Bulldog Bulletin
Week of May 13, 2024
Keep Up With What Is Happening At Mel High - Tune Into Our Announcements!!
GRADUATION NEWS!!
.
MANDATORY GRADUATION PRACTICE
MANDATORY graduation practice is Tuesday May 21, 9 am in the gymnasium. Please plan on arriving by 8:45 am. Traditionally, parking is an issue and you may find yourself with a bit of a walk to the gymnasium! We will begin promptly at 9 am so if you arrive after that, please check with one of your friends as to what information you may have missed.
You will receive your graduation programs and tickets at that time, as long as your credit checks and fines are all cleared. Please check with the media center and the front office to see if you are not cleared. There are still quite a few seniors who owe books and/or debt. Each student will receive 8 tickets for the football stadium as well as 4 tickets for the gym. The 4 gymnasium tickets are to be used in the event the outside event is cancelled due to inclement weather and the ceremony is moved indoors. Please understand we cannot accommodate 8 guests for each senior in the gymnasium should the weather prohibit an outside ceremony.
Lunch from Jason's Deli will be provided to all seniors 😀
GRADUATION DAY - MAY 22, 2024 7PM
1. Please be here at 6 PM
2. Enter through the Building 9 parking lot gate
3. NO personal items such as cell phones, purses/bags and decorative items other than your school issued graduation cords. These items will be confiscated.
We know you want to take pictures with your friends on this very special day. One idea is to give your phone to one of your guests and when they meet up with you directly after the ceremony they can give you your phone so you can take pictures.
ATTIRE
High school graduation is a formal ceremony. Seniors should dress accordingly for this once in a lifetime event. Shorts, t-shirts, beach wear, or other casual attire are not appropriate for graduation. Appropriate attire for seniors includes:
A. Ladies: A dress, skirt, or slacks, shirt/top, graduation gown, cap with tassel, & dress shoes.
B. Men: Slacks and a shirt with a collar, necktie, cap with tassel, & dress shoes.
C. Accessories: Seniors may wear the appropriate Honors, AP, IB, or CTE cords with their cap and gown if they have qualified for those recognitions. Cords, stoles, or other accessories that have not been approved by Melbourne High School may not be worn during the ceremony.
D. Caps: Seniors may decorate the top of the mortarboard of their cap if they wish. Cap decoration must follow the approved cap decoration guidelines.
E. Personal Items: We recommend that seniors carry a bottle of water for hydration during the ceremony. Seniors should leave all other personal items, purses, cell phones, and cameras at home or locked in their vehicle. These items will not be permitted on the field during the ceremony.
SAVE TIME AND PRE-PURCHASE YOUR GRADUATION DAY FLOWERS ONLINE!!
By clicking on the link below, you can purchase a beautiful flower arrangement that will be waiting for you here at Mel High on graduation day. This will save you the time and effort of getting flowers on that already busy day!
SENIORS...MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MAY 17TH!!!
SENIOR BREAKFAST
Please stop by the cafeteria between 8:00 am - 8:40 am and enjoy a breakfast provided especially for seniors!
BULLDOG COMMITMENT and CAREER DAY
This is a special event dedicated to celebrating the future aspirations of our seniors. On this day, we encourage all seniors to wear apparel representing their chosen paths—be it college, military, vocational schools, or their intended careers. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the diverse and remarkable directions our students are taking after graduation. Join us in supporting and celebrating their commitments to their futures. Let's make it a memorable day full of Bulldog pride and spirit!
STUDENT FINAL EXAM CHECK OUT POLICY
Whenever possible, parents are encouraged to check students out from school between 11:00-12:00 on exam days to avoid disrupting the testing environment.
We will not place calls into classrooms during exam periods.
If your child has a scheduled appointment during an exam period:
Parents may arrange a pre-approved checkout slip by providing proof of a scheduled medical, dental, or legal appointment to the Attendance Office by Thursday May 16th at 4:00 PM.
The student will pick up the pre-approved checkout slip from the Attendance Office which will have the appropriate time and date for school checkout.
The student will present their pre-approved checkout slip to their teacher when they have finished testing. The student may then sign out in Attendance and leave campus.
THE DEADLINE FOR ALL PREARRANGED EXAM SELF CHECK OUTS IS THURSDAY MAY 16TH at 4:00 PM.
BPS SUMMER PROGRAM WEBSITE
DEAR BULLDOGS,
Lately there has been an increase in student absenteeism. We would like to point out some information that students and parents may not be aware of regarding school attendance.
A "habitual truant" is a student who has fifteen (15) or more unexcused absences within ninety (90) calendar days with or without the knowledge or consent of the student’s parent/legal guardian, and who is subject to compulsory school attendance.
Students absent for 15 or more days in a 90 day time frame can have their driver’s license revoked or not be able to receive a driver’s permit or license. They will need to attend school 30 consecutive days in order to reinstate their driving privileges.
Florida Statute 1003.27(2)
(b) Each public school principal or the principal’s designee shall notify the district school board of each minor student under its jurisdiction who accumulates 15 unexcused absences in a period of 90 calendar days. The district school superintendent must provide the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles the legal name, sex, date of birth, and social security number of each minor student who has been reported under this paragraph and who fails to otherwise satisfy the requirements of s. 322.091. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may not issue a driver license or learner’s driver license to, and shall suspend any previously issued driver license or learner’s driver license of, any such minor student, pursuant to the provisions of s. 322.091.
If there is any issue that may keep your child from attending, we encourage you to contact the school immediately so that we may work together to solve problems. We look forward to partnering with you.
ATTENDANCE NOTIFICATION!!
Students are not permitted to self-check out for lunch and return to school. Parents are welcome to come in the Attendance Office and check their child out for lunch.
FOOD DROP-OFF
In order to drop food off for a student, the individual delivering it must be on the student's contact list and have a valid photo ID. Once checked into the school system , you will then bring the food to the front office.
LINK TO THE PARENT/GUARDIAN PERMISSION FORM
Show Your School Spirit!
https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/florida/melbourne/melbourne-high-school-off
Cafeteria Services
Lunch prices for 2023-24 are as follows:
Secondary lunch: $2.50
Reduced price lunch: $0.40
Families can also set up an online lunch account through the district system. Go to www.mypaymentsplus.com to create your account and add money for your student to use in our cafeteria. If you already have an account you do not need to create another one for this year. This is a convenient way to keep lunch money in your child's account so they do not have to carry cash to school. Your child's lunch account is connected to their student ID, so all they have to do to pay for lunch is scan their ID and go!
Bus Transportation
Incoming 9th graders who attended a BPS middle school, rode a bus, and are zoned for Mel High do not need to request a bus for the 2023-24 school year. Transportation has already assigned their bus routes.
Returning 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who attended Mel High last year do not need to request a bus. Again, Transportation has already assigned their bus routes.
All other students who are new to Brevard Public Schools will need to request a bus.
Please use the form linked here to request a bus for your child for the upcoming school year.
You will need to complete the form for each student in your household who will need bus transportation.
Special Bus Arrangements:
For dual custody busing, specialized transport (ESE, PK, TPP, OPS, Medical 504) or SIT/Foster students please contact Assistant Principal Erik Linde at linde.erik@brevardschools.org.
Tardy to school or to class
Tardies to periods 2-7 are handled in a similar fashion. Teachers will handle your child's first two tardies to their class. On the third (or more) tardy, the student will be referred to the appropriate grade level administrator for disciplinary consequences.
Students have five minutes between each class, which is plenty of time even on our large campus. Please reinforce the importance of being on time to class with your student so that they do not disrupt instruction by arriving late.
Dress Code Policy - Policy 5511
The school dress code policy is listed below for your reference. We thank you in advance for taking the time to review this policy with your student.
A. Head coverings -- Head gear, including but not limited to caps, hats, and/or sunglasses shall not be worn indoors on campus unless permitted by the principal for medical or religious reasons. Students may wear sunglasses, hats, or other sun-protective wear while outdoors during school hours. However, these articles must not violate the dress code.
B. Clothing
1. Clothing must be appropriately sized, securely fastened and cover midriff, back, sides, and all undergarments at all times. For example, suspenders should be over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts buckled, no underwear as outerwear, no underwear exposed. Clothing should be opaque.
2. Garments must be of a length and fit that are acceptable to the build and stature of the student. The cut of sleeveless garments must not expose undergarments. Clothing must cover the body from one armpit across to the other armpit. Upper garments should meet lower garments.
3. Strapless garments are prohibited. Tube tops and halter tops are prohibited. Formalwear for special events may include strapless garments.
4. Pants and shorts shall conform to the build and stature of the student, shall be worn at the waist, and shall not extend below the heel of the shoe in length. Rips, holes, or tears in clothing must be below mid-thigh.
5. Shorts must have a clearly discernable inseam that covers the buttocks.
C. Footwear
1. Students must wear shoes that are safe and appropriate for the learning environment, including recess, PE, CTE, and labs.
2. Students may wear footwear commonly considered beachwear (i.e. flip flops, thongs, Crocs, etc.) unless a course requires them to wear footwear to protect the student from injury (i.e. athletic shoes in a PE class).
3. Inappropriate footwear includes, but not limited to, roller skates, skate shoes, and slippers.
D. Accessories
1. Clothing, jewelry, and accessories shall not convey messages that are crude, vulgar/profane, violent or death oriented, gang related, sexually suggestive, and/or promote drugs alcohol or tobacco.
2. Dog collars, tongue rings, wallet chains, large hair picks, chains that connect one part of the body to another, or other jewelry/accessories that pose a safety concern for the student or others are prohibited.
3. Clothing must not state, imply, or depict hate speech or imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or any other characteristics protected by Federal or State law.
4. Dress shall not emulate non-human characteristics.
Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones have many positive uses. However, in the classroom setting they are an enormous distraction to learning. Multiple research studies cite the negative effects of cell phone use on teenagers, particularly the overuse of social media. We have found that cell phones not only distract students from learning, but also facilitate negative behavior such as:
- Cyberbulling
- Harassment
- Sexting
- Arguing with teachers about using cell phones in class
- Taking photos or videos of students and staff without their permission
- Accessing inappropriate websites
- Arranging meetings with friends in the hallways or restrooms during class time
Melbourne High allows students to use their cell phones before school, during lunch, and between class periods. The use of cell phones is prohibited during class time for any reason. Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action including the revocation of their cell phone privilege on campus. Upon a referral, the device will be confiscated and a parent/guardian will need to pick the phone up in the front office.
Student Identification Badges
Melbourne High School student identification cards are required for all students for security purposes.
Mel High is moving to a new digital ID platform this year. We are sending information to our families about the digital ID in a separate email.
We will continue to issue a physical ID card as a back up. Students are permitted to keep a picture of their physical Melbourne High ID on their cell phone. We will accept a photo as their official school ID if they do not have the digital ID available.
Our students can use their IDs in the school cafeteria to purchase food from their mypaymentsplus account. Students simply scan their ID to access their account. Mel High students can also check out books from the media center by scanning their ID at the circulation counter.
Students without their ID will be sent to the front office upon arrival to campus to receive a temporary badge (1st and 2nd offense). Subsequent arrivals without the ID will require the student to purchase a new ID badge for a $5 fee that will be added to the student's school account. We recommend that students keep the physical ID badge a in a bag (purse, backpack, wallet) that he/she brings to campus every day.
Athletic Clearance
DISTRICT FORMS
Add Nickname to Focus Demographic English/Spanish
https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:659495b3-7511-32f5-b414-83fdd4eadc73
Out of Field for ESOL Teachers:
Mr. Haislip
Ms. L. Johnson
Ms. Calvacca
Ms. M. Anderson
Ms. Reynolds
Ms. LaMagno
Connect With Us
Instagram: www.instagram.com/melbournehs/
Website: https://www.brevardschools.org/MelbourneHS
Email: MelbourneHigh@brevardschools.org
74 Bulldog Blvd.
Melbourne, FL. 32901
321-952-5880
Yearbooks On Sale
(Note: the image below is merely an example and not the cover of the 2023-24 yearbook)