2008-2009 12 Month Pay Option

All participants in the 12-month deferred payment plan must re-enroll for the 2008-2009 school year. Deferred Compensation occurs when eligible 10-month employees choose to have their wages paid over a 12-month period, causing them to defer part of their “earned” income from one calendar year to the next.

The IRS has specific guidelines and requirements that must be followed and adhered to if electing to participate in the Defer Pay Plan:

• Eligible employees must complete a written election form. (SEE FORMS SECTION OF BLOG)
• The election must be made before the first work day of the school year.
• The election is irrevocable; it cannot be cancelled during the school year.
• This election will remain in effect until a cancellation form is received for the subsequent school year.
• The accumulated deferred wages will be paid during the months of June, July and August depending on the school year calendar.

2008 Payroll Highlights

Please be advised of the following Payroll Highlights for 2008:

* W-2 forms for calendar year 2007 will be distributed as soon as they are available, but no later than January 31, 2008.

* The Social Security taxable wage base is increased to $102,000 the maximum social security tax at $6,324.00.

* The 1.45 % Medicare tax applies to all of an employee's FICA-covered wages, there is no maximum for the Medicare tax limit.

* Advance EIC payments: Eligible employees must file a new W-5 form every year.

* If you are exempt from Federal Withholding, a new W-4 form, attesting to the exempt status, must be filed by February 16, 2008.

December 21 - Not an Opt Day

Please be aware that December 21st is NOT a Teacher Planning Day. As a reminder the upcoming opt days are January 18, March 21 and 28. If you intend to be absent at any point next week, please give Ms. Tillman ample notice to make the necessary arrangements.

New testing standards for mentally impaired students

Source: Sun-Sentinel

One FCAT milestone in recent years was when some of the exam scores of students with various disabilities began counting toward school letter grades.

Another significant testing hurdle involving the special needs population is coming in March. That's when schools will begin administering a new Florida Alternate Assessment for children in grades 3-11 with the most severe mental impairments.

Scores from this special assessment — designed for children classified by the state as profoundly mentally handicapped, among other disabilities — will likely count toward school grades in the 2009-10 school year.

Upcoming Paychecks

Please note the following for the paycheck of December 7, 2007:

• All changes authorized during the United Way campaign will be reflected on this paycheck.
• 2007-08 MEP Salary increases will be reflected on this paycheck. No retroactive payment necessary, as the effective date is November 16, 2007 (the first day of the pay period).
• 2006-07 Advanced Placement (AP) Bonus payments will be included in this paycheck.

Please note the following for the paycheck of December 21, 2007:

· 2007 Fall Coaching lump sum payment will be paid.

· 2006-07 Outstanding Teachers In D/F Schools Bonus will be paid.

Web Site Helps Teachers Boost Classroom Resources

Unlike other grant-finding resources, this unique site is specifically designed to assist educators.

Tardy Students

As a courtesy to our chronically tardy students, we began sending wake up calls via the connect-ed system each morning. We started it yesterday with one student. Please e-mail me the names of the students that you would like to be included in this intervention.

Pictures from the Florida Marlins on Junior Achievement Day

Please click the link above to view the pictures that the Florida Marlins staff took on Junior Achievement Day at our school.

These pictures can also be found on the Major League Baseball Website.

Copy Request Policy

Colleagues,
Effective immediately, Ms. Johnson has been directed to return your copy requests to you no sooner than the following school day. In addition, make sure to provide her with enough paper to meet your request.

Please see one of the administrators if more clarity is needed.

Math and Science Reminders

Please click the link above for this week's mathematics and science reminders.

EESAC Meeting

Our next EESAC Meeting wil take place on Thursday, Decemebr 13 at 3:15 p.m. in the Media Center to discuss the Mid Year Review of our School Improvement Plan.

Mid-Year Exams

Please click the link above to access the memorandum related to our Mid-Year Examinations.

Employee Benefits Update

Please click the link above for the latest information regarding employee benefits.

Do The Right Thing Program

Teachers, Ms. Schwartz asks that you please send your students for the Do The Right Thing Program to the media center on Friday, November 30 at 8:20 a.m.

Schools will face more cuts

Source: Miami Herald

Even if voters fail to approve a constitutional amendment to lower their property tax bills, Florida school districts can expect their budgets to be slashed during next spring's legislative session.

The state already cut school district budgets this year because it didn't raise enough money through sales taxes. Sales tax revenue is expected again to fall short, leading to another round of painful cut.


*** Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device.

Marlins heading back to school

11/27/2007 4:20 PM ET
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI -- Marlins employees will head back to school on Friday to take part in a Junior Achievement Day.

The event is taking place at Parkway Elementary School in Miami. In all, 26 team employees will be teaching 20 classes. From 8:30-9:30 a.m. ET, team president David Samson will be acting as "Principal for the Morning." Among his tasks will be reading the morning announcements on the in-house TV channel.

Then, accompanied by administrators, Samson will tour the school and visit the designated classes where Marlins employees will be teaching. This marks the second straight year the Marlins have thrown their backing behind Junior Achievement Day at the elementary school.

Junior Achievement is the largest and fastest growing economic education non-profit organization in the world that links the private sector with education. More than three million students in more than 1,000 communities nation-wide participated in Junior Achievement last year. And the organization is spread in more than 125 countries.

Founded in 1919, the Junior Achievement's Miami office opened in 1957. More than 500 South Florida teachers use Junior Achievement programs at no cost to schools.

Marlins employees will arrive at Parkway Elementary by 8 a.m. on Friday, and after a continental breakfast, they will be escorted to their classrooms at 9 a.m. for the first teaching block, which runs until 11 a.m. The second teaching block takes place after lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Their day wraps up at 2 p.m.

Junior Achievement Day

Colleagues,

We will be having our Second Annual Junior Achievement Day on Friday, November 30.

Once again, our corporate sponsor is the Florida Marlins. An employee from the Marlins will be in each classroom delivering curriculum and instruction in the area of business, finance and community awareness. This specialized instruction will take place during most of your content time, while special area classes and lunch will proceed at their normal times.

Please see me if you have any questions.

Interim Progress Reports

Just a reminder the interim reports will go home today. Ms. Kerr put the interim reports in your mailboxes this past Monday.

Interim Assessment Return

Please return all test materials (test booklets and pencils, excluding the answer sheets) alphabetically to me in the conference room on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 between the hours of 2:00 p.m.-3:20 p.m.

FCAT Challenge

Please note the Revised FCAT Challenge Schedule which will take place in the cafeteria this week.

Grade 3 - Tuesday, November 27 @ 1:00 p.m.

Grade 5 - Wednesday, November 28 @ 1:00 p.m.

Grade 4 - Thursday, November 29 @ 1:00 p.m

UTD Steward Election

The UTD Steward elections for our school will take place for all UTD members on Wednesday, November 28 at 2:15 p.m. in the media center. If you are a UTD member who is interested in seeking this position or otherwise have any questions, please see Ms. Samuels.

Math/Science Update 11-26

Please click the link above for this week mathematics/science update

Reading Reminders (Upper Primary)

Please click the link above for the latest Reading (Upper Primary) updates.

2007-2008 Critical Staff Areas

Please click the link above to review the identified Critical Staff shortage areas in the district and the incentives for working in one of those categories.

School Board Agenda

Please click the link above to review the School Board Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, November 20, 2007.

Math and Science Update

Please click the link above for this week's math and science reminders.

Free Theme Park Admission

Universal Orlando® Resort, in partnership with the Florida Education Foundation, is offering Florida Public School Personnel (Pre-Kindergarten – 12th Grade) an incredible opportunity to experience TWO exciting theme parks -- Universal Studios Florida® and Universal’s Islands of Adventure®...FREE! It’s their way of saying “thanks” for all you do!

Click link above for more information.

PTA Update

THANKSGIVING CERTIFICATES

PTA is currently collecting names of 10 needy families that would appreciate a $50.00 gift certificate for Thanksgiving. Please email Ms. Kerr the name of student/parent and their contact numbers by 3:30 pm today.

SCIENCE BOARDS

Science Boards are on sale for only $6.00 please encourage our students to purchase boards to support Parkway Elementary PTA.

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

We currently have 39 members for PTA membership. Also please encourage students/parents to pay the PTA dues for only $6.00. Remember the classes with 100% membership the teacher will receive a $50.00 gift certificate. Ms. Kerr will put a reminder in the staff's mailboxes to pay PTA dues.

PTA T-SHIRTS

T-shirts will go on sale in January, more information is forthcoming.

UTD Calendar Survey

Please click the link above for information regarding the school calendar for next year.

Reading Update Intermediate

Please click the link above for this week's update.

Math and Science Update

Please click the link above to view this week's math and science updates.

Honor Roll Breakfast

Our first of three Honor Roll Breakfasts for this year will take place on Wednesday, November 14 at 9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria.
We hope for this event to grow as we progress through the school year.

Middle School Visits

It was nice having North Dade Middle visit our school a few weeks ago.

Grade 5 teachers should have received flyers for their students and their parents to inform them that Norland Middle will be at Parkway Elementary to present their academic programs on Thursday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m.

In addition, please prepare to bring your students to the cafeteria at 9:00 a.m. on the same day for JFK Middle's Presentation of their science magnet program.

Compensation Information

Please click the link above to receive pertinent information regarding your compensation for this year

Do the Right Thing

Please submit your "Do the Right Thing" nomination forms to Ms. Schwartz by Tuesday, November 13, 2007.

Child Assault Prevention

The Child Assault Prevention training for all classes will begin next Tuesday. Members from CAP (Child Assault Prevention) will be coming to your class to do an hour presentation sometime between Tuesday and Friday of next week. Ms. Schwartz will put the schedule with your specific training time in your mailboxes by tomorrow.

Please turn in your surveys for CAP from the faculty meeting to Ms. Schwartz by Friday and see her if you have any questions.

2007 FCAT available for practice

Source: Miami Herald

Students who are looking for extra Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test practice and parents who want to know more about the exam can see real copies of the 2007 test's questions and answers. The state Department of Education this week put online copies of the FCAT fifth- and sixth-grade reading and math exams and the eighth-grade science exam that students took last spring. The tests, as well as several given in previous years, are available online at http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcatrelease.asp

Faculty Meeting

Please click the link above for today's faculty meeting agenda.

Attendance News

Parkway Elementary, demonstrated improved student attendance from 96.26%, to 97.77% during the first nine week period of the 2007-2008 school year as compared to the same period in 2006-2007.

Additionally, the number of students absent 15 or more days remained stable at 0 from prior year.

Congratulations!!!!

Reading Update

Please click the link above to get this week's reading update.

Interim Assessment Fall

Interim Assessments begin in grades 3-5 today. Please click the link above if you you would like to review the memo that was previously e-mailed to all employees.

Math and Science Update

Please click the link above for this week's math/science reminders.

Florida Loan Forgiveness & Teacher Scholarship Programs

Please click the link above if you are interested in learning about two of Florida's loan forgiveness and tuition reimbursement programs.

Report Card Distribution

The revised dates for report card distribution to parents:

* Quarter 1 - 11/9/07
* Quarter 2 - 2/8/07
* Quarter 3 - 4/25/08
* Quarter 4 - 6/27/08

New Teacher's Meeting

As a reminder, our new teacher meeting will occur on Wednesday, October 31 at 2:15 p.m. in the conference room. Please share and be prepared to discuss an empirical or theoretically-based research in the area of “technology” and provide your colleagues with copies.
I also request that you maintain a folder as a means of documentation of your participation.

Please click link above for the agenda.

Math and Science Update 10-29

Please click the link above to review this week's math and science update.

Reading Update 10-29

Please click the link above to get this week's reading update.

Bob and Otto Contest

Ms. Joyce Sweeting's 1st grade class was selected as WLRN's 2007 One Picture Book, One Community Class Picture Book Contest winner! On Thursday, November 8th at 9:00 a.m., the book's illustrator will read the book to the students and have a short question answer for the group.

PTA Drive

Teachers,

Please make sure that you send the pink PTA membership forms home. As an incentive for classroom teachers, the classroom with 100 % membership, the teacher will receive a $50.00 gift certificate. We, Parkway PTA are striving to have 100% membership this year. Staff members at anytime you can put your membership dues in my mailboxes as well as the student/parent dues.

Thanks

S. Kerr

Reading Update

Please click the link above to access this week's Reading Update.

Math and Science Update

Please click the title bar to see this week's math and science updates.

Primary Math Study

Grade 1 and 2 Teachers,



On November 8, 2007 Pat Evans of the Saxon Primary Math Study will be here to observe you teaching the Saxon Math program. Please feel free to see me if you have any questions or concerns.



Cisely Scott

Mathematics/Science Coach



Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Reading Update (Grades 3-5)

Benchmark Skills of the Week:

Continue working on the following benchmark items during your daily

instruction:

- Main Idea/Details

- Author's Purpose

- Cause and Effect

- Vocabulary

* Refer to the vocabulary task card in reference to multiple meaning words.

FCAT Writing Benchmark Focus:

- Ms. Carter will continue to pull all fourth graders for writing instruction.

- Fourth grade students will take an expository writing assessment on

Tuesday.

FCAT Reading Benchmark Focus:

- Follow Grade Level "Instructional Focus Calendar" based on Houghton

Mifflin series Theme 2

Date(s) to Remember:

- Reading PLUS - All students must utilize the computer

based reading program twice a week for 30 minutes a day.

- Accelerated Reader - Teachers, make sure that all of your students are

visiting the media center and are taking AR test daily. All students must

read and take 10 AR test by October 25.

- Expository Writing Assessment - Teachers, please place your scores in

my mailbox by Friday, October 19, 2007.

Reading Update (K-2)

October 15 --- Grade 1 Bob and Otto Contest due

October 16 --- Reading First Visitation



Elements of Reading Vocabulary Lesson 4

Houghton Mifflin Theme 4 Grades K-2





Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Demo Lessons

Thank you to our Curriculum Support Specialists for a job well done during last week's demonstration lessons. They were intended to give every teacher an opportunity to learn some new techniques and strategies which will enhance student learning. We will be conducting Voyager training in the very near future.





Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Clinic Usage

Due to health, safety and privacy guidelines, we must request that all staff use the clinic primarily for its intended purpose.

Please refrain from eating in that area and consider an alternative location, such as the nearby staff lounge.

If you need to review any files or documents for extended periods of time, please consider utilizing a different location in the main office or conference room.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

PMP Reminder

EXTENSION: Please initiate all PMPs and provide Ms. Johnson with copies of page 1 for each individual PMP by Wednesday, October 17, 2007.

In addition, thank you to the teachers who submitted to me their original lists.

October 8 PD Survey

For those of you who participated in the Voyager Training, please click the title bar and complete the five minute survey.

Reading Update (Grades 3-5)

Word of the Week:

esteem - 1 : to think of in a particular way : consider

2 : to think very highly or favorably of

Sentence - Keira is thrilled to have been put in charge of a ceremony

honoring a teacher that the students esteem as a guide and role

model.

Benchmark Skills of the Week:

Continue working on the following benchmark items during your daily

instruction:

- Cause and Effect

- Vocabulary

* Refer to the vocabulary task card in reference to multiple meaning words.

FCAT Writing Benchmark Focus:

- Ms. Carter will continue to pull all fourth graders for writing instruction.

FCAT Reading Benchmark Focus:

- Follow Grade Level "Instructional Focus Calendar" based on Houghton

Mifflin series Theme 2

Date(s) to Remember:

- Reading PLUS begins this week. All students must utilize the computer

based reading program twice a week for 30 minutes a day.

- Accelerated Reader - Teachers, make sure that all of your students are

visiting the media center and are taking AR test daily. All students must

read and take 10 AR test by October 25.

Helpful Websites:

http://www.readinglady.com/

Mathematics/Science Reminders

Vocabulary word
Arteries- blood vessels that carry blood away from your heart to other parts of your body.

Science Fair
Assignment 1- Approved problem statement and background

Math and science bi-weekly assessments were to be given last Friday. Please turn in your Edusoft bubble sheets

Reading Update (K-2)

First Grade - Bob and Otto Contest due October 15.

October 31 - Halloween Spooky Stories with Ms. Abner at Barnes & Noble.

Begin Elements of Reading Vocabulary - Lesson 4.

NNAT Training Meeting

As a follow-up to an earlier posting, there will be a mandatory training session for teachers in grades 1 and 4, as well as Ms. Rice, Mr. Philemy and Ms. Sanders on Monday, October 8 from 2:00 pm. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, please click the title bar above.

Third Grade Parent Meeting

The Third Grade Parent meeting has been scheduled for October 15, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is designed to inform parents of the criteria regarding third grade promotion. The Reading Coaches will also be on hand to provide useful information. A flyer and the attached agenda will be going home as well as a Connect-ed message. To see the agenda, click the title bar.

Yahoo for Teachers

Yahoo Inc. is developing a free online service designed to make it easier for educators to create, find and share lesson plans, worksheets and ideas. Yahoo for Teachers will be accessible by clicking the logo above, will soon be open to the public.

The service will allow teachers to create and store lesson plans, worksheets and projects online rather than preparing class materials using a Word document, for example. Teachers can also search lesson plans posted by others and leave comments. Queries can be narrowed by grade, subject and state.

Computer Power Management

Beginning October 1, the district implemented new computer management procedures.

Please remember to power on and login to your computers every morning.

Conversely, at the end of the school day, please log off and power off your computers before you leave the building for the day.

NNAT Test

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT), which is a 30 minute, group-administered screening test for potential gifted students, will be given to all first and fourth grade students on Monday, October 15. While classes in other grades levels will follow their normal schedules, we will operate as a quiet building from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on that day. Students that are exempt from the test include children, who are already labeled as gifted or students in Ms. Jenkins Class, as well as a few other selected SPED students which we identified. Training sessions will occur next week as more information will be forthcoming.

Congratulations to Ms. Kerr

On October 2, Mrs. Sharonne Kerr, media specialist at Parkway Elementary, was a selected teacher in the Office Max “Adopt a Classroom” Program. Office Max came to the school and provided her with approximately $1200 worth of new items which Ms. Kerr will use with her students in the library. Some of the items include a portable printer, mail cart, desktop organizer and several other useful supplies.

Attendance Reminders

Thank you for adjusting to the new district system for student attendance. As a friendly reminder, please complete your attendance before 10 a.m. and please assist us in reinforcing to your students the need to provide documentation when they are absent. A child with excessive absences could have his or her credit withheld which may lead to retention in that grade level.

Our Attendance Review Committee will be analyzing the cases of students who have excessive "unexcused absences" in the coming weeks.

Social Committee

Please consider joining our Social Committee. Dues are $30 for full-time staff and $20 for part-time staff. Please see Ms. Wilkison or Ms. Hope for more information.

Reading Update (Grades 3-5)

Word of the Week:

plausible
1 : seemingly fair or reasonable

2 : appearing worthy of belief something that makes a

person try or work hard or harder

Sentence - Dad's explanation that the dog must have knocked over the vase

seemed perfectly plausible.

Benchmark Skills of the Week:

Continue working on the following benchmark items during your daily

instruction:

- Main Idea

- Author's Purpose

- Vocabulary

* Refer to the vocabulary task card in reference to multiple meaning words.

FCAT Writing Benchmark Focus:

- Ms. Carter will continue to pull all fourth graders for writing instruction.

FCAT Reading Benchmark Focus:

- Follow Grade Level "Instructional Focus Calendar" based on H-M series Theme 2

Date(s) to Remember:

- Reading PLUS is scheduled to start the week of October 8, 2007.

- Thank you teachers for making FCAT Challenge a success!

Morning Supervision

Beginning today, we will utilize our rainy day morning procedures on a trial basis for all occasions.

Students in grades 3-5 will remain between the two wings on the south side of the building, while students in grade 2 will remain in the cafeteria and all other children will wait for their teacher in front of the classroom door.

Parent Conference Day

Parent Conference Day will occur on Tuesday, October 16.
Students will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m.
The conferences will begin at 12:15 p.m. and end at 3:20 p.m.
More detailed information is forthcoming and will be made available to you via e-mail.

Upcoming Guests to Parkway

Some of the guests that we had over the past month were the Puppet Show, who entertained the children in the cafeteria and the Great Safety Adventure who presented their material in an 18 wheel truck.
The Florida Marlins, which is our sponsor for the Junior Achievement Program, will be back once again in December. The best is yet to come.

FCAT Challenge

Congratulations to Ms. Clark's Class, Ms. McGinnis's Class and Ms. Heyligar's Class for winning the first monthly FCAT Challenge of this school year for their grade levels. While the theme for this month was "Family Feud", next month's theme will be "Jeopardy", as the other classes will try to take the trophies away from our three winners.

Best Buy TE@ch Grant

Please see Dr. K if you are interested in pursuing and need some guidance with this grant. Please click the logo to seek more information.

School Board Agenda

Please click the link above to access this month's school board agenda.

Open House

Our Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Details to come.

Fire Drills

Please make sure to review your evacuation routes on a routine basis. For preparation purposes, we have two fire drills in August and at least one drill every month thereafter.

In the event of a Hurricane

In the event of a Hurricane, please feel free to use this site as one source of information as to our work status.

Language Arts Pacing Guides

Please click on the The Language Arts Pacing Guides that support the K-12 Comprehensive Reading plan that will be used this school year. The link will be available on the side bar and contact Ms. Scott if you have any questions.

Science Guides

Please click on the The Curriculum Pacing Guides that support the K-12 Comprehensive Science plan that will be used this school year. The link will be available on the side bar and contact Ms. Scott if you have any questions.

E-Mail Access for Part-Time Staff

E-mail accounts are now available for part-time and hourly staff. Please see Mr. Dumont for assistance.

Hourly Paraprofessional Position

Colleagues,

Similar to Ms. Bradshaw's position at our school, we are offering another hourly paraprofessional position for someone who would be interested in working with "one" female first grade student with special needs. The person's tentative hours would be from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., which is five hours a day (excluding lunch). If you know of anyone who may be interested and meets the eligibility requirements, please have the individual contact Ms. Bradley-Williams in the main office. The school phone number is (305) 653-0066.

Thank You

Back To School Took Kit

Please click on the yellow bar to get an abbreviated view of the various items which relate to the school district.

Opening of Schools Manual (District)

Many of our procedures are driven by the directions we receive from our district's School Operations Division. Please click the Opening of Schools Manual for information pertaining to the Opening of Schools from the district. This link is also available on the side bar of this blog.

PD Password Change

In most instances, when you log on to the district's PD site, they will ask for a new password. In the past, you were using your six-digit employee number. This time, the website seeks an eight digit code. One recommendation is to use your birthdate. (XXXX19xx).

For example, if your birthday is September 8, 1961, you can choose to make your password, (09081961). Another suggestion is to use the same code you use to access your district e-mail.

Choose as you wish

Switch your Paycheck to 12 months

If you are a 10 month employee who would like to have your paycheck spread out over 12 months, please click the title bar or the rainbow above to get more information about the process and impact.

2007-2008 Early Pay Schedule

Pay Period: 07/27/07 – 08/09/07 (Pay Date: 08/17/07)

New Teachers – 1 day; 10-month clerical/AP’s – 1 day

Pay Period: 08/10/07 – 08/23/07 (Pay Date: 08/31/07)
New Teachers – 10 days; Former Teachers – 6 days; 10-month clerical/AP’s – 10 days

Pay Period: 08/24/07 – 09/06/07 (Pay Date: 09/14/07 )

All – 10 days (1st regular deduction and defer pymt. deducted)

New Teacher Orientation

All Parkway Elementary Teachers that are new teachers to M-DCPS or in a 3100 position MUST participate in New Teacher Orientation. Please see the schedule below and report to the following locations as directed.

Thursday, August 9 (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
- All - Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel, 711 N.W. 72nd Avenue, Miami, 33126. The cost for self parking is $5.

Friday, August 10 (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
- Teachers that majored in education or with previous teaching experience - Hialeah Sr. High School, 251 East 47 Street, Hialeah, 33013,
- Teachers that did not major in education and have no previous teaching experience - Miami Senior High School, 2450 S. W. 1st Street, Miami, 33135.

Monday, August 13 (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
- Elementary classroom teachers (except pre-K) - Miami Senior High School.
- Special area teachers - Hialeah Senior High School.

Please click on the registration link or title bar above to register for this manadatory training.

If you need additional information, please contact Ms. Gloria Kotrady at gkotrady@dadeschools.net or 305-995-7434.

School Board Agenda

Please click on the Agenda to see what items will be reviewed this month by our school board.

New Science Materials

With the exception of Ms. McLennon, all grade chairs (Ms Smith for Ms. Bowles) have their group's assigned science materials. In grade 2, Ms. McLennon has all of her group's materials, except for the kits which are now in the possession of the classroom teachers. Excess materials were placed back into the book room.

In order to preserve our inventory, we decided to hold some of the textbooks, until we ascertained the number of official students we will have at the opening of school.

Ms. Scott is in the process of reviewing the software we received and we are still inquiring as to when certain items, such as the grade 3 science kits will arrive at our school.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Scott or myself.

Free UTD Course for New Teachers

New Teachers can earn up to 45 MPP for participating in this free UTD course.

Please click on the application to register and get more information.

Thrive and Survive

National Board Certified Teachers of Miami-Dade and the United Teachers of Dade join forces to bring their members a series of workshops and professional development experiences for teachers who are in the early stages of their teaching career.

Click Thrive and Survive for more information.

MySpace could cost teachers their jobs

One Broward teacher could lose his job over profanity and crass photographs he allowed his students to view on his MySpace page. Scott Davis, 31, was band director at Pompano Beach High this year. But his MySpace page, which included a headline that read, I am pissed b----!, with a photo of Davis raising his middle finger, drew complaints, said chief investigator Joe Melita.

The site also included content related to sex, drugs and depression, and although Davis eventually made his page private, some of his students still had access to the site because they were connected as his friends, a district investigation shows.

Source: Miami Herald

Primary Math Study Update

Teachers in Grades 1 and 2, Ms. Sanders, Ms. Rice and Ms. Scott;

The Saxon Pre-Training will take place as follows:

Date: 8/09/07 (NOT 8/10/07)

Time: 8:00-2:30

Location: Coral Park Elementary

1225 SW 97th Ave.
Miami, FL 33174
305.221.5632

Mathematica will provide a snack breakfast and lunch and all participants will be compensated for the day. Follow-up training is tentatively scheduled for mid October

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms Scott or Dr. K.

UTD Steward Special Election

Since the designated, UTD Steward of Parkway Elementary is no longer at our school, a special election will be held for her position at the beginning of the school year. Similar with normal procedures, all UTD members are eligible to seek the position, and only members of this bargaining unit may vote in the election.

Since Ms. Samuels was serving as the alternate steward at the end of last school year, she assumes the lead position until the special election and will have the opportunity to run for the office as well.

School Board Agenda

Please click the link above to view this month's school board agenda.

FCAT School Grade and AYP

Good afternoon everyone. I hope that you are enjoying your summer thus far. I am so excited to announce that we were able to maintain our school grade. We achieved a letter grade of “B”. In addition to that, we met AYP standards. Not meeting those standards would have had huge implications for our school. I want to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication to our students. We did well in spite of our challenges and changes this year and I expect nothing less next school year.

Ms. Abner

Crist Vetoes ESOL Bill

Reading teachers who instruct ESOL students will continue to have to complete 300 hours of professional development after Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a bill Thursday that would have lowered the requirements.

The bill would have mandated just 60 hours of training.

Source: Miami Herald

Primary Math Study PD

Participants in the Primary Math Study,
(Teachers in Grades 1 and 2, Inclusion Teachers and Ms. Scott)

You have the choice of attending the one-day, professional development activity for the Primary Math Study on Thursday, August 9th or Friday, August 10th at Coral Park Elementary School. (1225 SW 97th Ave., 305-221-5632). For your active participation, you will receive breakfast, lunch and a stipend. If you have any questions, please contact me.

The Effect of Property Tax Cuts

Below are the budgetary issues that Broward County School Board is reviewing as they adjust to the expected decreased revenue due to the property tax cuts.

• Replacing school resource officers with security specialists: $7.4 million

• Paying for crossing guards: $7.8 million

• Paying for school nurses: $4 million

• Fire inspections: $800,000

• Paying for counselors: $490,000

• Doing its own health inspections of cafeterias and kitchens: $150,000

Source: Broward school district.

FCAT violation costs teacher's job

Barbara Heggaton, who received stellar evaluations during her 20-year career and was named teacher of the year at Moon Lake for the 2004-05 school year, was fired by the Pasco County, FL. School Board for rephrasing questions for special education students on the FCAT.

He said this ruling shows that even if teachers act in good faith in proctoring the FCAT, they'll face the possibility of losing their job and possibly their license. Benjamin said the state's Professional Practices Services, which has the power to yank teachers' licenses, is also investigating.

The incident happened during FCAT testing Feb. 28. Karen Middleton, an instructional assistant, said she was in her office, which is next door to Heggaton's room, when she heard Heggaton ask a student, "Why did you change that answer when you had it right? Don't you know this test determines your future?"

Source: St. Petersburg Times; 6-20-07

State won't count flawed FCAT scores

Florida Department of education decided that third-grade reading results will not be used in determining the 2007 school grades because of flaws in last year's scoring.

Pending approval from the United States Department of Education, The state board also voted Tuesday to exclude the third-grade scores from another formula used to determine whether schools are meeting standards under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Source: Miami Herald

Computer Lab

The computer lab in room 71 was disbanded and is now the office of our two reading coaches. The computers in that room were placed in the specific classrooms based on need.

Primary Math Study

For the Primary Math Study, which involves our first and second grade classes,

the district selected the Saxon Math curriculum for our school. Please click the title bar or logo to learn more about the program. The other two schools in the county that will be using our intervention will be Majorie Stoneman Douglas and Coral Park Elementarys. While we have not received official word, we expect the one day training to occur on August 9 at one of the schools mentioned. There will be a second day of training tentatively set for mid or late October. Details to come.

Looming school cuts raise alarm

TALLAHASSEE -- As a special lawmaking session to cut property taxes begins Tuesday, a $31.6 billion proposal negotiated last week is facing serious trouble.

The most recent proposal, calls for $7.2 billion in school cuts over five years -- $1.2 billion from Miami-Dade and Broward counties alone -- and legislators and educators are concerned.

Teachers and parents are joining the chorus of potential tax-cut opponents who, like police officers, firefighters, nurses and environmentalists, once thought their programs would be spared deep cuts but now face them.

Source: Miami Herald

State panel recommends school grades get curve

An advisory panel planned to recommend changes to the school-grade formula, but will keep flawed test results if they help the school's grade. The Florida Department of Education will try to get school grades out by the end of the month, but state officials first may have to amend the grading formula in light of the flawed 2006 third-grade reading FCAT scores.

The panel met in Tampa to discuss the options and will recommend that DOE exclude the flawed test scores from the grading process, except in cases where the scores would help improve a school's grade. In addition, they would like the state to suspend a provision of the school grading process that penalizes schools that don't show enough improvement among the lowest-performing students.

Source: Miami Herald

Tattoos

The Pasco County (FL) School Board's new policy for employees is deceptively simple: "Visible body piercings and tattoos that are offensive to community standards will be restricted."

The superintendent stated that "Though you may want something today, be sure it's something you'll want when you're 40. ... Your MySpace, your tattoo, your piercing, all that represents you, and what is the image that you want out there when you become an adult and when you seek employment?" Board Chairwoman Marge Whaley raised doubts about how the policy will be implemented, and wasn't even sure how it would apply to current employees.