CMIT South MS/HS Newsletter

Greetings CMIT-South Families!

We hope you are doing well and that you are feeling the positive energy throughout our school community. This month, we are proudly celebrating Black History Month, and our building reflects that celebration in powerful ways—through learning, student-led initiatives, and schoolwide activities that honor the impact and contributions of African Americans. A special shout-out goes to the Dream Builders Club for decorating our school so beautifully—your creativity and care have helped transform our space into a living tribute to Black excellence and history.

We also want to recognize Dr. Bell-Butler and the Black History Month Committee for the wonderful activities that have taken place in the middle school. Your thoughtful planning and commitment to uplifting student voice and learning has made this month meaningful and memorable. And we can’t miss what’s unfolding in the high school—each hallway is coming to life as the decorations continue to grow, highlighting our history in vibrant and inspiring ways.

In celebration of Black History Month, we will also host a Middle School Dress Down Week from February 23rd–27th (please see the flyer below for details).

Today also brings a little extra love and excitement—happy Valentine’s Day! Our Middle School SGA is sponsoring the All Hearts Dance today, and the energy is real: over 200 tickets have been sold. We’re looking forward to a fun, safe, and memorable event for our scholars. Thank you to our PTO for your support in helping make opportunities like this possible.

Reminder: There is no school on Monday, February 16th in observance of President’s Day. Schools and offices will be closed.

Academically, second quarter has concluded. Report cards will be available online on February 23rd, and printed copies will be released on March 3rd. If you have any questions or concerns regarding grades, please reach out to your child’s teachers directly—they are the best point of contact and are ready to partner with you.

We have now completed our first full week of Quarter 3, and we are moving into a full focus on MCAP preparation. Both middle and high school scholars have completed benchmarks in Science, Reading/ELA, and Social Studies/Government. Please be on the lookout for benchmark scores and feedback from the respective teachers. The Math benchmark will take place the last week of February.

Finally, a quick reminder regarding report card follow-up: the parent grade appeal window closed March 10th, and the deadline to process and finalize grade appeals in Synergy is March 17th. Should you have any questions regarding a submitted grade appeal, please reach out to your scholar's grade level administrator.

As we continue through this month, let’s keep celebrating the contributions of African Americans—past and present—and the richness of our shared history that continues to shape our future.

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” — Booker T. Washington

This will be beneficial especially to student who are in 6th grade going to 7th grade.

Good afternoon CMIT Family,

As 2025 comes to an end, we would like to clarify several attendance and absence procedures that have come to our attention.

CMIT is a technology-focused school. Please note that the Attendance Manager, Mrs. LaPorte, will no longer accept paper doctor’s notes or emails to report a scholar’s absence unless the absence exceeds five (5) consecutive days.

All absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals must be reported within three (3) days of the scholar’s return to school by completing the PGCPS Absence Reason Notification Form:
https://forms.gle/DL8yB58TFzkTzQFi9

If you are submitting an excused late arrival or early dismissal, please select the “Other” option on the form and specify late arrival or early dismissal in the description field. Attendance records will be updated within 48 hours of form submission.

Please ensure that arrangements are made—by parents/guardians or scholars—to obtain any missed assignments upon the scholar’s return to school.

Have a wonderful Holiday and Winter Break!!!!

Bible Study Club meets every Thursday at 3:00 PM 📖✨
This is a time for students to come together to grow deeper in the Word of God and strengthen their faith together 🙏🏽💛 It is also a great opportunity for fellowship, connection, and community. Snacks will be provided 🍪😊

We can’t wait to see you there!

Dear Families,

The Sibling Preference Form is now available. When completing the form, please be sure to include your ScribSoft Lottery Application Order Number.

Please note that forms submitted without the order number will be returned to the parent or guardian for completion.

All forms should be emailed or submitted in person to Mrs. LaPorte at Claporte@cmitsouth.org.

Thank you for your cooperation and attention to this requirement.

We’re excited to offer home visits to strengthen our partnership with families! During a home visit, our team can:

1. Discuss your child’s academic progress and social-emotional growth

2. Share helpful resources and supports

3. Answer any questions about school programs and activities

Families may be invited by a student advocate or can request a visit directly. By submitting a request, you are not agreeing to a home visit—you are simply expressing interest and asking for more information.

Request your home visit today and receive VIP resources tailored for your family!

Week Recap

Winter sports are continuing to battle hard as we close out the regular season and prepare for playoffs! Take a look at how our Tigers performed this past week:

Basketball

Varsity Boys Basketball

The Varsity Boys had a competitive week on the court.

• Monday, Feb. 9 – The Tigers faced Largo High School and came up short. Despite the loss, the team showed fight and continues to grow as a unit.

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 – The boys bounced back in a big way with a dominant win over Central High School, winning by more than 30 points!

• Thursday, Feb. 12 – On the road at Surrattsville High School, the Tigers gave a valiant effort but fell short in a hard-fought battle.

This group is locked in and looking to finish strong as playoffs approach.

JV Boys Basketball

Our JV Boys delivered an exciting performance on Thursday, Feb. 10, defeating Surrattsville High School in a nail-biter! The team showed resilience and composure down the stretch to secure the win. The future is bright for these Tigers!

Varsity Girls Basketball

The Lady Tigers showed resilience this week as well.

• Monday, Feb. 9 – The girls battled at home against Largo High School but came up short.

• Thursday, Feb. 10 – They responded in a major way with a 20-point victory over Surrattsville High School!

Our girls are building momentum at the right time and preparing to make noise as the postseason nears!

Cheer

A HUGE shoutout to our Cheer Team for finishing 1st Place and earning Grand Champion at their last competition!

They’ve had an incredible season—bringing energy and spirit on the sidelines while dominating in competition. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication. Let’s cheer them on as they finish the season strong!

Indoor Track & Field

Our Track & Field team is headed to the State Championship next week at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex!

Congratulations to our coaching staff and student-athletes for their commitment and hard work all season long. Best of luck as you compete on the state stage!

Spring Sports Update

Baseball and Softball held their interest meetings and first workouts this week!

If you are interested in joining:

• Baseball – Please reach out to Mr. Curtis

• Softball – Please reach out to Ms. Middleton

It’s not too late to get involved—come be part of Tiger Athletics this spring!

Week Ahead

Boys Basketball

• 2/17 – Home vs. Potomac HS (JV 5:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:00 p.m.) — Senior Night

• 2/19 – Away @ Fairmont Heights High School (JV 5:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:00 p.m.)

• 2/20 vs. CMIT North (JV 5:30 p.m. | Varsity 7:00 p.m.)

Girls Basketball

• 2/17 – Away @ Potomac HS – 6:00 p.m.

• 2/19 – Away @ Laurel High School

• 2/20 – Away @ CMIT North – 6:00 p.m.

Track & Field

• 2/17 – State Championship @ Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex – 12:00 p.m.

Baseball & Softball

• 2/17 – Workouts 3:00–5:00 p.m.

As always, thank you to our students, coaches, parents, and supporters for continuing to show Tiger Pride. Let’s pack the stands, support our seniors, and finish this season the right way!

Come out and support the cheer team at their competition on February 21st at Flowers High School at 11:30 am.

The National Technical Honor Society is planning a food drive to help the struggling communities in need of food. Bring in canned foods or hygiene items for collecting in the Cafeteria to assist us. Collecting ends on March 2nd. Anything can and will help!

The PGCPS Reading/English Language Arts High School Office offers a variety of exciting contests for students to show off their creativity, voice, and writing skills! Get recognized, win prizes, and challenge yourself beyond the classroom. Check out all the available contests and get involved!

READING/ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

KidWind Club has been invited to the world solar competition in Madison, Wisconsin in May!
In order to attend, they are selling DoubleGood Popcorn starting at 9am Friday, February 13th until Tuesday, February 17th. See Mr. Roorda, a KidWind club member or the KidWind club flyers in the halls to get your popcorn!

Support the Class of 2028 while enjoying dinner at Chipotle! Join us on Tuesday, February 17th from 4:00–8:00 PM at the Chipotle located at 8913 Woodyard Rd., Clinton, MD.

25% of event sales will be donated to support Class of 2028 activities and events. To make sure your purchase counts, order online for pickup only using the code DY4RFV4, or show the fundraiser flyer when ordering in person. Please note that delivery orders and gift cards do not qualify.

Every order helps—thank you for supporting our students!

Black History Month is here! We are kicking off our celebration with Dress Down Fridays. Please review the attached flyer for a complete list of weekly dress down themes. Students who choose not to participate in the dress down theme are expected to wear the full school uniform.

High schoolers are invited to take part in our Black History Month Daily Trivia Challenge! Each morning during announcements, a new trivia question will be shared highlighting important people, events, and achievements in Black history. Submit your answer in the Black History Month drop box during lunch for a chance to win a prize every day!

HS English

Do you have what it takes to win? Join us on Mondays 3-4 in room 304 to play classic board games and/or compete in rounds of Trivia.

Greetings CMIT South MS Families,

We're excited to celebrate our students' achievements and share wonderful things happening in our school community.

To help us do that, please take a moment to complete the Student Publicity Form linked below.

Your response will let us know whether you grant permission for your student's photo, work, etc be shared in newsletters, social media, or other school communications.

Please review the STEM/Maker's Faire timeline. Please reach out to your child's science teacher if you have any questions.

When you purchase a $20.00 Dave & Buster’s Power Card through our fundraising page, 50% of your order goes directly to support the CMIT South PTO! 🙌💛

From classic arcade favorites to action-packed racing games and epic multiplayer challenges, your Power Card unlocks endless fun at any Dave & Buster’s location nationwide.

💬 After purchase, a redemption code will be sent to your email.
🕒 The code never expires.
📍 Bring the code to your favorite Dave & Buster’s to receive your Power Card.

👉 Grab your Power Card at the link below and share it with friends & family to boost our fundraiser!
Let’s play, support, and WIN together! 🎯✨

💡Snap, Scan, Support! Every receipt = $$$ for our PTO!

Did you know you can help raise money for our school with just your phone? The Box Tops for Education program makes it simple!
1. Download the free Box Tops app.
2. Shop as you normally would.
3. Scan your receipt within 14 days.

Scan the QR Code for more information about the program! Thank you for your support.

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at CMIT Academy South Middle & High School brings together parents, guardians, teachers, staff, and administrators to enrich our students’ educational experience.

✅ Support school events
✅ Connect with families & staff
✅ Make a difference in our school community

💡 You are the power behind our PTO! Show your support and help make amazing things happen for our students and teachers.

Together, we POWER THE PTO! Click the link below to join and pay your dues today. You must be a paid member to vote!.

Join the GroupMe Chat for your student’s grade level!

Stay connected with other families, share updates, and get important reminders all in one place.

📱 Simply scan the QR code to join the group for your scholar’s grade level.

Let’s build community, stay informed, and support our students together! 💙

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a school-based organization made up of parents, guardians, teachers, staff and administrators who work together to supplement and enrich the educational experience at CMIT Academy South Middle and High schools. Please consider joining our PTO and getting involved with school activities.

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