Eblast for September 21, 2020
Miami Palmetto Senior High School PTSA
Upcoming Events - ALL EVENTS AND DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
*OPEN HOUSE is being postponed- Stay tuned for updates
Sept 21-25: Clubs Fair (Virtual)
Sept. 28: No School, Teacher Planning Day
Sept. 30: Reassessment of Local COVID-19 Conditions
Oct. 5: Target Date to Pivot to Schoolhouse Model
Oct. 8: General PTSA Meeting 7PM
Oct. 23: No School, Teacher Planning Day

Other Resources:
THANK YOU PTSA Members and Sponsors!
As of Thursday 9/17, we have 516 members and have raised $22,221. Our GOAL is 1,500 members and $35,000. Please join today! Scroll down for complete information. Quick link to sign-up: https://palmettopanthers.new.memberhub.store/store
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools: Citizen’s Guide to the District’s Budget:
As shared by Dr. Feldman:
Update on College Entrance Exams:
As shared by Dr. Feldman:
M E M O R A N D U M September 17, 2020

TO: The Honorable Chair and Members of The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida
FROM: Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Schools

SUBJECT: STATUS OF COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION SCHEDULES

Many locations in Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) serve as testing sites for Saturday administrations of the College Board SAT and the ACT, based on independent hosting agreements, rather than a districtwide contract. School closures due to COVID-19 have resulted in the cancellation of SAT and ACT administrations nationwide, including our District. M-DCPS high schools that serve as test centers for both organizations have been advised that they may open again for the October exam administrations. At this time, 15 M-DCPS test centers are scheduled to be opened for the next SAT administration scheduled on Saturday, October 3, 2020. A total of 12 M-DCPS test centers are scheduled to be opened for upcoming ACT administrations scheduled on October 10, 17, and/or 24, 2020.

In addition, several School Day administrations are scheduled. School Day administrations provide all schools with the opportunity to offer college entrance examinations to students on a school day at the school site.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Marie Izquierdo, Chief Academic Officer, Office of Academics and Transformation, at 305 995-1451.
Miss Our PTSA Meeting?
Don’t worry- it was recorded! Watch it here

It can also be viewed here

Miss Mr. Nerenberg’s Financial Aid Night? 
Watch it here

Miss the M-DC PTA/PTSA School Board Candidate Forum?
Watch it here
Who is Your Child’s Counselor?:
Please note the updated Counselor contact info below. Please remember to leave an email and a phone number where they can contact you.
Virtual Clubs Fair Info:
From the MPSH Activities Office:

Hello Parents!
Next week (Sept. 21-25), we are holding our virtual club fair! We have been busy planning and preparing an event that could take the place of our in-person club fair. Clubs and sponsors are worried about recruiting new membership while we're learning from home, so we're hoping that our plan helps to fill gaps in clubs and get new and old students excited about joining our amazing clubs and groups.
We're asking for your help to help us encourage your child to participate in the club fair. 
Starting Monday, students can go to the front page of the Palmetto website www.palmettopanthers.org and click on the Club Fair link. That page will give them access to two things:

1- The link to view videos from most of our clubs. These videos give students a peak into what our clubs have to offer. They're basically club commercials.

2- A page with links from all of our clubs. These links provide contact information, forms to fill out to get more information from clubs, and the link to the live club fair sessions. These sessions will take place on zoom every day next week during lunch time and are an opportunity to be connected live to club officers/ sponsors. Students that log in to the sessions can ask questions and meet someone face to face via zoom like they would have at the actual club fair. 

Please encourage your child, especially new freshman, to watch the videos and log in to the zoom sessions to ask officers questions. They can get a sense of what clubs they're interested in before starting to attend meetings in October. Remember, the links will go live on our website Monday.
Thank you all!
College Fair Schedule:

VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR SCHEDULE VIA SCOIR
FALL 2020

Sept 21           12:55            Dartmouth College
Sept 21           3:30              Johns Hopkins University
Sept 22           12:55            Hamilton College
Sept 22           3:30              Syracuse College
Sept 23           12:55            Flagler College
Sept 23           3:30              University of Alabama
Sept 24           12:55            University of Chicago
Sept 24           3:30              Clemson University
Sept 25           12:55            Loyola University Chicago
Sept 25           3:30              University of Florida
Sept 29           12:55            Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Sept 29           3:30              University of Connecticut
Sept 30          12:55             Lynn University
Sept 30           3:30              Elon University
Oct 1              3:30               Boston University
Oct 2              3:30               Colby College
Oct 5              3:30               Rice University
Oct 5              4:00               University of Central Florida
Oct 6              3:30               The Ohio State University (Main Campus)
Oct 7              3:30               American University
Oct 8              3:30               Tulane University of Louisiana
Oct 9              3:30               Florida State University
Oct 12            3:30               Oberlin College
Oct 13            3:30               University of Maryland (College Park)
Oct 15            3:30               Indiana University (Bloomington)
Oct 16            3:30               Emory University
Oct 19            3:30               Purdue University (Main Campus)
Oct 20            3:30               Bucknell University
Oct 21            3:30               Hofstra University
Oct 22            3:30               Rollins College
Oct 27            3:30               University of Miami AFROTC
Oct 28            12:55             Miami Dade Honors College
Oct 28            3:30               Eckerd College
Oct 29            3:30               Florida Institute of Technology
Nov 4             TBD                Miami Dade College
Nov 5             TBD                Miami Dade College


STUDENTS NEED to register with Scoir to attend.
(Parents can sign in for notifications on their child’s page)
Silver Knight Preliminary Application:

All students (seniors only) interested in applying to become a 2021 Miami Herald Silver Knight Nominee, please fill out this preliminary application and return by Oct 15.
UPDATED Amazon Smile Link to Benefit Palmetto High PTSA:
AMAZON SHOPPERS! Here's an easy and no-cost way for you to support Palmetto High. SAVE THIS AMAZON BOOKMARK on your device to shop from. A percent of all your sales will go to Palmetto High PTSA. Again, there is NO COST for you to do this. THANK YOU!!!!
Free Tutoring from M-DC Public Libraries and tutor.com:
FREE TUTORING through our public library system and tutor.com! Get homework help, help with writing a paper, preparing for a test, finding a job (Career Coaches!), and more. Our library system pays for it (FREE for you) from 
noon-midnight 
1- Click on this link
2- On right side menu, scroll down and click on Tutor.com
3- Login with your library card number. Don't have a card yet? You can get on online! https://www.mdpls.org/library-card/library-card.asp
Our library system has so much to offer, supported by YOUR TAX DOLLARS, check it out!
Support Palmetto High’s Art Department!
T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, totebags, and more can be purchased here (link to https://teespring.com/new-retro-mpsh-sw_copy_1?pid=2&cid=2122) Proceeds benefit Palmetto’s Art Department. The design was created by the head of the Art Department, Dr. Salomon.
PTSA Annual Book Sale:
Buy your required and suggested reading for Language Arts and AP Classes! Click here to access Palmetto’s Book Fair at Books & Books. A portion of the proceeds will be given to Palmetto High PTSA, PLUS you are supporting a local business. Please also consider buying a gift card for students in need (directions below). Free shipping on orders $50 or more. Thank you!
Testing Information from Ms. Valencia:
All EOCs (End of Course Exams) were waived for the spring 2020. If you would like to take an EOC that was waived in the spring 2020 because you are interested in pursuing a higher degree designation, then you will need to email Ms. Valencia (Test Chair) at [email protected].

I already have a list of students who contacted me at the end of the school year and summer. Please do not email me if you received a confirmation email from me during this period.

Please contact me via email only. I will respond 🙂.
Testing Calendar is found on the main dadeschools.net portal. Click on Calendars and then on Testing Calendar. Please note that this calendar is tentative and will be changing by mid-September.

Testing Office is now located inside the Media Center in room 2106B
Thank you and stay safe.
Alejandra Valencia
Testing Chairperson
Co-AP Coordinator
Miami Palmetto High School
Join Palmetto High’s PTSA TODAY! 

Direct Link to Online PTSA Membership/Sponsorship: https://palmettopanthers.new.memberhub.store/store

5 Reasons Why YOU Should Join Palmetto High PTSA Today:

1. You’ll Be Connected. Now more than ever communication is key to have a successful 2020-2021 year. Palmetto High PTSA will keep you informed all year on school updates and events. In addition, because we are starting school virtually, it is also the best way to meet and connect with other MPSH parents. 

2. You Are Helping the School. When you buy a membership, you are showing that you support Palmetto High and our PTSA, including financially. 100% of proceeds go directly back into our school. 

3. It Gives PTA/PTSA Legislative Power. Local, state, and national PTSA/PTA are constantly advocating for our children and our schools in legislative matters, and your membership fee contributes to their cause. 

4. You Are Your Child’s Role Model. By joining the PTSA you are showing that you are interested in your child’s school and their education is important to you. 

5. YOU Get a Vote. Every PTSA member gets a voice when voting on important Palmetto High PTSA decisions, including budget and spending decisions. 

In addition to buying a PTSA membership, we ask the Palmetto Community to consider an additional donation to our PTSA. At the web site above, please review the various sponsorship levels. All Sponsorships include PTSA Membership up to 4 family members.  

If you are a business and are interested in Business Sponsorship opportunities, please read our Sponsorship Letter and view our Sponsorship levels below.
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Dear Potential Sponsor,

As President of the Miami Palmetto Senior High School PTSA, I am excited to announce that we are initiating what we hope to be a successful Fundraising Program this year in spite of the pandemic gripping our world. We are asking families, local businesses, MPHS alumni, and community leaders to participate. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go directly to fund essential student programs, teacher special projects, and technology improvements, just to name a few.

Our popular annual “Love Our Panthers Event” is now going to be “Love Our Panthers ALL Year Long”! We will still plan to hold our annual community mixer event and Silent Auction in the Spring, should conditions allow, however, this year we are centralizing all of our fundraising efforts to run continuously all year. Banners that promote businesses that support Panther Pride are now included at various levels. These banners can be hung on the sports fence along both 120th Street and 77th Avenue, which is highly visible to local traffic.

Your contribution can make a real difference at a neighborhood school. You may be aware that Florida school funding is among the lowest per capita. Fortunately for our school, the PTSA in conjunction with our extraordinary community we are able to bridge that gap and make Miami Palmetto Senior High School a nurturing and amazing place to educate our teens.

There are several reasons why you may be interested in this program. Most importantly, we are a tax exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible.

Second, our sponsors are recognized for their support in several ways that are visible to thousands of members of our far-reaching Palmetto family.

We are continuously working with community leaders to promote our amazing, public neighborhood schools. Competing with other school options can be challenging, but we maintain that Miami Palmetto Senior High School is not only an excellent choice, but also one that serves our neighborhood and strengthens our community.
Please consider the various sponsorship opportunities that we offer. If you have any questions or another way that you are interested in supporting our school please do not hesitate to contact either me or the Vice President of Ways and Means, Dana March ([email protected]) or our Fundraising Chair, Zalaysha Lowry ([email protected]).

More information as well as the link to donate, can be found on our website: www.palmettohighptsa.org.

Sincerely,

Gina Vinueza
Miami Palmetto Senior High School PTSA President, 2020-21
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!
Register to Vote 2020 & Vote by Mail:
REGISTER TO VOTE!!!! (and if you have an 18-year old please help them if they need it!)
Register to Vote Florida: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home
Community News:
Pinecrest City Music Project:
Leave Quarantine with a lifelong skill while having a blast! PCMP (Virtual) Programming is back and better than ever! For Fall 2020, we are offering new one-of-a-kind classes including Computer Science Music Coding, Digital Music Production, Music Composition, and more from the safety of your home. We welcome students of all ability levels in grades K-8th. Scholarships are available. Semester dates: Oct. 5-Dec. 11. All students will have the opportunity to participate in the 4th Annual Music @ The Gardens Drive-In Music Festival!
Questions? Contact [email protected] or (305) 965-1390. 
Have Something You Want to Share?
If there is something you would like to share in the MPSH weekly e-blast, please email [email protected] 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