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Graduation season came and went, which means that we have come to the end of another extraordinary school year. Once again, the Miami-Dade community can celebrate with the M-DCPS family as we reflect on an academic year marked by outstanding school and student achievement, groundbreaking innovation and ingenuity, strong community and business partnerships, booming school construction and renovation, and a continually growing number of local, state, and national honors. Miami-Dade’s graduation rate continues to rise, surpassing that of the state, and our students are making remarkable academic gains as evidenced by classroom performance and national test results.

While the news on the academic front is exciting and certainly worth celebrating, we cannot ignore the growing concerns over safety and security in and around our schools, especially in light of recent school tragedies. Recent gun violence at schools in South Florida and in other states has forced school districts around the nation, including Miami-Dade, to reevaluate our safety protocols to ensure the protection of students and employees. In Miami-Dade, we have increased the number of school resource officers assigned to schools, requested additional funding from the state to augment established security measures, reduced the number of school entry points, and strengthened protocols related to securing schools and classrooms in the event of an on-campus threat. Safeguarding students and employees will always be our foremost priority.

The 2017-2018 school year has had its challenges and moments of deep reflection, but this year has also been punctuated by robust academic programs, exemplary student achievement, steadfast parent and community engagement and support, financial soundness, operational excellence, all bolstered by the visionary leadership of our School Board. The work and dedication of our teachers and employees are reflected in the outstanding accomplishments of our students. Finally, congratulations to all our graduating seniors and our returning students. You have had an exceptional year of achievement. Enjoy your summer.


Alberto M. Carvalho
Superintendent

 

@MDCPS and @PAMM Join Forces to Launch New PAMM Student Pass

image Students at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) now have a unique opportunity to gain unprecedented and unlimited access into one of Miami’s flagship destinations – the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).

Recently, Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho and PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans announced that with the PAMM Student Pass, VPK – 12th grade students in Miami-Dade County are able to gain free admission to the Museum and even bring one adult guest with them for free.

PAMM, since its founding, has served as a place of community gathering that brings people to art and has solidified its vision while understanding that art and ideas have the power to enrich the lives of all people- including those of our students.

"I believe strongly that early exposure to art not only opens a child's heart and mind to creativity and ingenuity, but also sharpens critical thinking and other skills that help students learn content across all educational disciplines," said Carvalho.

Being that the exhibitions at the PAMM highlight Miami’s diverse community and vital importance as a crossroads of the Americas, students will find themselves immersed in art that tells a story about their city, its people, and the world around them.

Skylar De La Torre, a student at John A. Ferguson Senior High School, expressed gratitude for this partnership, “I’m thankful that M-DCPS affords us the opportunity to engage with and challenge our minds in new and creative ways. Art has always been a part of my life and now I have the chance to continue my creative learning at PAMM whenever I want.”

To enroll in the program, students can complete and print the online form found at www.pamm.org/studentpass and then bring it to the museum. PAMM Student Pass applications also will be available at the museum’s front desk during regular museum hours. A pass card will be provided to the student at the time of the first visit. PAMM Student Passes expire on August 31st each year. Beginning September 1st, students may re-enroll as long as they are still attending M-DCPS.

The hope is that this program will help students nurture or discover their love and appreciation for the arts. The District is also encouraging other publicly-funded institutions to offer similar programs.

Providing Opportunities for Students & Local Businesses through NAF Academies

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Last month, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) sponsored the 2018 National Academy Foundation (NAF) Mega Student Industry Conference for approximately 1,500 high school students. The conference included breakout sessions, a college/career fair, and interviews by industry professionals with students eligible for summer internships. The internship experience gives students a chance to gain real world, hands-on experience, make lasting professional connections, and discover more about a specific career path. Internship experiences are linked to students’ future career goals in order to make learning more engaging and relevant. The business partners who hire NAF academy students as interns benefit from the efforts of enthusiastic, prepared, and highly conscientious workers and get the chance to train and recruit future employees.

M-DCPS offers 57 NAF programs in the five Career and Technical Education themes of Engineering, Finance, Health Sciences, Hospitality & Tourism, and Information Technology at 30 Miami-Dade high schools. These academies are aligned with the Beacon Council’s One Community One Goal initiative, targeting major industries that impact Miami’s economy.

“Through my academic and professional experiences during the four years in the NAF Academy of Hospitality & Tourism at Miami Springs Senior High School, I have been a leader at my internship and job at the Courtyard Marriott Miami Airport and as President of the student club,” said senior Theresa Betancourt. “During my internship, I discovered my passion for the hospitality industry, which led me to my job and my future plans to major in hospitality management at FIU or the University of Central Florida.”

NAF is a national network of education, business, and community leaders, who work together to ensure high school students are ready for college, career and their future. M-DCPS has exemplified significant strategic commitment to and investment in NAF academies and student enrollment goals, strong demonstration of the NAF model and outstanding leadership capacity within the network.

M-DCPS’ Division of Academics, Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides more than 11,600 Miami-Dade students (and counting!) with high quality, relevant, career technical education, and the skills and knowledge they need for tomorrow’s career possibilities.

Summer Youth Internship Program (Available to all M-DCPS students meeting eligibility requirements)

As part of a career-focused educational experience, M-DCPS students can take part in an ongoing series of work-based learning activities, culminating with a compensated internship completed typically during the summer between 11th and 12th grade.

Last summer, 1,827 interns were placed among 539 internship providers, and 94 percent completed their internship, working approximately 256,800 hours and collectively were awarded $2,251,280. Forty-eight students achieved Dual Enrollment college credit.

“I had the great pleasure of completing my internship at Elite Health. I gained so much knowledge and experience that at the end of the internship, I was offered a job!” said Natalie Nieves from Hialeah Gardens Senior High School

This year’s Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) is tentatively scheduled to run from June 25 to July 30, 2018. Students will work 30 hours a week for a total of 150 hours this summer. The program is open to rising 10th-through 12th-grade high school students aged 15-18 and enrolled in M-DCPS. Students must be eligible to work, reside in Miami-Dade County, and must open an account with the South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union, the only financial institution for the SYIP program.

VIVA SWIMMING!
Swimming Can Be Fun and Safe Too

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With rising temperatures, water adventures beckon us! Let’s get prepared to be swim-safe-ready. Learn to swim programs promote water safety skills and are dedicated to keeping children safe through education and awareness.

Did you know that we are naturally attracted to water? Water is something that humanity has cherished since the beginning of time. Without a doubt throughout history, you see our deep connection to water described in art, literature, and poetry. Some scientists and psychologists believe that we are biologically and instinctually interconnected to water and to nature in general and that our response to water is not necessarily even conscious, so it's essential that every child learn to swim and be water-safe.

This is why Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is teaching kids to swim through our Learn to Swim Program, entering its 43rd year. Swimming instructions and water safety are taught at the school site as part of an ongoing effort to save lives. Classes are conducted during the school day, in oversized pools that travel from school to school, usually through physical education classes, for students in Pre-K through 2nd grade. Approximately 4,000 students in our M-DCPS schools learn how to swim each year! The focus is on schools in neighborhoods where students may not have access to a public pool or swimming lessons. The lessons follow the approved curriculum of the American Red Cross, the largest provider of swimming instruction. It is our way of helping families ensure that water-related activities are enjoyed safely. For more information, visit http://pe.dadeschools.net/learntoswim.asp.

The National Safety Council (NSC) reminds us to never swim alone and to brush up on our CPR and rescue techniques. NSC statistics sustain that “drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for young children, so being able to swim is an essential life-saving skill.” They add, “Always be aware and be in the present moment with your children.” Here are a few NSC precautions: https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/drowning.

Aside from fun, swimming provides health and happy benefits too! It improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina, improves confidence, balance and posture. It even helps children become self-confident, believe in their abilities, and offers them plenty of opportunities to make new friends. To ensure our students have a safe, and fun summer in the water, M-DCPS will continue to provide this service to our community for years to come.

Promoting Health and Wellness @MDCPS

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Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has consistently taken proactive measures to ensure the well-being of its employees. As part of the District’s health and wellness initiatives, M-DCPS has joined Walkspree’s 100 Billion Step Challenge, which promotes regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle through the fun activity of walking. The challenge consists of employees using a mobile app to set goals, track, and participate in individual and team competitions. Through this challenge, Walkspree also offers resources and programs to keep employees motivated and engaged. This initiative is very important as walking has many health benefits including, stabilizing blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes as well as increasing endorphins and improving posture.

In addition to this challenge, M-DCPS has promoted the Healthcare Bluebook, an online and mobile tool that allows employees to quickly find cost and quality information about medical services by ranking local providers in an easy-to-read color system. The school district’s Telehealth program also offers employees easy access to health-related services, information and virtual consultations through your smart phones and personal computers.

M-DCPS has partnered with the UHealth-University of Miami Health System to offer medical care at a facility located at Jackson Senior High School. The medical center provides primary care services for employees, their dependents and retirees who are enrolled in the school system’s insurance plan.

The state-of-the-art medical center is staffed by a University of Miami physician, nurse practitioner and nursing staff and has co-payments as low as $10. It provides access to lab services, nursing support, wellness education and direct referrals to UM specialists when necessary.

At M-DCPS, the health and wellness of our employees is invaluable. Through innovative programs, the District continues to ensure that our workforce is healthy and ready to show up to work every day!

Values Matter @MDCPS

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Whether it’s by finding creative ways to challenge students or by organizing projects and events, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has made it a priority to embrace opportunities to foster in our students the District’s nine core values: honesty, integrity, cooperation, kindness, pursuit of excellence, fairness, citizenship, responsibility, and respect. Through a year-round marathon of efforts and hard work, teachers and students teach each other these values to create a healthier and more caring environment now and for the future.

So far, these opportunities have improved school culture and student behavior, promoted thousands of student nominations, and awarded countless scholarships and prizes. While some schools have implemented reward programs, student pledges or recognition boards, others have set higher goals with creative challenges for their students, provided parent workshops or simply required student participation in community service projects.

Such additions, activities and events both inside and outside the classroom have helped to engage students in practical learning experiences so that they are not just learning about the values, but also how to apply and exemplify them.

Values Matter Miami holds an annual awards ceremony to celebrate the values-based education M-DCPS provides daily for its students. The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest challenges high school students to analyze and single out urgent ethical issues, while also providing rational arguments for ethical action, awarding scholarship prizes to the winners.

Through this daily endeavor, we aim to instill these important values in our students – to prepare them to face difficult challenges with clarity – so that they may live by these values today as students, and tomorrow as professionals and citizens of the world.

iNspiration @MDCPS

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Hardworking and resilient are just some of the words to describe this dedicated student who has achieved academic excellence while fighting cancer.

Name: Emily Morey

School: 12th grade student at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School

Accomplishments: Most incoming high schoolers are concerned with their class schedules and making new friends, but for Emily, who was diagnosed with Renal Medullary Carcinoma, it was especially difficult. That, however, did not deter her from pursuing her dreams of achieving academic excellence. Emily is ranked in the top 5% of her class and is an active member of the National Honor Society, and the treasurer in Student Government Association. She has also managed to find time to give back to her community by participating in walks and relays. Emily has been in remission for two years and most importantly, never stopped smiling.

Fun facts About Emily:

  • She is the captain of the volleyball team.
  • She plans on becoming a pediatric oncologist.

iNspiration @MDCPS

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A passionate educator in the field of journalism, Ms. Sullivan gives her students a safe place in a rigorous writing and design program where they can discover who they are by what they produce.

Name: Mary Kay Sullivan

Occupation: English Language Arts and Journalism teacher, as well as sponsor for the Lightning Strike Newspaper and Renaissance Yearbook at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School.

Accomplishments: Sullivan went back to school after having nine children, graduating with a 4.0 when she was 46-years-old. She managed to become nationally board- certified, earn two master’s degrees, one in writing and another in media advising, while bringing Krop’s newspaper to national status for the quality of writing and page layout. While under her mentorship, the Lighting Strike has earned three National Scholastic Press Association’s All-American recognitions, and the yearbook has received national honors as well as continuously garnering the All-Florida recognition.

Fun facts About Mary:

  • She teaches six classes per day, runs two publications, and moonlights as an adjunct at Miami Dade College.
  • She is retiring after 19 years of service at M-DCPS.
  • She will have at least 50 former journalist students attending her retirement party, a surprising number of them in the field: former editors, producers at ABC, journalists at NPR, and many who have published books.

iNfact

image M-DCPS students continue to outshine other large urban district on national standardized assessments, including NAEP-TUDA, known as the nation’s report card, with fourth graders ranking #1 in Reading and #2 in Mathematics.
image M-DCPS is home to five of the top 100 high schools in the nation and seven schools in Florida’s Top 20, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
image Last month, 250 M-DCPS students had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a live video chat with crew from NASA’s International Space Station.
image More than 1,000 students with disabilities were honored with the “I Can Do It, You Can Do It” Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards for participating in an innovative national initiative to increase physical activity levels.
image The graduating class of 2018 has been offered $423 million in college scholarships.
image Third grade students’ scores on the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) in English Language Arts (ELA) outperformed their counterparts statewide, both in terms of performance & growth. Scores increased from 58 percent scoring at levels 3 or above in 2017 to 61 percent in 2018.

iChoose M-DCPS

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New World School of the Arts

Adler Guerrier, Miami artist and advocate

 

“The thing I learned the most while I was in school, is that art is eclectic and innate, and that it exists in everyday life. An artist can contribute in a way that is productive to the lives of everyone exposed to art, whether in the form of a painting, a sculpture, a design, or even building architecture.”

iNtouch

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

Copyright © 2017
All rights reserved.

Editors
Daisy Gonzalez-Diego
Denise Landman
Vanessa Lopez

Contributors
Jackie Calzadilla
Hilda Diaz
Daiva Fernandez
Marcus Frias
Maggie Masdeu
Tammy Reed
Anna Rico
Tammy Reed

Photography
Jimmy Abraham