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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. Martin
Assistant Principal
Jackeline Sanchez-Jimenez
Primary Years Programme Coordinator
Maud P. Clark
Middle Years Programme Coordinator
This Student Agenda belongs to:
Name: _________________________________________________________
Student ID # ________________________
Grade ______________
Homeroom Teacher: ________________________ Room# _____________
1
Principal
Carmen M. Garcia
Assistant Principal
Barbara M. Garcia
Dear Middle Years Programme Students:
Welcome to the 2015-2016 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 Distinction, voted once
again by the American Organization of Teachers of Portuguese (AOTP) members as Outstanding K-12
school in the United States with a Portuguese Program! 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 to prepare 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 and
pin, 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 an online portfolio with work samples 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 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 Community 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 ahead of you. 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 2015-2016!
Respectfully,
Carmen M. Garcia
Principal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------______________________________ ______________________________ _____________________
Student Signature
Parent Signature
Date
2
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).
Subject
Teacher
Room
Study Buddy Phone
#
Study Buddy Phone
#
H.R.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9/Alt
MYP Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Time
(85 minute periods)
Minutes
Periods
Homeroom 8:35 am – 8:41 am
6
1&2
8:43 am – 10:08 am
85
3&4
10:10 am – 11:35 am
85
11:37 am – 1:38 pm with
5&6
85+30
a 30 minute lunch break
7&8
1:40 pm – 3:05 pm
85
MYP Schedule
Wednesday (60 minute periods)
Periods
Homeroom
1&2
3&4
5&6
7&8
Time
Minutes
28
60
60
8:35 am – 9:03 am
9:05 am – 10:05 am
10:07 am – 11:07 am
11:09 am – 12:48 pm with
60+30
a 30 minute lunch break
12:50 pm – 1:50 pm
60
STUDENT WORK PRESENTATION
All work handed to your teachers should be written legibly and include the following in the heading: full
name, date, class period. Individual teachers may provide additional instructions for work presentation.
It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to these requirements.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME (MYP)
Aesthetics
Connections
Form
Perspective
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
KEY CONCEPTS
Change
Communication
Creativity
Culture
Global interactions Identity
Relationships
Time, place and
space
Communities
Development
Logic
Systems
GLOBAL CONTEXTS
Identities and relationships
Orientation in space and time
Personal and cultural expression
Scientific and technical innovation
Globalization and sustainability
Fairness and development
IB MYP GRADING SCALE
Minimal achievement
Very limited achievement for all objectives with support
Limited achievement for most objectives with support
Good general understanding with occasional evidence of analytic skills
Consistent and thorough understanding, usually shows higher level thinking
Consistent and thorough understanding, higher level thinking, much originality and insight
Consistent and thorough understanding, higher level thinking, originality and insight applied in a wide
variety of situations.
3
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 tree nuts.
DISCIPLINE
It is expected that all students will respect and contribute positively to their learning environment, and practice
effective self-management. Upon misbehavior, 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, and their individual teachers’ classroom rules.
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
Unless otherwise requested by your teacher, the use of items such as iPods, cell phones, mp3 players and other
electronic items is NOT PERMITTED during class time. If any such items are used by a student, they will be
confiscated. A parent will be required to pick up confiscated devices after school.
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, or knee-length shorts or skirts
(no more than two inches above the knee). Uniforms must be worn at all times. Students may wear the
approved sweatshirt with a school logo or a plain navy sweatshirt with no logo or markings. Hoods
and hats may not be worn during class. Undershirts must be the same color as the shirt. Closed-toe shoes
are required at all times. Dress code violations will result in disciplinary action after a warning at the first
infraction and will be entered in the student’s record.
GRADE REPORTING
Parents are expected to use the Parent Portal to follow their child’s academic progress. Interim Progress
Reports are issued at the midpoint of each quarter. Quarterly report cards are issued at the end of each
grading period. Parents, however, are encouraged to request paperless interim and grade reports through
their Parent Portal. In addition, IB grades are recorded in Managebac, an online portal providing access
to complete IB program information, including curriculum, assignments, and assessment information
(assessment criteria, grade descriptors and teacher comments). This additional tool provides parents and
students convenient, real-time access to students’ IB MYP experience and academic progress. All
students and parents are required to provide an email address in order to open a Managebac account.
4
SERVICE AS ACTION
Service as Action 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 service in their communities in sixth grade, 10 in seventh grade, and 20 in eighth grade.
Service participation is one of the requirements for receiving an Ada Merritt IB Certificate at the end of your
8th grade year.
Starting this year, all Service as Action proposals, evaluation, evidence and reflection will be submitted through
Managebac, which will allow students and parents to monitor their progress towards meeting this requirement.
To achieve your service requirements you may:
Participate in the many community service opportunities offered in school at Ada Merritt K-8 Center.
Get involved with activities in your community sponsored by non-profit organizations.
Proposals for all Service as Action activities must be submitted through Managebac and pre-approved by
your service advisor (no approval will be given verbally or for past activities).
An orientation to the Managebac system will be presented at the beginning of the school year in homerooms and
Design classes.
Community Service Do’s and Don’ts
Do








Work at earning your service hours throughout the year and be prepared for the
May 16, 2016 deadline.
Seek as many activities as possible to be of service to your school, local community and the world.
Seek activities sponsored by non-profit organizations.
Submit the required proposal, evaluation and reflection promptly through Managebac.
Upload verification documents such as certificates of completion, verification letters, photographs, etc.
Watch for announcements on Managebac or on the Service as Action bulletin board regarding service
opportunities in and outside of school.
Submit the Service as Action supervisor’s evaluation and reflection prior to the end of the quarter in which
the activity was completed.
For ongoing activities such as school tutoring or teacher assistant, or similar regularly scheduled volunteer
work outside of school:
Submit an initial proposal through Managebac and receive pre-approval
Keep a schedule with accurate records of the dates and hours of your participation
Upload this schedule along with supervisor’s evaluation upon completion of the activity
Submit your final reflection and any other evidence.
Don’t
 Email proposals, ask for verbal approval, ask for retroactive approval.
 Submit proposals for activities performed for or under the supervision of family or friends.
 Have parents complete or submit proposals, evaluations or reflections.
Any questions regarding Service as Action should be submitted to your service advisor through Managebac.
My Service as Action Adviser is : _______________________________
My email address for Managebac is: _______________________________
My parents’ email address for Managebac is: _______________________________
5
Portfolio Guidelines 2015-2016
At Ada Merritt K-8 Center, Portfolios serve a dual purpose. They provide you with a medium for selecting work
samples that reflect your growth throughout the Middle Years Programme. They also make you an active
participant in the evaluation of your progress.
Digital portfolios are stored on Managebac. You will select work and reflect on it during assigned times in your
subject classes. Then, you will upload this work and reflection to your Managebac Personal Portfolio. The
following checklist is a tool to guide you towards the completion of your IB Portfolio at the end of each 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.
IB Student Portfolio Checklist
MYP Year
1
2
3
Student’s Name:
1. Student Information:
Managebac profile
Approaches to Learning self assessment
IB Learner Profile self assessment
End of year reflection
2. Work Samples with Reflections
Minimum of 6 per year, students are encouraged to include work samples that reflect a
range of Global Contexts
3. Extra-Curricular Activities
Extra-curricular activity reflection with artifact (1-2 per year)
4. Family Involvement
Family involvement activity form with artifact (1-2 per year)
5. Parent Porfolio Reviews (1 per year)
As IB learners we strive to be:











Inquirers
Knowledgeable
Thinkers
Communicators
Principled
Open-minded
Caring
Courageous
Balanced
Reflective
____________________
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their
common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet help to create a better and more peaceful world.
The IB learner profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. These attributes, and others
like them, help individuals become responsible members of their local and global communities.
6
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 (MDCPS) 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, as well as all the information included in the
student agenda pages.
______________________________ ______________________________ _____________________
Student Signature
Parent Signature
Date
7
ADA MERRITT K-8 CENTER
MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Academic honesty is the quality of being principled about the work you submit and how you completed
it, and also about how you help others complete work. It is an expectation of the Ada Merritt K-8 Center
Middle Years Programme that any work presented by an MYP student is that student’s own original
work, representing his or her personal learning. This expectation extends to all work submitted by
students: home learning assignments, projects, quizzes, and tests.
The academically honest student:
DOES NOT
DOES





Acknowledge help from parents and peers
Acknowledge the sources of direct
quotations and key ideas
Cite reference materials such as books and
websites in a bibliography
Know what constitutes cheating and abide
by the rules
Follow all exam rules.





Use notes or reference materials during
a test, unless allowed by the teacher
Copy from another student’s work
Hand in as his/her own, work that is
partly or entirely someone else’s
Do assignments for another student
Ask to copy another student’s work or
offer to let a student copy his/her work.
IB Learners strive to achieve the attributes of the Learner Profile, including being principled by
showing personal integrity and honesty when dealing with teachers, peers, and school work.
Students at Ada Merritt K-8 Center understand that plagiarism (presenting another person’s work as
your own) constitutes theft and fraud, and is classified as a Level 2 Behavior in the Miami-Dade County
Public Schools Code of Student Conduct. MYP students receive instruction in information literacy, and
understand that copying another person’s work, cutting and pasting from the internet, and using images
or other media without crediting the source, all constitute plagiarism. They learn to avoid plagiarism by
acknowledging the source of any passage, sentence, key idea, image or other media that they use in their
work. They learn to use quotation marks to indicate that they are using someone else’s words, and to
acknowledge the author. They practice strategies such as note-taking, paraphrasing, summarizing, and
citing sources, in order to use written information appropriately.
Penalties for Academic Honesty Violations:
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 wellbeing of others. The following are the consequences for academic honesty violations:
Parents will be contacted.
Work will be graded Z (no credit), even if it is a draft.
If the teacher allows the student to submit a make-up assignment in place of the plagiarized work,
the grade of the second assignment will be averaged with the Z grade.
The student will write a reflection on the importance of being a principled learner.
The plagiarism incident may be documented in Miami-Dade County Public Schools records and in
the student’s 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
8
__________________
Date