SEM Newsletter: Week 10

To ensure high levels of learning in a safe, respectful environment where all achieve personal and academic success. ALL means ALL.

📣 Parents! Can you believe the first quarter is already behind us? This week marks the start of Quarter 2! 🎉

This school year, we’re doing things a little differently — we’ll be celebrating our Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 Awards together at the end of the first semester. 🏆✨ At that time, we’ll recognize all of the incredible growth, hard work, and accomplishments our students have achieved so far this year. We can’t wait to celebrate their success with you! ❤️🖤

Mrs. VanderMolen, Principal

Mrs. Drazick, Assistant Principal

🌟 Every star shines bright when they’re present!🌟

October is Seminole's Attendance Awareness Month! Take a peek at some of the exciting ways we are celebrating school attendance over the next few weeks including a perfect attendance challenge🏆, a fun at home activity📅 , and even an Attendance Awareness Spirit Week (October 20-24)🎉! Stay tuned for more information.

Did you know missing just 2 days of school a month adds up to almost 20 days in a year? That’s nearly a whole month of learning!

Thank you for helping your child shine by making every day count. ✨

Reminder: Report Cards will be sent home on Monday, October 20th.

Did you know that all throughout the year you could be checking your child's grades through the Skyward Family App? Need help getting logged in, come into the office and we can provide your login information so that you can be connected to your child's progress!

Did you know you can help our school earn money just by scanning your grocery receipts? It's quick, easy, and every Box Top adds up to support our students and classrooms!

📱 Download the Box Tops for Education app, select Seminole Elementary, and start scanning your receipts today. No clipping required!

✅ Check out the video linked below to learn more about how it works and how you can get started.

Let’s work together to make a difference — every little bit helps!

It’s time for Seminole Elementary’s Student Council Elections! Serving on the student council is a great opportunity for students to develop leadership skills, represent their peers, and help make a positive impact on our school community.

Students may run for the following positions:

• President (5th grade only; must have attended Seminole since 4th grade)

• Vice President (4th or 5th grade; must have attended Seminole last year)

• Secretary (4th or 5th grade)

• Treasurer (4th or 5th grade)

  
  

📌 Important Due Dates:

• Campaign speeches (2–3 minutes): October 14th
  

• Election Day: October 17th, 2025

  
  

To run for office, students must have a teacher recommendation, be an AVID student who consistently follows the 3 Rs, and show a commitment to being positive role models.

We are excited to see our Seminole Stallions step up as leaders! 🐎✨

🎃 Save the Date! Our Spooktacular Event is almost here! Join us for treats, fun activities, and be sure to visit our Book Fair. And of course, don’t forget to wear your costume! 👻🎉

📚 Book Fair Hours: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
🍬 Candy Distribution Ends: 7:00 pm
⭐ Special Note: Anyone who attends our SAC Meeting at 5:00 pm will get first entrance to the event!

Seminole is hosting a friendly competition—the classroom that donates the most candy will win a prize!

Please consider helping us out for our Spooktacular Event. All candy will be distributed during the event. You can send candy in with your child or drop it off at the front office.

📅 Deadline for donations: October 28th

🧮 Ms. Allen’s 4th graders dove into division with remainders today! They used hands-on manipulatives to help them see and understand how division works. 💡

🌞🪐 The hands-on learning in science just keeps on going! Students in Mrs. Gonzalez’s class are bringing the solar system to life using play dough! 🚀✨

📚✨ Mrs. Kristen’s students were hard at work! They teamed up in pairs to tackle their subtraction assignments — showing great teamwork and problem-solving skills. Afterward, they shared their answers on the board to check for accuracy and celebrate their math success together! 🧮👏

Missing number warm-up and making 8 and 10 in Mrs. Freeman’s kindergarten class! 🎯 Students first work independently to solve, then share their thinking with their group. A few students share with the whole class, and together they discuss different strategies — recognizing that there can be multiple correct ways to solve the problem! 💡✨

🌞🪐 Mrs. Crosby’s class made comets for their science activity ! Look how cool these are!🚀✨

We have an update to our safety procedures that will impact all school-day events. Only individuals listed on a child’s emergency contact list will be allowed to attend these events.

If you need to update the emergency contact list, please visit the office to make any necessary changes. Please note: Only a child’s legal guardian can make updates, and a valid photo ID is required.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe!

Parents, take a look at the flyer below to learn about early detection of Type 1 Diabetes in children! Early recognition of symptoms can make a big difference in your child’s health, so be sure to review the information and reach out to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

We understand that there may be times when it’s necessary to check your child out early for appointments or other important reasons. Please remember that all early checkouts must be completed by 2:20 pm. If your child is leaving for a doctor’s appointment, be sure to send in the doctor’s note so the absence can be excused. Also, keep in mind that 5 early checkouts equal 1 full day absence, which can impact attendance. Thank you for helping us prioritize instructional time and supporting your child’s success!

Accidents aren’t supposed to happen, but sometimes they do—whether during recess, field trips, or everyday activities. To help families be prepared, our district offers Voluntary Student Accident Insurance through Special Markets Insurance Consultants, Inc.

This optional coverage is available for all enrolled students, and families can choose from several plans, including:

• School Time Accident Only

• 24-Hour Accident Only

• Interscholastic Sports

• 24-Hour Dental

  
  

Parents/guardians are responsible for enrollment and payment. Signing up is quick and easy online at www.k12specialmarkets.com. Simply look up our district, review the available plans, and complete the enrollment form.

For questions, you may also call 800-727-7642.

Parents, please use the roundabout towards the back of the school when dropping off or picking up your student. This helps us avoid congestion and issues with traffic back up. Do not use the driveway before the roundabout to turn around. This creates a very dangerous situation for cars that are driving to the roundabout or turning into the school.

Also, please do not exit your vehicle during drop off or pick up times. We have staff that will assist the students exit or enter the vehicles as necessary. This limits pedestrian traffic in the road and near our opened gates.

Thank you!

Parents, we’re happy to share the upcoming Treasure Coast Food Bank distribution dates, times, and locations. Please take a moment to look through the flyers below for details. These resources are available to support our families, and we encourage you to take advantage of them if needed.

Food distribution dates and times:

Agri Civic Center October 17th, Friday

Sunshine Grove October 23rd, Thursday

Coquina Water November 11th, Tuesday

Sunshine Grove November 14th, Friday

Agri Civic Center November 21st, Friday

Coquina Water December 9th, Tuesday

Agri Civic Center December 12th, Friday

Sunshine Grove December 30th, Tuesday

Parents, check out our Parent and Family Engagement Plan! This plan outlines how we work to build strong, supportive partnerships between our families and school community.

Parent Family Engagement Plan English

Parent Family Engagement Plan Spanish

Below is a link to the District Policy on Bullying and Harassment. In order to be classified as bullying, the physical threat or emotion distress must be continuously inflicted towards the student. A one time occurrence of teasing would not fall under bullying.

SEM takes bullying seriously! If your child is being bullied, please have your child tell an adult at school or call the office to inform administration of the situation.

Link to District Bullying and Harassment Policy

At Seminole, we are dedicated to our *Read Aloud A Lot* initiative. Each day, students spend time reading aloud in class to build fluency and confidence. For homework, all students are expected to read for 20 minutes each night. In grades K–2, students should practice the fluency passages provided by their teacher, while students in grades 3–5 should read books of their choice at home.

Stay Informed About Meals at Seminole! 🥞🍎

Access the Breakfast and Lunch Menus on our District Website by clicking here. These menus are packed with delicious and nutritious options to fuel our students for success!

Remember, breakfast and lunch are completely free for ALL Seminole students. Make sure your child takes advantage of these healthy meal offerings every day! 🥪✨

Parents, please check out this wonderful free resource! Even if your family is not eligible to receive books, there are still free resources available to help your child with reading!

Link to New Worlds Reading Website

The Florida Department of Education has recently updated their Just Read, Florida! initiative. Click here to learn more about the updates!

Parents, does your child need additional assistance?

Okeechobee County School District has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools! All students now have access to the Varsity Tutors learning resources like live classes, chat tutoring, and more. Some students may have been assigned tutoring by your school, ask your teacher or school office if this has been provided to you. All Okeechobee County School District families can sign up for paid supplemental private tutoring for their students at a discounted rate!

Click here to learn more information about what it is, how to login, and so much more!

October 20th- Report Cards Go Home

October 20-24- Bus Safety Week

October 27-31- Word of the Week

October 29th- Spooktacular 👻 5:30-7:30 pm

October 31st- Student of the Month & WOW