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About Academic Programs

 

Middle School Philosophy

An effective middle school addresses the educational, emotional, social, and developmental needs of students who are in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade by providing meaningful experiences designed to assist them in making the transition from childhood to adolescence.

Teachers from different subject areas are organized into interdisciplinary teams to provide students with a variety of instructional practices that accommodate their unique learning styles. Critical and creative thinking skills are infused through the curriculum. Subject areas are interrelated through thematic units of instruction, and an advisement program is provided to assist students with the developmental and adjustment issues common to their age group.

Home-school partnerships are essential to successful middle schools. Parental involvement opportunities are provided through subject area teachers, teams, special clubs, and the school's volunteer program.

 

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Registration Requirements

In order to properly enroll your child, you will need the following documents.
1. Birth Certificate, or Immigration and Naturalization Records. (Original documents need to be presented).
2. Social Security Card. (Can be presented at a later date).
3. Verification of Residence. (Phone and Electric bill or a Notarized Deed).
4. Student Health Examination Form HRS-H Form 3040. (This must include proof of a tuberculin skin test, results of the test and appropriate follow-up).
5. Certificate of Immunization HRS-Form 680.
6. A Report card reflecting promotion status. (Only required for students from Private school, out of county or out of country schools.)

• Call (305) 592-2822 ext. 2118 to make an appointment with our registrar.
• Please refer to our approximate boundaries to help determine your child's enrollment eligibility.

 

Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)

Dear Parents:

The relationship among parents, teachers and students has always been an integral part of a successful and positive school experience for our children. Today it is more crucial than ever that these elements work together in harmony for students to be successful.

In addition to school, children also begin to experience the pressures of adulthood. Please help them make the transition as smooth as possible by joining the PTSA today!

 

Advisor/Advisee

All students at Doral Middle School belong to a team and to an Advisor/Advisee homeroom. Activities are planned to enhance character development by focusing on courtesy, responsibility, reliability, respect, solving conflicts peacefully, and, above all, building feelings of self-worth.

Mission Statement

Doral Middle School, the home of the Blue Dolphins, will prepare students for the twenty-first century by instilling the desire to achieve, and the belief that knowledge is power. The following statements encompass our objectives:

Diverse cultural awareness empowers students.

Organized students perform at a higher standard.

Learning leadership skills develop students’ character.

Pursuing divergent educational and social experiences challenge students.

High standards support academic, career, and social/personal development.

Integrated technologies enhance student learning.

Nurturing environments create responsible citizens.

Supporting learning fosters success.

 

Parent Communication

The staff at Doral Middle School believes in building a strong communication system with our parents. Please follow these guidelines to facilitate the process.

Attendance Policy

Regular school attendance is mandatory for all students 16 years of age or younger. It is the parent’s responsibility to see that their children attend school regularly.

The following are considered excused absences:

• A student's illness.
• A medical appointment. These should be pre-arranged through the attendance office, and followed by a note from the doctor.
• A death in the family.
• An observance of a religious holiday or service when it is mandated for all members of the faith that such holiday or service be observed.
• A school-sponsored event or activity previously approved.

  A student accumulating ten or more unexcused absences in an annual course or five or more in a semester course may be subject to the withholding of final credit.

  When students are absent from school, they must bring a signed note from their parent(s). The note must explain the reason for the absence, the date(s) of the absence(s) and the telephone number of parent who can verify the absence.

  The student is expected to request make-up assignments from the teachers of classes missed, complete the assignments, and turn them in within a reasonable time as established by each teacher.

  Students who will be absent long term due to illness or injury should contact the Hospital/Homebound office at 305-460-2930.

   

  Tardiness To School

  Students must be in their seats by the 9:00 a.m. bell. Students arriving at school after 9:25 a.m. must report to the attendance office. Illness and family emergencies are excused. Although we recognize that traffic and weather may present a problem, we cannot excuse tardiness for those reasons. Students arriving late on Miami-Dade County School buses are excused.

   

  Emergency Contact/Release from School

  Each student is issued an Emergency Contact Card at the beginning of the school year. Parents are to fill it out and have their child return it to his/her homeroom teacher. These cards must be returned since the school needs to be able to contact the student's parents in case of emergencies and students will not be released to any adult whose name is not on the card.

  Parents must notify the registrar of address and/or phone number changes.

   

Early Dismissal

If students are to be released early, the parent must sign the student out from the attendance office. Students will not be given phone messages, nor will they be asked to come to the phone.

 

Field Trips

All students participating in school-sponsored field trips must have signed parental permission forms. Students are responsible for obtaining and completing assignments according to the rules established by the classroom teacher whenever they are excused from class for field trips or other school sponsored activities.

Criteria for field trips will be determined by the sponsor and may include a grade point minimum, good attendance, good behavior, etc.

 

Curriculum (Required Program of Study)

 

• Seventh Grade
  Language Arts or ESOL
  Mathematics
  Science
  Civics
  Elective Elective
  Eighth Grade
  Language Arts or ESOL
  Mathematics
  Science
  U.S. History
  Elective
  Elective

 

Extracurricular Activities

We encourage student involvement in extracurricular activities. The following is a list of athletic teams, clubs, and organizations at Doral Middle School.

 

• Clubs/Organizations	Athletic Teams
  Art	Basketball
  Cheerleaders	Bowling
  FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)	Cross Country
  FEA (Future Educators of America)	Golf
  Math	Soccer
  NJHS (National Junior Honor Society)	Softball
  Reading	Swimming
  Science	Tennis
  Social Studies	Track and Field
  Student Government	Volleyball
  TSA (Technological Student Association)	Wrestling
  S.W.A.T.	Ping Pong

 

Special Education

Doral Middle School's Special Education (SPED) Program provides services to students of varying exceptionalities and gifted. Additionally, speech and language therapy and psychological services are available throughout the school year. Participation and qualification for these programs require psycho-educational assessment.

 

Grading

Report cards are issued every nine weeks. The final grade in an annual course will reflect an average for four nine-week grades, a semester examination grade and a final examination grade computed on the following percentages:

• 20% for each of the four nine-week grades

  10% for the mid-year examination

  10% for the final examination

The final grade in a semester course will reflect an average of two nine-week grades and final examination grade computed on the following percentages:?

• 40% for each of the two nine-week grades
• 20% for the final examination

  Scholastic grades are based upon a pupil's achievement. The following are the academic grades used:?

  Letter	Numerical Value (%)	G.P.A.
  A	90-100	4
  B	80-89	3
  C	70-79	2
  D	60-69	1
  F	0-59	0

  Effort grades are based upon the degree to which a pupil works up to his ability.

  1 - Outstanding Effort

  2 - Satisfactory Effort

  3 - Insufficient Effort

  Conduct grades are based upon behavior when under supervision of the teacher or other official school personnel. It is the philosophy of Doral Middle School that a student begins the school year with an "A" in conduct. His/her final conduct grade will reflect the kind of behavior displayed during the school year.

   

  Interim Progress Reports

  An interim progress report will be issued to each student during the fourth week of each grading period to notify the parent if a student is performing satisfactorily in each of his/her classes.

  If parents have concerns regarding a course or grade, they are to contact the teacher for clarification prior to calling an administrator.

   

  Home Learning Policy

  Regular, purposeful home learning is an essential part of a student's education. The Navigator’s Log becomes the most important tool for accurately recording all home learning and keeping up with the due dates.

  Students’ Responsibilities

• Complete home learning by due date.
• Submit home learning assignments which reflect careful attention to detail and quality of work.
• Devote a minimum of 30 minutes each day to reading.

  Note: Students can receive help with home learning by calling the Dial-A-Teacher Program at (305)995-1600 Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

  Parents’ Responsibilities

  Parents can play an important part of Doral Middle's School Improvement Plan by supporting the following parental responsibilities in relation to home learning:

• Provide an environment conducive to study.
• Provide continued interest and concern for the child’s successful performance in school.
• Encourage and support the child in his/her performance of home learning assigned.
• Indicate an interest in assignments and assist, if possible, when requested by the child. This is not to include doing the work for the child.
• Support the school in regard to home learning assignments. Request assignments for students in case of short term absence.
• Supervise and check home learning daily.

   

  General Information:

   

  Bicycles

  Bicycles are to be locked and chained to the bicycle rack by the main entrance. The school will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or vandalized bicycles. As a safety precaution, bicycles are to be walked, not ridden on school grounds.

   

  Bus Transportation

  Transportation will be provided to those students who live two or more miles from the school and are within our school boundaries. These students will be expected to ride their assigned bus each day and to board and leave the bus at the assigned stop. Students will be expected to obey the rules for behavior as set forth by the driver who is responsible for the orderly and safe conduct of all students. Upon arrival at school each morning, all bus transported students will be expected to remain on the campus while waiting for the opening of school.

  Miami-Dade County Public Schools does not provide supervision for students who wait for school buses at school bus stops. Furthermore, it is the parent's responsibility to provide supervision for their children prior to the time that a school bus arrives and after the time students are delivered to their assigned bus stop.

  Cafeteria

  Eating and drinking are permitted only in the cafeteria. No food is to be taken out of the cafeteria. Each student is given a half-hour for lunch. Students may purchase their lunch in the cafeteria or they may bring their lunch to school. Students are expected to enter the cafeteria quietly, orderly, and remain in order without cutting or butting in while they are in the lunch line. Students are not to save seats and are expected to behave properly in the cafeteria. After eating, students are to dispose of trays and refuse. They are to keep the cafeteria tables and the floor clean.

  If your child forgets to bring lunch, and does not have money to purchase lunch, the cafeteria will serve a peanut butter sandwich funded by the PTSA. Students cannot be called from class to pick up a lunch in the office.

   

  Dress Code

  Doral Middle has a mandatory school uniform policy. Uniforms may be purchased at:

  Ibiley School Uniforms (305) 625-8050

  Students are expected to wear their uniforms every day. Footwear must also adhere to school policy which states: no clogs, thongs, sandals, or other shoes without back straps. No taps on shoes.

  Other items to be noted in the dress code are:

• No hats are to be brought to school or worn except those for religious purposes.
• No clothes or jewelry with metal studs, ornaments or other objects which can scratch furniture or damage property may be worn.
• Students may not wear sunglasses.
• Students may not wear attire which distracts from the learning environment.
• Grade level Spirit Day attire may be worn on Fridays.

   

  Fees

  School funds are provided each year for necessary equipment, books, and instructional materials. However, it is necessary to charge fees for specific purposes such as the cost of materials in family and consumer sciences, art, and technology education where the students take home completed projects. Special fees may also be assessed for such items as rental of band instruments. A special memorandum discussing Doral Middle's fee schedule will be provided for each student early in September.

   

  Physical Education Lockers

  Physical Education lockers will be assigned by P.E. teachers. It is strongly recommended that each student buy a P.E. lock to secure his/her personal belongings. There should be no sharing of lockers. Only locks sold by the school may be used on a P.E. locker. This will ensure access to each locker in case of an emergency. P.E. lockers may only be used for a student's personal possessions or textbooks during his/her physical education class. Arrangements for sale of P.E. locks will be announced shortly after the opening of school.

   

  Physical Education Clothing

  Students are required to "dress out" for physical education. T-shirts, shorts, socks and sneakers are required. P.E. uniforms will be sold by the P.T.S.A. and the P.E. department.

   

  Lost and Found

  Lost and Found is located in the attendance office. Students should make sure their possessions have some means of identification on them.

  Media Center

  The media staff welcomes you and your friends to visit your new media center often. We will help you find the information you need for school work as well as in areas of self-interest.
  
  The media center is open for you every school day for whole class (with teacher), small class groups (up to eight student’s per class) and individual visits. For individual and small group visits during the school day, you must have a pass from your teacher which includes your assignment. During your visit you may check out books, do research or work on a project.
  
  The media center provides a wide variety of resources and services which support and enhance the school’s curriculum as well as student’s interests. Computers, printers, scanners, still and video cameras, editing facilities and a photocopy machine are available for research and individual student projects.
  You will be given a barcode that allows you to borrow up to three library books at a time for two weeks. In addition, selected reference and multimedia materials may be borrowed overnight. Fines are charged for each overdue book. A replacement fee of one dollar will be charged if the barcode needs to be replaced.
  

  Please visit http://doral.dadeschools.net/mediacenter.htm for more detailed information on the media program.

   

  Computer Acceptable Use Policy

  Technology in school is provided as a tool for all students to use in the learning process. Students must respect the hardware and software available to them as community property, i.e., belonging to all and not for the exclusive use of any one person or group.

  The following guidelines are established in order to keep the technology at school in working order and available to everyone. These guidelines are in addition to the MDCPS Acceptable Use Policy available at http://www.dadeschools.net/aup/

  Students will refrain from:

• removing or exchanging any hardware or software component.
• deleting, renaming, moving, copying or changing any file or its properties, other than the student’s personally owned files.
• tampering with installed software and/or files.
• attempting to gain access to unauthorized files.
• attempting to change passwords.
• purposely damaging others work.
• tampering with any hardware.
• installing or attempting to install personal software on school technology.
• unauthorized copying in violation of copyright laws.
• infecting a computer(s) with a virus.

  In addition the following, general guidelines should be followed whenever using a school terminal for internet access:

• abusive and/or derogatory e-mail is prohibited.
• appropriate language shall be used at all times.
• use of the technology for any illegal activities is expressly prohibited.
• use of the technology for financial or commercial gain is expressly prohibited.
• wastefulness of paper, ink, file storage space, bandwidth, or other technology resources is prohibited.
• privacy of other students and staff is to be respected at all times.
• access to restricted areas of the internet are prohibited at all times.

   

  Parking Lot

  Students are not to walk or ride bicycles in the teachers’ parking lot. Parents may not use the parking lot to drop off or pick up students.

   

  Electronic Devices, etc.

  Radios, tape recorders, telephones, electronic devices, electronic games, electronic equipment, beepers, cameras, comic books, trading cards or other collectables are not to be brought to school. Only blunt edged scissors may be brought to school.

   

  Rainy Day Procedures/After School Activities

  Please establish rainy day procedures for your child to follow on days of inclement weather. Students should notify parents of their attendance in after school activities prior to reporting to school.

   

  Sales

  No items may be sold in school or on school grounds without administrative approval. All items sold must relate directly to fundraising.

   

  Student Supervision Before/After School

  The staff does not supervise students prior to the start of the school day or after the end of the school day unless students are participating in scheduled school activities. Students are not to report to school until 8:50 a.m. unless they have a note in their Navigator’s Log to report to a teacher. After entering the building they must remain in the cafeteria or with the teacher until 8:50 a.m. Parents are not to drop students off at school prior to the time that supervision is available. Supervision will be available at 8:45 a.m. Students who are not engaged in scheduled after school activities are to leave the campus immediately after they are dismissed from school.

  Students may not leave school grounds after their arrival without permission from a school official.

   

  Textbooks

  Textbooks remain the property of the State of Florida and are on loan to students. Students to whom books are assigned are responsible for them. Textbooks should be neatly covered to avoid paying a fine for book damage. If your book is lost, damaged or stolen, it must be paid for before another book is issued.

   

  General School-Wide Rules

• Follow directions of all teachers and staff the first time given.
• Be on time to school and to each class.
• Follow individual classroom procedures.
• Keep body, hands, feet and objects to yourself.
• Follow the mandatory uniform policy.
• Keep to the right when walking in the halls and stairwells.
• Bring the Navigator’s Log to school every day.
• If entering the school prior to 8:50 a.m., students must have a teacher's note written in the Navigator’s Log. If staying in school after 4:00 p.m., students must have adult supervision.
• Eating and drinking are permitted only in the cafeteria.
• Candy and gum chewing are not allowed in the school.
• Fighting or any physical confrontation will result in serious disciplinary action.
• As per Miami-Dade County School Board Rule, all students are subject to a weapon search by the Dade County School Metal Detection Team.

  All school policies written above and found in the Navigator’s Log will be strictly enforced.

   

  Detentions

  Students with excessive absences may serve before or after school detention. Detentions may also be issued as a disciplinary measure with twenty-four (24) hours notice. It becomes the responsibility of the parent to arrange transportation when a detention must be served.

  School Center for Special Instruction (SCSI)*

  An administrator may elect to assign a student to the School Center for Special Instruction (SCSI) instead of outdoor suspension. The center will provide instructional support and guidance services. Parents may request this action as an alternative to suspension, but the final decision rests with the school administrator.

   

  Outdoor Suspension (Rule 6Gx13-5A1.06)*

  Suspensions of up to ten (10) days may be issued to students for breach of the Code of Student Conduct. Students on outdoor suspension will receive an F3F for each day until work missed is made up.

   

  Work Detail*

  Work detail may be assigned in lieu of S.C.S.I., suspension, or detention.

  *NOTE: Exclusion (suspensions) from class: A student who is excluded from class is expected to make up all assignments missed during the exclusion period. Failure to do so will result in the student being given an "F" for the assignments.

   

  The Code of Student Conduct defines distinct violations identified by principals, administrators, teachers, students, and community members, which are representative of those acts that frequently cause disruption of the orderly educational process.

  It should be pointed out, however, that this list is not all-inclusive and a student committing an act of misconduct not listed will be subject to the discretionary authority of the principal.

  A major consideration in the application of the Code of Student Conduct is to identify the most appropriate disciplinary action for bringing about positive student behavior. To that end, the violations have been divided into six groups, and a variety of administrative actions, dependent upon the severity of the misconduct, have been recommended or mandated. Before, during, and after the implementation of any disciplinary action, student services personnel such as counselors, school social workers, and psychologists play a vital role in assisting the student in resolving any problems influencing his/her behavior.

  The principal or teacher, or both, consistent with the powers delegated to them, have the authority to take additional administrative action if, in their opinion, the nature of the misconduct warrants it. In addition, school administrators have the prerogative to seek the waiver of any portion of or all mandatory disciplinary action through the Division of Alternative Education. Those parties who are directly involved with the incident shall be informed of the reason(s) for requesting a waiver.

  The Superintendent upon conferring with appropriate school, region, and district staff, the parents, and student, may return a student, who was 15 years old or younger at the time of the commission of the offense which led to his/her expulsion or waiver of expulsion and placement in the Work Back Program, to a regular school program after the student has proven to have performed successfully for one semester or more in an opportunity school or other alternative program.

  The selected students will be monitored and returned to an opportunity school, or an alternative placement at any time their behavior is unacceptable.

  The student's expulsion or remainder of time under a Work Back Agreement would not expire until the full time prescribed.

  The following charts describe the violations and the disciplinary actions. When the violation calls for a disciplinary action, all or any part of the appropriate plan is to be implemented. If the violation indicates a mandatory action, all parts of the required plan must be administered unless any part is not applicable.