Miami-dade county public schools

School Operations

Elementary School Parent/Student Handbook

2008-2009

SYLVANIA HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

School Board Members

Mr. Agustin J. Barrera, Chair

Ms. Perla Tabares Hantman, Vice Chair

Mr. Renier Diaz de la Portilla, Member

Ms. Evelyn Langlieb Greer, Member

Dr. Wilbert "Tee" Holloway, Member

Dr. Martin Karp, Member

Ms. Ana Rivas Logan, Member

Dr. Marta Pérez, Member

Dr. Solomon C. Stinson, Member
Ms. Angelique Gayle, Student Advisor

Superintendent of Schools

Rudolph F. Crew, Ed.D.

Deputy Superintendent, School Operations

Freddie Woodson

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

July 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS
District’s Vision/Mission

Message from Principal

Message from Assistant Principal

School’s Mission Statement

Website

Feeder Pattern Schools

District Calendar

Important Dates

Testing

Interim Progress Reports

Report Cards

Activities

Clubs

Fieldtrips and Special Activities

Parties in School

Fundraisers

Attendance Policy

Attendance Review Committee

Excused Absences and Tardies

Unexcused School Absence

Bringing Pets to School

Arrival/Dismissal

School Hours

Bell Schedule

Before and After School Care Program

Late Arrival

Early Dismissal

Rainy Day Dismissal

Comprehensive Reading Plan

Messages and Use of Telephones

Lost and Found

Cafeteria

Food Cost

Free Breakfast

Free/Reduced Lunch Program

PAYPAMS

Cafeteria Rules

Registration Procedures

Confidential Information

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA/PTSA)

Emergency Contact Information

Halls/Hall Passes

Code of Student Conduct

Violations

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Dress Code

Uniform Policy

Cell Phones

Internet Use Policy

Health Screening

Immunizations

Insurance

Parent Portal

Financial Obligations

Grade Reporting

Academic Grades

Conduct

Grade Point Average

Honor Roll Qualifications

Interim Progress Report

Homework / Make-up Assignments

Out of Area Transfer

Textbooks

Permanent Records

Publications

Procedures for Addressing Concerns

School Center for Special Instructions (SCSI)

Transportation Eligibility

Safety and Security

The Emergency Operations Plan

Accident Reports

Code Yellow/Code Red

Closing of School

Fire Drills

Transporting Students to School

Bicycles/Skateboards

Visitors

Elevator

Media Center

Access

Checkout of Books

Special Education

Clinic

The Parent Academy

Volunteer Program

Parents-Right to Know Letter

Miami-Dade County Public Schools


Vision Statement

We are committed to provide educational excellence for all.
Mission Statement

We provide the highest quality education so that all of our students are empowered to lead productive and fulfilling lives as lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

Dear Parents:

It is with great delight that I welcome you to the 2008-2009 school year. At Sylvania Heights Elementary School, we are delighted to serve our students, parents, and community in a safe learning and nurturing learning environment that stimulates every child to reach their highest potential.
We are extremely proud that the Florida State Department of Education has once again rated our school an “A”. This academic milestone was accomplished with a tremendous amount of effort from our students, teachers, staff and parents.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns. I hope to see you during the school year and that you become involved in your child’s education. Together, we can make sure that our students have a successful school year.
Sincerely,

Maria Llerena, Principal

Sylvania Heights Elementary School

Mission Statement

Sylvania Heights Elementary School, staff, parents and community are committed to the premise that our students will learn and achieve their maximum academic potential. Our motto is: “We will succeed!”




School Mascot: Dolphin

Website : http://sylvaniaheights.dadeschools.net/

Feeder Pattern Schools
Elementary Schools Middle Schools Senior High School
Emerson Elementary West Miami Middle School South Miami Senior High School

Fairchild Elementary South Miami Middle School

Coral Terrace Elementary

Ludlam Elementary

Flagami Elementnary

South Miami K-8

Important Dates - Tentative

Testing Calendar
The calendar will be updated periodically at the district’s website as additional information is obtained about the district, state, national, and international tests administered to the students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2008-09 TESTING CALENDAR, GRADES K-12 Updated: June 20, 2008
DATE	DESCRIPTION	ABBREVIATION	PARTICIPANTS	REASON FOR TEST
July 28-29	Alternative Assessment for Grade 3 Promotion	AAGTP	Grade 3, retained only	State
August 18- September 29	Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener     Early Childhood Observation System     Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills     Indicadores Dinámicos del Exito en la Lectura	FLKRS ECHOS DIBELS IDEL	Kindergarten	State
TBA	Preliminary ACT Test	PLAN	Grade 10, optional	Nationally Offered
September 3-9	Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test     SSS Computer Accommodations Pilot	FCAT SSS	Grades 6 & 9, selected schools and students	State
September 15-September 26	Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills	DIBELS	Grades 1-3; Grades 4 & 5*	State and District
September 15-September 26	Florida Oral Reading Fluency Assessment	FORF	Grades 6-12*	State
September 29-May 8	Florida College Entry-level Placement Test	FCELPT CPT	Grades 10-12, optional	State
October 6-13	Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test     Retake Reading and Mathematics	FCAT	Grades 10-12,  as needed	State
October 15	College Board Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship      Qualifying Test	PSAT/NMSQT	Grade 10	State
			Grade 11, optional	Nationally Offered
October 20-31	Florida Alternate Assessment Science Field Test	FAA	Grades 5, 8, & 11***	State
November 17	Grade 3 Mid-Year Promotion	GTMYP	Grade 3, retained only	State
December 2-3	FCAT Writing+ Field Test	FCAT Writing+	Grades 4, 8, & 10, selected schools	State
December 3-9	Florida Competency Examination on Personal Fitness	FCEPF	Grades 9-11, optional	State
January 13- February 27	Florida Alternate Assessment	FAA	Grades 3-11***	State
January 20-May 8	Grade 3 Reading Student Portfolio	GTRSP	Grade 3	State
January 23-February 5	Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills	DIBELS	Grades K-3; Grades 4 & 5*	State and District
January 23-February 5	Florida Oral Reading Fluency Assessment	FORF	Grades 6-12*	State
January 26- March 4	National Assessment of Educational Progress/Trial Urban       District Assessment	NAEP/TUDA	Selected schools, Grades 4, 8, & 12	Federal
February 10-13	Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Writing+	FCAT Writing+	Grades 4, 8, & 10	State
March 10-23	Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Sunshine State Standards        Reading and Mathematics	FCAT - SSS	Grades 3-10	Federal and State
	Science	FCAT - Science	Grades 5, 8, 11	State
	Retake	FCAT-Retake	Grades 10-12,** as needed	State
	Norm-Referenced Test (NRT) ****                Reading & Mathematics	FCAT-NRT	Grades 3-10	State
March 10-23	Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition Reading and Mathematics    Reading	SAT-10	Grade 2   Grade 1, Reading First schools only	District and State State
April 20-     May 22 (Tentative)	Comprehensive English Language Learning Assessment	CELLA	Grades K-12, all current ELLs and selected former ELLs	Federal and State
April 29- May 19	Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test	PPVT	Grades K-3, Reading First schools only	State
April 29-     May 19	Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills	DIBELS	Grades K-3; Grades 4 & 5*	State
April 29-     May 19	Florida Oral Reading Fluency Assessment	FORF	Grades 6-12*	State
May 4-8	Florida Competency Examination on Personal Fitness	FCEPF	Grades 9-11, optional	State
May 4-15	Advanced Placement Examinations	AP	Grades 9-12, enrolled, registered only	Nationally Offered
May 4-22	International Baccalaureate External Written Examinations	IB	Grades 11-12, enrolled only	Internationally Offered
June 22-26	Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Retake     Reading and Mathematics	FCAT-Retake	Grade 12,  as needed	State
June 22-26	High School Competency Test     Communications and Mathematics	HSCT	Eligible students	State
DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS FOR PROGRESS REPORTING
DATE	DESCRIPTION		ABBREVIATION	PARTICIPANTS
August 18 –29	Baseline Benchmark Assessments       Reading, Mathematics, and Science		BBA	Grades 3-11
August 25-September 5	District Writing Pre-Test		DWT	Grades 1-10
October 20 –31 December 15-19 or January 5-9 April 20-May 1 (Optional)	Interim Assessment Tests       Reading, Mathematics, and Science		IA	Grades 3-11
April 13-24	District Writing Post-Test		DWT	Grades 1-10
Note:  Fall and Mid-year administrations of the Interim Assessment and Pre/Post administrations of the District Writing Test are mandated for schools required to submit State progress reports.  They may be administered by other schools for instructional purposes, progress reporting, or as a measure for their School Improvement Plans.
TESTS GIVEN ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS
DESCRIPTION		ABBREVIATION	PARTICIPANTS	REASON FOR TEST
Aprenda La Prueba de los Logros en Español Segunda Edición Placement and/or exit decision for Gifted Program Spanish-speaking LEP students		APRENDA	Grades K-12, eligible ELLs	State
Diagnostic Assessment of Reading Administered as needed for instructional decisions		DAR	Grades K-12, As selected	State
Metropolitan Achievement Test Placement and/or decisions for ESOL Program		MAT	Grades 4-12, As eligible	Federal and State
Oral Language Proficiency Scale Placement and/or decisions for ESOL Program		OLPS-R	Grades K-12, ELLs	Federal and State
Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition Placement and/or decisions for Gifted Program		SAT-9	Grades K-12, As selected	State
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS NATIONALLY OFFERED FOR INTERESTED, REGISTERED STUDENTS
SAT Reasong and SAT Subject Tests			ACT Test
October 4, 2008			September 13, 2008
November 1, 2008			October 25, 2008
December 6, 2008			December 13, 2008
January 24, 2009			February 7, 2009
March 14,2009 (Sat Reasong Only)			April 4, 2009
May 2, 2009			June 13, 2009
June 6, 2009

* Only includes students in FCAT Reading Levels 1 and 2 at these grade levels.
** Students who need to pass one or more sections of the test. Grade 10 retained students only participate in Spring administration.
*** Only includes ESE students exempted from standardized testing at these grade levels.
**** If FCAT NRT is eliminated, a district-wide NRT may be administered at selected grade levels.

Interim Report Distribution	Report Card Distribution
September 17, 2008	November 10, 2008
November 26, 2008	February 2, 2009
February 18, 2009	April 15, 2009
May 6, 2009	June 18, 2009

Activities

Clubs

Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ students may participate in a wide variety of activities, including student council, subject-area clubs, honor societies, service clubs, school publications and class activities. School-sponsored clubs may be curriculum-related or noncurriculum-related.

Curriculum-related clubs are student groups whose goals are an extension of the activities and objectives in a particular subject area within the school's curriculum. Conversely, noncurriculum-related clubs are student groups whose goals are special interest oriented and not directly related to the curriculum. Meetings of noncurriculum-related clubs may be scheduled only at times when instruction is not taking place, either before or after school.
Fieldtrips and Special Activities

Participation in fieldtrips requires that the student present a fieldtrip form signed by the parent/guardian to his/her teacher(s) in advance. In addition, at times vendors who have a “no refund” policy will require schools to pay the full amount of the fieldtrip prior to the event. In this case, students/parents will be notified in advance of the vendor’s “no refund” policy.