By:  Dr. Annette Weissman, Principal SIB Community School

It is so hard to believe, but it is a fact.  Sunny Isles Beach Community School has just completed it first year and what a year it was!  With the generous support of the City of Sunny Isles Beach and the community, the school opened on time with everything in place.  Parents, teachers, and students were delighted with the state of the art equipment and comfortable surroundings.  Coming to this special facility each day was a pleasure for each of us! 

Our partnership with the City of SIB was evident from day one when Mayor Edelcup, Vice Mayor Thaler, and all the Commissioners welcomed our students and families on the first day of school. As I reflect on the year, there are so many examples I could share with you.  Let me begin with the special breakfast in October when Mayor Edelcup installed the new elected officers of our Student Government. Vice-Mayor Thaler, all the Commissioners, the City Manager and City Attorney attended the event and met with the officers answering their questions and encouraging our young leaders in their new roles.

The holiday season was another special time when our students worked hand-in-hand with the SIB police department to collect toys. It was an opportunity for our children to give back to the community in a meaningful way.  This event, as well as our Thanksgiving Baskets, generated a huge response and our students learned a valuable lesson in community responsibility.  I was so pleased that our partnership with the City of Sunny Isles Beach was recognized with an Exemplary Honor at the Dade Partners Recognition Luncheon.

Of course SIBCS is all about academic achievement and our students and staff worked tirelessly to ensure that learning was meaningful and relevant.  Student achievement was recognized each quarter at an Honor Recognition program hosted by the PTSA. We are very proud of the many students who participated in Region and District Spelling Bees, Geography Bees, Mathematics Competitions and Mathematics Bowls, Science Fairs, Oratorical Competitions, writing contests and art contests.  It would be impossible to list all of the participants, but we are very proud that in its first year, SIBCS was represented and recognized in all these areas.

Our school is very fortunate to have a dedicated PTSA who selflessly contributed their time to ensure that the needs of the students, teachers, and families were met.  Their calendar was filled with informative meetings, fund-raising events, academic support, and special events. Thanks to their hard work, the school will open next year with a brand new electronic marquee which will expand our ability to communicate with the community in a very timely fashion.  I am counting on all of you to continue to support the PTSA by becoming members and attending meetings.

The year was filled with excitement as we metamorphosed into the new SIBCS family. Now we must ask ourselves, “What lies ahead?”  Over the summer, my administrative team and I will prepare to welcome over 1300 students who will be attending SIBCS for the 2009-2010 school year in grades K-7.  We will interview new teachers, design new curriculums, and meet new families. We will purchase new textbooks, increase the number of books in the Media Center, and develop a new calendar of activities.
But most of all, we will renew our commitment to excellence and academic achievement and renew our pledge to the community to offer the highest quality education to our students.