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Weekly News Update: 10/28/2024 to 11/01/2024
UPCOMING DATES
October 28 ICC meeting room 303
October 29 – 31: ACT (NCR) test
October 31: Halloween Costume Contest (extended lunch) – no face coverings
November 5: Report cards available on FOCUS
November 6: Staff Appreciation Day
NEW ATTACHMENTS:
Information Students Considering Practical Nursing Tech Should Know
McFatter Lunch Options for the Week (Cafeteria & Café)
Week 4: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
RECURRING ATTACHMENTS
11-12 Grade Parent FOCUS Account Directions
High School FOCUS Parent Portal Directions
McFatter Technical College (Post-Secondary/Adults) next Admission Dates by Program
Post-secondary Student Advisement 2024-2025
October College and Career Corner
Practical Nursing High School Information packet 2024
Things to do for Practical Nursing Juniors -2024 start
UPDATES
BRACE NEWS:
Each week, Ms. Lynn sends out updates on events, scholarships, and much more to students through Xello. If you would like to see the most up-to-date message, it will also be posted on the BrACE site of the high school webpage for your review.
To access it, you will be able to go into SCHOOL COUNSELING at the top of the page and click BRACE on the drop-down menu. Each week the BrACE News will appear on the left side of the page. For the most up to date information, please go to https://www.browardschools.com/mcfattertechhigh and scroll down to BrACE NEWS 10/25/2024 or click BrACE NEWS 10/25/2024 to take you there.
BROWARD_TECH_CONNECT PUBLICATION:
As a part of McFatter Technical College, we have additional resources through the Broward Technical Colleges (BTC). Each month the most recent publication can be found at https://browardtechconnect.com. This link shares news, happenings, and resources available through the three technical colleges associated with Broward Schools. As a part of the McFatter family, you just need to create an account by clicking JOIN NOW (in the top right hand corner of the page at https://browardtechconnect.com) and gain access to all of the unexpected benefits of attending the school.
CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH:
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Attached is a flyer to help to remember the red flags that could signal that an email is a phishing attempt. This annual event is a fantastic opportunity to focus on enhancing our digital defenses and protecting our personal and professional information. To kick off the month, we will focus on fundamental cybersecurity best practices that everyone should adopt:
- Strong Passwords: Use the longest password you can. Consider using a password manager to keep track of them securely.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password.
- Regular Backups: Ensure your important data is backed up regularly. Use both cloud storage and physical backups to safeguard against data loss.
- Wi-Fi Security: Secure your home Wi-Fi networks with strong passwords and encryption. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions whenever possible.
Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Together, we can create a safer digital environment for everyone.
Check out the attachment from Broward County public Schools: Week 4
LIFE SKILLS & WELLNESS:
The Life Skills & Wellness survey is administered for grades 4-12 students (Fall/Spring), per Broward Schools District requirements. All students will be asked to complete this Fall survey before 10/31.
MCFATTER PARENTS:
Are you or someone you know looking for a career change or still needs their high school diploma to pursue a rewarding career? McFatter Technical College may have an opportunity for you. Between now and October 28th, there are some programs (and GED Test preparation classes) that are currently enrolling. For more information, reach out to the front office at 754-321-5700 or request information at https://www.mcfattertechnicalcollege.edu/request-information/ and someone will contact you.
Not ready now??? We have a set of programs registering as early as December for January start dates. See the attached document above titled McFatter Technical College (Post-Secondary/Adults) next Admission Dates by Program for more specific contact information.
REPORT CARDS COMING OUT:
With the first set of report cards coming out, please be advised that grade level counselors are the best point of contact to ask questions, help you schedule a teacher conference, and much more. The district has had a number of grade calculation glitches, and they are expected to be corrected by the scheduled November 5th report card date. Until then, please allow grade as we are one of 4 schools in Broward County that report transcript calculations EVERY QUARTER. GRADE LEVEL COUNSELORS 2024-2025 are assigned as follows:
UPCOMING HARVEST DRIVE (SAVE THE DATE):
We need your help to assist local families… McFatter Technical College & High School will be participating on the district’s annual Harvest Drive. Donation/Collection Dates will be from November 4- November 18… Specific details will be updated in the coming weeks. We can also accept cash donations to purchase items on your behalf. The items collected/money donated needs to be at McFatter by November 18 so that it can be sorted and delivered to Western High School on November 20th. See the attachments for what we will be collecting.
Additionally, we will also have 2 food collection days at the Publix across the street (6525 Nova Dr) on November 6 & November 12, 2024, from 5pm-7pm. Students/parents/families can also come either day or both to donate to the drive.
REMINDERS
2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR:
For the High School Calendar, events will be added on the McFatter Calendar as we receive them from various stakeholders.
2024 AP SCHOOL HONOR ROLL (PLATINUM) AND ACCESS AWARD):
For the second year in a row, McFatter has earned the top recognition for AP School Honor Roll and been recognized with the AP Access Award.
The Platinum Award is given to schools who enable 80% or more of the students a chance to experience 1 AP course before graduating; assist with college affordability by enabling 50% or more of the students to earn college credit by earning an AP Exam score of 3 or higher; and optimizing college readiness by creating opportunities for 155 or more of the students to take a total of 5 AP classes through high school with at least 1 in grade 9 or 10.
The AP Access Award was given to McFatter for providing ALL students the change to participate in AP classes and tests.
AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM:
The McFatter After School Tutoring Program became available to students beginning Tuesday, September 10th.
Parent Permission is required to participate in FALL tutoring. The form is available at https://tinyurl.com/PPFFallAST24. Additionally, Back to School forms must be up to date, and students will bring the district After-School Activity form home to be signed as well.
By 1:00pm on the day of tutoring, students will have to let us know that they are staying by completing the form found at https://tinyurl.com/RSVPFallAST24. (NOTE: Teachers are only authorized to stay if students are signed up for that day. Forgetting to sign-up MAY result in no tutoring available for that session).
Classes currently being tutored on Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless otherwise noted:
- Algebra 1 Honors
- Algebra 2 Honors
- AP Calculus AB
- AP English Language
- AP Pre-Calculus
- AP US History
- Biology Honors
- Calculus Honors
- English 1 Honors (Tuesdays)
- English 3 Honors
- Geometry
- Pre-Calculus Honors
- Marine Science Honors
- Reading (Tuesdays)
- US History Honors
**Additional, AP Classes will have tutoring in the spring for the test review; Also, some subjects have tutoring available at lunch time. Contact the instructor directly for the details.
ATTENDANCE/ REPORT AN ABSENCE:
Parents must notify the school of student absences. Any absence is unexcused until the school receives a call, email via the school website or a note to excuse the absence. Per Broward County Public Schools Code of Student Conduct, parents must report the absence the day before, the day of, or within 2 school days or the absence will be considered unexcused.
A reason for the absence must be provided and absences can only be excused for one of the eight School Board allowed reasons. Allow up to 48 hours for unexcused absences to be updated in the system to excused once notification has been made.
Notification can be done by calling 754-321-5702, going to www.browardschools.com/domain/16505 or sending a written note to the attendance desk located in High School Student Services.
Signing In/Out of School: Parents and students may sign-in and out in High School Student Services. Per McFatter's policy, whoever is picking up the student MUST come into the High School Student Services office with identification. No sign-outs are permitted after 3:40PM per School Board Policy.
BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS:
Student back to school forms were due for the 2024-2025 school year. If you have not yet done so, please follow the directions below under GET FOCUS (ed) PARENTS. Students will not be able to participate in activities unless the forms are submitted. If you need help accessing online, please reach out to the grade level counselor. Thank you to the families who have been able to complete their documents, McFatter staff will be reviewing them for approval in the next week or two.
BASIC SKILLS TESTING:
Broward Technical Colleges (BTC), of which McFatter is a part, requires students to take a Basic Skills Test to take any technical program. The test is a state-regulated assessment of a student's basic skills in reading, language, and math, and the level of the test and required score varies based on the state requirements. Students (post-secondary and high school) must complete the test to take the program and pass it to receive the technical certificate at the end. This week we will continue testing students in their technical program.
FREE UNIVERSAL LUNCH PILOT PROGRAM:
The Food and Nutrition Service Department is providing all students with breakfast and lunch at no cost under the Universal Free Breakfast and Universal Free Lunch Program Pilot for the 2024-2025 school year.
As this is a Program Pilot, it is vital that households continue to apply online at www.myschoolapps.com to secure the Universal Free Lunch Program Pilot for the next school year along with additional district opportunities.
To qualify for additional programs, complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application along with the Disclosure Form. Attached is the list of the district programs your student may qualify for if approved for free or reduced-price meals.
Second Meals will be charged at the adult meal prices.
For more information on Meal Benefits contact Food and Nutrition Services at 754-321-0250.
NOTE: Students wishing to eat the school lunch will still need to order each morning before the deadline. The link opens at 6:00 am and closes at 9:45 each morning.
The site to order lunch is https://tinyurl.com/MTCLunch. Food must be picked up in the cafeteria by 12:30.
GET FOCUS (ed) PARENTS:
If you have not done so already, create an account at Browardschools.com/Focus
To create a new Parent Portal account and then attach each student, parents will need the following:
Parent/Guardian information:
- A valid email address associated on file with the school(s) for the student(s)
- If a parent has multiple students (no matter the school), each student must have the same email address associated with the parent.
- The name must be an exact match to the name on file with the school(s) for the student(s)
- FOR BCPS STAFF ONLY: You cannot use your @browardschools.com email address.
- If that is the email address you have on file for your student(s), please contact your student’s school to update the email address on file to a non-BCPS email address.
Student’s information needed:
- Student's full name
- Student's ID number (begins with ‘06')
- Student's date of birth
If you still need help, please go to https://www.browardschools.com/Page/80578 for step-by-step video help. The Focus Parent Portal account gives families convenient and secure access to their student's school information, including school grades, attendance, interim reports, report cards, and more, anytime, and anywhere. Register for the Focus Parent Portal at browardschools.com/focus.
All parents/guardians of new and/or returning students need to register for the Focus Parent Portal. Follow the directions at browardschools.com/focus. This is also where the annual “Back to School” forms are located.
MEAL BENEFIT DISCLOSURE FORM:
Are you aware that qualifying for free and reduced lunch entitles McFatter students to free SAT/ACT testing, free score reports, free college application waivers, free and reduced test preparation, reduced price AP testing, and sometimes discounts in other school activities?
To qualify for these benefits, families must not only apply for free and reduced lunch, but must complete the Meal Benefits Disclosure form (https://scaweb.browardschools.com/otherPrograms), which gives us access to the free and reduced status to pass the additional opportunities to families.
Help us help you save money by completing the meal benefits disclosure form www.browardschools.com/free-lunch if you qualify for the free/ reduced lunch program. Please note, we can only see the information for the programs that you allow, so review all categories (including special programs, scholarships, and field trips) and check off all that apply.
HERE COMES THE BUS:
The BCPS Transportation Services Department is excited to announce that we once again have Here Comes the Bus (HCTB), a free and easy-to-use website and application that allows parents to view the location of their child’s school bus in real-time on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer.
Here Comes the Bus will make knowing when your child’s school bus is arriving easier. The system uses global positioning system (GPS) technology to locate and track your child’s school bus.
To register, visit the Here Comes the Bus website (https://herecomesthebus.com/) or download the Here Comes the Bus app by visiting the Google Play or Apple Store.
Use school code 87599 to locate Broward County Public Schools.
If you have any questions, please email at herecomesthebus@browardschools.com or call 754-321-4373.
MEDIA CENTER OPT-OUT FORMS:
As a parent, you always have the right to opt your child out of any library material. Please complete the Opt-Out Form if you wish to do so. The forms are available in multiple languages.
Upon submission of the Opt-Out Form, please discuss this decision with your child to ensure they are aware before visiting the library. Upon the Opt-Out Form submission, your child’s account will be updated in the library checkout system. It is our goal to make this process easy for parents.
Please contact your student’s counselor if you have questions or need additional information.
MRS. JOHNSON ON TWITTER:
Are you looking for a place to stay up to date on happenings at McFatter?
Our Director/Principal at McFatter, Mrs. Celeste Johnson is on Twitter. Follow her @MTCprincipal. This is a great place to stay abreast of information as it is released.
PARENTS OF JUNIORS AND SENIORS ONLY:
You may or may not realize that there are TWO instances of FOCUS. One for all things about the K-12 system (transcripts, gradebook for academics, attendance, etc.) and the other for the TECHNICAL COLLEGE (workforce) gradebook. In order to see the day-by-day grades for students in their technical programs, you need to create a profile (or use the one you had last year before we adopted FOCUS as a school district).
The website to access your student’s 11th/12th grade WORKFORCE gradebook is https://broward.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/. If you need to make an account to see your student’s grades in their technical program, please go to https://broward.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth. Directions are attached above.
This is not to be confused by the K12 instance found at www.browardschools.com/focus.
RESILIENCY EDUCATION:
McFatter has started our Resiliency Education. These are the state mandated lessons. Each of our students will complete these listens with a designated teacher. See the appropriate grade level counselor for more information.
SOCIAL WORKER UPDATE:
Karrah Fort tasked with assisting you and your family through each school year until you graduate from McFatter Technical College and High School. As barriers arise, she hopes to support you in achieving academic and social emotional success by connecting the home, school, and community.
The goal is to work collaboratively with parents, students, and teachers to assist students in reaching their full potential. Through confidential consultation, Ms. Fort is available to assist our students and families in the following:
*Crisis Intervention
*Mental Health Concerns
*Grief and Loss Support
*Family Supports
*Community Resources referrals
*Support Social Emotional Learning
*Educational Support
*Attendance