Cobra News Headlines for September 2009

  • Dr. Keith Astuto of South Miami Senior High received Special Recognition from the Miami-Dade County School Board at its July meeting. Dr. Marta Pérez presented the award to commemorate Dr. Astuto’s first place finish in the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s 2009 Lesson Plan of the Year competition. The contest evaluates teachers from six different states in the southeastern U.S. served by the Atlanta FRB. Principal Gilberto Bonce was also present for the honor.
    School Board Member Dr. Marta Pérez (left) presents a special recognition award to South Miami High Social Studies teacher Dr. Keith Astuto as school principal Gilberto Bonce looks on.
    Dr. Keith Astuto addresses the Miami-Dade School Board, alongside board member Dr. Marta Pérez (partially obscured) and South Miami High principal Gilberto Bonce.
  • Three Cobra scholars were among the four-dozen high school students from Miami-Dade County to participate in the Summer Institute for National Security Studies at Florida International University this summer. Seniors Dalny Ruel, Osman Lopez, and ascending senior Juan Acosta took part in a simulated energy policy negotiation among government and industry groups in Brazil. Accompanied by Dr. Keith Astuto of the Social Studies department, the students reviewed governmental organization, conventional & alternative energy technologies, and data maps of Brazil’s natural resources. During the final negotiation session, Dr. Astuto portrayed Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to give the session an added dose of realism.

    FIU is planning two simulation activities this school year in preparation for the 2010 Summer Institute, so be on the lookout for announcements about them each semester.


    Lead negotiators from the final session, including Cobra senior Juan Acosta (center), pose with Dr. Keith Astuto (standing) at FIU’s Summer Institute for National Security Studies.

  • South Miami Senior High School will be hosting an alumni meeting on August 18th @ 6:30 p.m. in the school's auditorium. SMSH would like to establish the "South Miami Senior High School Alumni Association." The alumni association would organize social events throughout the year for our alumni, offer mentoring opportunities for our current students, support our school improvement goals, establish scholarships, and get more involved in SMSH. Many local high schools have an official alumni association, but SMSH does not. With your help and support we can establish the SMSH Alumni Association. Please get the word out to as many alumni as you can. We hope to see many COBRAS at the meeting on August 18th. Click here for the alumni/reunion page.

  • Parents interested in learning how to set up and use their parent portal can check out video tutorials below.

  • School performance grades for Miami-Dade County’s public schools saw a dramatic rise this year, and among the success stories South Miami Senior High School saw its grade jump to a "B". Click here for more information.

  • Click here for the updated 2009-2010 school year calendar now online.