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Welcome to the 2021-2022 School Year
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Open Enrollment for More Than 370 Magnet Programs Begins October 1
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) will begin accepting Magnet program applications for the 2022-2023 school year on Friday, October 1, 2021. Applications will be accepted through January 15, 2022
More than 370 Magnet programs for all grade levels will offer specialized courses with unique thematic strands of study that focus on students’ special interests, talents and abilities.
Through M-DCPS’ Magnet programs, students prepare to thrive and excel in post-secondary education and in the workplace. Some of the available programs include Space and Oceanic Exploration, Cybersecurity, Investing (using Bloomberg stock exchange terminals), Artificial Intelligence through Robotics, Gaming Design and Animation, Medicine, Nursing, Visual & Performing Arts, and International Studies just to name a few!
Beginning October 1st, the Magnet application system can be accessed at miamimagnets.org and will be available in multiple languages.
Follow Magnets on Twitter @miamimagnets for magnet-related updates. For additional information, please call 305-995-1922 to speak with the Magnet staff.
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M-DCPS Partners with Jackson Health to Provide Resources to Newborns, Families |
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) and Jackson Health System (JHS) have teamed up to share information with parents of newborns on the importance of high-quality education from an early age and to highlight programs that are available in the community.
As a result of this partnership, M-DCPS will be providing a care package that includes a “Future M-DCPS Grad” bib, hand sanitizer and information on various stimulating early learning programs to families having babies at Jackson – South Florida’s first designated Baby Friendly health system. JHS includes four hospitals where babies are delivered: The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial, Jackson North Medical Center, Jackson South Medical Center and José Milton Memorial Hospital at Jackson West Medical Center.
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Why do high-quality early childhood programs matter?
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Research has demonstrated the critical importance of the first five years of a child’s life to brain development. The experiences and interactions children have in these early years help to establish the foundation for future learning.
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High-quality early learning programs, such as those offered at M-DCPS, will stimulate your child’s rapidly growing brain, which is 85% developed by the age of 5.
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What does M-DCPS offer by age?
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M-DCPS offers various stimulating early learning programs that focus on social-emotional, language and cognitive development and prepare young learners for school readiness.
- Age 0-2: Early Head Start: M-DCPS offers free infant and toddler programs for children from birth to age 2 from income-eligible families in select schools across Miami-Dade County through the Early Head Start program funded by Miami Dade County Community Action & Human Services Department (CAHSD) Head Start/Early Head Start. Families can apply online at headstart.dadeschools.net or in person at one of the schools offering the program. Applications are accepted year-round.
- Age 3: Head Start: The M-DCPS Head Start program, funded by Miami Dade County CAHSD Head Start/Early Head Start provides full-day education health, nutrition, and family engagement services to children beginning at age 3. Income-eligible families can apply online at headstart.dadeschools.net or in person at one of the schools offering the program. Applications are accepted year-round.
- Age 3: Inclusion/Reverse Mainstream Program: The Department of Early Childhood Programs offers placement for 3-year-old children in their Pre-K special education inclusion and reverse mainstream programs across the District. This program provides a free, full-day opportunity for qualifying students to serve as role models.
- Age 4: Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program: The Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program (VPK) is a free educational program designed to prepare 4- and 5-year-olds for kindergarten and build the foundation for their academic success. M-DCPS VPK programs can be found in over 200 public schools across Miami-Dade County.
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In addition to our partnership, JHS has some critical resources for families in our community. Did you know? UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Centers are the first in Florida to be designated Autism Friendly by the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD). This designation means that staff—at all five locations—have been specially trained and all of centers have a specially-designated sensory-friendly exam room to give all patients the opportunity to experience healthcare in a safe and controlled environment.
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M-DCPS Announces Revised Quarantine Protocols for Employees and High School Students |
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has not wavered in its commitment to prioritize the health and wellbeing of its students and employees, by continuously working with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), local health officials and experts in the development of protocols. Data points being monitored include the number of positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 individuals in the local population, new hospital admissions due to COVID-19, and the number of local intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
The District’s Ad Hoc Health and Medical Experts Task Force was consulted regarding a targeted reduction in the quarantine period for all employees and high school students.
Based on the Task Force’s medical guidance, beginning on Monday, September 20, 2021, COVID-19 quarantine protocols have been updated as follows:
Upon direct contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, unvaccinated high school students and employees may return to the school/work site provided they meet both of these criteria:
- They provide a negative PCR test result taken on or after day five since exposure, and
- They are asymptomatic.
For unvaccinated students and employees who do not provide a negative PCR test result on or after five days of exposure or are not asymptomatic, it is recommended they continue to follow the quarantine protocol of 10 days since exposure.
Fully vaccinated students and employees will not need to quarantine and may remain at their school/worksite providing they meet ALL of the following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria:
- Two weeks have passed since:
- Receiving a single dose of vaccine, or
- The second dose in a two-dose series.
- They remain asymptomatic after the current COVID-19 exposure.
- They do not reside in a group home.
Additionally, the District will be seeking input from the FDOH and the Task Force regarding local COVID-19 conditions and relevant criteria that would enable adjustments to the current facial-covering protocol. COVID-19 information is continuously evolving. M-DCPS will continue to collaborate with the FDOH and local medical experts to ensure that parents and our community remain well informed through news media, regular social media posts, school-to-home communications, and our website at https://backtoschool.dadeschools.net/.
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Relevant, Rigorous & Innovative Academics Drive M-DCPS’ Bold 2021-2022 Programs, Initiatives |
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Students and employees of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) began the 2021-2022 school year with a multitude of bold, cutting-edge programs that build on the District’s goals of providing classroom innovation, academic rigor, innovative choice programs, mental health guidance, access and equity, as well as increased efficiencies in operations. Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho unveiled the District’s new programs on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 during a School Board Committee meeting. A number of these initiatives address the priorities of School Board members, and most are being undertaken with the use of supplemental funding, existing resources or leveraged community partnerships.
“Miami-Dade County Public Schools is one of the highest-performing school systems in the nation due to our ability to reinvent ourselves with a host of innovative programs to help each student reach their full academic potential,” said Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “This unwavering commitment is partnered with our pledge to provide students and employees with safe, healthy and supportive learning and working environments.”
For a complete list of this year’s MAPS, visit http://news.dadeschools.net/cmnc/new/32075.
The District’s 2021-2026 Strategic Blueprint, also known as Infinite Possibilities, is comprised of five sections or pillars. These pillars are aligned with our Means to Accelerate Performance (MAPs) which are launch pads for innovation and improvement. Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/2Uq0LJ3.
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Enrollment Now Open for 2021-2022 Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs at M-DCPS |
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ (M-DCPS) Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) – a free program that prepares four-year-old children for kindergarten and beyond – will be available in more than 200 schools countywide for the 2021-2022 school year. Children can register for VPK programs if they turn 4 years old on or before September 1st of the current school year.
This year, M-DCPS has expanded VPK program offerings by adding numerous new classrooms across the District to increase the number of high-quality early learning options available for 4-year old children in the community. Additionally, pre-kindergarten programs at M-DCPS will be included in the current STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) School Designation Process. This will promote STEAM integration programs for young learners and ensure they are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow through high-quality teaching and learning experiences that promote higher-order thinking.
M-DCPS provides several comprehensive, developmentally appropriate educational programs for young children. Each program’s mission focuses on enhancing the child’s self-concept while providing a solid foundation for school interactions. It is believed that when these elements occur consistently and conscientiously, children will develop a life-long love for learning and achievement. All programs have been designed to meet the needs of the total child so that his/her maximum potential is reached.
For more information about our programs, parents should contact their home/neighborhood school, call the Early Childhood Department at 305-995-7632, or visit https://earlychildhood.dadeschools.net.
A list of required school registration documents for the 2021-2002 school year may be accessed at https://attendanceservices.dadeschools.net/.
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iNspiration |
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Cori’Anna White – Student Advisor
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Cori’Anna White, born on March 10, 2004, is the youngest of two children. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and currently lives in a small, predominantly African-American community with her mother,father, grandfather, and dog, whose name is Diesel. Cori’Anna’s first language is English, but she has recently challenged herself to learn Spanish.
Beginning in elementary school, Cori’Anna developed an interest in advocating for her peers. She took her
first leadership role as the elementary representative for the National Achievers Society, conveying the concerns of her elementary counterparts to the Board Members of this organization. She was also selected as a safety patrol by the leaders of her elementary school, and in this role, she was able to direct and assist her peers in numerous ways. Undoubtedly, both positions, amongst countless others, helped cultivate Cori’Anna’s leadership and oratory skills at a very young age.
In 2018, Cori’Anna entered Miami Northwestern Senior High School as an honors student in the Medical Magnet Program. While in this program, she obtained numerous nationally recognized certificates,such as the Electrocardiogram Technician Certificate and the Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate. She was also able to take dual enrollment classes at Miami-Dade College and Florida International University,which played a pivotal role in satisfying the requirements for an Associate’s Degree during her Junior year of high school. Aside from her commitment to academics, she is passionate about bettering her community and the livelihoods of her peers. As a result, she took on the positions of Freshman-Class Treasurer, Student Government Association 2nd Vice-President, EESAC Student Representative, and Student Government Association Vice-President, respectively. While in these positions, Cori’Anna helped to build student morale, organized multiple fundraisers, hosted numerous events (e.g., school dances and pep rallies) for the students to attend, and coordinated field trips along with administration to promote school spirit. If she is elected to serve as the Student Government Association President during her senior year, she plans to do the same and much more to address the concerns and needs of her peers.
In May of 2021, Cori’Anna was humbled to become the first African-American female District Student Advisor in the past 20 years for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth-largest public school system in the nation. Cori’Anna began her tenure in August of 2021, where she was honored to work in tandem with District 2 Board Member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall, on two Board Agenda Items. One of the items focuses on popularizing and bettering the mental health resources available to students. The other item focuses on improving student democracy by providing students with a comment tab on http://www.dadeschools.net/. Both items were unanimously approved, and Cori’Anna trusts that they will be greatly beneficial for all the students of M-DCPS.
In the Fall of 2022, Cori’Anna plans to further her education by majoring in Political Science and minoring in
Spanish and Business Administration. She also plans to attain her Juris Doctorate to advocate for others in an official capacity, as she does now.
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iNspiration
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Martha Cabrera – 2021 Yale Educator of the Year Recipient and Teacher at SAS Wolfson Campus |
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There is a special moment that teachers get to witness in the classroom: it is unexpected, seldom planned for, often audible, and it changes everything. It is the precise moment when a student “gets it.” Suddenly the hues of their room are more amplified, their lenses are focused, and their paths are cleared of self-doubt. Having the incredible opportunity to witness these happenings is what inspires Martha Cabrera to teach every day as her students discover and learn to embrace their voice.
Ms. Cabrera prides herself cultivating thematic units so that each text, regardless of medium, genre, or era resonates with her students. Additionally, she prioritizes fostering a classroom environment that is a safe space for exploring ideas, asking questions, and collaborating – she believes the latter is instrumental to student success and empowerment. Having been nominated for the 2021 Yale Educator Award by an amazing student is a humbling and fulfilling experience; to be selected for such an honor is an unbelievable one.
Ms. Cabrera has often been asked about teaching high school, “Isn’t it too late to teach them something new? What else is there to teach them?” But she believes this is a misconception. As their AP English teacher, she considers it a privilege to have the unique opportunity to walk into their lives when they are teetering between adolescence and adulthood with literature and critical thinking so their individuality and intellect may further flourish. Ms. Cabrera believes that her content area provides students the space to expound their perspective because in her class they read and write about individuality, religion, gender roles, and politics – all of the facets that help shape one’s identity. Enter the college essay. Each year, Ms. Cabrera carves out special time to meet with her seniors and help shape their personal statement into 650 words that capture the students’ coming of age experiences, so their stories stand out among the many applicants. Sometimes they laugh, sometimes they cry, but the final product is always one that students feel immense pride about.
Martha Cabrera is currently an AP English Language/Literature and Composition teacher at the School for Advanced Studies-Wolfson Campus, her favorite place in 33132. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and is a proud product of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system, where she met her lifelong best friends. She received her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in English Education from Florida International University. She happily resides in Miami with her family.
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iNtouch |
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools |
1450 NE 2 Avenue Miami, Florida 33132 |
305-995-1000 |
dadeschools.net |
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Editors |
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Daisy Gonzalez-Diego Denise Landman Jackie Basallo |
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Photography & Graphic Design
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Danny Martinez Arturo Verdecia |
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Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. |
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