CMIT North Middle School Newsletter

In partnership with students, parents and the community, CMIT will attain educational excellence by providing a rigorous and technology-integrated education for middle and high school students with an emphasis on mathematics, science, and information technologies.

At our school, STRIPES represents the qualities we strive to live by every day: Supportive, Trustworthy, Responsible, Innovative, Persistent, Empathy, and Service. These values guide how we learn, work, and treat one another, helping us build a strong, caring, and respectful community where every student can thrive.

CMIT Academy follows the PGCPS school calendar.

Import the CMIT North Middle School calendar to your own Gmail calendar to stay informed of all school-wide events.

9/1: Labor Day (Schools and Offices Closed)

9/11: Back to School Night 6pm-8pm

9/12: Teacher Planning (Half-day Early Dismissal for Students at 11:55am)

9/23: Professional Development (Schools Closed for Students)

10/2: Yom Kippur (Schools and Offices Closed)

10/17: Professional Development (Schools Closed for Students)

10/31: End of 1st Quarter/Grading and Reporting for Teachers (Early Dismissal for Students)

Scholars will receive lockers towards the end of the upcoming week.

Locker Use (Student Handbook, p.6)

Students are expected to store their belongings in their lockers during the day. The school takes no responsibility for items left unattended outside the lockers.

• Backpacks, cell phones/PEDs, and outerwear must be kept in lockers.
• Students can only use their lockers before school, before lunch, and after school.
• Students should not share their locker combinations with other students.
• Students should not place their items in other students’ lockers or allow other students to place items in theirs. Students are held responsible for items found in their lockers.

This Friday, September 5th, students are invited to show their team spirit by dressing down in gear representing their favorite sports team! Students who choose not to participate must come in full school uniform.

Important Reminders:

• Students with PE must wear athletic shoes/sneakers — no Crocs.

• Shoes that expose toes are not permitted.

Let’s go, team! 🏈⚽🏀

1st Offense - Cell Phone will be confiscated and given back at the end of the school day.

2nd Offense - Cell Phone will be confiscated and needs to be picked up by a parent/guardian

3rd offense - Students will receive Saturday detention and the cellphone will need to be picked up by a parent/guardian.

p.8-9 of Student Handbook

As we kick off the month of September, we’re excited to focus on the character trait of being supportive. This month, we’ll be looking for a middle school student and staff member who go above and beyond to support others — whether that’s lending a helping hand, offering encouragement, or being a dependable team player.

Let’s all work together to show what it means to be truly supportive. Who will be our Student and Staff Member of the month for September?

Please see the Traffic Flow Map of the driving routes and drop-off/pick-up locations. Please note: All parents, carpooling, or individuals, must drop off and pick up in the rear of the building. The side parking lots are designated for commercial vans/buses only. Only students who ride on a commercial van or bus will be permitted to exit to the side parking lot.

Everyone will become more accustomed to the drop-off and pick-up routine as the school year progresses. The process will become more and more efficient. Typically, by the third week of school, all vehicles are gone within 15 minutes of the dismissal bell.

Please be patient and follow the instructions from those directing traffic. No one's time is more valuable than the safety of OUR children. It takes all of us, faculty and parents, working together to ensure a safe environment at all times.

Please complete the Dismissal Questionnaire.

This year, we have two uniform vendors to choose from, All American Wear and Risse Brothers.

Please review the CMIT North Middle School Uniform Policy.

Please note the following:

1. Shoes must be MOSTLY BLACK (logo okay, different color sole okay, shoestring must be black), closed-toed dress shoes or athletic shoes only.

2. Slippers, slide-ins, thin-soled shoes, sandals, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, high-heeled shoes (heels must be not more than 1 inch), Crocs, slides, roller shoes, shoes with wheels, and shoes with openings exposing the foot or socks are not permitted.

3. For safety purposes, shoes must be worn at all times and shoelaces must be tied properly, all buckles fastened - nothing may dangle or drag from shoes.

4. Socks, stockings, tights, or hose (solid black, navy blue, or white) must be worn with shoes. Clear or skin-colored hose are also acceptable.

We want to inform you of an important change regarding student devices for the upcoming 2025–2026 school year. Due to current budget constraints, CMIT North Middle School will be implementing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy.

What This Means for Your Student:
All students will be required to bring their own Chromebook for use both at school and at home.

We will no longer be able to provide school-issued devices for every student, as we have in previous years.

A limited number of Chromebooks will be available to rent for $100 per year.

Rental fees may be waived for families with documented financial need.

We understand that this represents a shift from our previous practice, and we are committed to supporting families through this transition. To help guide you through this process, we’ve provided detailed information about:

- Recommended Chromebook specifications

- Device rental process

An appointment schedule will be shared soon to schedule a configuration date at the school.

We appreciate your partnership as we adapt to meet the needs of our school community.

Rising 8th Grade Families,

We hope you’re enjoying a restful and enriching summer! We are writing to inform you of an important update regarding the world language program for the upcoming 2025–2026 school year.

This year, students who successfully passed Spanish I in 7th Grade will fulfill the second year of their world language graduation requirement—Spanish 2—as a virtual course through the Pearson online platform. This course will take place during students’ blended learning time in the blended learning classroom.

Here’s what to expect:

Pearson Instructor: Students will have a dedicated Spanish teacher through Pearson who will grade assignments, hold office hours, and lead a weekly live session focused on key concepts. These sessions will also be recorded in case students are unable to attend live.

Blended Learning Supervision: Students will continue to be supported in person by Success Coaches, who will guide them during their work time and track progress.

Grading and Access: Grades earned in the Pearson platform will be entered into Synergy by a Success Coach. Students and parents will have full access to coursework and progress tracking at any time through the Pearson platform.

Communication: Students can contact their Pearson instructor directly via the platform’s WebMail system for help or clarification.

We recognize this model is a shift and will require students to take greater ownership of their learning. That’s exactly why we’re excited to launch this initiative. Not only does it fulfill graduation requirements, but it also builds self-discipline, accountability, and independent learning skills—all of which are essential for success in high school and beyond.

Thank you for your partnership as we prepare for a strong school year ahead. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mr. Field, justin.field@pgcps.org with any questions regarding the world language program.

All students are expected to attend school regularly in accordance with state laws and regulations. The schools, families, and communities must work together to foster exemplary attendance for all students. (Board Policy 5113)

Examples of Lawful Absences include: death in the immediate family, illness, suspension, observance of religious holidays, court summons, etc.

Please be sure to provide an Electronic note to the school when your child is absent. using this link https://shorturl.at/kmoL4 . This link is also located on our school website under CMIT Families tab/ Parents.

This form should be completed by parents when their child is arriving late/ early dismissal or absent from school. Students have 3 (THREE) school days once they return, to submit a note explaining their absence. (PLEASE NOTE: Family Trips/Vacations are NOT excused absences, you must submit a different form and get pre-approval from Principal Brauer) * Not all absence notes are excused. Families are encouraged to refer to Administrative Procedure 5113 for more information.

Please attach doctor's notes or any other supporting documentation that is related to the absence. Once an excused absence note is submitted , your child will be permitted to make up missing work. It would be helpful to have your child ask their teacher(s) and or email your child's teachers to see what missing work needs to be completed. For any questions or concerns, please contact the front office @ 301-350-6051.

Synergy is PGCPS' new Student Information System. It is critically important that families activate their ParentVUE account. This will allow parents to view student schedules, attendance, and grades.

If you have questions or need support please click here: ParentVUE Support and FAQ

Dear CLF Families,

We are excited to announce that Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF) now has a new text messaging system to keep you informed about important CLF events, advocacy efforts, and ways you can help support our schools.

If you would like to receive these important updates, simply text "CLF" to 301-823-6910.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to keeping you connected!

Ms. Knox's Art class is looking for donations of cereal boxes, hand lotion, tissues, scrap wallpaper/scrapbooking supplies. Room 116

We’re excited to invite all parents to join our official CMIT North Middle School STEM Band App page. This will be our hub for quick updates, important announcements, and collaboration between parents, staff, and our STEM community.

👉 Click here to join the CMIT NMS Band: https://band.us/n/a3a8bdJ4J4b3c

By joining, you’ll:

Receive reminders about events and deadlines.

Stay informed on STEM clubs, activities, and opportunities.

Have a space to connect and share ideas with other CMIT families.

Let’s work together to make this a great year for our scholars—join us today!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025–2026 Middle School Enrichment Program! Whether your student is returning or new to the program, we welcome all families to join us for a fun, structured, and supportive after-school experience.

💼 What’s Included in the Enrichment Program?

Supervised Homework Time: Dedicated time and support to complete homework before heading home.

🎲 Engaging Activities & Games: A mix of team-building games, hands-on projects, and creative learning experiences.

🕓 Worry-Free Pickups: With extended care hours, you can relax knowing your student is in a safe, structured environment until you're able to pick them up.

📌 Please Note:

All students must be fully registered to participate.

New students enrolling for the first time will be required to pay a $50 registration fee.

Unregistered students will not be able to participate in the program.

📥 Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enrich your child’s learning experience beyond the classroom!

If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, feel free to reach out to Ms. Crosby, North Cluster Enrichment Coordinator, at mcrosby@clfmd.org.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to share that the STEM Ambassador Application for the 2025–2026 school year has been sent to all eligible students via email.

This year’s program includes exciting new updates:

Vertical teams where students from different grade levels will collaborate together

Partnerships with STEM professionals from our community, giving students opportunities to work on real-world challenges in environmental, technological, medical, and other fields

Continued service learning hours and leadership development opportunities

To be a STEM Ambassador, students must:

Be involved in at least one STEM Club

Maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA

Attend after-school meetings (in person or virtually)

Please encourage your scholar to check their email for the application and submit it by Thursday, September 5th if they are interested.

We are looking forward to another inspiring year of student leadership in STEM!

CMIT North Middle School participates in competitive athletics with other PGCPS middle schools. To be eligible students must have the following:

1. Complete the Athlete Participation Packet and return completed forms to the Athletic Director;

2. Have and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA;

3. Review and agree to the PGCPS Parent/Student Athletic Handbook;

The requirements must be completed prior to stepping on the field for tryouts.

Fall Sports: Baseball, Softball

Winter Sports: Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Cheer

Spring Sports: Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer

Families are encouraged to complete the requirements over the Summer months to ensure eligibility when seasons begin. Athlete Participation Packets and physicals are good for the entire school year.

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