Eblast for February 28, 2021
Miami Palmetto Senior High School PTSA
Upcoming Events - ALL EVENTS AND DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
Mar 1: LEO Club Blood Drive, Walgreens (132nd/US1), 2-5PM
Mar 8: What’s New for the Class of ’22, 6:30PM
Mar 15: Group Banner 2nd Deadline (Bronze Sponsorship)
Mar 25: End of Grading Period
Mar 26 - Apr 4: Spring Break
Apr 22: PSAT Makeup for Sophomores
Apr 23: Virtual Cocktail "Love Our Panthers" Mixer - Details TBA
May 3-7: Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
May 31: Memorial Day (No School)
Jun 9: Last Day of School

Resources:







Testing Updates:

  • ALL teachers have student roster schedules- received via email. Ask anyone.

  • SPRING FSA ELA RETAKES for 11th graders and 12th graders.
  • PHYSICAL 11th graders will test from 2/17/21-2/19/21.
  • MSO (at home online students) are scheduled to take the FSA ELA from 2/23/21-3/11/21. All MSO students were asked to complete a survey (posted on our main website) to request a specific time frame for the FSA ELA test. These are ONLY for 11th grade MSO students who were NOT able to test for the FSA ELA at the end of their 10th grade year. This is a graduation requirement.  However, if your child has a passing score in the SAT Reading 480 and above or an ACT Reading/English average score of 18, then they DO NOT have to take the FSA ELA test. 🙂
  • Algebra 1 EOC : Scheduled for 3/1/21 for select students.
  • Students who did not participate in the Algebra 1 EOC in the spring of 2020 are waiting to see how they will score in their Geometry EOC this May 2021.  Remember that the Geometry EOC will count as a comparative (SAME AS)to the Algebra 1 EOC.  If you STILL want to take the Algebra 1 EOC, you must contact me via email by February 12, 2021. Also, you may use the PSAT Math score of 430 and above, SAT Math 420 and above, or an ACT score of 16 and above for a concordant score as well if you do not do well in the Algebra 1 EOC or the Geometry EOC.
  • PSAT makeups- ONLY for those 10th grade students who were quarantined on January 26th, 2021. Test will be on April 22, 2021. We have the list of students and they have all been contacted via their student email (studentID@students.dadeschools.net) and through Connect-ED. Please check your student and parent email.

  • STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS STARTING MID-APRIL THROUGH JUNE 2021
  • ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING ALGEBRA 1, GEOMETRY, BIOLOGY, AND US HISTORY ARE EXPECTED TO COME TO THE SCHOOL TO TEST FOR THEIR EOCs. EOCs count as 30% of their class grade. If you DO NOT come to take the EOC in April/May- you will NOT get a final grade for your class. (Testing for EOCs will be in May, 2021. State tests cannot be taken at home, they must be taken at school.
  • ALL STUDENTS IN ENGLISH 1 (9TH GRADERS) AND ENGLISH 2 (10TH GRADERS) ARE EXPECTED TO COME TO TAKE THEIR FSA ELA TEST. I will schedule all 9th and 10th graders to take the FSA ELA WRITING in the second week of APRIL and they will also be scheduled to take the FSA ELA READING 1 &2 Sessions in MAY 2021. State tests cannot be taken at home, they must be taken at school.

All teachers were asked to post letter from Superintendent of Schools, Alberto M. Carvalho in all communication sites to students concerning Florida Statewide Assessments starting in April 2021. Please read below- Letter is in three languages- English, Spanish, and Creole. Thank you.
Mental Health Awareness Discussion:
Did you miss our Mental Health discussion on Thursday night? That’s ok! It was recorded and can be watched here
From Our College Counselors:
 
Upcoming Virtual College Visits
* Sign up on Scoir (Or Just Join on the day)
 
Wed 3/3          11:00-11:30                 The Ohio State University (Main Campus)
Fri 3/5             11:00-11:30                 University of Toronto
Wed 3/10        11:00-11:30                 Lynn University 
Wed 3/10        12:00-1:00                   University of Central Florida
End of Year Awards:
The application for End-of-Year Awards is here
Girls Basketball T-Shirts:
$12. From Coach Donnie: The girls program has come a long way, the last time our program won a district championship was 2010 and the last time we have been back to back district champions so these are historic shirts that we are proud of and by us selling history for only 12 dollars.
 
A shirt it will help us fundraise for a back to back district champions banner that will be hung in our gym . These girls have worked hard these last 2 years to put us number one in our district and top 50 in 7a state classification and this year we played in our first state regional semifinal game so myself and coach Kevin are so proud of these lady Panthers. Buy a shirt from a team player or booster club parent Natalie 305-776-6821
Class of 2024 T-Shirts:
You’ve Been Paw’d Fundraiser:
PAW’D YARD SIGNS:
Surprise your friends and family with a little fun and a lot of school spirit! The Pride of Paws will be placed in the yard for 48 hours and then picked up by pawsitively awesome volunteers. Paw’d house must be within a 5-mile radius of the high school.
Cost: $25 for a "Pride" of 5 Paws / $50 for a "Pride" of 10 Paws
 
PAW’D CAR MAGNETS:
Paw your or someone else's car! We will arrange with you a time for you to pick up the magnets (and you place). Magnets are yours to keep.
Cost: $10 for 1 magnet / $45 for 5 magnets
 
HOW TO PURCHASE:
Yard signs and magnets can be purchased at tinyurl.com/ptsapawd
100% of proceeds go to Palmetto High PTSA
 
QUESTIONS?
Contact Dana March: fundraising.mpsh@gmail.com 
Save the Date!!
2021 Superintendent’s 5K Virtual Race:
United Way Fundraiser:
 
Help Us Reach Our United Way Campaign Goals!
 
From the Activities Office:
 
Hello Panther Parents!
As some of you may or may not know, February was the month for the United Way Campaign this school year. It has been a difficult year for the campaign. We cannot collect in person and are relying on the hope that students will log in to the online payment site to make a donation. We’re asking all our parents to help us out before the campaign ends this Friday. Please consider making a donation using the following instructions that can also be found on www.palmettopanthers.org:
 
Enter the amount you wish to give
Enter your personal info
Enter Palmetto High as school (make sure you use “high”, there are multiple Palmetto schools)
Enter a teacher name (if you’re donating for extra credit, put the teacher who you wish to get credit from)
Click “I’m not a robot”
Click Continue
Enter Payment Info
Click Submit
Print Payment receipt if you need it (it will be emailed to you too)
 
This year has been one of hardships for so many people in our community and for those who are already struggling the need is even greater. United Way shared the following information with us in case you needed to know how your money helps:
 
1. What is United Way? For 96 years, United Way has been helping families in our community. United Way strengthens the community by improving the education, financial stability and health of every person.
 
2. What does United Way do? United Way researches the needs in our community, then partners with nearly 100 programs and initiatives and invests in programs that help children, families and older adults (grandparents). As an immediate response to the pandemic, volunteers helped pack and distribute food packs to over 39,000 families in our community, including those with young children, veterans and others in need.
 
3. How can you help? Even before the COVID-19 crisis, 54% of Miami-Dade households were in poverty or one emergency away from falling into poverty. Our work for the community is more important now than ever, because of this crisis. You can help us make a difference. United Way is asking us to work together to help children, teenagers, veterans, hard-working families, single moms and older adults. Every time we donate a dollar, we are joining United Way, and we are taking a stand to help families who need it most.
So please log in to the payment site before end of day on Friday and make a donation to make this campaign a success! We thank you all for your help on behalf of the entire Miami Dade Community and MDCPS.
Help Us Maintain a Strong PTSA:
Calling All Students Interested in The Panther Newspaper for 2021-2022!
MPSH LEO Club Blood Drive:
MPSH LEO club will be hosting a blood drive with Oneblood, on March 1st at 2:00pm till 5:00pm, at the Walgreens on 132 Street and US 1. Everyone 16 years and older are welcome to donate, 16- & 17-year old's need parent/guardian permission to donate. Face coverings are required. All donors will get a mini physical, a COVID-19 antibody test, a free t-shirt, and community service hours.
 
Please come and help save lives in our community. Participants get a tie-dyed t-shirt and a $10 egift card.
 
2021-2022 Yearbook Staff Info:
Pictures and Yearbook Updates:
Programs for Students in Need:
FREE Tutoring through Miami-Dade Public Library System:
The Miami-Dade Public Library System has two programs to help students academically, and best of all they are FREE. live, and interactive:
 
“Help your child have a successful school year with the Miami‑Dade Public Library System’s Homework Help & Tutoring Program. Free, 30‑minute one‑on‑one virtual tutoring sessions with certified teachers are available on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. ‑ 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. to all K‑12 students who reside in Miami‑Dade County. Tutoring is available in reading and math. To participate, please submit a tutoring appointment request for your child/ren each week. To maximize learning, a computer or laptop with Internet access and a working camera and microphone is required.”
Very soon, MDPL will be rolling out a program in which we circulate laptops to take home that will include internet access. It’s a CAREs Act grant. 
 
2-  tutoring.mdpls.org  
Tutoring.com is normally a paid service through The Princeton Review, but is free for students with a library card (easy to get- see below). 
“Experts help you with homework, study for tests and write essays from noon to midnight daily.” The student can have typing or voice chat. They can request a specific tutor that they have worked with before or take a random tutor. The entire interaction is recorded and the student can put the transcript into a personal virtual locker. They can email it to their teacher or refer to it in the future. 
Other Notes: 
If a student doesn’t have a library card, they can get one almost instantly at https://www1.mdpls.org/webservices/ecard/Account/Register.
 
If they have any issues with logging on to any of the resources, customercare@mdpls.org can resolve problems from M-Th 9am-8pm, Fri & Sat 9am-6pm. 
 
Public libraries are open for students to study in, with safety measures in place. They also have computer access. For locations and hours: https://www1.mdpls.org/webservices/locator/
FREE Tutoring from Tutoring for Tomorrow:
 
Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honor Society, and Social Science Honor Society have partnered to tutor Palmetto students in math, science, or social science every Wednesday over zoom from 3-4 p.m. Wednesday tutoring is completely FREE and open to all subject levels. See the zoom code in the flyer below.
Spring M-DCPS Parent Academy Schedule:
GET YOUR PALMETTO SPIRIT WEAR:
The Miami Palmetto Senior’s PTSA school store is operated by Sharingwear.org, a charitable organization founded and operated by Nicole Markus, a Palmetto High senior. Sharingwear’s Palmetto Senior Online Store is the sole PTSA/school source to buy dress code shirts for Palmetto Senior as the Palmetto Senior PTSA does not operate a physical store at school. All clothing featured on Sharingwear’s Palmetto Senior Online Store are approved by Miami Palmetto Senior High as qualified dress code attire.
Designs can be purchased in multiple clothing styles (tshirts, sweatshirts, etc.) and some designs are available in multiple colors. Orders are custom printed and take 2-3 weeks for delivery. Several great new designs have been added.
All profits from Sharingwear’s Palmetto Senior Online Store are shared 50% with the Palmetto Senior PTSA and 50% with Sharingwear’s Charity of the Month. 
Please visit SharingWear.org to stock up on clothes for next year!
Get Your Palmetto Gear!
Community News:
ArtsFest 2021:
Free NY Times Online & Consumer Reports Magazines:
Miami-Dade Public Library Perks! Free online New York Times access as well as Consumer Reports, as long as you have a library card (which is easy to get if you don't!) More info: https://www.mdpls.org/learning
Pinecrest Shoe Drive: 
Thank you Sponsors:
Have Something You Want to Share?
If there is something you would like to share in the MPSH weekly e-blast, please email KatieLAbbott@comcast.net by the end of the school day every Friday.
 
Click Here to donate to Miami Palmetto PTSA (thank you!!!)

PLEASE FORWARD this email to any new parents who may not be receiving it yet. 
PTSA Website: palmettohighptsa.org
School Website: palmettopanthers.org
Facebook: Miami Palmetto Senior High School PTSA
Twitter: @MPSHPTSA
Instagram: @MPSHPTSA