This past Saturday, the Somerset Gables Parents Association held an "information exchange" about Somerset Academy Coral Gables Charter School. The Gables charter school (awaiting approval from the City) has been all the buzz at Elle's preschool recently, as several of the parents are familiar with and speak highly of Somerset Academy South Miami, which has a wonderful reputation, and accordingly, a waiting list.
At the meeting, I jotted down notes from the Q&A session, and will regurgitate the info below. Really--"regurgitate" is the appropriate word--this is just a quick and dirty transcription of what I wrote down as I listened. Nothing official! I decided to post the notes here for anyone who is interested in the school and knows a little bit about the proposed school, but was not able to make the meeting. If anyone has additional info, or corrections, or a different take on things, please chime in in the comments section. Remember, these are just my personal notes, and not a full transcript of everything that was discussed! If you have specific questions, you really should contact the school directly (see links below.)
FWIW, I suggest that you visit these links, too:
Here are my notes:
* The school will ultimately serve Pre-K3 through 8th grade.
* For the first and second year of operation, students through 6th grade will be accepted to the school, and will gradually populate 7th and 8th grades.
* Somerset Academy requires 30 volunteer hours of the parents. Parent participation is KEY.
* All schools are accredited, and Somerset Academy is the first charter school in the nation to be awarded District Accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
* "Collaboration" is a key word at Somerset
* Somerset Gables will offer a dual-language program (like the South Miami school), SMART boards, the Carnegie program, all students will work on laptops. This is a very tech-focused school.
* Spanish will definitely be one of the languages offered, the second language will be determined according to feedback from the applications of interest, but at this time it looks like it will be Mandarin Chinese.
* Because this is a charter school, students do take the FCAT, but there is no "teaching to the test"; rather, the standards are taught and the educators believe that if students master the standards, the test scores will fall into place.
* No FCAT packets, no cancelling other classes before FCAT to drill.
* At one local Somerset school, no more textbooks at this point--instead students use computer programs and "inquiry-style" hands-on learning and working with the teachers.
* The school will occupy the existing UBC church building.
* Teachers are certified
* Parent involvement is key
* After school sports will be offered
* Preschool is full-day preschool
* Arts, PE, and dance are incorporated into the school day as required by Miami-Dade County Schools
* There is no space for a PE field, so there will be creativity when it comes to PE. Examples given were Pilates, martial arts, circuit training. One principal from another school explained that when her school opened, they also had very little space for traditional PE (baseball, soccer, etc) and they creatively and successfully solved that problem. "Look at the limitations and think outside the box." There is a courtyard that will be used for PE
* The War Memorial Youth Center facilities will not be used for PE
* Parents of children with special needs should make an appointment with the principal to discuss.
* Maybe no gifted program the first year, but gifted students will be accommodated in other ways.
* Gifted program may end up being dedicated gifted classes, or may be accelerated/AP classes--depends on how the school population falls.
* Dual language means one hour of instruction in alternate language each day (first year)
* "How much homework?" one parent asked. Hard to say, because each child is different, but example given was 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes for a third grader.
* Scott Foresman math program used. Several different reading and math programs incorporated.
* For kindergarten and first grade there is an aide in every classroom. Upper grades there are shared aides. Parents may choose to fundraise for additional classroom aides.
* Special needs-- IEP mainstream as much as possible. For testing, whatever is on the IEP.
* PreK3 & 4 kids will learn letters, sight words, begin spelling, dual language, use computers.
* Phonics are taught in PreK.
* Student - teacher ratio is as mandated by MDCPS, roughly 18/teacher K-3, 20-22/teacher 4-8 schoolwide average
* 675 students will populate the school
* over 900 applications of interest so far (rumored)
* preK3&4 primarily intended for siblings of K-8 students.
* Aftercare will be offered, will be separated somewhat by grade/age (K/1/2, 3/4/5, etc) they will not throw all the age groups in aftercare together.
* First enrollment period closed end of April.
* Second enrollment period will close end of May.
* They will populate the school from top to bottom after giving preference to students living within a 2-mile radius of the school.
* Families outside the 2-mile-radius are still eligible, but only if there is space available.
* Siblings also given preference. For example, if your fifth grader is given a slot, your third grader will have preference when they begin populating the third grade class.
* Kindergarten and sixth grades tend to have the most applications in an existing school.
* The 2-mile-radius preference was created because they really want a neighborhood school.
* Teachers are on yearly contracts. Teacher evaluation and motivation includes 2 formal evaluations per year, and administrators are observing in the classrooms every day. Constant walkthroughs. New educators are visited and evaluated more often.
* Nutritional program follows rules of National School Lunch Program, but parent feedback is key in this area. For example, on Somerset school in central Florida just became all organic, with much of the food grown on the campus, and Somerset SoMi just revamped their lunch program as a result of parent focus and feedback.
* Recess daily? 15/minutes per day is required for some grades.
* As far as how high achievers will be accommodated in 8th grade (since there is no 9th grade curriculum at the school) one principal explained that she uses clusters and virtual online learning program with a teacher present.
* For the dual language program, the second language instruction is with a separate teacher (not the classroom teacher).
* As far a bullying, in addition to the MDCPS guidelines, Somerset has an additional, stricter student code of conduct that addresses behavior. If needed, students are given "individual behavior contracts". Also a Parent Contract and Parent Compact for all parents.
* No priority given to UBC members or gifted.
* If opening is postponed, they will have a new enrollment period (start from scratch)
* Opening awaiting city approval
* AllUniforms is their uniform vendor
* Pre-K3/4 will be tuition based. Don't know cost yet, but probably in the range of $490 - $590 per month.
* Preschoolers attend from 8:30 - 2 like kindergarteners
* Music and art teachers are certified in music and art.
* Very good relationship with Miami-Dade County Schools charter school office.
* One hour of art per week, one hour of music, and some schools have dance.
* Will likely be 8:30 - 2 K-2, 8:30 - 3 for 3,4,5. Middle school staggered arrival and dismissal.
* Architect spoke and answered questions, explained that he inherited an ideal situation facility-wise, and they over the summer would be working on small upgrades, painting, repairs.
* Traffic flow is an issue, so no walking students to class after the first week, but there will be teachers stationed at drop off and pickup areas to assure that things go smoothly. They will walk groups of kids to classrooms, and teachers and administrators will be in the halls before school starts to make sure kids get to class and are not lost or frightened. Preschool kids will be walked to class by parents.
* Orientation before school starts to help students and parents familiarize themselves with the building.
* Staff members will walk little ones to class from drop-off area.
* Communication with teachers largely by phone, email, conferences, and appointments.
* Building has capacity for 1000 students, and has been used for years for religious education classes so more than enough space for the 675 Somerset students.
* differences between Miami-Dade County Public Schools and a charter school include less micromanagement so administrators can be involved in education rather than micromanagement, they specifically hire teachers who are creative and think outside of the box and allow them to teach creatively, teachers are very empowered, more accessible to parents, if there is an issue or need with a teacher they are provided with immediate professional development. The management company (Academica) takes away the bureaucracy.
* The traffic plan is currently being discussed with the City.
* School not approved by the City of Coral Gables yet, no idea when this will happen. Opening could be postponed.
photo credit: sxc.hu/ante3
What's bouncing around in my mommy brain this Monday? Some cool stuff, some funny stuff, some weird stuff...you know, the usual!
Posts
