COUNTY. AND THEN THEIR SUMMER BREAK STARTS AS WE WRAP OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. SOME PARENTS IN CAPE CORAL ARE UPSET. THE DIPLOMAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARBOOK HAS A PICTURE OF A GIRL GIVING THE MIDDLE FINGER. IT WAS A PART OF A PAID AD SECTION AT THE END OF THE YEAR BOOK. THE STUDENT’S MOTHER SCHOOL BOARD, MEMBER OF AN ASSOCIATE YA KNOW, RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART AN OLD TODDLER PHOTO OF HER YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS INCLUDED BY HER FAMILY AS PART OF A COLLAGE IN HER END OF YEAR RECOGNITION AD. IT WAS AN ATTEMPT AT A SILLY CANDID TODDLER MOMENT. SHE GOES ON TO SAY, QUOTE, THIS WAS POOR JUDGMENT ON MY PART AND I APOLOGIZE AND QUOTE, THE SCHOOL ALSO SENT PARENTS AN EMAIL. THEY SAID WE UNDERSTAND THE DISAPPOINTMENT. THIS CAUSE IS ESPECIALLY IN A KEEPSAKE MEANT TO CELEBRATE OUR STUDENTS. ACHIEVEMENTS. WE’RE REVIEWING OUR SUBMISSION AN
Cape Coral parents upset over yearbook photo of toddler showing middle finger
Updated: 8:24 AM EDT May 29, 2026
Parents in Cape Coral are expressing frustration after a Diplomat Elementary School yearbook featured a photo of a girl giving the middle finger in a paid ad section. The student’s mother, Vanessa Chaviano, who is also a school board member, addressed the situation in a statement. “An old toddler photo of our youngest daughter was included by our family as part of a collage in her ‘end of year recognition’ ad,” Chaviano said. “It was an attempt at a silly, candid toddler moment.” She added, “This was poor judgment on my part, and I apologize.” The school also sent an email to parents regarding the incident. “We understand the disappointment this causes, especially in a keepsake meant to celebrate our students’ achievements,” the email said. “We are reviewing our submission and oversight process so that this does not happen again.”DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Parents in Cape Coral are expressing frustration after a Diplomat Elementary School yearbook featured a photo of a girl giving the middle finger in a paid ad section.
The student’s mother, Vanessa Chaviano, who is also a school board member, addressed the situation in a statement.
“An old toddler photo of our youngest daughter was included by our family as part of a collage in her ‘end of year recognition’ ad,” Chaviano said. “It was an attempt at a silly, candid toddler moment.”
She added, “This was poor judgment on my part, and I apologize.”
The school also sent an email to parents regarding the incident.
“We understand the disappointment this causes, especially in a keepsake meant to celebrate our students’ achievements,” the email said. “We are reviewing our submission and oversight process so that this does not happen again.”
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.