By Annette Weisman, Principal SIB Community School


School is open and the students and staff of SIBCS are hard at work.  The year we added seventh grade and welcomed 208 kindergarten students, 35 more than last year.  That brings the total enrollment to 1450 students for the 2009-2010 school year.  We have engaged 17 new teachers which includes music and physical education teachers, classroom teachers, and bilingual teachers.  These new teachers help ensure that the individual needs of our students continue to be met.  SIBCS is fortunate that we have not had to cut back on any academic programs.

SIBCS is proud of the rigorous curriculum in place for this year in all grades.  We have acquired three new software programs to support the students in reading, mathematics, and science.  The children will be using these during school as well as after school in our tutorial classes.  Our teachers have on-going professional development to learn how to implement these programs and to master new teaching strategies.

We will once again be offering a limited selection of after school enrichment activities, but I encourage parents to take advantage of the many options provided by the Pelican Park Community Center.  Their excellent staff picks your children up at the school, escorts them to their facility, and offers and wide variety of activities.

There are so many wonderful things in place at SIBCS, but every year also presents its own unique challenges and this year is no exception.  The daily movement of children is one area of concern.  Some students walk to school, other bike, ride the Dade county buses or the courtesy bus or arrive by car.  Thanks to the continued cooperation of the SIB Police Department, our arrival and dismissal plans have been very successfully implemented.  Our first priority is the safety and security of every child regardless of their mode of transportation.

Another challenge is the need for additional resource materials to complement the standard textbooks.  As a new school, we have not had the opportunity to build a healthy reserve of materials for teachers to access.  With a growing student population, the availability of additional educational materials to meet individual needs is even more critical.  We are presently examining our option to address this concern.

As always, the staff at SIBCS recognizes the importance of partnering with the parents and the community.  Our very active PTSA is always looking for more parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens to fully launch their extensive calendar of events.  I invite you to become a school volunteer and join these hard working ladies.  Both you and your children will find it most rewarding.

Many parents and members of the community have asked me how they can help the school.  There are many ways that this can happen.  If you are interested in making a monetary contribution to the school, you should consider purchasing a piece of the Norman S. Edelcup Wall of Giving that graces our atrium. The money is allocated to school expenses not covered by the District such as classroom supplies, after school programs, and technology. If you are interested in volunteering, contact our counselors who will walk you through the online process and assign you to a class.  We are always appreciative of your generosity and encourage you to become a part of the Sunny Isles Beach Community School family.