CMIT South Elementary School
Dear CMIT South Elementary Families,
As we approach the final stretch of this incredible school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable dedication and perseverance you and your children have shown throughout these past months. Your commitment to learning, growth, and our school community has been truly inspiring to witness.
As Calvin Coolidge once said, "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." This quote perfectly captures the spirit I see in our students and families every day.
Schedule Update for This Week
This upcoming week, we will be implementing our mock 2025-26 class schedule as we prepare for next year's transition. Beginning in the fall, we will no longer follow the A-week, B-week, C-week rotation that has been part of our current structure. This trial week will help students and staff familiarize themselves with the new schedule format.
Celebrating Our Achievements
With only three more days remaining in this school year, I'm filled with pride reflecting on all we've accomplished together. This past week was particularly special as we celebrated our Kindergarten and 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremonies. These milestone events showcase the incredible growth and achievements of our students.
I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to so many who make our success possible:
Our PTO - Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to helping our programs thrive
Our teachers - Your time, passion, and commitment to our students' success is immeasurable
Our parents and families - Your partnership and involvement in your children's education makes all the difference
To our Kindergarten and 5th grade students: we are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and the young learners you've become. Keep shooting for the stars and never stop believing in yourselves!
Important Technology Update for SY 2025-2026
I want to inform you of a significant change regarding student devices for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Due to current budget constraints, CMIT South Elementary will be implementing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy.
What this means:
All students will need 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 devices will be available to rent at a cost of $100 per year
Rental fees may be waived for families with documented financial need
We understand this represents a change from our previous practice, and we're committed to supporting families through this transition. Please click on the following link for detailed information about device specifications, rental options, and financial assistance programs: [Device Information Link]
Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to provide the best possible education for our students. Your perseverance and support make CMIT South Elementary the exceptional learning community it is today.
Wishing you all a 🐾 PawwRific 🐾 day and see you all Monday, June 16, 2025!
With Tiger Pride,
Ms. Tauheedah N. Simmons-Lewis
Principal
Please take note of these important calendar reminders:
June 18 - Last Day for Students & End of Fourth Quarter – Inclement Weather Make-Up – No Early Dismissal for Students
June 19 - Juneteenth – Schools and Offices Closed
June 23 - Last Day for Teachers
June 28 - 4th Quarter Report Cards Released Online
July 11 - 4th Quarter Report Cards Mailed
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.
Attendance in school each day is important. Let’s stay in school.
In order for an absence to be considered excused, a written note must accompany the student no later than three (3) days after return to school. The note should include:
- date(s) of absence
- scholar’s name
- Reason for absence
Late or make-up work will not be accepted unless the absence is an excused absence. Please review Administrative Procedure 5113 AP 5113 - Student Attendance, Absence and Truancy for further information.
Students who are absent for ten consecutive days will be withdrawn on the 11th day and will need to re-enroll.
Lawful Absences
Students enrolled in public schools are considered lawfully absent from school for any portion of the day, only under the following conditions:
- Death of a family member
- Illness of the student
- Court appearance
- Work approved or sponsored by a school
- Observance of a religious holiday
- State of emergency
- Suspension from school
- Mental Health (Students may receive as an excused absence one (1) day of absence
- in each semester of each school year for a student’s mental health needs.
- Other emergencies
- Deployment-related absences
Unlawful Absences
Unlawful absence – any time a student does not attend school that does not qualify as the above-listed reasons for a lawful absence.
Tardy
Scholars will be officially tardy if they are not in the building at 8:05 a.m.
If your scholar enters the building after the 8:05 a.m. bell, a parent must escort them into the building and electronically sign them in the late arrival portal. Scholars will be given an orange tardy slip to be permitted to class.
Parents of students who have 10 or more tardies in a semester will be required to meet with the principal/designee to discuss the reasons for the tardies and to develop a plan for improvement.
School Meals
2024-25 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.
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.
Kinder families,
As we come to the end of the wonderful school year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and partnership throughout this academic journey. Your involvement and dedication have been instrumental in fostering a positive and enriching learning environment for our students. This year has been filled with growth, challenges, and countless achievements. Your support at home, whether through helping with homework, attending parent-teacher conferences, or encouraging your child to do their best, has played a crucial role in their success. Together, we have worked to help students meet their academic and personal goals and we are so excited to see them move on to 1st grade.
We are incredibly proud of the progress and accomplishments of our students. Watching them learn, grow, and thrive has been a rewarding experience, and we are grateful for the trust you have placed in all of us to guide them through this important phase of their education. Thank you for your open communication, your involvement in school activities, and your constant encouragement. Your partnership is vital to our school community, and it is through this collaborative effort that we create a supportive and nurturing environment for our children.
As we move into the summer break, we encourage you to continue fostering a love of learning at home. Engage in reading, explore new activities, and enjoy quality time together. These experiences will continue to build on the foundation we have established throughout the school year. We look forward to seeing all of our friends next school year and wish you and your family a restful and enjoyable summer.
Love,
Ms. Herbert, Ms. Lewis, Ms. Mamman, Ms. Windsor, and Dr. Hughes
Dear Families,
We can hardly believe how quickly this school year has flown by! It’s been such a joy watching our first graders grow, learn, and shine each day. From mastering reading and math skills to making new friendships and sharing lots of laughs, this year has truly filled our hearts.
As we head into summer break, we hope your child finds time to play, explore, and relax—you’ve all earned it! Keep reading a little each day, count the stars, chase some butterflies, and most of all, enjoy these special moments together.
Thank you for your support, kindness, and for sharing your amazing children with us this year. Have a fun, safe, and sunny summer!
Warmly,
The First Grade Team 🌴⛱ 📖
Dear Families,
The Second Grade Team would like to sincerely thank you for your partnership and support throughout this school year. Your dedication has played a vital role in making this year a success.
As we head into summer, we encourage you to take advantage of the learning platforms available to help keep your scholar engaged and growing.
We hope you have a safe, restful, and fun-filled summer!
Warm regards,
The Second Grade Team
Important Dates:
Last day of school June 18, 2025
Dear 3rd Grade Families,
What an incredible year it’s been! We are so proud of how much our students have grown—academically, socially, and emotionally. From diving into chapter books and mastering multiplication to exploring science experiments and building lasting friendships, this group has truly amazed us.
As we head into summer, we hope your family finds time to relax, recharge, and enjoy new adventures. Encourage your child to keep reading, stay curious, and most importantly—have fun!
Thank you for all the support and partnership throughout the year. We’ve loved being part of your child’s journey and wish you a joyful, sunny summer ahead!
With warmest wishes,
The 3rd Grade Team 🌼🌞📖
Happy Almost Summer Break Tigers,
I hope this message finds you well. Thank you so much for all your help and support during our Fourth Grade Finale Week! We hope that our scholars enjoyed themselves and made memories they will cherish. This is our last week of Fourth Grade. The team wanted to share how incredibly proud of the growth, effort, and resilience shown by our students this year.
We thank all parents and guardians for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership throughout the year. Your involvement made a huge difference and we wouldn’t be able to have this amazing year without you.
We wish you all a safe, restful, and joyful summer filled with great memories. Take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy time with loved ones. We look forward to seeing familiar faces in the fall and hearing about all your summer adventures.
Happy Summer,
4th Grade Team
Important Upcoming Dates:
Last Day of School Wednesday June 18, 2025
Fourth Grade Summer Updates:
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 each week to prevent summer loss of learning and to grow areas of concern.
iXL:
iXL is a computer based math and reading program that is available for all of our scholars. This program helps students to practice various math and reading skills on their instructional level.This program will be available all summer for students to continue to utilize in both reading and math.Grade level letter is F but if students are struggling with a skill they are able to practice that same skill but on another letter level. Please help support your students in growing their areas of concern this summer.
Final Grades:
Teachers are updating and publishing fourth quarter grades this week. Grades will be available for viewing by Thursday June 19, 2025 on Synergy. Final groups are calculated by the Synergy platform, not the teacher. Students have been taught to monitor their grades using their Clever platform. Please help your scholar continue to be accountable for their grades by checking weekly while in fifth grade.
Teacher Summer Availability:
The last work day for teachers this school year is Monday June 23, 2025. After that date teachers will be unavailable to meet or answer emails. If you are experiencing an emergency please contact the school directly for support.
The Final Countdown: Promotion, Camp Schmidt & Beyond!
🎓 Promotion Ceremony Success!
What an amazing promotion ceremony! We are incredibly proud of our scholars and all they have accomplished this year. Thank you to all the families who joined us in celebrating this milestone. It was a beautiful send-off, filled with joy, pride, and memories we’ll cherish.
🏕️ Camp Schmidt – This Week!
This week, we are heading to Camp Schmidt for a fun and enriching experience during our last week of school! This overnight trip will provide students with hands-on learning, outdoor exploration, and a chance to bond with classmates.
🔔 Important Reminder:
Please make sure your child packs a trash-free lunch and a refillable water bottle for the first day of the trip (Monday). Let’s help keep our environment clean and support healthy habits!
☀️ Summer Learning Tips
Summer is here, but learning doesn’t have to stop! To help your child bridge the gap and avoid summer learning loss, here are a few resources and tips:
Students will continue to have free access to i-Ready and IXL.
Use the 6th grade IXL skill sets to help prepare your child for middle school math.
Encourage daily reading to build vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking.
Keep practicing foundational math—fractions will be one of the first topics introduced in middle school.
💙 Best Wishes to Our Fifth Graders
As we prepare to say goodbye, we want to send our heartfelt best wishes to all of our fifth graders heading to middle school. We are so proud of the growth you’ve made and can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll accomplish.
Have a safe, fun, and educational summer!
~Fifth-Grade Team~
General CARTS Message:
Please continue to check your students’ work/grades on both Canvas and Synergy for CARTS classes!
Legos and Robotics:
This week in Legos and Robotics, we continued to test and play the games that the students created. The students will critique each other's games and have fun while testing. Thank you for all the support this school year; see you in the next one!
Music:
5th - Finish presenting 12-bar blues songs by Friday, June 13th, a great promotion ceremony!
1st - 4th - Line Dancing
K - A great promotion ceremony!
Thank you for all the support this school year; see you in the next one!
PE:
Summer is the perfect time to keep kids moving, playing, and staying active! Physical activity helps boost not just physical health, but also mood, focus, and confidence. Encourage your child to spend time outdoors, ride bikes, swim, play tag, or even just dance around the living room! Aim for at least 60 minutes of movement a day, and remember—exercise doesn’t have to be structured to be effective. Most importantly, make it fun and something the whole family can enjoy together. Wishing you a summer full of healthy habits, big smiles, and lots of play!
Technology:
As we head into summer, it’s a great time to encourage a healthy balance of screen time and creative tech use! While it’s okay to enjoy some games or videos, try mixing in activities that build digital skills—like coding games, typing practice, digital storytelling, or safe online research about topics your child loves. Set tech time limits, encourage regular breaks, and make space for offline play too. Most importantly, talk with your child about using technology responsibly and kindly. Wishing you a summer filled with creativity, curiosity, and smart tech choices!
Art:
Here are the last few photos from me this year! It's been a blast doing some new things and fine tuning some old ones. It was my absolute honor to have been the art teacher for the 5th grade class of 2025. I wish them all the luck in their next chapter and I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and creative summer. See you in August!
KVS is our school's dismissal tool for car riders. All parents MUST fill out their KVS number when picking up their scholar. It is imperative that numbers are entered once you reach the car line. If your scholar is a car rider, please take time to help him or her practice memorizing his or her number as this will make the dismissal process much quicker!
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.
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: Hunter Green, Navy Blue
• School Mascot: "Roary" the Tiger
• School Website: http://www.cmitsouthes.org
For more information