The Tiger Times

Dear CMIT South Elementary Families and Community,

​"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." — Mark Twain

​As we focus on our character word of the month—Kindness—we are excited to kick off our Anti-Bullying Spirit Week! Please check the flyer below for each day's themed attire as we show our unity and support for a safe, inclusive school environment.

​Read-a-thon Fundraiser Update

​Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and support! We are flying toward our goal:

​Current Total Raised: $29,056

​Our Goal: $30,000

​We are only $944 away from reaching our goal! Please keep sharing and donating so we can cross the finish line together.

While the donations come in, our scholars are doing extra reading and working as a team to unlock exciting incentives and rewards. This is "Leveling Up the STEMTastic Way" at its best: building strong readers, teamwork, and Tiger pride all at once!

How to give: Click the link below and type in your scholar's name to find their special donation page. Please share it with grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and friends. Every share helps!

Find Your Student's Donation Page

​Thank you for partnering with us to make CMIT South Elementary shine!

​Tiger Pride,

Principal Lewis

PUSH to ACHIEVE It… the STEMTasTic Way

The CMIT South Shoe Drive is officially underway, and we’re working toward a BIG goal: 4,000+ pounds of shoes — approximately 160 bags!

Have shoes your family has outgrown or no longer wears? Put them to purpose! We’re collecting new and VERY gently worn shoes of all sizes and genders. Every pair donated brings us one step closer to our goal and helps create opportunity beyond our school community.

Every Pair Has Purpose. Let’s STEP UP, CMIT South!

Questions or concerns about the Shoe Drive Fundraiser? Contact the PTO at pto@cmitsouthes.org.

🍂 IT’S FALL, Y’ALL — HOODIE SEASON IS HERE! 🍂

Cooler days call for CMIT South ES hoodies! Our uniform-approved hoodie is available now in The Roar Shop.

Stay warm. Stay school-approved. Stay ready to ROAR.

🛒 Shop now: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/cmitelementarypto/shop?category=255127

Grade Level Blurb:

Students have completed DIBELS testing. As we begin to enter the colder months, please keep in mind that recess is at 10:30 am so please remember to send jackets/coats with your scholars as it is still chilly in the morning. Also, please continue to work with your scholar on covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing. The next homework will go out on Monday. Please ensure that your scholar has a school approved jacket or sweater of solid green or blue for the classroom.

Also, we are halfway to our goal for a project on donorschoose, if you have the ability to donate or can spread the word that would be great. This project will benefit the whole Kindergarten team. THANK YOU ♥️!

https://www.donorschoose.org/sl/C7XLaWDHb9

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.

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.

Important Dates

October 19: Anti-Bullying Week: Superhero Day, students can wear a superhero shirt or outfit

October 20: Anti-Bullying Week: Put Bullying to bed, students can wear pajamas or leisure wear

October 21: Anti-Bullying Week: Unite, students can wear orange

October 22: Anti-Bullying Week: Hats off, students can wear hats during the day

October 23: Anti-Bullying Week: Team Up, students can wear their favorite jersey or sports gear

October 23: Pumpkin Project Due

October 27: Parent University: Data Night

October 30: Book Character Parade Day

Reading Updates:

UNIT 1 WEEK 5- Going Places

Essential Question- How can we describe special places?

• Phonological awareness: Phonological Awareness: Middle Sounds; Initial Sounds

Blend and Segment: Onset and Rime

• Phonics: Consonants Bb and Rr

• 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 1- Force: Pushes and Pulls

Essential Question: What happens if you push or pull an object?

• Observe how objects move

• Thinking of ways to make an object move

• Clarify how a push and pull makes something move

• Speculate why objects move and the effects on movement

Vocabulary: push, pull, speed, direction, change of direction

Social Studies Updates:

CHAPTER 1 LESSON 5- How to be a Good Citizen

Essential Question- How can I be a good citizen?

• Identify what makes a good citizen

• Describe the leaders at my home

• Explain how the good citizens keep communities safe

Vocabulary: leader, government, citizen

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, see, senses

Grade Level Blurb:

Happy Sunday, First Grade Families!

We are excited to welcome our Tiger families to another wonderful week of learning, growing, and making memories in first grade! This week, we will be celebrating Anti-Bullying Spirit Week as we come together to spread kindness, show respect, and remind everyone that our words and actions make a difference. Let's make it a week full of positivity, friendship, and kindness! Be sure to read below for important updates and reminders. We can't wait for another fantastic week!

Important Reminders:

📝 OLSAT testing will take place on Monday, October 19th, Wednesday, October 21st, and Friday, October 23rd.

➕ Math Topic 3 homework packets were sent home last week. These packets will be due TENTATIVELY on or about October 27th. Please stay tuned for updates/due dates from your scholar's teacher. Remember, students should work on one lesson per night in alignment with the lesson taught in class.

🔤 Unit 1 Week 5 Spelling Homework is DUE this Wednesday, October 21st.

Phonics & Spelling

This week in Phonics, students will continue to review words with the short /u/ sound as well as words with the /Rr/, /Ww/, /Jj/ and /Kk/ sounds. Our spelling words, this week, are the following: bug, dug, hug, tug, mug, as, he, three, to, with.

We will review the following high-frequency words as, he, three, to, with. High-frequency words are words that appear often in books and everyday reading. Sometimes, these words follow regular spelling patterns and can be sounded out. Other times, they have irregular spelling patterns that must be memorized. We call these spelling patterns “heart parts” because students must know them by heart. Learning these words helps students recognize them quickly and read more smoothly and confidently.

Math Updates:

Topic 3

We are moving through topic 3! In this topic, students are learning strategies (counting on, open number line, doubles, doubles plus, making 10) to help them add to 20.

🏠 How Can Families Help at Home?

Science Updates:

Our first graders are working through Topic 1 in Science, where we are observing and investigating light and sound! Students are exploring where light and sound come from, making observations, asking questions, and investigating how they interact with the world around us.

🏠 How Can Families Help at Home?
Encourage your child to be a scientist at home! Look for different sources of light and sound, discuss what they notice, and ask questions such as, “What do you see?” “What do you hear?” and “What do you think will happen?” You can even explore how sounds change when objects are tapped, shaken, or plucked. 🔎✨

Social Studies Updates:

This week, students are continuing through Chapter 1 in Social Studies, where they are learning what it means to be a good citizen and explore how our community and government work together. Students are learning about rights and responsibilities, rules and laws, community leaders, and the role of government. They are also practicing important skills such as distinguishing fact from fiction, solving problems, and making thoughtful choices.

🏠 How Families Can Help at Home?

Talk with your child about ways your family members can be good citizens. Discuss rules, responsibilities, and why we have laws, and encourage your child to share examples of how they can help make their classroom, school, and community a better place.

Health Updates:

We are working through our monthly issue, "Head to Toe." In this issue, students will learn more about their great body parts, how these parts function, why they're important, and what makes us special.

🏠 How Families Can Help at Home?

Families can support learning at home by talking about different parts of the body and how they help us each day. Encourage your child to practice healthy habits such as washing their hands, brushing their teeth, eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and staying active. Families can also discuss body safety and the importance of listening to their bodies and telling a trusted adult when something hurts or feels uncomfortable. Ask your child to share something new they learned about their body and explain how it helps them stay healthy!

Grade Level Blurb:

Hello Team Third Grade,

It may have been a short week, but it was certainly packed with activity! Our students participated in the Hispanic Heritage Parade, posed for school and class pictures, practiced important safety procedures during an earthquake drill, and, of course, kept their minds busy with plenty of learning along the way!

We hope our students are diving into some great books for the Read-a-Thon and that families are finding time to clean out those closets for our coat and shoe drive. Looking ahead, be sure your student is ready to show their school spirit during our upcoming Anti-Bullying Spirit Week (see details below).

With so much happening around our school, there's never a dull moment! Be sure to keep an eye on the school newsletter, ClassDojo, and individual classroom communications so you don't miss out on any of the exciting activities and events.

Anti-Bullying Spirit Week: October 19–23

Next week is Anti-Bullying Spirit Week! Scholars are encouraged to participate each day:

• Monday, October 19: Wear a superhero shirt or outfit

• Tuesday, October 20: Put Bullying to Bed — Pajama/Leisure Wear Day

• Wednesday, October 21: Unite Against Bullying — Wear Orange

• Thursday, October 22: Hats Off to Kindness — Wear a Hat

• Friday, October 23: Team Up Against Bullying — Wear your favorite jersey or sports gear

We look forward to a fun week while reinforcing the importance of kindness, respect, inclusion, and standing up against bullying.

CMITSES Tech: What You Need to Know!

Need some help navigating the digital platforms used at CMIT South Elementary? Families are invited to a virtual technology information session on Tuesday, October 20, from 7:00–8:00 PM.

The session will cover ParentVUE, Canvas, MealViewer, and MySchoolBucks, helping families better understand how to monitor grades and attendance, access coursework, view meal menus, and manage meal accounts.

Join the CMITSES Tech Session on Zoom

Whether you're new to CMIT South Elementary or simply need a refresher, all families are welcome!

Enjoy the long weekend, Tigers! We’ll see everyone back Monday, October 19 ready for another great week of learning!

Reading Updates:

This week in Miss Howard’s class, third graders explored text features and how they help readers understand informational texts. Students created text feature anchor charts, practiced listening comprehension with Living in Deserts, and worked on reading and spelling words with vowel digraphs.

Ms. Madison’s class completed reading our latest text, Cocoliso! We have continued working on reading and spelling words with roots/base words and suffixes! Students have been sent home with an at-home composition book. They should use these to practice writing outside of completing homework assignments! They can use these to write stories and opinion pieces, they can use them for regular journaling, and more. These will occasionally be graded, but the purpose of sending these home is for students to have more opportunities to write!

Math Updates:

This week, Mr. White’s third-grade scholars officially wrapped up Topic 2: Multiplication Facts! Throughout this topic, scholars strengthened their understanding of multiplication while building fluency with their facts. We have worked on strategies for understanding multiplication—not simply memorizing answers—and scholars have continued practicing their rolling number chants to strengthen fact fluency.

In Mrs. Flores’ Math class, the students completed the first lesson in Topic 3 - Distributive Property. The students are already finding that our Math lessons are taking a little jump in complexity. It’s so important to make sure students are rested and ready to pay attention in class.

As all third grade Math students move forward, families are encouraged to continue practicing multiplication facts at home. The stronger scholars become with their facts, the more confidently and efficiently they will be able to tackle increasingly complex third-grade math concepts.

Science Updates:

In Mr. White’s Science class, the Science focus is shifting heavily toward preparing scholars for the STEM Fair. Over the coming days, we will discuss what the STEM Fair process will look like and make sure scholars understand how scientists use the scientific method to investigate questions.

Scholars will work on understanding how to ask a testable question, form a hypothesis, identify variables, conduct an investigation, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their results.

STEM Fair Reminder (Mr. White’s class only): Please make sure your scholar has submitted their STEM Fair topic through the Google Form in Canvas. If your scholar has not submitted a topic yet, it needs to be completed ASAP so they can move forward with the rest of the project.

Mrs. Flores’ class kicked off our second science topic: electricity and magnetism. The students did a little exploring into the life of a great scientist and inventor: Ben Franklin. Ben studied electricity for over a decade, proved that lightning is an electrical discharge, and invented practical applications like the lightning rod. Hopefully, the coming week will give us more time to dig deep into electricity. Also, students received the paperwork and due date to submit the second step in documenting their STEM Fair topic/process. The question and hypothesis are due on October 21.

Social Studies Updates:

Students in Ms. Howard’s class participated in class discussions about hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Ms. Madison’s social studies class is continuing to learn about the climates and vegetation of North America!

Health Updates:

The students continued exploring the fascinating world of their eyes. This week, we discussed how our eyes sometimes need a little extra help to see clearly and learned about the importance of protecting our eyes and keeping them healthy.

Grade Level Blurb:

Greetings Fourth Grade Family,

As we move further into the school year, we want to share a few critical updates regarding your child's academic growth, daily routines, and how you can track their progress in real-time. We appreciate your continued partnership in making this a successful year!

🧡Anti-Bullying Week:

It is time again for our annual Anti-Bullying Week. Please review the dress down themes for this upcoming week. As always please ensure that your scholar, although dress down, still follows PGCPS Dress Code Policies found here: https://www.pgcps.org/offices/ograc/administrative-procedures/students--5000/ap-5152---system-wide-student-dress-code

📝As your scholar grows older this is now the time to start setting routines for your child to follow independently. A suggestion could be a checklist of tasks your scholar must do before bed or when they wake up in the morning. Create incentives and other rewards for your scholar when they are able to complete their tasks independently or without reminders.

💻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. CARTS begin at 8:05 AM

We are grateful for your teamwork, and we appreciate everything you do to support learning, safety, punctuality of our scholars.

Warmly,

Team 4Ward

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 Work is provided to students upon their return to school with an excused absence.

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. To keep all students safe during recess, PE, and daily hallway transitions, please remember that closed-toe shoes are required every day as part of our uniform policy. Students are not allowed to wear Crocs, slides, or slippers on school grounds.

Students may only wear these items if we are having a specific, pre-announced themed dress-down day (such as "Pajama Day").

Reading Updates:

This Week:

This week, our classes read closely the informational text “Life at the Top.” While reading this text students are seeking to answer: What are the advantages of living in different places? We have explored how training in high altitudes helps the body make adaptations to help it become more athletic. Students identified the use of text and graphic features and identified how it helped them to understand the text. We also began working with vowel teams

Next Week:

We will conclude our information text by completing an essay that focuses on the advantages of training in high altitudes. Students will continue to elaborate on their text evidence, organize their writing, and use transition words. This writing we will begin instruction on making sure thoughts are presented clearly and that a purpose for the essay is given. We will also explore the academic vocabulary used in the text and revisit the use of text and graphic features.

Math Updates:

Math: Topic 2 — Adding & Subtracting Multi-Digit Numbers

We have been working hard in Topic 2: Adding and Subtracting Multi-Digit Numbers! Students have been building their understanding of regrouping, including using partial sums for addition and subtracting across zeros.

We will continue working through this unit next week with the goal of finishing the topic and preparing for our assessment the following week. Please continue encouraging your scholar to practice the strategies we are learning in class and explain their thinking when solving problems.

📚 Pick-Up Project
Students will be receiving a Pick-Up Project this week. If your scholar has not already received one, they will receive it by Friday. All project information and directions can be found in Canvas.

🧠 Vocabulary to Reinforce at Home

• Addition

• Sum

• Regrouping

• Partial Sums

• Subtraction

Thank you for continuing to support your scholar’s learning at home. We are working hard, growing our mathematical thinking, and getting better every day! ⭐

Science Updates:

As we continue through the first quarter, scholars will keep exploring the different forms of energy and how energy is transferred from one place or object to another.

This week, scholars also began learning how to write Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) responses. In a CER response, scholars make a claim that answers a question, provide evidence from an investigation, text, observation, or data, and explain their reasoning by showing how the evidence supports their claim.

Families can support this skill during everyday conversations by asking questions such as, “What do you think?” “What makes you say that?” and “What evidence do you have?” Whether discussing why an ice cube melted, which route to school is faster, or why a favorite team won a game, encouraging scholars to explain their thinking helps strengthen the same reasoning skills we use in science.

Social Studies Updates:

This week, students explored the relationship between people and the land. We learned how people interact with their environment, how they use the land and its resources, and how people can change and adapt to the places where they live.

Next week, we will begin preparing for our first in-class Quest project! Students will research one region of the United States, identifying its natural features and resources, climate, recreational activities, and how people adapt to the land. They will use their research to create an informative brochure highlighting the unique characteristics of their region.

Grade Level Blurb:

We had a wonderful week of learning! Next week, we look forward to celebrating Spirit Week and Bullying Prevention! Please review the Spirit Week flyer for each day’s theme. We encourage all scholars to participate as we promote kindness, respect, and unity throughout our school community!

Reading Updates:

Scholars are strengthening their informational reading skills by identifying key ideas, supporting details, and text evidence. We will continue practicing reading comprehension and supporting written responses with evidence from the text.

Math Updates:

We are wrapping up Topic 3! Scholars have been practicing multiplying multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm, partial products, and area models.

Important Dates & Reminders:

• Monday, October 19: Pick-A-Projects are due!

• Wednesday, October 21: Topic 3 Math Assessment.

• Extra Credit Opportunity: Scholars who complete and submit pages 107–108 by Monday can earn 2 extra points toward their assessment!

Coming Up Next: Multiplying Decimals! Please encourage scholars to review their notes, practice multiplication facts, and complete homework consistently.

Science Updates:

Our scholars have been busy experimenting as we began exploring Topic 2, Experience 2: Chemical Changes in Matter!

During an exciting hands-on investigation, scholars combined baking soda and vinegar in a water bottle with a balloon attached. As the substances reacted, a gas was produced, causing the balloon to inflate right before their eyes!

This experiment allowed scholars to observe a chemical reaction in action, discover how new substances form, and understand that matter doesn't just vanish—it is conserved!

Key Vocabulary: Chemical Change • Chemical Reaction • Vanish

Social Studies Updates:

Lesson 2: English Colonies in Virginia

Scholars are exploring the establishment of English colonies in Virginia and learning about early colonial life.

Lesson 3: Pilgrims and Puritans in New England

We will examine why the Pilgrims and Puritans settled in New England and the challenges they faced as early settlers.

Health Updates:

In Health, scholars are exploring the brain, nervous system, and respiratory system. We are also learning how different categories of drugs, including stimulants, hallucinogens, and depressants, can affect the brain, body, and decision-making.

📌 Important Parent Reminders

• 🍂 Spirit Week: Review the flyer and encourage participation in our Bullying Prevention activities!

• 📚 Homework: Please ensure scholars complete and submit assignments consistently and on time.

• 📊 Synergy: Continue checking for updated grades, missing assignments, and academic progress.

• 📝 Math Assessment: Wednesday, October 21.

• 🎨 Pick-A-Project: Due Monday, October 19.

Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership! Together, we can help our scholars finish each week stronger than they started.

General CARTS Updates:

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

Technology:

Dear Families,

We’re having an exciting month ahead in Technology!

Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Building Digital Foundations

Our K–1 learners are continuing to build essential computer skills! Students will focus on getting comfortable with using a mouse and navigating a keyboard through interactive, age-appropriate lessons on Typing.com. These foundational skills help set them up for success in all future digital learning.

2nd Grade: Creative Express with Adobe

Second graders are stepping into digital design! They will be using Adobe Express to create custom Kindness Posters. This project allows students to combine graphic design, typography, and visual layout skills while spreading positive messages throughout our school community.

3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade: Graphic Design & Digital Citizenship

Upper elementary students are taking their digital creation skills to the next level using Canva. They will design Positive Message & Kindness Posters, learning how to select complementary fonts, balance layout elements, and choose impactful visuals to communicate inspiring ideas.

How You Can Support at Home

• K–1 Families: Encourage your child to practice finding letter keys or guiding a computer mouse on a home device.

• 2nd–5th Grade Families: Ask your student about the message they chose for their poster and what design choices they made to make it stand out!

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning journey in tech! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Warm regards,

Mr. Dickens

Your Technology Teacher

Music:

Hey CMIT family!

As a reminder 2nd - 5th graders need music journals. Report cards for Quarter 1 are quickly approaching and journals will be graded. Students should have 3 to 4 entries in their journals for the first half of Quarter 1.

Here’s what’s going on in music:

Kindergarten will continue to work on the 4 voices, whisper, talk, shout and sing.

1st grade will perform rhythms using quarter note, barred eighth note, and the quarter rest.

2nd grade will create 4-beat rhythms using quarter notes, barred eighth, and quarter rest.

3rd grade will begin compound meter, 6/8.

4th grade will be singing solfege with a focus on FA.

5th grade will be introduced to the pentatonic scale.

Have a fantastic weekend!

LEGO:

Hi 5th Grade Families!

Fifth grade will soon begin our Build the World: A LEGO Country Challenge. Students will research a country and create a more detailed LEGO model that represents its landmarks, cities, transportation, environment, and other important features. Students may also design a solution to a real-world problem connected to their country.

We are asking for donations of LEGO bricks,architecture or landmark kits, vehicles, wheels, trees, plants, people/minifigures, building pieces, Technic pieces, and country-themed LEGO sets.

New or gently used LEGO materials are welcome. Donations will help students create more detailed projects and give them the opportunity to apply STEM, research, design, and problem-solving skills in a hands-on way.

Thank you for supporting our classroom and helping our students bring the world to life with LEGO!

Maker’s Lab:

K-1st: Learning about different STEM careers

2nd-5th: Learning about the steps of the scientific method by doing an experiment involving paper plane design.

PE:

Hello Families!

K-2: Students will learn and acknowledge different strategies and tactics pertaining to “offense” and “defense”

3-5: Students advance to demonstrating knowledge of offensive and defensive strategies within small-sided invasion tasks. They also learn to identify problems in a game, execute a tactical plan, and refine that plan based on outcomes.

Art:

Here are some project progress pictures! Please refer to Canvas for more details.

2026-2027 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