M.A. Milam K-8 Center

M.A. Milam K-8 Center
M.A. Milam K-8 Center
Address
	6020 W. 16th Avenue; Hialeah, Florida 33012; United States
Coordinates	25°52′42″N 80°18′58″W
Information
Type	Public
Established	September of 1961
School district	Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Principal	Mrs. Anna M. Hernandez
Staff	60.00 (FTE)[1]
Grades	K-8
Enrollment	945 (2017–18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	15.75[1]
Color(s)	Hunter green, White
Nickname	Colts
School Grade	B (2012-2013)
School Hours	8:35 AM to 3:05 PM (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri) 8:35 AM to 1:50 PM (Wed)
Website	milam.dadeschools.net

Marcus A. Milam K-8 Center, usually referred to as M.A. Milam K-8 Center, or Milam, is an elementary middle school or "K-8 center" in Hialeah, Florida. Established as an elementary school in 1961 to serve the West Hialeah area, the school was expanded to serve as a K-8 school in 1998. It was named after Marcus A. Milam, a dairy pioneer and businessman. The school mascot is the colt. The school colors are white and hunter green, which are incorporated into the mandatory uniform policy.

Anna M. Hernandez assumed the position of principal at the beginning of the 2008–2009 school year, succeeding Dr. Robert G. Valenzuela.[2]

History

In 1961, the school was built on the grounds of the former pasture land used by businessman M.A. Milam, and was established as M.A. Milam Elementary School. In the school's inaugural year, 10 teachers educated 340 students.[3]

The school's conversion from an elementary to a K-8 institution was initiated on December 10, 1997.[4] The Middle Learning Center, often referred to as the MLC, was opened in the 1998–1999 school year, and the first Milam eighth grade class was the Class of 2001.

During the 2001–2002 school year's 4th grading period, the school had 100% attendance.[5]

The MLC was named in honor of former principal, Dr. Valenzuela's semifinal status for Principal of the Year during the 2004–2005 school year.

School grades

Milam has a consistent record of scoring as an "A" or "B" school in the State FCAT grading system.[6] This consistency began in the 2000–01 school year, when the school grade went from a "D" to an "A".[7]

School year	Grade
1999-00	D
2000-01	A
2001-02	B
2002-03	A
2003-04	B
2004-05	B
2005-06	A
2006-07	C
2007-08	A
2008-09	A
2009-10	A
2010-11	B
2011-12	A
2012-13	B
2013-14	C

Traditions

The school's 8th grade Leadership Circle announces and passes down their position to the new leadership circle on the final day of the school year.

M.A. Milam K-8 Center hosts an annual prom, exclusive to 8th graders.

Every year, the school's administration announces the annual chocolate fundraiser hosted by World's Finest Chocolate. In January 2012, World's Finest Chocolate unveiled their record-setting 12,000 pound chocolate bar at the school to start the 2011-2012 fundraiser.[8]

The school's drama class puts on a winter and end-of-the-year spring show each school year. The school's level two and three drama students are also known as Troupe 88685.[9] The school performs a Cuban Independence "Veinte de Mayo" show in May for the Miami-Dade County School Board.[10][11] The show is performed to celebrate Cuban culture and history, as many of the students in the school are from Cuba.[12]

Honors

Milam was the "Do The Right Thing" winner, for having the most finalists in the program for all of the Dade Middle Schools, in the 2004–2005 school year. In the years since, Milam students have consistently placed in the top ten winners.[13][14]

The 2012 SECME National Mousetrap Competition first-place trophy

During the 2004–2005 school year, Milam's principal, Dr. Robert G. Valenzuela, was a finalist for Principal of the Year.[15]

Milam was the district winner for the middle school division of SECME in Miami-Dade County during the 2004–2005 school year. The 2004-2005 Milam Mousetrap team won SECME nationals in North Carolina. The 2010-2011 Milam Mousetrap team was the district winner for the middle and high school division of SECME in regionals, and placed second in nationals.[16] The 2011-2012 Milam Mousetrap team was the district winner for the middle and high school division of SECME in Florida regionals, and placed second in nationals.[17]

In April 2013, the school's Chess Club participated in the largest chess tournament in history, located in Nashville, Tennessee, taking home the seventh-place trophy in the K-9 Unrated Section.[18]

In January 2014, Principal Hernandez was chosen as one of the six best principals in Florida, according to an analysis released by Florida State University and Florida TaxWatch.[19] The analysis recognized the principals from at-risk schools which displayed major learning gains in reading and math.[20]

Awards and nominations for Milam
School year	Competition/award	Category	Result	Recipient(s)
2004-2005	Principal of the Year	—	Finalist	Dr. Robert Valenzuela
	Miami-Dade District SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	1st	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
	National SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	1st	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
2010-2011	Miami-Dade District SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	1st	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
2010-2011	National SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	2nd	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
2011-2012	Miami-Dade District SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	1st	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
2011-2012	National SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	2nd	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
2012-2013	SuperNationals V Chess Tournament	K-9 Unrated	7th place	Chess team
	Miami-Dade District SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	1st	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
	National SECME Mousetrap	Middle school division	2nd	Mousetrap team, Andres Vega
2013-14	Elite Principals Award	—	Top 6	Mrs. Anna Hernandez
2015-16	Miami-Dade District SECME FPL Generator	Elementary school division	1st	FPL Generator team, Andres Vega
2016-17	Miami Dade District Mousetrap Car	Middle school division	1st	Mousetrap Team, Andres Vega
2016-17	National SECME Mousetrap Car	Middle school division	3rd	Mousetrap Team, Andres Vega

Notable people associated with Milam

Educators

Anna M. Hernandez, principal[20]
Lizbet Martinez, language arts teacher who became famous in 1994[21]

Alumni

Jason Carmona, a marine for whom M.A. Milam K-8 Center held a special welcome home event in 2012[22]
Willy Ferrer, politician[23]

References

"MARCUS A. MILAM K-8 CENTER". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
"M.A. Milam K-8 Center". Dadeschools.net. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
"M.A. Milam K-8 Center Parent-Student Handbook 2013-2014" (PDF). milam.dadeschools.net. 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
"Initiatives Archive". district4.dadeschools.net. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
"Print Untitled (4 pages) - uscis" (PDF). United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. May 4, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
"Marcus A. Milam K-8 Center 2013 Grade". Ledger Data. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
"Cambium Learning and NAEP - State of Michigan" (PDF). Michigan.gov. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
Finch, Justin (January 11, 2012). "Giant Chocolate Bar Tours Miami School". NBC Miami. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
"Meet Your Troupes". Florida State Junior Thespians. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
Schuster, John (May 18, 2009). "MILAM K-8 CENTER TO CELEBRATE CUBAN INDEPENDENCE DAY MAY 19". Dadeschools.net. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
Hantman, Perla Tabares (May 19, 2013). "The celebration of May 20 (translated from Spanish to English)". el Nuevo Herald. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
Isensee, Laura (June 29, 2012). "Miami-Dade schools bracing for new letter grades". The Miami Herald. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
"Fwd: News from Do The Right Thing" (PDF). egov.ci.miami.fl.us. February 17, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
"Winners". Do The Right Thing Inc. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
"2004 - 2005 Principal of the Year Finalists". Dadeschools.net. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
"SECME National Competition Finals hosted by The University of Alabama June 25, 2011 MIDDLE SCHOOL SCORES" (PDF). SECME. June 25, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
"SECME National Student Competition Finals hosted by The University of Alabama June 28, 2012 - - MIDDLE SCHOOL SCORES" (PDF). SECME. June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
"Issue 24 - May 2013" (PDF). district4.dadeschools.net. May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
Kathleen McGrory; David Smiley (January 7, 2014). "For top principals, look to Miami-Dade schools". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
Odzer, Ari (January 13, 2014). "Anna Hernandez, Principal of Hialeah's M.A. Milam K-8 Center, Named One of Elite Principals in Florida". NBC Miami. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
Tester, Hank (September 23, 2010). "All Grown Up: The Face of the Cuban Rafter Crisis". NBC Miami. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
Bagg, Julia (March 8, 2012). "Hero's Welcome Overwhelming for Marine in Return to His Hialeah Elementary School". NBC Miami. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
Morrissey, Siobhan (April 2010). "The Enforcer". Poder 360°. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.