On behalf of the staff at Dante B. Fascell Elementary, it is a pleasure to welcome you to the new school year. Congratulations for your efforts in helping our school become an “A” school once again! I’m certain that you will be content with your decision to enroll your child in this school. At DBF, each child is important!

Students at DBFE will be required to apply critical thinking skills across all disciplines. They will be required to display self-discipline. Students will have access to computers in all the classrooms and will be using them regularly to perform their assignments. Computer skills are necessary in our rapidly changing, technologically based community.                                                                            

Your role as a parent is pivotal to your child’s educational success. Homework serves as an extension of the lessons learned in class. Reviewing your child’s homework daily benefits your child academically and builds your awareness of how well they are learning the lessons taught in school.

Dade County Public Schools mandates 30 minutes of reading each night. DBF fully supports this initiative and students are required to read as part of their daily homework assignment. Research confirms that children that are read to as infants and toddlers and those read to on a daily basis become more proficient readers and perform better in school.                                                                   

One very important initiative at our school is student attendance.   We ask parents to limit the time their child is absent from school. Students who arrive late or leave early may also miss information that is important academically. In addition, your child’s academic grade will be negatively impacted if they are not in school.

Parents, whose children need to see a physician, should take them out of school shortly prior to their appointment time, and bring them back afterwards. Students who need to take medication during school hours may do so only if the appropriate paperwork is completed by their physician.

In order to increase the time students spend performing academic assignments in school, those students who accrue more than two (2) absences or tardies each grading period will not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular activities, unless their absences are excused by a physician’s written statement.  Activities include, but are not limited to, field trips and assemblies. I’m certain that you want to share in our efforts and help us prepare your child for the greater challenges that await them.

Please adhere to our strict policy regarding interruptions. Your child’s education is our number one priority and we cannot allow disruptions to impact the students’ learning environment. Classes will not be interrupted for parents to bring in lunch, homework, or clothing. Instead, we request that you ensure that your child comes to school in the morning fully prepared.

This Parent/ Student Handbook contains important information about our school and outlines procedures that will be helpful to you and your family. Please take the time to read the handbook and keep it in a safe place for reference during the school year.

We are eager to work with you on behalf of your child as we continue to commit ourselves to excellence in education.

Sincerely,
Estela Santiago                                               
Principal