Understanding the CELLA

The Parent Academy and the Bilingual Parent Outreach Program will be hosting a parent workshop on Thursday, October 1 at 8:30 am. The workshop entitled Understanding the CELLA test, will be held in Seminole’s Media Center.

United Way Student Campaign Kick-Off

Seminole Elementary is asking for your support to help others in need. Our school is hosting a variety of events that will allow students to participate while collecting donations for this worthy cause. With your support and efforts, we will be able to assist other in our community.
The United Way Student Campaign begins on Wednesday, September 30th. Students will be allowed to wear a hat or wear their hair in a “crazy” way. Students are encouraged to make a dollar donation for the United Way.

PTA General Meeting

The PTA is holding a general meeting on Wednesday, September 30th. The meeting will take place in the cafeteria and will begin at 8:30 a.m. There will also be an election for a vacant Board position. (Only PTA members will be allowed to vote.)

Regular Clothes Day

Seminole’s PTA is sponsoring a Regular Clothes Day on Friday, October 2nd. Students are encouraged to make a one dollar donation to the PTA during this event.

FDLRS Parent Services Calendar

Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) has released the 2009-2010 Parent Services Calendar of Workshops. All parents and interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend. The workshops are offered in the South and North (in the mornings and evenings.)

No School Monday

There will be no school in Monday, September 28th. This is a Teacher Planning Day.

Interim Progress Reports

Interim Progress Reports were distributed today, Thursday, September 24.
Interim Progress Reports are a vital indication of your child’s academic performance. Parents are encouraged to closely review their child’s grades. Seminole’s staff is available to help you interpret the information and recommend resources that you may use at home so that learning extends beyond the classroom.

Miami-Dade County Health Department Town Hall Meetings

The Miami-Dade County Health Department and community leaders are hosting Town Hall meetings to discuss preventive measures for the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus. The attached flyer lists the meetings scheduled throughout Miami-Dade County.

Recommendations for Healthy Celebrations at School

At the February 11, 2009 meeting, the School Board approved Item H-10, proffered by Dr. Marta Perez, requesting that the District Wellness Advisory Committee develop food guidelines for classroom parties/events at school sites.
The District Wellness Advisory Committee has developed the attached “Recommendations for Healthy Celebrations at School.”  This document can be found in English, Spanish and Creole, on the Department of Food and Nutrition’s web page, http://nutrition.dadeschools.net.

Introduction to the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Standards for Parents

The Florida Department of Education recently published the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Standards: What Parents Should Know, It's OK to Play in VPK!. Fully recognizing parents as their child's first teacher, this book is designed to help families understand how these standards can help them create developmentally appropriate learning environments at home. This parent resource book describes the characteristics of developmentally appropriate learning environments. It identifies how the VPK Education Standards can be used to help children of all different backgrounds, abilities, temperaments, and interests, learn and develop skills.

Beyond the Bell

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is dedicated to providing all students with experiences to enhance their education. The Superintendent has a new initiative for the 2009-2010 school year entitled Beyond the Bell. This initiative will provide students in grades 3-11 with access to instructional programs in the areas of Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, and Science. Students will be able to access these programs beyond the school day via the Internet. Beyond the Bell is accessed via the web through the Miami Dade County Public School Student Portal located at http://myportal.dadeschools.net/student/. Once students log into the portal, specific learning paths have been identified and are aligned to FCAT levels.

Your commitment along with the school site will provide academic support for your child. We are requesting you accept this contract to participate in our program. Please return this signed form to your child’s school before September 11, 2009.

September Calendar

The September calendar is now available!

Picture Day

Picture Day is taking place on October 6, 2009. The last day for payment is Friday, October 2 by 1 p.m. Please remember that only cash (exact amount only) and money orders are accepted. Checks will not be accepted.

President Obama's Address

On Tuesday, September 8th, President Barack Obama will deliver a national address to the students of America. The mission of Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the delivery of effective instruction. Teachers at this school may choose to use the speech as an educational resource, if it fits the instructional mission. Student participation in this activity, however, is not mandatory. Students who do not wish to view the broadcast will be accommodated. The President’s speech is available and can be previewed at http://www.whitehouse.gov/mediaresources or www.ed.gov. Parents who do not wish to have their child participate in this activity should send a note with the child to the school on Tuesday morning.

Family Day

Family Day on September 28th honors and celebrates the family dinner hour. Bringing the dinner table back into focus as a center for family life is an effort that is gaining momentum.  Recent research has shown that when families have dinner together, they share and  shape their family culture, their legends and values and even their jokes.  Children benefit tremendously from such quality time and are less likely to engage in negative behaviors like substance abuse.  As William J. Doherty, Ph.D, professor and author of The Intentional Family: Simple Rituals to Strengthen Family Ties, has said  "A meal is about sharing."  

To encourage all parents to enjoy Family Day, the South Florida Coalition Alliance is seeking sponsors for free family dinners at local restaurants.  If your organization would like to sponsor a free family dinner, please call The Miami Coalition at (305) 854-4515. To learn more about this national initiative, please visit the Family Day website.

Labor Day-No School

There is no school on Monday, September 7, 2009. Classes will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Have a safe and Happy Labor Day.

Open House

Seminole Elementary will host it’s Open House on Tuesday, September 8th from 5:30 pm to 7:15 pm. This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and receive information about our clubs, activities, tutoring opportunities, academic programs, and more. Please take advantage of this Open House activity so we can work together to maximize your child’s educational growth throughout the 2008-2009 school year.