CMIT North Middle School Newsletter
Week of November 27, 2022
Important Dates
CMIT Academy follows the PGCPS school calendar.
Import the CMIT North Middle School calendar to your own Gmail calendar to stay informed of all school-wide events.
8/25: New Student Orientation (New Students Only)
8/28: First Day of School (All Students)
9/4: Labor Day (Schools and Offices Closed)
9/6: Back 2 School Night
9/25: Yom Kippur (Schools and Offices Closed)
10/10: Indigenous People's Day (Schools Closed for Students)
10/10: Parent-Teacher Conferences
10/20: Professional Development Day (Schools Closed for Students)
11/2: 1st Quarter Ends
From the Principal's Office
Dear Scholars, Parents, and Guardians,
CMIT's leadership team has been hard at work preparing for the return of our teachers and students. This week teachers and staff will return to the school building to begin preparing classrooms and receive training on this year's school goals and district updates.
On Friday, August 25, 2023, CMIT Academy North Middle School will host a New Student Orientation for any NEW students. We understand that our new students are not familiar with the hallways and classrooms of CMIT Academy. New Student Orientation is designed to provide an opportunity for them to receive their schedules, meet their teachers, and find their classrooms before the official first day of school. Orientation will be a half day with drop-off beginning at 8:15 am and pick-up at 11:49 am. Student Orientation is not required, and attendance and grades will not be recorded.
The first official day of school for all students is Monday, August 28, 2023. Arrival time begins at 8:15 am and pick-up time begins at 2:48 pm. The students will be welcomed by Administration, receive a PGCPS Code of Conduct presentation, receive their schedules, and meet their teachers and classmates. This is the first required school day and attendance will be taken.
We are excited to meet all the new students and reconnect with those returning.
Enjoy your last week of Summer!
Educationally Yours,
Principal Andrew Brauer, M. Ed
Introducing AP Jones
It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce myself as a newly appointed Acting Assistant Principal of CMIT Academy North Middle School! I am incredibly honored to have been chosen to work alongside Principal Brauer and Ms. Matlock to lead the instructional efforts at CMIT North. We are extremely fortunate to serve such a supportive community of dedicated teachers, involved parents, and diverse learners. My educational background includes earning both my Bachelors's and Master's degrees from Bowie State University in Education and my Administration certification from Loyola University of Maryland. As a proud product of PGCPS, I am honored to give back to the district that provided me with experiences that helped shape me to be who I am today. Within my 12 years in PGCPS, I have had the opportunity to serve in numerous capacities such as Classroom Teacher, Grade-Level Chair, Alternate Testing Coordinator, Summer Program Coordinator, Master Scheduler, and Data Coach. I look forward to engaging with students, staff, families, and the community.
School Hours
Student drop-off will begin at 8:15 am this school year. This is a 15-minute difference from last school year and is necessary to accomplish collaborative planning, department meetings, and conferences under the recently approved teacher contract this past October.
Collaborative planning is the process in which teachers collaborate with colleagues to align lessons with other content areas and to find ways to integrate STEM into all subject areas. Moving the student arrival time to 8:15 provides time each morning for educators to meet, discuss, and refine lesson plans in alignment with CMIT's mission and vision.
8:15 am - 8:35 pm: Student Arrival
8:35 am - 2:49 pm: Instruction
2:49 pm: Car Rider Dismissal
2:55 pm: Bus and Walker Dismissal
3:00 pm: After-School Activities Dismissal
Fees will be assigned to parents for students dropped off early and/or picked up late.
Before and After Care Enrichment is available through the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF) Enrichment Program.
6:30am - 8:15am: Before Care (Zero)
3:00pm - 4:00pm: After Care (Stars)
4:00pm - 6:00pm: After Care (Scholars)
Arrival/Departure Routine
Arrival/Departure Routine
Please see the Traffic Flow Map of the driving routes and drop-off/pick-up locations. Please note: All parents, carpooling or individuals, must drop off and pick up in the rear of the building. The side parking lots are designated for high school overflow and commercial vans/buses only. Only students that ride on a commercial van or bus will be permitted to exit to the side parking lot.
Everyone will become more accustomed to the drop-off and pick-up routine as the school year progresses. The process will become more and more efficient. Typically, by the third week of school, all vehicles are gone within 15 minutes of the dismissal bell.
Please be patient and follow the instructions from those directing traffic. No one's time is more valuable than the safety of OUR children. It takes all of us, faculty and parents, working together to ensure a safe environment at all times.
Please complete the Dismissal Questionnaire.
Communication
We are pleased to have you as partners in this educational year. As the year progresses, and as you become either more informed or more puzzled, we encourage you to call the school and talk with those who might be of help. If your question deals with in-class events, grades, or curriculum please ask to speak with the teacher. Teacher contact information will be provided to you on the student’s syllabus, as well as, on our school website at https://ms.cmitacademy.org/about-us/staff-directory/.
We always encourage parents and students to call our Main Office to be directed to the appropriate personnel at any time. Our Main Office phone number is 301-350-6051 or email Mrs. Petit-Homme, Receptionist, at monica2.petithomme@pgcps.org.
Each Sunday a Newsletter is published and emailed to parents and students. Please review this newsletter with your scholar to promote them being informed citizens in the CMIT community. The newsletter often has information pertaining to Teacher of the Month, Student of the Month, class projects, assessment dates, clubs, athletics announcements, PTO announcements and other activities.
Additionally, we strongly encourage all parents to activate their Family Portal account and keep their contact information up to date. The Family Portal allows parents to get timely updates through email, text, and robocalls. In the case of an emergency, this is PGCPS' method of communication, so it is vital that parents are enrolled.
School Uniform
Clear backpacks for students in 6th through 8th grades is now optional. The new policy will be reviewed by the Board of Education with updates provided to parents before Winter Break.
This year, we have two uniform vendors to choose from, All American Wear and Risse Brothers.
Please review the CMIT North Middle School Uniform Policy. Uniforms are expected to be worn on the first day of school for all students, August 28, 2023.
School Supplies
Each educator will provide a syllabus during the first week of school to each student. The syllabus will provide a detailed list of needed supplies for each class.
Until that time, the following items are always needed:
1. 3-ringed binders
2. Pencil Pouch
3. Pens and pencils in bulk
4. Individual pencil sharpener
5. Composition Notebooks
6. Loose leaf paper (hole punched and placed in binder)
7. 2-pocket folders (hole punched and placed in binder)
8. Assorted highlighters
Canvas
Help Your Child Transition to Our New Digital Learning System!
Prince George’s County Public Schools is continuing our transition to Canvas as our primary learning management system. Starting next school year, teachers and students at most middle and high schools will exclusively use Canvas as their digital learning environment. However, at the elementary level, Google Classroom will remain available for at least one more school year to allow for a phased-in transition of Canvas. Regional centers, K-8 academies, and charter schools are not impacted by this timeline.
What is a learning management system?
A learning management system (LMS) is a software application designed to create, distribute and manage the delivery of educational content. As an LMS, Canvas provides teachers with a platform to share classroom resources and digital assignments, in a single location.
Why is PGCPS moving to Canvas?
We have chosen Canvas as our exclusive learning management system for several reasons:
Robust and Integrated: Canvas is a more powerful learning management system that seamlessly integrates with many of our district tools, making it easier for students to access multiple resources in one place.
Secure Environment: Canvas provides a secure digital learning environment, promoting safety and privacy for our students and staff.
Consistency: Having a single learning management system streamlines instruction and communication between teachers and students, reducing confusion among multiple platforms.
Real-World Preparedness: Since Canvas is used in many higher education institutions, students will be better prepared for a future beyond our school system.
How can I help my child learn Canvas?
To support you in learning more about Canvas, we encourage you to view our Canvas for Families Overview and Canvas Family Guide. These resources will help you and your child familiarize themselves with the platform before next school year.
We believe that Canvas will be a valuable addition to our schools and will be a benefit to our students. Thank you for your flexibility as we modernize our technology applications to meet the demands of today’s digital world.
Athletic Eligibility
CMIT North Middle School participates in competitive athletics with other PGCPS middle schools. To be eligible students must have the following:
1. Complete the Athlete Participation Packet and return completed forms to the Athletic Director;
2. Have and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA;
3. Review and agree to the PGCPS Parent/Student Athletic Handbook;
The requirements must be completed prior to stepping on the field for tryouts.
Fall Sports: Baseball, Softball
Winter Sports: Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Cheer
Spring Sports: Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer
Families are encouraged to complete the requirements over the Summer months to ensure eligibility when seasons begin. Athlete Participation Packets and physicals are good for the entire school year.
