CMIT South MS/HS Newsletter

Dear CMIT South High School Families,

Can you believe we have already completed five weeks of school? We are halfway through the first quarter, and progress reports are on the way! Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to protect our Winning Streak!

Attendance matters! Please ensure your scholar attends school every day and arrives on time, ready to learn. Chronic absenteeism means missing 10% or more of the school days a student has been enrolled, including both excused and unexcused absences. These missed days can add up quickly, creating gaps in learning and making it harder to stay connected to classroom instruction. Every day—and every lesson—counts!

Our first Dress Down Day is Friday, October 2nd! Only students with fewer than 2.5 days of absences will be eligible to participate. Let’s make consistent attendance a priority!

Academics matter! As we approach progress reports, students and parents should check grades in Synergy regularly. Review assignment completion, identify missing work, and communicate with teachers when questions or concerns arise. Taking action now gives students time to make improvements and finish the quarter strong.

We have had a great start to the school year with uniform compliance—let’s keep that momentum going! As the weather changes, please ensure your scholar has the clothing needed to stay warm while meeting our uniform expectations. Our uniform vendor is stocked with CMIT South–approved hoodies, jackets, sweaters, long-sleeve polos, and other approved items. Only CMIT South–approved outerwear is permitted in classrooms.

Please also remember that cell phones, headphones, and EarPods must remain put away in classrooms. If these items are visible, whether in use or not, they will be confiscated. A parent will be required to pick up confiscated items from the front office between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Your support helps us maintain focused classrooms where learning comes first.

Thank you for reinforcing these expectations and helping our scholars build habits that support lasting success. Let’s continue our Winning Streak!

Every Student, Every Lesson, Every Day!

Dr. Darrian Borden-McCarter
Principal, CMIT South High School

Full STEM Ahead: Momentum to Mastery. Excellence by Design.

Greetings CMIT-South Middle School Families,

Happy Friday, Tiger Family!

As we close out another week, thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our scholars academically, socially, and behaviorally. Every day matters, every minute matters, and every member of our school community plays an important role in helping our scholars succeed.

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Upcoming Dates

Please mark your calendars for these important upcoming events:

• Tuesday, September 29th — 7th Grade Parent Town Hall

• Wednesday, September 30th — 6th & 8th Grade Parent Town Halls

• Thursday, October 1st — Special Education Meet & Greet

• Friday, October 2nd — Early Dismissal for Students / Teacher Professional Half-Day

• Thursday, October 15th — NJHS-Sponsored AttenDANCE

Additional details regarding upcoming events will be shared through our regular school communication channels.

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Attendance Awareness Month: Every Minute Matters

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and at CMIT-South Middle School, our focus extends beyond simply being present at school.

We are focusing on:

Being present. Being prepared. Being on time.

Regular attendance gives students consistent access to instruction, classroom discussions, collaborative learning, assessments, intervention, enrichment, and relationships with their teachers and peers.

But arriving at school is only part of the expectation.

This Month’s Attendance Focus: Reducing Tardies

We are asking all families to partner with us in reducing:

• Late arrival to school

• Late arrival to individual class periods

• Unnecessary time out of class

• Delayed transitions between classes

When students arrive late to class, even by a few minutes, they can miss opening directions, learning objectives, warm-up activities, teacher modeling, or important announcements. Those minutes add up.

Our goal is for scholars to develop the habits of responsibility, organization, accountability, and respect that support success in middle school and beyond.

R.O.A.R. Into Class On Time!

Being on time is part of what it means to R.O.A.R.:

R — Responsible
Take ownership of arriving where you need to be.

O — Organized
Have your materials ready and know where you are going.

A — Accountable
Manage your time and transitions.

R — Respectful

Arrive ready to learn without disrupting instruction already underway.

Families can help by reinforcing morning routines, encouraging students to arrive at school with enough time to prepare for the day, and discussing the importance of moving directly to class during transitions.

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Attendance + Celebration = AttenDANCE!

Good attendance deserves recognition!

Our National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is sponsoring our AttenDANCE of this school year on:

Thursday, October 15, 2026

The AttenDANCE will recognize scholars who demonstrate strong attendance habits, including our growing emphasis on timely arrival to school and class.

Students should remember that attendance is not simply about avoiding absences—it is about maximizing learning time.

Between now and October 15, we encourage every scholar to challenge themselves:

Can I improve my attendance? Can I reduce my tardies? Can I be in every class, ready to learn, when the bell rings?

The Time is Now to build habits that lead to success.

More information regarding AttenDANCE eligibility and participation criteria is included in the newsletter below.

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Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized from September 15 through October 15 and provides an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures, achievements, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

Educator Spotlight: Jaime Escalante

This week, we recognize Jaime Escalante, a Bolivian-born educator who became widely known for his work teaching mathematics to students in East Los Angeles.

Escalante believed deeply in students' ability to meet high expectations when they were provided with strong instruction, encouragement, persistence, and opportunity. His Advanced Placement Calculus students became nationally recognized for their academic achievement.

His work reminds us of an important principle that connects directly to our work at CMIT-South:

High expectations must be matched with high levels of support.

As a STEM-focused school community, we celebrate educators like Jaime Escalante who challenged students to see themselves as mathematicians, problem-solvers, and scholars capable of excellence.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________. Parent Town Halls Are Coming!

Our upcoming Parent Town Halls provide families an opportunity to connect with school leadership and hear information specific to their scholar's grade level.

7th Grade

Tuesday, September 29th at 4pm

6th Grade

Wednesday, September 30th at 4pm

8th Grade

Wednesday, September 30th at 4pm

We encourage families to participate, ask questions, and stay connected to what is happening at CMIT-South.

Strong schools are built through strong partnerships between students, staff, families, and community.

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Special Education Meet & Greet

Families are invited to our Special Education Meet & Greet on Thursday, October 1.

This event is an opportunity for families to connect with members of our Special Education team, learn more about available supports, and strengthen the school-family partnership that is so important to student success.

We look forward to welcoming our families.

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Early Dismissal — Friday, October 2

Please remember that Friday, October 2 is an Early Dismissal Day for students.

Teachers will participate in professional learning during the second half of the day.

Families should begin planning now for the adjusted dismissal schedule and ensure that scholars know their afternoon transportation and dismissal arrangements.

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C.A.R.E. in Action

At CMIT-South, we continue to build our culture around:

C — Collaboration

We work together.

A — Accountability

We take ownership.

R — Resilience

We keep moving forward.

E — Excellence

We give our best effort.

Attendance, punctuality, academic engagement, respectful behavior, and strong family-school partnerships are all examples of C.A.R.E. in Action.

______________________________________________________________________________________________. Full STEM Ahead!

Thank you for continuing to partner with us as we move from Momentum to Mastery.

In the coming weeks, challenge your scholar with one simple question:

“Were you where you were supposed to be, on time and ready to learn, every period today?”

Small habits create big results.

Full STEM Ahead: Momentum to Mastery. Excellence by Design.

With Tiger Pride,
Principal Green
CMIT-South Middle School

For those parents/guardians whose students received letters sent home and phone calls regarding missing vaccine(s), please be reminded that the exclusion date for these students is September 14, 2026.

CMIT South Athletics – Weekly Update

Fall sports are rolling along, and our Tigers continue to compete across the county. As we move closer to October and the second half of the fall season, our teams are looking to build momentum and finish strong.

Flag Football

Still undefeated!

Flag Football continued its outstanding start with a dominant 45–0 victory over Crossland this week. The Tigers are hitting their stride and looking to build on the tremendous success of last season.

The team will have two road tests next week against Friendly and Fairmont Heights as they look to keep the undefeated season going.

Boys Soccer

Boys Soccer traveled to Friendly this week and battled in a close 2–0 loss.

The Tigers will look to bounce back next week as they return home for two games, including a matchup against Central High School on Monday.

Golf

Our Golf team competed in two matches this week and put together strong performances in both. Multiple Tigers posted scores below 50, showing continued improvement as the season progresses.

With the regular season winding down, the team will look to hit its stride at the right time and carry that momentum into postseason competition.

Volleyball

Volleyball had its schedule impacted this week due to Wednesday's power outage at the school. The Tigers will return to action next week with two home matches, beginning Monday against CMIT North before hosting Largo on Wednesday.

Week Ahead

Monday, September 28
Volleyball vs. CMIT North – Home
Boys Soccer vs. Central HS – Home

Tuesday, September 29
Flag Football @ Friendly HS – 5:00 PM

Wednesday, September 30
Volleyball vs. Largo – Home

Thursday, October 1
Flag Football @ Fairmont Heights HS
Boys Soccer vs. Langley Park International – Home

Winter Sports Registration

Winter sports will be here before we know it!

Students interested in participating in Basketball should begin making sure their Aktivate registration and all required documents are completed and up to date.

No completed physical = No tryouts.

Students and families should not wait until the last minute to prepare for winter athletics. Taking care of registration requirements now will help ensure students are ready when tryouts begin.

GRADES MATTER!

Student-athletes, remember that being a Tiger means taking care of business in the classroom and in competition.

First Quarter grades are extremely important. Winter sports eligibility will be determined using first-quarter academic performance. Fall student-athletes must also continue to maintain their academic eligibility throughout the season.

Stay on top of your assignments, communicate with your teachers, attend available academic support, and finish the quarter strong.

Student first. Athlete second.

We are proud of the start our fall teams have made, but there is still plenty of work ahead. Continue to compete, support one another, and represent CMIT South the right way.

Go Tigers!

Winter sports are right around the corner, and we’re getting things started at CMIT South Middle School!

Our winter workouts will begin the week of October 8th. These workouts are a great opportunity for students to get active, build their skills, and prepare for the upcoming winter sports season and tryouts.

All students are welcome to participate in the workouts, and workouts are NOT tryouts. Students do not have to make a team or be selected to participate. However, every student who wants to work out must have a signed Workout Waiver/Permission Slip turned in by their first workout date of each sport. Students will not be permitted to participate without a signed permission slip. Slips can be picked up outside of the Gym and Mr. Curtis Room 136. All permission slips should be turned in to Mr. Curtis prior to workouts.

Tryout dates for winter sports will be announced separately in October, so families should continue to check school communications for updates.

We’re looking forward to getting our student-athletes moving and ready for a great winter season!

Look Ahead: Workout Dates

Cheerleading- 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Tuesday, October 6th - registration required

Wednesday, October 7th - registration required

Girls Basketball- 3:00pm -4:30pm

Monday, October 5th

Wednesday, October 7th

Monday, October 19th

Boys Basketball- 3:00pm-4:45pm

Thursday, October 8th

Wednesday, October 14th

High School Cheer Competition Tryouts

Do you have a background and/or career in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)??? We are looking for STEM speakers to present to our high school students on Friday, November 20th from 8:00am-12:15pm. You can use the attached link to register or contact Ms. Feaster: tfeaster@cmitsouth.org

Club List: (please use the link below to view the entire list of clubs/ activities)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zMU9qB52_hjIpi5NUAPLqMxQGTZwjtRuA9BtCW95KN8/edit?usp=sharing

We are excited to kick off High School Saturday Academy for the 2026–2027 school year! Saturday Academy will begin on Saturday, October 3rd and will provide students with additional opportunities for academic support, enrichment, and preparation throughout the school year.

Please see the flyer below for additional information regarding the Saturday Academy schedule, times, and program expectations.

We look forward to a successful year of learning, growth, and continued support for our high school students!

⚡ POWER THE PTO. POWER YOUR VOICE.

Parents and families are the power behind the CMIT South MS|HS PTO!

JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE!
Families can join the PTO at any time throughout the school year. Your membership helps support our students, teachers, programs, and the school community. And right now, there’s an extra reason to join:
🏆 The class (one class per middle school and high school) with the highest number of paid parent memberships — one membership per household — will win a PIZZA PARTY!

💰 MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
$20 — 1 Adult Membership
$30 — 2 Adult Memberships
Each paid adult member receives a vote when eligible.

🍕 POWER YOUR CLASS. POWER YOUR VOICE.
Join anytime. Get involved anytime. Make your voice heard.
Every family matters. Every voice matters. Together, we Power the PTO.

⚡ POWER THE PTO. EMPOWER OUR SCHOOL.

🚨 THE DATE CHANGED. THE VIBE DIDN’T. 🚨

The CMIT South MS|HS PTO cordially invites you to the BLOCK PARTY! Grab your friends and get ready for a fun afternoon of good music and great energy!

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
⏰ 2:00 PM–5:00 PM

🎟️ ATTRACTION BAND PRESALE COMING SOON!

Want to join the fun? Your attraction band will provide access to the Block Party attractions. Bands will be available during the presale and onsite. PTO members receive a presale discount.

More details are on the way—save the date!

*cholars must be chaperoned by an adult.

The PTO is collecting gently used uniform items for both the Middle School and High School to support our school community. Clean out those closets and donate uniform pieces your student has outgrown or no longer wears.

ACCEPTING — NEW LOGO ITEMS ONLY:
• Polo shirts(short and long sleeved)
• Hoodies/sweatshirts
• Oxfords (short and long sleeved)
• Fleece jackets
• Jackets/sweaters
• Gym shorts
• Gym sweatpants

⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: For bottoms, we are ONLY accepting gym shorts and gym sweatpants. Regular uniform pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, or other bottoms will not be accepted.
All donated items should be clean, gently used, and in good wearable condition.

📍 DROP-OFF: Donations may be left in the front vestibule or brought to the PTO General Body Meeting on Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 PM.

♻️ Clear the closet. Help another CMIT South family.

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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