Parents

Are you a registered volunteer?

If you would like to volunteer at DCS you must first register through the parent portal. Use the link to the Parent Portal on the left of this page, and login.  Click the Services and Sites tab, then click on "Be a School Volunteer!".  Choose our school and the activities for which you would like to volunteer. The final step is to come to DCS and present your ID to Mrs. Gispert, who will verify your approval.

Students can improve reading skills

Reading Plus is a proven, research-based reading software program provided by Miami-Dade County Public Schools to all students. It is a great tool for students to improve reading skills and raise FCAT reading scores.  All students can access Reading Plus through the Student Portal.  The link is located at the bottom of the Student Portal screen after the student logs in.

Students will be asked to find their class; all students, with the exception of Intensive Reading class students, are located in "Beyond the Bell", listed by last name. The password is the letters "mdcps" plus the student id (example:  mdcps1234567).  Click start, and begin reading!

The program can also be accessed by going to the Reading Plus Website directly, http://www.readingplus.com/index.html.  Click on the "login" link, then "student login". The site code is docmiami, and the class would be "Beyond the Bell" and the initial of the student's last name. The password is the same as above.

Health/Life Management PE Uniform update

Students taking Health/Life Management and First Aid are not required to wear a PE uniform. These are the only 2 classes exempt from the PE uniform requirement.

Important Notice Regarding Student Absences:

Regular and punctual attendance is crucial to student achievement. A student with 5 or more unexcused absences in a semester course and 10 or more unexcused absences in a year-long course may have grades and credit for the course withheld.  Students who miss work due to unexcused absences will receive failing grades on that work.

Parents must send notes with their children upon return to school from an absence.  All absences are unexcused until a note is received and they have 3 days to send in the note.  The unexcused status cannot be changed after 3 days.

Examples of unexcused absences include vacations, personal services, non-school events, programs or sporting activities, provision of day care for siblings, illness of others, and non-compliance with immunization requirements.  Excused absences generally include documented student illness, medical appointments, subpoenas by law enforcement agencies, outdoor suspensions, school sponsored events, observance of religious holidays or deaths in the family.

Parents wishing to have an anticipated absence classified as "excused" must request the permission of the Executive Director using the school's Pre-Planned Absence form.  This form must be submitted to the Executive Director at least one week prior to the absence. If approved it must then be taken to each of the student's teachers and the academic counselor for their signatures and comments on the absence.  The student must return this form with all signatures to the Executive Director at least three days prior to the absence or the student will lose their right to make up assignments.  If the student fails to secure the signature of any teacher before the absence the teacher has the prerogative not to allow make-up work and may issue failing grades for any work missed due to the absence.  It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all assignments prior to the absence and to make arrangements with their teachers for make-up work upon returning to school.

Last updated 1/30/2012