Social Media is Here to Stay

Follow us on social media! Learn how our achievements and new initiatives are positively impacting our communities as a whole…Keep up with the latest news @MDCPS. Millennials have grown up with technology at their fingertips. The way we communicate has greatly evolved in the past decade, and social media has become one of the easiest, quickest and most common ways to share information.

Reaching for the Stars

Boasting one of only a handful of school planetariums, Booker T. Washington Senior High School is at the forefront of innovation with its new high-tech facility and Astronomy Magnet program. Through the ages, astronomy has been the key to unlocking the answers to the origins of the universe and life itself. As new technologies are required to delve deeper into the vast expanse of space, the need for better observational instruments becomes the driving force for developments in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields such as electronics, mechanical engineering, and computer science.

Educating World-Class Citizens @MDCPS

As the world seems to get smaller and digital connectivity grows, preparing our students to enter the global market has never been more important.  With Miami’s proximity to the Caribbean and as the gateway to the Americas, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has created an opportunity for students by offering a challenging curriculum promoting high levels of academic productivity, comprehension of world cultures and the acquisition of a foreign language.

Your tax dollars at work – GOB Update

Miami-Dade County Public Schools continues to move aggressively on its plan to update and renovate schools through the 21st Century Schools General Obligation Bond. Now in its third year of implementation, there are approximately 200 projects at various stages. Projects have been completed at 17 schools with an additional 72 smaller projects completed, such as playgrounds, critical air conditioning replacements and portable classroom removal.

iNspiration @MDCPS

A visit to Geoffrey Aladro's class at Frank C. Martin International K-8 Center is a journey back in time, with stops at six stations, each a portal to specific knowledge of a common topic. Mr. Aladro recently was named the 2016 Francisco R. Walker Teacher of the Year.

Name: Geoffrey Aladro
Occupation: History teacher at Frank C. Martin International K-8 Center
Accomplishments: Mr. Aladro has served as Department Chair for seven years. He provides professional development for other educators, serves as a national site visitor for IB schools. Mr. Aladro has been recognized for his excellence in teaching. He is the 2014 District Five winner of the Veterans of Foreign Wars' National Citizenship Education Teacher Award, and the 2008-09 F.C. Martin K-8 Center Rookie Teacher of the Year. He also won fifth place in the 2008 Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta-Miami Branch Lesson Plan of the Year contest.

Stay iNformed and Connected

Spring is here and I am excited to share the latest news from M-DCPS. We've had an exciting start to 2015 and look forward to what the rest of the year will bring to students, parents, businesses and the whole community.

One of the highlights in this edition of iNews is the story about one of our notable former students. Back in December, the White House announced that our very own alumnus, Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy, was appointed Surgeon General of the United States. Vice Admiral Murthy, a remarkable individual, attended our recent STEM Expo in order to connect with his community and motivate students to further explore STEM-related careers. I got to spend some time with him and we discussed the impact that his years at M-DCPS, specifically at Palmetto Senior, had on him. He shared that he was a very shy student, but that several high school teachers were instrumental in helping him break out of his shell and understand what his talent truly was and how he could contribute back to society. He may not have gotten to where he is today, without the help of his incredible educators.

On another great note, we had a record-breaking number of magnet school applications, the highest EVER received! With more than 450 magnet/choice programs, students and parents are taking advantage of the magnitude of options available in areas such as academics, the arts, sciences, foreign languages, and much more.

Enjoy our latest edition of iNews @MDCPS and most importantly, STAY CONNECTED!

iNfact

A record-breaking 66,000 students applied to magnet/choice programs for the upcoming school year.

Nearly 12,000 students attended the 2015 National College Fair to learn about post-secondary options at 220 colleges and universities around the nation.

Miami ranks #1 for return on educational investment, best in the nation for spending efficiency. (Source: Wallet Hub)

Opening this fall, Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School, the first District-managed charter school built "from the ground up", is a unique public-private partnership with Codina Partners.

With more than 65 career programs in six locations, Miami-Dade Technical Colleges offer the most affordable training opportunities for our community.

M-DCPS was selected as a model from North America in the UNESCO publication discussing Quality Physical Education Guidelines.

Magnet Schools of America recognized 34 schools for high academic standards, innovation and diversity. In addition, six schools received the National Magnet Schools of Excellence merit award (out of 74 nationwide) and 28 were awarded the Magnet Schools of Distinction (out of 134).

iChoose M-DCPS

iNtouch

Miami-Dade County Public Schools
1450 NE 2 Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132
USA

	dadeschools.net
	305-995-1000

Copyright 2015
All rights reserved.

Editors
Daisy Gonzalez-Diego
Denise Landman
Vanessa Lopez

Contributors
Hilda Diaz
Daiva Fernandez
Tammy Reed