DAC TALK Title I District Advisory Council (DAC)

Executive Board Officers 2012-2014

DAC TalkEditor.......................................................Maria Salas

Publishers..............................DAC Executive Board

The School Board ofMiami-Dade County, Florida

Perla Tabares Hantman, ChairDr. Martin Karp, Vice Chair

Dr. Dorothy Bendross-MindingallSusie V. Castillo

Carlos L. CurbeloDr. Lawrence S. Feldman

Dr. Wilbert “Tee” HollowayDr. Marta Pérez

Raquel A. Regalado

Krisna MaddyStudent Advisor

Alberto M. CarvalhoSuperintendent of Schools

2013-2014 DAC CalendarOctober 17, 2013

April 3, 2014

Dr. Abrahante

West Miami Middle School 7525 S.W. 24th Street, Miami, FL 33155

7:00 p.m.

News for Title I Parents

Alberto M. Carvalho

Dr. Magaly C. AbrahanteAssistant SuperintendentDivision of Early ChildhoodPrograms, Title I Administration, and Summer Services

Booker T. Washington Senior High School1200 N.W. 6th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136

7:00 p.m.

DAC General Meeting ParticipationDistrict Advisory Council (DAC)

(2012-2013 School Year)

Dr. Sharrie Dean CollinsDistrict DirectorTitle I Administration

North Region: 152 Central Region:152South Region: 460Staff: 25TOTAL: 789 Attendance Report for Quarterly Meetings during the 2012-2013 school year

TITLE Miami-DadeCounty Public Schools

Joseph Gebara, ChairElba Gebara, First Vice-Chair

Margaret Loreus, Second Vice-ChairMercedes Mont-Ros, Third Vice-Chair

Ana Madriz, SecretaryGracie Salinas, Assistant Secretary

Latania B. Robinson, ParliamentarianDannie McMillon, Immediate Past Chair

National Coalition of ESEA Title I ParentsElizabeth Tejada

Ana Madriz Sherelean Edwards

Guess my favorite day? I will give you a hint; you were a big part of it! Well, you guessed right. (The opening day of school), every single year, is my favorite day. I visited numerous schools on August 19, and I must say I was overjoyed to see many of our more that 340,000 students being accompanied by their parents or guardians to the classroom.

I was so impressed with our teams of teachers and administrators who greeted you and who are absolutely prepared to inspire your children to learn. Many of the technological upgrades were already in place in many schools. This progress is thanks to your support of the bond referendum last year. Our goal is to make all of our schools wireless and to provide all of our students with portable electronic devices. These are the learning tools of today. Our children have adapted to learning in the 21st century. Now we, as parents, must adapt as well and stay involved with our children’s education to ensure academic growth and success.

I expect our students to perform at even higher levels this year, with your help, of course. We must hold the line against the state’s ever-changing assessments that are often laden with errors or mislead with inaccurate results. You held the line last year! With a new FCAT 2.0 version, we anticipated lower grades at some schools. However, our District continued to perform well. In fact, Miami-Dade remarkably, is the only District out of the 10 largest school districts in Florida to have maintained its high performance grade for the past two years.

Yes, Florida’s largest, most culturally and economically diverse school district, continued its trend of high achievement. Thank you, parents, and may your school year be one of continued discovery, enlightenment, and success.

Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent of Schools

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Students Attend National Chess Tournaments!!

Helen Morejon, from Hialeah Gardens Middle School, qualified for the National Girls Invitational Tournament. Helen met with United States Chess Federation President Ruth Haring; a tremendous role model. Dario Rivero, from Rockway Middle School, attended the Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions.

CHESS Tournaments

Volume 11 • Number 45• October, 17 2013

We Held the Line And Pushed It Back!

Milagros R. FornellChief Academic Officer

Office of Academics and TransformationOffice of Innovation and Accountability

TITLEMiami-DadeCounty Public Schools

Monday - ThursdaySessions: 4:00 - 4:50 p.m. and 5:00 - 5:50 p.m.

Title I Neighborhood Resource Center - North - 305 694-71207900 N.W. 27th Avenue (Northside Shopping Centre, 130 South Ct.) Space F-9, Miami, FL 33147

Monday - ThursdaySessions: 4:00 - 4:50 p.m. and 5:00 - 5:50 p.m.

Title I Neighborhood Resource Center - South - 305 274-7468 5555 S.W. 93rd Avenue (FDLRS South Site) Miami, FL 33165

Parents must accompany, remain with their children during sessions, and sign them in and out.

By Appointment Only!Only Limited Seating Available!!

Kindergarten - Grade 5 Students

Sessions reinforce lessons taught during the regular school year.

Academic Enrichment

Academic Enrichment ClassesLimited Seating AvailableFor more information, call the NRC nearest you.

Seating is limited, call now

Submit registration form to your school’s CHESS Facilitator/Teacher Saturday Morning Classes8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (Beginners) 10:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. (Intermediate/Advanced)Saturday Afternoon Classes (Sylvania Heights)12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Beginners) 2:10 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. (Intermediate/Advanced)Nine (9) Week Sessions – Space limited to three students per schoolLocations:Robert Renick Educational Center2201 NW 207 Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056 Phyllis R. Miller Elementary840 NE 87th Street, Miami, FL 33138 Sylvania Heights Elementary (PM)5901 SW 16th Street, West Miami, FL 33155 Rockway Middle9393 SW 29 Terrace, Miami, FL 33165

Check your school’s CHESS Facilitator/Teacher for more information

Free Title ICHESS Academy

Classes!

For students from schools implementing the Title I CHESS program

For more information: 305 273-2825 305 274-7468

CHESS Academy

Title I Administration continues to offer a FREE Chess Academy

at 4 sites with over 160 students registered.

The Chess Academy serves K-12 students with

classes on Saturday mornings.

Academy sites are located at:Robert Renick Educational Center

2201 NW 207 Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056Phyllis R. Miller Elementary

840 NE 87th Street, Miami, FL 33138Sylvania Heights Elementary (PM)

5901 SW 16th Street, West Miami, FL 33155Rockway Middle

9393 SW 29 Terrace, Miami, FL 33165 For more information, call 305 273-2825 or 305 274-7468

DAC Chairperson’s News

Joseph Gebara DAC Chair

Joseph Gebara

Mathletes

Title I Neighborhood Resource Center - Gratigny - 305 953-6068733 E. 57th Street, Hialeah, FL 33013 (Mon., Wed., & Fri. - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. • Tues. & Thurs. - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Title I Neighborhood Resource Center - South - 305 274-7468 5555 S.W. 93rd Avenue (FDLRS South Site) Portable #3, Miami, FL 33165(Mon., Wed., & Fri. - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. • Tues. & Thurs. - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Title I Neighborhood Resource Center - North- 305 694-7120 7900 N.W. 27th Avenue (Northside Shopping Centre, 130 South Ct.) Space F-9, Miami, FL 33147(Mon., Wed., & Fri. - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. • Tues. & Thurs. - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Office of Parental Involvement - 305 995-2680School Board Administration Building, Suite 216, 1450 N.E. 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33132Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Nova Southeastern University Parent Center - 1-866-281-4678 Fischler School of Education and Human Services, Room 166-B 1750 N.E. 167th St., North Miami Beach, FL 33162Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.) • Saturday (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)

TITLE Miami-DadeCounty Public Schools

PARENT RESOURCE CENTERS

Miami National College Fair - Sunday, February 9, 2014

Nearly 200 colleges and universities from around the country! Noon - 4 p.m. - Free Admission...

Free Information Sessions... @ the Doubletree Miami Mart Airport Hotel and Convention Center

An organization has emerged that celebrates and honors the rising math talent at three

M-DCPS high schools: Miami Carol City; Miami Norland; and North Miami. It’s

called “Mathletes,” and it is a school-based club that allows students to apply their

critical thinking skills, problem solving abilities, and mathematical talents to fulfill

a mission.

That mission is to provide students an opportunity to grow as critical thinkers and

groom them for college level mathematics as well as to foster and build a sense of

an academic community where students can compete and learn with each other.

Under the direction of School Board Member Dr. Wilbert “Tee” Holloway and

through the mission of the Education Transformation Office, these clubs were developed to

celebrate and reward students who are dedicated to academic excellence in mathematics.

Highlights of the 2013 State of the School System Address Delivered by School Board Chair Perla Tabares HantmanMy Fellow Parents:

Here we are once more. Summer has come and gone, and a new school year full of promise and opportunity is upon our children. We face many challenges but those challenges won't keep us from helping to ensure that our children achieve, succeed, and become the future leaders of our community. This year we only meet twice. Yes, the budget cuts have reached deep enough to affect parental involvement programs and our DAC general meetings. I encourage each and every one of you to advocate for change and better funding of our schools and programs. We are our children's first and best advocates. Let us make our voices heard on their behalf here at home, in Tallahassee and in Washington. The decision makers must know that we are listening and watching, especially when their decisions affect our children. The next time we meet, we will be engaged

in the democratic process of the election of a new executive board, which includes a new DAC chair. It has been an absolute pleasure representing you for the past three years and I know that there is another willing

parent ready to step into the Chair position and continue the great work we have done collectively. Have a great 2013-2014 school year!!

DistractedDriving?

Did You know?The new no texting while

driving law in Florida became effective

Oct. 1, 2013!

Take the national “No Texting

While Driving” pledge at

www.itcanwait.comDuring National Teen

Driver Safety Week(October 20-26), the

winning public service announcements and posters created by senior high school students during the

last District-wide safety contest, will be reproduced and distributed at all senior high schools.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

giving our students the world

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

•

•

...in Their Hands!

Place Wireless Devices...Give Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ students

the technology tools needed to enhance learning.

Help us advance academic achievement by giving

ALL students wireless devices. Our

schools will be wireless by March 2014,

so a helping hand from you will

allow students to gain access to a

whole new world of knowledge with a portable wireless device.

For more information and to donate, visit:

giveourstudentstheworld.orgPayment OptionsTo donate online,

visit www.giveourstudentstheworld.org

and click on “Donate.” Specify amount donated and

cite“In Their Hands” in the event field.

To pay by check, make payable to

The Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc. and mail to

The Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc.

c/o Miami-Dade County Public Schools

1450 N.E. 2 Ave., Suite 776, Miami, FL 33132

Your donation is tax-deductible.THANK YOU.

= $300*

= $1500

= $3000

= One Wireless Device

*

Helping Hands:

++

++

++

Campaign Underwayto PlaceWirelessDevices inthe hands of ALL M-DCPSStudents ALL students need the latest technology tools to enhance learning. The school district’s direct support organization, The Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc., is raising funds to purchase portable wireless devices for students. To find out more how the foundation is trying to help ALL students gain access to a whole new world of knowledge, visit:giveourstudentstheworld.org.

Miami-Dade County School Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman delivered an accounting of the progress and challenges of Miami-Dade County’s public schools during the 2013 State of the School System Address at the Board’s September meeting. The issues addressed in the report included student performance and the outstanding accomplishments that Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has achieved in this past year. The highlights include the following:

· M-DCPS posted the highest graduation rate in history - 80 percent - outpacing the state.

· After five nominations, Miami-Dade was selected as the winner of the Broad (Brode) Prize for Urban Education from among 15,000 school districts nationwide. This prestigious award specifically recognizes growth in student performance and closing the achievement gap for minority and economically-disadvantaged students.

· The College Board recognized M-DCPS’ success in preparing students to succeed in advanced placement courses. The District is among the highest achieving school systems in the nation for Hispanics and African Americans scoring highly on advanced placement exams.

· More than $9 million in federal funding were secured for Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Projects, to help ensure that students are safe as they travel to and from schools.

· Nine new police officers were sworn in, and the District is in the process of filling 18 additional positions.

· The Wireless Initiative funded through the Federal E-rate program along with matching funds contributed by members of the community will result in all Miami-Dade public schools having Wi-Fi Internet access by March 2014.

· The 21st Century School Construction Bond, valued at $1.2 billion, was passed by voters and will provide every school in the District with upgrades to infrastructure necessary to support today’s instructional technology, enhance safety and security, and where necessary renovate or replace school buildings.

· The budget currently under consideration by the School Board calls for a decrease in the millage rate of .021, which will protect elective and bilingual programs, athletics and after-school activities, maintain school safety spending, and will not compromise the District’s goal of complying with class-size mandates, while ensuring that teachers do not face layoffs for economic reasons.

· The District implemented nearly 100 new choice options for parents including the launch of iPrep Math at 49 middle schools, and the addition of Cambridge programs at 23 additional schools, and the first high school on a college campus with MAST at FIU Biscayne Bay Campus.

Additionally, the District will continue to work to preserve programs that are integral parts of a world-class education, such as art, music, and world languages, while infusing classrooms with technology and providing access to the world of knowledge that lies beyond the walls of our school buildings. To see an online video of the complete State of the School System Address, please visit http://www.dadeschools.net/tv?q=xlMDqFIi0dk4NDJGFnTsqCH71H4JEBd8