The Tiger Times

Dear Amazing Tiger Families and Community,

What an incredible journey we continue to share together! As we focus on building a culture of kindness and compassion, I'm inspired by the beautiful words of author and advocate Aesop: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Let's continue showing kindness in all we do!

📚 Scholastic Book Fair is Coming - October 6-10!

We are super excited to announce that the Scholastic Book Fair will kick off on Monday, October 6, 2025! Get ready for a week packed with reading, discovery, and FUN from October 6–10! There's nothing quite like watching our Tigers explore new books, discover their next favorite story, and develop their love of reading.

✨ This Year's Book Fair is CASHLESS!

The easiest way for your Tiger to shop is with an eWallet! Setting one up takes less than 5 minutes:

1️⃣ Sign in (or create) your Scholastic account → https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/chesapeakemathanditsouth

2️⃣ Scroll down to "Book Fair eWallet" and click Get Started

3️⃣ Select I'm a parent… and create your eWallet

4️⃣ Add funds (and invite family & friends to chip in too!)

💡 Helpful tip: Set up your eWallet today so your Tiger is ready to shop the moment the fair begins!

Volunteer Opportunity: If you want to be part of the Book Fair magic ✨, we'd love to have you join us as a volunteer! (All PGCPS volunteer requirements must be completed before signing up.)

👉 Sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70A0D4BADAF2AA0FD0-58663448-scholastic

Your act of kindness in volunteering helps create an amazing experience for all our Tigers! Let's make this Book Fair an unforgettable celebration of reading!

🗣️ CMIT South Town Hall Meeting with Mr. AK, CEO

Date and Time: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location: CMIT South Elementary School Cafeteria & Zoom

Host: Mr. AK, Chief Executive Officer, Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation

Topics: Budget presentation, charter school advocacy, and community updates

Audience: All CMIT South ES/MS/HS parents and guardians

During this important meeting, Mr. AK will provide a comprehensive overview of the CMIT South budget, discuss charter school advocacy efforts, and address other vital matters affecting our school community. This is an excellent opportunity for families to stay informed, ask thoughtful questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue about our schools' operations and future plans.

Submit Your Questions: Please add your questions by Tuesday, October 5, 2025 → https://forms.gle/XB3cFKSLLDvdaZNq5

We strongly encourage all parents and guardians from the elementary, middle, and high school to attend and participate in this informative session. Your voice matters, and your engagement strengthens our community!

📣 Calling All Tigers! Charter School Advocacy Needs YOU!

Our charter schools need your help—we can't do this without you! Every voice counts in ensuring our students receive the fair funding and resources they deserve.

Take action today to support fair funding for charter schools. It only takes a minute to make your voice heard:

👉 Click here to make a difference: https://clfmd.quorum.us/campaign/138963/

Let's stand together as a unified Tiger community and ensure our students get the resources they deserve. Your act of kindness in advocating for our schools creates a lasting impact on every child's educational journey.

🌟 The Power of Kindness in Action

As Aesop reminds us, no act of kindness is ever wasted. Whether you're setting up an eWallet for your child, volunteering at the Book Fair, attending the Town Hall meeting, or advocating for charter school funding—each action demonstrates your commitment to our Tiger community and creates positive change.

Thank you for your continued partnership, your generous spirit, and your unwavering dedication to making CMIT South Elementary a place where kindness, excellence, and community thrive together.

Remember: We are Leveling Up the STEMTastic Way! Let's make every moment count through acts of kindness that uplift our entire Tiger family!

With Tiger Pride and Endless Gratitude,

October is National Anti Bullying Month!

The purpose of this spirit week is to help students learn the importance of kindness, respect, and standing up for one another. Through special activities and themed days, we’ll remind students that everyone deserves to feel safe, included, and valued at school.

By celebrating together, we are showing that our school is a place where bullying is not accepted and kindness always matters. We encourage families to join the conversation at home and help us continue building a caring community for all children.

Happy October, families! As the seasons change and routines settle in, it's a great time to build strong reading habits at home. Here are a few simple strategies you can use to support your child’s reading development this month:

📚 Read Together Daily – Even just 15 minutes a day makes a big difference. Take turns reading aloud or listen to your child read. This builds fluency, confidence, and vocabulary.

🗣️ Talk About Books – Ask open-ended questions like “What was your favorite part?” or “Why do you think the character did that?” Talking about stories helps develop comprehension skills.

🔁 Reread Favorites – Children often love reading the same book again and again—and that’s great! Rereading helps strengthen word recognition and understanding.

🧠 Make Connections – Help your child connect the book to their own life, another story, or the world around them. This deepens understanding and engagement.

🎃 Celebrate Fall Reading – Try fall-themed books or visit your local library to find stories that match the season and your child’s interests.

Thank you for partnering with us to nurture a love of reading. If you ever have questions or want personalized tips, please feel free to reach out. Let’s keep growing our readers—together!

Grade Level Updates:

Hello Tiger Families!

DIBELS testing will be on Monday Oct. 6 for Ms. R Lewis’ class and on Tuesday Oct. 7 for Dr. Hughes’ class.

Reminders:

1. Please assist your scholar in the knowledge of stopping the spread of germs by covering mouths when coughing or sneezing and to always wash hands after using the restroom.
2. The first homework will be due back to school on Friday, October 10th.
3. The October Project is not due until the 24th.
4. Please make sure that students are dressed for the weather as it changes and have school approved jackets and sweaters as the thermostat is typically kept at 70 but controls all four Kindergarten classrooms, so the temperature may vary from class to class.
5. Please tentatively save Dec. 5th as the date for a field trip to the Baltimore Aquarium. Chaperone sign up and more information will be announced at a later date.
6. Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month is coming to a close so if have not yet please take a look at some reading options for the family. The following link gives 15 picture books that families could read together; https://www.readbrightly.com/picture-books-celebrate-hispanic-heritage/.
7. Also please practice tying shoes and turning sleeves of jackets from inside out to the correct way with your scholars. When your child has been absent please communicate to the teacher and complete the online document submission form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lp2fJsfDLjWNINllvX10OKjiGDn443yAB8Hq8BMBa-E/viewform

Reading Updates:

Continue: UNIT 1 WEEK 3- Where is Twister?

Essential Question: What makes us want to visit a special place?

Phonological awareness: Middle Sounds; Recognize Alliteration; Blend and Segment, Onset and Rime

Phonics: Consonants Nn and Short Vowel Ii

High-Frequency Words: my, we, make

Spelling words found in weekly readings: slips, follows, chasing, scrambles

Unit Vocabulary: map, move, land, special

Learning Goals:

• Plural Nouns
• Hear and identify the medial sounds in words
• Develop understanding of types of books
• Describe the Setting
• Demonstrate phonological awareness.
• Identify and match the common sounds that letters represent.
• Identify and read common high-frequency words by sight.
• Orally respond to realistic fictions
• I can write about my opinion

Math Updates:

TOPIC 2: Compare numbers 0 to 5

Essential Understanding:

• Good math thinkers use math they know to show and solve problems
• Compare groups to see whether they are equal by matching
• Tell whether one group is less or greater than the other by matching
• Use objects, drawings, and numbers to compare numbers

Vocabulary: compare, equal, group, model, same number as, greater than, less than

Science Updates:

TOPIC 3: Needs of Living Things

Experience 2 Question: What do animals need?

• Discover the needs of animals
• Learn how animals survive and grow when needs are met
• Discuss how animals grow in different environments

Vocabulary: need, survive, grow, space, describe

Social Studies Updates:

CHAPTER 1 LESSON 2: Where we learn

• Identify different problems that students encounter
• Produce possible solutions to problems that people encounter
• Recognize ways that people cooperate in both class and in the community
• Analyze how to get along with others

Vocabulary: cooperate, problem, solution

Health Updates:

OCTOBER TOPIC: The Five Senses

Essential Question: What are the five senses?

• Identify the five senses and the body parts they are associated with
• Respect what your senses can do for you
• Practice routines for healthful care of sense organs

Vocabulary: hear, touch, sight, smell, taste, senses, hand, tongue, eyes, ears, skin

Grade Level Updates:

Hello Tiger Families,

Thank you for another great week of partnership! As the weather begins to change, please make sure your scholars are dressed appropriately.

It is also important that scholars come to school each day with a fully charged Chromebook.

The Book Fair will take place this week! Please check with your child’s homeroom teacher for their specific shopping day. This is a cashless event, so families must set up an E-Wallet for students to make purchases.

Thank you for your continued support!

Reading Updates:

This Week in Reading:
We are reading realistic fiction. During this story, we will focus on identifying and understanding the elements of the plot and making and confirming predictions. Our phonics lesson will cover inflected endings such as -s, -es, -ed, and -ing.

Math Updates:

This Week in Math:
Our current topic focuses on equal groups. Students are learning about even and odd numbers as well as how to create and interpret arrays.A reminder that math homework is due on the day of the test. Your scholar should complete the page in their packet that corresponds with the lesson learned in class each day.

Social Studies Updates:

Scholars will be able to discuss how an oral history is created and explain why it is historically important.

Science Updates:

Scholars will learn about the different patterns of Earth’s water, including how water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and glaciers. They will explore how water moves through the water cycle and how these patterns affect weather, climate, and living things.

Health Updates:

Scholars are finishing up their current unit on safety and preparing to test.

Grade Level Updates:

We all enjoyed another great week of learning! If possible, support our annual coat drive that’s happening now and is co-chaired by one of our very own team members - Ms. Hendy. The school’s annual Book Fair will take place from October 6 - 10. Please see the flyer that was sent out this past week. Also, don’t forget that STEM Fair topics are due on Wednesday, October 9.

Reading Updates:

Ms. Howard:

In Reading, we explored Aesop’s fables, focusing on identifying characters and their traits, retelling the beginning, middle, and end of each story, and uncovering the moral or lesson the author wanted us to learn.

Ms. Madison:

We have been hard at work this week! Ms. Madison was out Monday - Wednesday, but students continued reading traditional tales, finished reading the Sky is Far Away, and answered questions about this text!

Social Studies Updates:

Ms. Howard:

In Social Studies, we discussed kindness; what it looks like, why it matters, and how we can show it to others in our classroom and beyond.

Ms. Madison:

Students continued to learn about landforms, bodies of water, and the five geographical regions of the United States (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West). Ms. Madison returned on Friday, so we did this together! Our Unit 1, Week 3 Spelling Test will still take place on Monday the 6th, and homework packets will still be due on that day.

Math Updates:

Mrs. Flores:

We concluded our Math topic on Strategies and Properties to Add and Subtract. Please continue to practice rounding so your third grader has this important but tricky skill mastered.

Ms. Hendy:

We wrapped up Topic 8:3 Understanding Mental math in Addition with a special mission on kindness! Students explored the idea of “adding kindness” to all that we do—just like we add numbers in mental addition. It was a wonderful way to close out the unit while also reminding ourselves that kindness is one of the most important things we can share. In small groups, we also worked on place value, giving students the chance to strengthen their number sense and build a stronger foundation for future math concepts.

Science Updates:

Mrs. Flores:

This week, we also concluded our Science unit on Force and Motion. We did have a little time to kick-off our new unit on Electricity and Magnetism.

**STEM Fair topics are due next week. Please be prepared to submit your topic by Wednesday, October 9.

Ms. Hendy:

In Science, students completed their test on Force and Motion. They have worked hard to understand how objects move, the role of pushes and pulls, and how energy transfers. Next week, we’ll begin Topic 2, where students will continue building their curiosity as young scientists.

Health Updates:

Mrs. Flores:

The students finally concluded the Home Safety unit with making a poster. The students charted the many safety rules discussed through the unit. They chose one that was most important to them and created a mini poster on that particular rule.

Ms. Hendy:

In health, students had fun creating superheroes with special powers to help us better understand cyberbullying and internet safety. Their creative superheroes gave us a chance to think about how we can protect ourselves and others online while also standing up against harmful behavior.

In closing, we are so proud of our students for their effort, creativity, and kindness this week! Thank you for your continued support at home.

Grade Level Updates:

Greetings Team 4Ward,

We have made it through another week of leveling up the stemastic way. We have finished all diagnostic testing for the fall. Now that we have this data we will use this to guide our instruction and small groups moving forward. All data will be shared with families. It is imperative that students utilize our intervention programs of i-Ready and IXL to strengthen skills and grow areas of concern. For the Scholastic Book Fair scholars will need to have an e-Wallet in order to make purchases.

Field Trip:

We are excited to announce our first field trip to the National Aquarium on Thursday October 30, 2025. Permission slips will be shared with students on Monday October 6, 2025. All permission slips and payments are due by Monday October 20, 2025. Teachers will contact parents separately regarding chaperoning the trip. Payments must be made through MySchoolBucks. This link will be shared on the permission slip and Class Dojo on Monday.

Please ensure that you have completed and updated your information for chaperoning for field trips. Only approved parents are able to attend field trips. Each year you must complete the Safeschools video and submit your completion to the school to be approved to chaperone. If updated Safeschool video completion is not shared with the school you will not be permitted to chaperon a field trip this year.

Finally speak with your scholar each night about what went well today and something that they can improve. Ensure that your scholar’s computer is charged and brought to school daily. Also please be sure to monitor your scholar's YouTube and cellphones. As our students grow older and gain more independence it is imperative that our expectations match the changing world.

Educationally Yours,

4th Grade Team

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Scholastic Book Fair October 6- 10, 2025

• Anti-Bullying Week- October 13- 16, 20255

• Professional Development No School- Friday October 17, 202

• Field Trip to The National Aquarium- Thursday October 30, 2025

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.

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.

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. 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.

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

Parent Teacher Conferences:

Conferences with teachers are available with families as needed. Please reach out to the homeroom teacher about scheduling a parent teacher conference.

Reading Updates:

At the conclusion of last year, students were given the textbook for this year to take home. Please allow your scholar to reread the text of the week at home to support their understanding and discover things that were missed in previous readings.

This Week:

We began reading closely our third text, a magazine article called “Twins in Space.” This informative article discusses the experiment of identical twin astronaut brothers Mark and Scott Kelly. In this article one brother spent a year in space and the other lived on Earth. NASA compared and contrasted the effects of space on the human body. Students monitored their inner conversations to ensure they were comprehending the information. Students also identified the text structure the author used to organize this article.

Next Week:

The story of the week is called “Twins in Space.” In this magazine article we are reading about an experiment conducted by NASA using twin astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly. This week students will read the text closely to identify the main idea of the text and continue to discuss the text structure used by the author. Students this week will write an essay that explains why spaceflight is stressful. Also students will create an infographic that compares and contrasts life on Earth with life in space.

Math Updates:

Our 4th grade scholars have wrapped up Topic 1: Generalizing Place Value Understanding with their End-of-Topic Assessment this week. They also got to enjoy a fun Pumpkin Patch Escape, where they used their knowledge of place value and number relationships to unlock clues and free themselves and their friends from a “locked” pumpkin patch!

Next week, we’ll launch into Topic 2: Fluently Add and Subtract Multi-Digit Whole Numbers. In addition, we’ll continue strengthening skills through our math fluency timed test routines. For support at home, the SAVVAS Parent Guide has been uploaded to both Canvas and ClassDojo.

Looking forward to seeing our scholars grow as confident mathematicians!

Science Updates:

In Science, scholars are diving into Experience 2: Motion, Speed, and Collision. To build background knowledge, they explored BrainPOP lessons on collisions and the laws of motion, as well as Generation Genius activities on collisions.

Hands-on experiences are coming soon! Students will get to become “human crash balls” to explore the effects of collisions and also design a bumper jumper marble game to test how objects collide and bounce. These activities will help them connect real-world experiences to the science concepts we’re studying.

Physical copies of the STEM Fair packets went home with scholars this week. The first assignment, choosing a project topic, is due October 9th. Please check with your scholar’s individual science teacher for any follow-up questions or guidance.

Social Studies Updates:

This week students read Lesson 3: Regions and Resources. In this lesson, students learned how the different regions of the United States use their natural resources to create and produce products. They explored examples of resources, such as forests, farmland, and minerals, and discovered how these resources are connected to the goods people use every day.

Next week, students will begin Lesson 4: People and the Land. In this lesson, they will explore how people adapt to their surroundings and make changes to the environment in order to meet their needs. Students will learn about examples from different regions and discuss the ways human activity impacts the land and resources around us.

Grade Level Updates:

Happy October!

We had a wonderful week together! Students wrapped up the week by celebrating at the Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly, and it was a fantastic experience. Thank you for continuing to support learning at home — every bit of practice makes a difference. Please remember: students should complete 45 minutes of i-Ready Reading each week for extra practice, review vocabulary words, and continue working on multiplication fluency at home (up through the 12s).

Reading Updates:

• Focus: Context Clues and Point of View
  

• Genre Spotlight: Historical Fiction
  Students are learning to use details in the text to determine word meanings and analyze characters’ perspectives.
  
  

Writing Updates:

• Focus: Personal Narratives
  Students are working on writing stories from their own lives, strengthening their use of voice, sequence, and descriptive detail.
  
  

Math Updates:

• Topic: Multiplying larger numbers
  We are exploring multiple strategies to build deep understanding:
  

• Standard Algorithm
  

• Area Model
  

• Partial Product Method
  
  

Please encourage your child to practice their facts at home for fluency.

Social Studies Updates:

• Topic: Early Explorers for Spain
  We are examining the motivations and impacts of Spanish exploration and how it shaped history.
  
  

Science Updates:

• Topic: Physical Changes in Matter
  Students read about physical changes and were able to draw a picture showing changes happening in a candle. This helped them see how matter can change form without changing what it’s made of.
  
  

🌟 Reminders

• i-Ready Reading: 45 minutes each week
  

• Practice Vocabulary Words at home

• Fluency Practice: Multiplication up through 12s

General CARTS Message:

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

Music:

All students need a music journal and folder. They will begin losing points for not having their supplies for class. Our school has a writing goal this year and the music journals are in place to help achieve that goal. PLEASE make sure your student has one as they will be graded and added to the final grade each quarter.

Kindergarten- Review The 4 Voices/Test - Begin Loud & Quiet

1st Grade- Continue performing and creating simple rhythms with quarter notes, eighth notes and quarter rests.

2nd Grade- Review meters and create simple rhythms. Begin solfege - So Mi & La

3rd Grade- Continue writing rhythms in compound meter. Begin Pentatonic Scales

4th Grade- Continue performing and creating rhythms using 16th notes and triplets/Quiz

5th Grade- Finish Dotted quarter, eighth & ties, begin Pentatonic Scales

Art:

Here’s some pictures of our artists at work!

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