SEM Newsletter: Week 3
2025-2026
Welcome to Week 2!
Parents, this week we will begin math testing with STAR for grades K–2 and FAST for grades 3–5. Students in K–2 will test in small groups throughout the week. For our upper grades, 5th grade will test on Tuesday, while 3rd and 4th grade will test on Wednesday.
Just a reminder—Progress Monitoring 1 (PM1) is simply a baseline assessment. It helps us see where students are starting so we can measure all the growth they’ll make this year!
We also have lots of fun events coming up soon—be sure to read below for all the important details!
Mrs. VanderMolen, Principal
Mrs. Drazick, Assistant Principal
Insurance is available for $30.
Why get insurance? It protects you from paying a much larger fee if your child accidentally damages their school-issued Chromebook, such as a cracked screen or broken charger.
Please note that insurance does not cover purposeful damage, like throwing a device or removing keys from the keyboard.
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!
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!
Grandparents Day is almost here! Mark your calendars for September 5th!
We’re so excited to welcome grandparents (or a special loved one filling that role) to come and share a reading time with their grandchild during that grade level’s specials block. Grandparents are encouraged to bring a favorite book to read, but don’t worry—we’ll also have plenty of extra books to choose from!
A quick reminder: for safety reasons, anyone attending must be listed on the child’s emergency contact list in Skyward. If they are not listed, they will not be able to participate.
Check out the flyer below for the schedule of times for each grade level. We can’t wait to see you there!
The Okeechobee County Schools Facebook page recently shared the Parental Rights Letter from the Commissioner of Education. Parents can use the link below to access and read the letter.
Be sure to visit our school website and follow us on Facebook for the latest updates and a peek into the great things happening at our school.
Don’t forget to download the District App before school starts! The app keeps you informed about important news from the District, updates from Seminole, and even allows you to connect directly with your child’s teacher(s). It’s a great way to stay involved all year long!
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, 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!
September 1st- No School for Labor Day
September 3rd- Picture Day
September 5th- Grandparents Day
September 10th- Progress Reports
September 12th- Early Release Day
September 12th- AVID Day! 🎓