District Celebrates New, Refurbished Schools

As the demand for new and updated schools continues to grow in Broward County, so does the District’s list of completed construction projects. Seven brand new schools – four elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school – recently celebrated their inaugural school years with dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Cypress Bay High School in Weston, New Renaissance Middle School in Miramar, Millennium Middle School in Tamarac, Park Lakes Elementary School in Lauderdale Lakes, Liberty Elementary in Margate, Sunset Lakes Elementary in Miramar, and Manatee Bay Elementary in Weston each invited their school communities, school board members, district administrators, elected officials and business partners to join them in dedicating their new facilities. The celebrations included ribbon-cutting ceremonies, time capsule burials, tree plantings, plaque dedication presentations as well as exhibits of student work and student performances. Bayview Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale also had reason to celebrate. It hosted a rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new phased replacement facility complete with much celebration involving its 575 students.

Bayview Elementary holds rededication ribbon cutting ceremony

Sunset Lakes Elementary ribbon cutting ceremony

Students participate in Liberty Elementary dedication ceremony

Costumed students at New Renaissance Middle School dedication

Students unveil quilt during Manatee Bay Elementary ceremony

Park Lakes Elementary students performing at dedication ceremony

Ribbon cutting at Millennium Middle School

Ribbon cutting at Cypress Bay dedication ceremony

Stay tuned to future issues of The 411 for details about new school openings slated for the 2003/2004 school year.

Summer: A Great Time for Professional Development

Our District is committed to continuous learning – for all employees. Professional development in Broward County is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of our personnel. It’s ongoing, job-embedded and aligned to personal and professional goals. If we can improve our own performance, we can improve our students’ learning.

Summer is a great time to participate in professional development, and this summer is the best summer ever for Broward employees. To register, contact your inservice facilitator. He or she will book you into events that meet your learning needs. Be sure to get a copy of the official Human Resource Management System (HRMS) confirmation letter from your inservice facilitator, as well; your instructor will ask for this confirmation letter at the first session.

Here are some hints to make this summer's learning events run smoothly:

1. Be sure you have a confirmation letter for each event for which you are registered.

2. Be sure you have the contact name and phone number for each event for which you are registered.

3. In the event you are unable to attend an event, it’s your responsibility to notify the contact person prior to the start date of that event. If the contact person does not hear from you at least two days prior to the event, you will be listed as a “no-show” on a report subsequently sent to your administrator.

4. Check the Staff Development Calendar at www.broward.k12.fl.us/hrdcal for the most current location and times for events. Should this information change, it will be posted at least two days prior to the start date. Your Staff Development Pocket Guide gives you a map to the two most frequently used locations.

5. Check the Human Resource Development (HRD) Web site at www.broward.k12.fl.us/hrd for a list of cancelled events.

All staff development requires follow-up activities to be completed before inservice points can be awarded. These follow-up activities are job-embedded. For classroom teachers, these activities will require student participation.

Please remember that a Business Event Appraisal must be completed for inservice points to be earned and entered on your inservice record. Your inservice facilitator can assist you with this.

Enjoy your summer and may the learning continue!