Newsletter - Summer 2015

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AUGUST 2015
PANTHER PRESS
Seminole Middle School 6200 SW 16th St Plantation, FL 33317 754-­‐323-­‐4200 School Fax: 754-­‐323-­‐4285 Attendance Line: 754-­‐323-­‐4202 Guidance: 754-­‐323-­‐4220 Cafeteria: 754-­‐323-­‐4210 Administration Mrs. Marlow, Principal Assistant Principals Mr. DeKlavon, 6th Ms. Curry, 7th Ms. Fiorentino, 8th School Counseling Mr. Robinson, Counselor Director Mrs. Forth, Counselor Upcoming Events Thursday, August 20, 2015 Schedule Pick-­‐Up 6th Grade: 3:00 -­‐ 4:00 7th Grade: 4:00 -­‐ 5:00 8th Grade: 5:00 -­‐ 6:00 Monday, August 24, 2015 First Day of School Thursday, September 3, 2015 Open House/Title I Open House 6:00 p.m. -­‐ 8:00 p.m. Monday, September 7, 2015 No School-­‐Labor Day Monday, September 14, 2015 No School-­‐Rosh Hashana Thursday, September 17, 2015 Early Release -­‐ Dismissal at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2015 No School-­‐Yom Kippur Thursday, September 24, 2015 Interim Reports Issued Welcome from the Principal Welcome to the 2015 – 2016 school year! It is my hope that your summer vacation has brought with it time to spend with family and friends. The new school year represents a time for new ideas, possibilities and challenges. A special welcome to the incoming 6th graders and their parents as you embark on your journey through middle school. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the returning students and parents as we begin another exciting school year showcasing your Panther Pride!
As you know, in April 2015 students around the state took the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) which replaced the FCAT. Due to the state’s transition from the FCAT to the FSA, school grades will not be released until much later in the year. I am con]ident that we will maintain our A status. I attribute this level of con]idence to the faculty & staff’s commitment to educating students no matter what the cost. Seminole Middle School is unique in design as it offers an in boundary DECAL program – Division of Enhanced Communication and Law. This program allows advanced and gifted students the opportunity to earn additional high school credits above the credits already offered in math and foreign language. It is designed to expose students to a higher level of rigor as they journey through middle school. The faculty and staff at Seminole are a dedicated group of individuals that all contribute to the success this school has enjoyed through the years. When parents and staff partner together, students have the best chance to succeed at their highest potential. Regular attendance, punctuality and class preparedness are the ingredients to success. Outside the classroom there are many exciting clubs and sporting opportunities. Extra-­‐curricular activities are another key ingredient to success. Research indicates that students who are active in extra-­‐curricular activities are more successful in school. Please join us at the SAC/SAF and PTA monthly meetings as we work together as a school and community to educate each and every child that attends Seminole Middle School. Sincerely, Kathryn Marlow, Principal The First Day of School is Monday, August 24, 2015 School Hours are 8:10 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Be ready for a GREAT school year! 1
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~Procedures for Reporting Absences~ Whenever your student is absent the absence needs to be reported within two school days of the absence. In order to report an absence call (754) 323-­‐4202. After school hours you may leave a message with the following information: • Student Name • Student ID Number • Grade • Date(s) of Absence • Telephone number Please be advised of the district guidelines for the attendance policy: a. Both excused and unexcused absences, along with tardiness and early sign outs will count towards determining a pattern of non-­‐attendance. b. A student may be absent no more than 5 days in a marking period. c. A pattern of non-­‐attendance to school is established when a student has an accumulation of 5 days (30 hours) in a marking period or 10 days (60 hours) within 90 days. d. A statement by the parents explaining the absences and tardiness must be on ]ile with the school if a pattern of non-­‐attendance to school has developed. e. A student will be considered truant if 15 unexcused absences have accumulated during a 90 day period.
AUGUST 2015
Keep Updated on Student Achievement Pinnacle http://gradebook.browardschools.com/piv Select Seminole Middle School Login -­‐ 10 digit student # Password -­‐ student’s birthday yyyy/mm/dd Virtual Counselor www.browardschools.com/virtualcounselor Follow login instructions 2015-­‐2016 Cafeteria Prices Breakfast: FREE Lunch: $2.35 Reduced Lunch Prices Breakfast: FREE Lunch: $0.40 School Lunch information can be found at www.broward.k12.]l.us/foodservice/ Apply for Free and Reduced Lunch at www.applyforlunch.com.
FIRST DAY PACKETS Parents, please ]ill out and return all information sent home with students on the ]irst day. Students should return all forms to their 1st Block Teacher by Friday, August 28, 2015. SCHEDULE CHANGES Schedule changes will be limited to academic misplacements for the ]irst ten days of school. Electives will be considered after the ]irst ten days of school based on availability. In an effort to comply with the Class Size Reduction Amendment schedule changes may be necessary after the start of the school year. SCHEDULE CHANGES WILL NOT BE COMPLETED DURING SCHEDULE PICK-­‐UP. TRANSPORTATION AND BUS QUESTIONS Please be advised that bus passes issued by the district arrive approximately 2-­‐3 days before the opening of school. If you do not receive a pass, we will have a table set up during schedule pick-­‐up. 6th and 7th grade students on reassignment will have to wait for the “Open Seat Process” in October to be assigned a bus. For additional information, contact transportation at (754)321-­‐4150.
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AUGUST 2015
SCHEDULE PICK-­‐UP Thursday, August 20, 2015 6th Grade: 3:00-­‐4:00 7th Grade: 4:00-­‐5:00 8th Grade: 5:00-­‐6:00 If you are not able to pick up your schedule, you can access it through Virtual Counselor on Friday August 21, 2015. PE UNIFORMS PE Uniforms will be on sale at Schedule Pickup. Uniforms are $10 for shirts and $10 for shorts. CASH ONLY! TRAFFIC RULES AND SAFETY REMINDERS: • The school zone speed limit is 15 mph. • Do not allow passenger(s) to exit or enter the vehicle while the vehicle is on the paved portion of the road. Unloading or loading on the swale located directly in front of Seminole Middle School is permitted. • No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on a sidewalk. CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT HANDBOOK Parents and students, on July 1, 2015 the 2015 -­‐ 2016 Code of Student Conduct H a n d b o o k w i l l b e p o s te d o n B ro wa rd S c h o o l s ’ we b s i te a t h t t p : / /
bcps.browardschools.com/codeofconduct.asp. Parents and students may also access the Code of Student Conduct Handbook through the BEEP Portal for Parents or Students as well as a variety of new electronic sources including a Quick Response Code for smart phones. SENATE BILL 228 -­‐ NO SAGGING TROUSERS “All trousers, including oversized or low-­‐hanging trousers, must be worn and secured at waist level.” Students who violate the School Board of Broward County Dress Code will receive progressive discipline as described in the SBBC Discipline Matrix and the SBBC Code of Student Conduct booklet.
Keep current with updated information online at www.seminolemiddle.net or follow us on Twitter: “seminolemiddle.”
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AUGUST 2015
TITLE I UPDATE AND INFORMATION As of July 2009, Seminole Middle School has been designated as a Title I school. This means that more than 50% of our students are on free and reduced lunch. The federal government assists schools that fall into this category by providing Title I grant monies. These monies are used for personnel, staff development, and parent involvement activities. Please look for information regarding Title 1 programs in our quarterly newsletter, on our website, in our of]ices, and in your student's bookbag. Listed below you will ]ind information and resources provided by Title 1. If you have any questions regarding the Title 1 program, please call Ms. Fiorentino at 754-­‐323-­‐4200. 1. School Improvement Plan: School staff and parents jointly develop the plan. It includes yearly objectives and activities that will be implemented at the school level. If translation is needed please contact Jill Fiorentino at 754-­‐323-­‐4200. (www.seminolemiddle.net) 2. School Parent Involvement Plan: School staff and parents jointly develop the plan as part of the School Improvement Plan. The plan includes the parent activities to be implemented through the school year and an evaluation of last year’s parent program. If translation is needed please contact Jill Fiorentino at 754-­‐323-­‐4200. (www.seminolemiddle.net) 3. District Parent Involvement Plan: District staff and parents jointly develop the plan. The plan includes the parent activities to be implemented through the school year and an evaluation of last year’s district parent program. If translation is needed please contact Linda Howard, Title I Program Specialist at 754-­‐321-­‐321-­‐1410. http://www.broward.k12.]l.us/titleone/Home.html 4. Parental Information and Resource Center (PIRC): Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) help implement successful and effective parental involvement policies, programs, and activities that lead to improvements in student academic achievement and that strengthen partnerships among parents, teachers, principals, administrators, and other school personnel in meeting the educational needs of children. http://
www.]loridapartnership.usf.edu† 5. School Public Accountability Report (SPAR), school grades, FCAT and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports: The School Public Accountability Report contains several types of data (indicators) designed to inform parents and the general public about the progress of Florida’s public schools. This report meets the public reporting requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and certain additional information of interest on the status of Florida’s schools. In addition, the Florida Department of Education publishes school grades, the results of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests (FCAT) and the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) of Florida schools. http://www.broward.k12.]l.us/schoolimprove/DOEreports.htm 6. Principal Attestation Letter: Indicates the percentage of teachers and paraprofessionals that are highly quali]ied. (www.seminolemiddle.net) The Title I Parent Compact will be sent home via backpack the ]irst week of school. The parent compact outlines how parents, schools, and students agree to share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership that helps our children achieve the state’s high standards. You can pick up a copy of the Title I Parent Compact in Spanish, Creole, or Portuguese in the front of]ice.
APPLY FOR FREE & REDUCED LUNCH AT WWW.APPLYFORLUNCH.COM
Keep updated by checking www.seminolemiddle.net Follow us on Twitter: “seminolemiddle”
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