Are you ready for school? Here’s what you need to know.
It’s the last weekend before school opens in Miami-Dade and Broward County on Monday.
If you’re a parent or caretaker, here’s that last checklist to make sure the year gets off to trouble-free start.
Registering for school
If you haven’t done it by the end of the day Friday, your student may miss opening day but they can still get in:
Miami-Dade Public Schools
- Bring all necessary forms, including registration form, emergency contacts, birth certificate, medical exam and immunization records.
- First-time students can register in person at their home school. Although there is no cut-off date for registering, students should register early to ensure they can attend school on opening day.
Broward County Public Schools
- Bring all necessary forms
- First-time students can register in person at their home school any day of the week, even past the first day of school. Broward administrators encourage parents and guardians to register students before the first day to ensure a stress-free start.
Phone numbers
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- Athletics: 305-275-3715
- Before and after school child care: 305-817-0014, ext. 2504
- Contact information and directory for all Miami-Dade Schools
- Emergency hotline: 305-995-2273
- Food and nutrition: 786-275-0400
- School bus administration office: 305-234-3365
- School Board: 305-995-1334
- School police: 305-995-2677
- Student services , healthcare and counseling: 305-995-7338
- Superintendent’s office: 305-995-1430
Broward County Public Schools
- Athletics and student activities: 754-321-2550
- Before and after school child care: 754-321-3330
- Emergency hotline: 754-321-0911
- Food and nutrition: 754-321-0215
- Guidance office: 754-321-2584
- Mentoring: 754-321-1599
- Parent concerns: 754-321-3636
- Psychological services: 754-321-3400
- Public information: 754-321-2300
- School police: 754-321-0725
- Social work: 754-321-1618
- Student health services: 754-321-1575
- Transportation: 754-321-4400
- Volunteering: 754-321-2300
Vaccinations
- Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTaP)
- Polio Series (IPV)
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
- Hepatitis B Series (Hep B)
- Varicella Tetanus/Pertussis Booster (Tdap)
Other tips
In order to ensure a smooth summer-to-school transition, Miami-Dade Public Schools recommend helping first-time students out with these tips.
- Read books about preschool
- Describe what will happen at school and talk about the daily routines they should expect.
- Visit the school before the first day.
- Plan your goodbye
- Establish a bedtime routine
- Practice self-help skills, such as buttoning and unbuttoning pants, putting on shoes and opening food wrappers.
School Calendars
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article included a calendar that said Aug. 22 is the first day of school. School begins Aug. 21.
This story was originally published August 14, 2017 at 6:30 AM with the headline "Are you ready for school? Here’s what you need to know.."