City Commission Meetings

City Manager City Commission Eric M. Sorolka, ICMA-CM Enid Weisman, Mayor Howard Weinberg, Vice Mayor City Clerk Denise Landman, Commissioner Elllisa L. Horvath, MMC Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner i Gladys Mezrahi, Commissioner City Attorney Marc Narotsliy, Commissioner c, Weiss Scrota Ffelfman Robert Shelley, Commissioner e Cole& Bierman CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA OCTOBER 19, 2017 9: 00 a. m. EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM Aventura Government Center 19200 West Country Club Drive Aventura, Florida 33180 1. CALL TO ORDER\ ROLL CALL 2. CITY COMMISSION, ACTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL MOTION TO ACCEPT AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO FILE AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE CHARTER RENEWAL APPLICATION WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD 3. ADJOURNMENT This meeting is open to the public. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all persons who are disabled and who need special accommodations to participate in this meeting because of that disability should contact the Office of the City Clerk, 305- 466- 8901, not later than two days prior to such proceeding. One or more members of the City of Aventura Advisory Boards may be in attendance and may participate at the meeting. Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the Aventura City Commission with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Agenda items may be viewed at the Office of the City Clerk, City of Aventura Government Center, 19200 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura, Florida, 33180. Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of any agenda item should contact the City Clerk at 305- 466- 8901. AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK 2017-2018  AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL 3333 NE 188th Street Aventura, Florida 33180 Telephone: 305-466-1499 Fax: 305-466-1339 Website: www.aventuracharter.org Board of Directors Mayor Enid Weisman Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks Commissioner Denise Landman Commissioner Howard Weinberg Commissioner Robert Shelley Commissioner Gladys Mezrahi Commissioner Marc Narotsky City Manager Eric M. Soroka, ICMA-CM Principal Julie Renee Alm ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 1  Aventura City of Excellence School 3333 NE 188th Street Aventura, FL 33180 Dear ACES Families, Welcome back to our returning students and welcome to those students attending Aventura City of Excellence School (ACES) for the first time. It is with great excitement and commitment that ACES embarks upon its fifteenth year of operation. Our innovative programs include rigorous academics, motivational electives, character education, intramural sports, traveling teams and student selected clubs. ACES curriculum is focused on the Common Core Standards. This handbook has been compiled in order for you to become more easily acquainted with the policies and procedures that are necessary to provide your children with a positive, safe and supportive learning environment while attending ACES. It is through the collaborative efforts of school staff, parents, School Advisory Committee, and community that ACES continues to thrive. Our schools vision “To join with our community to become the premier charter school in the nation where academic excellence coexists with the promotion of social responsibility grounded in an atmosphere of human dignity” continues to be our driving force. This combination of academic excellence and moral development continues to yield maximum student achievement. For the thirteenth year ACES has earned an “A” rating. We are proud of ACES’ dedicated and caring staff. The staff is continuously involved in professional development activities that enable them to consistently implement best practices. ACES has also been the recipient of 12 State and National awards in recognition of our character program. This program provides both embedded and explicit character education components that encourage students to care for their school, community and the world. We are truly committed to providing the best education possible for each learner. Together we will make this the best year ever at ACES. Sincerely, Eric M. Soroka, City Manager Julie Alm, Principal ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 2 Table of Contents: Page Number(s) School Calendar 4 Report Cards and Interim Reports 4 Welcome/School Philosophy 5 School Hours 6 Attendance 6-8 Bullying/Harrassment 8 Dismissal (Bus & Car Rider) 9-10 “Student of the Month” Awards 10 Personal Electronic Devices 11 Curriculum 11 Student Identification Cards 11 Dress Code & Uniform Policy 12-13 Drinks 13 Emergency Preparedness 13 Field Trips & Field Trip Behavior 13-14 Fire Drills 14 Grading & Honor Code 15 Parent Portal & Home/School Communication 15 Honor Roll Requirements 16 “Home Learning” Policy 16 Instructional Books, Equipment, Materials 17 Promotion/Retention 17 Head Lice 17 Health Services 17 Illness, Accident and Medical Emergency 17-18 Medication 18 Lunch Program 18 Parent Volunteer Hours 18 Parents and Visitors Entering the School 18-19 Media Center 19-20 Parties 20 School Aftercare Information 20-22 School Advisory Committee 22 Recess 22 Student Records/Parent Rights 22 School Rules 23-24 Screenings 24 Special Programs 24-26 ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 3 AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL School Calendar 2017-2018 Dates when students are not in school: September 4 Labor Day September 21 Teacher Planning October 2 Teacher Planning October 27 Teacher Planning November 10 Veteran’s Day (observation) November 22 Teacher Planning November 23 & 24 Thanksgiving December 25 – January 5 Winter Recess January 15 Martin Luther King Day January 19 Teacher Planning February 19 Presidents’ Day March 23 Teacher Planning March 26 – March 30 Spring Break April 20 Teacher Planning May 28 Memorial Day Early Dismissal (12:00 PM Grades K-5) (12:30 PM Grades 6-8) September 20 March 22 October 12 April 19 November 15 May 9 December 22 May 15 & 16 January 24 June 5, 6, & 7 February 21 REPORT CARDS AND INTERIM REPORTS Interim Student Reports September 20 1st Quarter Interim November 29 2nd Quarter Interim February 21 3rd Quarter Interim May 9 4th Quarter Interim Report Cards Issued and parent conferences scheduled on or around: November 6 1st Quarter Report Card January 29 2nd Quarter Report Card April 9 3rd Quarter Report Card th *Please note that the 4 quarter report cards will be mailed home during the month of July. *If you would like to sign up for paperless Interims/Report Cards, visit MDCP Parent Portal ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 4 THE AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL WELCOMES OUR STUDENTS The staff of the Aventura City of Excellence School welcomes you to our school family where integrity and excellence are the standards of the school in which the entire community takes pride. Along with increasing your knowledge and developing your skills, your major responsibility at ACES will be to respect your fellow students, teachers and staff members. They, in return, will respect you. No individual has the right or privilege to infringe or deny the rights of another individual. Remember that your success in school will be directly proportional to your efforts. School will be whatever you make it. Let us always have the spirit to do the things which will make school rewarding. AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT To join with our community to become the premier charter school in the nation where academic excellence coexists with the promotion of social responsibility grounded in an atmosphere of human dignity. AVENTURA CITY OF EXCELLENCE SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY AND ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS The Aventura City of Excellence School staff believes that we have a responsibility to create school climate that enables every individual to feel cared for, respected and to act as contributing members of the school culture. All students can learn and will be encouraged to strive for academic excellence and personal growth that will enable them to be productive and active members of society. In the practical application of this philosophy, opportunities shall be provided to: 1. Develop in each student and professional staff member a sense of self-worth and a positive self-concept 2. Imbue such character traits as honesty, integrity, compassion, respect, cooperation, humility, happiness and responsibility toward each other, our community and our world 3. Develop in each student an understanding of and responsibility for making positive personal and social choices 4. Improve upon the quality of instruction and curriculum by increasing the effectiveness of teachers and their teaching through ongoing professional development 5. Provide each student with experiences to develop an awareness of good health habits and attitudes for living by encouraging each student to perceive learning as a life-long continuing process from pre-school through adulthood 6. Encourage, through educational reporting, city and district officials, the citizens of Aventura, and the professional staff to support quality education in the school ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 5  7. Use assessment data to identify and track student achievement and learning goals 8. Develop school programs based on “best practices” to promote learning gains 9. Develop strong parent-teacher-student relationships 10. Provide a strong accountability system that will hold everyone at the schoolhouse responsible for maximizing learning opportunities 11. Provide a low student-teacher ratio in order to enhance the development of the individual strengths of each student 12. Provide additional staff members for enrichment and remediation services 13. Develop in each student the ability to think critically, make inferences, apply knowledge to new settings and use these skills to make wise choices MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS All students attending ACES are students of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and are subject to applicable policies and entitled to all rights of any student attending a school in the district. STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Each student at ACES has the right to:  learn  ask questions and get honest answers  make mistakes  know how their grades are determined  think their own thoughts and believe their own beliefs  grow and develop at their own pace  own their own things  live free from fear  be treated with respect and care ·  the responsibility to allow others to exercise the above stated rights SCHOOL HOURS Breakfast available: 8:00AM - 8:20AM K-5th Grades: 8:20AM - 3:00PM Middle School: 8:20AM - 3:30PM **Students cannot be dropped off prior to 7:45AM. ATTENDANCE It is important that pupils acquire the habit of regular attendance. All students are expected to be present and punctual for school. Parents are encouraged to promote good attendance and to refrain from making plans which will interrupt the educational process. Students having perfect attendance throughout the school year will receive a certificate at the end of the school year. Perfect attendance means attending school all day, every day. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 6 ABSENCES When a child returns to school after any absence they must bring a note. The note must include the student’s name, dates of absence, reason for absence, parent/guardian name and phone number. The following are considered excused absences: Student illness Medical appointment Death in the family Observance of a religious holiday or service when it is mandated for all members of a faith that such holiday or service be observed School sponsored event or activity previously approved by the school principal As the holidays approach many of our students’ families take holiday vacations. We encourage our parents to vacation only when school is not in session. Families must fill out and submit a “Notification of Absence” form and submit that form to the school administration. The school’s registrar will inform the family as to the decision. All other absences are considered unexcused. All students with an excused absence (note from home or doctor) have one day for each day of absence to make up missed work and assessments. All students with an excused absence (note from home or doctor) must complete the make- up assignments for classes missed within the approved make up window. All students with an unexcused absence may make-up work only if a “Notification of Absence Form” is on file and has been approved by administration. Administration will email teachers directly if a form has been submitted. If prior notification of absence is not completed, the parent must request permission from administration to makeup work and assessments. EARLY DISMISSAL The parent or guardian must make all requests for early dismissal to the main office. Parents and guardians requesting early dismissal for their child must do so by sending a note to the teacher who will forward the note to the office. Only in the case of an extreme emergency will a phone call for early dismissal be acceptable. A child being dismissed early must be signed out in the office. The child will be asked to report to the office to meet the parent or guardian for dismissal. Please note: According to district rule, an early dismissal will not be granted after 2:30 PM for elementary students, 3:00 PM for middle school students. Additionally, during early release days, early dismissal will not be granted after 11:30 AM for elementary students, 12:00 PM for middle school students. Beginning in January, Fridays are club days at ACES, and students will not be granted an Early Release after 1:45PM unless there is an emergency. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 7 TARDY POLICY Tardiness is the absence of a student in the classroom at the time the regularly scheduled session begins, provided that the student is in attendance before the close of the session. Excessive tardies may result in loss of privileges, detention, parent conference, and/or suspension. A student will be marked tardy if arrival is after 8:30 AM. A child who is tardy to school MUST report to the office before going to class to receive a tardy slip before going to class. Excused tardies are given for doctor’s appointments only with a doctor’s note and in the case of an extreme emergency. Unexcused tardies will result in action as outlined in the following chart: # of Unexcused Tardies Action Taken 1-3 Email Sent Home Homeroom teacher calls parents and follows up with an email & read receipt 4-5 informing parents of tardy infraction and that after 5 tardies the student will be assigned a detention Administrator calls parents and assigns 6 a detention Parent must attend administrative conference with student before student 7 is allowed into class (Will serve In- School Suspension until parent arrives). Action will be taken on a case by case 8+ basis. BULLYING/HARASSMENT POLICY ACES follows the Miami Dade County Public Schools Anti Bullying Policy. Miami Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students. To this end, M-DCPS is dedicated to eradicating bullying and harassment in its schools by providing awareness, prevention and education in promoting a school atmosphere in which bullying, harassment, and intimidation will not be tolerated by students, school board employees, visitors, or volunteers. The entire policy can be found at the following link: http://www.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/rules/Chapt5/5d-1.101.pdf ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 8 DISMISSAL RULES Please note that all changes to dismissal procedures must be handled through faxed notification including photo ID of parent/guardian or emergency contact. There will be no exceptions. Parents who pick up their child are expected to adhere to the school’s dismissal rules, which have been written to assure the safety of all children. Rules for parental pickup are listed below:  Car Rider dismissal begins at 3:00 PM (elementary) 3:30 PM (middle)  Parents must remain in their vehicle at all times (NO WALK-UPS)  Students will not be released to any individual who is not in a vehicle  No cell phone use while in the school zone (subject to citation)  Students who are not picked up by 3:30 PM (elementary), 3:45 PM (middle) will be placed in After Care. A fee will be assessed. No exceptions.  Students who are distinguished as “walkers” or “bike riders” must have a note on file with the school administration. Note: A walker is a student who walks from the school campus to their home. Students will not be dismissed to walk to waiting vehicles.  If you must change your child’s “typical” dismissal method, a note must be sent in with your child in the morning. If the change must be done within the school day, parents must fax a note along with a copy of their identification. CAR RIDER PERMITS Students who are designated as car riders will only be released to vehicles that have a car rider permit. ACES families will be provided a car rider permit that will be utilized for parent pick-up. The permits are identified by colors for each grade group.  Green Elementary only K-5  Yellow Elementary and Middle K-8 BUS TRANSPORTATION As our present charter agreement states, regular bus transportation will be provided under the following conditions through A1A Transportation:  Only children eligible for bus transportation are allowed to ride the school bus.  Eligible bus children may ride the bus only to and/or from designated stops.  Changing designated bus stops is not allowed. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 9   Children who do not qualify as bus riders may not use the regular bus transportation to provide a courtesy ride to visit friends, to attend parties, to attend scouts, etc.  Children who qualify as bus riders may not transfer to other buses for a courtesy ride to visit a friend, to attend parties, to attend scouts, etc.  Please note that all changes to dismissal procedures must be handled through faxed notification including photo ID of parent/guardian or emergency contact. There will be no exceptions. These measures are taken to ensure safe and secure bus transportation with responsible accountability for our children. Aventura City of Excellence School has established policies and regulations for student behavior while riding the school bus. It is requested that these regulations below be reviewed with your child and that they be informed that good, safe behavior is expected at all times. All children should:  Be at the proper bus stop on time.  Wait for the bus on the sidewalk or on the shoulder of the road.  Stay in line when boarding the bus.  Remain properly and quietly seated while the bus is in motion.  Keep head, arms, and hands inside the bus at all times.  Be courteous to the bus driver and fellow passengers.  Never throw objects in the bus, out of the bus windows, or at the bus at any time.  Obey directions of the bus driver.  Do not deface the bus seats or equipment.  Do not eat while in the bus.  Take all personal articles off the bus when you leave.  Exit the bus in an orderly fashion.  After departing, stop and look both ways.  Cross in front of the stopped bus on the signal from the driver or school crossing guard. Never cross the street from behind the bus. Please note that failure to comply with bus rules may result in the loss of privileges to ride the school bus. Parents may visit www.AIAtransportation.com to view bus stop information. “STUDENT OF THE MONTH” AWARDS Each month teachers will nominate one student for the Student of the Month Award. Students will be nominated based on their active demonstration of good citizenship and moral character. Parents are invited to attend the ceremony to celebrate their student’s achievement. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 10 PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES Definition for purposes of this policy: “electronic devices” shall include any wireless telephone, watch, or device that allows two-way communication. These devices shall also include any device that may be used to store, record, or play auditory and/or visual information. In order to assist in communicating with family members, ACES will allow student to possess electronic devices on campus without it being a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. However, the possession of an electronic device which disrupts the educational process, and/or unauthorized use of electronic devices during school hours would be a violation school policy. The possession of electronic devices by students on school property, or while attending school-sponsored or school-related events is a privilege, not a right. A campus administrator or teacher, in the exercise of reasonable discretion in response to student misbehavior, abuse of the privilege, or other reasonable cause, may deny or cancel the privilege of possessing an electronic device. Electronic devices are not to be used to make phone calls, send/receive text messages, post anything on social media platforms, etc. AT ALL DURING SCHOOL HOURS, including classroom changes and rest room breaks. Electronic devices that cause a disruption to the educational environment or any unauthorized use of electronic devices will result in the electronic device being confiscated and turned in to the front office. Confiscated electronic devices will only be returned to a parent or guardian at the end of the school day. CURRICULUM Instruction is aligned to the Florida Standards and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Teachers and students are accountable for all state and local assessments in addition to internal formal and informal assessments and observations (e.g., FSA, EOC, FAIR, Benchmark Assessments, SAT - 10, and classroom assessments). All ACES students are required to enroll in 6 live courses on campus. Additionally, students have the ability to register for online courses through Florida Virtual School (FLVS). Students who participate in FLVS courses are expected to complete their work outside of regular school hours. STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS Student ID cards are considered a part of the school uniform, and students are expected to have their ID card with them daily. Not having an ID card will result in a uniform violation. Students in grades K-3 will wear their ID card attached to their backpack, while grades 4-8 will wear theirs on the school provided lanyard. Defacing the ID card will result in a student being required to purchase a new one, and will be considered a uniform violation. Defacement includes, but is not limited to the following; adding stickers, writing or drawing, bending, cutting, or any other alteration to the ID card or lanyard. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 11 DRESS CODE & UNIFORM POLICY All ACES students are required to be in proper uniform. Any student not in uniform will be referred to the office and a parent will be notified. The student will not be able to return to class until the proper attire is brought to school. Kindergarten through 5th grade students have P.E. once per rotation and are required to wear their ACES P.E. uniform. Sixth grade students have P.E. every day for one semester during the year. Middle school students scheduled in Team Sports must wear their ACES P.E. uniform each day except on dress down days. Students may only wear ACES uniform sweaters/sweatshirts or plain navy blue sweaters/sweatshirts (without any logos/wording) to school. The sweater/sweatshirt (outerwear) policy should be followed on all days except dress-down days. Students are expected to follow the policy of wearing navy blue or ACES outerwear on all spirit and upstander days. Students must wear proper and safe footwear. Backless footwear such as flip- flops and sandals are inappropriate for school and may not be worn. Friday is an optional dress down day. This is a fundraising opportunity for ACES where students are asked to bring $1.00 in order to “dress down.” If a student chooses not to bring $1.00 he/she may wear the regular uniform to school. Cargo shorts, “soffe shorts”, “leggings”, “jeggings”, tights, “belly shirts” and tank tops are prohibited. Leggings or tights may be worn under skirts/shorts. Throughout the year ACES will designate days allowing students to wear upstander or spirit shirts. On these days, students must wear the designated, and can wear any school appropriate bottoms. Students are expected to follow the policy of wearing navy blue or ACES outerwear on all spirit and upstander days. Any student violating ACES dress code, including wearing clothes deemed inappropriate by the teacher or administration will receive a detention or be sent to the office to contact home for a change of clothes. All uniform items must be purchased from Chai Tees located at 20725 NE 16th Ave #5 Miami, FL 33179. The phone numbers is (305)-970-0642. Uniforms may also be ordered online at www.chai-tees.com ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 12  Below is a summary of the ACES uniform dress code: Kindergarten-5th Grade Boys may wear ACES uniform navy blue pants or shorts with either the ACES oxford or the polo shirt in light blue or khaki. Shirts may be long or short sleeve. Girls may wear the ACES skirt or skort with the ACES polo shirt in light blue or khaki. Shirts may be long or short sleeve. Girls may also wear ACES uniform navy pants. 6th – 8th Grade Boys may wear ACES uniform khaki pants or shorts with either a white or navy polo shirt or an ACES horizontal striped rugby shirt. Shirts may be long or short sleeve. Girls may wear the ACES uniform khaki skirt, skort, or pants with either the white or navy polo shirt or an ACES horizontal striped rugby shirt. Shirts may be long or short sleeve. The ACES P.E. uniform for all students includes gym shorts or sweat pants and an ACES t-shirt. All students must be in uniform every day, regardless of weather conditions. Leggings or tights may be worn under skirts/shorts. LABELS Please have your child’s name on all personal property such as lunch boxes, backpacks, sweaters, raincoats, etc. DRINKS Students are encouraged to make healthy choices and bring bottled water to school. Sugary soft drinks are strongly discouraged. Energy drinks of any kind are prohibited on campus and will be confiscated. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS In the event of an emergency where parents and visitors are not permitted on the school campus, City Hall located at 19200 West Country Club Drive will be the designated meeting location where parents should go to meet a school representative to receive information. Additionally, every effort will be made to post pertinent information related to any incident at www.aventuracharter.org. FIELD TRIPS Field trips are planned to encourage development of interests and to expand the instructional program. Before a child is permitted to go on a trip, the parent or guardian must sign a permission slip. Any parent or guardian who does not want the child to take a trip may have the child excused from this activity, but not from school. Any child not going on the trip will be assigned to another class for that period of time. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 13 Students that have been suspended from school due to behavior misconduct will not be allowed to attend field trips at Principal’s discretion. Chaperones may not bring children other than those in the class(es) attending on the trip (e.g., siblings, cousins etc.) Chaperones must stay with their designated group for the duration of the trip. Only school staff may chaperone overnight field trips. FIELD TRIP BEHAVIOR Students participating in trip activities must abide by the following rules and regulations: All rules, regulations and policies governing student behavior in the Miami-Dade County Student Code of Conduct are to be followed. Students will receive a copy of the Code of Conduct from their classroom teacher. Parents and Students may be required to sign a behavior contract prior to participating on a field trip. Students are to cooperate fully with and follow the instruction of all chaperones and other supervisory personnel. Repeated refusal to follow requests/directions of trip supervisors/chaperones or violation of school rules, regulations or policies will result in parents being notified and student discipline upon return to school. Severe behavioral problems may result in the student being sent home at the expense of the parents. Students that do not behave appropriately on a field trip may lose the privilege of attending future trips. Whenever chaperones or supervisors are speaking, students must be quiet and attentive. Remember that actions of this group on this trip determine whether or not trips such as these occur in future years. Throughout the trip, students are required to maintain a "buddy system". STUDENTS MAY NOT LEAVE THE GROUP WITHOUT ADVANCE PERMISSION FROM A CHAPERONE. Neither, the School or the City of Aventura, its employees, agents or representatives are responsible for damage or loss to any property, money or other valuables of participants on a trip. Students and parents should carefully consider these rules and if, for any reason, either party feels that the student cannot adhere to ALL of the rules, then that student should not attend. FIRE DRILLS On a monthly basis, students practice exiting the building in a speedy, safe and quiet manner when the fire alarm sounds. Each class is given directions by the teacher and special announcements may be made by the administration concerning the drill. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 14 GRADING Kindergarten students will receive grades of E, S, N and U. Students in grades one through eight will receive traditional grades (e.g., A, B, C, D, F) calculated using the state’s grading scale. In addition, students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade students will receive a report card each quarter that reflects academic progress through grades. Grading Scale Grade K Grades 1 – 8 E – Excellent A – Outstanding 90% - 100% S- Satisfactory B – Above Average Progress 80% - 89% N – Needs Improvement C – Average Progress 70% - 79% U – Unsatisfactory D – Below Average 60% - 69% F – Failure **Parents are encouraged to communicate regularly meet with teachers individually to discuss student progress. ACADEMIC HONESTY/HONORCODE Student work is a reflection of their individual ability, so it is assumed and expected that students are giving their best effort on all assignments. All students will work under an honor code. Each piece of work turned in should be an original product of the student. Plagiarism, Cheating, and Stealing are not tolerated, and may lead to academic consequences and/or school discipline. PARENT PORTAL Parents and guardians are encouraged to open a Parent Portal account. The Portal contains valuable student information including the Electronic Gradebook, which monitors attendance and academic progress in each class. Prior to adding a student to your account, you must obtain a Parent PIN number for your child. If you need your Parent PIN you must come in to the ACES front office with identification, and Ms. Lynette or Ms. Miranda will provide it to you. Step by Step directions for creating a Parent Portal account can be found at the following link: http://goo.gl/MefeL3 HOME/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION Parents are an integral part of our school and as such we strive to keep them involved and informed. An Open House will be held at the beginning of the school year. Parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers via Aventura City of Excellence School email. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 15 HONOR ROLL REQUIREMENTS Grade 1 – Grade 8 Principal’s Honor Roll: All A’s in Academic subjects Honors: All A’s and B’s in academic subjects Satisfactory in conduct and effort Kindergarten: Students may earn the ACES Super Star award by earning all E’s and consistently good in conduct and effort “HOME LEARNING” POLICY The purpose of homework is to develop study habits in children early on in their academic lives. It is also used to reinforce concepts that have been taught or to work on projects that have been assigned. Teachers will use the following time schedules as a guide when assigning homework: Grade Level Total daily Average (All Subjects) K-1: 30 minutes 2-3: 45 minutes 4-5: 60 minutes 6-7-8: 75 minutes (120 minutes)* *(Students taking High School courses) These times are a guide and are based on the average child’s ability to complete an assignment. Please note that in addition to regular homework, a child who does not complete a class assignment may be required to complete the assignment for homework. Teachers keep daily records of completed homework assignments. Students enrolled in gifted courses will often be required to participate in creating projects and other high level activities and assignments that require critical thinking and problem solving techniques, thus requiring more time spent at home on completing these tasks. Below are a few examples of how parents may assist with homework:  Show an interest in your child’s work  Provide a place and time for quiet study  Assist in practicing with spelling words and number combinations  Encourage home reading and listen to your child read  Review the homework for neatness and completeness  Refrain from doing the work for your child  Discuss problems related to home study with your child’s teacher  Utilize the student agenda (Gr. 2-8) as a form of communication between home and school ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 16 INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKS, EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES All textbooks and library books needed by students for school and homework assignments are furnished by the school. Students are required to cover all books that are issued to them. A brown grocery bag makes an excellent book cover. Students should print their name and room number on the front of each book cover. Books must not be written in or on. Charges will be assessed for damaged or lost books and /or materials. Students must learn to be responsible for the care of personal and school materials. Students will be expected to provide all basic supplies such as paper, pencils, crayons, rulers, scissors, markers, glue, etc. Please help your child come prepared for school by packing his/her homework and supplies. Middle school students will be provided with a set of books for home use. PROMOTION/RETENTION Students will be promoted annually from one grade to another upon satisfactory completion of academic and other requirements. Students experiencing difficulties will be identified as soon as possible using the following procedure: 1) On-going communication between the administration, teachers, and parents 2) Informal observations conducted by appropriate staff members, followed by conferences between participants for suggestions as to how to help the child. 3) Appropriate, preliminary assessment of the child's progress will be reported to the parents, at which time the possibility of non-promotion will be discussed. ACES follows the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Student Progression Plan. HEAD LICE Head lice occurs everywhere that there are large numbers of children. ACES follows a strict no-nit policy. Regardless of the head lice treatment that has been used, students must be completely free of nits in order to be in school. This policy will help all children, families and our school remain lice-free. HEALTH SERVICES The school clinic is not equipped with nursing staff. Only ice or water may be applied in the case of an injury. Selected school staff members have been trained in CPR. ILLNESS, ACCIDENT AND MEDICAL EMERGENCY If your child shows signs of illness or he/she is not feeling well, please keep your child at home. A child must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. (Fever-free means a temperature less than 100, without medication, for a 24-hour period.) ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 17 On the Medical Emergency Record please list the name of someone (be sure to receive permission to do so) who would take care of your child in case of need. If information (telephone number, place of employment, physician, etc.) on your Medical Emergency Records changes, please notify us immediately. Immunizations must be updated annually for all students grades Kindergarten through second grade and seventh grade. The completed shot record (blue form) and the physical examination record (yellow form) must be on file with the registrar before students are allowed to attend school. Students grades three through fifth must have an updated physical annually. MEDICATION The administering or dispensing of any non-prescription or prescription medicines to students by employees of ACES without specific written authorization by the child’s physician is forbidden. Only the school designee may administer prescription medication. A doctor’s authorization must be on file for all prescription medication. All medication will be kept in the front office. LUNCH PROGRAM Breakfast and lunch will be served daily. Prices will be determined annually. Students are also welcome to pack a bagged lunch. Your child may qualify for a free or reduced price lunch. These guidelines will be disseminated by your child’s classroom teacher. All information is confidential. PARENT VOLUNTEER HOURS Parents must abide by their contracted volunteer hours of 20 volunteer hours for one child attending school and 30 contracted hours for two or more siblings within the school. Volunteers must check in with the receptionist prior to doing any volunteer work. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to complete the Volunteer Hours Form and leave a copy at school in order for their hours to be recorded. Parents may not volunteer in their child’s classroom unless they are the designated room parent. Please note: In the event of a dispute over served hours, it is the parents’ responsibility to provide signed documentation. PARENTS AND VISITORS ENTERING THE SCHOOL Except in the case of emergency, appointments should always be made to conference with teachers and administrators. Appointments may be made by e- mail, sending a note to the teacher or by calling the office to request a meeting. Visitors and parents are to report, sign in and obtain a visitor's badge at the office each time they come to the school, regardless of the purpose of the visit. If it is necessary to have a message, money or articles delivered to a child, while ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 18 school is in session, drop the items at the front office and staff will deliver the item(s) to the student. This procedure is intended to alleviate unnecessary disruptions to instruction. Visitors and parents of middle school students are to report to the elementary school building to sign in and obtain a visitor’s badge. There will be no external entry to the middle school building during school hours unless authorized by administration. This is a safety practice designed to facilitate quality instruction with no disruptions. ACES use of Raptor Technologies ensures that no unwanted persons are allowed on campus at any time. MEDIA CENTER Visiting the Media Center Students are welcome to visit the media center from 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM. Additionally, students in grades K-5 have a schedule time when they visit the media center with their homeroom class. Middle School students may visit the media center during their lunch period (students must see media specialist in the morning to acquire a pass). Students with no pass will not be admitted to the media center. Checking Out and Returning Books Students may check out the following number of books: K & 1 – May borrow one book at a time. (Kindergarten students will begin borrowing books once they have become familiar with the media center). This typically occurs in January. 2 & 3 – May borrow two books at a time. 4 & 5 – May borrow three books at a time. Middle School – May borrow four books at a time. If a student would like to renew a book they must physically bring the book into the media center to be re-stamped. Each book has a due date slip on the inside of the front or back cover. The last date on the slip is when the book is due. All books that are to be returned must be placed in the book drop in front of the media specialist’s desk. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR BOOK TO YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER TO BE RETURNED. If a child is absent on the due date, please have your child bring their book back the day they return to school. If this is not done, an overdue fee will be charged. Every student is given the opportunity to check out books from the media center. If you do not want your child to check out books, it is your responsibility to make your child aware of your wishes. Overdue Books and Fees Books that are not returned on time will be charged a 10 cent fine for each day they are late. Students who do not pay their fines or return their books will not be allowed to check out any library materials until their account is settled in full. Damaged books will also accrue a fee based on the extent of damage. Checks ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 19 and cash are accepted when paying fines and fees. Please make checks payable to “City of Aventura”. Please write your child’s first and last name on the memo section of your check. Books and fines are NOT to be left at the front office. The front office staff will not accept responsibility for books and fines that are left there. Please have your child return their books and pay their fines in the media center as this teaches them responsibility. If you have a question about a notice, fine or fee, you may email Ms. Winberg at kwinberg@aventuracharter.org. Please put your child’s first and last name in the subject heading. If you do not have e-mail, feel free to send a not with your child. Please include a phone number in your letter in case the reply requires a phone call. Volunteer hours may be earned in the media center. Parents are invited and welcome to volunteer. Please contact Ms. Pino in the media center for more information. PARTIES Invitations to parties should not be sent to the school unless the following rules are followed:  The entire homeroom class is invited, or if the birthday person is a boy, then ALL the boys in the homeroom class are invited etc.  If the birthday person is a girl, then ALL the girls in the homeroom class are invited, no boys. This will prevent embarrassment to the child not receiving an invitation. If the parent wishes to bring food for a special celebration they must coordinate and approve this with the homeroom teacher. Please note that only store bought food may be served. Birthdays may be celebrated once a month and must include all of the students having a birthday during the month. The party may be held only during lunch or recess.  Siblings are not permitted to attend a party held in a sibling or family member’s classroom. Additionally, food may not be brought to individuals in other classrooms. SCHOOL AFTERCARE INFORMATION The School Aftercare Program is run by PEAR. Students in Kindergarten – 8th grade may enroll in School Aftercare, an after-school supervision program from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 1. Beginning at 3:30 p.m. students may be picked up from the School Aftercare Program 2. Students must be signed out on the dismissal sheet at the front desk by the parent or/and another authorized person. All parents or authorized persons picking up a student should carry a photo ID at all times. 3. Students will not be dismissed to your vehicle. 4. All students must be picked up by 6:00 p.m. – no later. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 20 There is a late fee for children that are not picked up on time. The late pick-up fee is $10 for every 15 minutes past closing time of 6:00 p.m. Payment is due on date of incident. Please be advised that the School Aftercare program is a service provided for our parents who need their children to remain in school until 6:00 p.m. Therefore, if you anticipate any conflict with our schedule, you should consider other means of care for your child. Daily/Hourly rates are not available through this service. SCHOOL AFTERCARE PAYMENT PROCEDURE School Aftercare is paid on a monthly basis. Payments are due on the last Tuesday of the week before the new month begins. If payment is not received the child cannot attend School Aftercare until full payment is made. Absenteeism does not change fees. Dates and monies due are to be determined. SCHOOL AFTERCARE PROGRAM 3-Day Program 5-Day Program Month Date Due @$15.00 per @$13.00 per day day August August 21, 2017 $88 $120.60 September August 29, 2017 $186 $254.60 October September 26, 2017 $196 $268.00 November October 24, 2017 $186 $254.60 December November 28, 2017 $157 $214.40 January December 19, 2017 $176 $241.20 February January 23, 2018 $186 $254.60 March February 20, 2018 $157 $214.40 April March 27, 2018 $196 $268.00 May April 24, 2018 $215 $294.80 June May 29, 2018 $49 $67 ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 21 CHECK: Please write your child’s name on the bottom of the check.  Make check payable to City of Aventura.  You may write one check if you have more than one child in the program. NSF CHECKS:  If a check is returned for Non-Sufficient Funds, we should receive payment within 2 days. Payment must be made in cash or by money order for the amount on the NSF check plus an additional $30.00 (bank charge).  If we receive more than one NSF check, you will be required to pay all future payment in cash or by money order CREDIT CARDS: The City of Aventura’s Online Registration System will be used to register ACES students into the School Aftercare Program. Once your household is setup in the Online Registration System, your child can be registered in the After School Care program. This registration can be in person at the Community Recreation Center or online by going to the After School Programs link in the Parent’s section of aventuracharter.org.  Credit card payments can be made at the Community Recreation Center or online  Visa and MasterCard are accepted Aftercare Withdrawals: If your child has been enrolled in the program and you wish to withdraw him/her, please notify the office. SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE A School Advisory Committee will be organized in accordance with the ACES charter agreement. This committee will offer advice to the Principal and City Manager on issues related to the overall operation of the school. RECESS Kindergarten through 5th grade students will have recess daily (weather permitting). Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather as recess takes place outside. STUDENT RECORDS/PARENT RIGHTS All student records are kept in compliance with state and district policies. A parent has the right to inspect all school records upon request. Please give the office adequate time to make a copy if records are being requested. Depending on the amount to be copied, parents may have to pay a small fee for this service. Student records leave the building only when a Record Release Form is signed by the parent/guardian. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 22 SCHOOL RULES ACES students are expected to follow the MDCPS Code of Student Conduct. A copy is provided to each family at the beginning of the school year for your records. A positive atmosphere is necessary to provide an effective educational program for each child. A good school climate is the result of the administrators, teachers, students, and parents working together. In the Classroom - Students are expected to:  speak in an acceptable manner  move in a careful way  follow directions  respect the property and ideas of the school, teachers, and others In general, students are expected to behave in a way that promotes learning and does not interfere with teaching and learning of self or others. Teachers seek to promote an optimum learning situation for all. Students reported for misconduct will speak with the appropriate school staff. Parents will be notified when it is deemed necessary. In The Halls - Students are expected to:  remember that classes are in session  walk quietly  go directly to their destinations In general, students should be quiet, careful, and courteous in the halls. They should be considerate of classes that are in session and try not to disturb teachers and students who are working. On The Playground - Students are expected to:  play carefully, and in a manner that will not cause harm to themselves or others.  use the rules of the games  follow directions  walk to their class line when the signal is given In general, students are expected to abide by the rules of the playground, to cooperate with the staff on duty, and to be considerate. Students who do not follow the rules may be required to miss recess for a period of time. Recess will rarely be taken away in its entirety. In The Cafeteria- Students are expected to:  pass through the serving area in a quiet, orderly manner  remain seated at their assigned tables (elementary school)  eat lunch first without talking, then talk in an acceptable manner (quietly to your neighbor)  respect school property and the belongings of others ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 23   follow directions  clear tables and place trash in the proper receptacles before leaving  listen carefully and line up quietly when the signal is given for dismissal from the cafeteria In general, students are expected to abide by the rules of the cafeteria. Students reported for misconduct may be required or referred to the office to have lunch in another area designated by the school administration. A cafeteria supervisor ensures that students follow cafeteria rules and display proper eating etiquette. Classes are rewarded for appropriate behavior. Middle School students are expected to adhere to all of the above rules. Students will be allowed to choose their seats for lunch unless the cafeteria behavior deteriorates. At that time, students will be assigned seats. SCREENINGS All students are screened for speech, hearing, and vision to rule out any difficulties in these areas in compliance with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. SPECIAL PROGRAMS CHARACTER EDUCATION: ACES Character Education Program is focused on cultivating community. Core values are integrated throughout the curriculum and within our daily interactions to better prepare students for lifelong learning. ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELL): This program is offered to students who are working toward English proficiency. Classroom teachers servicing ELL students have undergone special training related to strategies that enhance language acquisition. ACES ELL Coordinator collaborates with classroom teachers related to instructional modifications that aid in content comprehension. ACES ELL Coordinator meets with parents and conducts annual evaluations to measure progress toward English language proficiency EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION (ESE): ESE students are fully mainstreamed, reducing social stigmas and enhancing the continuity of instruction. The ESE teacher works with the classroom teacher to modify instruction as appropriate to enable students to meet their goals. The ESE teacher collaborates with classroom teachers to ensure that "strategies for success" are implemented in all subject areas. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 24 GIFTED: Eligible students in grades 1 and 2 receive gifted instruction in Language Arts and Reading daily with a gifted resource teacher. Project-based application encompassing the sciences; arts, math, and language allow students an opportunity to combine their creativity and practical knowledge. Eligible students in grades 3 through 8 will have an opportunity to enroll in a gifted Language Arts course. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY: Classroom teachers utilize technology daily to reinforce instruction and offer opportunities for independent practice. ACES students have access to Internet- based instructional programs at home and at school. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade utilize the ACES computer lab weekly. Sixth grade students enroll in a nine-week technology course, exposing them to all Microsoft Office Applications. Seventh grade students are required to enroll in a year long Computer Concepts course designed to expose them to all facets of the technology world available to them. Eighth graders are enrolled in a Career Explorations/Entrepreneurship course designed to promote awareness of various career opportunities. Projects centered around their future become a major focus of this course. LIBRARY AND RESEARCH SKILLS: Our library is open each morning at 8:00AM. Students may check out books daily. K-5 students receive library instruction from ACES’ Media Specialist in topics such as research skills, types of literature and media, plagiarism, organizing ideas, concept mapping and the importance of developing a life long love of learning. Sixth grade students receive 9 weeks of critical thinking/research instruction as part of their “wheel.” MUSIC: All students grades K-5 attend music classes once per rotation. Our Music room is equipped with tambourines, bells, maracas, drums, keyboard and more. The ACES music program emphasizes multicultural music appreciation, song, rhyme and music. All students in grades second through fifth have an opportunity to audition for the ACES Chorus. All Middle School students may choose keyboarding as their chosen elective. PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE): ACES PE program emphasizes sportsmanship and teamwork. Students are exposed to a variety of games, sports and activities utilizing our full size, indoor gymnasium and our Middle School track and basketball courts. Middle School students may select Team Sports as a full year elective. Four days per week students participate in physical activities, while the other day students participate in classroom instruction covering topics such as health, study skills and sports math. Nutrition and exercise leading to a healthy lifestyle is focal. ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 25 SPEECH AND LANGUAGE: This program is offered to students who qualify for services based on school district requirements. ACES part-time Speech and Language Pathologist services students’ needs in small groups. SCIENCE RESOURCE LAB: ACES science laboratory program provides students with hands-on application of core curriculum. Students in second through fifth grade visit the science lab weekly and students in kindergarten and first grade conduct experiments within their classrooms. Students conduct scientific investigations including predictions, observation, data collection, evaluation and communication of findings. All middle school students enroll in a comprehensive science course that emphasizes hands-on investigation. SPANISH: ACES Modern Language Program places emphasis on four basic components of language acquisition (e.g., listening, speaking, reading and writing). Students build an understanding of the relationship between perspectives and products of various cultures. Students in grades K-5 receive Spanish instruction one time per rotation. Middle School students can elect to enroll in Spanish courses throughout their Middle School career at ACES. VISUAL ARTS: Our Arts program fosters self-expression and creativity. The Art Program is designed to inspire and motivate students to experience the connection between disciplines such as language arts, math, science and social studies. Students use a variety of mediums including paint, chalk, clay and fabric to create 2-D and 3-D art. CLUBS: All students grade 2-5 have the opportunity to participate in a club each Friday for the last hour of the school day. Clubs may include but are not limited to the following:  Aerobics for Kids  Disco Dancing  Arts & Crafts  Eagles Garden Club  Basketball & Sportsmanship  Eagles Skits  Baton  Hip Hop Dance  Board Games  Kickball  Contemporary Dance  Latin Jazz Dance  Cooking Club  Middle Eastern Dance  Country Line Dance  Movie Critics Club  Crazy Creators Club  Poetry Club  Crazy Science Club  Scrapbooking Club  Table Tennis Club ACES Parent/Student Handbook 2017-2018 Revised 8/3/17 Page 26