school

WESLEY MATTHEWS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Opening of School Parent Newsletter

2013-2014

August 2013 Volume 1, Issue 1

WELCOME BACK PARENTS 2013-2014

Dear Wesley Matthews Elementary School Family,

After our “ground-breaking” performance on the 2013 FCAT, we would like to welcome you to what promises to be an even more successful school year. During the 2013-2014, our theme is “superheroes,” and our

goal is to reach to infinity and beyond as our “superlearners” come back to our most important mission yet! For our part, we will offer a first-rate educational experience and, in return, ask that you ensure your child’s regular attendance. Your child’s success in school depends on having a solid educational foundation, one that only can be achieved with regular school attendance. We also ask that you make a genuine effort to be involved in your son’s or daughter’s school throughout the year. We are all “called into action!”

Educationally Yours,

DEBORAH DARBONNE Principal

OPENING AND CLOSING HOURS

Grade Level Students Pre-K, Kindergarten and

First Grades 8:20 am – 1:50 pm

Second – Fifth Grades 8:35 am – 3:05 pm

On Wednesdays, all elementary and K-5 students are dismissed at 1:50 pm.

MANDATORY UNIFORM POLICY

Dear Parents,

As always, boys and girls at Wesley Matthews Elementary

School are required to wear the approved uniform, closed

shoes and socks are to be worn at all times. Students in

violation will have to serve a detention beginning September

13, 2013.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Boys: Color:

Shorts or Pants Green or Khaki

Shirts Polo Style, Short or Long

Sleeves

White, Green or Striped White/

Green

Embroidered with School Emblem

Girls: Color:

Shorts, Skirts, Skirt Culottes, Jumpers

or Pants Khaki or Plaid

Plaid only sold at Ibiley Uniform

Shirts Polo Style, Short or Long

Sleeves

White, Green or Striped White/

Green

Embroidered with School Emblem

School T-shirts for boys & girls Sold by the School

PTA ONLY * Note: Jeans, leggings, skinny jeans, and athletic shorts are NOT part of the

school uniform and are NOT permitted.

PARENT ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL

As a reminder, in the mornings, students should be

dropped off at the circular driveway located in the front of

the school, or at the circular driveway located on the west

side of the school (bus drop-off area), no earlier than

7:45 AM.

In the afternoons, students in Pre-K through 3rd grade will

be dismissed from the front circular driveway. Students in

grades 4th through 5th will be dismissed from the circular

driveway located on the east side of the school (by the

park). Parents with children in both age groups (Pre-K

through 3rd and 4th through 5th) may make arrangements to

pick up all children from the front circular driveway.

Welcome

Parent E-Mail Distribution List

In an effort to reduce mass copies being sent home

with the students, we are asking for your e-mail

address in order for documents to be e-mailed directly

to you. This school year, we will no longer make copies

of the monthly newsletter and all other documents that

are lengthy.

Please know that all of our information can be found on

our school website, which may be accessed at http://wmes.dadeschools.net.

Once your e-mail is received, school information will be

emailed to you.

Communication

The parent handbook is accessible

on our school website,

http://wmes.dadeschools.net.

We hope you will find the

information helpful and use it to

learn more about school procedures

and record important dates. You

can also check the District web site

for information updated monthly, it

has a wealth of information at

www.dadeschools.net.

We are glad you’re here. Welcome to

Wesley Matthews Elementary School!

PAYPAMS Lunch Account Program

PAYPAMS is a Miami-

Dade County Public

School program that

enables parents to pay a

student’s lunch account

on-line via the internet or

by telephone with a

credit or debit card. The

parent/guardians will

create a lunch account

on-line for the child and

will be able to access the

following:

a. View the account balance b. Schedule automatic payments c. Receive low-balance e-mail reminders d. View a report of daily spending and cafeteria procedures

Parents must register

and create an account at www.paypams.com

Lunch Fees

Breakfast: Free of Charge

Pre-K – 5th students: $2.25 (Full Price)

& 0.40 (Reduced)

Lunch Payments

Save the Date

Open House will be held on the

evening of Tuesday,

September 3rd, 2013. You

will be invited to visit your

child’s/ children’s classroom

and meet their teacher. Please

make note of this important

date.

Classroom Assignment

Classroom placements are considered

tentative until enrollment stabilizes. Due to

class size legislation, we may need to make

changes to be in compliance. Classroom

change requests will not be honored.

Florida KidCare Health Insurance

Florida KidCare is our state’s children’s health insurance program

for uninsured children. KidCare provides high quality, low cost

health insurance to children ages birth through 18 years old. The

program is made up of four parts: MediKids, Healthy Kids, the

Children’s Medical Services Network for children with special health

care needs and Medicaid for children. The program each child is

eligible for will be determined by Florida KidCare based on age and

family income. KidCare Applications may be obtained at our

school’s Main Office during the first week of school. Information

regarding this program may be accessed through the link listed

below:

http://comprehensivehealthservices.dadeschools.net

Parent Volunteers

Would you like to volunteer? We would love to

have you here! Please know that there are

certain procedures which must be completed per

Miami Dade County Public Schools prior to

becoming a volunteer. For more information,

please contact Ms. Oro.

Cellular Phones/ Electronic Devices

Possession of a cellular phone is not a violation of the Code of

Student Conduct. However, cell phones/ electronic devices must

be kept in the students’ book bags and must be turned off

while on school grounds. If a cellular phone or electronic device

disrupts instructional time, it will be confiscated and will only be

released to parents. Wesley Matthews Elementary School will not be

held responsible for any lost or stolen items.

PAYPAMS Lunch Account Program

PAYPAMS is a Miami-Dade

County Public School

program that enables

parents to pay a student’s

lunch account on-line via

the internet or by

telephone with a credit or

debit card. The

parent/guardians will

create a lunch account

on-line for the child and

will be able to access the

following:

a. View the account balance b. Schedule automatic payments c. Receive low-balance e-mail reminders d. View a report of daily spending and cafeteria procedures

Parents must register and

create an account at www.paypams.com

ATTENDANCE

Excused Absences

Excused absences may be granted for

the following reasons: illness, medical

appointments, death in family,

observance of a religious holiday or

service when it is mandated for all

members of that faith, a previously

approved school sponsored event or

activity, or other absences beyond the

control of the parent or student, as

reviewed and approved by the principal

or the principal’s designee. If family

situations occur which require a student

to be absent, please contact your child’s

teacher or the school office. A note

explaining the reason for the absence

must be given to the school.

Unexcused Absences

Absences without a written note will be

labeled “Unexcused.” Ten or more

unexcused absences during a school

year may place the child in jeopardy of

being retained or grades withheld

pending on an administrative screening

and completion of assigned

interventions by the Attendance Review

Committee.

Tardiness

When a child arrives late to school,

he/she must report to the office. A note

or a call from the parent to the teacher

or the office staff regarding the reason

for late arrival will be accepted. A

student is tardy if he/she is not in the

classroom when the bell rings. A

student who is tardy to class not only

places his/her own learning in

jeopardy, but also interrupts the

learning of other students.

Student attendance affects the learning

opportunities for your student. If a child

is not in class on time, he/she does not

receive the full benefits of instruction

and may experience difficulty learning

and applying the skills necessary for

success.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM

There is Before/After School Care provided at Wesley Matthews Elementary

School during the school year. They will begin the first day of school and will run

every day that school is in session. For more information about the program,

please call Before/After School Care at 305-552-5799. All students enrolled in

the Before and After School Care Program are required to have accident

insurance.

BEFORE SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. for all grades

AFTER SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM

Hours: 1:50 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. Story Hour for a K or 1st grade students who must wait for

the dismissal of an older sibling.

Hours: 1:50 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. grades Pre K - 1

Hours: 3:05 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. grades 2 – 5

For inquiries about fees, please contact 305-552-5799.

Why Join the PTA?

What is PTA? Why join PTA? The number one reason to join the Parent Teacher Association is to benefit your child. In

doing so, you also help your school. But there are many more PTA advantages:

Get Connected. There’s no better way to know what’s happening in your school.

Discover Great Resources. The PTA offers a variety of programs designed for parents as well as students.

Tap into a Network. PTA functions are opportunities to meet other parents and teachers, building rapport and discussing

issues that are on your mind. You can share ideas, concerns, and experiences.

Watch Yourself Grow. By volunteering with your PTA, you put your skills and hobbies to use for a noble cause—your

child and all children in the community.

Speak Up. PTA can be a way for you to more effectively suggest change at your child’s school.

Witness Improvement. By getting involved at your child’s school you’ll be part of the solution, helping make positive

changes. Local PTAs play an important role in fundraising to provide building improvements, curriculum-based programs,

and social events.

Be a Role Model. By becoming a PTA member, you’ll be demonstrating to your child the importance you place on

education.

Enjoy Substantial Benefits. Individuals and local units can take advantage of a host of benefits from PTA membership

including discounts and offers from member benefits providers and sponsors, magazine subscriptions, leadership training,

e-newsletters and much more.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

August Assessments:

08/19-09/13 * Grades 3-5 * Baseline Assessments

08/19-10/01 * Grade K * FLKRS Screening

08/20-10/15 * Grades 1-5 * FAIR

08/21-09/04 * Grade 4 * District Writing Test

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Back to School

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EESAC Meeting

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WESLEY MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 12345 SW 18th Terrace

Miami, FL 33155

Tel: 305-222-8150 ~ Fax: 305-222-8168

http://wmes.dadeschools.net/

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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Labor Day –

Holiday for

Teachers &

Students

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OPEN HOUSE

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Teacher

Planning Day –

No Students in

School

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Hispanic

Heritage Month

begins

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Interim Progress

Reports

distributed

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September Assessments:

08/19-09/13 * Grades 3-5 * Baseline Assessments

08/19-10/01 * Grade K * FLKRS Screening

08/20-10/15 * Grades 1-5 * FAIR

08/21-09/04 * Grade 4 * District Writing Test

09/03-09/30 * Pre-K * VPK Assessment

WESLEY MATTHEWS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 12345 SW 18th Terrace

Miami, FL 33155

Tel: 305-222-8150 ~ Fax: 305-222-8168

http://wmes.dadeschools.net/