Dear CMIT South Elementary Families,

As we welcome October, I'm filled with excitement for the month ahead. Parents, your support is the backbone of our success. Students, your eagerness to learn drives us forward. Teachers and Staff, your passion and creativity bring our curriculum to life. Together, we're fostering an environment where innovation thrives and every child can reach their full potential.

Let's make this October a month of growth, discovery, and achievement in our STEM-focused community!

Recent Highlights and Upcoming Events for This Week

National Custodian Day (October 2)

On October 2, we celebrated our unsung hero - Mrs. Cecilia, our amazing custodian! We truly appreciate her commitment to providing us with a clean and safe environment. Let's continue to show our appreciation for her tireless efforts. Mrs. Cecilia, you're a vital part of our school family - thank you for all you do!

READ-A-THON Donation Fundraiser (October 4 - 21)

We're thrilled to announce our READ-A-THON Donation Fundraiser, which kicked off on Friday, October 4, 2024! This exciting event encourages our students to dive into books while working together to unlock special rewards. The fundraiser ends on October 21, 2024.

Goal: Help us raise money for our book vending machine and audio equipment for assemblies and performances.

How to Participate: Click on this link and type in your student's name!

Parent-Teacher Conferences (October 7)

Remember, October 7, 2024 is Parent-Teacher Conference Day. There's no school for students on this day. Check your email or ClassDojo for the conference sign-up link. If you haven't received it, please contact your child's teacher immediately to schedule your meeting.

Scholastic Book Fair (October 7 - 14)

Get ready for a literary adventure! Our much-anticipated Scholastic Book Fair is just around the corner, transforming our Media/Library room into a book lover's paradise from October 7 - 14, 2024. This is a CASHLESS event, so students need an eWallet to make purchases. It's quick to set up – just 5 minutes!

Set up an eWallet and preview items at: www.scholastic.com/bf/cmitsouthes Don't miss this opportunity to ignite your child's imagination and support their reading journey. Remember, today's readers are tomorrow's leaders!

Progress Reports (October 8)

Progress Reports will be released online in Synergy ParentVue on October 8, 2024. Please take time to review your child's progress report with them.

World Mental Health Day (October 10)

Join us in recognizing World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2024. We're inviting all students and staff to wear green, symbolizing mental health awareness and growth. This day is about more than just wearing a color – it's an opportunity to:

• Start conversations about mental health.

• Learn about emotional well-being.

• Support each other and reduce the stigma.

Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health. Let's work together to create a supportive, understanding community for all.

Safety Update

As a follow-up to the letter sent out on October 1, 2024, regarding the recent incident at our school, I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Please be assured that:

1. We are collaborating with law enforcement and district officials to thoroughly investigate the incident.

2. We've reviewed and reinforced our safety protocols, increasing staff presence in hallways and common areas.

3. A comprehensive threat assessment has been conducted.

4. Counseling services are available to any students who may feel anxious or need support. Students can visit Ms. Chandler, our professional school counselor, at any time.

While we believe we've effectively addressed the immediate concerns, our vigilance remains high. Safety is an ongoing process, and we continue to monitor our school environment closely and encourage students and staff to report any concerns Your trust in us is paramount, and we are dedicated to maintaining a secure and nurturing learning environment.

As always, remember that the STEM Journey Begins Here at CMIT South Elementary! We're looking forward to a year filled with exciting learning opportunities, personal growth, and impressive achievements for all our scholars. Your support and partnership in this journey are invaluable. 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 Tuesday, October 8, 2024!

Week at a Glance

This week, I visited the 5th-grade classrooms and gave a brief overview of the school counselor's role. I reminded the students about how the school counselor can assist the students throughout the year. We then transitioned to a lesson centered on respect and kindness, not only with their peers but also with teachers and staff. The goal of this lesson is to foster a positive and inclusive school environment where everyone feels valued and supported. By promoting kindness, students learn empathy, compassion, and the importance of helping others, while respect helps them understand the value of diversity, different perspectives, and setting boundaries. I will meet with our kindergarten scholars next week.

This week has evoked strong emotions for staff, families, and students. As your school counselor, my top priority is the safety and well-being of every student, and I want to reassure you that we are taking all necessary measures to ensure our school remains a safe space for learning. If you notice changes in your child's behavior or if they express concerns, I encourage you to reach out. I am here to provide a listening ear and offer any resources or guidance that may help. Together, as a school community, we can navigate through challenging situations with understanding and care. I appreciate your partnership in helping our children feel safe and supported. To bring more awareness to emotional regulation and wellness we are celebrating World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10th. We encourage all students to wear green as the international symbol of mental health.

Warm regards

Ms. Chandler

Grade Level Blurb:

Hello Families,

Kindergarten students have been completing testing this past week and will continue this upcoming week. Please ensure that students are at school on time and are well rested. As we approach the chiller weather please keep in mind if students are feeling unwell please keep them home and work with your scholar about covering their mouths, as they cough and sneeze.

Also, please make sure that your scholar's shoes are tied when they come to school. We are more than happy to assist students with tying their shoes but please have them double knotted to start the day. We will begin to focus on using Lexia Core5 and iXL within the classroom. Please practice logging into Clever with your students. Friendly reminder that CLEVER can be found on the PGCPS website. Within CLEVER, you can search for both Lexia and iXL to access the sites.

Independent activities (homework) have been issued to all scholars. Packets are given bi-weekly and will include all work that should be completed and a list of supplemental websites that students can explore at home. Please support students in completing the activities.

Book Fair is next week. Please make sure to add money to your scholar’s e-wallet for the book fair. Each class has a scheduled time to go to the book fair, but you are welcome to come to the bookfair after school with your scholar. No paper money will be accepted. You can ask your scholar’s teacher for the date of their classes visit.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!!!! Please visit Volunteer with PGCPS in order to register. Please follow all of the required steps and contact your scholar’s teacher with any questions. Inform the teacher when you are approved and ready to support. Thank you for your assistance!

IMPORTANT KINDERGARTEN DATES-

OCTOBER 7- Parent-Teacher Conferences – Schools Closed for Students

October 8-14 - Book Fair Open

OCTOBER 11- Sight word Practice Test

OCTOBER 25- Pumpkin Project due

Reading:

UNIT 1 WEEK 5- Going Places

Essential Question- How can we describe special places?

• Phonological awareness: Phonological Awareness: Middle Sounds; Initial Sounds

Blend and Segment: Onset and Rime

• Phonics: Consonants Bb and Rr

• High-Frequency Words: for, me, with

• Spelling words found in weekly readings: markers, brushes, tools, pencils

• Unit Vocabulary: map, move, land, special

Learning Goals:

• Learn words that can tell about art stores

• Make connections between author’s purpose and society

• Orally respond to informational text

Math:

• TOPIC 3- Numbers 6 to 10
  Essential Understanding- Good math thinkers use math they know to show and solve problems

• There is more than one way to show a number

• Counting tells how many are in a set or a group, no matter which order the objects are counted

• The last number said when counting a group is the total number

• Use objects, drawings, and numbers to compare numbers

Science:

TOPIC 1 QUEST EXPERIMENT AND ASSESSMENT (10/2 - 10/13)

• Students will create a sail car and demonstrate how the wind can move a sail car

• Students will test their sailboat design to see what changes they can make in order for the car to move faster and farther

• Quest Findings: Wind makes things go

• How can we use the wind to move something fast?

• Assessment and Remediation- Students will show what they have learned in Topic 1

Social Studies:

CHAPTER 1 LESSON 4- Leaders Make Rules

Essential Question- How do leaders make rules and laws?

• Identify leaders who make rules and laws

• Describe the leaders at my home

• Explain how the government keeps communities safe

Vocabulary: leader, government

Health:

OCTOBER TOPIC- The Five Senses

Essential Question- What are the five senses?

• Identify the five senses and the body parts they are associated with

• Respect what your senses can do for you

• Practice routines for healthful care of sense organs

Vocabulary: hear, touch, sight, smell, see, senses

Grade Level Blurb:

Hello Tiger family, Thank you for another great week. Please make sure you sign up for Parent Teacher Conferences if you have not already done so!

Reading:

This week in reading your students will learn about Poetry. They will be introduced to stanzas, imagery, and repetition.

Math:

Students will learn about equal groups. They will be learning how to determine if a number is even or odd.

Science:

Students will continue to learn about the properties of matter and ways to use them.

Social Studies:

Scholars will be learning about family history as they wrap up this topic.

Health:

Students will be finishing their topic on Safety. The next topic that will be covered is the Brain. Scholars will learn how the brain works.

Grade Level Blurb:

Conferences are on Monday! If you would like to meet with a member of the third grade team on a day other than Monday, please contact them as soon as possible. Please be sure to read any announcements regarding the PTO’s Book Fair and any payment plans relating to it. It starts on Tuesday!

Reading:

Students are reviewing concepts such as plural nouns, as well as the use of suffixes. Students have also been introduced to the use of imagery in writing! We are continuing to go over other concepts from the last few weeks.

Math:

Students have been working on Topic 2, specifically using repeated subtraction to understand the relationship between subtraction and division!

Science:

Students are continuing to identify the forces acting on an object, as well as balanced and unbalanced forces!

Social Studies:

Students are continuing to learn about how we interact with our planet, specifically through physical and cultural geography of the U.S.!

Health:

Students are learning about how the human eye functions!

Grade Level Blurb:

Greetings Tiger Family,

We are now in the second half of the first quarter! We have concluded all of our diagnostic testing for the beginning of the year and this data was given to scholars to take home. Please make sure your scholar has given you a copy of their diagnostic data. Students will use this data to create goals to make improvements this school year.

This month we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Each class has been assigned a Spanish speaking country to learn about and participate in the door decorating contest. Students will also learn about people of Hispanic origin that made a difference in the lives of others here in America and around the world.

Countries:

Crusoe- Cuba

Felton- Costa Rica

Holloway- Uruguay

Ramsey- Panama

Parent Teacher Conferences:

On Monday October 7, 2024 we will have parent teacher conferences. You will be able to meet with both of your scholar’s teachers. All conferences will be virtually using Zoom. Teachers will share their process for signing up for conferences within the next few weeks. We will prioritize students with the most need for conferences (failing grades, performing grade levels below on diagnostics, and behavior). But teachers are available for conferences throughout the year.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Monday October 7,2024- No School for Students: Parent Teacher Conferences

• Friday October 18, 2024- No School for Students: Professional Development

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.

Important Information:

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.

Fourth Grade Reminders:

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 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.

If your scholar is absent, please share a note with the homeroom teacher 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.

Reading Updates:

Students have been given a copy of both Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 of their reading textbooks to be kept at home. They also received a pack of trade books that are to remain at home as well. Students should revisit the text of the week and can Please check your scholars backpack to ensure that they are not carrying these books back and forth to school.

This Week: Students finished reading the text “Rare Treasures” closely in order to complete a writing. Students were able to write about traits shown by Mary Anning throughout her life and how they traits helped her to be the scientist she was. Students also were able to complete a spelling quiz this week.

Next Week: Students will read closely the Magazine Article Twins in Space. In this article students will read about a NASA experiment that was conducted with twin astronauts brothers Mar4k and Scott Kelly. In this text students will work with the skill of text structure. Text structure is how the author organizes the information that is presented in the text.

Math Updates:

This week we are beginning Topic 2:Fluently Add and Subtract Multi-Digit Whole Numbers. Our Essential Question for this unit, “ How can sums and differences of whole numbers be estimated? What are standard procedures for adding and subtracting whole numbers?”. The focus standards for this topic are, 4.NBT.B.4 Use Place Value Understanding And Properties Of Operations To Perform Multi-Digit Arithmetic. 4.OA.A.3 Use The Four Operations With Whole Numbers To Solve Problems.

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

Science Updates:

This week we will spend some time focusing on the STEM process in preparation for STEM Fair. Scholars have been working on mini science labs, gaining practice using the scientific method. All scholars have received the 2024-2025 STEM FAIR Packet.

Please check Synergy ParentVue and Canvas with your scholar to ensure completion of assignments

Social Studies Updates:

This week: Students learned about the weather and climate that vary across the United States by exploring the following key areas:

• Understanding Weather vs. Climate:

• Defining weather (short-term atmospheric conditions) and climate (long-term weather patterns).

• Regional Climate Zones

Next week: Students will explore various regions of the United States, focusing on their unique characteristics and available resources. They will examine how geography influences the economy, culture, and environment of each region. Through interactive activities, discussions, and research, students will identify key resources—such as natural, human, and capital resources—and analyze their significance in regional development. By the end of the lesson, students will have a deeper understanding of how resources shape communities and contribute to global interdependence.

Health Updates:

In health we are learning about our Incredible Ears! How does the ear work? How do our ears and brain make connections to each other?

Grade Level Blurb:

Fifth Grade Update!

We’re back into our routine now that testing is behind us! The students have done an amazing job, and we’re ready to dive back into our regular learning activities. With testing complete, we can focus on building our skills, enjoying hands-on projects, and getting back into the groove of our daily schedule. Thank you for your support during the testing season—now it’s time to finish the first quarter strong!

Reading:

We’re diving into informational texts, where students are learning how to find important details, understand main ideas, and explore the special features that make nonfiction reading so interesting. It’s been great to see their curiosity and engagement!

Math:

We’re starting our unit on adding and subtracting decimals. This will help students sharpen their skills in working with numbers they see in real life, like money.. I loved seeing all the creative “Pick a Project” submissions last week of all the amazing solar system projects!

Science:

We’re kicking off Topic 2: Changes in Matter. Students will get hands-on with experiments to see how matter changes through physical and chemical processes. It’s going to be a lot of fun exploring states of matter, mixtures, and more!

Social Studies:

To wrap up our unit on the Age of Exploration, students created “Help Wanted” ads for sailors. They did a fantastic job showing what it would take to be a successful sailor during this exciting time in history. Their creativity really shined through!

Health:

In health class, we’re focusing on First Aid and Internet Safety. Students are learning basic first aid skills, like handling minor injuries and staying calm in emergencies. We’re also discussing how to stay safe online, protect personal information, and make smart digital choices.

Art:

Here is a link to some useful videos for each grade level!

• Kindergarten

• 1st grade

• 2nd grade

• 3rd grade

• 4th grade

• 5th grade

PE:

This week in PE we began our unit on pacing. Students learned why it is important to pace themselves when walking and jogging and were able to practice moving at various paces in a variety of virtual settings.We also learned a little bit about our respiratory systems and how our lungs function when we inhale and exhale.

Technology:

This week all students have progressed in what they are working on in class. Third through fifth grade are submitting their first word document while getting ready to learn more skills that can help them better in their other classes. First and second grades are finishing up with their game building and will start sharing with other students so they can see what someone did that was different from them. Kindergarten while still getting used to using computers and making good progress to be able to use them on their own.

Lego:

This week in Legos and Robotics, we completed our 2D and 3D builds. They sorted and arranged their food items to be displayed.

Maker’s Lab: In this week's Makers Lab class, we watched a video that explored the relationships between animals, plants, and the Earth. The video highlighted the balance of ecosystems, showcasing how each component plays a vital role in sustaining life. The students were particularly excited by the segments featuring whales and the anaconda snake, marveling at the sheer size and majesty of the whales, as well as the anaconda's incredible adaptations for survival in its rainforest habitat. These awe-inspiring creatures sparked lively discussions about their roles in the ecosystem and the importance of conserving their environments. Overall, the session not only educated but also inspired students to think creatively about how they can contribute to environmental stewardship through their projects.

2024-2025 School Calendar

School Meals

School Violence Resources and Support

PGCPS TV

CMIT South ES Enrichment Program

Vendor Managed Child Care

Parent Handbook

Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Synergy ParentVUE Support for Parents and Guardians