Somerset Academy

Middle School Orientation

2015-2016

Charter Schools

• What is a charter school? Independent public schools of

choice created on the basis of an agreement between a group of school organizers (Academica) and a sponsoring body (Broward County Public Schools). They are among the fastest growing educational choice options for students in Florida since the first five charter schools were opened in 1996. Charter schools have grown from 5 to over 358 schools with a total enrollment over 120,000 students.

Staff

• Bernardo Montero, Principal

• Walkiria Soberon, Vice Principal

• Cristina Camus, Vice Principal

• Karina Iber, Assistant Principal

• Christine Stewart, Lead Teacher/Activities Director

• Jessica Kirker, 6-7th Grades

• Jennifer Diaz de Villegas, 8th Grade

Curriculum

• 7 period Block Schedule…A Days/B Days

• Summer Reading

• High school courses: Foreign languages Math courses Online courses

• Somerset Arts Conservatory

• Remedial, on-grade level and advanced curriculum

Monitoring Academic Progress

• Progress/Interim Reports are issued at the halfway mark of the grading period.

• Report Cards are issued at the end of each grading period.

• Parents can check website for access to the grade book in order to monitor daily progress.

• Tutoring is provided by our Honor Societies on selected days.

Staff Communication

• All teachers have email

• Please contact teacher/or counselor to discuss specific course concerns

• Please do not approach teachers during instruction

• Check school website in order to keep current with daily school activities and information about your child’s classes

FSA: Florida Standards Assessments• Writing: Grades 5-11th

• Reading: Grades 5-11th

• Math: Grades 5-8th

• Science: Grade 8 (FCAT 2.0)

• Dates: Writing: February 29 – March 4, 2016 Reading, Math, Science: April 11 – May 6, 2016

• After School, Pull-Out, and Saturday School Tutoring Programs Available

Promotion Requirements

• Must pass 4 out of 7 classes;

• Must pass 4 core classes Language Arts Math Science Social Studies

• 7th grade students will take an End of Course exam for Civics

• 8th grade students must complete a PAC plan (personal academic career plan) in US History class

Attendance

• Compulsory AttendanceF.S. 1003.21. The School Attendance

Review Committee will target 5 excused or unexcused absences and excessive absences.

Ages 6-16

Broward County Attendance Policies

• A pattern of non-attendance is established when the student has missed 5 days (excused or unexcused). May be accumulated by tardiness, early

sign-outs, or daily absences

• Once a pattern of non-attendance has been established, a statement must be provided to the school to explain the pattern. F.S. 1003.24

Excused Absences

• Illness of student;

• Illness of immediate family member;

• Death in the family;

• Religious holidays of the student’s own faith;

• Required court appearance/subpoena;

• Scheduled medical/dental appointment.

• Please try your best to schedule medical appointments outside of instructional time.

Please note the school requires proper documentation!

Tardiness/Early Sign-out

• Tardiness/early sign-out is disruptive to the learning environment and can have a negative impact on student achievement.

• No students shall be released within the final 30 minutes of school.

• Traffic Issues

Consequences

• Schools are required to collaborate with local and state agencies that are involved in truancy prevention, intervention, and judicial action. Collaborative Problem Solving Team No grade for course

Returning to School• Students have two days to make up

assignments.

• Students who are externally suspended cannot make up assignments unless student participates in an alternative suspension program.

• Students should bring a note to school to excuse the absence. This note is to be handed to the attendance clerk in the main office.

Food Service• Our campus is equipped with two cafeterias. Le

Cafe and the Panther Zone provide the students with a well balanced lunch aligned to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards.

Prices:

Breakfast- $2.50

Lunch- $3.50

• Free and reduced lunches are available for qualified individuals for purchases made in the Panther Zone and Le Cafe.

• Lunch accounts can be set-up with the Cafeteria Managers. The cafeterias are the only places on campus that accept checks (Somerset Academy)

Transportation

• Several private companies provide transportation to our school. We highly encourage you contract transportation services from Broward County approved vendors. Contact school office for more information.

• Traffic safety – please comply with staff directions and traffic safety

• Speed Limit

School Activities

• Public Calendar Online School Functions and Activities

• Clubs/Organizations 35 Clubs/Honor Societies

• Athletics 14 Sports, Athletic Fees Apply, Physical Required to

Participate

• Parent Volunteer Hours 30 hours

Guidance

• Social, academic and emotional concerns.

• Individual, small, and large group counseling.

• Character Education

• Virtual Counselor

• High school and post secondary planning

• Anti-Bullying policy

Code of Student ConductStudent/Parent Handbook

• Code of Excellence

• Progressive Disciplinary Plan Verbal Warning-parent contact Detentions Suspensions- indoor, outdoor, expelled,

Academic Behavior and Attendance contract, dismissed by the governing board of Somerset Academy.

Electronic Devices Will be available on-line (main page on website)

Signed paperwork needs to be returned to 1st period teacher by August 28th

Dress Code *NEW

• Uniforms can be purchased at All Uniform Wear

• Westfork Plaza (Pines Blvd/Dykes Rd)

• Uniforms are MANDATORY: Monday – Thursday

• Friday Spirit Day: School Polo, club/honor societies, class shirts, athletic shirts, dry-fit spirit shirts with Jeans (NO SHORTS)

• Senior Spirit Day: Fridays (can wear Jeans/Senior Sweatpants with Class Shirt/Jersey)

• IDs are required!

• Somerset Hoodies or Plain, Navy Jackets/Hoodies

Schedules/Supply Lists • There will be a Homeroom period this

upcoming school year. Homeroom period assignments will be posted on our web-site Thursday evening, August 20th.

• Homeroom period on Monday morning, August 24th.

• Although the use of planners are strongly encouraged, we will not sell planners at school.

• School supply lists will depend on the individual teacher. Each course syllabus will indicate what is required for the class.

Bell Schedule

Doors Open 7:15 AM 7:25 AM 10 min

1st Block: Period 1

7:30 AM 8:30 AM 60 min

Homeroom 8:35 AM 8:45 AM 10 min

2nd Block: Period 2 or 3

8:50 AM 10:20 AM 90 min

3rd Block: Period 4 or 5 (READ 1st 30 minutes of class and Lunch)

10:25 AM 12:55 PM 155 min

4th Block: Period 6 or 7

1:00 PM 2:30 PM 90 min

First Week Schedule

• August 24th and 25th: Report to homeroom with a modified schedule for all 7 periods

• August 26th : Report to 1st period, A Day

• Schedule Change forms are due: August 28th Forms can be found onlineForms are to be returned to Homeroom

Teacher

THE END

See you Monday, August 24th !

Any questions?