1. Welcome to Kindergarten!

2. 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!

3. Who is Mrs. Schmelkin? I was born and raised in Miami
I graduated from Florida International University
This will be my fourth year
teaching Kindergarten 
I have a 16th month old son
I love reading, baking, Target,
traveling and all things Disney!

5. Please note, a vacation or business trip is NOT an excused absence.
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.

6. Attendance Policy
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

7. Perfect Attendance Policy

8. Uniform Policy
All students must wear the Doral Academy Uniform every day, unless we specify otherwise. (Jean Day, Dress down days, Field Trips, etc.)
Jean Day serves as a fundraiser for our school .The students can wear jeans with their Doral Academy T-Shirt. (Please pay $40 Jean Day fee for the entire year through online store.)
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)

9. *Uniform Policy*
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 your child’s backpack for accidents.
For additional information about uniforms, please contact the office staff.

10. Uniform Policy

11. Rolling Book Bags

12. 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.

13. Doral Academy Supplies
Your child’s Doral Folder is their “Home Learning” folder.
Folder can be purchased at the online school store only.
This folder must be checked and SIGNED EVERYDAY
Important papers and communication from school are sent home in this folder.
On Fridays all classwork (not graded) that was collected will be sent home in the folder.
Please remove the work and keep the work for your records/memories.

14. Online School Store

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Your child notifying your teacher verbally will not suffice.
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.

19. Leaving Early –Afternoon Dismissal
If you will be picking your child up early, they must be picked up before 1:30 and they must be signed out directly from the office.
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.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. Classroom Behavior Policy
Rules
Rewards
Consequences
Super Kid Friday
Birthdays

23. Classroom Expectations
Come to school prepared and on time.
Complete classwork and home learning assignments.
Respect peers and teachers.
Ask questions.
Do your best.

24. Super Kid Friday Every Friday we will have Super Kid.
Snacks will be provided on a rotating basis by the parents.
Movies must be approved by the teacher/administration.
Super Kid is used as a behavior incentive.

25. Grading Scale
1st- 4th grading period academic grades and conduct 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.

26. Lunch Information National School Lunch Program
Applications:
Available the first week of school
Must be filled every year
Breakfast Schedule:
8:00-8:25
Prices
Full Price Breakfast: $2.25
Reduced: $0.30
Full Price Lunch : $3.25
Reduced: $0.40

27. The Cafeteria 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.

28. Birthday Celebrations
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.

29. 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.

30. Volunteer Hours

31. Our Website
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
Online Store
School Volunteer
Sign Up

32. Download this APP to stay in tune with school wide events and news
Download this APP to stay in tune with school wide events and news. Join our group code:

33. Parent Communication through Social Media & Group Texts
We are very lucky to live in a world full of technology and mass communication. We ask that you please be mindful of what is posted and texted through social media or group chats, such as What’s App or Messenger.
Should any situations arise or should you have any questions or concerns, please come to us first for clarifications or answers. This will avoid the spread of misinformation or rumors.
We are a proud TEAM 

34. 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.

35. How to Communicate with Ms. Schmelkin…
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.

36. Ways to help your Child…
Read daily!
Discuss events, retell the story, talk about favorite part, talk about the pictures, etc..
Homework
- Establish a routine
-Practice sight words
-Numbers to 100
-Letters/sounds

37. (All homework must be completed by Monday, Aug. 19th)
Parent Homework
(All homework must be completed by Monday, Aug. 19th)
Please send Ms. Schmelkin 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.
Purchase the home learning folder and Friday T-shirt through the online store.
Visit the class website to read the Kindergarten packet. Once you have done so, sign and return the CORAL page given during open house to confirm you have read our school and classroom policies.
Return all open house paperwork.
Sign up for the FREE Class Tag Account, review, and sign all Class Tag Forms.
Organize classroom supplies according to supply instruction list if you were not able to do it during Open House.

38. Questions/ Concerns
At this time if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to ask.
 Thank you for coming today! I look forward to working with you and your child!

39. 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!