Weekly learning

 An update will be provided on curriculum covered during the week for math, science and social studies.

  

Student of the week

A student will be chosen each week and awarded the student of the week.  The first student of the week will be awarded the second week of school.

  

     Attendance:

           A successful school experience is the responsibility of the children, the parent and the school.  Your child’s progress both academically and socially, are influenced to a great extent by daily participation.  Regular attendance without tardiness is a key.  If your child is absent from school for any reason, you need to send a note with your child on his/her return to school.  Please date the notes and state briefly the reason for the absence.  Please make sure your child gets enough sleep so he/she can be attentive in school.

Arrival and Dismissal: 

          Students will be permitted to enter into the building between 7:45 am and 8:00am.    Opening exercises will begin precisely on time.  Special announcements will be made each morning so it is important for your child to arrive on time.  During this time, students will pledge to the flag, recite the Shark Oath, and sing the Star-Spangled Banner.  Students arriving after 8:00am are considered tardy, and this will be marked on their record.  A late pass from the main office is required to enter the class.

          Afternoon dismissal is at 3:00pm.  Carpool students will be picked up in west carpool lane of the school.  I ask that you please stay in your car while in the carpool lane.  We will escort your child to the car and help them in.  Please do not get out of your car and walk up to the building.  This creates congestion with traffic and an unsafe situation with children walking in the parking lot while other cars are moving. 

Birthdays: 

          If you would like to send in a special snack for your child’s birthday, you certainly can.  Snacks that work best are cupcakes, cookies, brownies, rice crispy squares, etc.  Any other activities must be approved. You may celebrate your child's birthday during lunch.  Lunch is scheduled at 11:23 am.

Class Store:

Our class will have a store where students will be able to redeem tickets to purchase items. 

Tickets will be awarded based on classroom behavior, academics, planner signature,

homework completion among others.  This system works as a great motivator for students.  Continued parental donations is critical in maintaining our class store opened.  Donations of toys or special items will be greatly appreciated. Some of the items in our store will be: small notebooks, pencils, costume jewlery, silly bands, rubber bracelets, games, lip gloss, toy cars, books, used electronic games (DS, XBox, Playsation), movies, etc. 

 If you are able to donate and help maintain our store it will be greatly appreciated!

Book Orders: 

          I will be sending home Scholastic book order forms periodically throughout the year.  This is a great way to help build your child’s home library at a reduced rate.    Checks should be made ayable to Scholastic Book Club.

Calendar: 

          You will receive notices of upcoming events on our website. You can also access the school calendar on our website www.somersetmiramar.com.  This year our school is going green.  Notifications will be provided primarily electronically. If you do not have access to email please contact me so we can make other arrangements.

Communication: 

          The best way to communicate with me is through the school planner. I review planners each morning and afternoon.  I can respond to any questions there.  You can also contact me through my email.  My email address is trothman@somersetmiramar.com and is posted on the school's website and on schoolnotes.com.

If you need to speak with me over the phone please leave a message with the school office and I will return your call within 24 hours. The school phone number is (305) 829-2406.

Conferences will be scheduled twice during the year to discuss your child’s progress academically and socially.  Interim reports, report cards, notes between the teacher and parent, and phone conferences are other means I will use to communicate with you about your child. In addition you can view updates on schoolnotes.com.

Curriculum: 

          Your child will learn science, math and social studies with a combination of whole group instruction, hands on and small group activities, as well as differentiated instruction to meet your child's academic needs.

          The mathematics curriculum is through Go Math.  This program is rich in technology and hands on activities.  

          The science curriculum is through Scott Foresman.  The social studies curriculum will be focused on the studies of our great state of Florida.

Uniforms: 

           Students are required to wear the Somerset Uniform.  Both pants and shirts/skirts must display the school logo. All elementary school students must wear grey polo shirts with black, tan or navy blue pants/skirts.  All shirts must be tucked in and a belt must be worn. Our classrooms are cold.  Students may wear the school blue jacket or a plain navy blue jacket.  No logos or writing other than Somerset are permitted on the jackets.  Please make sure your child wears sneakers or running shoes since we will be actively involved each day. PE uniform must be worn on PE days.  Socks and closed shoes must always be worn.  No Crocs, flip-flops, or sandals are allowed.  No sneakers with lights, wheels or sounds, please. 

Money: 

          When sending money (cash or check) to school, please send it in a sealed envelope.  Label the envelope with your child’s name, what the money is for, and the teacher’s name.  This way the money will get to where it needs to be, and we know what to do with it. Somerset Academy only accepts checks for $20 or more.  Any amount less than $20 must be paid in cash.

 Field Trips: 

          We plan on attending 2-3 field trips this year that are both fun and educational for the students.  We need parent volunteers on the trips.  We will notify parents of needed chaperones when the field trips have been organized and arranged.  Please return permission slips as soon as possible back to the school in a clearly marked envelope.  It is also very important that we have proof of accident insurance in order for your child to attend the field trip.

Hands-On Learning: 

          I feel the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun.  Through meaningful hands-on activities students learn important concepts.  There are times when seatwork is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active and engaging learning environment.

Sick students:  

      If a student is ill the office staff will contact you. You may be asked to pick up your child.

 

Allergies:  Please let us know of any allergies that your child may have, especially with food.  We may at times prepare special snacks and it would be helpful to know when we plan a treat. 

Kindness: 

          Students in my classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of their class as well as others with kindness and respect.  Hitting, fighting, name-calling and making fun of others will not be tolerated.

Lost and Found: 

          Any items that are lost and found will be kept in the front office. Labeling your child’s items will assist in returning items found around the school without having to send them to lost and found.

     Lunch: 

1.       The lunch prices are $3.50. 

2.     Any check that is submitted as payment for lunches must include the student's name, and grade level.

  

I strongly encourage that you apply for free or reduced lunch. The cost for reduced lunch is $.40.  (This form will go home the first week of school).  Additionally, it can benefit the school in that if just over 50% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch; our school is eligible for significant Title I funding that will allow us to purchase more instructional resources to help our students succeed!

 

Please pack the appropriate utensils for lunch!

  

Transportation: 

Please remember to notify me in writing if there are changes in the way your child will be going home from school. 

Without written instruction from you, we will send your child  home in the usual manner.

  

8:45 am- 9:15 am Monday through Friday

  

Library books are due back prior to the next visit.  Please make sure the books are kept in a safe place and remain in good condition.  If a book is lost, parents will be responsible for the cost of the book. Specials will be changed quarterly:

Quarter 1- Music - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri

PE - Tuesday

Library- Tuesday

   

 Classroom Rules

•Follow directions

•Listen to the teachers

•Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself

 •Raise your hand when you want to speak

•No talking as we walk through the building

•Proper behavior in the cafeteria, hallway and bathroom 

  

Behavior Chart

Red: Grandslam- Outstanding behavior

Yellow: Homerun- Great behavior 

 

Green:: At bat - Ready to learn- all children start each day in green

 Blue: Strike one- Warning- no consequence- student will think about infraction

Orange: Strike two- second warning - loss of recess

  

Pink  : Strike three- third warning-  teacher's choice consequence (call home, referral, detention)

 

    If a child changes color, I will note the discipline color on the planner. 

I will also add notes on the behavior as needed. 

Please initial the planner daily.

 

Rewards: 

•Daily rewards: candy, free coupons

 •Weekly rewards: treasure box, self-manager, student of the week, class store, dance on Fridays

•Monthly rewards: end of day party

 

•Students displaying the character traits from the School Board of Broward County are

awarded Student of the Month of the class.

Character Traits

 

•Cooperation (September), Responsibility (October), Citizenship (November), Kindness (December), Respect (January), Honesty (February), Self-control (March), Tolerance (April).

  

Questions: 

          If you ever have any questions, please feel free to ask.  You can send a note, write me an email, or call the office so that we can arrange a mutually convenient time for a meeting.   

Toys: 

           Children are asked NOT to bring toys from home.  They will have enough to do here at school.  The toys become distracting and are not made for large group use.  We cannot be held responsible if a toy becomes broken or lost. 

Please keep all toys at home.

  

Volunteer Hours: 

          Please see me about needing and logging any volunteer hours for the classroom.  I enjoy having parents come to school to help us learn.  If you are able to volunteer during class please let me know.  You may also donate materials to the class and have your donation count towards your volunteer hours.  There are definitely some items our classroom could use to help it function smoothly this year.  Every $4 dollars you spend counts as 1 hour of volunteer time.   If you choose to count a donation as volunteer hours, please bring in your receipt to your teacher.  Your generosity with donations would be greatly appreciated.

 

We need your help!  Parents are needed to help with...

  

A.    being an overseer for  small group work and ABC Centers

B.     calling students back to do one on one skill practice

C.    donating/contributing items for classroom use (books, small objects for treasure box and class store, class supplies, etc.)

E. fill classroom needs through gifts cards for class projects and events.  (Publix, Dollar Tree, Walmart, Target, Ace Educational, www.orientaltrading.com)

 

Email:  You can contact me via email at trothman@somersetmiramar.com . I check my email daily, and will respond to you within 24 hours.

 

Website: 

          Somerset Academy Charter School Miramar Campus has a website which can be accessed at:  www.somersetmiramar.com  Check in regularly to find information about curriculum, special events, and school news.

 

   ZZZZZZZZ’s: 

          Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest.  A wonderful gift you can give your child is setting and keeping a regular bedtime.  It will help them be alert and ready to learn each day.

 

 

Have you checked out the available resources through Broward County Schools?

go to this link and find:

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/casdl/textbooks/index.asp

Doorway #2: Research and Homework Help - Utilize provided online resources, including textbooks and District-purchased databases. (more)

Doorway #3: Information Literacy Skills - Expand your knowledge of topics important to the digital world. (more)

Doorway #4: Software Tools - Get help with Atomic Learning, AppleWorks, Inspiration, Keynote, and iLife. (more)

Doorway #5: Virtual Counselor - Check out your grades, absences, test scores and other information. (more)

Doorway #6: Fun on the Net - Discover fun facts, interesting sites, and mental challenges when your homework's all done. (more)

   I look forward to a great school year!