Click here for pdf.

Please click the link below to take the Annual Title I Survey:

http://kwiksurveys.com?s=LCEHMK_a091940a

The survey will be available from Thursday, May 3 until Friday, May 11, 2012.

Thank you for your help and support!

FCAT 2012:  IMPORTANT NEWS YOU CAN USE!

SCORE RELEASE:  The FCAT 2012 testing is now completed and tests have been sent to the Florida Department of Education (DOE) for scoring.  We are anticipating that Gr. 3 FCAT scores in Reading and Math will be released around the THIRD WEEK of May 2012.  It is hoped that Gr. 4 & 5 FCAT scores will be released in EARLY June 2012.  **Please check Virtual Counselor for your child’s FCAT test scores around the dates indicated above for specific grade levels.  **Should we receive HARD COPY FCAT student and parent reports PRIOR to the end of the school year, we’ll send those home promptly!  FCAT reports that arrive after June 7, 2012 will be given to students the following year.

**Remember:  For in-depth FCAT promotion information related to Grades 3, 4, & 5 please refer to the previous articles “FCAT 2012 Updates” and “Testing Information.”  These comprehensive articles explain ALL promotion requirements AND alternate promotion opportunities for grades 1 through 5. 

DOE BOOKLET:  Understanding FCAT 2.0 Reports:  Spring 2012

DOE has created a helpful booklet entitled “Spring 2012 Understanding FCAT 2.0 Reports”.  This booklet is only available online and is NOT being sent to schools.  The Understanding FCAT 2.0 Reports:  Spring 2012 document is now available on the Department Of Education website, on the FCAT 2.0 homepage.

Please visit:  at http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcat2/pdf/s12uf2r.pdf.   The helpful document includes explanations of the student and educator reports, a glossary of the terms used in these reports, and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) content assessed on the FCAT 2.0.  Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns regarding this report.  Thank You!

Click here to download the form.

Thank you to Starbucks on Commercial Blvd. and University Drive for donating coffee to our staff to kick off the FCAT!

I attended the annual District Assessment “FCAT LIVE” meeting on Thursday, 2/23/12.  There are some new features to the FCAT assessments this year that District Assessment has asked us to share with our students and families.

Student Pledge and Teacher Agreement:

This year, students will be instructed to sign a “Pledge” prior to beginning the Reading (April 16 & 17, 2012), Mathematics (April 18 & 19, 2012) and Science (April 24 & 24, 2012) test sessions, whereby they agree to “not give or receive any unauthorized help during this test”.  Similarly, teachers are required to sign a “Prohibited Activities Agreement” that clearly defines the care of FCAT test materials before and after testing and protocols to follow during the actual test sessions.

Electronic Devices Warning:

As I mentioned in a prior article regarding the upcoming FCAT 2012, the Department of Education (DOE) has instructed schools to emphasize the Electronic Devices Warning.  As I indicated, this is still in effect!!  ALL Electronic Devices must be turned off AND not within arm’s reach during all FCAT test sessions.  ***Per DOE mandate:  a student caught with any type of Electronic Device WILL have that test session invalidated.  Please review this policy with your child.

Illness and Absence:

Students who become ill during a test session and leave campus will NOT be given a score for that subject area.  Per DOE:  Students who become ill during their FCAT session and DO NOT leave campus will be given the time remaining from their test session to complete their testing.  Lastly, children who are ill and do not attend school for an FCAT test session WILL be given the opportunity to make up that test session.

Click here for the previous article regarding this year’s FCAT.

*Our PTA Walkathon was a HUGE success. Thank you to Mrs. Coleman and her team of volunteers who made this event so special for our children and so profitable to our school!

*Attention all parents or guardians of children that will be five years old by September 1^st, 2012. Now is the time to begin thinking about plans for Kindergarten placement with Broward Schools!

Tamarac Elementary School would like to invite you and your child to attend the evening Kindergarten Round Up on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 6:00PM. This event will provide you the opportunity to

• learn about your child’s school
• register your child
• meet the Principal, staff, and teachers
• take a tour AND
• find out about parental involvement opportunities

Please plan to join us on March 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM for Kindergarten Round Up at Tamarac Elementary School! We look forward to meeting you and your child!

*Attention Parents of Students in Grades 3 – 5:

Many Tamarac Elementary School students in grades 3 – 5 havealready logged on to access the free virtual FCAT support through Destination Reading and Math.  If you have not done so, there is still time to use this valuable resource! Please seethe flyer that went home prior to Spring Break, or your classroom teacher for log on information.

The events for the week of March 26 are as follows:

• Book Fair Family Night, 5:30 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 27
• Kindergarten Round Up, 6:00 PM Tuesday March 27
• Class Photos – Wednesday, March 28
• Gifted Field Trip to Key West, 5:30 AM, Thursday, March 29
• Chess Club – Thursday – Cancelled
• Early Release Day – Thursday, March 29
• No School for students – Friday, March 30

I look forward to seeing smiling faces in the morning!

Roberta Ray, Principal
Tamarac Elementary School

Tamarac Elementary School would like to invite you and your child to attend the evening Kindergarten Round Up on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM. This event will provide you the opportunity to

• learn about your child’s school
• register your child
• meet the Principal, staff, and teachers
• take a tour AND
• find out about parental involvement opportunities

Please plan to join us on March 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM for Kindergarten Round Up at Tamarac Elementary School!

We look forward to meeting you and your child!

The construction project on our gym has begun. PE will now be held outside weather permitting. Please plan accordingly. Children may bring water bottles and/or hats to wear ONLY for PE. If there are any documented medical reasons that your child cannot participate in outdoor physical education activities, please provide that documentation to your child’s teacher. Thank you.