Dear CMIT South Elementary Families,

I hope this message finds you well as we embark on another week of learning and growth at CMIT South Elementary. As we approach the end of January, I wanted to share some important updates and reminders with you.

Collection of CLF Issued Chromebooks

This Friday, February 2nd, we will begin the collection of CLF-issued Chromebooks starting with Kindergarten students. Please note that only students registered with Carnegie Learning Math tutoring will still be able to take their devices home daily. To ensure a smooth collection process, please make sure devices are in good working order when returned by removing stickers, and gently wiping off the screen, keyboard, and entire device.

Staffing Shifts for Instructional Support

In the coming weeks, we will be implementing staffing shifts to better support instruction in our classrooms. Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Pinkard will be joining the 1st grade team, while Mr. K. Jones and Mr. C. Jones will be supporting the Makers Lab, TAG, and Special Education programs. These shifts are in the best interest of our students in our current educational environment, and we are confident that they will enhance the learning experience for all. Letters with more details have been shared with those students and families directly impacted.

Student Health Reminder

As we navigate through the cold and flu season, I want to remind parents that student and staff health remains our top priority. We kindly ask for your cooperation in ensuring the well-being of our school community. Students will be sent home for the following reasons:

- Fever over 104 degrees

- Vomiting

- Contagious Diseases (pink eye, hand foot mouth, ringworm)

- Head Injuries

Your cooperation and support in adhering to these guidelines are greatly appreciated as we strive to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for all.

Charter Advocacy Day

Thank you Tiger families for making our Charter School Advocacy Day a success. CMIT South Elementary, CMIT North High School, and Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation were present with representation along with the support of the Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools to advocate for additional funding for operations and capital facilities for our schools. We were greeted warmly by delegates of District 25 and others throughout Prince George’s County who were eager to learn about our school structure and its impact on our communities. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to be exposed to the inner workings of government.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.

Best regards,

Ronald A. Miller, Jr

Principal

Chesapeake Math & IT Academy South Elementary

Hazel Health Services Coming to CMIT South Elementary

What is Hazel Health?

Hazel Health has partnered with Prince George's County Public Schools to provide access to quality healthcare services for all students, at no cost to families, this school year. Students can be referred by the school counselor or their parent/guardian. A designated person at the school or a parent/guardian can initiate a video visit with a Hazel health care provider while your child is at school or at home to provide either physical or mental health services. Therapy sessions with Hazel Health are a safe space and are private and confidential.

How can your child receive services?

Waitlists for mental health services for children are sometimes long or sometimes as parents it's tough to find the time to take our children to appointments which makes it difficult for them to receive the immediate support they need. Hazel Health is geared to bridge that gap. Students are able to receive these services free, virtually and while in school. If you have any questions please feel free to visit their website https://www.hazel.co/ or reach out to me.

Hello Kinder Families,

We have the unique opportunity to receive free entry into the National Aquarium in Baltimore There are only a limited amount of free slots for chaperones, 7 chaperones per class. Unfortunately, these are the limitations set by the Aquarium because of their free program. A sign up link will be posted next week for a slot that is for your child's class. This will be on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to meet us at the Aquarium, you may drive there and pay for entry/parking. Parking discounts available for certain lots. Thank you and we look forward to a great experience at the Aquarium!

National Aquarium Trip date: Monday, February 26th

Reading Updates:

In this new unit, we will read traditional stories, write a fiction story and talk with others about why people like stories. We will also discuss how fictional, or make-believe, characters are different from real people.

This week we will:

• Identify and count syllables in spoken word

• Visualize details about the theme in folktales

• Phonological Awareness: syllables; final sounds

• Phonics: Consonants Jj /j/ and Xx /ks/

• High-Frequency Words: was, said, where

• Fiction: Characters and Setting

Math Updates:

Your child is learning about subtraction. They will learn to understand subtraction as taking apart a quantity of objects and separating them into two separate groups and as taking away a quantity of objects from a group. Your child will also learn to represent take-away situations as equations using the symbols - and =. Subtraction can be shown in different ways, such as with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds, acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.

Science Updates:

Earth’s Weather-

In this topic, students will build on their understanding as they explore Earth’s weather. Students will use observable events in the universe, such as the weather phenomena and photos discussed in this topic. They will use their science knowledge to explain or predict these observable events. In this topic, students make focused observations of the weather and recognize patterns from their observations and those of others. Students learn how patterns are used for predicting weather. They also recognize how these predictions can be used to prepare for and respond to weather events.

Social Studies Updates:

Jobs then and now-

Discovering jobs then and now, how money works and how we all can make money, and needs and wants. Students will apply the concepts learned in this chapter to think about what jobs children may want when they are older

Health Updates:

Going to the Doctor & Dentist

Includes identifying health helpers, getting a checkup to keep your body healthy and safe, caring for your teeth, and making healthy decisions.

Grade level blurb:

Dear Families,

It's almost February and Black History Month. A project will be sent home next week in the homework packet. Ple

Grade level blurb:

Dear Families,

Welcome to February! Wednesday, February 7th is READ ALOUD DAY. Please read a book aloud to our scholars and/or the entire family. You may visit this site to gain more insight into this event. Read Aloud. Please select a book and make reading matter. These objectives are extended into next week. New spelling words will be sent in next week’s homework packet. Thank You.

1st Grade Team

Reading Updates:

Topic 3;

Phonological Awareness: Blend and segment phonemes

Phonics: Consonant digraphs and trigraphs

HFW: round, good, said, no, put

Academic Vocabulary: create, imagine, suppose, possible

Spelling Words:

Comprehension: Describe the plot to make, correct, and confirm predictions about a story.

Poetry: What does it look like? What does it sound like?

Generate Ideas

Handwriting: Gg and Jj

Spelling: Words with consonant digraphs and trigraphs (whip catch)

Words

Language and conventions: Singular and plural Nouns/review contractions

Math Updates:

Topic 6:Represent and Interpret Data

Extended activities to reading and solving word problems, Counting to 120 by fives, tens,

Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many are in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another

EQ: What are some ways you can collect, show, and understand data?

-organize data into three categories, collect and represent data -interpret data, -continue to interpret data -Problem Solving

Science Updates:

Weather Changes and Seasons

Social Studies Updates:

Map Reading

Geography

Health Updates:

Lesson 4: Expressing how you feel

Grade level blurb:

Reminders:

1. Wednesday, February 7th is the 100th day of school! Students are invited to dress like a 100-year-old. Students will participate in a schoolwide parade. If they are not dressed as a 100-year-old, they should come in their CMIT uniform.

2. Wednesday, February 14th is Valentine's Day! We are in the process of planning a behavior incentive celebration. Stay tuned for details. In the meantime, students will be permitted to exchange Valentines. We have 25 students in our class and non-food items are preferred. Please consider just filling out the "from" section on the card to help with ease of distribution.

3. Please check SchooMax regularly to ensure up-to-date information on grades.

4. The Chromebook collection will take place on February 16th. Please be on the lookout for a shift in how assignments are completed.

Reading Updates:

Unit 3 Week 4 is all about Informational Text. We will be reading about the Abenaki Tribe. To understand the author's purpose and make connections.

Our Spelling Words will focus on words with ou, ow, oi, and oy

Last week's (U3W3) spelling will be due on Tuesday (2/6)

Math Updates:

We are wrapping up Topics 6 & 7 on Addition and Subtraction within 100. Please utilize our online CANVAS sites and complete the homework packet daily. Many classes will be testing by the end of the week. Your scholar must be only completing the page of the lesson that we have learned in school that day. Those lessons will be in your scholar's agenda book.

Science Update:

We have begun Topic 4- Earth's Processes. We will focus on Quick, Slow, and Human-made changes on Earth. Such as Earthquakes, Erosion, and levies.

STEM FAIR: Thank you all for your participation and hard work. Please give us time to get through the grading and scoring process.

Social Studies Updates:

Many classes are wrapping up Topic 3 - Government and will be moving onto Topic 4- People who supply our Goods and Services.

Health Updates:

We are working through and wrapping up Fear and what your body does when you feel afraid. And will move onto the topic of Babies and how you grow.

Grade level blurb:

We have completed our first full week of the 3rd quarter. Please make sure students are coming to school daily with the necessary materials and ready to learn. Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! Please be on the lookout for information from your child’s teacher regarding that. The Chromebook collection will take place on February 23rd. Please be on the lookout for a shift in how assignments are completed.

Reading Updates:

Fleet/Lewis: This week we began talking about Persuasive,

Text, and compare and contrast two Persuasive Texts. While reading Welcome Back Wolves! and Wolves don’t belong in Yellowstone, students were able to side with an author based on their argument. Our next spelling test will be on Monday, February 5th, 2024.

Mathews/Madison: This week the students started Unit 2 Week 4 Persuasive Text. They worked on long vowel constant and silent e. Next week they will continue to Persuasive text. The students will read Welcome Back, Wolves! And Wolves don’t belong in Yellow Stones. They will work on r-controlled vowels. They will focus on synonyms and antonyms to develop their vocabulary. The spelling test will be on Monday, February 12, 2024:

1. Dispute

2. Expose

3. Mistake

4. Compete

5. Translate

6. Include

7. Explode

8. Despite

9. Subscribe

10. Reptile

11. Bonus word: incubate

Math Updates:

Fleet/Lewis: We are finished with Topic 6 on the area. We will be taking our topic 6 assessment on Monday, February 5th. Students have received a study guide and should be using their math books to help.

We will be moving into Topic 7 next week which covers representing and interpreting data. Students will be completing a Pick-A-Project for this topic. Please be on the lookout for directions and due dates.

Science Updates:

Fleet/Lewis: We are finished with topic 4 on Climate and students did an amazing job on their test! Great job! 🥳

Next week we will be starting topic 5 which covers Life Cycles and Traits. Our essential question for this topic is “How do the traits of living things vary?”

Social Studies Updates:

Fleet/Lewis: In Social Studies, we continued about how other countries came to the US to claim territory. This week we learned how explorers from England claimed their territory. We have concluded Chapter 3 and will begin reviewing for the assessment. The date will be announced next week.

Mathews/Madison: Next week the student will work on Chapter Lesson 4 Human Capital and your future.

Health Updates:

The theme for February is “My Family, Your Family.” Students will explore different types of families, family traditions, the role that genes play in development, special qualities, and personal safety.

*Includes child abuse and violence prevention*

Hello Tiger Family,

I hope that everyone is doing well. We have completed our second week of the third quarter. We are having conversations with our scholars about being accountable and responsible when it comes to their work completion and behavior. Ms. Crusoe would like to thank all the parents who supported our students with our classroom museum. Our kindergarten and first-grade friends loved the presentations. We were also visited by teachers in the building and the principals who all loved the presentations and creativity of our students. We hope to open another museum before the end of the school year. These opportunities give our scholars a chance to teach others all the things that they learned.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024, is the 100th day of school. On this day students can dress down as an older person. Please ensure that scholars are dressed appropriately for school and are following the county dress code. Finally, the school celebrates every Friday for Black History Month. Please see the information posted to Classdojo for the themes for each Friday. As always students should be dressed appropriately and follow the county dress code.

Valentine’s Day: We are not having a Valentine’s Day class party but students will be able to pass out valentines at the end of the day on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. We ask that you do not send cupcakes, juice boxes, or anything that is not individually wrapped. Our scholars will be responsible for passing out their items!

This is a friendly reminder that late work is only accepted if a student has an excused absence! Please read the reminders to ensure that you are partnering with your scholars to make them successful in school.

Fourth Grade Reminders:

Scholars should come to school each day with a fully charged Chromebook. As a STEM school technology is utilized in all classes and students are completing assignments digitally. It is difficult to charge Chromebooks during class.

Please check Schoolmax weekly to see the scholar’s updated grades. Canvas is a Learning Management System that scholars utilize to complete assignments and get access to materials. The grades provided in Schoolmax are those that will be used to calculate progress reports and report cards.

If your scholar is absent, please share a note with the homeroom teacher within 3 days of your scholar returning to school. In order for students to receive make-up work you must provide a note stating; the student’s name, the date of absence, and the reason for absence. Work is provided to students upon their return to school with an absence note.

Each week we suggest checking your scholar's browser history and YouTube history. This is to make sure that your scholar isn’t going to a site or watching videos that you would not approve of. Teachers are limited to only seeing activity on your scholar’s screen when they are in class. We utilize a system called Hapara that allows us to prevent access to certain sites. We are asking that you check your scholar's computer history weekly.

Reading Updates:

This Week: Students began reading two informational texts about two mammals from Australia; the echidna and the platypus and what makes their adaptations unique. Students monitored their inner conversations while they read the text and took notes. Students also compared and contrasted the echidna and the platypus. Finally, students were introduced to this week’s spelling words of Latin Root Words.

Next Week: We will continue to read our informational text closely as we attempt to synthesize the information given from both texts. When students synthesize they combine things that were learned from both texts to make one final thought. Students will write an essay next week that compares and contrasts the adaptations given by the two animals we have been reading about. We will have a spelling quiz on the Latin Root Words. We will also have an assessment of the two texts that we have been reading.

Math Updates:

This week students continued working in Topic 4 where we are learning about Multiplying 2-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers. This week students focused on subsection 4-4 arrays and Partial Products where students use place value concepts and properties to multiply and 4-5 Using area models and properties of operations to multiply two 2-digit numbers. Next week we will begin reviewing Topic 4 skills and concepts in preparation for the Topic 4 Test.

Please check Schoolmax and Canvas with your scholar to ensure completion of assignments.

Science Updates:

In Science this week students continued focusing on Lesson Topic 2 Energy Conversions, in this lesson, we have been discussing how natural resources are converted into the different types of energy we use in our everyday lives. We are still accepting Potato donations as we prepare for an upcoming investigation.

Social Studies Updates:

This week: Students created a living wax museum of important Americans in history and presented it to the primary grade levels.

Next week: Students will start reading Chapter 3 Lesson 1: Principles of Our Government and identify the principles upon which our government is based.

Health Updates:

In health, we are learning about our Digestive Systems! How does our digestive system contribute to the overall function of our bodies? What can we do to promote a healthy digestive system?

Hi everyone!

We are in a new month of February, and we are focusing on our character trait, peace! We want to show peace in any way we can! It is also Black History Month, so we are excited to celebrate and discuss many influential people throughout history! We will have themed spirit days every Friday this month, so keep an eye out for more information!

It is the 100th day of school next week on Wednesday! We are going to have a celebration/dress up day, so check class dojo for more information on that as well!

Please check the assignment calendar on our google site to see what upcoming assignments students may have. We have been having tests, quizzes, and homework, so we want to make sure students are keeping up with their work. Students should click on their homeroom teacher’s name to see their assignments. Here is the link to the 5th grade website for those who need it: https://sites.google.com/pgcps.org/5thgradeclasssite/home

Reminder that we are happy to have volunteers come in to assist us with different things throughout the year, so if you are interested, please make sure your volunteer requirements are completed. We would love it if people wanted to come in and volunteer during lunch times for students, so let us know if you are interested.

The temperature is low, and students MUST have a winter coat to be allowed outside for recess. The CMIT fleeces are no longer warm enough for recess. If the temperature drops below 32 degrees or is wet outside, we will have indoor recess!

Reading Updates:

We finished up unit 2 which is about observations. We will be taking our unit 2 assessment next week so students should be preparing and studying over the weekend! There is a review Gimkit on Canvas!

Math Updates:

Students are in unit 7 of Math which is about common denominators and adding fractions. Homework will be posted on the assignment calendar as we get started so keep an eye out!

Science Updates:

Students are working on unit 4 of Science, about the water cycle. Homework will be posted on the assignment calendar as we get started so keep an eye out!

Social Studies Updates:

We are in chapter 4 which is about life in the colonies. We will be continuing chapter 4 lesson 4 next week!

Lego:

This week in Legos and Robotics, the students have finally completed the Winter Wonderland!

Next week, they will be assembling the display for all of the parents to view the following week.

Technology:

My name is Ms. DiMond and I will be the technology teacher for the remainder of the year. I can be contacted at dvoss@cmitsouthes.org. I will be teaching each class how to make a website using HTML code. The website will have 3-4 pages about what business or game they are making. If they pick a game they have to create the how to, rules, point system, etc.. 3rd - 5th graders will be working in groups, 1st - 2nd will be working as a class, and the kindergarteners will not be participating as we are still working on their computer skills.

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