We all know that the pandemic, school closings, and distance learning has created learning gaps for many students. One strategy CMIT North Middle School is putting in place to address these gaps is weekly Tiger Time. Tiger Time is a 1 1/2 hour block each Wednesday morning to allow students to focus on strengthening those gaps by learning and practicing required skills. The remainder of the day will have a modified schedule so students can still meet with their teachers to receive instruction and guidance. Think of a 2 hour delayed schedule but with the first 1 1/2 hours being dedicated to reviewing and mastering missed content. Of course attendance is required and students must still report to school on time. Students that may not have learning gaps will be able to use the time to complete assignments and extension activities to deepen their understanding of skills. For the first 3 weeks of Tiger Time students will work in a program called Naviance. Naviance is a web based program that helps students reach their goals by developing skills critical for college, career and life. This will allow our team the time to identify student gaps and develop a plan for each student. To learn more about Naviance you can visit www.naviance.com. More information will be coming as we assess students in the first few weeks and develop a plan that best meets their needs.

Andrew Brauer, Principal

Thank you for a great start to the school year! Students, Educators, and Parents have all played an excellent role in ensuring we welcome our students back safely and successfully. Thank you to all of our stakeholders for partnering with us. Each day brings a little more normalcy to our routines and procedures. The Dismissal process is always the most challenging. Dismissal is statistically when most incidents occur at schools. Our team has worked tirelessly to design procedures that will keep our children safe and we need your continued support. PLEASE DO NOT ask your child to walk so they can be picked up on the side of the street. Our dismissal process takes about 10 minutes from the dismissal bell at 2:55pm once everyone becomes used to the routine. It will take longer for your scholar to walk to your vehicle than if you were to pick them up in the back of the school building in the Car Line. At the Car Line we have designated staff to control traffic and help students safely cross and get into vehicles. When students walk they cross the street randomly and cars parked in the No Parking areas impede traffic. We simply cannot ensure their safety in this scenario. Everyone's time is valuable, but nothing is more valuable than the health and safety of our children. Students that meet siblings at the CMIT Elementary, High School, walk to a parents work location within 1.5 miles of the school, or to their residence within 1.5 miles of the school can walk with the parents permission. If you have not already done so, please complete the CMIT North Middle School Dismissal Questionnaire and Permissions here. https://forms.gle/VmURiedh1iud4Lyf7 Thanks again for your continued support of our CMIT community!

Andrew Brauer, Principal

Arrival/Departure Routine Please see the attached map of the driving routes and drop-off/pick-up locations. Please note: All parents, carpooling or individuals, must drop-off and pick-up in the rear of the building. The side parking lots are designated for high school overflow and commercial vans/buses only. Only students that ride on a commercial van or bus will be permitted to exit to the side parking lot. Car Riders MUST be picked up in the rear of the building for their safety. We have personnel directing traffic to ensure the safety of our students. Please be patient and follow their directions. Walkers must have permission to walk. You can give permission by completing the CMIT Academy North Middle School Dismissal Questionnaire: https://forms.gle/VmURiedh1iud4Lyf7. Walkers are expected to leave from our Front Office and follow the sidewalk to Swietzer Lane. Walkers should not be picked up at the intersection of Frost Place and Swietzer, nor be picked up on the side of the street. It is expected that Walkers are those needing to meet siblings at the High School, Elementary School, to meet parents at their place work along Swietzer Road, or live within 1.5 miles of the school. The parking lots in front of Stantec, WSSC (including their overflow lot), and Konterra is not available to CMIT stakeholders for pick up. These are their places of business and we all need to be kind neighbors. Please do not park, wait, or drop students off in their parking lots. WSSC Police is surveilling the area and will issue citations. As everyone becomes accustomed to the drop-off and pick-up routine the process will become more and more efficient. Typically by the third week all vehicles are gone within 10 minutes. Please be patient and follow the instructions from those directing traffic. No one's time is more valuable than the safety of our children.

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Andrew Brauer, Principal

Students in the 7th grade that have not submitted proof of their Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis vaccine (Tdap) and Meningococcal vaccine (MCV) have until September 28, 2021 to submit documentation. Students that require vaccine administration should contact their Primary Care Physician. Anyone in need of community resources should contact the nurse office at 240-547-4545 or send an email to nurse@cmitacademy.org. Please remember to bring your most recent shot record to any appointments. Immunization documents can be emailed to nurse@cmitacademy.org or faxed to 301-560-3461. Thank you for helping keep our students healthy and ready to learn.

CMIT Nurse

The USNA STEM Center is hosting the USNA Middle School Girls Only STEM Day which will be held as a virtual event this fall on Saturday October 16, from 10 AM to Noon. The flyer is attached. Registration can be found on this website under Applications at www.usna.edu/stem

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Mrs. Crespo-Montano Science Teacher

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CMIT Administration

Please join me in welcoming Ms. SaLil Myers to our community. Ms. Myers is the newest edition to our World Languages Department and will teach Spanish language to our 6th and 7th grade students. Ms. Myers has spent much time living in Spanish speaking countries and brings that unique perspective to her class. If you need to contact Ms. Myers about your student please reach out to to her at salil.myers@pgcps.org

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Joining our staff this year is a new edition, Mr. Harold Timity. Mr. Timity has spent many years teaching computer science and computer applications to students of all ages. He Joins us to teach technology to our 7th and 8th grade students. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Timity to our CMIT family. Should you need to contact Mr. Timity about your student, please reach out at harold.timity@pgcps.org

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Hello! Welcome back to a new school year! My name is Ms. Wake and I am the 7th/ 8th grade math teacher for Stevenson University, Hofstra University, Alabama A&M University, Texas Southern University, and the University of Richmond. Please take a moment to read the classroom syllabus and fill out the parent survey for this school year. The syllabus is full of information that parents and students need to know and understand about my class. The parent survey will help me get to know each scholar through your eyes. This information will also be used to help me understand your perspective as a parent. Both the survey and the syllabus are linked in this newsletter post. I look forward to a productive school year full of growth and mastery. Syllabus: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QbPD8OusVyBYLgUIbl5S4wTfytF2bo9o/view?usp=sharing Parent Survey https://forms.gle/5M1QqHC73mUxXVCD7

Ms. Wake

Eight grade science students learned facts about coronavirus, making the COVID-19 vaccine, the role of the immune system, why so many variants are showing up, and how to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Students presented facts/information about coronavirus and ways we can be protected from the virus through infographics, posters, brochures, Google drawing, or slide presentation. The pictures above show some work of the students.

Mrs. Crespo-Montano Science Teacher

As the year progresses, we as a staff want to inform parents about important changes that effect our community. 2 years ago we began a journey to learn about restorative practices. Unfortunately, the pandemic has delayed implementation of this practice due to the limitations of online learning. Restorative practices is an approach to school discipline that is designed to break the school to prison pipeline. This is especially true for relatively small discipline issues that can be easily fixed through counsel. Restorative practices seeks to educate, rather than punish. It is a powerful tool that helps the student grow emotionally through reflection, and taking ownership of behavior, while recognizing the impact their behavior has on others. It requires that the student own their behavior understand the perspective of others. It brings people in conflict to a place of agreement. Please keep in mind that for more complex issues of discipline, where dangerous or damaging behavior may be displayed, we will reserve the right to rely on the student handbook and student code of conduct, as well as progressive discipline. In these instances progressive discipline will be used in connection with restorative practices to restore a sense of justice and resolution to all parties. In those specific cases, parents will be informed of the information that we have and what disciplinary actions have been given, in accordance with the rules of PGCPS progressive discipline. We begin this deeper exploration of restorative practices again with a staff training this September and the installation of two school coordinators, Ms. Dana Wake (teacher) and Mr. James Screven (Administrator). We know that, as a community, you will see the same value in growing our students emotional intelligence that we do. If you have any questions please reach out to Mr. Screven at james.screven@pgcps.org

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Q: Is CMIT North MS a public school? 

A: Yes We are a public charter school who is staffed by PGCPS teachers and administration, and support staff who work along side of a limited CLF staff. We have access to PGCPS support but also benefit from additional guidance, management and financial support from Chesapeake Light House Foundation, whose educational concept this school is based on. 

Q: Do siblings get preference in applying to CMIT?

A: The process of gaining entry to any charter school in Prince George's County is through a lottery. However, siblings of already attending CMIT students are weighted differently during the lottery process. This different weighting gives preference to siblings. 

Q: What makes CMIT different then any other school in the district? 

A: Although we are a PGCPS public charter, we are given some autonomy over curriculum. This autonomy allows us to fast track students, who are academically ready, through selected high school courses in math, foreign language, science and technology. It is that fast tracking that opens up opportunity to more advanced  coursework on the college level while still in high school.  Additionally, we offer students supports and enrichments to every student, not available at most schools. Lastly, we are a uniform school which takes away the distraction, the competition and the social stratification that is brought on by non uniform dress in a school. 

Our test scores oustrip not only county averages but also state avaerages. This, along with other metrics has made us a 5 star school. 

Q: Do you offer everything the big middle and high school's offer? 

A: Unlike many school in Maryland, we do not have a  full spectrum offerings in sports.  Instead, our focus is on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). Therefore, our sports offerings are more limited.  We offer, boys and girls soccer, basketball, girl's softball, boy's baseball and club lacrosse in the middle school. Additionally, boys and girls basketball, track/field and volleyball at the high school level. With that said we recently (2017) won the girls county basketball championship and made it to the playoffs in soccer. Our high school opened a multi-million dollar, state of the art gym complex, competitive with all schools of their size. The middle school has also added an indoor gym space.  Lastly, we do offer special educational services, but becuase we are a school of choice, the amount of service hours we can provide is limited to 7.5 hours a week, split between literacy and math. Services hours are delivered by special education teachers but are limited to literacy and math courses.