The month of February is a very busy month at Bratt Elementary.  Students are working hard preparing for the FCAT.  The Fourth Grade will begin Florida Writes on February 28th.  Parents continue to look for practice FCAT writings to be sent home, and please review them with your child.  The students are striving to make a 4 or better.  You can help by making sure your child is at school every day and on time.  Also, you should review his/her homework nightly and make sure he/she is studying appropriately for tests.

February 6-9, the 5th grade will be taking orders for Valentine Pictures.  The cost is $2.00.  The pictures will be taken on Thursday, February 9th. 

February 6-13, the 5th grade will be taking orders for lolligrams.  The lolligrams are 50 cents each.  All proceeds will go to help 5th grade with their field trip.

1. Attend school daily.  As the Florida Department of Education reports, students who attend school regularly will likely do better on this assessment as it is a measure of what the student has learned throughout the school year.  Students who frequently miss school will likely have difficulty acquiring the skills necessary for success.
2. Complete homework assignments.  Teachers within the state of Florida are to provide students with homework that helps them master the Sunshine State Standards.  Students can increase their preparedness for the test by completing these assigned homework practices.
3. Conference with teachers regularly.  Florida Department of Education suggests that parents of Florida students should conference with teachers on a regular basis.  During these conferences, teachers should share ways in which parents can help prepare their students for these tests, as well as, inform parents of their students' progress towards meeting the Sunshine State Standards.
4. Read regularly.  Because effective reading is required in all subjects, Florida students should read for pleasure regularly to develop their reading skills.
5. Educate yourself on the Sunshine State Standards.  The FCAT measures students' mastery of the Sunshine State Standards.

For more information about the FCAT go to:  http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcat

Two of Bratt's students were recently honored for their creative work on diversity at the District's Reflections competition.  Juliana received 2nd place for her photo on Diversity, and Lydia received 1st place for her poem titled "Diversity".  Both received a certificate and medallion at the Reflections ceremony held in Pensacola at the J.E. Hall Center on January 23, 2012.  Their work will now move forward to the State level competition.  Pictured from left to right are:  Juliana, fourth grade, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, Lydia, fifth grade.