Are you in a position to give? Do you work for an organization looking for a philanthropic cause? The government shutdown affects our families and students. PGCPS is partnering with local businesses and individuals in the community to ensure any child that needs a meal gets a meal. Please consider this partnership if you are in a position to help by donating at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/PGCPS/bulletins/22799ab?reqfrom=share.

Mr. Andrew Brauer, Principal

From Interim PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson: Dear Prince George’s County Public Schools Community – As we begin the New Year, many families within our Prince George’s County community are dealing with the ongoing impact of the federal government shutdown. All of us at PGCPS recognize that with each passing day, the shutdown is creating uncertainty for many families across the school district. Financial responsibilities extend beyond major expenses like paying rent or the electric bill but also the day-to-day basics like healthy and complete meals. No parent should fear their child will not eat because they cannot afford to pay. In fact, our existing policy ensures that every child within Prince George’s County Public Schools receives something to eat, even if they cannot pay. While no schools within the district have reported students missing meals because of the shutdown, our team, at the request of our Board of Education, examined a proposal to provide free meals to all students impacted. Under ordinary circumstances, over 83,000 students out of 134,000 already receive free and reduced-price meals. Given the unknown length of the shutdown, expanding this program for weeks to include additional students is cost prohibitive, totaling an estimated $190,000 a day. While laudable, this unbudgeted expense would be fiscally irresponsible and take funding away from other school district services. Taking this into consideration, effective immediately, any student that requests a meal due to the federal government shutdown for the remainder of this week (January 8-11) will receive the standard hot entrée available at their school. Additionally, we are providing families that may temporarily qualify, the opportunity to apply for the free and reduced-price meal program and we are expediting the processing time for affected applicants. Lastly, we have asked school leaders to track the free meals distributed during the week and schools will be reimbursed. Apply here: https://www.pgcps.org/page.aspx?Pageid=234147&id=235880 The Prince George’s County Public School community is happy to stand beside our neighbors and provide some relief to families during these uncertain economic times. Sincerely, Dr. Monica E. Goldson Interim Chief Executive Officer Prince George’s County Public Schools

Mr. Andrew Brauer Principal CMIT Academy North Middle School

Please Share With Family and Friends: The deadline to submit a Prince Georges County Public Charter School Lottery application for next school year is fast approaching. If you wish to apply to Chesapeake Math & IT Academy Public Charter Schools (Grades K-12) for the 2019-2020 school year, your applications must be submitted on-line by January 25, 2019. To be eligible to apply, you must be a resident of Prince Georges County and your child must have a valid PGCPS student ID number. If your child is currently enrolled in CMIT Academy PCS, you do not need to submit a new application, unless you wish to apply to a different location. However, if you are applying for a sibling of a currently enrolled student, you must submit an application on line for the sibling. For more information on the PGCPS Lottery application process, and to submit your application, please visit http://lottery.pgcps.org. Thank you!

CMIT Registrar

The points have been tallied and the news is in. We have winners for the December PRS points competition. The following students earned the highest point value for their grade. The 6th grade PRS points winner is Christian Sherrod. For 7th grade, we have a tie between Anaiya Lewis and Boris Sai-Palm. Additionally, a tie for 8th grade between Charles Ruckus and John Torres. Congratulations to our winners. It should be noted that this is Charles Ruckus's second time as a PRS Points winner. Way to go Charles!

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Yearbooks are now available for order at ybpay.lifetouch.com. The Yearbook ID Code is 12970819. Prices start at $25. There are several packages available. Paper forms are available from your students. If using a paper form, checks should be made out to CMIT North PTO.

Amy Sumor, Yearbook Adviser

“Science is more than a school subject, the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand, explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world..." — President Barack Obama, March 23, 2015 In October of 2018, all students in CMIT Academy- middle school north were encouraged to enter research projects. In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it’s more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information. These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math—subjects collectively known as STEM. (ed. gov.stem) Out of more than five hundred students one hundred fifty scholars obtained the highest grade point using the CMIT STEM fair rubric. These scholars will participate in the 8th Annual STEAM fair on January 26, 2019 at CMIT High School Gym. Help us show our support for the hard work and dedication these students showed by coming out and being a part of our STEM fair. Public viewing of the entire participant project is from 12-1PM. Thank you for continuing to support CMIT science department.

Gemma Y Bognot CLARKE, Ph.D Grade 8 Science Teacher Science Department Chair

SAVE THE DATE Saturday, February 9th, 2019

Dennis Johnson

STUDENT SUBMISSION DEADLINE is JANUARY 25, 2019! Submit POSTERS and HARD COPY of ESSAYS to: Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation c/o CLF PR Office 6151 Chevy Chase Dr. Laurel, MD 20707 Polished student essay files can be emailed to CLFPR@CLFMD.org We encourage all students K-12 to work with their TEACHERS, especially polishing drafts with your English teachers, asking History questions, Artistic insight, and all STEM departments to develop the most polished essays and/or posters celebrating this "student's choice" theme for Black History Month! Please complete entry by close of Business Day on January 25th! Files can be sent to CLFPR@CLFMD.ORG. FINALISTS and WINNERS....TBA. ALL CLF K-12 STUDENTS that submit by the deadline are eligible for competition, including prizes, and finalists and their parents will be invited to BHM Month Award Reception scheduled in FEB 2019.

CLF Community Partnerships

The students are working hard to become outstanding Science Olympians. All of this energy needs sustenance. Please contribute snacks and/or food that will help to sustain their hard work. You may also visit our hardworking Olympians after schools on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursday additionally on Saturdays from 9AM – 1PM. Thank you for all that you do

Gemma Y Bognot CLARKE, Ph.D Grade 8 Science Teacher Science Department Chair

What makes a winning STEAM fair presentation? All participants of the school wide STEAM fair participants will have a mock presentation on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 21 and 22, 2019 in room 148, after school. Come out so you can be sure that your presentation will be the best. Please be available from 3 to 5 PM. Parents are encouraged to support their scholars by providing snacks after school. Thank you for your continued support.

Gemma Y Bognot CLARKE, Ph.D Grade 8 Science Teacher Science Department Chair

Hello Parents, The 6th Grade students have been very productive this quarter. We are finishing up our technology inventions in the classroom and understanding how technological inventions and innovations have impacted society. We have moved into our study of text adjustment and text placement as we seek to use technology as a form of communication with varying audiences. Therefore as we study text placement and adjustment in the varying applications that we are using, we are focusing on three areas. Text adjustment, text style and font size. The words we use for the shaping and meaning of the overall design are as much important as the main idea. However, different font sizes and font styles convey different ideas. The students are paying attention to why different fonts are used and how the placement on the page is altered based on the formatting in the document. Parents you will hear your kids use words such as text box, text adjustment and word cloud. They have created self-portraits using text and have moved on to creating word clouds. The word clouds are more extensive and require the students to examine the font size extensively. As the students create they are challenged to consider which font style and size are appropriate for the overall shape. Thank you Parents for allowing me to expand your child's knowledge of technology and I hope to speak to you all soon! Please look at the students creations that are added in the newsletter. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to add every students because of space, however please ask your child to show their self portrait to you at home.

Mrs. Conde-Technology

Dear CMIT Students and Families, Please see the following attachment for the course criteria for placement in upper level courses for the 2019-2020 school year. More information about the scheduling process can also be found on the school website: http://cmitacademy.org/highschool/scheduling-polices/ If you have any questions, please contact High School Counselor, Ms. Gaudette at ngaudette@cmitacademy.org. Sincerely, CMIT High School Scheduling Team

Attachment(s)

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, along with CLF staff. We 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 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.

Q: Do you offer everything the big middle and high schools 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, boy's softball, boy's baseball,  boys and girls track/field at the high school. With that said we recently (2017) won the girls county basketball championship and made it to the playoffs in soccer. Our High school recently opened a multi-million dollar, state of the art gym complex. 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. Services hours are delivered by special education teachers but are limited to literacy and math courses.