2. Mrs.Cordova’s Kindergarten Class Doral Academy Open House 2018-2019

3. Filled with fun and learning, Nothing to fear. Sit back and listen,
Hello, hello!
It’s a brand new year.
Filled with fun and learning,
Nothing to fear.
Sit back and listen,
Lend me an ear,
I’m your teacher for the rest of this year!

4. Agenda: Introductions/Sign up Sheets About the Teacher Staff at Doral
Behavior Policy
Super Kid Friday
Cafeteria
Grading Scale
Birthdays
Volunteer Hours
Parent Communication
Introductions/Sign up Sheets
About the Teacher
Staff at Doral
Attendance Policies
Before & After Care
Uniform Policy
Medication/Allergies
Home Learning Folder
Morning Procedures
Afternoon Dismissal
Home Learning Policy
Classroom Expectations

5. Meet the Teacher
I have taught Kindergarten for 17 years and 2nd for two years. (Kindergarten has my heart!)
I love teaching reading.
* Bachelor’s in Early Childhood & Elementary Education
* Master’s in Reading
This will be my 18th year at Doral Academy.
I have 13 year old twin boys! 

6. Doral Academy Staff Principal – Mrs. Cuesta
Assistant Principal- Mrs. Simon
Lead Teacher-Mrs. Perez
Front Desk-Ms. Gomez
Office – Mrs. Trino & Ms. Sotelo
Librarian – Ms. Ali

7. Attendance Policy
If your child is absent, please send a written note or within 48 hours of your child returning to school.
An absence will be excused if it is one of the following: death in the family, illness, doctor’s appointment.
Please note, a vacation or business trip is NOT an excused absence.
5 unexcused absences = 1 referral

8. Attendance Policy
Doral Academy awards Perfect Attendance to students with zero absences and zero tardies. Please note that the DAC policy is different from the standard MDCPS policy for awarding perfect attendance.
To ensure students make their best effort to be present at school every day, referrals will be issued for the following:
Students will be referred to administration for excessive unexcused tardies.
rule!
5 unexcused tardies: verbal warning to parents
7 unexcused tardies: written letter
10 unexcused tardies: referral

9. Before & After Care For information, please see
Ms. Patty Zulueta in the
Pre-Kindergarten Department
Recommendation:
Register kids today! If your child is
not registered, they will have to wait in the office and it can get expensive! You will be charged $1 for every minute you are late.

10. Uniforms:
All students must wear the Doral Academy Uniform every day, unless we specify otherwise. (Jean Day, Dress down days, Field Trips, etc.) Friday/ field trip t-shirts can be purchased through our online store for $13
Jean Day serves as a fundraiser for our school- the kids can wear jeans with their Doral Academy T-Shirt for $1.00. (Payment through online store only)
Boys - Hair should be cut neatly and above the collar.
Students must wear closed toe shoes, and they should be all black. (including soles and laces)

11. Uniforms:
Sweaters should be navy blue and have the Doral Academy logo. Please make sure you label your child’s clothing with his/her name.
Also, please make sure to send a complete change of clothes (shirt, bottom, undergarment and socks) to school in a Zip-loc with your child’s name on it on the first day of school. It does not have to be a uniform. This is stored in the classroom for accidents.
For additional information about uniforms, please contact the office staff.

12. Student UNIFORMS Tops:
Polo shirts must be red, white or navy blue and embroidered with the school name and logo.
All shirts must be tucked inside pants at all times.
Bottoms:
Pants/skorts may be navy blue or khaki.
Belts must be worn at all times. They must be plain, black, and fastened securely at waist level.
Shoes:
Black closed toe shoes or sneakers must be worn.
No sandals, crocs, boots, heels or platform shoes are allowed.
Sweaters:
Navy blue uniform sweatshirts and sweaters with embroidered school logo may be worn.

13. Medication:
Teachers/Teacher Assistants are not allowed to administer medication.
You must leave all medication along with dosing instructions in the office.
Please make sure to inform the teacher of any allergies your child has and any medications being taken.

14. Rolling Bookbags

15. Field-trips:
Students will usually participate in three fieldtrips per 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-reregister through the student/parent portal and receive Level 1 clearance.
Please see the receptionist for assistance.

16. DAC Folders Your child’s Doral Folder is their “Home Learning” folder.
This folder must be checked and SIGNED EVERYDAY.
Their daily behavior, important papers and communication from school are sent home in this folder.
This folder will also be used to send their home-learning for the week.
On Fridays all class work that was not collected
will be sent home in the folder. Please remove
the work and keep the work for your
records/ memories.

17. School Online Store

18. Morning Procedures
Parents are to drop off students in the lobby. (Parents will only be allowed to walk in with their child for the first two days for a few minutes.)
Parents must park in the Carlos Albizu parking lot. Gates will open at 8:00am.
Neither students nor parents are permitted to stand in the hallways.
All students arriving before 8:00 am must be enrolled in morning care (see Ms. Patty in the Pre-K office).
Classroom doors open at 8:10am
Instruction begins promptly at 8:30am
Tardy passes are given by the office staff in the lobby at 8:30am

19. Afternoon Dismissal
Parents must park in the Carlos Albizu parking lot and walk to the front of the school to pick up their child.
Dismissal is at 2:00pm until 2:15pm. After 2:15, you will be charged a late pick-up fee of $1.00 per minute. (Ex: If you are 45 minutes late, you will be charged $45)
If someone is picking up your child and your teacher is not familiar with that person, your teacher will not release your child to that person. The person must be authorized on the emergency contact card prior to picking up your child and must bring picture identification.

20. Afternoon Dismissal
If your child will be picked up by someone else, or is going to aftercare or going home with a friend, you MUST SEND a note to school in your child’s folder.
Your child notifying your teacher verbally will not suffice.
You may send an or call the school and they will notify your child’s teacher in the event that it is a last minute thing.

22. Leaving Early
No students shall be released within the final thirty minutes of the school day unless authorized by administration.
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 students will be issued a referral form that will be placed in the student’s permanent record.
Parents are to park in the Carlos Albizu Parking lot and walk to the front of the school by the main/office entrance to pick up their children.

23. Packets are collected Fridays.
Home Learning Policy
Home Learning packets are uploaded every Monday with a detailed list of assignments each day. Please print home-learning packets weekly.
Packets are collected Fridays.
The Reading Log and I-Ready program is part of your child’s Home Learning. (This must be completed daily.)
Home Learning will be considered incomplete if the Reading Log is not completed. This will result in your child receiving an incomplete for their Home Learning

24. Classroom Expectations:
Come to school prepared and on time.
Complete class work and home learning assignments.
Respect peers and teachers.
Ask questions.
Do your best.

26. Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader is an independent reading program.
It contains a computer based assessment.
Students will read a book and take a computerized comprehension test.

27. Behavior policy Rules Rewards Consequences Behavior Chart
Super Kid Friday
Birthdays

28. Super-Kid Fridays! Every Friday we will have Super Kid.
Snacks will be provided on a rotating basis by the parents.
Movies must be “G” rated
Super Kid is used as a behavior incentive, if your child’s behavior does not warrant super kid, they will not participate.

29. Assessments:
This year, your child will be taking 3 I-Ready Assessments. (fall, winter, and spring) I-Ready is an engaging online assessment and instructional program.
I‐Ready is web‐based. It assesses skills in the following areas, known as domains: – Phonological Awareness – Phonics – High‐Frequency Words – Vocabulary – Comprehension: Literature – Comprehension: Informational Text
Star Early Literacy Assessment
Kindergarten SAT

30. Grading Scale: 1st- 4th grading period academic grades are given.
What does each grade represent?
E= Excellent Progress (100 – 90)
G= Good Progress (89 – 80)
S= Satisfactory Progress ( )
M= Minimal Progress (69 – 60)
U= Unsatisfactory Progress (59 & below)
N/A= Not applicable
All tests and/or assignments that receive a M or U, a copy will be sent home for your review. Please make sure you look it over with your child, sign it, and return it to your child’s teacher.

31. Grading Scale: “G” is a good grade both in academics and behavior.
An “E” has to be earned.
“E” means outstanding.

32. Lunch Lunch Money ($3.25): Please pay online for school lunch.
Weekly/Monthly payments are preferred.
Behavior:
All students sit at assigned tables.
Behavior card will be moved for inappropriate behavior in the cafeteria (getting up, yelling, throwing food).
**PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD IN GLASS CONTAINTERS OR FOOD THAT NEEDS TO BE HEATED, THERE IS NO MICROWAVE IN THE CLASSROOM OR CAFETERIA

33. Birthdays
The day of a child’s birthday, their birthday will be acknowledged in class with a treat and a song. As per school policy, celebrations may be held either in the cafeteria at lunch time or during the last half hour of the day. Please discuss this in advance with the teacher to make arrangements.

34. Volunteer Hours
You are required to complete 30 volunteer hours per family.
You may complete volunteer hours by participating in school activities (field trips, the book fair, Hispanic Heritage Festival, Field Day, etc.)
Volunteer hours must be completed by early May.
In order to volunteer, all parents must be screened and approved by Miami Dade County Public Schools. You must obtain a security clearance and get your fingerprints done.

35. Volunteer Hours

36. Fundraisers Used to enhance our educational program.
Smart boards/tablets.
Fundraisers kick off in September.

37. Programs available to our Students:
Before/After School Care:
Inquire with Ms. Patty Zulueta in the Pre-K office.
After school sports/activities
Recommended Websites:
Starfall.com
Readingeggs.com
ABCya.com
ABCmouse.com

38. Our school’s website:

39. Our website features:
The ability for each teacher to create and maintain their personal site within the main website.
Ability to post weekly homework's and announcements.
Links to:
School grade book
Parent Portal
School Volunteer
Sign Up

40. How to Communicate with Ms. Cordova
Send an to:
(preferred)
Write a note. Place it in your child’s
Doral Academy folder.
Phone the school –
-Calls will be returned within 24 hours.

41. How to help your child: Read daily!
Discuss events, retell the story, talk about
favorite part, talk about the pictures, ask how and
why questions etc.
Homework: Establish a routine
Practice sight words
Numbers to 100

42. Parent conferences must be scheduled at least one day in advance.
Parent Conferences/Contact Info
Parent conferences must be scheduled at least one day in advance.
The best time is right after dismissal at 2:15 pm or in the morning before school.
Please make sure if you change your phone number or that you update it with your child’s teacher and the office.
I will meet with ALL parents at least once in the beginning of the year to discuss their child’s progress.

44. Remind App

46. Questions???
At this time if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to ask!
You are your child’s first teacher,
so I will look to you for help and
insights that will help me
understand your child and
therefore help them reach their
full potential!

47. Parent Homework BY MONDAY, AUGUST 20th Please make sure to:
1. Send Ms. Cordova an with your name and your child’s name to Please also include how your child will be going home on the first day of school and then the rest of the school year.
2. Purchase the home learning folder through the online store.
3. Visit the class website to read the Kindergarten packet. Once you have done so, sign and return the PINK page given during open house to confirm you have read our school and classroom policies.
4. Return all open house paperwork.
5. Organize classroom supplies according to supply instruction list.

48. Concluding Thought
An apple for the teacher Is really nothing new. Except, when you remember Parents are teachers too!
You are your child’s first teacher, so I will look to you for help and insights that will help me understand your child and therefore help them reach their full potential!