1. Ms. Bowen
Mrs. Valdes
5th Grade

2. This year your child has TWO teachers!
Ms. Bowen
Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies
Mrs. Valdes
Math and Science

3. How you can reach us… Somersetacademy.com Staff Directory Anita Bowen
Mariangelie Valdes
24 hour turn-around

4. Daily Schedule 8:30-10:30 Block 1 10:30-10:35 Switch
12:10-12:40 Lunch
12:45 - 1:20 Block 2 cont.
1:20 - 1:50     Specials
1:50-2:20       Recess  
2:25- 2:30      Dismissal

5. Specials Schedule!
Spanish
Music
Art
DEAR
iReady Lab
STEM
Physical Ed

6. Homework Policy Webpage – must sign up for HOMEWORK NOTIFICATION
Parent Vault – instructions link on the webpage
Homework
Nightly math/reading/language arts/ science
Occasionally social studies
Incomplete Class Work = extra homework
Missing/late homework = -10% every day late
Think Central – Go Math, Science Fusion, and Journeys
Password distributed soon
School Binder goes home nightly

7. Curriculum Reading – Journey’s Common Core Writing – Top Score Writing
Math – Common Core Go Math
Science – Science Fusion
iReady – online program for reading and math

8. Tests and Assessments
Each Friday, students take a Spelling/Vocabulary Quiz and Reading Comprehension/Grammar Test (open book)
Social Studies, Math, and Science Tests are given only when units are completed.
Check Pinnacle weekly

9. A and B week Rotating Schedule Beneficial for Students
Prepares Students for Middle School
Begins immediately

10. Pinnacle Parent Login Directions
Username:
Password: PMM/DD/YYYY (Date of Birth)
Example:
User:
Password: P07/25/2001 (Date of Birth)
***Please be advised that Parent Pinnacle Access will be available after Labor Day (per the county). ***

11. Pinnacle Weights Tests – 45% Classwork – 30% Quizzes – 10%
Homework – 10%
Projects – 5%

12. Rose Price Park
Rose Price Park will be available for parking during arrival and dismissal times ONLY.
Please DO NOT park there during any other time of the day.
If you are visiting Somerset for conferences or volunteering, please visit the security guardhouse located on Somerset Way and they will assist you in parking.

13. Morning and Sibling Care
Regular
Morning Care
Shuttle Care
Sibling Care
7:15-8:15
$ per month paid online
Deposit and registration online
7:30-8:15
$ per year
Only available for students with Middle / High siblings.
Online registration required
7:30 am Shuttle from South to North Campus (7:00 for M/H)
2nd - 5th grade shuttle riders will go to room # 2 and #4
No fee, but registration required
Breakfast
7:50-8:15

14. Dismissal: Sibling Care
Students who wait for Middle/High siblings.
Students MUST be picked up by 3:05 by their SIBLING from:
2nd – 5th Grade Sibling pick up Rooms will be in Room 208, 210, 212, or 214.
MUST sign a “Permission for Dismissal” form even if not walking home. (Rose Price Park, for example)

15. Dismissal: Brothers and Sisters
5th grade students who are escorted to Bldg A to meet up with younger siblings in 2nd-4th that do not have older siblings.

16. Dismissal: Carpool (4th and 5th)
For student that get picked up by an authorized adult in the carpool lane located in the Middle/High circle directly in front of the Middle/High office.
Absolutely NO STOPPING or PARKING in the carpool lane. It WILL BE strictly enforced. Parents MUST have an elementary car tag. Parents with Middle/High children have to make the carpool line twice.
Must be picked up by 2:50 pm. After 2:50 students will be walked to the front office and the parents will be charged.
The office will not allow students to be picked up between 2:00-2:30.

17. Dismissal: Walker
Anyone walking off campus, even if it is to meet someone at Rose Price Park, is considered a walker.
Must have a “Permission for Dismissal” form signed.

18. Planners and Backpack Tags
Planners are used daily
Provide information
year long calendar of school activities
homework
spelling/vocabulary words
passwords and Log in information
Panther Backpack Tags
All students must have tag on backpack.

19. WONDER by R.J. Palacio
Students must have an actual copy of the book instead of an electronic copy. Strategies such as underlining and taking marginal notes can be used with an actual copy, which cannot be used with an electronic version of the book. When purchasing the book, there are two options…
1. Purchase the regular edition of the book (which DOES NOT include the Julian version) and then purchase a supplement called Auggie and Me, which DOES include the Julian chapter along with two other characters’ chapters.
2. Purchase the “Julian Edition” of the book, which already has the added Julian chapter included. There should be a round yellow sticker on the cover that says “Julian Edition”. This was a limited edition.
I promise, your efforts in finding the book will all be worth it when you see how inspired your children will be by this beautiful story they will be reading! Thank you all for your patience and please let me know if you still have any questions or concerns.

20. Classroom Webpages
A GREAT way to check for important information is through our webpage located at Staff
Every FRIDAY, we will update our web pages and send an with homework assignments, specials for the week, important dates, upcoming events, reminders, etc.
Parents can sign up to get notifications. The instructions can be found on our webpages.

21. Volunteer Hours Parents must complete a total of 30 volunteer hours.
If you have additional children in the middle or high school, you must add 10 additional hours for each child.
Volunteer Hours can no longer be paid off as an obligation, so don’t procrastinate.
15 hours by February
Next 15 hours by May

22. Ways to Volunteer… Room Parent – see sign up sheet Classroom help
Remove and prepare chapter for math and science (in classroom)
Field Trips
Door decoration – monthly or seasonally

23. Cafeteria Cafeteria Manager: Ms. Canete 954-442-0233 ext. 620
Breakfast price: $1.50
Lunch price: $3.25
Payments can be made online, in cash, or check.
Monthly menus are available on our website.
Free and Reduced Lunch-applications will be available in your child’s first day packet of information.

24. 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

25. Online Payments
Please make sure that you pay under HOMEROOM teacher name.
Please do not pay under “Financial Obligations”.
Please print and send in all receipts.
Teachers cannot accept checks under any circumstance (except lunch dues).

26. Independence Day
Parents can walk students to class on August th….
But on August 20th they are INDEPENDENT!

27. Classroom Distractions
The following items are not allowed in the classroom, except when specifically permitted for special occasions:
Handheld electronic devices (cellphones, tablets, etc)
Smart Watches
Fidget Spinners
Goo
Chewing Gum

28. Tardy/Attendance
Somerset Academy follows Broward County Schools Attendance Policy 5.5!
This means every minute counts, from absences,
tardiness, and early sign outs.
School begins at 8:30 am. Students that arrive late to school must have parents sign them in at the office and pick-up a late pass before walking to the classroom.
For absences: Please provide a note or send an explaining the reason your child was absent the day you return to school or send an to
If you are planning for a trip or special occasion, you must submit a letter and get prior approval. Failure to get pre-approval may result in unexcused absences on your child’s attendance record.

29. Peanut Allergy
Due to students with a severe peanut allergy in 5th grade, all food containing peanuts is prohibited. For example, peanut butter sandwiches or Nutella products may not be packed for snack or lunch. We are sorry for the inconvenience but the safety of our students is our number one priority.

30. Final Note
We are truly excited to be your child’s teachers! We hope we can have a lot of fun together and learn along the way. We know it will be a successful year!
Questions???