  English | En español | An kreyòl  Spring - 2019 |
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There is nothing greater and more inspirational than witnessing the sheer joy on a child’s face or the twinkle of excitement in their eyes when they grasp a new learning concept or idea. It’s magical and it is the motivation that drives our work each day in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Ensuring that students succeed both in and beyond the classroom requires individual and collective support from the entire community. Our school district boasts some of the best and brightest teachers in the nation who are extremely skilled at what they do. Each day they make instruction and learning come alive for students. But the work of supporting students academically and keeping them focused lies not only with teachers but with the community that believes in the power of education. The power of education helps prepare students for careers at home and abroad. The power of education encourages students to stay in school and graduate. The power of education makes students aware of the possibilities available to them. The power of education produces vibrant, thriving communities for families to live and flourish. Miami-Dade County Public Schools offers many opportunities for the community to be a part of the power of education through support and advocacy year-round. Here are just a few opportunities to get involved:
Alberto M. Carvalho Superintendent
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What do you get when wellness and education come together? The 4th Annual Superintendent’s 5K Challenge to support Miami-Dade County Public Schools! Join thousands of students, parents, educators and community supporters on Saturday April 13, 2019 at 7 a.m. at Museum Park for a morning of running, walking and friendly competition to benefit our local public schools. The 5K (3.1 miles) course starts and finishes at the Museum Park on Biscayne Boulevard. The route heads eastbound on the MacArthur Causeway, then loops around onto Watson Island before heading back. Adults may register as a Runner/Walker with a $30.00 + $3.03 registration fee. Students have three options to choose from: 5K, 1-mile Run, and the Kid’s Dash for children ages 2-9. Registration for each student option is $10.00 + $1.68 registration fee. Participants have the option of registering as an individual or joining an existing team. The Foundation for New Education Initiatives (FNEI) will donate a percentage of race proceeds to participating schools based on the number or participants each school team registers. Participants are encouraged to run for a school team, so FNEI can enhance school fundraising totals. The Superintendent’s Challenge 5K Run/Walk is hosted jointly with FNEI and was created to promote health and wellness in our schools and in our community. Registration is now open at: https://www.athlinks.com/event/superintendents-5k-challenge-race-for-education-167578. The registration deadline is April 5, 2019. See you at the finish line! |
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February 14, 2019, marked the one year since the horrific tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSDHS) took place. In solidarity with MSDHS, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) started the day with a districtwide moment of silence at 10:17 a.m. and created events that honored the 17 lives lost during that terrible day, placing focus on the importance of love, kindness and support. “Love and Kindness Day” provided schools with positive and life-affirming activities. Schools engaged in age/grade-level appropriate activities designed to help students reflect on the importance of their actions toward others and building a strong and supportive peer community. Activities throughout the day included Kindness Corners, sending “Love and Kindness” notes, and a lunchtime “Love and Kindness” check list. At M-DCPS, we understood that this day could trigger feelings of anxiety, sadness, or concern among some students. In July 2018, the Department of Mental Health Services was established to better meet the emotional needs of our students. Teachers, counselors, and administrators received training on how to identify a student in need of additional mental wellness support that may have been triggered by this anniversary date. In addition, resources were provided to help parents speak with their child about their feelings one year after the tragedy. Enhancing security at our schools has also been a top priority over the last year, including a reduction in points of entry at schools; routine inspection of perimeter fencing; mandatory identification badges; locked classroom doors during the school day; designation of hard/safer corners; installation of additional security cameras (bringing the total camera count to more than 15,000 districtwide); and a visitor management system that year-to-date has screened 1.2 million registered visitors to school sites and facilities. The school district has expanded its communications outreach by sending text messages to parents and employees during emergency situations. Additionally, school administrators and staff have been trained to respond to active shooter, bomb threats, and hostage situations and regular emergency drills are carried out at all schools. The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department collaborated with our partner agencies to be on heightened alert for hoax and/or copycat threats against our schools and/or students and to continue to share intelligence. As always, the safety and security of our students and employees are of paramount importance, and we are taking every precaution possible to ensure our children are focused on learning, and our educators are focused on teaching them. |
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As Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) students inch ever closer to the college application process, becoming knowledgeable about college and career readiness can propel them toward a variety of opportunities for an excellent postsecondary education. Understanding what college can offer and what they are looking for will place students at the forefront of this exciting transition. The College Fair Miami, hosted by M-DCPS in partnership with the National Association for College Admission Counseling, has been the grassroots event of the college application process for decades. More than 200 college and university representatives provide details about what their respective institutions have to offer. This annual fair has become one of the first, most fundamental opportunities available for both students and parents to become informed on the postsecondary path that will be most favorable to them, while still fitting budget, distance and academic needs. In addition, the M-DCPS summer youth internship program, a partnership between the District, Miami-Dade County, The Children’s Trust, the Foundation for New Education Initiatives, Inc., CareerSource South Florida and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., is arguably an important component of being college and career-ready. Students, backed by a portfolio of internship entries that will fuel his or her paper image for college admissions teams, will be taking one giant leap forward in the college admission process by applying for a paid summer internship position at M-DCPS. The internship experience gives students a chance to gain real world, hands-on experience, make lasting professional connections, and discover more about their interests and proficiency along a specific career path. Internship experiences are linked to students’ future career goals to make learning more engaging and relevant. The business partners who hire these students as interns benefit from the efforts of enthusiastic, prepared, and highly conscientious workers and get the chance to train and recruit future employees. For more information about our summer internship program, and to find out how your organization can become an internship provider and help share the future, visit https://miami.getmyinterns.org. |
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A true warrior like her high school’s mascot. A scholarly, honest and humble student committed to overcoming all obstacles, Denisse has perfect attendance, maintains a rigorous academic load, is a high-ranking officer in JROTC and, best of all, has one of the brightest smiles in all of M-DCPS. Name: Denisse Pino Fun facts about Denisse:
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Oliver Diez is a proud M-DCPS graduate who is in his 20th year at Palmetto Elementary School, where he teaches General Music. Recently, he was selected as the 2020 Francisco R. Walker Miami-Dade County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Diez has a deep understanding of the importance of music in the lives of his students. He has had fourth and fifth graders chosen for both All-State Elementary Chorus and All-State Orff Ensemble (2006-2019), as well as for Superintendent’s Honors Festival. Name: Oliver Diez Fun facts about Oliver:
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M-DCPS has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Cambridge District of the Year Award, recognized for its exceptionally strong commitment to expanding access and delivering a high-quality Cambridge education with equally strong performance, as shown by students' achievements. |
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Year after year, M-DCPS students and employees give more to United Way than anyone else in the country, raising $1,484,055 during the 2018-2019 #MDCPSLivesUnited campaign, working together to create a #StrongerMiami. |
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Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho was honored with the 2019 National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Superintendent of the Year Award. School Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman, was also recognized by NABE with the Long-Life Educator Award. |
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On January 31st, 2019, thousands of M-DCPS students between the ages of 8-18 participated in the annual Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day, learning about professionalism, responsibility and their parent’s profession. #TODASTW |
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Aspiring journalists listen to insight and advice from our panel of media experts at the annual Social Media Student Journalism Forum. #MDCPSConnects |
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This year, M-DCPS developed the #EliminateCigs outreach campaign to educate all stakeholders, including students, parents/guardians, employees, and community members on the dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes. |
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Miami Killian Senior High School Dr. W. Kent Fuchs, University of Florida President
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“I was fortunate to attend Miami Killian Senior High School and to graduate in 1973. It was at Killian where I developed a love for science. It was also at Killian where I grew in my appreciation for classmates from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and interests.” |
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2019