The Tiger Times

Dear Amazing Tiger Families and Community,

What an absolutely beautiful week we've shared together! I am overflowing with pride and gratitude as I reflect on the incredible kindness, compassion, and unity our Tiger community has displayed. Your children continue to amaze me with their growth, their empathy for others, and their determination to make our school a place where everyone feels welcome and valued. Thank you for being such wonderful partners in nurturing these important values at home and in our community.

As we celebrate the power of kindness and compassion, I'm inspired by the beautiful words of Maya Angelou: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This profound truth reminds us that our acts of kindness—big and small—leave lasting impressions on others' hearts. When we choose to lift each other up, stand against bullying, and show compassion, we create memories and feelings that last a lifetime.

🌈 Thank You for an Amazing Anti-Bullying Spirit Week!

Thank you for your outstanding participation in our Anti-Bullying Spirit Week! It was absolutely wonderful to see our students and staff come together each day to participate and raise awareness about the importance of kindness, respect, and standing up against bullying. Your enthusiasm and commitment to creating a positive school culture was evident in every themed outfit, every kind word, and every act of inclusion we witnessed throughout the week.

Together, we're not just talking about kindness—we're living it! The conversations you've had with your children about empathy, inclusion, and being upstanders are making a real difference in how our Tigers treat one another every single day.

💗 Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness - October 22, 2025

Next week, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, we will wear pink to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Let's see who will be pinked out! This is an opportunity to show support for all those affected by breast cancer and to raise awareness about this important health issue.

Encourage your Tigers to wear their favorite pink clothing, and let's fill our hallways with a sea of pink that represents hope, strength, and solidarity. Take pictures of your pink-clad Tigers and share them with us—we love celebrating our community spirit!

📊 Parent University: Data Night - October 22, 2025

Also on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, we're excited to invite you to Parent University: Data Night!

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Format: Virtual via Zoom
Zoom Link: Will be posted on ClassDojo

This valuable evening is designed to help you understand your child's academic progress and learn how to support their continued growth at home.

What We'll Cover:

• Schoolwide data overview and trends

• Grade-level specific performance data

• Detailed discussion of assessment results, including:

• MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program)

• NWEA MAP Growth (Math, Reading, Science)

• MISA (Maryland Integrated Science Assessment)

• DIBELS (reading fluency and comprehension)

• i-Ready scores (math and reading)

Special Feature: Grade-level breakout rooms where you'll receive:

• Targeted strategies to support your child's learning at home

• Resources and tools aligned to your child's grade level

• Opportunities to ask questions and connect with teachers

• Practical tips for reinforcing skills at school

This is your opportunity to become an even more informed and empowered partner in your child's educational journey. Understanding the data helps you celebrate successes and provide targeted support where needed. We can't wait to share our Tigers' progress with you!

🌟 The Lasting Impact of How We Make Others Feel

Maya Angelou's wisdom reminds us that long after this school year ends, our children will remember how we made them feel—safe, valued, respected, and loved. Whether it's standing up against bullying, wearing pink in solidarity, or taking time to understand their academic progress, every action shows our Tigers that they matter.

Thank you for consistently choosing kindness, for raising awareness about important issues, and for being actively engaged in your child's education. Your partnership makes all the difference in creating the nurturing, excellent learning environment that defines CMIT South Elementary.

Let's continue making our Tigers feel supported, celebrated, and empowered to be their very best selves!

Remember: We are Leveling Up the STEMTastic Way! Let's make every interaction count by focusing on how we make others feel—because those feelings create lasting memories and shape who our Tigers become.

With Tiger Pride and Endless Gratitude,

Thank You for Celebrating Anti-Bullying Spirit Week!

Thank you to everyone who participated in Anti-Bullying Spirit Week! It was wonderful to see our school community come together to promote kindness and unity. Each day brought so much color and excitement—from Tie-Dye Day’s bright designs, to Cap Day’s creative looks, Twin Day’s fun matching outfits, and finally Orange Day, where we proudly wore orange to show our stand against bullying.

Let’s keep spreading kindness, respect, and positivity every day—because together, we can make a difference! 💛

📚 Book Character Parade – Friday, October 31, 2025!

We’re excited to celebrate our annual Book Character Parade on Friday, October 31, 2025! Students are invited to come to school dressed as their favorite book character and bring the book that inspired their costume to share with their classmates.

Please remember that costumes must be based on a book, and students must bring the matching book with them to participate. We also ask that costumes be school-appropriate — nothing too scary, please.

This is a 3-hour early dismissal day, so our parade will take place earlier in the day. More details will be shared soon!

We can’t wait to see all the creative costumes and celebrate our love for reading together! 🎉📖

Grade Level Updates:

Hello Tiger Families!

Students are losing their personal belongings. Please label all items, sweaters and jackets especially, so that students will know what belongs to them. Please use simple reminders to help students learn to become and stay responsible for their own items

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.

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.

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.

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:

UNIT 1 WEEK 6- Museum Research

Essential Question- How can we describe special places?

Phonological awareness: Phonological Awareness: Middle Sounds; Initial Sounds

Blend and Segment: Onset and Rime

Phonics: Short a word families

High-Frequency Words: for, me, with

Spelling words found in weekly readings: markers, brushes, tools, pencils

Unit Vocabulary: map, move, land, special

Learning Goals:

• Learn words that can tell about art stores
• Make connections between author’s purpose and society
• Orally respond to informational text

Math Updates:

TOPIC 3- Numbers 6 to 10

Essential Understanding-

• Good math thinkers use math they know to show and solve problems
• There is more than one way to show a number
• Counting tells how many are in a set or a group, no matter which order the objects are counted
• The last number said when counting a group is the total number
• Use objects, drawings, and numbers to compare numbers

Vocabulary: six, seven, eight, nine, ten

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 4- Rulers Make Laws

Essential Question- How do people best cooperate?

Essential Understanding-

• Recognize why we need rules and laws
• Know the consequences of breaking the rules
• Elected officials make the laws
• Identify community laws
• Compare past/present rules and laws

Vocabulary: community, rule, law, government

Health Updates:

OCTOBER TOPIC- The Five Senses

Essential Question- What are the five senses and how do they keep us safe?

• 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:

Thank you for another great week of your pawrific support!

As the weather continues to change, please ensure your scholar is dressed appropriately for the cooler temperatures. Also, please make sure your scholar comes to school each day with a fully charged Chromebook. Exciting news! Candy Wars has been extended — let’s all work together to make sure one of our second-grade classes takes the win! 🍬Please remember to check your scholar’s behavior calendar daily for updates and notes on their behavior and progress.

Thank you again for your continued support!

Reading Updates:

This week in Reading: We will begin our new unit, “The Wonders of Nature.” Our first story will be an informational text, where we will focus on identifying text structures and asking and answering questions to deepen our understanding.

In Phonics, we will be learning about contractions and how two words can be combined to make one shorter word.

Math Updates:

We will begin our new topic on Measurement. Throughout this unit, scholars will learn how to estimate the length of objects using appropriate tools and units of measurement.

Social Studies Updates:

Our next chapter focuses on People, Places, and Nature. Scholars will learn how to locate places on a map and explore where people live and how geography influences communities around the world.

Health Updates:

We will continue learning about the brain, its different functions, and how we use our five senses daily to explore and understand the world around us.

Grade Level Updates:

Since the Autumn weather is here, please make sure your third grader has a jacket or coat for outside recess. Speaking of coats, our coat drive is still underway. Coat distribution will be on October 25. Please see the flyer for more details. We were given an extension on collecting candy for our “Candy Wars” until Monday, October 20.

Reading Updates:

This week, students learned how to compare and describe with comparative and superlative adjectives (like bigger and biggest) and explored how text features, such as headings, captions, and maps; They help readers understand informational texts.

Social Studies Updates:

In Social Studies, we reviewed landforms, bodies of water, and continents to prepare for our geography test. Students did an amazing job connecting what they read to what they see on maps!

Math Updates:

In Math, we practiced addition and subtraction with and without regrouping—students are becoming more confident with these skills each day!

Science Update:

This week in Science, we explored electric forces! Students completed their investigations and wrote conclusions about what they observed during our experiments.

In room 135, we extended our lesson to include an exploration of conductors and insulators. The students also completed an investigation to see what materials allowed electricity to travel through it.

Health Updates:

In Health, we continued learning about our eyes and discussed important ways to keep them healthy and protected.

Some students also learned that perspective is also important in what we see. They explored two optical illusions to prove this concept.

Thanks for your support in your child’s learning journey! We hope you enjoyed the long weekend!

Greetings Team 4Ward,

Our scholars continue to work hard and grow to their greatest abilities. In Fourth Grade, we strive to create a positive, respectful, and supportive learning environment for all students. We encourage punctuality, preparedness, and active participation in class. These expectations help ensure that every student can reach their full potential. Please ensure that your scholar arrives to school on time with a charged computer. Students require at least eight hours of sleep each night and breakfast every morning to help keep them engaged.

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.

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 Classdojo on Monday. Pay here:https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZHVZTLU9O052WP_ZZ68I8GTPWZRZ7N

We also need a lunch count to ensure that the cafeteria is prepared for the field trip. If your scholar will need a bag lunch for the field trip please complete the Google Form here: https://forms.gle/ZsiNjFy8Aw8cuwUUA

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 chaperone a field trip this year. Please follow the steps outlined by Prince George’s County Public Schools at https://www.pgcps.org/offices/ograc/volunteer#volunteer-process

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:

• Virtual CMIT Data Night- Wednesday October 22, 2025

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

• Early Dismissal for Students- Friday October 31, 2025

• Parent Teacher Conferences -Tuesday November 11, 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. For Parent Teacher Conferences Day on November 11, 2025 teachers will reach out personally to meet with families of scholars that are failing, performance below grade level, or there is a behavior concern.

Reading Updates:

This Week:

The story of the week is called “Life at the Top.” In this informational text students will read about a place where runners train and how this place produces some of the best runners of the world. This week, students read closely to monitor their inner conversations. Students also analyzed the text features given and explained how these features help support their understanding of the text. The word study of the week will be vowel teams in which the first letter of the team is a long sound. Students will also continue to draft their personal narratives.

Next Week:

Next week we will continue in the text “Life at the Top.” In this informational text students will make predictions about the story and confirm their predictions. Students will also continue to refer to the text and graphic features of the text to determine the information that can be gained from them. This week students will complete a writing that focuses on the advantages runners acquire by living in high altitudes. Students will also have their word study assessment this week.

Math Updates:

In math, our scholars are making strong progress in Topic 2: Fluently Add and Subtract Multi-Digit Numbers. We are focusing on developing accuracy and flexibility with addition and subtraction, especially using mental math and the properties of addition. Many students are still strengthening their understanding of the Associative, Commutative, and Distributive Properties, so additional practice at home can make a big difference.

Families can support their scholars by having them practice on IXL, specifically using Skill Code: D9R (Properties of Addition), to reinforce these concepts. The BrainPop videos and games on the addition properties are also great tools for review. For extra support, here’s a short, helpful video on the topic:
Properties of Addition – YouTube

Science Updates:

In science, we continue our exploration of motion, collision, and speed, and are now diving deeper into energy transfer through electrical circuits. Scholars are learning how energy moves and transforms from one object or system to another through engaging, hands-on investigations.

A quick reminder: STEM Fair Question and Hypothesis are due on October 22nd. Please help your scholar stay on track by ensuring their submissions are complete and ready for review.

Social Studies Updates:

This week students continued 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.

Next week, students will begin to work on their Chapter 1 Quest Activity and other chapter close out activities. In the Quest Activity students will create an advertisement for a region of the United States. The Chapter 1 Quest Activity is an in class project that will go in the gradebook as an assessment grade. This project is not eligible for a reassessment.

Grade Level Updates:

We had an amazing Spirit Week filled with energy, creativity, and school pride! Students showed great enthusiasm while continuing to work hard in all subjects. Please continue to practice fluency at home—10 minutes of multiplication and 20 minutes of reading each night can make a big difference!

Reading Updates:

We’ve begun our Poetry Unit (Unit 1, Week 4)! Students are exploring how poets use rhythm, imagery, and figurative language to express emotions and ideas. Encourage your scholar to share a favorite poem or try writing one of their own at home!

Social Studies Updates:

In Chapter 2, Lesson 2, students are learning about the Spanish Explorers—their motivations, routes, and the impact they had on the Americas. We’re examining maps and comparing explorers’ journeys to see how exploration shaped history.

Math Updates:

Students have completed their Topic 3 test on Multiplying Whole Numbers and did a great job showing their understanding! Next week, we’ll begin Topic 4: Division, connecting multiplication strategies to new problem types.

Science Updates:

In Chapter 6: Matter in the Ecosystem, our focus is on how plants grow and their vital role in maintaining balance in ecosystems. Students are learning about photosynthesis and investigating how plants use sunlight, air, and water to make their own food.

Health Updates:

We’re learning about the nervous system and discussing how drugs can affect the brain and body. Students are identifying ways to make healthy choices and understanding the importance of protecting their brains for lifelong wellness.

General CARTS Message:

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

Media:

Since this month is about scientific theory, here is how it is used in Media: We make observations, conduct background research, form a hypothesis and test it!

PE:

Here’s how the scientific method is used in Physical Education! A set of directions is given to one group of students and to another group of students the same directions are given with one small change. They form a hypothesis on which set of directions will provide the most beneficial amount of physical activity and test it by doing it!

Technology:

We’re making great progress on our name posters using Canva! Students are learning lessons in graphic design as well as how to correctly use computer programs.

Music:

Here are some music reminders this week: All students need a music journal! Please get one if you do not have one.

Art:

This week in 2nd grade, students did an Inktober prompt! Inktober is an annual month long time when artists of all levels are encouraged to create a visual art piece based on a word of the day. Here are some highlights from Ms. Convert’s class. Their word was “blunder”. In their journals, I had them write the definition of the word, draw a time when they made a blunder, and lastly write about how the blunder was solved.

As we finish out this first quarter, Music classes will shift into performance mode. It’s time to prepare for our Winter Concert! Yay! I am very excited about this year’s presentation. Our program will be held on December 18th. The time is TBD. There will be one performance that will be streamed live on our YouTube channel. Our equipment has been upgraded so sound and picture should be ideal. Get excited!

Also, 3rd grade students need to keep in mind that we will be ordering recorders just before the winter break. Stay tuned for more details.

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