The school year is off to a wonderful start with our teachers implementing a rigorous curriculum throughout the day and an expanded after school program of clubs and enrichment activities. Let me share some of this excitement with you.
This year, NSE Sunny Isles Beach K-8 has partnered with the Florida Justice Teaching Institute to help our Civics students better understand the justice system and how it works. The ultimate goal of the Justice Teaching program is to pair a legal professional with every elementary, middle, and high school in the state of Florida. Sunny Isles Beach Commissioner Jennifer Levin, who is also an attorney, is volunteering her time this year to the students at NSE SIB K-8 Her extensive knowledge and experience is serving as a very valuable resource for so many of our seventh graders. While Miami Dade County Public School teachers have the preparation and skills needed to “give their students the world”, having an attorney in the classroom helps make learning more enriching by bringing a deeper understanding of how our justice system works. The Justice Teaching program aims to benefit students by promoting an understanding of Florida’s justice system and our laws, developing critical thinking abilities and problem solving skills, and demonstrating the effective interaction of our courts within the constitutional structure. This partnership will surely do just that.
Another exciting event in the Civics department this year was the annual Constitution Day Essay Contest. The Middle School District winner was Nour Abdrado, a 7th grade Civic’s student in Ms. Carvajal’s Civics class. Nour’s essay on the first amendment won first place! She and her family attended the reception at which she was awarded an iPad for her heartfelt essay.
Our expanded before and after school enrichment program includes a SECME Club, a Computer Club, a chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, a Builders Club and a K-Kids Club in addition to Future Educators Association and Student Government, Strings and Art Clubs. There are also Science Fair Camps for middle and elementary students and open computer labs in the morning to provide students with access to computerized programs. Through these programs, our students have every opportunity to enrich their skills and give back to the community. These clubs and their sponsoring teachers are expanding our students’ horizons and developing our future leaders.
