The Tiger Times

CMIT South Elementary January Themes

Character Theme: Confidence

STEM Theme: Engineering Design Process

Please take note of these important calendar reminders:

• January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Schools and Offices Closed

• January 21 - Read-A-Thon Kickoff

• January 26 - End of Second Quarter (46 Days)

• January 26 - Grading & Reporting Day - Early Dismissal for Students

• January 28 - PTO Meeting

• February 6 - Charter/Specialty Lottery Closes

• February 13 - Teacher Planning Day - Early Dismissal for Students

• February 16 - Presidents' Day - Schools and Offices Closed

• February 18 - First Day of Ramadan

2025-2026 School Calendar

School Menu Viewer

NWEA MAP Growth Testing: Jan 13–15 CMIT South Elementary students (Grades K–5) will begin winter MAP Growth testing the week of January 13. This adaptive assessment helps teachers tailor instruction to each student's unique learning level.

Testing Schedule:
Tuesday, Jan 13: Reading (K–5)
Wednesday, Jan 14: Mathematics (K–5)
Thursday, Jan 15: Science (Grades 2–5)

Reminder: Please ensure students arrive with fully charged devices and headsets. For questions, contact your child’s teacher or Testing Coordinator fmetin@cmitsouthes.org. Learn more at NWEA.org/familytoolkit.

Celebrating the 100th Day of School!

We are excited to celebrate our 100th day of school on Monday, February 9th! To make the day extra fun, students are invited to dress up like they are 100 years old—think gray hair, glasses, suspenders, pearls, or cozy cardigans. This optional dress-up day is a fun way to mark how much we’ve learned and grown over the past 100 days. We can’t wait to see our “100-year-old” students and celebrate together!

For girls:
Fake glasses
A scarf or shawl
Hair styled in a bun or tied with ribbon
Wigs or temporary gray color spray
Pearls or simple jewelry
A small handbag
Cozy cardigan or sweater
Cane or walker

For boys:
Suspenders
Bowtie or necktie
Vest or cardigan
Newsboy cap or other caps
Fake glasses
Wigs or temporary gray color spray
Oversized pants with a belt
Cane or walker

Get creative and Have Fun!

2026–2027 Charter/Specialty Lottery & Sibling Preference Application

Dear Families,

The 2026–2027 Charter/Specialty Lottery will open on Saturday, November 1, 2025, and close on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Attached, you will find the Sibling Lottery Application for the 2026–2027 school year.

The lottery process will remain the same as last year:

Parents must submit lottery applications through ScribOrder before completing the sibling preference application. After submitting the ScribOrder application, you will receive an order number, which must be added to the sibling application. Please ensure all required information is entered accurately when completing the forms, as incomplete applications will delay processing.

All sibling applications should be submitted directly to Jamie Bull, Registrar, at mailto:jamie.bull@pgcps.org for processing.

Students must have a student ID number in order to apply. If a student does not have a student ID, parents must complete a Student ID Application located in ParentVUE.

The deadline to apply for a student ID for the Charter/Specialty Lottery is Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

The Pupil Accounting Office will continue to process student ID requests through Synergy.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Warm regards,

Click on here for the link!

We are going digital!!! Don't forget to complete your Emergency Contact and Pick List, Student Publicity Release Form, Parent Compact form, and apply for Free and Reduced Lunches for each of your scholars.

In November 2020, PGCPS launched an online volunteer application and approval process. Click here for more information on becoming a volunteer and to access the application.

2025-26 School Year Meal Prices

Elementary (Pre-K through Grade 5)

Breakfast: $1.60/day

Lunch: $2.75/day

How to Pay

MySchoolBucks, owned and operated by Heartland Payment Systems, is an online payment service that provides parents the ability to securely pay for meals, monitor student cafeteria purchases, make tuition payments for Before and After School Extended Learning programs, and receive email notifications for low-account balances. With MySchoolBucks, payments can be made 24/7 using a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, credit or debit card, and mobile app.

• Online Payment Service

• Mobile App

Principal Lunch Account

ALL breakfast,lunch, and Principal lunch payments should be made via www.myschoolbucks.com.

All money comes/goes to 1 account (child's). All that is needed to set up account (if not done) is

students lunch pin or student id.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

We encourage all families to consider applying for free and reduced-price meals! Visit www.myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict to apply online today!

To apply, you will need:

• The name, school, and grade of your school-age children
• The name of all adults living in the home
• Income information for all adults living in the home
• Student ID Numbers for your school-age children

Applications will also be sent home with students the first week of school. Applications are available at all PGCPS schools and can be submitted at any time.

School Menu Viewer

Good morning/afternoon/evening,

Please take a moment to check your child’s MySchoolBucks account and add funds if there is an outstanding balance. When no money is available on the account and your child receives lunch, the cost is temporarily covered by the Principal’s Lunch Account. No student will ever be turned away from lunch, even if they bring a bagged or boxed lunch from home.

You can easily monitor your child’s purchases and set up automatic payments within the MySchoolBucks app to ensure the balance never falls below your preferred amount. Please remember that all payments must be made through the app—no cash should be sent to the school for this purpose. To set up an account, download the MySchoolBucks app using your child's student ID. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your prompt attention and continued support.

In partnership with Prince George's County Public Schools, Prince George's County Health Department and Hazel Health, your student can get physical and mental telehealth services at school or at home, at no cost to your family.

Click here for more information!

Birthdays are so much fun to celebrate with classmates. However, during the school day, the health and safety of each student are important, especially students with food allergies. Students are ONLY permitted to bring in NON-FOOD items to distribute to classmates at the end of the school day. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping all of our students safe at CMIT South ES.

Additionally, please note that teachers and staff are unable to participate in distributing communications/invitations or email addresses related to birthday celebrations. All planning for birthdays needs to happen outside of school so that it does not take away from the purpose of instruction.

Students in Saturday Academy are showing remarkable dedication and determination as they spend their weekends learning, practicing, and growing. Through focused lessons, collaboration, and perseverance, they are strengthening their skills and building confidence beyond the regular school week. Their hard work and commitment reflect a strong desire to succeed and make the most of every learning opportunity.

Please see the following link for weekly academic updates!

Academic Updates

Welcome back! As we begin the New Year, this is a great time for students to reset, reflect, and set positive goals for the months ahead. Returning to routines after a break can feel exciting—and sometimes challenging.

Encourage your child to:

• Re-establish healthy routines (sleep, homework, and self-care)
  

• Set small, achievable goals for the new quarter
  

• Reach out for help when feeling overwhelmed
  
  

If your student needs support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to a successful and positive start to the New Year!

Warm regards,

Ms.Chandler

Math in the New Year!
Happy New Year, families! January is a great time to build strong math habits and confidence. Math learning happens every day—when cooking, shopping, playing games, or talking about time and money. Encourage your child to explain their thinking, even if their answer isn’t perfect yet. Asking questions like “How did you figure that out?” helps deepen understanding and problem-solving skills. Practicing math facts, noticing patterns, and celebrating effort all support long-term success. Thank you for partnering with us to make math meaningful and enjoyable for all learners!

Happy Problem-Solving,

Coach Jones

A New Year of Reading!
Happy New Year, families! January is a wonderful time to refresh routines and set simple goals—and reading can be part of that in small, joyful ways. Just 15–20 minutes of reading each day makes a big difference for growing readers. Encourage your child to choose books that interest them, reread favorite stories, or read aloud together and talk about what’s happening in the story. Listening to your child read, asking questions, and celebrating effort (not just accuracy!) helps build confidence and a love of reading. Thank you for supporting our readers at home—we’re excited for all the growth this year will bring!

Happy Reading!

Mrs. A. Matthews

Grade Level Blurb:

Welcome to the New Year!

The Kindergarten Team hopes that you had a great break. It was great to see all the ideas of what our Tiger Scholars could be when they grow up from the STEM Career Projects.

We are so excited about our upcoming rescheduled field trip to the National Aquarium. A huge thank you in advance to everyone who will be chaperoning our trip to make it a success. We will be eating lunch on the bus on the way back, so lunches from home should be sent in a disposable bag, with no glass containers/bottles, and no food that needs to be heated up. All students should wear their gym uniform, including a gray T-shirt and navy blue bottoms. Chaperones should come to the school cafeteria by 8:50 am.

Important Dates

January 13-14: MAP testing: Students need their computers

January 15: Field Trip

January 15: Homework Due

January 19: No School

January 26: 3hr early Dismissal

Reading Updates:

Reading Updates:

UNIT 2- Week 5: Run, Jump and Swim

Essential Question: How do some living things make what they need?

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

Blend and Segment: Onset and Rime

• Phonics: Short /e/ middle sound and Letters W and Y

• High-frequency words: go, from, yellow

• Spelling words found in weekly readings: swim, push, climb, and carry

• Unit Vocabulary: grow, need, share, depend

Learning Goals:

• Learn what a persuasive text is

• Understand Informational Text Structure

• Find details in a text

• Capitalization for the beginning of a sentence

• Adjectives preposition and Verbs

• Rhyming Sort

Math Updates:

Topic 7: Understanding Subtraction

Essential Understanding: What types of situations involve subtraction?

• Show numbers in many way

• Express smaller parts of a bigger number with actions

• Represent subtraction as taking away from numbers up to 10

• Practice using an subtraction equation

• Show subtraction using number lines, ten frames and pictures

• Vocabulary:

Vocabulary: minus, take away, equal sign, take apart, left over, patterns

Science Updates:

TOPIC 4: Changes to the Environment

Experience 1: How do People change their environment?

• Review living vs non-living things

• Inquiry about the relationship between people and where they live.

• Demonstrate the relationship between the needs of people and the places they live, which together make up a system.

• Describe habitat relationships using relational language and simple adjectives.

Vocabulary: environment, system, model, change

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:

January Topic: My Body is Special

• Demonstrate respect for different types of bodies

• Encourage self confidence by discovering one’s own special qualities and talents.

• Describe basic routines necessary to keep one’s “special” body healthy and safe.

• Explain why it is important to tell a trusted adult about situations involving personal safety.

Vocabulary: special, private, respect, trust, and daily habits

Grade Level Blurb:

Welcome to 2026, First Grade Families!
The first grade team is excited to begin the new year and continue learning together in 2026! As we start this week, we have some updates and reminders:

Reminders:

1. Spelling homework is DUE tomorrow, Monday, January 12th. We will take our spelling test on this date and move into our new words.

2. Topic 3 math homework was DUE last week. If this has not been turned in, please remind your scholar to do so this week.

Reminders:

1. Students should bring their yellow take home folder to school and home every day. Parents, please sign their behavior calendar in acknowledgment of daily behavior. Please also remove all papers on the "Keep at Home" side.

2. Check ParentVue regularly and review all graded work.

3. Students may eat one, DRY snack at the end of the day. If your student would like to participate in snack, please be sure to send them with one.

4. The weather has changed DRASTICALLY. Please ensure your scholar comes to school dressed in accordance with the weather. We go outside as long as the temps are about 32 degrees.

Reading Updates:

This week in reading, students will evaluate the elements of drama through our weekly story, Bigger Shoes for the Big Race. Students will be able to identify characters, setting, plot, and dialogue.

Phonics:

The focus this week will be on long a words following the VCe pattern. (examples: came, name, shake, bake)

Math Updates:

We are wrapping up, or have wrapped up, topic 3. Classes are beginning to move into topic 4- subtraction within 20. In this topic, students will focus on the following strategies to subtract: counting back, making 10, using fact families, and using addition.

Science Updates:

In science, students are exploring three learning experiences focused on animals. They are learning about animal body parts and basic needs, identifying patterns in animal behavior, and discovering how animal parents care for their young.

Social Studies Updates:

We are wrapping up our topic in geography! Stay tuned for an update from your teacher on testing.

Health Updates:

This month in Health, first graders will be learning about medicine and how to stay safe. Students will explore what medicine is, who helps give it to them, and important safety rules—like only taking medicine from a trusted adult. Our lessons will focus on building healthy habits and making safe choices in an age-appropriate way.

Grade Level Blurb:

Our students showed up in our doorways with energy and enthusiasm to begin 2026! Team Third Grade is looking forward to what the new year will bring for our students. Please remember that students are taking the MAP tests next week. It’s extremely important to charge the chromebooks, get good rest, and eat a nutritious breakfast. Students need to arrive on time to provide a quiet and smooth testing environment for all.

Ms. Howard’s Class Updates:

We kicked off the new year strong by setting 2026 goals focused on academic growth, personal development, and responsibility. Students reflected on where they are now and where they want to be by the end of the year.

This week, we also explored character traits and completed a writing assignment where students identified and explained their strongest character traits using evidence from their own actions.

In addition, students engaged in MAP test preparation with modeled practice focused on higher-order thinking and “thinking for the test.” We practiced strategies such as slashing the trash (process of elimination), re-reading and three reads, and using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Students also began comparative writing, learning how to compare and contrast two passages using text evidence.

It has been an awesome first week back, and we are excited to continue building strong readers, writers, and thinkers!

Mrs. Flores’ Class Updates:

I am truly enjoying watching my mathematicians grow! We started the year by continuing our study of multiplication properties. By week’s end, the students showcased their problem solving abilities. I am proud of them!

The STEM Fair has taken over most of our Science time. We have started presenting projects but have many more to go. Prior to presenting, we discussed our school’s character value of the month: confidence. The students were encouraged to present their projects with confidence and pride! We did have time at the beginning of the week to complete a quick lima bean lab. We have seeds trying to germinate taped to our windows and the back wall. We also want to see how light plays a factor in the growth of the seedlings.

Our new Health topic has us exploring attitude, values, and test-taking habits. We are discussing ways to prepare so that the students are not stressed and anxious when important tests roll around.

Our first week back was busy but also full of excitement. We hope our third grade families and students will have a prosperous and joy-filled 2026!

🎇Happy New Year Team 4Ward,

I hope this message finds you well and full of joy. We hope that everyone had a restful and restorative Winter Break. We only have two more weeks left in the Second Quarter! At this time all STEM Fair projects and research papers are past due. Please ensure that you are reading all updates on the school’s Classdojo.

🚌Field Trip

4th Graders will attend our third field trip of the year to the Howard B. Owens Science Center on Friday January 16, 2026. Here students will deepen their understanding of the universe by learning in an immersive environment. This lesson helps to build on the virtual field trip our student had about Cosmic Collisions. Field Trip permission slips have been sent home with students. Please ensure that your scholar has their bag lunch the day of the trip. We have submitted the list of names of students that need a bag lunch for the cafeteria to prepare them.

💻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. I 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.

Thank you for your ongoing support in your child’s learning journey. We are grateful for the partnership between home and school — together we help every student thrive.

Warmly,

Team 4Ward

Important Upcoming Dates:

• MAP Winter Diagnostic (Reading) Tuesday January 13, 2026

• MAP Winter Diagnostic (Math) Wednesday January 14, 2026

• MAP Winter Diagnostic (Science) Thursday January 15, 2026

• Howard B. Owens Science Center Field Trip Friday January 16, 2026

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Day- No School Monday January 19, 2026

• MAP Winter Diagnostic Makeups Tuesday January 20, 2026

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.

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 are in Volume 2 of our textbooks Unit 4: Impacts. Within this unit students will explore diverse literature styles from all over the world.This year writing is a main focus within our school. As we enter the second quarter scholars' writing will increase in frequency and length. We are expecting them to write at least 8 sentences per essay. How they organize and how clearly they share their points and ideas will also be important in scoring their writing.

This Week:

This week we began a drama called “La Culebra.” A drama is a type of text that has a cast of characters with stage directions,which is seen in plays. In this drama students will read about making choices and the importance of doing good deeds.This drama also incorporates many Spanish words. Students will seek to answer: Why should we do good deeds without expecting anything in return? This week students compared and contrasted the elements that are found in drama and in other types of literature. Students had an opportunity to act out a fairy tale with their groups.

Next Week:

Next week we will revisit our drama “La Culebra.” Our students are exploring the elements that make a drama different from other forms of literature. This week students will get an opportunity to act out a new ending to the story with their groups. Also this week students will complete a writing that explores why we should do good deeds without expecting anything in return.

Math Updates:

As we return from the break, we will continue with our Multiplication Focus. This week and next in Math, scholars continued working through Topics 3 and 4, focusing on using strategies and properties to solve 1-digit and 2-digit multiplication problems. Please continue to build math fluency through repetition of basic math facts to build speed and math confidence.

Please encourage scholars to practice their facts at home using Prodigy, IXL, i-Ready, and XtraMath to boost automatic recall. A few minutes of daily practice goes a long way!

Science Updates:

In Science, scholars are focusing on STEM Fair presentations! This week we took time to showcase each scholars’ hard work with an in-class STEM Gallery walk, touring each board exploring the different STEM topics. Next week, we will begin STEM presentations and choose our top 3 classroom representatives for the STEM Fair.

In addition to the STEM Fair, in Science we will begin our next topic, Human Use of Energy. In this topic, scholars will describe how fuels humans use for energy are derived from natural sources. They will learn that some of these resources are renewable over time, and others are not, and that human use of these energy resources can affect the environment in multiple ways.

Social Studies Updates:

When we return from winter break, students will continue to work on their Chapter 2 In-Class Quest project, where they will research and present information about an important American who helped shape our nation. Students will explore their figure’s contributions, analyze their impact on U.S. history, and create a presentation to share their learning with the class.

Grade Level Blurb:

🌟 New Year, Fresh Start! 🌟

Happy New Year and welcome back! As we begin the new year, we are focused on starting strong, setting goals, and building positive learning habits in the classroom. Students are already settling back into routines and engaging in meaningful learning across all subject areas.

📊 MAP Testing (Tuesday–Thursday)

Next week, students will participate in MAP Growth testing from Tuesday through Thursday. These assessments help us measure student growth and guide instruction moving forward.

How families can help:

• Ensure students get plenty of rest each night
  

• Provide a healthy breakfast
  

• Encourage students to do their best and take their time
  
  

Reading Updates:

Students will focus on prefixes and how they change the meaning of words. We will also work with informational texts, practicing skills such as identifying key ideas, using text features, and answering questions using evidence from the text.

Math Updates:

In Lesson 7-5, students will learn how to add and subtract fractions, building understanding of denominators and applying strategies to solve problems accurately. Students will be expected to explain their thinking using models and equations.

Science Updates:

We are beginning Topic 6: Atmosphere and Hydrosphere, where students will explore Earth’s systems. Lessons will focus on how air and water interact, the role they play in weather and climate, and how these systems affect life on Earth.

Social Studies Updates:

Students will study Chapter 4, Lesson 5: The French and Indian War. We will examine the causes of the war, the groups involved, and how the conflict impacted colonial America and future events.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are looking forward to a productive and successful start to the new year!

General CARTS Message:

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

Music:

It’s that time again… Our 3rd graders will be learning recorder. You can order online at Amazon.com or you can purchase at retail stores such as Walmart, Target, Music & Arts or even Dollar Tree for as little as $1.25. Keep in mind, the Dollar Tree recorders are NOT high quality, but they will keep your student from failing. The entire 3rd quarter will be focused on recorders for our 3rd grade students. All recorders must be brought in by February 6th! We begin recorders the first week in February. DO NOT SPEND MORE THAN $10 ON YOUR CHILD’S RECORDER!

Also, parents… If your child received a grade of “C” or lower, there was probably a problem with their excused absences. Please go to the Student Absenteeism form to update the absence as excused with whatever documentation you may need. Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions or concerns. Michelle.Duncan@pgcps.org or Mduncan@cmitsouthes.org

P.E.:

This week we are taking a deep dive into teamwork!

• The importance of teamwork

• What makes a team successful

• What makes a team unsuccessful

Technology:

This week we are continuing with our digital citizenship projects! Check Class Dojo for more information.

Maker’s Lab:

This week is review!

K-1: Plants and plant parts

2: Matter

4: Waves and wave patterns

5: MISA prep

Media:

This week is continuing our research for debate and practicing in 2-5 and dictation in K&1!

Art:

Thank you to everyone who came out to see the 1st Semester Art Gallery in the Media Center! I hope to see you all at the Countywide Art Exhibition at Harmony Hall in May! In the meantime, here’s some pictures of our second grade artists hard at work on their torn paper landscapes!

CHESAPEAKE MATH AND IT SOUTH ELEMENTARY

• Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

• Grades: K-5

• Uniform: Yes
• Before After School Enrichment: Yes
http://clfmd.org/enrichment-2/
• School Colors: Orange and Black

• Uniform Colors: Hunter Green, Navy Blue, or white Oxford tops and Khaki or Navy Blue bottoms

For more information

https://cmitsouthes.org/faq/

🐾 January 4, 2026

🐾 December 21, 2025

🐾 December 14, 2025

🐾 December 7, 2025

🐾 November 23, 2025

🐾November 16, 2025

🐾 November 9, 2025

🐾 November 2, 2025

🐾 October 26, 2025

🐾 October 19, 2025

🐾 October 12, 2025

🐾 October 5, 2025

🐾September 28, 2025

🐾September 21, 2025

🐾September 14, 2025

🐾September 7, 2025

🐾August 31, 2025