Reading: This week we began our next unit of Adaptations. Students will read texts that explore how animals, plants, and people adapt to their environment. Our first story, “Feathers: Not Just for Flying,” is about how birds use their feathers for more than just flying. This week we worked on the skills of Monitor Inner Conversations, Main Idea, and Analyzing Illustrations. Next week we will continue to work on these skills as well as take an assessment based upon the text we are reading. Math: This week has been focused on the basics of division. Students have discovered how multiplication and division are related and that there are strategies that can be used to solve both properties of operations. We will continue to discuss division the duration of the unit but identifying and practicing partial quotients and long division. I encourage you to have students practice and strengthen their multiplication facts. This knowledge will make division easier. Science- This week we began learning about the different types of rocks and the different layers of the Earth and how fossils and rock formations can be used to gain information about life forms and landscapes from the past. Date change***STEM FAIR Projects are Due December 22, 2021** Social Studies- This week in class we completed a lesson titled “Tik Tok Challenges” were WE learned about both the positive and negative behaviors, activities and consequences associated with recently popular Tik Tok Challenges.

Educationally Yours, Fourth Grade Team

See the link attached below for details.

Attachment(s)

1st Grade Team

Hello everyone! We have 2 more full weeks left before the holiday break, we can do it! We are moving right along in each subject and we hope students remember to stay on top of their homework assignments on Canvas. Progress reports come out BEFORE the holiday break, so students need to make sure all work is done before break! Also, the STEM Fair project and research paper are due before the holiday break as well! Students will turn the project into Ms. Balogun and the papers to Ms. McDonagh. They are due December 20, and we will NOT accept anything at all after December 22, no exceptions. Students should still be reading for the Read-a-thon this month! It ends December 10! We are doing our best to keep the rooms and desks clean throughout the day so as the holiday season approaches, any cleaning supplies that you would like to donate would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much and let’s have a great week! Please use our Google Site as it has many helpful resources for you all! There is a weekly assignment breakdown that can help parents keep up with students' assignments, a grade level newsletter, and many other important resources. Here's the link to our google site: https://sites.google.com/pgcps.org/3rdgradeclasssite From your 3rd Grade Team! :)

Leah McDonagh Kylie Fleet Tamara Mathews Rashidah Balogun

Important Dates to Remember! Monday, December 6, 2021, 1st quarter report card released. Honor Roll and Perfect attendance Assembly -Kindergarten & 1st Grade on Monday, December 13 @ 9:00-10:00 am -2nd & 3rd Grade on Tuesday, December 14 @ 9:00 -10:00 am -4th & 5th Grade on Wednesday, December 15 @ 9:00-10:00 am Your child’s teacher will share additional information.

L. Watkis (Assistant Principal)

Parent/Guardian, Occasionally, we use volunteers either directly through the PTO or the school. These occasions require that all personnel follow safety protocol issued by the district. Therefore, the following information is important to know. Please send the necessary paperwork to our school secretary. 1. PGCPS Fingerprinting Certificate/Receipt and Letter 2. SafeSchools Training Certificates of Completion (see the attached link) 3. Proof that you are fully vaccinated Volunteer Training https://www.pgcps.org/offices/compliance/volunteer/volunteer-training Online SafeSchools Training (required annually) Thanks for partnering with CMIT South Elementary School.

L. Watkis (Assistant Principal)

All 2nd grade students in Prince George’s County will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) in coming two weeks. The CogAT is a verbal and non-verbal measure of abstract thinking and reasoning ability. The CogAT can only be administered in person in the school building. Parents of virtual students who wish their students to take this test must have their students come into the school building to test. Any virtual student who does not test this year will have an opportunity to test next fall. If you are a parent of a virtual student you wish to have tested, please contact the School Test Coordinator at your school by fmetin@cmitsouthes.org CMIT South Elementary will implement the test on the following days: Wednesday, December 8, Thursday December 9, Friday December 10, 2021. Students should be present on all these three days. The CogAT is a verbal and non-verbal measure of abstract thinking and reasoning ability. The CogAT can only be administered in person in the school building. Parents of virtual students who wish their students to take this test must have their students come into the school building to test. Any virtual student who does not test this year will have an opportunity to test next fall. If you are a parent of a virtual student you wish to have tested, please contact the School Test Coordinator at your school by fmetin@cmitsouthes.org Results of this test are only one factor used to identify students for the Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program. Other factors include student achievement, teacher ratings in academics, creativity, task commitment, and other data relevant to individual students. Please avoid appointments that may take your child out of school during this time period. Also, it will help your child perform best if he or she comes to school with a positive attitude, a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast. Results will be available in February, 2022. Sincerely,

Fatih Metin Program Coordinator & Testing Coordinator

Calling All Scientists! The due date for our Science Fair Projects is quickly approaching! Please see some additional guidance toward completion of your Science Fair Projects. Thank you. Science Fair Guidance - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17up9WFVuhnkeO2wEWqc9q15mhsL0p2pNhbv5VdCIzHU/edit?usp=sharing Scientific Method Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAJ8IF4HI20 Science Fair Projects Due Date - December 22, 2021 At our next PTO meeting on December 8th, 2021 the Science Fair is on the agenda.

Science Fair Committee

Our students are changing the future with an Hour of Code Dear Parents, We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works. But only a fraction of us are learning how technology works. Only 51% of all high schools teach computer science. That’s why our entire school is joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (December 6-12). More than 100 million students worldwide have already tried an Hour of Code. Our Hour of Code is making a statement that CMIT elementary is ready to teach these foundational 21st-century skills. See https://hourofcode.com/us/en/learn for details.

Mrs. Ak

Our character trait for the month of December is GENEROSITY. Generosity is the desire to give what you have to others. Generous people are giving and want to help others in need. For the month of December the students will be challenged with trivia and puzzles which would be read on the morning announcements. Answers will be accepted after the morning announcements. Three winners will be selected each day (K & 1st winner, 2nd & 3rd winner, and 4th and 5th winner). Winners will be determined by the accuracy and speed of the answer given. The winner will then choose a friend who will also get a prize. The same link below will be used each day https://forms.gle/cUz89B5jwY7g2ER36

Deidra Chandler Professional School Counselor