1. 8 th Grade 2013-2014 School Year Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8

2. Welcome to my classroom! If you need to contact me at any time throughout the year, please feel free to send me an email. I will get back to you within 24 hours. jmorales1@dadeschools.net Parent Portal Parents you must go to the office with a picture identification to obtain your PIN number for access to the Parent Portal.

3. Going Paperless You may sign up online through the parent portal to go paperless. You will receive Progress Reports and Report Cards electronically. Parents and students who wish to start receiving automated email subscriptions can do so via the Electronic Gradebook link in the parent or student portals. The Department of Food and Nutrition's Family Application Scanning Team (FAST Center) is processing all 2013-2014 free and reduced price lunch applications submitted. Parents are encouraged to complete the application on-line at https://freeandreducedmealapp.dadeschools.net/https://freeandreducedmealapp.dadeschools.net/

4. Becoming a Volunteer Parents we really need your support with school activities. All volunteers must complete, sign, and date a Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ School Volunteer Program Registration Form (FM 1764E) before being placed, in a school, or beginning service as a school volunteer and successfully complete a background check. You may find this information at www.dadeschools.net, click on the Parents tab, and then click on the School Volunteer link, under the Parent Toolbox list.www.dadeschools.net

5. PTSA Support your PTSA by becoming a member! The PTSA has a wonderful site at the address below:http://worknotes.com/FL/SunnyIslesBeach/SIBPTSA Visit the site for updated information, buy a Spirit Shirt and other great ways to contribute to our school. Please purchase a spirit shirt for your child if you have not done so. Spirit Shirts may be necessary to attend certain field trips. Wall of Giving

6. Code of Student Conduct Please go on-line to http://sib.dadeschools.net to read the District’s Code of Student Conduct. Click on the ‘Opening of School 2013-2014’ tab, located on the upper right corner. There you will find several links to very important sites and documents that must be read and signed. The documents that must be signed are: Internet Usage Policy Photo Release form Code of Student Conduct…Acknowledgement of Responsibility

7. Parent Conferences Call or Email to schedule a conference 8:00 am – 8:20 am Office Number: 305-933-6161 Email address jmorales1@dadeschools.net Use the parent portal to track your child’s performance.

8. Grading Scale 100-90A 89-80B 79-70C 69-60D 59-0F Student grades are available on-line through the portal at the Dadeschools.net website.

9. Home Learning According to school board rules, students may be given a minimum of 30 minutes of homework/ home learning daily, per subject. Students should read for a minimum of 30 minutes daily, in addition to any assigned homework. Students may receive help for their homework through the Dial-a-Teacher program. 305-995-1600

10. Attendance Policy There is probably no factor more important to successful academic progress than consistent school attendance. The faculty and staff of this school are committed to the philosophy that every student should attend every class every day. Regular attendance and promptness are expected in all classes. Forming the habit of regular attendance is a legitimate objective for any course. The learning and experiences that are lost due to absence can never be replaced adequately. Miami-Dade County Public Schools has the affirmative obligation to improve student attendance through a monitoring process that will classify all absences as excused or unexcused, to inform parents of student absences, and to see that attendance laws are enforced. This obligation will be satisfied through the implementation of an attendance review procedure that monitors both the type and number of student absences. Students may not be able to attend school activities if there is excessive tardiness or absence.

11. 8 th Grade Yearbook Please contribute to the book by buying an ad for your child and/or to advertise your business. Ads vary from $25.00 for a business card size ad to $200.00 for a full page ad. Please contact me for an order form or further information.

12. Accreditation Process Miami Dade County Public Schools is applying for District-wide Accreditation using the Advanced Ed protocol. All stakeholders –parents, staff, students and community members – will be involved in the process through online surveys and small group meetings. The goal of the process is to ensure that everyone and everything is focused on student achievement. Through internal and external reviews NSE SIB K8 will demonstrate that it implements a continuous improvement process.

13. Thank You! I would like to thank you for your continued support. I am very open to comments and concerns so please keep my e-mail handy. I am looking forward to a great school year!