Jose Enriquez, Principal. Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy 5701 W 24th Ave., Hialeah
Q: Any new student tests or measurements?
A: This year the state has added a writing assessment for grades 6-10.
Q: Any new technology students will need to learn?
A: This year students will continue to use the district learning platform known as Schoology. It will be used more in depth by all teachers and students. New this year, parents will be added to that platform, which helps teachers, students and parents with clear communication.
Q: If so, how will students prepare for that? Will the school provide devices, etc.?
A: All students in our school have laptops. Students bring their own or pay a small fee to use a district laptop device. On this device they will be using Schoology.
Q: Any new uniform changes, backpack rules?
A: Same uniform and no new backpack rules.
Q: Any new programs (e.g., theater courses, magnet studies) offered?
A: Some additional basic Computer Science courses will be added for middle school students.
Q: What’s new for your school only?
A: We are excited to welcome a new teacher, Mr. Wilson Rodriguez, who will teach Chemistry and Marine Biology.
Q: Any changes to pick up and drop off procedures?
A: Parents will still have a choice of utilizing the school parking lot or front drop off and pick up area.
Q: What can kids look forward to on the cafeteria menu?
A: The district provides a nutritious meal each day with several choices.
Q: Anything else you think is important for parents and students?
A: Jose Marti MAST 6-12 Academy is ranked among the best schools in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. All students perform at an advanced academic level in all courses, with many opportunities to actually do real science-based labs.
Yanelys Ferrer, Principal, Miami Lakes K-8 Center, 14250 NW 67th Ave., Miami Lakes
Q: Any new student tests or measurements?
A: Students will be participating in FAST assessments for this coming school year.
Q: Any new technology students will have to learn?
A: All students will have access to laptops to enhance their learning experience at Miami Lakes K-8 Center.
Q: If so, how will they prepare for that? Will the school provide devices, etc.?
A: The school has devices available for students to check out.
Q: Any new uniform changes, backpack rules?
A: Miami Lakes K-8 Center is a mandatory uniform school and uniforms are sold via the PTSA website.
Q: Any new programs?
A: Miami Lakes K-8 Center offers a myriad of elective courses for all student interests. Law Studies, Theater; Zumba; Environmental Science; Chess; Robotics; Financial Literacy; Critical Thinking; Creative Writing; Honors Vocabulary and Communications; Journalism; Speech and Debate; Physical Education; Computer Science including Coding and Industry Certification; Band; Orchestra; Guitar; Chorus; Digital Art; Personal Development and Spanish.
Q: What’s new for your school only?
A: Our school offers industry certification courses in computer science, where students can take exams and become certified in different Microsoft Office programs and other software as well. Our school is a Gold STEAM-designated school by our district. We are also a Gold Everglades-designated school.
Q: Any changes to pick up and drop off procedures?
A: Our student pick up and drop off varies by grade level and arrival times. Pre-K school starts at 8:20 a.m., 2nd-5th grades, 8:35 a.m. and 6-8, 8:45 a.m.
Q: What can kids look forward to on the cafeteria menu?
A: The cafeteria will continue to offer a nutritious and well balanced lunch prepared by our superstar and caring team of cafeteria workers.
Q: Anything else you think is important for parents and students?
A: Meet and Greet for all students will take place on Aug. 16, 10 a.m. for Pre-K- second grades, and 11:30 a.m. for third-eighth grades. Our theme for this school year is “Making Magic Happen,” where extraordinary things unfold, and our students’ educational experiences become truly enchanting.
Barbara Picazo, Principal, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School, 15801 NW 67th Ave., Miami Lakes
Q: Any new student tests or measurements?
A: No
Q: Any new technology students will have to learn?
A: No
Q: Any new uniform changes, backpack rules?
A: No
Q: Any new programs?
A: We have added a Drama course for our eighth grade.
Q: What’s new and particular for your school only?
A: We have PK2-eighth grade.
Q: Any changes to pick up and drop off procedures?
A: The school day begins at 7:45 a.m.
Q: What can kids look forward to on the cafeteria menu?
A: We have added Cuban sandwiches and cinnamon churros to our cafeteria menu.
Q: Anything else you think is important for parents and students?
A: We accept the Step Up for Students Scholarship.
Elvira Ruiz-Carillo, Principal, Country Club Middle School, 18305 NW 75th Place, Hialeah
Q: Any new student tests or measurements?
A: No updates
Q: Any new technology students will have to learn?
A: Country Club will be a pilot school for ESports.
Q: Will the school provide devices, etc.?
A: School will provide devices to those students in need.
Q: Any new uniform changes, backpack rules?
A: The new uniform policy allows only khaki bottoms, tops are red and black polos. Thursday and Friday are spirit days, students are allowed to wear CCMS T-shirts. Students can also wear shorts and IDs will be enforced.
Q: Any new programs?
A: We are adding coding to elective courses and will be adding gaming next school year. Global Studies course has been added in the Cambridge Program.
Q: What’s new and particular for your school only?
A: Currently Esports is new to our school.
Q: Any changes to pick up and drop off procedures?
A: No changes.
Q: What can kids look forward to on the cafeteria menu?
A: Same.
Q: Anything else you think is important for parents and students?
A: New administration. New Principal, was Assistant Principal of the Year for the District and the new Assistant Principal is a former Athletic Director and Coach.
Surella Rodriguez, director, alumni relations and Melissa Sanchez, director, special events Monsignor Edward Pace High School, 15600 NW 32nd Ave., Miami Gardens
Q: Any new student tests or measurements?
A: The college board will now be digitalizing all exams, meaning PSATS and ACTS. Our students take the assessments on campus every year and starting this year, it will be digitalized.
Q: Any new technology students will have to learn?
A: Teachers will be implementing the use of Apple Classroom. This will help our students, regarding their academic progress being tracked more closely.
Q: Will the school provide devices, etc.?
A: The staff and faculty will be professionally trained to implement the program in their class-rooms. Students will not need to prep or provide any devices as we are already an I-Pad school and have been using tablets since 2012.
Q: Any new uniform changes, backpack rules?
A: No uniform changes or backpack rule changes.
Q: Any new programs?
A: The Business Academy will start their inaugural curriculum this fall.
Q: What’s new and particular for your school only?
A: For academics we have the Business Academy opening that will provide the students an opportunity to tap into their talents. For Athletics we have renovated the tennis courts, beach volleyball courts and the gymnasium. Additionally, we opened the brand-new softball field this past spring.
Q: Any changes to pick up and drop off procedures?
A: No changes to pick up or drop off procedures. The campus gates will remain closed until ten minutes before dismissal.
Q: What can kids look forward to on the cafeteria menu?
A: Our cafeteria offers the best variety of delicious meals, prepared by a full kitchen staff in a state-of-the-art culinary facility. From specials of the day like Pan Con Bistec and pork chunks, rice, beans and vegetables, to the regular fried specials of chicken nuggets, wings and drums with fries, as well as salads, wraps, burgers, pizza and the famous soup of the day that can go from chicken noodle, lentil, broccoli and cheese and split pea soup. Our Spartans never go hungry. For beverages our cafeteria has all the juices, sodas, smoothies and ice teas you can dream of. Top it off with our famous chocolate chip cookies or any of the ice creams in the ice cream fridge and you will never go to another high school cafeteria again.
Q: Anything else you think is important for parents and students?
A: There are now more than four levels of security with our newly installed internal gate which bars any visitors from entering the educational facilities. The internal gate is in addition to our external campus gates, internal campus barriers, third party on-site security team, as well as our campus security staff team headed by former law enforcement officer and class of ‘75 alumnus, Anthony Lilly.