1. Middle School Orientation 2017-18
Somerset Academy
Middle School Orientation

2. Charter Schools What is a charter school?
Independent public schools of choice created on the basis of an agreement between a group of school organizers (Academica) and a sponsoring body (Broward County Public Schools). They are among the fastest growing educational choice options for students in Florida since the first five charter schools were opened in Charter schools have grown from 5 to over 652 schools with a total enrollment over 270,000 students.

3. Staff Bernardo Montero, Principal Walkiria Soberon, Vice Principal
Cristina Camus, Vice Principal
Karina Iber, Assistant Principal
Christine Stewart, Lead Teacher/Activities Director
Jessica Kirker, 6th- 7th Grades
Gabriella Valdes, 8th Grade

4. Middle School Curriculum
8 period Block Schedule:
A Days: 1,2,3,4 /B Days: 5,6,7,8
High school courses:
Foreign Languages
Math Courses
Science Courses
Somerset Arts Conservatory
Remedial, on-grade level and advanced curriculum
Summer Reading

5. Monitoring Academic Progress
Progress/Interim Reports are issued at the halfway mark of the grading period.
Report Cards are issued at the end of each grading period.
Parents can check website for access to the grade book in order to monitor daily progress.
Tutoring is provided by our Honor Societies on selected days.

6. Staff Communication All teachers have email
Please contact teacher/or counselor to discuss specific course concerns
Please do not approach teachers during instruction
Check school website in order to keep current with daily school activities and information about your child’s classes

7. FSA: Florida Standards Assessments
Writing: Grades 5-11th
Reading: Grades 5-11th
Math: Grades 5-8th
Science: Grade 8 (FCAT 2.0)
Dates:
Writing: February 26 – March 2, 2018
Reading, Math, Science: April 9 – May 4, 2018
After School, Pull-Out, and FSA Boot Camp Programs Available
*Dates are subject to change

8. Promotion Requirements
Must pass 4 out of 7 classes with a “D” average or better
Must pass 4 core classes
Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
7th grade students will take an End of Course exam for Civics
8th grade students must complete a PAC plan (Personal Academic Career Plan) in US History class

9. Attendance Compulsory Attendance
F.S The School Attendance Review Committee will target 5 excused or unexcused absences and excessive absences.
Ages 6-16

10. Broward County Attendance Policies
A pattern of non-attendance is established when the student has missed 5 days (excused or unexcused).
May be accumulated by tardiness, early sign- outs, or daily absences
Once a pattern of non-attendance has been established, a statement must be provided to the school to explain the pattern. F.S

11. Please note the school requires proper documentation!
Excused Absences
Illness of student;
Illness of immediate family member;
Death in the family;
Religious holidays of the student’s own faith;
Required court appearance/subpoena;
Scheduled medical/dental appointment.
Please try your best to schedule medical appointments outside of instructional time.
Please note the school requires proper documentation!

12. Tardiness/Early Sign-out
Tardiness/early sign-out is disruptive to the learning environment and can have a negative impact on student achievement.
No students shall be released within the final 30 minutes of school.
Traffic Issues

13. Consequences
Schools are required to collaborate with local and state agencies that are involved in truancy prevention, intervention, and judicial action.
Collaborative Problem Solving Team
No grade for course

14. Returning to School Students have two days to make up assignments.
Students who are externally suspended cannot make up assignments unless student participates in an alternative suspension program.
Students should bring a note to school to excuse the absence. This note is to be handed to the attendance clerk in the main office.

15. Food Service
Our campus is equipped with two cafeterias. Le Cafe and the Panther Zone provide the students with a well balanced lunch aligned to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) standards.
Prices: Breakfast- $2.50 Lunch- $3.50
Free and reduced lunches are available for qualified individuals for purchases made in the Panther Zone and Le Cafe.
Lunch accounts can be set-up with the Cafeteria Managers. The cafeterias are the only places on campus that accept checks (Somerset Academy).
Payments can be made via: cash, check or online
Breakfast is only served in Panther Zone
Lunches are served in both Le Café and Panther Zone

16. Lunch Application
Families are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to complete a Lunch Application Form by September 29th (ONLY 1 FORM PER FAMILY)
Part 1: List family members that live in the home
Part 2: Complete if you receive State/Government Benefits. Must include case number and beneficiary’s name
Part 3: ONLY include name of family member with income
Part 3: Select Income Type and include Income Frequency
Part 4: Complete personal date section, including Primary Income Provider’s Signature and last 4-digits of social security number
Part 5: Choose Ethnicity & Race
ONLY COMPLETE FRONT PAGE OF APPLICATION
Contact Jennie Garcia for more info:

17. Transportation
Several private companies provide transportation to our school. We highly encourage you contract transportation services from Broward County approved vendors. Contact school office for more information.
Traffic safety – please comply with staff directions and traffic safety.
Please refrain from using your cell phone while in the carpool line (no texting nor talking)
Speed Limit

18. Traffic Pattern Somerset Academy Elementary-
Parents will turn onto Somerset Way to drop off ALL students (Pre-K through Fifth grade) including morning care and Pre-Kindergarten.
Drivers should follow the security monitors and posted signs to the rear of campus then turn right and follow signs.
Students in grades 3-5 may be dropped off in the turnabout closest to the bleachers (Building B) where staff will meet them for arrival between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.
Students in grades Pre-K through 2 will be dropped off at the turnabout closest to the front of the elementary (Building A)where staff will meet them for arrival between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.
Drivers will then be directed to return to Somerset Way to leave campus.
The front entrance to Building A/ Elementary School will become a BUS ONLY LANE!

19. Traffic Pattern
Somerset Academy Middle/High and Arts Conservatory
Parents will turn onto Somerset Way to drop off ALL students (6th-12th grade).
Drivers should follow the security monitors and posted signs to the rear of campus then turn right and follow signs.
Students in grades 6-12 may be dropped off in the turnabout closest to the bleachers (Building B) between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m.
Drivers will then be directed to return to Somerset Way to leave campus.

21. Traffic Pattern
"NO PARKING" signs will be enforced and drivers may be cited for parking in spaces that are designated NO PARKING.
As of August 25th, there will be NO PARKING allowed at Rose Price Park. The city has informed us that they will tow vehicles at the owner’s expense.

22. Guidance Social, academic and emotional concerns.
Individual, small, and large group counseling.
Character Education
Virtual Counselor
High school and post secondary planning
Anti-Bullying policy

23. Code of Student Conduct Student/Parent Handbook
Code of Excellence
Progressive Disciplinary Plan
Verbal Warning-parent contact
Detentions
Suspensions- indoor, outdoor, expelled, Academic Behavior and Attendance contract, dismissed by the governing board of Somerset Academy.
Electronic Devices
Will be available on-line (main page on website)
Signed paperwork needs to be returned to the 1st period teacher by August 25th

24. Dress Code Uniforms can be purchased at All Uniform Wear
Westfork Plaza (Pines Blvd/Dykes Rd)
Uniforms are MANDATORY: Monday – Thursday
Friday Spirit Day: School Polo, club/honor societies, class shirts, athletic shirts, dry-fit spirit shirts with Jeans (Jeans with NO holes nor shredding/tearing. NO SHORTS/LEGGINGS/CAPRIS.)
Somerset Sweatpants are only to used on cold days in PE
IDs are required!
Somerset Hoodies or Plain Navy Blue or Black Jackets/Hoodies

25. Schedules/Supply Lists
Schedule Distribution Locations will be posted on our web-site Thursday evening, August 17th.
Report to Schedule Distribution Location on Monday, August 21st at 8:00am. Then follow an “A” Day Schedule.
Although the use of planners are strongly encouraged, we do not sell planners at school.
School supply lists will depend on the individual teacher. Each course syllabus will indicate what is required for the class.

26. Bell Schedule
Somerset Academy Middle/High/Arts Conservatory Daily Schedule
"A" Days Period 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th "B" Days Period 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
Start Time
End Time
Length
Doors Open
7:30 AM
7:55 AM
25 min
1st Block: Period 1 or 5
8:00 AM
9:30 AM
90 min
2nd Block: Period 2 or 6
9:35 AM
11:05 AM
3rd Block: Period 3 or 7 (READ 1st 15 minutes of class and Lunch)
11:10 AM
1:25 PM
135 min
4th Block: Period 4 or 8
1:30 PM
3:00 PM
Student Dismissal —

27. First Week Schedule
August 21st : Report to Schedule Distribution Location and then follow an “A” Day Schedule (1,2,3,4)
August 22nd: Report to 5th period,
B Day (5,6,7,8)
Schedule Change forms are due: August 25th
Forms can be found online on Aug. 21st after 3:30pm
Forms are to be returned to 1st Period Teacher

28. Personalization Period
Each 6th – 12th grade student will be assigned a Personalization Period (study hall). This is a non-credit earning course. Students will not be exempted from this course. The purpose of the course is for students to get organized, study and work on assignments during the school day (online courses, homework, etc.). Teachers are to take attendance and maintain a classroom environment that is conducive to self-learning. Teachers are not mandated to keep lesson plans for this period nor to enter grades in Pinnacle for this course.
Students may use personal electronic devices only for instructional purposes to complete assignments (phones, computers, lap-tops, tablets, etc.). However, Somerset Academy is not responsible for any theft, loss or damage to personal electronic devices brought to school. Students that use electronic devices for non-instructional purposes will have their electronic devices confiscated.
Additionally, Personalization Periods may be used for guidance presentations, IEP/EP meetings, pull-outs/push-in interventions, therapies, etc.
Students are expected to study and complete assignments during this period in a quiet and respectful manner. Those that do not follow instructions or cause a disruption, will receive behavioral consequences as delineated in the Somerset Academy Progressive Discipline Plan and Broward County Public Schools Administrative Discipline Matrix.

29. Required 7th Grade Vaccination
ALL 7th graders are REQUIRED to be immunized with the TDAP, Hepatitis B Vaccine Series and the 2nd dose of the Measles vaccination before beginning school on August 21st
ALL 7th graders must submit a Florida Certificate of Immunization to the Main Office
Students will not be permitted to begin school without the documented immunization record

30. School Activities Public Calendar Online Clubs/Organizations Athletics
School Functions and Activities
Clubs/Organizations
48 Clubs/Honor Societies
Athletics
14 Sports, Athletic Fees Apply, Physical Required to Participate
Parent Volunteer Hours
30 hours

31. 8th Grade Panther Package
TOTAL: $280
Deposit: $100
Monthly Payments: Sept. – Dec. $45
Includes: Yearbook, 8th Grade Class Shirt, Prom Ticket, Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure Trip
8th Graders must meet 8th Grade Panther Package Criteria to participate in events

32. England, Ireland, Wales and Paris Trip June 2018
It's not too late to join us!! Incoming th Graders and Families Tour # VJ $95 Deposit
For more information, contact Trip Group Leaders:
Sarah Fye:
Christy Stewart:
Included: Round-trip flights, comfortable motorcoach,7 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms, European breakfast and dinner daily (lunch not included)

33. Additional Info… Panther Zone: PE Uniform Sale ($10 Shirt/$10 Shorts)
PTSO Member Registration ($5 per Family)
PTSO Uniform Swap: Media Center
Band Booster Snack Sale!
Campus Tours led by Student Leaders

34. See you Monday, August 21st !
Any questions?