Ada Merritt K-8 Center

International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme http://adamerritt.dadeschools.net/

http://www.ibo.org

660 SW 3rd Street Miami FL, 33134

Telephone: (305) 326 0791 Fax: (305) 326 0741

School Site Administration

Carmen M. Garcia Principal

Barbara M. Garcia Assistant Principal

Jackeline Sanchez-Jimenez Maud P. Clark Primary Years Programme Coordinator Middle Years Programme Coordinator

This Student Agenda belongs to:

Name: _________________________________________________________

Student ID # ________________________ Grade ______________

Homeroom Teacher: ________________________ Room# _____________

Principal Carmen M. Garcia

Assistant Principal Barbara M. Garcia

Dear Middle Years Programme Students: Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year at Ada Merritt K-8 Center, a top rated A school in Miami-Dade County Public Schools District, winner of the Magnet Schools of America Award of Excellence, recipient of the Order of Rio Branco from the Brazilian Government! Welcome to a fully accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP)! As you enter sixth grade or continue your studies in seventh and eighth grades, you will have the opportunity to receive a “world-class education”. The IB MYP curriculum emphasizes work habits and methods so that you will progressively gain independence and efficiency in your learning. This agenda is an invaluable tool and will assist you in acquiring the skills necessary to become a lifelong learner. Please review it carefully, highlight it and share its information with your parents, then sign it to acknowledge your understanding of its contents. The MYP is a rigorous program that aims at preparing you for the academic demands that you will face from middle school through college. In order to qualify for the Ada Merritt K-8 Center IB Certificate, at the end of grade 8, you will need to meet the following requirements:

- Maintain grade averages of C (2.5) or higher in all subjects and in conduct - Maintain effort grades of 2 or higher - Maintain a portfolio with work sample from each year of the program and reflections on your

progress in the MYP as outlined in the Portfolio Student Checklist - Complete a minimum of 10 hours of Community and Service in grades 6 and 7, and 20 in 8th

grade, for a total minimum of 40 hours at the end of the Middle Years Programme - Complete an Eighth Grade Culminating Project.

By complying with these requirements you will demonstrate that you have acquired the attributes of an IB Learner and you will be equipped to face the challenges of High School and College. Should you fail to meet those requirements but meet the minimum Miami-Dade Public School passing requirements, you will receive an Ada Merritt K-8 Center Certificate of Promotion. We wish you a very productive, fulfilling and exciting school year 2012-2013! Respectfully,

Carmen M. Garcia Principal -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

______________________________ ______________________________ _____________________ Student Signature Parent Signature Date

MYP SCHEDULE School starts at 8:35 every day and ends at 3:05 (1:50 on Wednesdays). You will follow a block schedule of 4 periods each day: 1, 3, 5, 7 on Odd Days and 2, 4, 6, 8 on Even Days, alternating Art or Music with PE. (period 9 being your alternate period).

MYP Schedule

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (85 minute periods)

Subject Teacher Room Study Buddy Phone #

Study Buddy Phone #

H.R. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9/Alt

Time MYP Schedule

Wednesday (60 minute periods)

Time

Periods Minutes Periods MinutesHomeroom 8:35 am – 8:41 am 6 Homeroom 8:35 am – 9:03 am 28 1&2 8:43 am – 10:08 am 85 1&2 9:05 am – 10:05 am 60 3&4 10:10 am – 11:35 am 85 3&4 10:07 am – 11:07 am 60

5&6 11:37 am – 1:38 pm with a 30 minute lunch break 85+30 5&6 11:09 am – 12:48 pm with

a 30 minute lunch break 60+30

7&8 1:40 pm – 3:05 pm 85 7&8 12:50 pm – 1:50 pm 60

STUDENT WORK PRESENTATION All work handed to your teachers should be written neatly, in cursive and include the following in the headings: full name, date, Area of Interaction this assignment connects to, and your signature. Work not following these guidelines will be graded one grade lower.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME (MYP)

AREAS OF INTERACTION ATL ENVIRONMENTS HUMAN

INGENUITY COMMUNITY &

SERVICE HEALTH & SOCIAL

EDUCATION

- How do I learn? - How do I communicate my understanding? - How do I work cooperatively or independently?

- Where do we live? - What resources do we have or need? -What are our responsibilities?

- Why and how do we create? - What are the consequences of our creations?

- How do we live as a community? - How can we contribute to the community? - How can we help others?

- How do I feel? - How am I changing? - How can I care for myself and others? - How can I make good choices?

IB MYP GRADING SCALE 1. Minimal achievement 2. Very limited achievement for all objectives with support 3. Limited achievement for most objectives with support 4. Good general understanding with occasional evidence of analytic skills 5. Consistent and thorough understanding, usually shows higher level thinking 6. Consistent and thorough understanding, higher level thinking, much originality and insight 7. Consistent and thorough understanding, higher level thinking, originality and insight applied in a wide

variety of situations.1

PEANUT / NUT FREE SCHOOL

Ada Merritt K-8 Center is a peanut/nut free school. Please refrain from bringing to school any products containing peanuts or nuts.

DISCIPLINE It is expected that all students will respect and contribute positively to their learning environment. When misbehaving, students will receive a warning. On the second disruption during a class period, they will receive a conduct cut. Each conduct cut will lower the student’s conduct grade for the grading period. Extreme disruptions or repeat offenses will be sanctioned by a detention and/or referral. At all times, students are expected to follow the Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Code of Student Conduct guidelines posted on the District’s website. They are expected as well to follow their individual teachers’ classroom rules at all times. BULLYING Ada Merritt K-8 Center values the principles of the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile. Therefore, bullying, repeatedly using hostile, intimidating, domineering, or threatening behavior (verbal, physical or electronic), with the aim or purpose of physically or mentally hurting another individual, will not be tolerated. Bullying is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct (http://ehandbooks.dadeschools.net/policies/90/index.htm), and will be dealt with by the school’s administrative staff.

CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONICS USAGE POLICY The use of items such as iPods, cell phones, mp3 players, toys and other electronic items is NOT PERMITTED at school during school hours, including lunch time and change of class. When such items are used by a student, they will be confiscated and returned after school to the student’s parent/guardian.

UNIFORMS

Middle School students must adhere to the school’s uniform policy. They may wear the gold, navy or white polo, or the navy and gold block polo shirt with khaki pants, knee-length shorts or skirts (no more than two inches above the knee). Uniforms must be worn at all times. Students attending field trips or special events will be required to wear the navy and/or gold shirt. Students may wear the school’s navy sweatshirt or a navy sweatshirt with no logo or markings. Hoods may not be worn during class. Undershirts must be the same color as the shirt. Closed shoes are required at all times. Students violating the dress code will be subject to disciplinary action after a warning at the first infraction.

PREPAREDNESS Students are expected to bring all required books, notebooks, supplies and their agenda to class daily. It is the students’ responsibility to record all assignments in their agenda and to meet deadlines.

GRADE REPORTING Parents are encouraged to use the Parent Portal to follow their child’s academic progress. Interim Progress Reports are issued at the midpoint of each quarter. These reports should be signed by parents and promptly returned to school. Quarterly report cards are issued at the end of each grading period.

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COMMUNITY AND SERVICE

Community & Service is incorporated into the Middle Years Curriculum to encourage students to think of themselves as thoughtful members of the local and global community. Middle grades students are asked to complete a minimum of 10 hours of Community and Service in sixth grade, 10 in seventh grade and 20 in eighth grade. Community and Service participation is one of requirements for receiving an Ada Merritt IB Certificate at the end of your 8th grade year.

There are two ways to achieve your Community and Service hours: 1. You may participate in the many community service projects offered in school at Ada Merritt K-8 Center and

be awarded hours for your participation. 2. You may get involved with activities in your community along with your family/parents/guardians. Most non-

profit organizations sponsor a variety of service activities that will allow you to earn credit. You must complete a Community and Service Activity Record Form (available online in the MYP section of the school’s website), with the name and contact information of the activity supervisor for verification. Turn in the form to Ms. Daire, your Community and Service Area Leader, or to Ms. Clark, MYP Coordinator.

To document your participation in Community and Service activities you will:

A Community and Service Activity Record Form is available on the School Website in the MYP section Complete the form yourself (no form completed by an adult, parent or teacher, will be accepted) Obtain the signature and contact information of the activity sponsor Complete the reflection on the back of the form Turn in the Activity Record Form to your Community and Service Area Leader or to Ms. Clark Enter the activity and hours earned in your student agenda for your own records

Date Activity Location Hours Total Hours

Community Service Do’s and Don’ts Do’s

Work at earning your service hours throughout the year and be prepared for the May 17, 2013 deadline. Seek as many activities as possible to be of service to your school, local community and the world The organization should be a non-profit group that services the broader community. Complete one Community and Service Activity Record Form for each activity and clearly indicate:

1. Date & Hours 2. Authorized signature & Supervisor’s phone number 3. Keep track of your volunteering hours in your student agenda 4. Submit your Record Forms to your C& S Area Leader in order to receive credit for the hours.

Don’ts The following activities WILL NOT be accepted as Community or Service Activities:

Baby sitting, walking pets, mowing the lawn, and general chores for your family Going to work with parents, relatives or friends is a great career shadowing experience, but not

Community or Service Don’t ask how many hours you have. Keep track of the hours you serve in your agenda.

PARENTS MAY NOT sign for Community or Service hours. The individual from the organization who supervised the activity must sign the Record Form. If you are in doubt or would like to create a Community & Service project you must get prior approval from Ms. Daire, your Community and Service Area Leader or from Ms. Clark.

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ATTENDANCE

There are probably no factors more important to a student’s progress in school than regular and punctual attendance. Ada Merritt K-8 Center engages students in a rigorous course of study which prepares them for successful post-secondary education. It also requires full participation in the program as well as punctual and assiduous attendance. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Board Rules regarding Student Attendance:

• Excused absences and tardies: illness or injury, medical appointment, death in family, observance of a religious holiday, school sponsored events, subpoena, outdoor suspension

• Students missing five (5) or more consecutive days due to illness or injury are required to provide a written statement from a health care provider

• Medical appointment: students must bring a note from a health care provider indicating the time and date of the appointment

• Students absent from school will be marked “unexcused absent” until they submit the required documentation. Failure to provide required documentation within three (3) school days upon the return to school will result in an unexcused absence

• A student accumulating ten (10) or more unexcused absences in an annual course will have his/her final grades withheld pending intervention by the Attendance Review Committee

• Unexcused absences do not require that the teacher provide make-up work for the student • Students are expected to request make-up assignments for all excused absences/tardiness

upon return to class • They must complete the make-up assignments within three days of the return to school • No student shall be released within the final 30 minutes of the day unless authorized by the Principal • For students following a 4X4 block schedule, each day not in attendance is counted as 2 absences.

Tardies greatly affect the learning environment of a child and of the entire classroom. Accumulated unexcused tardies be counted towards the threshold for initiating an attendance review and entered in the child’s permanent record with a referral. In addition, excessive tardies may prevent a student from being eligible for perfect attendance. Additional details on school board attendance rules may be found on the M-DCPS website at http://www.dadeschools.net/schoolboard/rules/Chapt5/5a-1.041.pdf .

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have read and understand the school’s Attendance Policy ______________________________ ______________________________ _____________________ Student Signature Parent Signature Date

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Portfolio Guidelines- 2012-2013

At Ada Merritt K-8 Center, Portfolios serve a dual purpose. They provide you with a medium for pulling together work that links to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Areas of Interaction. They also make you an active participant in the evaluation of your progress by having you reflect on your performance and on the work you selected for inclusion.

Portfolios are kept in homerooms. You will select work and reflect on it during assigned times in your subject classes and you will place this work in your Portfolio during Extended Homeroom on selected Wednesdays. You will self assess your portfolio by using the student checklist at the end of the year. Your homeroom teacher will also evaluate it as a requirement for earning the Ada Merritt K-8 Center International Baccalaureate Certificate in eighth grade. You will be able to take your portfolio with you when you move on to high school.

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ACADEMIC HONESTY

WHAT IS ACADEMIC HONESTY? Academic honesty is the quality of being honest about the work you submit, how you completed it and how you help others to complete assignments. At Ada Merritt K-8 Center we highly value honesty and this extends to all work submitted by students, home learning assignments, projects, quizzes, tests and exams. As IB Learners, we strive to be Principled. Dishonesty in any form will be treated as a very serious matter. The academically honest student:

DOES Acknowledge help from parents, older

students and friends Acknowledge the source of direct quotations Acknowledge information taken from books,

CD-ROMs and the Internet Acknowledge reference materials in a

bibliography Know what constitutes cheating and abides

by the rules Follow all exam rules.

DOES NOT Use notes during a test unless allowed by a

teacher Copy from another student during a test Copy from the homework of another student Hand in work as his/her own that has been

copied Do homework for another student Give test answers to another student Give another student his/her own work to

copy

Student at Ada Merritt K-8 Center, understand that plagiarism constitutes theft and fraud. It is considered as Cheating/Misrepresentation in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Code of Student Conduct and is classified as a Level 2 Behavior. They receive instruction about the meaning of plagiarism and that copying, as well as cutting and pasting from the Internet without crediting the source constitute plagiarism. They learn ways to avoid plagiarism by always acknowledging the source of any passage, sentence, or key idea that they use in their writing. They know to put language copied from any source into quotation marks and acknowledge the author. They practice strategies such as note taking, citing, paraphrasing and summarizing in order to use written information appropriately.

Consequences: According to the MDCPS Code of Student Conduct, cheating and other forms of misrepresentation are considered Level II Behaviors because they significantly interfere with the learning and/or the well-being of others. With a LEVEL II Behavior at least one of the following procedures / consequences will be followed: • Parents will be contacted • Work will be graded an F, even if it is a draft • Teachers may allow the student to write another paper to make up for the plagiarized paper, the

grade of the second paper will be averaged with the F grade • The student will need to write a one page, single spaced, 12 font essay on the importance of being a

“principled” Learner • The plagiarism incident may be documented in Miami-Dade County Public Schools records and in

the cumulative folder through a Student Case Management Referral Form • A second offense may result in suspension from school as prescribed in the M-DCPS Code of

Student Conduct. ______________________________ ______________________________ _____________________ Student Signature Parent Signature Date

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