All Prince George`s County Public Schools will close 2 hours early on Friday, March 29. CMIT South Elementary School will dismiss at 12:15 pm.

Juliana Derin - Principal Secretary

Held on the first Saturday in May, this will be the 3rd Annual MakerFEST, CLF's yearly STEAM Festival celebrating our community's inner genius! CLF schools are now eight programs and six institutions across the State of Maryland serving over 3,200 students K-12! MakerFEST invites these students to participate with staff, parents and our wider CLF STEM community partners to feel encouraged to exhibit and enjoy all the day's inventions, artwork, personal projects, experiments, robots, wild creations, noble attempts, fine solutions to typical problems, and makers making so much more! CLF will also have volunteer opportunities available for anyone who wants to help build the best MakerFEST ever! To register for an exhibition space visit https://www.clfadvancedstudies.org/makerfest For volunteer opportunities visit https://goo.gl/forms/y1qs5zfo8OPOuRo92 This year, the first Saturday in May happens to coincide with May 4th, often celebrated by fans of the widely popular Star Wars franchise. We fundamentally feel obligated since astronomy, space exploration fit all too well into the MakerFEST concept, so Community Partnerships is also encouraging all exhibitors to share their project progress with @CLF_CLF on twitter or @ChesapeakeLighthouseFoundation on Facebook with the hashtag #MayTheFourthBuildWithYou. Until next update, May The Fourth Be With You!

Community Partnerships

Dear Parents/Guardians, Hopefully, everyone received the information -organizational tips for supporting students to become successful in school. These were posted in previous newsletters. Please let me know if you have questions. This week, please use the following link to look for available resources on the PGCPS website. https://www.pgcps.org/schoolmax-support/ Your Voice Matters You have been supporting us in the following ways, and I would like you to know that it is noted. Big thanks and please continue to lend your help the best way that you can. AM and PM Dismissal Field Trips PTO activities Visiting and helping in classrooms (as requested by teachers only). Over the next few weeks, we will share information on student behavior. It is especially important at this time as spring is here. The season that brings a lot of irritable behavior due to seasonal changes, such as pollen. 1. Know the Disciplinary Policies We are seeing undesirable behaviors here at school, and these will not be tolerated. For one, it hampers the instructional program. Please locate the Student code of conduct and review with our scholars. The consequences are set by PGCPS, and as educators, we would like to play by the rules that govern a safe and supportive environment for ALL students and staff. Schools usually cite their disciplinary policies (sometimes called the student code of conduct) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations, and consequences for not meeting the expectations, for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language. The policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have specific policies about bullying. It's helpful to know the school system's definition of bullying, consequences for bullies, support for victims, and procedures for reporting bullying. It's important for your child to know what's expected at school and that you'll support the school's consequences when expectations aren't met. It's easiest for students when school expectations match the ones at home, so kids see both environments as safe and caring places that work together as a team. ( Some information retrieved from [ kidshealth.org] ) The student code of conduct for PGCPS may be found here:- https://www.pgcps.org/student_rights_responsibilities.htm

Respectfully, L. Watkis (Assistant Principal)

Are you a Crafter/Artist? Do you love sharing your creations with the public? Have you always wanted to take on a creative hobby but never had the time? On March 29th, CMIT Elementary will host a Craft Fair for ALL CLF Families! The event will have a non-alcoholic paint and sip session along with local art vendors! Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your creativity! When: March 29th, 2019 Time: 5-8pm Where: CMIT North Elementary 6151 Chevy Chase Drive, Laurel, MD 20707

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CMIT North Elementary PTO

Please come out for the social event tonight.

Patrice Harrell-Carter
Principal

Dear Parents, I am glad to introduce myself and my role in joining the CMIT South Elementary team. My name is Ms. Ozturk (Ms. Oz for short) and I am a recent graduate from University of Maryland College Park. Throughout my studies I have taken a variety of STEM courses as well as completing my major in English Literature. I am so excited to be teaching in the Makerspace’ Lab that we have recently set up in our school. Students from grades 3rd-5th will be working on projects that we have planned for the rest of the school year. Starting with our first project which is growing butterflies from caterpillars. The end of this project will include a Butterfly release day with the whole of the school, including parents! We will also have other projects such as growing chicks from eggs, exploring engineering with Little Bits Kits and Lego Kits, generating electricity from mud and many more! All of these hands-on activities are geared towards bridging the gap between STEM and giving the students the skills to arrive at creative solutions. I am available via email (zozturk@cmitsouthes.org) if you have any feedback or questions! Sincerely, Ms. Oz

Patrice Harrell-Carter
Principal

SPRING HAS SPRUNG....AND SO HAVE ALLERGIES!!! ARE YOU PREPARED? What are Seasonal Allergies? Seasonal allergies are an abnormal immune system reaction to common pollen or mold spore allergens that often show up in the spring, summer and fall. Allergies are triggered by harmless substances that the body mistakes as a possible threat. As it tries to fight the allergens, the body releases histamine and other substances which then lead to allergy symptoms. Common spring allergens include: Trees pollens Grass pollens Mold spores Dust mites During the spring, plants are pollinating and people begin mowing their lawns again, causing allergens like grass, tree pollen, and mold spores to swirl through the air. Dust is also often stirred up through spring cleaning, which can kick-start an allergic reaction, but dust mites can be found in homes year-round. However, the warmer weather and higher humidity promote the increase in dust mites. Typical allergy symptoms include: Runny nose Sneezing Watery eyes Fatigue Itchy eyes Nasal congestion Watch the Pollen Count Pollen is a common cause of spring allergies. Trees and plants pollinate in the spring months, and the breeze will pick pollen up and blow it around. If your child is allergic to pollen, they don’t have to spend their spring indoors. Check for pollen counts in your area ( https://weather.com/forecast/allergy/l/20774:4:US ) , and plan your outdoor activities when pollen counts are low. Be aware that plants release the most pollen in the mornings. Plan to stay indoors on dry, windy days to reduce your child’s exposure to allergy triggers. Rain can clear the air of pollen, so the best time to go outside is after a good rainstorm. Keep Allergens Out of Your Home There are some easy steps you can take to make sure allergens aren’t getting into your home and causing trouble for your child: Vacuum once or twice a week. In the spring, your carpet can hold on to a lot of allergens, and just walking across the carpet re-releases dust and pollen into the air. Make sure your vacuum has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to catch the smallest allergens. If you’re ready to take on a bigger home remodeling project, replace the carpet in your home with smaller, washable rugs or vinyl, tile or hardwood floors. Keep indoor air clean. Although it can be refreshing to open the windows after a long, cold winter, this is an easy way to let allergens in your home. Use an air conditioner with a high-efficiency filter and keep windows closed, especially when pollen counts are high. Dust the right way. Remember that spring cleaning can kick dust particles into the air, which can make allergy symptoms worse. The most effective way to dust is using a damp cloth to attract dust rather than move it around. Clean bathroom tiles to remove mold. There’s a lot of heat and moisture in bathrooms, which makes it a common place for mold to grow. Clean the tiles, shower curtain, and make sure the room is well ventilated. Also, consider removing the wallpaper from the bathroom. Your bathroom wallpaper is constantly in contact with moisture and heat, making it a prime location for mold to grow. Instead, paint the walls with mold-resistant enamel paint or install tile. Wash sheets in hot water. Sheets can trap potential allergens, especially dust mites. Wash your child’s sheets in hot water (at least 130 degrees) and dry them on high once a week. If your child likes to cuddle up with stuffed animals, toss them in the wash as well, but limit the amount of stuffed animals your child keeps on their bed. Keep entryways free of debris. Keep outdoor triggers outdoors, and frequently sweep or vacuum your outdoor and indoor entryways. This will make it less likely for someone to track dust or pollen into your home. Lay doormats inside and outside each entry as well. If you have pets that spend time outdoors, wipe their coats on a regular basis when they come indoors. In addition, never hang clothes or bed linens outside to dry. Finally, educate your children on allergies, symptoms, triggers, and treatments. Often times, allergies and asthma affect the same patient simultaneously. The symptoms of both diseases can mimic each other. Also, an allergic reaction can trigger an asthma attack. Please ensure that your child is aware of when to request their inhaler from the nurse. Usual symptoms that require an emergency bronchodialator are: frequent, spasmodic coughs, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. I have attached a fun, kid friendly, activity, to help your children learn about allergies, while completing a hands on activity. Please encourage your children to complete the attachment at their leisure.

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Renada Haley, RN Professional School Nurse nurse@cmitsouthes.org Chesapeake Math & IT Academy South Elementary 9601 Fallard Terrace Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 240-767-4820

Greetings Parents, As the 3rd quarter is almost over, students were given more time to finish outstanding assignments and to get ready for the final reading and social studies tests of the quarter. Students presented their projects and did very well. One group was able to present in front of the principal for feedback. Students are reminded to check school max for missing assignments as there are some that are outstanding. I will accept all late assignments up to next week. Afterwards, grades will be final for the quarter. Thank you as usual for all you do.

Victor Hawkins

Happy Friday! Congratulations to the winners for our Sweet 16 round of the Multiplication Tournament! (Amadu, Camryn, Saniya, Derrick, Olumide, Christian, Brooke, and Karina) Continue to keep up the good work! This week in Math we continued to review some key concepts in effort to prepare for the state testing (standards: 05.NBT.B.07 and 05.NBT.B.05). The quarter ends next Thursday, there is still time for students to do extra credit, they only have to ask for it :) Please encourage your scholars to practice at home. Students only receive a few hours a day on each subject. If we consider how many hours they will need to master the concepts that will be covered on the state testing, then it will be essential, for students to practice at home as well. In Science we continued our life science unit by reviewing the parts of a plant and discussing how energy is transferred from the sun. Thank you once again for all of your support and have a wonderful weekend!

-Ms. Libebe

Hello awesome Tiger parents and supporters! This week was an exciting week at CMIT South with the STEM Makers Space getting fully up and running! Third grade will be going to the Makers Space on Wednesdays. If you see our new Makers Lab teacher, Ms. Ozturk, make sure you say hello! We are diving head first into our first unit about the life cycle of a butterfly!

Mr. Rowland

Parents and Guardians, This week in P.E. class both the younger and older kids focused on passing the basketball to a partner. The two types of passes that were covered were chest pass and bounce pass. The 3 key steps in creating a successful pass is to; 1) step with the non-dominant ( opposite of writing hand ) foot. 2) push the ball away with both hands. 3) snap the wrists to send the ball out. Please feel free to use these cues with your students as we practiced the skills repeatedly with the same verbal cues. Thanks

Garrett Loomer P.E. Teacher - Department Chair CMIT South Elementary gloomer@cmitsouthes.org

Recently in Art class, students have been learning about the artist, Mondrian. Mondrian is known for his geometric compositions and use of primary colors. As a group, students analyzed Mondrian's artwork. Students concluded that his work consisted of horizontal and vertical lines and the shapes rectangles and squares. On the first day of this unit, students were able to use cardboard and black paint to stamp lines onto paper, creating a Mondrian inspired composition. When students returned to art the following week, they used primary colors to complete their masterpieces! At the end of the class period, students hung their work on the board and participated in a class critique.

Brittney Frei

Basic programming has become an essential skill for grown-ups and children alike. And the benefits of picking up this skill, especially for kids, are huge: Learning how to build simple websites and games helps kids refine their design, logic, and problem-solving abilities. It also allows them to express ideas and creativity in unique ways. There are a number of FREE and low-cost websites that teach children how to play around with code. We've rounded up a dozen of our favorites: https://mommypoppins.com/coding-kids-free-websites-teach-learn-programming

"The" CMIT PTO Board

We're excited to announce that Mrs Carter has authorized the Gray "Tigers Roar" T-shirt to be an authorized shirt to wear with the PE Uniform. ALL SIZES ARE AVAILABLE (Kids - Adults)! Get yours Today! https://cmit-academy.itemorder.com/sale Our Spirit Wear sale will continue through 29 March. We'll be implementing Spirit Wear Days in the spring of this year. Get yours today! Our online store will be open until March 29, 2019. **PARENTS WITH ORDERS BEFORE MARCH 9, 2019** If you have not received your orders, please email pto@cmitsouthes.org with the following: Your Name Your Childs Name Your Childs Room We will deliver the shirts to place in the childs backpack. https://cmit-academy.itemorder.com/sale

"The" CMIT PTO Board

Please read our weekly newsletter! https://conta.cc/2JwCxXb

"The" CMIT PTO Board

As we indicated in our last month's PTO Meeting, the PTO plans to use some of our funds in our budget to fund a school-wide improvement project/endowment. We would like your feedback on how the resources should be used. Please take our survey to vote on projects to be funded and/or provide suggestions for projects that would like to see funded. Cost permitting, we will seed the project(s) with the most votes. Survey will only take less than 5 minutes to complete, see link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D7DT5WY As always, please send any questions pto@cmitsouthes.org

"The" CMIT PTO Board

Great Day Thee CMIT South Family Hope all is well! This week I have been playing catch up as I was out for over a week, I have also been putting a together upcoming classes for your scholars on safety. The first lesson will assist you in teaching, safe and appropriate touch. This lesson is geared to teach scholars the importance of reporting inappropriate touches-by his/her classmates or by an adult. Parents, please take a moment and review the attached documents:

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DM Davis, Professional School Counselor, CMIT South ES, ddavis@cmitsouthes.org