SEM Newsletter: Week 15
2025-2026
Welcome to Week 15!
Parents, it’s the final week before Fall Break! It’s sure to be an exciting week with our Word of the Week activities, the announcement of Student of the Month, and a reminder that Friday is an early release day. We hope everyone has a wonderful end to the week and a relaxing break ahead!
Mrs. VanderMolen, Principal
Mrs. Drazick, Assistant Principal
We know that times can be tough for many families, and this season, Seminole is coming together to make a difference. We’ll be collecting food for our Annual Canned Food Drive to support Our Village’s pantry and help families in need.
In previous years, we’ve held class competitions—but this year, we’re shifting our focus to unity. Instead of competing, we’re joining forces as one school community to see what we can accomplish together!
Students may bring donations to their teachers, or items can be dropped off in the front office. Please note: the last day to turn in food is Tuesday, so be sure to send in your donations before then!
🌟 Seminole shines brightest when we come together to care for others! ❤️
Below, you’ll find a flyer with details about our canned food drive. We’ve also included a flyer from Our Village outlining the specific items they need. Additionally, we’ve added a calendar highlighting all the locations providing food to families in need—a helpful resource if your family could use a little extra support this holiday season!
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!
Parents, we would love for you to be more involved in decision-making at Seminole! Please consider attending any (or all) of our School Advisory Committee (SAC) meetings this school year. This is a great opportunity to learn about what’s happening at Seminole and to help us make important decisions that impact our school community.
November 18th @ 5:30 pm
January 20th @ 5:30 pm
March 24th @ 5:30 pm
May 19th @ 5:30 pm
5th Grade- Betts
Students in Ms. Bett's 5th grade class are putting test-taking strategies into action by using scrap paper! ✏️ Way to use your tools for success!
3rd Grade- Dayao
A big thank you to Grants and Special Programs for providing translation pens to support our students who are still learning English! 🌟 Here’s a great moment of one of Mrs. Dayao's students putting it to use in class—helping every student access learning and feel confident!
3rd Grade-Dayao
Mrs. Dayao's students worked together to identify and describe the key features of the main characters in their story, sharing ideas and supporting one another as they explored each character's traits and personalities.
5th Grade- MMoore
Students in Ms. Moore's 5th-grade class practiced identifying the central idea, locating supporting evidence, and applying test-taking strategies to strengthen their reading comprehension skills
Small Group Instruction
Look at our small groups in action this week! 👀 Students were focused, collaborating, and building skills together.
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:
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.
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.
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, 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!
November 24-28th- Fall Break/ No School
December 1-5- STAR Reading K-2 PM2
December 2nd- 4th Grade FAST Reading PM2
December 3rd- 3rd GRADE FAST Reading PM2
December 4th- 5th Grade FAST Reading PM2
December 8-12- STAR Math k-2 PM2
December 9th- 4th Grade FAST Math PM2
December 10th- 3rd Grade FAST Math PM2
December 11th- 5th Grade FAST Math PM2
December 15th-19th- Word of the Week
December 19th- Student of the Month
December 18th- PBIS Schoolwide Event
December 19th- Early Release Day
December 19th- End of Quarter 2
December 22nd- January 2nd- Winter Break/No School
January 5th- Teacher Work Day/No School