001 S Tamiami Trl, Port Charlotte, FL 33952

 Details: Offers onsite medication disposal envelope services

For the most current information about medication disposal options in Charlotte County,

families can also contact the Charlotte County Solid Waste Division at 941-764-4360.

A Note About Sharps

Medications and needles/syringes require different disposal methods. Charlotte County

has a separate program for household sharps, including needles and lancets. Sharps

should not be placed in household garbage or recycling.

Start the Conversation

Medication safety is not a one-time conversation. As children grow, they may encounter

new medications, new situations, and information from friends or social media.

Continuing to talk openly about medication safety gives children the knowledge and

confidence they need to make safe choices.

By talking openly, modeling safe behavior, storing medications securely, and

disposing of medications properly, parents and caregivers can take important steps

to help keep children safe.

-Jennifer Powell

Prevention Services Manager

Drug Free Charlotte County

Huge shoutout to all the amazing sponsors who support Ainger! Your generosity makes a real difference for our students and school community. We couldn't do it without you! Thank you for all you do.