Dear CMIT South Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and spirits. As we delve into the second month of the year, second semester of the academic school year, and 3rd grading term, it's wonderful to reflect on the exciting activities and achievements within our school community.

Metal Detector Installation for Enhanced Safety:

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff at CMIT South MS/HS we are implementing additional security measures. One key initiative in this regard is the installation of metal detectors on our school premises. We will have a soft roll out beginning next week that will begin with educating our students of the expectations and protocol.

The safety and well-being of your children are our top priorities, and we believe that the introduction of metal detectors will significantly enhance our ability to maintain a secure environment. These detectors will serve as an additional layer of security, helping to prevent the entry of unauthorized individuals carrying weapons or other potentially harmful items onto school grounds.

The decision to implement metal detectors comes after careful consideration and consultation with security experts, law enforcement agencies, and other educational institutions that have successfully adopted similar measures. We understand that the introduction of metal detectors may raise questions, and we want to assure you that our primary goal is to create a safer and more secure environment for everyone in the school community.

Here are a few key points about the installation of metal detectors:

Enhanced Security: Metal detectors will be strategically placed at entry points to the school, and trained personnel will operate them to ensure efficient and non-intrusive screening.

Education and Awareness: We will conduct informational sessions for both students and staff to explain the purpose of the metal detectors and address any concerns or questions you may have.

Emergency Preparedness: The installation of metal detectors is part of a broader effort to continually improve our emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

We understand that the safety of your children is of utmost importance, and we appreciate your support and cooperation as we implement these measures. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school administration.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your children. Together, we can create a safer and more secure environment for everyone in our school community.

Educationally yours,

Dr. Borden-McCarter, Principal

CMIT SOUTH COMMUNITY, THE MAIN PARKING LOT WILL BE BLOCKED OFF FOR AN EVENT ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 30TH FROM 9-2PM. THE LOT WILL BE CLOSED FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL RAMP TO THE HIGH SCHOOL RAMP. THE FULL LOT WILL OPEN AT 2PM.

Scholars will participate in hands-on activities, to discover, innovate, and create with STEM. The possibilities are endless! Special Guest TESLA!

Dear Parents, Teachers, and Bridge Building Club STEM Students,

We trust this message finds you in good spirits. We are excited to provide you with an update on the CLF Bridge Building Competition and share the details for the upcoming event. Kindly take note of the revised information below:

Event Details:

- Date: Saturday, 27th, 2024

- Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

- Location: 6151 Chevy Chase Drive, Laurel, MD

Dear Bridge Building Club STEM students, we extend our warmest invitation to you and your parents to join us for this thrilling competition. Your participation is vital, and we are enthusiastic about the innovative designs and engineering prowess you will bring to the event.

Should you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out to us at osoycan@cmitsouth.org / operations@cmitsouth.org.

We would be thrilled to see your attendance at the CLF Bridge Building Competition. Your creativity and passion are what make events like these truly special. See you all there!

Best regards,

OZKAN SOYCAN

STEM Program Coordinator

CMIT-S MS&HS

Bridge Building Competition on January 20th!

Dear STEM Members,

Brace yourselves for an exhilarating challenge – the Bridge Building Competition awaits you on January 20th! 🌉

This isn't just a competition; it's a chance to spotlight your skills and amplify the success of our club. Your active involvement is key! 🚀

**Why Participate?** Engage in an enriching experience that goes beyond a competition. Your creativity and dedication will be the driving force behind our club's success.

Let’s make this an event to remember!

Please reach out to STEM coordinator osoycan@cmitsouth.org for more information and participation.

Best regards,

Greeting Families,

Save the date! The 2024 STEM/Maker's Faire will be on March 1st. Please click the link to access the details for student presentations. This information will also be posted by your scholars' science teacher on Canvas. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JKdOOPvUMFQuprxNDy5Y-f7XmBiKMgkI7sHDBQKQk04/edit?usp=sharing

Miss Hamilton

Science Department Chair

Students, Parents, and Guardians,

1. Student lunches should be sent with them when they arrive for school or lunch can be purchased in the cafeteria via MySchoolBucks.
2. Please refrain from bringing fast food to the school for your students and their friends throughout the school day and during their lunch period.
3. Food deliveries ordered by students, parents, family members or friends will NOT be accepted from DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub or any other food delivery service or vendor.
4. All orders for students will be refused and sent back with the driver. CMIT South MS/HS is not responsible for any cost or loss of food.

Hello CMIT South MS/HS Families,

We want to ensure that all parents and students know the CMIT South attendance policies. At CMIT South, we follow the PGCPS attendance policy AP 5113. Below are some quick bullet points of the attendance policies:

• CMIT South will use the Google form 2023-2024 Absence Reason Notification Form CMIT South Middle/High School for all student's absences. This form will be the official means of parent/guardian notifications for student absences. Parents can also email attendance@cmitsouth.org when their student will be absent.
• CMIT South does not take paper excused/doctor notes. When a student is absent please fill out the Google form 2023-2024 Absence Reason Notification Form CMIT South Middle/High School. This form will be sent straight to the attendance manager. Parents are the only ones who can fill out the form and email the attendance manager about a student who is absent. A student cannot send the email or fill out the Google form, the absence will not be excused if a student does it.
• The Google form must be filled out within 3 days of the student’s absence; otherwise, the absence will not be excused. This can be emailed as well.
• Students who are considered unlawfully (unexcused) absent from school or a class will not have the opportunity to make up missed assignments.
• A doctor’s note is needed if a student is reported absent for three school days for an illness, and a physician’s certificate will be required if a student's absences reach six days. Please send the physician’s certificate to the school's attendance manager at attendance@cmitsouth.org.
• Mental Health Day. Students may receive as an excused absence one (1) day of absence in each semester of each school year for a student’s mental health needs. A note from a physician to excuse a student’s absence for mental health needs is not required.

Once again, these are just some of the new updates that PGCPS has put in the attendance policy AP 5113. We encourage all parents to read the full updated attendance policy linked below.

For all attendance-related information or questions, please direct it to attendance@cmitsouth.org.

Thank you.

First with the week recap!

- Jan 30th @ Potomac HS 6:00

- Feb 1st vs Douglass HS 6:00

• JV Boys Basketball - Jan 29th @ Largo HS 7:00

  - Jan 30th vs Potomac HS 5:30

  - Feb 1st @ Douglass HS 5:30

• Varsity Boys Basketball - Jan 29th vs College Park Academy HS 7:00

  - Jan 30th vs Potomac HS 7:00

  - Feb 1st @ Douglass HS 7:00

High School Baseball conditioning workouts will be held on Wednesday and Thursdays from 3:00-4:30pm beginning Wednesday, February 7th. Any high school wishing to participate must return a signed Open Gym Permission Slip to Coach Curtis (RM 136). Permission slips can be found on the Athletics bulletin board outside the cafeteria. Participants MUST BE PICKED UP ON TIME. Two late pick ups will result in students no longer being able to attend workouts.

Participants must report directly to the gym after school. Please make sure you have appropriate clothing for workouts ( dress warm) and bring your own water/water bottle. You will not need to bring any baseball equipment for workout.

Hello everyone!!!
Our High Soccer Players invites you all to support us in the 2024 Prince George's County High School Futsal League Tournament. Games are Friday night. Check the schedule and see if you can make it.
Here is the location:
Southern Regional Technology & Recreation Complex- 7007 Bock Rd, Fort Washington, MD 20744

Volleyball lifting and conditioning workouts will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:30pm beginning Tuesday, February 6th. Any high school or 8th grade girls wishing to participate must return a signed Open Gym Permission Slip to Coach Sears. Permission slips can be found on the Athletics bulletin board outside the cafeteria or you can print the one below. Participants MUST BE PICKED UP ON TIME. Two late pick ups will result in students no longer being able to attend workouts.

WHO: High School & 8th Grade girls
WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays (starting February 6th)
TIME: 3:00-4:30pm
WHERE: CMIT South MS/HS gym

Participants must report directly to the gym after school before going to change. Please make sure you have appropriate clothing for workouts (no cropped shirts) and bring your own water/water bottle.

Workout Permission Slip: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jLKuVqBHPnVIPmRBLY7ZRnCI916pPNd9

Any questions, see Coach Sears.

Come and support CMIT Cheer in our upcoming competitions! Tickets for each date can be found in ticket-spicket; a week before competition.

https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/afc80898-6fba-411d-81e5-abbe3b3f3a90/events/a8cb6d4b-5e05-47f2-8adb-3a8754ead77a

About the Youth Advisory Board:

The Youth Advisory Board is a unique platform that aims to bring diverse perspectives and voices to the forefront of important discussions shaping our nation's future. We are specifically looking for students who may not have high GPAs or extensive experience but possess a passion for making a difference and overcoming challenges. We hope this opportunity will bring insight to the Congressional District, mentorship to our students, and a world of opportunities to those who may not have them.

Why Should Your Students Apply?

No GPA or Experience Needed: We believe in the untapped potential of every student, irrespective of academic achievements or past experiences. We will not ask for letters of recommendation, GPAs, or other achievement merits.

Amplify Your Voice: This is their chance to have their voices heard on issues that matter. We value diverse opinions and want to ensure that every perspective is represented.

Make a Difference: Your unique experiences and insights could contribute to policies that directly impact the lives of individuals, especially those facing challenges.
How to Apply:

Applying is easy! Simply click here and complete the brief application form. Applicants are asked to tell us about themselves, their experiences, and why they want to be a part of Congressman Glenn Ivey’s Youth Advisory Board.

For questions or concerns, please contact (240)-906-6262 or contactmd04@mail.house.gov

Application Deadline: Feb. 2nd, 2024, 6 pm EST.

Good Morning Parents and Juniors,

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen would like to share information on an exciting opportunity that may be of interest to your students.

Juniors (students in the Class of 2025) who have an interest in learning about opportunities to attend a U.S. Service Academy for college are encouraged to apply to participate in a summer program. Each Academy’s summer program provides a week-long immersion into the academic, military, and social life of that Academy. The Academies are ranked among the top undergraduate public universities in the country.

Participation in a summer program is considered a student’s first step in navigating their future to becoming one of our nation’s next generation of leaders. Summer programs introduce one to life at an Academy, where they will experience first-class academic, athletic, and professional training at one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country

Summer program applications are now being accepted for the U.S. Military Academy (Summer Leaders Experience, West Point, NY), U.S. Naval Academy (Summer Seminar, Annapolis, MD), and U.S. Coast Guard Academy (AIM Summer Program, New London, CT).

U.S. Military Academy

Session I

Session II

Deadline: March 15, 2024

June 1-7, 2024

June 8-14, 2024

Additional information and the application for the Summer Leader Experience (SLE) are on West Point’s website at https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/summer-program

U.S. Naval Academy (USNA)

Session I

Session II

Session III

Deadline: March 31, 2024

June 1-6, 2024

June 8-13, 2024

June 15-20, 2024

Additional information and the application for the Summer Seminar are on the Naval Academy’s website at https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/NASS.php#fndtn-panel3-Steps-For

U.S. Naval Academy

Summer Stem

Session I

(9th Graders)

Session II

(10th Graders)

Session III

(11th Graders)

Deadline: March 31, 2024

June 3-8, 2024

June 10-15, 2024

June 17-21, 2024

Additional information and the application for the AIM Summer Program are on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s website at: https://www.uscga.edu/aim/

U.S. Air Force Academy

Session I (Virtual)

Session II

Session III

Deadline: January 15, 2024

June 4-6, 2024

June 11-14, 2024

June 18-21, 2024

Additional information and the application for the Summer Seminar are on the Air Force Academy’s website at: https://www.academyadmissions.com/prepare/high-school/summer-seminar/

Financial aid is available to students who are accepted into a program. Program participants must be U.S. citizens.

For any questions or concerns, please reach out to the following contact:

Catherine Provost

The Office of Senator Chris Van Hollen

academynominations@vanhollen.senate.gov

Seniors!!!

The following link is a list of scholarships with deadlines in early October! For any questions or concerns, please reach out to the contact information provided on the scholarship's page.

https://studentscholarships.org/scholarships.php

Seniors,

Please check out the Prestige Photography Scholarship opportunity by clicking the following link:

Happy Wednesday, Juniors and Seniors!

Please see the below scholarship opportunity. Students who are currently taking dual enrollment courses may apply for this scholarship. Please take note of the applicant requirements under the "Undergraduate Applicants" section. For any questions or concerns, please email smart@smartscholarship.org.

SMART Scholarship Eligibility & STEM Disciplines

To learn more about the Ronald V. Dellums Memorial SMART Scholarship (Dellums SMART Scholarship) and to review eligibility requirements of the Dellums SMART Scholarship, visit the About Dellums page: https://www.smartscholarship.org/smart?id=kb_article&sys_id=5eb87d811b1f6d504e7ba820f54bcbf7

Eligibility Requirements: Review the below scholarship requirements to ensure you are eligible to apply for this life-changing opportunity. Who can apply? The SMART application is open August through December of every year, with awards being granted the following spring.

All applicants must be:

• a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom at time of application,
• 18 years of age or older as of August 1, 2024
• requesting at least 1 year of degree funding prior to graduation (which starts at the program start date),
• able to complete at least one summer internship (multi-year scholars only)
• willing to accept post-graduation employment with the DoD,
• a student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale,
• pursuing a technical undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the 24 STEM disciplines listed below,
• able to produce a fall 2023 college transcript from a regionally accredited US college or university, OR be pursuing a graduate degree at a regionally accredited US college or university.

For more information, watch the SMART Eligibility Requirements video.

What kind of STEM?

The program focuses on students pursuing disciplines that are critical to national security functions of the Department of Defense (DoD). The following is a list of SMART’s 24 approved STEM disciplines. These disciplines are general umbrella disciplines – specific applicant majors or fields of study may fall under one or more discipline on this list. Please note, non-technical degrees, including management, arts, or humanities, are not approved or funded by SMART.

• Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Biosciences
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Cybersecurity
• Data Science and Analytics
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Geosciences
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Information Sciences
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Oceanography
• Operations Research
• Physics
• Software Engineering

Scholarships are awarded for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years of funding, depending on degree requirements. SMART is a one-for-one commitment; for every year of degree funding, the scholar commits to working for a year with the DoD as a civilian employee.

Undergraduate applicants

Must be currently enrolled at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university Must be able to produce a fall 2023 (or earlier) college transcript at the end of the term AP coursework is not considered college credit

Graduate applicants

Can be either currently enrolled in a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or awaiting notification of admission If awaiting admission, you must be accepted for entrance in the fall 2024 term Scholars enter the program as either recruitment or retention. Learn more information on how scholars participate in the SMART Program through recruitment or retention. Learn more about the citizenship and security clearance requirements for SMART scholarship awards.

Dear CMIT-S MS&HS Community,

We hope this letter finds you in good spirits! We are thrilled to share some exciting highlights and express our gratitude for the recent LEGO Robotics Competition.

On January 13, 2024, the incredible talent and dedication of our STEM students shone brightly at the LEGO Robotics Competition. Our heartfelt thanks go out to each student for their outstanding participation.

A heartfelt thank you extends to the parents who provided unwavering support throughout the event. Your encouragement means the world to us. We also express our deep gratitude to the school management for fostering an environment that encourages such remarkable achievements.

We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to the coaches who dedicated their time and expertise to prepare our students. Your guidance has been invaluable, and we deeply appreciate your commitment to excellence.

Thanks to the collective effort, our school had the chance to shine in the regional competition. As we reflect on this success, we look forward to continuing our STEM journey with enthusiasm and commitment.

We are pleased to announce that our STEM club activities will continue every Friday after school from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Classroom 139, providing students with a platform to explore and enhance their skills.

We encourage you to mark your calendars for upcoming STEM events and activities. Your participation is key to making these experiences memorable.

Thank you to everyone for being an essential part of our STEM community. Your contributions make a significant impact, and we can't wait to see what we achieve together in the coming months.

Best regards,

Good Afternoon Students, Parents and Custodians;
I hope you all are doing well. I am contacting you because our CMIT-South Soccer Club organized a FUTSAL Tournament and we are inviting all Middle School students to participate with their team. January 30 is the due date to register your team and games will be Saturdays from 12:30 to 4:30 PM during the month of February.

Here is the link to pay and register it.

https://cmit-athletic-donation.cheddarup.com/

Reach me out if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you and hopefully you join us and have fun.

Come out for a night of family fun!

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a school-based organization made up of parents, guardians, teachers, staff and administrators who work together to supplement and enrich the educational experience at CMIT Academy South Middle and High schools. Please consider joining our PTO and getting involved with school activities.

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