Welcome to Open House!

Mrs. Rodrigues

Rodrigues & Toribio

Rodrigues: Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies

Toribio: Science and Math

Attendance & Dismissal

Students should be dropped off by 8:00 am. School starts promptly at 8:15 am. After 8:15 am the student will be marked as tardy and will a late slip to enter the classroom. Students who arrive late miss critical instruction.

They must be picked up between 2:45pm-3:00 pm (After 3 pm they will be sent to the office. Late fees may apply).

If your child has been absent, you must send me a note/e-mail to document the reason for the absence. If I don’t receive a note the absence will remain unexcused.

Birthdays & Toys

If you wish to have a birthday party during the school day, you may do so during lunch. Our lunch is from 11:43 – 12:13 pm.

Toys: Toys are not permitted in school. If brought to school they will be held until the December or summer break whichever comes first.

Money Remember, no checks under $20. I prefer that if you are sending your child to

school with cash it be exact. If you are forced to send cash to school and need change I will not be able to provide you with change right away. So, please be patient.

Specials ScheduleQuarter 1- Spanish (P.1), Music (P.2)

PE – Mondays (P.1)/Tuesdays (P.2) (PE uniform and sneakers are required)

Library will be visited on Mondays (P.2) and Tuesdays (P.1)

*** Every Monday/Tuesday , we will visit the media center. Students will be able to check out library books at that time. 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.

Planners, E-mail, Website School planners will be used as a daily form of

communication. Any question or comment you may have may be addressed inside.

Email is the best way to reach me: vrodrigues@somersetmiramar.com

Please make sure to spell Rodrigues with an “s” and not a “z.”

Schoolrack.com: The class website can be accessed by going to http://www.schoolrack.com/vrodrigues

I have important class information posted. The website will be updated weekly.

What are the Florida Standards?

On February 18, 2014, the State Board of Education revised elements of the Common Core State Standards and renamed the benchmarks the Florida Standards.

Language Arts Florida Standards (LAFS)

The LAFS consist of Six Strands: › READING STANDARDS FOR LITERATURE› READING STANDARDS: FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS › READING STANDARDS FOR INFORMATIONAL TEXT › WRITING STANDARDS › STANDARDS FOR SPEAKING AND LISTENING › LANGUAGE STANDARDS

*Writing is incorporated within the Language Arts standards. Extended responses and writing will be based on textual evidence.

*The use of digital tools and technology to conduct research and publish writing using keyboarding skills is required.

Why are we replacing the FCAT 2.0?

With new, more rigorous standards in place to help Florida students succeed, the FCAT 2.0 no longer serves the purpose of measuring student progress and achievement.

It is important that each and every child in this state have the opportunity to learn and succeed in college, career and in life. This new method of assessment will allow teachers to emphasize critical thinking, which will provide our students with even greater opportunities to live and learn in Florida.

*Note: Will any students be taking the FCAT 2.0 in 2014-15?The FCAT 2.0 science exam will be used in grades 5 and 8.

Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)

The new exam to assess students in English/Language Arts and Mathematics is the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA).

The new test will provide a more authentic assessment of the Florida Standards, because it will include more than multiple choice questions. Students will be asked to create graphs, interact with test content and write and respond in different ways than on traditional tests. New question types will assess students’ higher-order thinking skills in keeping with the higher expectations of the Florida Standards.

Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)

March 2-13 FSA Writing (4th-paper based and 5th-computer based)

March 31-April 10 FSA English/Language Arts and Mathematics (3rd & 4th grade-paper based)

April 13-May 8 FSA English/Language Arts and Mathematics (5th Grade-computer based)

FCAT 2.0 Science (5th grade-paper based)

Typing Resources

Typing Web www.typingweb.com Dance Mat Typing http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/ ABC YA! http://www.abcya.com/kids_typing_game.htm Slime Kids

http://www.slimekids.com/games/typing-games/super-hyper-spider-typer.html

Fun To Type http://www.funtotype.com Free Typing Games http://www.freetypinggame.net/play.asp Learning Games for Kids

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html Sense-Lang http://www.sense-lang.org/ http://games.sense-

lang.org/ Typing Club http://www.typingclub.com/typing-qwerty-en.html Typing Ace www.typingace.com (Free Trial) Edutyping www.edutyping.com (Free Trial)

Helpful Websites and Resources

FLDOE: http://www.fldoe.org/bii/curriculum/sss/

LAFS: http://www.fldoe.org/pdf/lafs.pdf MAFS: http://www.fldoe.org/pdf/mathfs.pdf CPALMS:

http://www.cpalms.org/project/cpalmscharter.aspx

FSA Portal: http://www.fsassessments.org/

Title One School Title I is the largest federal assistance

program for our nation’s schools. The goal of Title I is a higher quality of

education for every child. We are a Title I school because a certain

percentage of our student population qualifies for free or reduced lunch. 

The federal government provides funding that help by bringing extra materials and support into our school.

Somerset Miramar implements a school wide Title I program. This means that all students receive the benefits of our Title I funding.

School Status and Testing

As part of our Title I compliance, we are expected to reach certain achievement levels dictated by our School Improvement Plan.

We utilize FCAT (grades 3-8 for previous years), FSA (grades 3-8 from this year on), Primary Reading and Math tests (grades 1-2), and FAIR tests (grade K) to determine our achievement levels.

Our elementary school and our middle school are both “A” rated schools!!

School Advisory Council Role

Assists in preparation and evaluation of The School Improvement Plan (SIP)

Decides how school improvement funds are spent

Assists principal with the school budget Making suggestions relating to the

improvement of the school in all areas

Works hand in hand together for the success of the students and the school!

School Advisory Council (SAC) Meetings

SAC meetings are held quarterly Students are notified of SAC meetings

by distribution of flyers, parent link notifications, teacher emails and the Somerset School website.

Meetings are usually held at 6:00 p.m. in the Media Center

2 volunteer hours are given for attending these meetings

Curriculum

Social Studies- Social Studies Weekly

Hispanic Heritage Month

Black History Month

Multicultural Week

U.S. History

Curriculum- continued

ELA- Journeys & Grammar Book Read and comprehend complex literary and

informational texts independently and proficiently.

Compare and contrast texts.

Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

Write arguments to support claims

Using evidence to prove points

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.

Writing and Grammar

Home Learning, Textbooks, and Conferences

Homework: Students will receive daily Reading/Language Arts homework. Reading Plus will be assigned on a weekly basis. Students are to read 30 minutes each day.

Conferences: There are two mandatory parent/teacher conferences in a year.

Textbooks: Textbooks should never be taken home. If a book happens to go home with your child by mistake please send it back.

VolunteerRemember you need 30 hours!!!

We need your help!  Parents are needed to help with... A. donating/contributing items for classroom use: MOST USEFUL ITEMS AT THIS TIME:   -          Balls/ Jump ropes/ hoola hoops to be used during

recess -          Snacks to be used as rewards in the classroom (chips

– big bags or individualized bags, popcorn (already popped), chocolate chip cookies, cheese balls, lucky grams cereal, fruit loops cereal)

-          Candy for raffle day and rewards - Toys for raffle day (If you need ideas check out

www.orientaltrading.com) -          Lysol to kill germs and keep the flu away! -          Laminating sheetsFor each $4 spent, you will receive one volunteer hour. 

Homework Homework is MANDATORY. It is used to

reinforce the skills learned during the day.

Late Work Policy:› 1 day late: -10 points › 2 days late: -20 points› 3 days late: -30 points› 4 or more: NO LONGER ACCEPTED

Quiz 1

What is my late work policy? How often will your child

have homework?

Quiz 2

What is the best way to reach me?

Why is my last name unique even though it sounds familiar?

Parent-Teacher Conference

If you’d like to schedule a conference, please make sure to do so in Ms. Toribio’s class. We will hold our conferences together.

Remember: You must meet with me at least two times this year.

If you only have a question, please write it on the index card. Please make sure to include your e-mail address so that I can get back to you ASAP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING!!!

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