October 12

CMITN552 / October 12, 2025

At Chesapeake Math & IT Academy North High School, we believe that equity also means caring for both the mind and the heart. Ms. Colandrea, AP, is an advocate for equity who works alongside Dr. Gaskin, whose leadership continues to inspire programs that remind us to protect one another’s well-being. Their example shows that kindness, listening, and understanding are powerful ways to stand against bullying and strengthen mental health across our school community.

By showing compassion and encouragement, we help others feel seen, safe, and supported. At CMIT North, we choose respect over judgment and kindness over cruelty, knowing that every positive word and action builds a space where everyone can grow and belong—because true strength comes from lifting each other up, and when we choose kindness, our students benefit most.

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📌 Published every Sunday (or Monday if the Monday follows a holiday weekend).

SY25-26: CMIT North HS Newsletter Publication dates

Gemma Clarke, Ph.D. - Program Coordinator

During our vibrant Culture Fest, CMIT North High School was honored to welcome leaders from the Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF)—Mr. Avsar (Board President), Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Foster, and our Director of Academics, Mr. Ozturk. Their visit reflected CLF’s ongoing care and commitment to nurturing both the academic and cultural spirit of our school.

While on campus, the CLF team also toured our vegetable garden, where Marleni Iglesias (Grade 12), our Green Generation lead student, proudly showcased the final harvest of eggplants and tomatoes. The garden represents CMIT North’s dedication to sustainability and outdoor learning, supported through guidance and partnership with the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), which has been instrumental in advancing our Green School initiatives.

Their warm engagement and encouragement remind us how fortunate we are to have a charter operator and partners who value student leadership, environmental stewardship, and community connection at CMIT North.

The past few weeks have been a soft opening for CMIT North High School clubs/tutoring, including some invitational sessions to help ensure a smooth start. Now, all clubs/tutoring are fully active and ready to go!

Students should now report directly to their assigned clubs/tutoring. If you’re unsure of your location, please check with your club/tutoring teacher for guidance. Everyone must report to the cafeteria by 2:54 p.m. — no loitering in the hallways will be allowed.Any student found loitering in the hallways will receive an incident report.

Use the live link below to view the current clubs/tutoring schedule. The link updates automatically with meeting days and times, so you’ll always know when your session meets:

NOTE

As part of our continued effort to support the success of our clubs/tutoring programs, families are encouraged to offer a Club/Tutoring Support Donation to help sustain these valuable opportunities. While this contribution is not mandatory, it greatly assists with operational costs during a time of significant budget reductions. We deeply appreciate the generosity and partnership of our CMIT North community—together, we make it possible for our students to learn, grow, and thrive beyond the classroom.

The CMIT community came together in full spirit for this year’s Joy Walk, a vibrant celebration held in honor of World Mental Health Day and Anti-Blullying. The event was filled with positivity, movement, and mindfulness, reminding everyone of the importance of taking time to recharge and connect.

Teachers and students brought joyful energy as classes joined together for a morning of walking, laughter, and Zumba on the turf. Behind the scenes, the Mental Health and Wellness Team worked tirelessly to plan every detail — from inspiring decorations and uplifting music to thoughtful activities that encouraged reflection and self-care.

The Student Support Team ensured the event ran smoothly, keeping spaces safe and welcoming for all, while leadership and administration provided the trust and support that made the day possible.

It was truly a refreshing experience — one that highlighted the power of community, wellness, and joy at CMIT.

The CMIT community came alive during this year’s Cultural Expo & Community Showcase — a day filled with music, movement, culture, and community spirit!

The celebration began with an inspiring keynote and Q&A from Dr. Hesse, CEO of Admissions Gambit, followed by an energetic Zumba session with Jayci Sadio, Founder of Niyama Yogi Traveler. Students also gained valuable insights from the College Admissions Presentation led by Wendy Ayala of Collegiate Directions.

The excitement continued with a vibrant Cultural Dance performance by Enoe Jaramillo Daza of the Silver Spring Cultural Dance Center and a crowd-favorite Jazz Ensemble and Strings Club showcase led by Mr. Carter.

Dozens of vendors and cultural tables added flavor and creativity to the day — from MARTI’s Turkish community table featuring authentic delights to a Filipino vendor whose proceeds supported our Science Olympiad teams. Guests enjoyed handmade crafts, jewelry, henna art, pastries, and cultural displays from Hooks and Henna, Kissed by Sugar, Paws and Pastries, Mom’s Table, LeadUp, Creative Arts, and more. The Street Rollers food truck kept everyone smiling and energized!

It was truly a day to remember — a joyful celebration of diversity, creativity, and community giving, once again showing the heart and unity of the CMIT family.

CMIT North High School proudly spotlights Leon Herrera (Grade 12) for his inspiring journey of growth, resilience, and leadership. Starting with a GPA of 1.75, Leon transformed his academic path through dedication and determination, now achieving a 3.5 GPA and continuing to challenge himself with advanced math and rigorous coursework.

Leon’s story is one of perseverance and purpose. Beyond excelling in his own studies, he has become a mentor and coach to other students, offering tutoring support and guiding peers in robotics building and Science Olympiad. His passion for STEM and his ability to lift others through teamwork and encouragement have earned him medals, accolades, and deep respect from his peers and mentors.

Leon embodies the CMIT North values of excellence, leadership, and service, showing that success is built not only by personal achievement but by helping others rise alongside you.

On Tuesdays, We Vote – Results Are In!

Thanks to everyone who voted! Be sure to swing by the 3rd floor bulletin board to see all past results and keep the fun going.

Music, Health, and PE Highlights

Students have been actively engaged across our Music, PE, and Health classes! In Music, students explored melodic and harmonic intervals through a creative survey and hands-on activities. The Music Club also showcased their talents with a lively performance at the Hispanic Heritage Month Expo.

In PE, students successfully wrapped up their football unit and are now moving on to soccer, continuing to build teamwork and athletic skills. Meanwhile, in Health, students are learning to take charge of their well-being and strengthen their self-esteem through thoughtful discussions and activities.

Mr. Mark Snyder

HS PE and Health

PMB Department Chair

Our first Rho Kappa meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 22 at 3:00 PM. Please bring your dues ($10 for Juniors / $15 for Seniors). We’ll discuss the Induction Ceremony, goals for the year, and leadership positions.

Thank you all for attending the Creative Arts Club! We are really grateful for those who attended our first club meeting and we are hoping to see you again!

Message from President:

Hello All

We just wanted to thank you all for coming to our club. Please, if you have friends who you think would be interested, have them sign up. We always have room for more! Attached below are two forms, as I said earlier in the club. One is for music recommendations, and one is for suggestions for things like events or activities you want to do. You are welcome to bring your own supplies for the club, and we will bring color pencils and markers for free use. Like I said, we plan to have food and tea during club meets, so feel free to bring a nice mug to enjoy your tea in. If you have any allergies or questions, please let me or one of the other members know, and we'll accommodate you! Thank you again for your support, and we hope to have a fun and relaxing school year with you!”

• Imala Faison, 12th Grade

Join us for the first Behavioral Analysis Club meeting of the new school year on Monday, October 13! Whether you're deeply fascinated by the brain or just curious about human behavior, joining BAC of the Mind is a great chance to connect with like-minded peers, explore exciting topics in the psychology and neuroscience fields, and engage in fun activities. We will meet at 3pm in room 222 with snacks and enthusiasm, hope to see you there!

STEMsters FIRST MEETING OCT 17th @ ROOM 326

In need of some easy service hours? Like working with kids? Join CMIT’s chapter of STEMsters, a non-profit organization that fosters STEM interest in young children.

PAINTING

We love seeing our students and families arrive safely each day and want that safety to continue! Please keep these reminders in mind:

• Students must exit the vehicle on the driver's side whenever possible.

• If students exit on the passenger side, they should walk in front of the car to reach the sidewalk.

• Drive slowly at all times.

• Use your turn signals when changing lanes—even in the parking lot.

Thank you for helping keep our students safe, and a special thanks to everyone who smiles, waves, and wishes us a great day!

To support teaching, learning, and digital safety, our school uses Hapara, a classroom management tool that allows teachers to monitor and guide student activity on Chromebooks during instructional time.

Expectations for Students:

• Students are required to log in to their Chromebooks using their PGCPS-issued email account. This login is necessary for devices to be monitored via Hapara.

• Students must remain logged in with their PGCPS account during class time.

• Students may not log out of their PGCPS account or attempt to bypass Hapara monitoring.

Consequences:

• Students who forget to log in with their PGCPS email will be given a reminder by their teacher.

• Failure to comply after a reminder will result in a Kickboard infraction.

• Students who deliberately log out or attempt to avoid Hapara monitoring will also receive an infraction.

By following these expectations, students help ensure a safe and productive digital learning environment. If you have questions please email Ms. Tarver.

Please remember that staff parking areas are designated for staff only, and student parking areas are reserved for approved student drivers. All vehicles must display valid parking stickers at all times.

Security is currently conducting a full parking inspection to ensure compliance and safety.

For any questions or inquiries, please email gclarke@cmitacademy.org.

Grades

Quarter 1 Report Card Grading Window is from October 30th- November 3rd,

Testing

Students eligible for the Accuplacer have received an email from Dr. Gaudette (ngaudette@cmitacademy.org) . The final test for this fall will be held on Tuesday, October 14th, at 8:00 a.m. in the Media Center. Please register using the link provided in her message.

PSAT Review

October is the time to lock in a plan for financial aid and scholarships. There are 8,000+ opportunities that can help with tuition, books, and living expenses. Please encourage your student to:

Here are a few simple ones to apply for:

• Edvisors Monthly Scholarship - $2,500 6 days left!

• Scholarships360 No Essay Scholarship - $10,000

Don’t forget to help them renew their FAFSA® for the upcoming year. Our FAFSA Guide makes it simple.

Getting ahead on scholarships and financial aid now can save stress next semester.

~ Dr. Clarke