Dear Parents/Guardians, Last week we highlighted communication, and I would like to thank all you wonderful parents for your patience, especially as it relates to responses to emails from our staff. This week, I choose to highlight dedication. On Monday, our fathers came out to celebrate Men make a Difference Day. It was an excellent opportunity to see so many fathers dedicated to the task of supporting their children and supporting our school. The event made me choke up when I thought about how dedicated my father was. I also commend the PTO for dedicating time and energy to supporting us here at school. Now the next step:- Please dedicate time for helping our scholars with completing homework; putting quality into schoolwork, and putting effort into positive conduct. Provide that space and quiet time for purposeful reading each day. Your dedication now will certainly prepare our scholars to become successful leaders later on in life. Another way to show your dedication is to encourage and show support for all teachers and students. CMIT Elementary Charter boasts a dedicated PTO; the Board dedicates a lot of time into planning programs and activities that are implemented to support staff and students. Be proud of this school-it's the choice you have made. Dedicate your resources here and watch us grow. Another way to dedicate to your school is to ensure that scholars are wearing their uniforms to school. We are a UNIFORMED school and as such, if students are out of uniform, they are breaking the rules. Your dedication to supporting students in this area is important. Your support is invaluable as we work collectively to support student success. Sincerely, Ms. Watkis

L. Watkis (Assistant Principal)

1st Grade worked hard this week! We have continued working on reading comprehension through retelling, writing about small moments, and our science unit on objects in the sky. We have also started our math unit on addition within 20 and continued shapes! For social studies, we are learning about symbols of our country, as well as our government. We would like to thank all of the fathers who attended Monday’s Men Make A Difference Day! We had a wonderful turnout and the students truly enjoyed it. Our field trip to Clark’s Elioak Farm is scheduled for November 5th! Each class may have up to ten (10) volunteers, so please contact your child’s teacher for more information about signing up. Have a wonderful weekend!

The First Grade Team

This week our Kindergarten had their minds blown when they learned that they can't paint watercolors over oil pastels, thus completing their snowflakes! First grade will experience the same wonder next week when they paint their arctic landscapes! Second grade will learn about visual texture, the fourth grade will remember what their color families are to finish their own Great Waves, and the fifth grade started learning about one point perspective! Pictures will be included in next week's update from the Art Room. Let's get creative!

Miss James

Fourth Grade Parents, In Reading, we have completed reading selection Lewis and Clark and Me. As we read we build our reading strategy skills, focusing on higher thinking questioning. Together and independently, students worked to generate grade appropriate questions about the characters and events that took place in the historical fiction. We also reviewed author’s purpose and identified both of the author’s purposes in our selection. Students have taken their Long -a and Long -i spelling test. Next week they will begin a new section within the unit. Standard: RI.4.3, RI.4.4, RF.4.4.a, SL.4., SL.4.2, L.4.2.d, L.4.3 In Math, we are discussing multi-digit multiplication, and students will have a quiz on Wednesday, October 23rd. We will then be moving in to division and multi-digit addition. Students have already had a chance to work with division, but this will be a more in depth experience with it. Standard: 4.NBT.5 In Science, we will wrap up discussion on the changes of Earth’s surface, such as erosion and weathering. We will have a Unit exam on Monday, October 21st. Students have individual login accounts for ReadWorks, and Science homework will be assigned on ReadWorks, and announced on Class Dojo. Standard: 4-ESS2-1 In Social Studies, students have begun studying various landforms and bodies of water. We have gained access to our online edition of our Social Studies book. Students have had practice in class with how to access their textbook and assignments online. In the week to come, look forward to seeing more online work in this subject and work with children to remember their login information as well as how to access their book. Standards: CCSS.SS.4.3 In Health, we will be having a guest teacher, Dr. BB, coming in on Fridays this year. Next week she will be discussing self-esteem/self-image. In Social Skills, we wrapped up our focus on responsibility but setting personal goals to become more responsible individuals at home as well as in school. We have began gaining a true understanding of what kindness is and ways we can be kind to others. Students were given a Kindness Log to record their acts of kindness throughout the week (1 mandatory act of kindness per day minimum).

~The 4th Grade Team~

Thank you to all of the fathers and male role models who were able to make it for Men Make a Difference Day. Your continued support greatly benefits all of our students.

Mr. Rowland

Wow! What a week we have had. Kindergarten had a blast with meeting the PG County EMS personnel last Friday. They got to tour the Ambulances and hear the sirens. The students love it. We are hoping to have the fire trucks visit another time. The students thought it was awesome that the fire truck was called for an emergency. On Monday we had many visitors to our classrooms. Thank you to all the dads, grandpas and friends that visited our classrooms. We would love to have you visit again to read a story, help with a project and help our classes in any way. This next week will be our last week for testing until January. It is important to have your child at school on time with a full belly. Remember to continue to work on October homework. If your child finishes the American Flag, they can bring it in early. Please let us know if you want to help in the classrooms in anyway. We are always looking for classroom volunteers.

Kindergarten Team Ms. Curtis, Ms. Lucas, Ms. Herbert & Ms. Derfler

Hello! Another great week in third grade. Students did great on the test on Monday! Very focused and willing to do the best they possible could! This week in math and science we continued to work on telling time to the nearest minute. It was great to hear why the students thought reading time was so important! They have some great minds! They are becoming great at telling time! In science we have continued to talk about weather and why collecting data is so important. Lastly, third grade wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU!!! to all the Dads that came out to show their support. Even through some red faces we were all proud and greatly appreciate the support. Thank you!

Ms. Cunningham

Dear Parents and Guardians, We have ended our unit on movement concepts and are now onto the fitness knowledge for all grades. This means different content for every grade, but Kindergarten is learning about the heart and how it beats faster and you breathe faster when being active. They learned the word "heart rate" as we checked to see how fast it was beating. Grades 1-3 were having different variations of the discussion about fitness and naming physical activities, how they are good for the body and can enhance fitness. The 4-5 graders are embarking on their Fitnessgram testing ( Formerly known as the Presidential Fitness Test ) where they will complete; sit ups, push ups, the pacer 20M run test, and the sit and reach test. They will know what healthy levels are and what get a reachable goal they hope to achieve by the end of the year.

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

We have been working really hard in second grade this week. Some of the things we have been learning are: -measuring objects in inches and centimeters - quick changes in Earth's surface -community workers and what they do -grammar Ms. McDonagh has been working hard this week testing all of our students in DRA. She should have all updated reading levels by Monday. If you have any questions, make sure to send her a message on Class Dojo. We will be having our first field trip of the year to the American Indian Museum in DC on Friday, November 8th. The cost is $13/person. Each class is allotted 5 chaperones for this trip so make sure to message your child's homeroom teacher if you would like to attend. Chaperone spots are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE! Please make sure you have submitted your fingerprint receipt and SafeSchools Training certificates to the from office to be eligible. Permission Slips have been sent home in homework folders. Have a great weekend :)

Ms. Fleet and Ms. McDonagh

Hello, It is time for Culture Fest again! This year, we will be putting together a singing/dancing routine to the song "You Nique" that we've been practicing in class. If your student would like to perform, please message me on Class Dojo or email at jbailey@cmitsouthes.org The date of Culture Fest is Nov.2

Jared Bailey Music Teacher CMIT South Elementary

The PTO Needs You.

L. Watkis (Assistant Principal)

Anti Bullying Spirit Week is coming up this Monday. Here are answers to some questions we received from parents: Q: Can students be out of uniform on hat day? A: Students should be in uniform if the spirit day does not effect their dress. Students should only be fully out of uniform on mismatched day and twin day. Q: What if students have gym? A: Students should wear their gym uniform on the day they have gym class. Just a Reminder: Monday October 21st-Friday October 25th---ANTI BULLYING SPIRIT WEEK -October is National Bullying Prevention Month. . The goal: encourage schools, communities and organizations to work together to stop bullying and raise awareness. Monday: Faculty and students will wear their favorite hat to show they “Put A Cap on Bullying”. Tuesday: Faculty and students will wear colorful socks to indicate we will “Sock it to Bullying”. Wednesday: “Mismatched Day” Faculty and students will wear mismatched socks, shoes, and clothes to show it’s ok to be different. Thursday: “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully” Students and Faculty will become twins or triplets with a buddy for the day. Friday: Faculty and students “Unite Against Bullying” by wearing orange for national anti-bullying day. Best,

Deidra Chandler Professional School Counselor

We had an amazing turn out for Men Make A Difference Day! I just want to thank everyone who was involved, all the male role models who came to support, teachers, staff and parents. We had over 50 men show up and show out for our students and I cannot thank you all enough. Thank you to the PTO and your contribution to the event. CMIT South Elementary could not have done it without all of you guys! Most importantly the students enjoyed every second of it! Best,

Deidra Chandler Professional School Counselor

**REMINDER*** NO School Tomorrow: 10/18/19

Mrs. Ak

Hello, I am super excited for the Anti-Bullying Spirit Week! This month each student will receive a lesson about bullying. We will discuss the definition and different types of bullying and what to do if they are being bullied or if they see someone being bullied. Each grade level will receive this lesson in the following ways: K-1st: Students will discuss and watch the video "Bully: A Read-Along Story About Bullies For Kids". Then they will create anti-bullying stop signs (see attachment) 2nd-3rd: Students will discuss and watch the video "Be an Upstander- Prevent Bullying". Then they will create anti-bullying "sock it to bullying" posters. 4th-5th: Students will learn about the different types of bullying and match them to the correct scenario. Then they will create Unity posters. Best,

Deidra Chandler Professional School Counselor

Men Make a Difference Day at CMIT South.

L. Watkis (Assistant Principal)