The Tiger Times

Dear Amazing Tiger Families and Community,

What an incredible journey we're on together! We have successfully made it through our second week of school, and I am continuously inspired by the dedication, enthusiasm, and positive energy that each of you brings to our Tiger community. Your children are thriving, learning, and growing every single day, and it's a privilege to witness their progress alongside such supportive families.

As we navigate this educational journey together, I'm reminded of the profound wisdom of Aretha Franklin: "Being the queen is not all about singing, and being a woman is not all about being a queen. Each of us has something to offer, and until we offer it, we are not complete. Respect is what we owe; love, what we give." This beautiful sentiment captures the heart of our CMIT South community—when we approach each interaction with genuine respect and understanding, we create an environment where every Tiger can flourish and reach their fullest potential.

🎉 Celebrating Our Grandparents

Happy Grandparent's Day to all the PAWW-rific grandparents in our Tiger family! Your love, wisdom, and unwavering support mean the world to our students and our entire school community. Thank you for the countless ways you contribute to your grandchildren's success and for being such valuable partners in their educational journey. Your presence enriches our school culture and reminds us all of the importance of intergenerational connections and respect.

📊 Important Assessment Information

Our students will participate in several key assessments in the coming weeks that help us understand their learning progress and tailor instruction to meet their individual needs:

Assessment Schedule:

• Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA): September 8th - October 10th

• i-Ready Fall Reading Assessment (4th-5th Grade): September 10th

• i-Ready Math Assessment (1st-5th Grade): September 11th

• MAP Growth Assessments (1st-5th Grade):

• Reading: September 18th

• Math: September 19th

• Science (2nd-5th Grade): September 25th

• DIBELS Assessment (K-3rd Grade): September 22nd - October 16th

Your child will come home with detailed assessment information, please review. These assessments are valuable tools that help our teachers understand each student's unique strengths and areas for growth, allowing us to provide the most effective and personalized instruction possible.

📚 Exciting New Addition: Book Vending Machine Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new book vending machine—a fantastic addition that will provide our Tigers with even more opportunities to discover the joy of reading! Join us for the official ribbon cutting ceremony:

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Time: 5:45 PM
Location: Library/Media Center

This innovative book vending machine will allow our students to earn tokens through academic achievements, positive behavior, and acts of kindness, which they can then use to select their very own books to take home. We're excited to see how this wonderful resource will further ignite our students' passion for reading and learning!

🌟 Back-to-School Night - Don't Miss This Important Event!

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Student classrooms

This special evening provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with your child's teacher and gain deep insights into the exciting curriculum and learning objectives for the year. Upon arrival, our welcoming staff will guide you to your child's classroom, where each teacher will present a comprehensive 40-minute overview of the learning journey ahead and share meaningful ways you can actively support your child's education at home.

Families with multiple children will have the opportunity to rotate between classrooms for additional presentations, while those with one child are welcome to leave after their presentation concludes.

Parking Information: Given the popularity of this event, we appreciate your patience and cooperation with parking arrangements. Please use available spaces first, then park in the 1st and 2nd lanes while keeping the 3rd lane clear for exiting vehicles. We strongly encourage carpooling when possible, and overflow parking is available at the CMIT South MS/HS campus.

🚨 Essential Emergency Preparedness Information

Student safety remains our absolute top priority. In compliance with the Code of Maryland Regulations and Maryland State Department of Education requirements, we conduct regular emergency drills to ensure students and staff can respond quickly, calmly, and confidently in real situations.

Scheduled Emergency Drills for 2025-2026:

• Severe Weather Response

• Drop, Cover, and Hold (Earthquake)

• Lockdown Procedures

• Reverse Evacuation

• Shelter in Place (Secure)

• Standard Evacuation

Important Notes:

• Staff receive advance notification of all scheduled drills

• Teachers provide age-appropriate explanations to prepare students

• Mental health support and coping resources are available before and after each drill

• Families will receive notifications following completion of scheduled exercises

• This message serves as official parent notification of our emergency preparedness program

⚠️ Critical Safety Reminders - Your Cooperation is Essential

The safety of our students, staff, and families depends on everyone following our established arrival and dismissal procedures with respect and patience:

Non-Negotiable Safety Requirements:

• Listen to and respect staff members on duty - Our staff are positioned to ensure everyone's safety

• Never drop students off in the roundabout - This creates extremely dangerous conditions for children

• Remain in the car line until properly positioned - Wait for staff instructions before allowing students to exit vehicles

• Treat all community members with respect - Threatening or aggressive behavior toward staff results in immediate removal from school premises

Remember: Our staff members are dedicated professionals working to keep our children safe. When we approach each interaction with mutual respect and understanding, we model the behavior we want our students to demonstrate and create a positive environment for everyone.

🌈 Moving Forward Together

Thank you for your continued partnership in making CMIT South Elementary a place where every Tiger can thrive. Your commitment to working together respectfully and collaboratively sets the foundation for our students' success and creates the positive, supportive community culture we all value.

Every day presents new opportunities for growth, learning, and building meaningful connections. When we treat each other with the respect and kindness that Aretha Franklin spoke about, we're not just creating a better school environment—we're teaching our children invaluable life lessons about dignity, empathy, and community.

Remember: We are Leveling Up the STEMTastic Way! Let's make this year extraordinary, transformational, and filled with achievements that exceed every expectation while always treating one another with the respect and kindness that makes our Tiger community truly special.

With Tiger Pride and Endless Gratitude,

Tauheedah N. Simmons-Lewis
Your PAWW-rific Principal
CMIT South Elementary School
Home of the STEMTastic Tigers 🐅

📢 Safety Patrol Applications

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Safety Patrol applications are now available for our 4th and 5th grade scholars! The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 9th.

There will be a review of applicants and new hires will be announced on Friday September 12th.

Thank you and good luck to all applicants.

—Ms. Chandler

From the Reading Specialist’s Desk 📚✨

Dear Families,

Did you know that September is National Literacy Month? 🎉 This is the perfect time to celebrate the joy of reading and explore fun ways to build strong literacy habits at home. Reading doesn’t just grow skills—it creates lasting memories when families enjoy it together.

Fun Ways to Celebrate Literacy at Home:

• Family Reading Night – Pick one night each week to turn off the screens and enjoy books together. Everyone can choose their own book or read a story aloud as a family.
  

• Create a Reading Adventure – Build a blanket fort or read by flashlight to make reading feel extra special.
  

• Book-to-Movie Night – Read a short book or story, then watch the movie version and compare which you liked better.
  

• Reading “Challenge Jar” – Write fun prompts on slips of paper (like “Read in a silly voice” or “Read under the kitchen table”) and let your child draw one before reading time.
  
  

Let’s make this month a celebration of stories, imagination, and family connections. Thank you for all you do to encourage your child’s love of reading—your partnership makes a difference!

Grade Level Updates:

Hello Tiger Families!

Students are continuing to make strides in their understanding of school and classroom rules. The kindergarten team is working each day to make sure that the students are making safe and positive choices and are being kind to others.When your child has been absent please communicate to the teacher and complete the online document submission form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lp2fJsfDLjWNINllvX10OKjiGDn443yAB8Hq8BMBa-E/viewform

Also, we look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on September 10, 2025

Reading Updates:

UNIT 1 WEEK 2- Going Places

Essential Question- What is exciting about moving to a new place?

• Phonological awareness: Middle Sounds; Recognize Alliteration; Blend and Segment, Onset and Rime

• Genre: Realistic Fiction

• Phonics: Short Aa, Consonants Ss

• High-Frequency Words: like, to, a

• Spelling words found in weekly readings: crawls, peeks, unpacks, plunks

• Unit Vocabulary: map, move, land, special

Learning Goals:

• Ask and answer questions about plot in literary text

• Demonstrate phonological awareness.

• Identify and match the common sounds that letters represent.

• Identify and read common high-frequency words by sight.

• Identify real-life connections between words and their use

• Describe plot

• Parts of a Book: Front Cover, Back Cover, and Title Page

Math Updates:

TOPIC 12: Identify and Describe Shapes

Essential Understanding: How can two- and three- dimensional shapes be identified and described?

• Recognize that shapes can be found in two different types flat or solid

• Describe shapes based on attributes

• Express the locations of objects/ shapes using relative location phrases.

• Practice using academic math vocabulary to compare 3-dimensional shapes and real life objects

Vocabulary: two-dimensional shapes (flat), 3-dimensional shapes (solid), sort, circle, triangle, side, vertex/vertices (corner), rectangle, square, hexagon, cube, cylinder, cone, sphere, in front of, behind, next to, above, below, beside

Science Updates:

TOPIC 3: Needs of Living Things

Experience 1 Question: What do plants need?

• Discover the needs of plants

• Learn plants survive and grow when needs are met

• Observe what happens to plants in different environments

Vocabulary: need, survive, grow, space, describe

Social Studies Updates:

CHAPTER 1 LESSON 1- Where we learn

• Identify ways children act at school

• Recognize why people share and make good choices

• Analyze what it means to take turns

Vocabulary: school, learn, choices

Health Updates:

SEPTEMBER TOPIC: How to Stay Safe

• Understanding safety rules at home and school

• Acknowledging safety helpers at home, school, and community

Vocabulary: stay, safe, helpers, danger, emergency

Grade Level Updates:

We are so excited to have concluded our second week of second grade. All scholars have received their purple communication folder which should be returned to school each day. Inside of these folders, your scholar should have brought home a behavior calendar/chart to be reviewed, initialed and sent to back to school the next day. You will also find various forms from the class/school which will be organized in the folder in the pocket labeled “Keep at Home” or “Return to School”; please check folders daily and keep/return forms as identified in the folder. Scholars also have agenda books/planners where they will write down important information including homework and due dates. Be sure to check agenda books/planners each day and return to school.

Each afternoon scholars are allowed to eat a snack before dismissal. Please send a snack with your scholar. If you are able to donate snacks to your child’s class, please send dry snacks that are considerate of those students who may have allergies. These donations help to ensure that all scholars have a snack, even on the days when someone may not have one.

Please, if you have not already done so, send your scholar to school with a chromebook. There will be many assignments given to your scholar for them to complete online. To ensure your scholar is not falling behind, it is imperative that each scholar has access to their own Chromebook. You can find some inexpensive Chromebooks on Amazon. If you are not able to purchase a Chromebook, you may rent a Chromebook for the school year from our IT Department for $100. Please reach out to Mr. Demirel at IT@cmitsouthes.org if you would like to pursue this option.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your scholar’s teacher via Class Dojo or email. Please be mindful that teachers are allotted 48 hours to respond to communication.

Reading Updates:

We have begun our RELA instruction. Each day, scholars participate in phonics instruction to help with reading before we delve into our RELA lessons. Scholars have received spelling packets with words related to this week’s instruction on short vowel sounds. Each spelling packet will have a due date on the packet that will also identify the date for the spelling test. Please practice these words throughout the week to prepare for the spelling test.

Math Updates:

We have begun our math instruction on adding within 20. This includes adding doubles (3+3=6, 6+6=12), adding near doubles (5+6, 7+9), and using a ten to add. Scholars will receive a math packet to help with practice at home. Packets are due at the end of the topic before the unit test.

Science Updates:

We will begin preparing for the STEM Fair soon. Please look out for STEM Fair packets to come home soon. This year, your second grader will complete a STEM Fair project on a topic of their choice using the Scientific Method. Teachers will send out information for how your scholar is to submit each part of their STEM Fair project. Please try to keep up with the dates so that projects are completed correctly and on time.

Social Studies Updates:

We have began Social Studies instruction. Our first unit is about family. Please engage in conversation at home about your family, close/extended family, family members who are alive and have passed away. You can also share your family history, achievements/accomplishments as well as triumphs over challenges, of different family members and how those various situations have affected your family today.

Health Updates:

This month we are discussing “Staying Safe”. Please use everyday activities (i.e eating properly to prevent choking, wearing a helmet while riding a bike, looking both ways before crossing the street, using plugs/outlets, encounters with strangers, etc.) to discuss ways to be safe in different situations.

Grade Level Updates:

Students began the week by getting acclimated to our academic enrichment routines and expectations.

Math Updates:

Ms. Hendy:

In Math, we worked on reviewing and practicing addition and subtraction skills. Students explored different strategies, such as using number lines, place value, and fact families, to build accuracy and confidence. We also emphasized problem-solving and how to check work carefully, laying the groundwork for more complex operations later in the year.

Mrs. Flores:

In our Math classes, we learned how to use our morning warm-up write-on and wipe-off folders. This serves as crucial Math review and maintenance practice. Our curriculum pacing guide has us starting on Topic 8: Using Addition and Subtraction Concepts within 1000. The first lesson introduces the students to the commutative and associative properties and identity property of zero. For homework this week, we reviewed addition and subtraction facts.

Science Updates

Ms. Hendy:

In Science, we focused on the importance of safety and tools in the classroom and lab. Students learned why safety rules are necessary, practiced identifying science tools, and discussed how each tool is used for observation, measurement, and experimentation. This foundation will prepare us for hands-on investigations in the weeks to come.

Mrs. Flores:

We completed an introduction lesson to the first topic on force and motion. The students are looking forward to completing labs within this first tipic. Stay tuned!

Health Updates:

Ms. Hendy:

In Health, we concentrated on goal setting—both personal and academic. Students reflected on what they want to achieve this year, and we discussed strategies for staying motivated and making healthy choices that support their learning and well-being.

Mrs. Flores:

Once again, we will be using "The Great Body Shop" for Health. We completed the introductory lesson on having a safe house.

Reading Updates:

Ms. Howard:

Students are starting to get comfortable with routines. Assessments are giving me a good idea of where to focus reading support.The group work and movement activities really got them engaged this week!

• Gave the Savvas Reading Readiness Pre-Assessment to see where students are starting.

• Spent time reviewing rules and routines to set expectations.

• Students set up their Interactive Reading Notebooks with a Table of Contents and notebook rules.

• Daily reflections to build good habits early.

Ms. Madison:

This week, students are learning about traditional tales, sentence structure (specifically complete sentences vs sentence structure) and VC/CV words. We will have testing next week as well.

Social Studies

Social Studies Updates:

Ms. Howard:

• Introduced the continents and oceans using songs and slides.

• Played “Continent Corners” to make learning more interactive.

Worked in groups to create continent posters and did a gallery walk to share what they learned

Grade Level Updates:

Greetings Team 4Ward,

We have made it through the second week of Fourth Grade and have gotten into the curriculum. We are finishing up our SAVVAS baseline and diagnostic testing for our educators to have data on how our scholars learn and work. This upcoming week will be our first full week of school. This year we are working to “Level Up” our data this school year with a big focus being in writing across all subject areas. It is imperative that your scholar has a computer to use in class. The SAVVAS platform offers many digital assignments, activities, and tools that cannot be printed for students. The school is not loaning computers for students to complete work in class.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Back to School Night this upcoming Wednesday September 10, 2025. Team 4Ward will present together at back to school night in the Media Center. We work as a team and most of our lessons and procedures mirror one another. Meeting all together will allow all families to meet all the teachers in the team and hear our common expectations. Please speak with your scholar each night about what went well today and something that they can improve. Ensure that your scholar’s computer is charged and brought to school daily. Also please be sure to monitor your scholar's YouTube and cellphones. As our students grow older and gain more independence it is imperative that our expectations match the changing world.

Team Name: 4ward We are moving minds forward and leveling up the STEMTasTic Way!

Educationally Yours,

4th Grade Team

Scholastic Book Club:

In order to support our scholars independent reading I would like to participate in the Scholastic Book Club. This program allows families to order books directly from Scholastic to be sent to the school. By shopping online families are able to have various options to book sets and packs at discounted prices. Purchasing books helps the class earn points to be used to buy new books for the school library. I have attached an interest form below if you would like to participate in monthly ordering of books.

https://forms.gle/wVQV8pymWSveZDyu9

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Wednesday September 10, 2025- i-Ready Testing Math

• Wednesday September 10, 2025- Back to School Night

• Thursday September 11, 2025- i-Ready Testing Reading

• Friday September 12, 2025- Early Dismissal for Students

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.

iXL:

iXL is a computer based math and reading program that is available for all of our scholars. This program helps students to practice various math and reading skills on their instructional level. Grade level letter is F but if students are struggling with a skill they are able to practice that same skill but on another letter level.

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.

Reading Updates:

At the conclusion of last year, students were given the textbook for this year to take home. Please allow your scholar to reread the text of the week at home to support their understanding and discover things that were missed in previous readings.

This Week:

This week our scholars cracked open our Reading textbooks to begin reading our first story “Reaching for the Moon.” In this autobiography they are reading about astronaut Buzz Aldrin and how the events in his life lead him to becoming the first person on the moon. This week students monitored their inner conversations while reading the text to ensure they are comprehending what they are reading. Also we began working with suffixes and subjects and predicates.

Next Week:

We will continue to read closely the text “Reaching for the Moon.” Reading closely allows students to return back to the text to notice something new each time. This week as we closely read we will evaluate details from the text and explain how they support the author’s message. We will also begin our first in class reading assessments on the word study of suffixes and a story quiz. Finally students will begin to generate writing topics to pick one to complete their personal narrative for this quarter.

Math Updates:

We had a great first week in 4th grade math! Scholars spent time getting familiar with our classroom math routines and expectations. We also took our first math fluency timed test, which gave us a quick snapshot of where everyone is starting with basic facts. In addition, students completed the SAVVAS baseline diagnostic, which will help guide our instruction moving forward.

Next week, we’re excited to begin diving into our curriculum and exploring new math concepts together!

Looking forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth!

Science Updates:

We kicked off our new science journey with some fun “getting to know you” science crafts and completed the Savvas 4th Grade Science Readiness Assessment to see where each student is starting from. Next week our 4th graders are kicking off an exciting new unit on Energy and Motion! They’ll explore how energy moves through objects and environments, whether it’s sound waves traveling across a room or heat warming different materials. Along the way, they’ll build vocabulary like transfer, sound, light, and heat, and strengthen skills in observation, reading, writing, and collaboration.

Social Studies Updates:

This week, students explored the four hemispheres through an interactive game. Afterward, they used maps to identify and locate different landforms.

Next week, students will begin learning about the five regions of the United States. We will explore the unique landforms in each region and discuss how geography shapes the way people live.

Grade Level Updates:

Hello families,

We’ve officially wrapped up our second week of school! Students are settling into routines and showing great effort—go 5th grade! Next week, we’ll begin i-Ready testing, so please ensure students come to school prepared and energized each day.

This Week in Class

Reading Updates:

We finished Lessons 1–3 on informational text. Students practiced identifying main ideas and supporting details, learned how to use text features (like headings and captions) to gather information, and responded to comprehension questions in writing. We also had group discussions about how informational text is different from stories.

Math Updates:

We began Topic 1-2: Understanding whole-number place value. Students practiced reading, writing, and comparing numbers into the millions. They worked on recognizing the value of each digit in a number and explained their thinking using place value charts. We also connected place value to real-world examples, such as populations and large numbers in sports statistics.

Science Updates:

Students observed matter changing from liquid to solid by examining water as it froze. We also conducted an experiment comparing how hot water interacts differently in a plastic cup versus a paper cup. Students made predictions, observed closely, and discussed why one material held up better than the other. This helped them think like scientists—asking “why” and using evidence to explain their reasoning.

Social Studies Updates:

Our focus was on Native Americans and how they adapted to their environment. Students explored how different regions shaped housing, food, and culture. We compared the lifestyles of tribes from different areas and discussed the importance of natural resources in their survival.

Health Updates:

We created a KWL chart about first aid. Students shared what they already know, what they want to learn, and what they’re curious about. This activity sparked great conversations about safety, responsibility, and how first aid connects to everyday life.

Reminders for Next Week

• i-Ready testing begins. Please encourage a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast.
  

• Bring Chromebooks every day, fully charged.
  
  

General CARTS Message:

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

Music:

This Monday will be our first Monday having class since school started. I will finally get an opportunity to meet Ms. Jenkins 5th graders, Ms. Madison’s 3rd graders, Ms. Young’s Kindergarten class, Ms. Womack’s 2nd graders, and Ms. Pearson’s 4th graders. I am so excited to meet them and get them up to speed with my other classes.

• We will review classroom expectations, the music staff, and the music notes and rests.

• Please remember to bring all students a journal and folder for music.

Technology:

This week we worked on being a digital citizen and what digital citizenship means!

P.E:

In Physical Education classes this week, we learned the difference between “General space” and “Self Space”, then we played a game known as musical spots to demonstrate the knowledge of those two subjects.

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