At the last PTO Meeting a concern was voiced that the science classes do very few labs in class. My response was that our teachers follow the curriculum which includes labs designed to allow students to visualize and apply the skills taught in class. Additionally, I promised to review the curriculum with Dr. Clarke, Science Department Chair, in order to provide parents with a list of labs completed this year in science classes, as well as, possible labs they will experience later this year in this weeks Newsletter. Attached below is the list of labs for each grade and subject of science. Keep in mind, not all labs are designed the same. Some are teacher led with student inquiry and analysis. These labs are facilitated by the teacher due to safety concerns. Other labs may be hands on such as classifying and comparing different types of rocks. Teachers have different labs to choose from for each topic. These decisions are based on what they believe will best benefit their students in an effort to meet them at their needs. Ultimately, not all labs are going to meet the "Mad Scientist" cliche, however, they all include scientific analysis and inquiry. Please see the list of labs teachers can select from for each topic taught throughout the year by opening the appropriate attachment.

Attachment(s)

Mr. Andrew Brauer, Principal

MS CMIT North TRAC teams participated in the TRAC Bridge Builder Invitational sponsored by MDOT TRAC at CMIT South Auditorium last Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Tech Savvy Tigers (TST) comprises of Benjamin Champion (team captain), Liam Brinton, and Jayden Russell took second place; while Total Bridge Domination (TBD) comprises of Sulayman Khan (team captain), Marlin Nwachukwu, and Marvin Nwachukwu took third place. Mr. Nuri Bayram and Mrs. Natalie Crespo-Montano were the teams' advisors. Our sincere thanks to our principal Mr. Andrew Brauer, our assistant principal, Mr. James Screven, our Science Department Chair, Dr. Gemma Clarke, and most especially to the parents of our students. Thank you for all the support you have given to our students. It was a very rewarding experience for the students, and all CMIT family.

Mrs. Crespo-Montano (Science Teacher)

With the utmost desires to thank the parents of CMIT honors’ awardees, “Light Performers” from Grade 8 amazed the audience by using distinctive characteristics of darkened stage, and "black lighting", paired with black costumes in order to create intricate visual illusions. Directed by Dr. Clarke, the performance was harmonized with the expressive artistry of mime to create remarkable spectacles. With a little education of bio-chemistry, black lights actually emit as much light as 'normal' lights, but at a frequency that humans cannot detect. What you see glowing under a black light, whether on a fluorescent poster or an invisible hand stamp or a newly washed white T-shirt, are phosphors. A phosphor is any substance that emits visible light. A phosphor converts the energy in the UV radiation from a black light into visible light. Our Light Performers were: Alena Nooniwal Alyssa Leate Anne-Marie Akeampong Jennifer Ononako Kendall Rowe Leah Mejia Maryan Eniafe Maya Miller Michelle Bruce Nina Williams Sabrina Habib Suhani Patel Ugonna Onyegbulla Yawavi Nougloze Christina Thomas - controller

Gemma Y Bognot CLARKE, Ph.D Grade 8 Science Teacher School STEM Fair Coordinator Science Department Chair

The 2nd quarter 6,7 and 8th grade honor rolls all were a huge success. Parents, students and staff alike, celebrated the academic achievements of our scholars. A special performance of the "Light Performers", led by Dr. Clarke, took place during our 7th and 8th grade honor roll, which detailed their journey through CMIT Middle School. We congratulate all the students who made honor roll and thank the parents for all the time, effort and sacrifices they make to have that happen. A special thanks to Mr. Yurhance Johnson, our professional school counselor, his intern, Ms Shay, and Ms. Spence-Hodges, our school secretary for making this event go off flawlessly.

James Screven, Assistant Principal

The students have demonstrated their exceptional talent on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics as well as their creativity as they competed for our 2018-2019 STEAM fair held at the CMIT High School gym on January 26, 2019. The STEAM fair participants envisioned a world of upcoming doctors using natural resources to provide cures for diseases. They are our future engineers, who utilize their imaginations to create exceptional design to build a future city. They are the innovators who create new uses for existent product. Please find the attached documents for the STEAM Fair winner. Congratulations to all the winners! Thank you to the entire parent, community teachers and pioneers of science that came out in support of our future leaders.

Attachment(s)

Gemma Y. Bognot - CLARKE, Ph.D. MS Science Teacher Science Department Chair School STEAM Coordinator

Seventeen students from CMIT Middle school are ready to compete on the upcoming Science Olympiad. We would like to thank our wonderful parents for their enormous support for our students. This year Central Div. B Regional competition is on February 23, 2019 which will be held at Montgomery College- Montgomery College, Germantown, MD. Science Olympiad is one of the premier science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to nearly 8,000 teams in all 50 states. The 2019 Division B event link is attached and listed below. For extensive information and resources for each event, please click on an event title. https://www.soinc.org/events/2019-division-b-events.

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

Parents and Students, Students are not practicing enough for class. The basic material is being covered, but the practice depend on the students. I recommend at least 10-15 minutes everyday to review and practice the materials in their portfolio and watch TV in Spanish Programming. You be surprise how much your listening skill will be develop. Many students are not doing it and pulls their grade down. The listening practice report is due literally every week on your first day of class A or B. Remember to have a composition book available for class notes, assignments etc. It is mandatory to develop a portfolio in Spanish class. No spirals or folders. If you think that Spanish is not important, think again. You will be grateful later.

Barbara Cabrera-Avila

The ability to discern bitter tastes evolved as a mechanism to prevent early humans from eating poisonous plants. Humans have about 30 genes that code for bitter taste receptors. Each receptor can interact with several compounds, allowing people to taste a wide variety of bitter substances. The Grade 8 students did an experiment on the genetics of taste using PTC, Thiourea and Sodium Benzoate and was able to manipulate super taste tasting strip combination to understand that tasting is both genetic and can be influenced.

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

Character Education/Life-Skills February is Black History Month, as you are already aware of. The entire 6th grade student body has been given the assignment of writing an essay about one or more famous black people from history. The assigned list is below: The students must include, the individual's birth date, place of birth, the date and cause of death, and their contribution to society Jackie Robinson Tuskegee Airmen (how did they get their nickname) Bill Pickett Shirley Chisholm Dr. Charles Drew Sojourner Truth Frederick Douglas Emmett Tile Cashus Clay George Washington Carver Willie Maze Barbara Jordan Whitney Young Roy Wilkins Rosa Parks Megar Everitts Myles Davis Dr. Ralph Bunche Thurgood Marshall Jessie Owens Langston Hughes Roberto Clemente Harriett Tubman Madam C.J. Walker Bob Marley Ozzie Davis Mary McLeod Bethune Rosa Parks Maya Angelou Prince The Human Computers of Langley Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Please provide the given name of the slave, who accompanied Lewis and Clark on the North West Passage. Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi (compare their life styles and tell what they had in common) Students are to paraphrase the information into their own words. A printed out hard copy of the essay is required. The hard copy is to be handed into me. Nothing is excepted via computer. Dr. Sullivan-Williams (aka Dr. BB) Senior Certified Life-Skills/Character Education Educator

Sincerely, Dr. Sullivan-Williams, PH.D. (a.k.a. Dr.. BB) Senior Certified Life Skills/Character Education Instructor

On Tuesday, February 19th there will be a boy's soccer interest meeting in the cafeteria directly after school. All boys interested in trying out for the soccer team should report to the cafeteria at dismissal time. Transportation will need to be arranged for students to be picked up at 4pm.

Coach McNair

Maryland public charter schools currently do not receive funding for facilities. This is funding that all other Maryland public schools receive and your tax money supports. House Bill 156/Senate Bill 172 has been proposed by Governor Larry Hogan and would support equitable funding for Maryland's public charter schools. The passage of this bill would increase funding to schools like CMIT by $1600 per pupil. That means the money we currently use for facilities at CMIT would go back into the classroom where it belongs. This bill directly affects your children and needs your support. Please review the attached documents for more information and how to voice your support including a sample letter to your representatives.

Attachment(s)

Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation

Applications for Advanced Placement Courses for the 2019-2020 School Year are now open. The deadline to submit the application form and all required documents is February 22nd, at 2:45pm. Late applications will not be accepted and incomplete applications will be automatically denied. All materials must be submitted together. Current High School students must submit their applications to Ms. Gaudette. Current 8th grade students must submit their applications to Mrs. Linnencamp. Any questions may be directed to High School Counselor, Ms. Gaudette, at ngaudette@cmitacademy.org. Note: current high school students interested in AP Social Studies courses will need to attend a mandatory information session. Please speak with your social studies teacher for details on when that will take place. Applications can be downloaded from the school website: http://cmitacademy.org/highschool/advanced-placement/ Sincerely, Ms. Gaudette

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.