CMIT South Elementary School
Dear CMIT South Elementary Families,
As we begin this new month, I want to encourage both parents and students to embrace the spirit of learning and growth that defines our school community. In the words of Vice President Kamala Harris during Women's History Month, "Courage is the most important of all virtues because, without courage, you cannot practice any other virtue with consistency." Let this message of courage inspire us all as we navigate our educational journey together.
This Week's Schedule & Events
This is an A-Week/Week 1 - Please ensure your child follows their A-Week/Week 1 schedule for creative arts (CARTS) classes.
Read Across America Day - Today, March 1st! Take time to enjoy extra reading with your child today.
Read Across CMIT South Day - Monday, March 3rd - We'll welcome parents and community leaders to read in various classrooms throughout the day.
Parent University: MCAP & MISA Night - Wednesday, March 5th, 6:00-7:30 p.m. (Virtual) - This important workshop is specifically for 3rd-5th grade parents and will cover test administration, score explanation, testing skills and strategies, and helpful resources.
Black History Program - Rescheduled to Friday, March 7th
K-2nd Grade: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
3rd-5th Grade: 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Note: Only parents of participating students may attend in person at their designated time slot. All other parents can view the performance online via a link that will be shared the day before the event.
Women's History Month Contest
CLF is hosting an exciting Women's History Month Contest from March 3rd-28th with the theme: "Shattering the Glass Ceiling". Students may choose from two project options:
Project Choice #1: Breaking Barriers
Project Choice #2: Collage of Barriers and Progress
For complete contest criteria and the rubric, please visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jGeikZ_z1a6HHcIzx_LVh-wb7U80GlC_2jlaHSn4Weg/edit?usp=sharing
Let's put CMIT South Elementary School on the map by having the highest participation rate! I encourage all students to showcase their creativity and understanding of women's contributions throughout history.
As always, remember that the STEM Journey Begins Here at CMIT South Elementary! Let's continue to fill this school year with exciting learning opportunities, personal growth, and impressive achievements for all our scholars. Your partnership in education makes a profound difference in our students' success and we thank you for making CMIT South Elementary a vibrant and supportive learning community. Together, we're creating meaningful experiences for our scholars! Remember, we can't continue this STEM journey without you!
Let's make this year a roaring success! 🦁📚
Wishing you all a 🐾 PawwRific 🐾 day and see you all Monday, March 3, 2025!
With Tiger Pride,
Ms. Tauheedah N. Simmons-Lewis
Acting Principal
Chesapeake Math & IT Academy Elementary South (CMIT)
Please take a look at these March 2025 calendar reminders:
- March 3 - Read Across America Day
March 5 - Inclement Weather Make-Up- Regular School Day*
March 5 - Parent University - MCAP & MISA Night 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
March 6 - PTO Yearbook Cover Contest deadline
March 7 - CMIT South ES Black History Month Program
March 11 - 3rd Quarter Progress Reports Released Online
March 14 - 2nd Quarter Virtual Honor Roll Assembly 2nd-5th Grade
- 2nd & 3rd Graders: 8:30AM - 9:30AM, 4th & 5th Graders: 9:35AM - 10:35AM
March 17 - Inclement Weather Make-Up- Schools Open (converted from Professional Development Day)
March 30 - Last Day of Ramadan
March 31 - Eid al-Fitr (starts at sunset 3/30) - Schools and Offices Closed
Birthdays are so much fun to celebrate with classmates. However, during the school day, the health and safety of each student are important, especially students with food allergies. Students are ONLY permitted to bring in NON-FOOD items to distribute to classmates at the end of the school day. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping all of our students safe at CMIT South ES.
Additionally, please note that teachers and staff are unable to participate in distributing communications/invitations or email addresses related to birthday celebrations. All planning for birthdays needs to happen outside of school so that it does not take away from the purpose of instruction.
Attendance in school each day is important. Let’s stay in school.
In order for an absence to be considered excused, a written note must accompany the student no later than three (3) days after return to school. The note should include:
- date(s) of absence
- scholar’s name
- Reason for absence
Late or make-up work will not be accepted unless the absence is an excused absence. Please review Administrative Procedure 5113 AP 5113 - Student Attendance, Absence and Truancy for further information.
Students who are absent for ten consecutive days will be withdrawn on the 11th day and will need to re-enroll.
Lawful Absences
Students enrolled in public schools are considered lawfully absent from school for any portion of the day, only under the following conditions:
- Death of a family member
- Illness of the student
- Court appearance
- Work approved or sponsored by a school
- Observance of a religious holiday
- State of emergency
- Suspension from school
- Mental Health (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.
- Other emergencies
- Deployment-related absences
Unlawful Absences
Unlawful absence – any time a student does not attend school that does not qualify as the above-listed reasons for a lawful absence.
Tardy
Scholars will be officially tardy if they are not in the building at 8:05 a.m.
If your scholar enters the building after the 8:05 a.m. bell, a parent must escort them into the building and electronically sign them in the late arrival portal. Scholars will be given an orange tardy slip to be permitted to class.
Parents of students who have 10 or more tardies in a semester will be required to meet with the principal/designee to discuss the reasons for the tardies and to develop a plan for improvement.
School Meals
2024-25 School Year Meal Prices
Elementary (Pre-K through Grade 5)
Breakfast: $1.60/day
Lunch: $2.75/day
How to Pay
MySchoolBucks, owned and operated by Heartland Payment Systems, is an online payment service that provides parents the ability to securely pay for meals, monitor student cafeteria purchases, make tuition payments for Before and After School Extended Learning programs, and receive email notifications for low-account balances. With MySchoolBucks, payments can be made 24/7 using a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, credit or debit card, and mobile app.
Principal Lunch Account
ALL breakfast,lunch, and Principal lunch payments should be made via www.myschoolbucks.com.
All money comes/goes to 1 account (child's). All that is needed to set up account (if not done) is
students lunch pin or student id.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals
We encourage all families to consider applying for free and reduced-price meals! Visit www.myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict to apply online today!
To apply, you will need:
- The name, school, and grade of your school-age children
- The name of all adults living in the home
- Income information for all adults living in the home
- Student ID Numbers for your school-age children
Applications will also be sent home with students the first week of school. Applications are available at all PGCPS schools and can be submitted at any time.
Hello Kinder Families,
As we are entering warmer weather please remember that Kindergarten's recess is early in the morning and students will still need coats. Also, families, please assist your scholar is their efforts of learning to tying their shoes.
As a reminder, please have your scholar utilize the online resource of Clever. Through Clever you can access other resources such as IXL, Lexia and i-Ready to help your scholar further their understanding of topics taught in class. Such as numbers 1-10, addition and subtraction up to 10, shapes, sight words, and short vowel CVC, consonant vowel consonant, words. Should you have trouble login in through Clever to any of these sites please let your scholar’s teacher know.
March 3: Read Across America
March 5: School now operates on normal schedule, no delay, parent teacher conferences are canceled
March 7: Black History Month Program K-2nd 8:30am
March 14: Homework and Leprechaun Traps are due
March 17: School now open
March 21: Tutus and Bow Ties, K-2 Spring Dance, hosted by the PTO
March 24: Spring Picture Day
Reading Updates:
UNIT 3- Week 2: Gingerbread Man/ Cornbread Man
Essential Question: How are two versions of the same story alike and different?
Phonological Awareness: Initial and Final Sounds; Segment and Blend Phonemes
Blend and Segment: Onset and Rime
Phonics: Constant sounds initial /V/ and middle short vowel sound /U/
High-frequency words: any, come, play
Unit Vocabulary: choose, explain, meaning, character
Learning Goals:
Learn about fairy tales and explore themes of a story
Visualize details from a story
Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between two stories
Find details in a text
Capitalization for the beginning of a sentence
Verbs and pronouns
Story elements: characters, setting, plot
Math Updates:
Topic 6: Understanding Subtraction
Essential Understanding: What types of situations involve subtraction?
Show numbers in many way
Express smaller parts of a bigger number with actions
Represent subtraction as taking away from numbers up to 10
Practice using an subtraction equation
Show subtraction using number lines, ten frames and pictures
Vocabulary: minus, take away, equal sign, take apart, left over, patterns
Science Updates:
TOPIC 4: Earth’s Weather
Essential Question: How do different weathers affect Earth?
Learn how the relationship between the temperature and the type weather that happens
Describe how the weather affects what people weather
Observe the relationship between the weather and the sky
Vocabulary: snow, temperature
Social Studies Updates:
Chapter 3 lesson 3: Jobs in Our Community
Essential Question- How have jobs changed over time?
Understand why people work
Look into the different jobs that can be found in community
Analyze how those jobs help the community
Vocabulary: carpenter, market
Grade Level Blurb:
Our Black History Month Projects were SPECTACULAR! It was incredible too see how much time and effort went into many of these projects-- including visiting sites, monuments, and popular places related to your scholar's chosen person. We had a lot of fun learning about different influential African Americans in history.
Please continue to check in with ParentVue to review your scholar's grades. Also, review all graded work arriving home! This is a great way to see what your scholar may need additional help with.
Mrs. Brown Taylor's Digital Agenda
Updates:
1. The new school goal for iReady Math is 10 lessons per week. We are actively working on this in class, but we could use your help! If you have access to a device at home, please consider having your scholar work on his/her lessons. Participation may be graded.
2. A new spelling packet will be sent home, this week, on Monday. This packet will be due on Friday, March 7th.
3. We will begin topic 7 in math this week. Please see more information regarding this topic below. Students will bring home a new math packet on Monday.
Reminders:
1. Resources are available on across content areas on CANVAS! Check for extra practice and review!
2. The weather has changed DRASTICALLY. Please send your child to school with appropriate clothing in order to participate in outdoor recess.
Reading Updates:
This week, students are back to reading fables. Our weekly story is titled, "The Cow and the Tiger." Students will revisit the elements of fables and will also focus on identifying the main ideas and setting in a story.
Phonics: This week in phonics we are learning about the vowel sounds of y. y can say /i/ as in my or it can /e/ as in body.
Math Updates:
We are beginning topic 7. In Topic 7, students will extend counting to 120, practice counting by 1s and 10s, and write numbers in number and word form. Please expect a parent letter, decodable, and new math homework packet this week.
Please also help us ensure students are completing 10 iReady math lessons, INDEPENDENTLY, per week! You can check their work by going to "My Progress," "Completed Work," and then counting the lessons completed during the current week.
Science Updates:
We are wrapping up our chapter on the sky and Earth. Please stay tuned for important information about testing from your scholar's teacher!
Our next topic will be on weather and seasons. Students will learn about different types of weather, how the weather changes, and the different seasons.
Social Studies Updates:
We are continuing through our topic on United States symbols and traditions. Students are learning what it means to be American. We have learned about the American Flag, Bald Eagle, Statue of Liberty, and Golden Gate Bridge as symbols of freedom and/or creativity for the United States. We have also learned about American Documents like the Declaration of Independence.
Please review assignments and additional resources on CANVAS to solidify learning.
Health Updates:
Students will be beginning a new magazine this month! This month we will focus on feelings and how to respond when we have big feelings!
Grade Level Blurb:
Greeting Tiger Family, Thank you for another great week of partnership.Just a few reminders this week March 5th is no longer a two hour early delay it is a full day of school. March 7, 2025 will be our Black History program.
Reading Updates:
This week in Reading we are on Unit 3 week 3 the genre of text we will read is Folktales. In phonics we will cover R-controlled vowels.
Math Updates:
Students will continue to learn how to subtract fluently within 100.
Social Studies Updates:
Students will be finishing up their Topic on the Government
Science Updates:
Scholars are finishing up their current topics
Health Updates:
Student will continue to learn stages of life and how we grow.
Grade Level Blurb:
Please check in with your child’s morning homeroom teacher and/or afternoon content teacher for updates!
Reading Updates-
We have started Unit 3! Students learned about prefixes and how they change the meaning of a word, and we are reading historical fiction. Unit 3 will be centered around reading texts about heroes. This week, we read Below Deck: A Titanic Story!
Math Updates-
All classes worked on addition and addition patterns within 1,000!
Science Updates-
We are continuing to learn about climate, and this week we focused on climate change.
Social Studies Updates-
Students are learning about the importance of education and human capital! Specifically, students are learning that human capital is the combination of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students gain through education!
Health Updates-
Students learned about healthy minds and habits.
Greetings Tiger Family,
I hope this message finds you warmly. We hope that our scholars enjoyed their first field trip of the year. We hope to have other trips this year. We have reached the halfway point of the 3rd Quarter. Grades are currently being published and will be available for viewing by Friday March 7, 2025. Please ensure you are checking Synergy weekly to stay on top of your scholar’s work completion.
The character trait of the month of March is Courage. Students will have lessons in class around having the courage to take chances and do things you wouldn't normally do. Ways you can help is to share with your scholar times when you had to show courage or even take chances to try new things. Please continue to read to get updates and important information from Fourth Grade.
Thank you for your continuing support and partnership.
Warm regards,
4th Grade Team
Important Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday March 5, 2025- Full School Day
Friday March 14, 2025- 2nd Quarter Honor Roll Assembly
Friday March 14, 20, 2025- Make-Up School Day
Uniforms:
We are a uniform school. Students must be in the proper uniform each and every day. Students are expected to have mostly black shoes. They may wear a navy blue or school logo jacket or pullover during class. Students will be asked to remove any jacket or sweater that is not following the uniform policy.
Fourth Grade Reminders:
i-Ready:
i-Ready is a computer based math and reading program that is available for all of our scholars. Scholars have completed their diagnostics and are working on programs based on their areas of need. If scholars have access to a computer at home, we recommend that your scholar is getting at least 45 minutes of practice a week in both reading and math. Please encourage your child to complete lessons and ensure they complete the lessons independently to accurately improve their skills. i-Ready is accessed through clever.pgcps.org, and scholars will use their PGCPS logins to access the program.
Absences:
This is a friendly reminder that late work is only accepted if a student has an excused absence! If a scholar is absent and does not bring a note they will earn a 0 on the assignment that was missed. Please read the reminders to ensure that you are partnering with your scholars to make them successful for school. If a scholar leaves early or arrives late to school and it is not excused they will earn a 0 for all work that is not completed.
If your scholar is absent, please share a note with the homeroom teacher and attendance managers within 3 days of your scholar returning back 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 reason for absence. Work is provided to students upon their return to school with an absence note.
Communications:
Students must bring their agenda book each day. Teachers will note the agenda book and it should be signed nightly by the adult at home.
Please allow up to 48 business hours for all responses to emails and ClassDojo messages. Teachers are not actively monitoring their emails during the day because we are engaged in instruction. Emails are not monitored over the weekend or in the evening hours when teachers have gone home. If the message sent relates to dismissal changes please call the school directly to leave a message with the front office.
Grading:
Please check Synergy weekly to see scholar’s updated grades. Canvas is a Learning Management System in which scholars utilize to complete assignments and get access to materials.The grades provided in Synergy are those that will be used to calculate progress reports and report cards.
Parent Teacher Conferences:
Conferences with teachers are available with families as needed. Please reach out to the homeroom teacher about scheduling a parent teacher conference.
Scholastic Book Club:
Dear Tiger Family,
This year, our class is reading with Scholastic Book Clubs! You’ll have access to expertly curated, affordable books that help boost your child’s reading skills, build your home library, and maybe even create moments of quality time you can share together.
Plus place an order of $25 or more and you can pick a FREE $5 book (use code READS at checkout).
Family Order Due Date: 03/10/2025
Shop Our Class Page: https://orders.scholastic.com/MF27J
Shop Flyers: https://clubs.scholastic.com/all-flyers
Invite relatives and friends to help your child discover the joy of reading when you share our class page link. Every order benefits our classroom, helping me earn FREE books and resources that every child can enjoy.
Thanks so much for your support!
Reading Updates:
All texts that are being read in the classroom are also available for students to reread at home in their Vol. 2 textbooks. Please have students continue to read and discuss with you information that they find in the text. Students should always read a portion of the text and share any thoughts or questions they had while reading. Students should also note the text underlining, circling, and highlighting parts of the story that were important to know. Homework continues to be sent home on a weekly basis on the first day of the week.
This Week: We started reading a story called “Mama’s Window.” This story is in Vol.2 textbook pages 49-61. In this realistic fiction students will read the story about a boy named Sugar and how he grows and changes in the story. As students read they will monitor their inner conversations to notice how the events of the story affect what happens to the character. Students will seek to answer: How do our experiences help us see the world differently?
Next Week: Next week we will continue reading the story called “Mama’s Window.” In this realistic fiction students will read the story about a boy named Sugar and how he grows and changes in the story. As students continue to read the story closely they will identify the elements of plot and be able to describe the character. Students will also have a chance to write about how the character of Sugar
Math Updates:
This week in math we closed Topic 3: Use Strategies and Properties to Multiply by 1-Digit Numbers with our topic assessment quiz.
Next week we will start Topic 4: Use Strategies and Properties to Multiply by 2-Digit Numbers.
Please check Synergy ParentVue and Canvas with your scholar to ensure the completion of assignments.
Science Updates:
This week students begin our next topic focused on How Humans Interact with the Environment. This unit will focus on natural resources and the environmental impact from our everyday lives.
Please check Synergy ParentVue and Canvas with your scholar to ensure completion of assignments
Social Studies Updates:
This week: Students read Chapter 3 Lesson 3: Our Rights and Responsibilities”, and understand that citizens in a democracy have both rights and responsibilities. They will explore the fundamental rights granted to individuals, such as freedom of speech and voting, and recognize the importance of fulfilling civic duties like obeying laws, voting, and participating in community activities. Through discussions and activities, students will be able to explain how these rights and responsibilities work together to maintain a functioning democracy.
Next week: Students will complete their quest by writing a persuasive letter to a local official, effectively presenting and advocating for a community issue, and convincing the official to take action to address the concern.
Health Updates:
In health we are learning about our Mouths and keeping our Teeth Healthy and clean.
Exciting News!
The Science MISA test is just 12 days away! We’re gearing up for success, so encourage your scholar to complete their science homework and use IXL for extra practice. Let’s crush this test!
Field Trips Coming Soon!
We have some fun and educational field trips planned! Want to join the adventure? Get fingerprinted now to be eligible to chaperone. We can’t wait to explore and learn together!
Reading Updates:
Spelling Focus: -ous, -eous, -ious
We will explore words ending in -ous, -eous, and -ious. Scholars will practice spelling and using these words in context to strengthen their vocabulary.
Genre Focus: Realistic Fiction
We will read realistic fiction texts to analyze characters, settings, and plots that could happen in real life.
Literary Concept: What is a Theme?
Students will learn how to identify and understand the theme of a story. They will practice finding the underlying message or lesson the author wants to convey.
Math Updates:
Topic 7: Fractions
We are continuing our journey through fractions by learning how to:
Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators.
Find a common denominator to make these calculations easier.
Encourage your scholar to practice these skills at home using I-ready, IXL, or with real-world examples, like measuring ingredients while cooking or comparing fractions in daily activities!
Social Studies Updates:
Chapter 6: A New Nation – Lesson 1
This week, we are diving into the beginnings of our nation with Chapter 6, Lesson 1. Students will learn about the challenges and decisions that shaped the early United States. Encourage your scholar to discuss what they learned about the founding fathers and the creation of our government!
Science Updates:
The MISA Science test is just around the corner on March 11 and 13! To ensure our scholars are well-prepared, we are reviewing key science concepts. Please encourage your child to use IXL MISA prep lessons at home for extra practice.
Outer Planets of Space
We are also learning about the outer planets in our solar system! Students will explore the characteristics of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Ask your scholar about these fascinating giants of space!
Health Updates:
The Effects of Drugs
This week, we are discussing how drugs affect people both in the short-term and long-term. We aim to educate students on making healthy choices and understanding the consequences of drug use.
Reminders and Important Dates
MISA Test Dates: March 11 and 13
Homework: Students will receive science homework daily to reinforce their learning and prepare for the MISA test.
IXL Practice: Please encourage your child to utilize IXL for extra practice in all subjects.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your scholar’s education! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.
Let’s make it a great week of learning!
General CARTS Message:
Just as a reminder. Please remember to check your student's Canvas assignments and Synergy grades regularly. As they do complete work for grades in CARTS classes on Canvas.
Lego:
This week in Legos and Robotics, we continued to focus on strategies for problem solving. The students played various games individually and within groups. All of the games were math centered. The students enjoyed being a part of a group and employing strategy.
Makers Lab:
This week in Makers Lab, we focused on creating structures using just straws and a bit of tape. The challenge was to design stable frameworks that could hold cups filled with rocks. It was a fun and hands-on exercise that tested our creativity and problem-solving skills as we figured out how to balance weight and stability with such simple materials. The process of trial and error really helped us refine our designs and come up with some surprisingly sturdy structures!
Kindergarten started learning about the element of art, texture, through looking at various artworks and looking at the painting strokes of the artist Jackson Pollock! Texture means the way something feels or the way it looks like it should feel. Next week, they will be creating a texture painting. In the meantime, enjoy these action drawings!
KVS is our school's dismissal tool for car riders. All parents MUST fill out their KVS number when picking up their scholar. It is imperative that numbers are entered once you reach the car line. If your scholar is a car rider, please take time to help him or her practice memorizing his or her number as this will make the dismissal process much quicker!
In November 2020, PGCPS launched an online volunteer application and approval process. Click here for more information on becoming a volunteer and to access the application.
CHESAPEAKE MATH AND IT SOUTH ELEMENTARY
• Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.
• Grades: K-5
• Uniform: Yes
• Before After School Enrichment: Yes
http://clfmd.org/enrichment-2/
• School Colors: Hunter Green, Navy Blue
• School Mascot: "Roary" the Tiger
• School Website: http://www.cmitsouthes.org
For more information