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Family Education Rights And Privacy Act of 1974 |
Students should arrive and be picked up promptly. We
do not provide supervision for students arriving early or who are picked
up late. For the well being and safety of all students, parents are
requested to comply with arrival and dismissal times. If you are in need
of before or after school care, please contact the After School Care
Offices at Upon arrival in the morning, students should report to their designated area to await their teacher. All Pre-k and Kindergarten students line up in the hallways outside their rooms. All grades 1-8 students will line up on the hard court(s) at the west side of campus. At 8:20 a.m. teachers will meet their classes and walk them into the building. Students are tardy if they are not in their seats at 8:30 a.m. Our Opening Exercises begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Latecomers disrupt the classrooms. Please allow enough time for your child to get to their classes on time. Regular, prompt attendance is essential for student success in school. Please be certain that your child attends school daily except in the case of illness. The school day begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. Being on time is a habit your child should develop now to carry throughout life. If your child is absent or tardy, please send an explanatory note to the teacher. Medical reasons, religious holidays, death in the family and school related activities are the only excused absences. Trips are considered unexcused absences. A note of explanation indicating the nature of absence must follow EVERY ABSENCE or the absence will be counted as an unexcused absence. Kenwood is participating in MDCPS Truancy Intervention Program (TIPS). When a student accumulates 5 unexcused absences, of the TIPS program automatically identifies the student and will send a letter from the State Attorney's office to the parents. It is not necessary to call the office on the 1st day of a child's absence; however, if the child is ill for 3 or more days, please call the office.
Before and After School Care is offered through Dade County's Principal-Operated Program. Students in need of supervision before 8:15 a.m. or after dismissal must be registered with our Before/After School Care Program. Before care is available from 7:15 a.m.; After Care is available from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Please contact the After Care Office at 305-271-5958 for cost and registration information. Kenwood students are generally well behaved. They are expected to show respect for other students and for adults. For optimal learning to take place, students are expected to behave in ways that are acceptable and conducive to learning. Inappropriate behavior on the part of students can generally be corrected when the home and school work closely together. When cooperative, positive, actions by parents and teacher do not result in acceptable behavior, a conference will be scheduled with the parents, teacher, and principal or assistant principal to discuss further action. Kenwood K-8 Center is guided by the revised Miami-Dade County Code of Student Conduct which outlines the grounds for disciplinary action, procedures to be followed, student acts requiring action, and the responsibilities and rights of students, parents, and teachers. A copy of the Code is given to each student and may be found in the library of each school, on the Internet www.dadeK12.fl.us/parents and the principals office. Parents are asked to read and discuss the Code with their child. Our first concern is for the health and safety of our students. In the event of illness or injury to your child, it is ESSENTIAL that we be able to reach the parent or responsible adult immediately. It is extremely important that we have up-to- date, current emergency information on file in our office. If any information changes, e.g., phone numbers, contacts, please notify us immediately. Our emergency information must also include the names of person authorized to take you child from school. Persons not named on the card will not be permitted to remove your child from school. Teachers will plan two classroom activities each year. One is held before winter break and the other at the end of the school year. Teacher will contact room parents for assistance. Details of time and other arrangements will be in keeping with school policy and will be communicated in writing to parents. Individual birthday parties and similar events cannot be shared during school hours. Parents wishing to "share" birthday cupcakes may make arrangements with the classroom teacher to come in to distribute them at the end of the regularly scheduled lunchtime (no candles permitted). Parents are invited to participate in all school-supported events, e.g., special area or grade level activities, daytime and evening events, as well as all school activities. Communication is an essential part of the educational program. A spirit of understanding and cooperation is what makes a school and community effective. Our staff welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your child's progress. However, for the conference to be meaningful, teachers need time to review the student's work and records. If you would like to request a conference, please either send a note or call the school office and we will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet. Please be aware that between the time students are admitted to the classrooms at 8:20 a.m. until dismissal, teachers are responsible for their students. No conferences may be held while teachers have direct responsibility for students. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. The instructional program at Kenwood K-8 Center includes a broad range of curricular offerings that includes Miami-Dade County Public Schools Competency-Based Curriculum and instruction tailored to meet the needs of individual students. Your child's teacher will be happy to review and explain the instructional program. Early dismissal is disruptive to your child's educational progress. Parents are encouraged to schedule all appointments outside of school hours. Prior to any early dismissal, the parent or guardian must come into the school office to sign the Early Dismissal Log. Students will not be dismissed during the last 15 minutes of the day, e.g., 1:45 p.m. (K-1) or 2:45 p.m. (Gr.2-8).For safety considerations, no students will be permitted to leave campus without these procedures being followed. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-380) grants parents complete access to their child's record, and the right to partially control the release of information from the records. The intent of this law is to protect the accuracy and privacy of students' educational needs. Contact the school registrar for the Release of Information Form. Directory information, which includes: names, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, date of attendance, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height, if a member of an athletic team, degrees and awards received, and most recent previous educational agency or institution attended, may be released separately or as part of a list to appropriate individuals unless you make a written request within twenty days of receipt of this notice to the contrary. This information will be released only in accordance with guidelines established be the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Educational field trips are planned as part of the school program. Permission slips MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED TO SCHOOL PRIOR TO EACH TRIP. Children without signed permission slips will not be permitted attend. ALL MONIES FOR FIELD TRIPS MUST BE IN CASH AND TURNED IN 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIELD TRIP. Due to liability, siblings will not be allowed to attend any field trip. Fire drills are held regularly. Drills may occur at any time of the day. When the alarm is sounded, students are to form a line quickly and walk quietly, in a single file, to the designated exit. There is to be no talking during a fire drill. Students are requested to move quickly, without running or pushing. When the "all-clear" is sounded, all students and personnel may return to the school. Visitors on campus during a fire drill are expected to vacate the campus also. The Guidance and Counseling Program is designed as an integral part of the total instructional program and is under the direction of a certified, professional counselor. The program provides students with a sense of belonging, self- respect, emotional security, and helps to provide a school environment in which effective learning and appropriate behavior exists. The Kenwood K-8 Center will have the services of an Elementary Counselor, Trust Counselor and an Occupational Specialist. Homework is an extension of the daily instructional program and is assigned on a regular basis. The purpose of homework is to reinforce material previously learned. It is an integral part of the learning process. It is one means by which students are helped to develop a sense of responsibility for their learning. Parental assistance and support are essential, especially in the early years. This is not to say that parents should do the work for the student. Homework assignments may vary from child to child and grade level. Parents are expected to encourage children to work independently; therefore, it is not the parent's responsibility to give a great deal of assistance in the completion of the homework. Should you have any questions concerning homework, please contact your child's teacher. As per Miami-Dade County School Board's Homework Policy, the following guidelines have been enacted: Grade Frequency
Total Daily Averages
(All Subjects) We do not have provisions to care for ill students. If your child appears to be ill in the morning, please do not send them to school. Our clinic is not staffed, and is for short- term, emergency use only. If a child becomes ill at school, parents will be called and will be expected to pick up their child. In case of a serious emergency, in which we are unable to reach any member of the family, 911 will be called. School insurance for your child may be purchased by completing the Insurance Information Form, distributed the first week of school, and mailing it to the appropriate insurance underwriter. The school is not responsible for medical bills that arise as a result of an accident at school. Parents should give careful consideration toward the purchasing of Student Accident Insurance. All students enrolled in our Pre-K Program and/or Before or After School Care MUST purchase Student Accident Insurance. Please be sure to label all clothing / personal items with your child's name for easy identification. It is helpful if, periodically, parents check with children to make sure that they can locate their belongings. As we have no provisions to store "found" items, twice a year, at the end of each semester, we will discard the items left. Kenwood will not be responsible for personal property lost. Toys and other inappropriate items, e.g., video games, radios, large sums of money, jewelry, cell phones, beepers, valuables, etc., should not be brought to school. During the first week of school, all students are given an application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals. Only those wishing to apply need to return the form. Students may purchase breakfast and/or lunch or bring their lunch from home. All students are encouraged to pre-pay for their meals on a monthly basis. This is especially helpful with the younger children. The breakfast program is available each morning from 8:00-8:20 a.m. In an emergency, students without adequate lunch money, who cannot contact a parent, will be provided with cereal and milk free of charge. For safety and security reasons, parents may not eat meals with their children in the cafeteria except on days designated as "Eat Lunch With Your Child Day". Due to dietary restrictions and possible allergies, students may not share food. School Board Policy has strict guidelines on possession and use of medication on campus. If your child, while under a doctor's care, requires medication during the school day, and original Authorization of Medication Form must be on file in our office. A copy of the form may be obtained from the school office. This form must be kept up-to-date, if and when changes in medication occur. NO PRESCRIBED OR OVER-THE- COUNTER MEDICATION CAN BE DISPENSED AT SCHOOL UNLESS THIS FORM HAS BEEN COMPLETED. The purpose of the association is promote positive lines of communication between parents and the school and to provide programs, functions, and services for the supplemental needs of our students. The PTA Board, which meets monthly, also serves as an advisory committee to the principal. The meetings are held in our school Media Center. Notices and programs planned appear in the NEWSLETTER. To function effectively, the PTA requires volunteer worker with a broad range of talents and skills. Committee Chairpersons and Room Parents welcome calls expressing interest and willingness to share ideas and talents. Every family is encouraged to join the PTA and actively support it goals. If it is raining at the time your child leaves home for school and you have no provisions for transportation, please allow them to remain at home until the rain stops. The school has no way of caring for all children after dismissal time if it is raining; nor is it possible for large numbers of children to call home for instructions. PLEASE PLAN AND DISCUSS WITH YOUR CHILD WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IN THE EVENT OF RAIN AT DISMISSAL TIME. Teachers will be sending home with students a Rainy Day Procedures Form that should be completed and returned to your child's teacher. Registration is held in the spring for children entering school the following fall. Parents must provide a birth certificate for children entering kindergarten or first grade. A certificate of immunization as well as a completed physical exam form signed by a physician is also required. Report Cards will be issued at the end of each nine-week period. Interim progress reports will be issued at the middle of each grading period. However, at any time during the grading period that your child is experiencing difficulty and/or is in danger of receiving a failing grade, the teacher will notify you. It is recommended that you schedule a conference with the teacher upon receipt of such a notice. Periodically, throughout the grading period, samples of your child's work will be sent home for your review. We encourage parents to examine and discuss the work with their child. It will be beneficial to provide an opportunity for them to share their accomplishments. Traffic around the school poses a danger to our students. The parking lot north of school, by the cafeteria, is for faculty use only, and should not be used as a drop-off/pick-up area for students. This is School Board Policy. Please do not enter the parking lots except when you plan to park and will be entering the building. Students are to use the sidewalks, stay out of the parking lots, cross only at designated crosswalks, and obey the crossing guard. The decision as to whether a child should walk or bike to school is the parents'. If your feel your child is mature enough to do so, please review safety procedures with your child. Bicycle helmets are required by law. Bicycles must be secured with locks inside the bicycle compound. Parents dropping off or picking up students are reminded that they are not to stop in the street to allow students to get into or out of vehicles. Rather, they are to pull off the street, onto the shoulder or into designated drop-off areas to allow for safe entrance or exit. Please do not park and leave your car in areas designed for quick pick up or drop off. Of course, all Metro Dade traffic signs must be obeyed. If you are coming into school, we encourage you to use the parking lot on the west side of our school, off 80th Ave. Visitors may park in the 80th Ave. parking lot after 8:20 a.m. if space is available. Please remember that the parking lot is not a drop- off area. We also provide a circular driveway with drop-off area north of our Annex off of 79th Ave. This drop-off area has been designated for students in grades 5- 8 as they are housed in the Annex. We are requesting that all parents of students in grades 5-8 use this area only for drop-off and pick-up. This consideration will allow for the safety of all students and provide for smooth traffic movement. Please do not allow students to bring or ride skateboards or in-line skates to school. For safety consideration, wheeled suitcases and/or book carts are not encouraged in school. Students from our fifth through eighth grade serve as members of the Safety Patrol. These students devote a great deal of time and effort to their patrol assignments. We know that you will cooperate with them and that you will urge your children to follow their instructions. We expect the very best from our patrols, but is must be remembered that they are elementary and upper academy students. Patrols are not permitted to stop vehicles to allow children to cross the street. This is the responsibility of our Crossing Guard. We would hope that parents, when seeing a group of children waiting to cross the street (especially when it's raining) will stop their cars and allow the children to cross. While the school makes every effort to cooperate in the safety of our students on the way to and from school, we can only be responsible for activities occurring on the school grounds during school hours. Each student is responsible for having the necessary supplies to use at school. Teachers have compiled grade level supply lists that will be useful. Parents are asked to see that the supplies are available and checked occasionally. Additionally, teachers may ask for specific material to be brought in for special projects or activities. If a student is not in their seat at 8:30 a.m. they are tardy. If students in grades K-5 arrive before 9:00 a.m., they should report directly to the classroom where the teacher will record them as "tardy". Students in grades K-3 arriving after 9:00 a.m. should report to the Main Office first. Students in grade 5-8 arriving after 9:00 a.m. must report to the Annex Office to receive an "Admit to Class" pass. The office telephones are for business and emergency calls. Student access to the phone is limited to emergencies only. Change in dismissal arrangements or rainy day procedures should be clarified before leaving home. Other than for an emergency, students will not be called out of class for phone calls. We would appreciate your cooperation in emphasizing with your children the importance of respect for school material and the obligation to use them wisely and carefully. Good habits established early are very important in the development of your child's attitudes. Textbooks are furnished by the State of Florida and distributed by the teacher. In the event that a book is damaged or lost, the child is responsible and will be asked to pay for the replacement cost of the book. Parents are financially responsible for any damage done to school property by their children. It is necessary for parents to come to the school when their child is transferring to another school. Parents should call the Annex Office as soon as possible prior to the student's last day of school. Please allow us 24 hours to complete the transfer. Before transfers are authorized, students must turn in all school property. School Board policy requires that parents present proof of address when initiating a transfer. This may be done by providing the following two (2) items: 1) Florida Power and Light Bill In order to guarantee school safety, ALL PARENTS AND VISITORS FOR GR. K-3 MUST REPORT TO THE MAIN OFFICE BEFORE PROCEEDING THROUGH THE SCHOOL. PARENTS AND VISITORS FOR GR. 4-8 MUST REPORT TO THE ANNEX OFFICE. This includes parents wishing to "drop off" items for their children. Visitors will be asked to sign a "Visitor's Log" and will be given either a pass or identification sticker. Kenwood K-8 volunteer Program is operated under the auspices of the PTA. Your are invited and encouraged to give of your time, talents, and energy by becoming a school volunteer. Volunteers are asked to record their time by signing in the Volunteer Log in the office. For the safety of the students, volunteers will be give an identification badge to wear while of campus. If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer, please contact the PTA Volunteers Liaison. The School Board rule on possession of weapons is very stringent and requires suspension and recommendation for expulsion from school for violators. Weapons are defined as firearms, knives, explosives, flammable material, or any other item that may cause bodily harm.
Homework is a very important aspect of a child's education. It provides practice for the skills taught in the classroom. Homework also teaches children self-discipline and responsibility. Parents play an important role in encouraging children to complete homework. Parents can help in the following ways:
The parent provides valuable support in helping children get the most out of their homework. Become involved in the "Homework Habit"! Children need to learn to be responsible for their own actions, choices and chores. A child's responsibility should increase with age, maturity level and physical ability. Young children may be responsible for chores, do homework and manage their own money. Responsibility is a part of the growth process, and is taught through practice and encouragement. The following tips might help your child become more responsible:
Avoid the establishment of bad habits by teaching children to be responsible and by modeling responsible behaviors. Remember that experience is the best teacher.
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