The Tiger Times

Dear Amazing Tiger Families and Community,

As we enter this beautiful season of reflection and thanksgiving, I am filled with overwhelming gratitude for each and every one of you! Your unwavering support, active engagement, and genuine care for our Tiger community continue to inspire me daily. This month’s character theme word is Gratitude. The profound words of Melody Beattie move me: "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." This November, let's embrace gratitude not just as a feeling, but as a transformative practice that enriches every aspect of our Tiger community.

💛 A Heartfelt Thank You - National Principal Appreciation Month

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making National Principal Appreciation Month in October absolutely ROAR-Tacular!! I was deeply touched and humbled by the outpouring of kindness shown by our incredible Tiger community. Thank you for the beautiful cards, heartfelt messages, stunning flowers, adorable drawings, decorations, thoughtful tokens of appreciation, and the warm smiles and hugs in the hallways and parking lot. It truly warmed my heart and reminded me why I love serving this amazing community.

Please know this: I cannot do this job without each and every one of you! Being your Principal is not a solo endeavor, it's a partnership built on trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to our Tigers' success. Your support, understanding, patience, and encouragement fuel my passion and dedication every single day. Together, we create the magic that makes CMIT South Elementary such a special place.

You make me a better leader, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Thank you for believing in our mission, supporting our vision, and partnering with me to create a school where every child can thrive.

🎭 Book Character Parade - What a Celebration!

What an incredible way to end our week with the Book Character Parade! It was absolutely amazing to see our scholars and staff dressed as so many different beloved characters and enthusiastically share their books with one another. The creativity, excitement, and love of literacy displayed throughout our hallways were truly inspiring!

Special Shout Out: Our TigerTastic Cheerleaders did an AWESOME job with their performance for the entire school!! Way to GO! Your energy, dedication, and spirit brought so much joy to everyone. We are incredibly proud of you! A Special Thank You to our amazing Cheer Coaches, Mrs. A. Matthews and Ms. A. Price, for your dedication, time, and incredible leadership! Your commitment to developing our cheerleaders' skills, confidence, and team spirit is truly appreciated.

☕ Quarterly Principal's Chat & Chew: Leveling Up with Principal Lewis - Join Us This Week!

Coming up this week, we invite you to join us in-person for our Quarterly Principal's Chat & Chew:

Leveling Up with Principal Lewis, a wonderful opportunity to connect, share, and strengthen our Tiger community! During these interactive sessions, we'll:

• Share important school updates and celebrate achievements

• Highlight grade-level successes and student progress

• Address common concerns and answer your questions

• Engage in meaningful discussions on topics important to your family's educational experience

Submit Your Questions & Confirm Attendance: Please complete this form to ensure we address your most pressing concerns: https://forms.gle/sCKs92zGb1NtnDDi9

Form Deadline: Monday, November 3rd at 4:00 PM (this helps us plan for refreshments and prepare thoughtful responses)

Light refreshments will be provided!

1st Quarterly Meeting Schedule (8:30 AM - 9:30 AM):

• K & 1st Grade: Tuesday, November 4th

• 2nd & 3rd Grade: Wednesday, November 5th

• 4th & 5th Grade: Thursday, November 6th

We can't wait to see you and hear your thoughts!

🎟️ Charter School Lottery Information - 2026-2027

Dear Families,

The 2026–2027 Charter/Specialty Lottery will open on Saturday, November 1, 2025, and close on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Important Process Information:

1. First: Submit lottery applications through ScribOrder at https://pgcpsmdc.scriborder.com/

2. Second: After submitting your ScribOrder application, you will receive an order number

3. Third: Complete the Sibling Preference Application using your order number: Sibling Preference Application

4. Submit: Send completed sibling applications directly to Jamie Bull, Registrar, at jamie.bull@pgcps.org.

Critical Requirements:

• Students must have a Student ID number to apply

• If your student needs a Student ID, complete the Student ID Application in ParentVUE

• Deadline for Student ID applications: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

• Ensure all information is entered accurately—incomplete applications will delay processing

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Bull, School Registrar at jamie.bull@pgcps.org.

📅 Important Reminder: Parent/Teacher Conferences

School Closed for Students: Tuesday, November 11th for Parent/Teacher Conferences

Please make sure you sign up or reach out to your child's teacher to schedule your conference. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your Tiger's progress, celebrate successes, and partner with teachers to support continued growth.

🎄Claws for a Cause - Holiday Angel Program

This season, let's show our generosity and make a difference together! Our school is launching its first-ever Claws for a Cause - Holiday Angel Program, where families can help spread cheer by supporting others in our school community. Every act of kindness—big or small—helps make the holidays brighter for everyone.

Program Details:

• When: November 17th - December 15th

• Where: CMIT South ES Front Office

• How:

1. Select a paw from our front office holiday tree

2. Purchase items listed on the paw

3. Return UNWRAPPED gifts and wrapping paper to the designated drop-off station by December 15th

Let's come together, show our school spirit, and make this a truly PAWW-rific holiday season! Your gratitude in action—sharing what you have with others—embodies the true meaning of this special season.

🌟 Living Gratitude Every Day

As Melody Beattie beautifully reminds us, gratitude transforms everything it touches. This month, I encourage you to talk with your children about gratitude:

• What are they thankful for in their lives?

• How can they express gratitude to teachers, friends, and family?

• What small acts of kindness can they do to show appreciation?

When we approach life with grateful hearts, we see abundance everywhere—in our loving families, our supportive community, our dedicated teachers, and the incredible opportunity to learn and grow together.

Remember: We are Leveling Up the STEMTastic Way! Let's make this season of gratitude extraordinary by celebrating what we have, sharing with others, and creating a community where every Tiger feels valued, supported, and deeply appreciated.

With Grateful Tiger Pride and Endless Gratitude,

Dear Tiger Families,

As we move into November, it’s a wonderful time to focus on gratitude and kindness. In school, students are learning about recognizing the good things in their lives and expressing appreciation to others. Practicing gratitude helps children build empathy, strengthen relationships, and develop a positive mindset.

At home, try sharing one thing your family is thankful for each day—it’s a simple way to connect and encourage reflection. As the holidays approach, remember to slow down, take care of yourselves, and enjoy the small moments together.

Wishing you a peaceful and joy-filled November!
💛

Grade Level Blurb:

Hello Tiger Families!

Welcome to the second quarter!

Students had a great time ending the first quarter at the Book Character Parade. Be sure to check out our pictures below!

Also, our field trip to the Baltimore Aquarium for Dec. 5th has been approved. Chaperone sign up and more information will be announced at a later date.

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. Thank you for your assistance!

Students are losing their personal belongings. Please label all items, sweaters and jackets especially, so that students will know what belongs to them. Please use simple reminders to help students learn to become and stay responsible for their own items. Also please continue to practice tying shoes and turning sleeves of jackets from inside out to the correct way with your scholars. When your child has been absent please communicate to the teacher and complete the online document submission form, because we are not taking paper notes: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lp2fJsfDLjWNINllvX10OKjiGDn443yAB8Hq8BMBa-E/viewform

IMPORTANT KINDERGARTEN DATES-

NOVEMBER 7- Homework Due

NOVEMBER 11- Parent- Teacher Conferences

NOVEMBER 21- Family Tree Project Due

DECEMBER 5- National Baltimore Aquarium

Reading Updates:

UNIT 2: Living Together

Week 1: Animals on the Move

Essential Question: Why do some animals move from place to place?

• UNIT 1 ASSESSMENT

• Phonological Awareness: Initial and Final Sounds; Segment and Blend Phonemes

Blend and Segment: Onset and Rime

• Phonics: Consonants Dd and Kk

• High-Frequency Words: of, are, that

• Vocabulary words found in weekly readings: butterflies, geese, whales

• Unit Vocabulary: grow, need, share, depend

Learning Goals:

• Identify the main idea to understand informational text

• Find the Main Idea and Supporting Details

• Make Inferences About Main Ideas

• Words that Name Different Animals

• Adjectives and Articles

• Rhyming Sort

Math Updates:

TOPIC 4- Comparing Numbers 0-10

Essential Understanding: Two groups can be compared by counting the number of objects in each group and telling which group has more objects or fewer objects.

• Finding the position of each number within the counting sequence helps to compare

• The number that tells more is greater than the other; the number that tells fewer is less than the other.

• The use of matching, drawing, ten frames, and counting to compare numbers

Vocabulary: zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, compare, ten frame

Science Updates:

TOPIC 3: Needs of Living Things

Experience 3: Where Plants and Animals Live

• Review living vs non-living things

• Inquiry about the relationship between plants and animals and where they live.

• Demonstrate the relationship between the needs of plants and animals and the places they live, which together make up a system.

• Describe habitat relationships using relational language and simple adjectives.

Vocabulary: environment, system, model

Social Studies Updates:

Review and assess CHAPTER 1

Laws, rules and how to be a good citizen.

Start CHAPTER 2 LESSON 1- Our Country and State

Essential Question- What does it mean to be American?

• I will know about America

• There are 50 states in our nation

• Discuss the people who live in our country

Vocabulary: nation

Health Updates:

NOVEMBER TOPIC: Healthy Foods

Lesson 1:Food Needs for Life

• Identify food as a need for all living things.

• Explain how choosing healthful food promotes a positive self-image.

• Identify routines for healthy eating.

• Compare and contrast the needs of living things.

Vocabulary: alive, not living, healthy, routine

Grade Level Blurb:

Can you believe we’ve already finished the first quarter? Time is flying, and our second graders have learned and grown so much! I’m so proud of the effort, curiosity, and kindness they’ve shown so far this year.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I’m so grateful to be working with such a wonderful group of students and families—here’s to a great start to Quarter 2!

Reading Updates:
This week, we will focusing on the elements of realistic fiction text! Our phonics focus will be on vowel digraph -ie as in piece and tie.

Math Updates:

This week in Math, we’re continuing our work with standard units of measurement! Students are practicing measuring length using inches and centimeters while comparing and estimating different objects around them.

Science Updates:

This week in Science, we will continue to learn about the properties of matter! Students are learning how to observe, describe, and compare different materials based on traits like color, texture, and shape.

Social Studies Updates:

This week, our second graders will continue learning about people, places, and nature as we explore Earth’s land and water! Students will discover the different kinds of landforms and bodies of water around the world and learn about where people live and how our environment shapes our communities. It’s an exciting week of exploring our amazing planet!

Health Updates:

In November, our second graders will be learning all about nutrition and how to make healthy food choices! We’ll explore the different food groups and how many servings we need each day, as well as why eating a good breakfast is important. Students will learn about the nutrients our bodies need, how to classify and evaluate foods, and how to choose healthy snacks. We’ll also talk about how making good choices can help us feel good about ourselves and set personal health goals.

Grade Level Blurb:

It was a spooktacular week in third grade. The students were busy completing their first quarter assignments and projects. The week ended with a wonderful book costume parade down our school halls.

Reading Updates:

This week, we wrapped up our informational text unit by practicing how to use text features and text evidence to better understand nonfiction. We also focused on vocabulary and r-controlled vowels in phonics. In writing, students worked through Step 3 of the Writing Process — Revising, where they added more details using the 5 W’s (Who, What, When, Where, Why) to strengthen their stories.

Social Studies Updates:

In Social Studies, we learned about natural resources and discussed how we can conserve renewable and nonrenewable resources in our everyday lives.

Math Updates:

Math Project:
We proudly completed our rap projects this week! Students used rhythm, rhyme, and creativity to teach math concepts through song or poetry. Their performances showed confidence, teamwork, and a strong understanding of the math skills we’ve been practicing.

Room 135 is working on telling time to the nearest minute. Students received their new log-in information for IXL. Be sure to practice!

Science Updates:

This week, students explored the exciting world of magnetism! They discovered how magnets can move objects without touching them and learned about the north and south poles of magnets. Students experimented with different materials and found that magnets attract objects made of iron, such as paper clips and nails. It was wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement as they observed magnetic forces in action!

Students in the “BOLT Lab,” in room 135, also worked on magnetic interactions. They designed and built a game that used magnetism to move a paper clip through a maze toward the finish line. They also had to think about how the paper clip moved without touching it and how the force could be varied between the magnet and paper clip.

Health Updates:

In our health classes, we continued learning about eye protection and how to keep our eyes healthy and safe. Students discussed real-life ways to care for their vision and prevent eye injuries both at home and school.

Grade Level Blurb:

Greetings Team 4Ward,

Your scholar has concluded the first quarter of 4th Grade! We had an exciting week full of STEM activities, a field trip, and our character parade! Pictures from this week are being compiled and will be shared next week. Grades have been updated for the first quarter and are available for viewing on Synergy. It is imperative that work is complete and turned in on time in order to receive full credit. Our district has set policies regarding assignment completion and make-up assignments. Only students that have an excused absence will be given an opportunity to receive and complete missing assignments.

Please ensure that your scholar arrives to school on time with a charged computer. Computers are used throughout the day not only in class but also in CARTS. Fourth graders require at least eight hours of sleep each night and should eat breakfast every morning. As your scholar grows older this is now the time to start setting routines for child to follow independently. A suggestion could be a checklist of tasks your scholar must do before bed or when they wake up in the morning. Create incentives and other rewards for your scholar when they are able to complete their tasks independently or without reminders.

In our classrooms, we will be working on a variety of assignments and projects designed to challenge and inspire them. I encourage you to check in regularly with your scholar about what they are learning.Your support at home is greatly appreciated and makes a significant difference in their academic success.

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. For Parent Teacher Conferences Day on November 11, 2025 teachers will reach out personally to meet with families of scholars that are failing, performance below grade level, or there is a behavior concern.

Educationally Yours,

4th Grade Team

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Parent Teacher Conferences -Tuesday November 11, 2025

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 Information:

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. This program will be available all summer for students to continue to utilize in both reading and math. Please help your child complete at least 45 minutes of math and reading to grow their abilities.

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 complete the CMIT South ES Absence Google Form within 3 days of your scholar returning back to school. https://forms.gle/euXzCpDvNGbLwb8U6 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.

Reading Updates:

This year writing is a main focus within our school. As we enter the second quarter scholars' writing will increase in frequency and length. We are expecting them to write at least 8 sentences per essay. How they organize and how clearly they share their points and ideas will also be important in scoring their writing.

This Week:

We began a biography called “Barbed Wire Baseball.” In this story we read about people of Japanese descent who were sent to an internment camp. Our scholars are seeking to answer the question: How can we influence the places we live? As students thought deeply about this question they explored the influences the character Zeni had within the internment camp. While ready we monitored our inner conversations. We also discussed the text structure of the text which is chronological order. Word study for this week includes the prefixes mis-, en-, and em-.

Next Week:

We will revisit the biography “Barbed Wire Baseball.” This is the last story in our unit “Networks” which students sought to answer: How can a place affect how we live? Scholars will read the text closely to summarize the story using the most important details. We will revisit the author's purpose and determine the author’s reasoning for writing the text. Scholars will complete an essay this week which asks them to explore the author’s purpose. Finally we will conclude this unit with

Math Updates:

In Math, our scholars are continuing their work in Topic 2: Fluently Add and Subtract Multi-Digit Numbers. This unit focuses on applying mental math, regrouping across zeros, and using addition properties to check accuracy. Many students are developing confidence in their computational fluency, but still benefit from extra practice.

How families can help at home:

• Encourage your scholar to practice basic addition and subtraction facts for 10–15 minutes each evening.

• Have them explain their thinking aloud when solving problems. This helps strengthen reasoning skills.

• Use IXL (Skill Code D9R) or short daily drills to practice subtraction with regrouping and properties of addition.

• Invite your scholar to help with real-life math tasks, such as totaling a grocery bill, counting change, or estimating sums. These real-world applications make learning stick!

Science Updates:

In Science, we are continuing Experience 2: Motion, Speed, and Collisions, and expanding our exploration of energy transfer and transformation through electrical circuits. Students are learning how energy moves from one object to another, powering systems and creating observable effects.

How families can help at home:

• Discuss examples of energy transfer around the house, like a toaster heating bread or a fan converting electrical energy to motion.

• Try simple at-home experiments, such as using a flashlight to show how light energy travels or exploring static electricity with a balloon.

• Encourage your scholar to revisit Topic Readers and BrainPop lessons in Canvas to reinforce vocabulary and concepts like collision, energy transfer, sound, and electricity.

Social Studies Updates:

This week, students read Chapter 2, Americans and Their History, focusing on Lesson 1: America and Europe. They learned how the meeting between Europeans and Native Americans changed both cultures forever and responded to text-dependent questions to demonstrate their understanding.

Next week, students will read Lesson 2: A New Nation. In this lesson, they will learn how the United States grew out of the English colonies and eventually became an independent nation. Students will explore the important events, people, and ideas that helped shape America’s path to freedom.

Grade Level Blurb:

🏅 Finishing the First Quarter Strong!

Our Character Day Parade was a huge success! Thank you to all the families who helped make it such a fun and memorable event. As we wrap up the first quarter, students should now be familiar with classroom routines, procedures, and academic expectations. The second quarter is the perfect opportunity to continue building good habits, staying organized, and putting forth their best effort each day. Let’s keep the momentum going!

Reading Updates:

We are wrapping up Unit 1, Week 5, focusing on informational text. Students are learning how to analyze text structure and understand how authors organize information to communicate key ideas effectively.

Social Studies Updates:

In Chapter 3, Lesson 1, we are exploring the Development of Spain. Students will examine how Spain grew into a powerful nation and how exploration played a key role in shaping its history.

Math Updates:

We are continuing Topic 5: Dividing Multi-Digit Numbers. Students are practicing division with remainders and applying different strategies such as estimation, area models, and the standard algorithm to solve real-world problems.

Ms. Jenkins’ class will be wrapping up division next week with a chapter test, so please encourage students to review their notes and practice problems at home for extra confidence

Science Updates:

Students are working through Chapter 6, Experience 2: Organisms and Energy. They will investigate how organisms get energy from food and how energy flows through ecosystems. Hands-on investigations will help deepen understanding of food chains and energy transfer.

General CARTS Message:

Please remember to check your student's Canvas assignments and Synergy grades regularly!

Art:

Here’s a sneak peak of what is happening in art in Quarter 2!

• Kindergarten: Paper portraits

• 1st grade: Tissue paper collage

• 2nd grade: Torn paper landscape

• 3rd grade: Flower drawings

• 4th grade: Color mood paintings

• 5th grade: One point perspective

Music:

Just as a reminder:

Greetings everyone! Winter concert rehearsals are in full swing. Teachers, parents, and students alike are so excited about the upcoming program. Our winter concert is on December 18th at 8:30 AM. There is only 1 show! We will have a private YouTube link for those who can not be her with us in person. Don’t worry, we have a brand new sound system and the YouTube page so there should be no problems or glitches with our livestream.

This year one of our goals is to start our booster club. The booster club would be responsible for helping us raise funds for additional equipment, supplies, uniforms, etc. We desperately need choir stand risers large enough to hold each grade level. That’s approximately 100 students at a time. Risers will stagger the height of our students allowing everyone to be visible at the same time. What an enhancement to our performance! Stay tuned for links and details for how you can help.

P.E.:

We continued the PACER Test this week!

Media:

We are continuing with letter-word recognition and decoding mysteries using probing questions.

2025-2026 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

Student Absence Form