Doral Academy

This is my fourth year teaching. I’ve taught VPK for 3 years. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Florida International University in Early Childhood Education and I am completing my Masters degree in International/ Intercultural Education in December. I am here for your child.

Doors open at 8:10 in the morning. All students who arrive prior to 8:10 must wait outside in front of our room. Students arriving prior to 8:00 in the morning must be placed in the before care program. If child is left unattended, you will be charged $1.00 per every minute. Students should arrive prepared to learn. Students must put away their belongings and begin working on their morning assignments. Instruction begins at 8:30 promptly.

The state of Florida has adopted the Common Core Standards for Math, Reading and Language Arts. We plan our lessons in accordance to these standards. The standards must be taught in order for the students to be prepared for future state tests. Further information can be found on: The state of Florida uses the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for the subject areas of Science and Social Studies. Further information on the Next Generation Sunshine State standards can be found on

Through music, students will learn to master phonics to build a base for reading and writing in Spanish. Students will learn skills such as: conventional spelling, the days of the week, and the months of the year.

Teacher Assistants will be watching over our students during lunch time. Cafeteria Lunch: $3.25 You may now pay your child’s lunch and apply for free or reduced lunch online. Last year’s application needs to be renewed. Classrooms will not be interrupted for forgotten lunchboxes. Lunchboxes will be delivered to a table in the cafeteria. Students who forget their lunchboxes have the option to eat ham and cheese sandwiches, cereal and milk or what is being served in the cafeteria. Birthday’s may be celebrated in the cafeteria during lunch time.

Daily Behavior calendar will be in your child’s folder. Please initial the chart daily. Behavior Plan Home Learning must be complete and in your child’s home learning folder by the end of the week in order to receive an appropriate effort grade.

Students are dismissed by the front lobby from 2:00-2:15. Any student not picked up by 2:15 will be taken to Media Center and you will be billed $1.00 per minute thereafter. Please write your preferred contact number inside your child’s home learning folder. If you are going to change the method in which your child is being dismissed it is required to notify the school in writing or call the main office at Students will not be sent to aftercare unless they are pre-registered. If they are pre-registered they will be sent to the Media Center and will be charged $1.00 thereafter. Children under 18 are not allowed to pick up students.

Purchase Doral Academy folders ($2.00). Homework is very important. It reinforces skills that they are learning. Please don’t go ahead. Home learning is given Monday-Thursday. Home Learning will be posted on my school page. You will need to print them out and they need to be completed and turned in by Friday. School website

Accelerated Reader- Find out child’s reading level on the first week of school. Encourage to visit library You will find out soon when Computer and Library visits will be

Grades and attendance may be verified on the Electronic Grade Book through the Parent Portal. Sign up with Alishia- Front Desk You may setup automatic notification in the Parent Portal Students will receive one grade per week in each subject area.

Percent Letter 90%-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C 60-69% D 0-59% F I will send home copies of D’s and F’s so that you may review them with your child.

Absences Students will be allowed ten (10) excused absences in an annual course. Absences of more than five consecutive days must be excused by written documentation from a licensed/certified health practitioner. A referral will be issued to a student who accumulates five (5) unexcused absences or ten (10) tardies in an annual course Rule By the third referral, the student will lose re-enrollment for the following school year. It is your responsibility to send in a note within 48 hours of your child’s absence. Notes to excuse an absence will be sent to the main office for approval. Only 10 parent written notes may be accepted in the school year. Parent notes are subject to approval by administration. After 10 written notes you must provide a doctor’s note.

Tardy Policy A student is allowed (10) TARDIES PER SCHOOL YEAR. If a student exceeds ten (10) tardies, the student will be issued a referral. If a student exceeds fifteen (10) or more tardies, the parents will be called to conference with the attendance review committee. Students that are tardy are not eligible for perfect attendance certificates that are presented at honor roll assemblies. MDCPS Policy: o DAC: 8:30 a.m. o JAM: 8:00 a.m Rule By the tenth tardy, the student will be issued a referral.

No students shall be released the final thirty minutes of the school day unless authorized by administration (i.e. emergency, sickness). Students who wish to be dismissed early are required to provide proof of a medical/dental appointment within 48 hours of such appointment. Notes submitted more than 48 hours after an early dismissal will not be accepted, and the early dismissal will be deemed unexcused. After 5 unexcused early dismissals, the student will be issued a referral form that will be placed in the student’s permanent record.

Parent communication is vital in order for us to have a successful school year. Please check your child’s home learning folder daily for any correspondence. Please send your correspondence/monies inside your child’s home learning folder. ConnectEd phone messages will be used to keep you informed of current events as they unfold. Please update any changes in phone numbers with the main office. I am available in the mornings from 7:45-8:10 or in the afternoon from 2:15-3:00.I will return calls within 24 hours. The school calendar and the cafeteria calendar is available on the school website.

UNIFORMS All students must wear the proper uniform daily. Hair should be cut neatly. Sweaters should have the Doral Academy logo or be a solid navy blue color. Student shoes must be all black. Students will be allowed to wear jeans and their blue dragon T-Shirt on Friday for a $1.00 donation. Shirts must be worn on Field Trips T-Shirts available to purchase for $12 After School Care For information, see Pre-Kinder Department. Doral Academy

Students will participate in three to four fieldtrips this year. It is of utmost importance that you adhere to the assigned deadlines. We are required to submit all field trip paper work one week prior to the scheduled field trip. Chaperones will be selected through a lottery. You must register through the student/parent portal and receive Level 1 clearance. Please see the receptionist (Alishia) for assistance. Check the office to verify your clearance.

30 volunteer hours must be completed per school policy. Hours are divided amongst siblings including those enrolled in J.A.M.S. Siblings in the Doral Middle School and High school are not included. You will be notified of several opportunities to volunteer your time. If you are unable to volunteer your time you can purchase items from my wish list. Please include a receipt for auditing purposes. Volunteer in our Classroom!

You will soon receive a newsletter explaining each of the assessments and programs mentioned below. STAR Accelerated Reader Reflex Math FAIR Testing SAT Testing

Summer Reading work will be graded and are due by Friday, August 22nd. New students to our school can turn in the work assigned by their previous school or they may log on to our school website and view the assigned summer reading activities for incoming first graders under News and Announcements.

for taking the time to attend Open House! I look forward to working with you and your child this year. It is going to be a wonderful year filled with exciting learning activities!