The Tiger Times

Dear Amazing Tiger Families and Community,

As we continue MARCHing through this incredible month, I'm inspired by the fearless words of Amelia Earhart: "Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace." Throughout history, courageous women have paid this price, standing up for justice, breaking barriers, pursuing dreams, and paving paths for future generations despite tremendous obstacles. This month, we honor these trailblazers while encouraging ALL our Tigers to practice courage daily. Whether tackling challenging assessments, sharing creative work, or speaking up for what's right, courage transforms dreams into reality. Let's continue raising brave Tigers who change the world!

📚 MCAP Night Success - Thank You!

Huge thank you to our incredible team for leading an informative and empowering MCAP Night!

Special Recognition:

• Mr. Metin - Thank you for leading the overall presentation with expertise and clarity

• Ms. Chandler, Professional School Counselor - Your insights on supporting student well-being during testing were invaluable

• Our 3rd-5th Grade Teachers who led breakout rooms:

• Mrs. Flores

• Ms. Madison

• Ms. Crusoe

• Ms. Jenkins

Your dedication to helping families understand MCAP, support their children effectively, and approach testing with confidence made a real difference! Even with some technical difficulties, we powered through together and provided families with essential information and strategies.

Missed MCAP Night? Access the complete presentation here:
MCAP Night Presentation

Review the presentation to get all the information shared about MCAP testing schedules, formats, strategies, and how you can support your child's success!

📖 MCAP Bootcamp for Grades 3-5 - Sign Up Now!

Give Your Tiger an Extra Edge!

We're offering MCAP Bootcamp for 3rd-5th grade students, an intensive preparation program designed to build confidence, strengthen skills, and ensure every Tiger feels ready to demonstrate their knowledge on test day!

What is MCAP Bootcamp? Targeted instruction and practice focusing on:

• Test-taking strategies and time management

• Critical reading and comprehension skills

• Mathematical problem-solving techniques

• Building confidence and reducing test anxiety

Interested in signing up your scholar?

Click here to register: MCAP Bootcamp Registration

Registration Deadline: Friday, April 3, 2026

Don't miss this opportunity to give your Tiger additional support and preparation!

📚 Black Authors in Excellence - March 25, 2026

Library Media Presents: Black Authors in Excellence

Join us for an inspiring and celebratory evening as we showcase the incredible literary talent within our own CMIT community!

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026

• Time: 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM

• Location: School Library Media Center

• Special Note: Concurrent with PTO Meeting

Featured Authors: We're thrilled to celebrate published CMIT teachers, staff, students, and parent authors who have courageously shared their voices, stories, and creativity with the world through the written word!

Preview Our Authors:
Meet Our Black Authors in Excellence

What to Expect: 📖 Meet Our Authors - Connect with talented writers from our own Tiger community✍️ Book Signings - Get personalized autographs from our published authors

🛍️ Purchase Books - Support our authors by purchasing their published works
💬 Hear Their Stories - Learn about their writing journeys, inspiration, and creative processes
🤝 Community Connection - Build meaningful relationships with the writers in our midst

This event runs concurrently with our PTO meeting, so families can enjoy both opportunities!

Questions? Contact Ms. Washington, Library Media Specialist

We can't wait to celebrate our talented authors and demonstrate that writers aren't just people we read about in books—they're members of our own Tiger family! Come be inspired, support our authors, and discover the amazing literary talent within our community!

Maryland requires public schools to provide 180 instructional days and a minimum number of learning hours each year. Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) lost time this winter due to school closures and delayed openings, so we must make up that time to meet these state requirements.

Change for All Schools

Friday, March 27, will now be a full day of school for all students. This day was previously scheduled as an early release day, but it will now be a full instructional day.

Two Possible Plans

On March 24, the Maryland State Board of Education will decide whether to grant PGCPS a waiver. Based on that decision, the Board of Education will choose one of two plans on March 26.

Plan 1: If the waiver is approved

• Last day of school: Thursday, June 18

• The school day will be 5 minutes longer from April 7 through June 18

• March 27, April 22 and June 18 will be full school days instead of early release days

Plan 2: If the waiver is denied

• Last day of school: Wednesday, June 24

• June 22 and June 24 will be added as school days

• April 15 will be an early dismissal day.

• June 12 will be an early dismissal day.

• June 24 will be an early dismissal day.

Schools will follow normal daily schedules

PGCPS has already scheduled these make-up days:

March 20, May 27, June 15, June 16, June 17 and June 18.

An updated final school calendar will be shared with families and staff once the state decision is made and the Board selects a plan.

Remember: We are Leveling Up the STEMTastic Way! Let's continue MARCHing forward with courage, celebrating our community's brilliance, and preparing our Tigers for success in all they do!

With Courageous Tiger Pride and Endless Gratitude,

This year, the Drama and Chorus Clubs are excited to announce their production of the musical "Aladdin." To ensure its success, we rely on the support of our parent volunteers. We are seeking assistance with sets, props, sound, and stage support for our performers. If you're able to lend a hand or know someone who might be interested, please consider signing up via the SignUp Genius link below. Our performance date is Friday March 27, 2026.

Volunteer to help here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D49ACA82CA5FA7-62297086-aladdin

Educationally Yours,

Ms. Crusoe

Hello Kinder Families,

It was amazing to see all the creative ways that our scholars used to make traps. Although the scholars tried their best to catch the Leprechaun, our traps did not work. However, the students still had a great time. We'll get them next time for sure.

Families we ask that if you have received your approval email to chaperone/ volunteer that you have let Ms. Resse know by filling out the Volunteer/Chaperone Google Form, if you have not already. Please complete and upload your saved PGCPS approval email to the form above. You’ll need to request access, and Ms. Reese will share it with you. This is the final step. We will only be reaching out to these families for any volunteer or chaperone concerns.

Please remember 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-

March 27: Full day of school

March 30 - April 6: Spring Break

April 10: Homework Packet due

Tentatively April 24th Save the date: MD Science Center Field Trip

Reading Updates:

UNIT 3- Week 4: The Best Story

Essential Question: Why do we like certain kinds of stories?

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

Blend and Segment: Onset and Rime

• Phonics:Vowel sounds - short a (/a/) and long a (/a_e/)

• High-frequency words: away, give, little

• Story Vocabulary: castle, pretend, explorer, adventure

• Unit Vocabulary: choose, explain, meaning, character

Learning Goals:

• Learn about different types of stories

• Visualize details from a story

• Syllables and compound words

• Find details in a text

• Capitalization for the beginning of a sentence

• Possessive pronouns

• Prepositions, adjectives, and articles

• Organize the story element: character, setting, plot

Math Updates:

Topic 13: Analyze, Compare, and Create Shapes

Essential Understanding:

• Identify 2-D & 3-D shapes

• Analyze 2-D & 3-D shapes based on attributes

• Represent subtraction as taking away from numbers up to 10

• Examine the 2-D shapes that are on 3-D shapes

• Compose 2-D shapes to form larger shapes

• Create 3-D models of real world objects

Vocabulary: 2-D, 3-D, triangle,square, rectangle, cube, sphere, cone, patterns

Science Updates:

TOPIC 1: Push and Pull

Experience 1: What does motion mean?

• Investigate the cause and effect of using pushes and pulls to change the motion of an object

• Tell ways that a push or pull can move objects

• Use directional words to describe movement

Vocabulary: motion

Social Studies Updates:

Chapter 4 : Geography of the Neighborhood

Essential Question- What is the world like?

• Understand different places and areas that are around us

• Look into the into a map as a tool

• What is a globe?

• The parts of a map

• Analyze how we interact with jobs that help the community and the location of places

Vocabulary: street, community, neighbors, map, neighborhood, globe, legend

Health Updates:

March Topic: No Drugs, No Way!

• Describe what a drug is, and what other dangerous substances might be found in the home.

• Encourage confidence in saying no to drugs and other dangerous substances

• Demonstrate respect for our bodies and encourage others to make healthful choices.

• Explain why medicine is a drug and why it is important to be responsible with medicine

Vocabulary: drugs, medicine, permission, poisonous, directions, and unsafe

Grade Level Blurb:

Museum Field Trip Reminder!

Get ready! Our field trip to the Chesapeake Children's Museum is right around the corner. To make sure your scholar is cleared for the fun, please take note of the following:

• Deadline: All payments are due by Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

• How to Pay: Use the MySchoolBucks QR code located directly on the permission slip.

• Lunch Selection: Don't forget to select your scholar’s lunch preference and submit it via the permission slip.

• Chaperones: If you have been selected to join us, please ensure you pay for both yourself and your scholar using the QR code by the deadline.

⚠️ Important Note: There will be no exceptions and no refunds issued for this trip once payment is processed.

Let's make this a memorable day of learning and discovery! 🎨🐢✨

Reading Updates:

Halfway There!

We’ve officially reached the midpoint of Topic 4! To celebrate this milestone, we’re shifting gears and diving back into the world of Informational Texts.

What’s on the Agenda?

• Deep Diving: Analyzing facts, data, and real-world evidence. 📊

• Connecting Dots: Seeing how our Topic 4 themes play out in non-fiction. 🗺️

• Mastering the "Why": Understanding author intent and structural cues. 💡

Get ready to sharpen those analytical skills—it's time to get informed! 🧠✨

Math Updates

Math Update: Leveling Up!

We’ve officially conquered our assessment for Topic 4: Using Addition Strategies! Everyone worked so hard to master those sums.

Now, it’s time to flip the script. We are officially moving on to Subtraction Strategies! Get ready to take it away, break it down, and find those differences.

🔍 Get Ready for Subtraction!

To get a head start, here are a few of the "math tools" we'll be adding to our belts:

• Counting Back: Starting at the big number and "jumping" back on a number line.

• Think Addition to Subtract: Using what we already know about addition to find the missing part (e.g., "I know $8 + 2 = 10$, so $10 - 8 = 2$!"). 💡

• Break Apart (Decomposing): Splitting the smaller number into tens and ones to make it easier to subtract in chunks.

• Using a Hundred Chart: Moving up and back to find our answer quickly.

• Compensation: Adjusting the numbers to make them "friendly" (like turning a 19 into a 20) and then adjusting the final answer.

Science Updates:

Science Alert: Let’s Talk Erosion!

Get ready to dig in! We are starting our new unit on Erosion. We’ll be exploring how water, wind, and ice slowly change the shape of our world by moving soil and rock from one place to another. It’s going to be a "ground-breaking" adventure!

🏠 At-Home Exploration Activities

Want to see erosion in action? Parents, try these simple (and slightly messy!) activities with your junior scientists:

• The Sugar Cube Splash: Stack a few sugar cubes and slowly drip colored water on them with a spoon or dropper. Watch how the "land" dissolves and washes away!

• Blow Away the Beach: Place a pile of flour or dry sand on a tray. Use a straw to gently blow "wind" across it. See how easily the landscape shifts when there's nothing to hold it down!

• The Backyard Washout: If you have a dirt patch or a sandbox, build a little hill. Pour a cup of water at the top and watch how it carves out "rivers" and carries the dirt to the bottom.

• Root Power Check: Find a spot with grass and a spot with bare dirt. Pour water on both. Which one stays put? This helps kids see how plants help prevent erosion!

Social Studies Updates:

The Producer's Journey: Facing the Challenges

As we dive deeper into our economics unit, it’s time to look at the other side of the counter! We will be discussing the various challenges and obstacles that producers face in the marketplace.

From rising costs to supply chain hiccups, being a producer isn't always easy. We'll explore:

• Scarcity of Resources: What happens when the materials you need run out?

• Rising Costs: How do producers handle it when things get more expensive to make?

• Competition: Standing out in a crowded market full of other great ideas!

Health Updates:

Staying Safe & Making Smart Choices!

We are continuing our important conversations about how to stay safe around drugs. It is so important to understand how to protect our bodies and make healthy decisions!

Knowledge is power, and we are focusing on:

• Understanding Labels: Knowing the difference between helpful medicine and harmful substances.

• The Power of "No": Practicing ways to say no to things that aren't safe for us.

• Trusted Adults: Identifying the people we can always go to if we have questions or find something unsafe.

Grade Level Blurb:

Spring is finally here! Hopefully the weather will cooperate and warm sunny days are ahead of us! The county has made Friday, March 27 a full day of school to make-up a snow day. Speaking of spring, our break will start right after that full day on March 27. We will welcome students back to class on Tuesday, April 7th. We hope all of our third grade families have a terrific break!

Reading Updates:

In Reading, we are studying the elements of poetry. Also, our biography and autobiography studies continue. Our Reading discussions always include context-clues activities for reinforcement. In Spelling, we are focused on r-controlled vowels.

Math Updates:

The students have been working on comparing fractions and finding equivalent fractions. We have used fraction strips, number lines, and numerator/denominator skills to accomplish our tasks. Once again, IXL is a great resource for daily Math review.

Some of our mathematicians focused on division and fact families, strengthening their understanding of the relationship between the dividend, divisor, and product.

Social Studies Updates:

We are learning the causes and effects of the American Revolution. We continue to focus on European and English explorers.

Health Updates:

This week, we reviewed the “Healthy Bodies” vocabulary by playing our “Sweet Success and a “Hole” Lot of Fun” donut vocabulary game. We will close out this unit very soon and be ready for a new Health unit after spring break!

Some of our students created “Say No to Drugs” posters. They did a wonderful job showcasing their creativity while reinforcing important lessons about making healthy choices.

Greetings Team 4Ward,

We hope this message finds you well. We are now down to our final week before Spring Break. We thank all of those that joined us for MCAP night to get more information about this mandatory state test. Please look out for the information that is going to be shared on Classdojo from the school about MCAP. During Spring Break students will have activities to complete in both reading and math.

Writing is being incorporated in all subjects this year. Students will practice expressing ideas in reading, science, social studies, math, and specials. Encourage your child to talk about what they write and ask questions about their work that supports growth and confidence. Our Student Government Association has launched activities this week. Student leaders are already planning ways to support classmates and school spirit. We’re excited to see their ideas come to life and welcome family support at upcoming events.

💻Many class activities use online tools. A charged computer ensures your child can fully participate in lessons and complete assignments. Our students also need a pair of wired headphones to complete activities and for testing. Students who arrive on time are better prepared for learning and reduce classroom disruptions. Please plan to have your child at school a few minutes early each day. A healthy breakfast helps students focus and have energy for learning. School breakfast is available daily until 8:00 when students arrive in the morning.

In our classrooms, we will be working on a variety of assignments and projects designed to challenge and inspire them. We 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.

We are grateful for your ongoing support in helping students feel safe, prepared, and excited about learning. Thank you for partnering with us to make this a positive school year.

Warmly,

Team 4Ward

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Friday March 27, 2026 Full Day of School

• Monday March 30- Monday April 6, 2026- Spring Break

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 entered in Synergy are those that will be used to calculate progress reports and report cards.

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. Assignments not completed will receive a final grade of “0.”

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. Students are not allowed to wear Crocs on school grounds.

Reading Updates:

We have concluded Unit 4 in Volume 2 Impacts and will return back to Volume 1 to work with Unit 2 Adaptations. In this unit students will learn about how different living things adapt to the environment using informational and literature texts.

This Week:

We brought a close to Animal Mimics by completing our five question quiz and writing an informative essay about animal mimicry. In this informational text students learned about how animals use mimicry to survive. Mimicry is the ability to copy something or someone else.

Next Week:

We will begin reading our next story “Minn of the Mississippi.” In this realistic fiction we will explore how a snapping turtle named “Minn” adaptations allow it to survive living near the Mississippi River. We will read to identify the story plot which allows us to summarize the story. Students will be able to complete a writing that focuses on how the character of Minn grew and changed in the story. The word study for this story are irregular plurals.

Math Updates:

In math, scholars are continuing to strengthen their number sense and problem-solving skills while working with division and multi-step problem solving.

Students have been learning to divide multi-digit numbers by one-digit numbers using a variety of strategies, including:

• Area models

• Partial quotients

• Traditional long division

• Using multiplication to check division

A major focus has been helping scholars explain their thinking and justify their solutions using math vocabulary and written responses in their math journals.

Students are also practicing how to:

• Break apart multi-step word problems

• Identify important information in a problem

• Choose the correct operation

• Explain their mathematical reasoning

We are also strengthening math literacy through Daily Reviews, problem-solving tasks, and math journals, which allow students to reflect on their thinking and analyze mistakes.

Parents can support learning at home by encouraging scholars to:

• Explain how they solved a problem (not just the answer)

• Practice multiplication facts regularly

• Complete assigned IXL skills that reinforce division concepts.

Science Updates:

In science, scholars are exploring the unit Human Uses of Energy.

Students are learning how energy plays an important role in our everyday lives and how humans harness different energy sources to power technology and systems we depend on.

Topics we are exploring include:

• Types of energy

• How energy is transferred and used

• Real-world examples of energy in transportation, electricity, and machines

• How energy systems help communities function

Scholars are also engaging in research-based activities and project tasks where they apply math skills such as division, measurement, and data interpretation to scientific situations.

This interdisciplinary approach helps scholars see how math and science work together in real-world problem solving.

💡 Skills We Are Building

Across both subjects, scholars are developing important academic habits including:

• Perseverance when solving challenging problems

• Explaining and defending their thinking

• Collaborating with peers

• Using academic vocabulary

• Applying knowledge to real-world situations

📌 Helpful Reminders for Families

Please encourage your scholar to:

• Check Canvas regularly for assignments and resources

• Complete IXL practice to reinforce skills

• Bring their math journal to class daily

• Ask questions when they need clarification

Social Studies Updates:

This week, we complete the last lesson in Chapter 3 which focuses on our rights and responsibilities as citizens. Students discovered how citizens participate in government and how this participation supports the community. We discussed the differences between rights and responsibilities and how we exercise them in our communities.

Next week, students will begin working on their quest by identifying an issue in their community. Once the issue is identified, they will be ready to write their letter. Students should remember to clearly identify the issue, explain why it is important, and describe how their local government can help address the problem.

We had a fantastic week, and we’re now counting down—just one more week until spring break! We are so excited to keep the learning momentum going before we all get a well-deserved rest.

Reading Updates:

We’re diving into poetry, exploring different forms and themes. Get ready for some creative expression!

Math Updates:

In Mr. Barr’s class, students are mastering dividing decimals. In Ms. Jenkins’ class, we’re multiplying fractions—making real-world connections along the way.

Science Updates:

We’re investigating the effects of human activities on our environment—sparking thoughtful discussions about our impact.

Social Studies Updates:

We’re focusing on the Bill of Rights, understanding the freedoms that shape our daily lives.

Health Updates:

We’re talking about those roller-coaster emotions students experience, helping them recognize and manage feelings in healthy ways.

We’re grateful for your ongoing support. Let’s make this final pre-break week a great one!

Fifth grade Team

General CARTS Messages:

Due to weather related closing and delays affecting class times, there will be a limited amount of grades in CARTS for report cards. Specifically, Art, P.E., Music, Technology, and LEGO. Thank you for your understanding!

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

Music:

Hello CMIT Family!

The highlights of my classroom are the windows and natural light!

It’s Women’s History Month and we are also celebrating Music in our Schools! Because of this we have been highlighting a woman in music each week. Our first week we celebrated jazz legend, Ella Fitzgerald. Last week, we celebrated “The Voice”, Ms. Whitney Houston. She’s the most awarded female vocalist of all time! This week, we are highlighting Ms. Sheila E., a trailblazer in her own right. I can’t wait to share!

Keep in mind that our 3rd graders are still tooting away on their recorders while the rest of the student body is being challenged to learn how to write and perform standard notation and solfege at their various level. If your child has not gotten a recorder, yet, please be advised that their grade is being affected.

Grades 2 -5 need to bring their journals to class this week as we will be doing some writing and review.

You can help your child by going to YouTube and pulling up “Rhythm Play Along.” Several songs will populate. Students can use them to practice playing rhythms. They can clap and pat or use instruments/pots/pans/bowls, etc. to play those rhythms. Have fun!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at mduncan@cmitsouthes.org or Michelle.Duncan@pgcps.org .

Tech:

The highlight of my classroom is learning Digital Citizenship! So, we’re learning about Digital Safety this quarter.

Maker’s Lab:

My highlight would be all the living things in my class! To support this, Kindergarten is learning about how and why objects push and pull and 1st-5th is learning the fundamentals of code and Aquaponics (growing plants using the nitrogen cycle fish).

LEGO:

The highlight of my room is learning how engineers support environmentalism! To do that we are working on presenting how students made their environment friendly by presenting the wind turbine.

Media:

The highlights of my classroom are research and innovative ideas! Kindergarten and 1st are working on phonics and building sounds, 2nd and 3rd are rhyming and poetry, 4th and 5th are creating their own utopias!

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