TRAC Bridge team Savvy Scholars consisting of Maranna Nwozo (team captain), Yashasri Gouda, and Jescie Tinio who qualified in the National TRAC Bridge Challenge are preparing for the TRAC Bridge Challenge Showcase this coming June 3rd. These eight grade scholars will be presenting and showcasing their project online with the participation of the judges. The TRAC Bridge Challenge is a national competition designed to promote an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The program enhances math and science instruction and introduces students to engineering through hands-on real-world applications. The team designed and built TRUSS bridges and tested for strength-to-weight ratio. After completing the project, they developed a report portfolio describing the design and testing of the bridge and created design drawings using Bentley PowerDraft CAD software. There are two categories for 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 grade levels; Beginner TRAC and Advanced TRAC. The team was selected as one of the three finalists from Beginner TRAC 7-8 category who completed the portfolio nationwide. There are 18 teams selected to compete in the 2020 AASHTO National Bridge Challenge in Kansas City, Missouri. However, this was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic, so the organizers decided to let the finalists showcase their project virtually. Before the submission of the Final Proposal last February 14, 2020; Savvy Scholars participated in two TRAC Bridge competitions in Maryland. First, the team won second place with other CMIT TRAC teams Pont de Voie and Q.E.D.'s won first and third place in the First Maryland Annual Bridge Challenge held at Morgan State University on January 31, 2020. This was an unforgettable and memorable experience on the part of CMIT after swiping all the three awards under the 7-8 category. Second, CMIT MS TRAC teams again bagged more awards in the 2nd Annual TRAC Bridge Builder Invitational held at CMIT-North High School on February 6, 2020 where Savvy Scholars received second place and Innovative Design; together with Bridge Legacies who received third place. Newsletter Article and Video links: 1st Annual Bridge Challenge @ Morgan State University https://newsletter.clfportal.org/Newsletter/Index/CMITN_MS61#Section1Article2 TRAC Bridge teams once again bag awards in the 2nd Annual TRAC Bridge Builder Invitational https://newsletter.clfportal.org/Newsletter/Index/CMITN_MS62#Section1Article4 Congratulatory message for Maryland's three 2020 AASHTO Bridge Challenge Finalists teams created by MDOT SHA's TRAC Coordinator Aaron Jones, Acting Administrator Tim Smith and Communications Special Projects Manager Chisa Winstead https://drive.google.com/open?id=18X4PDoZ8XrfOVn-Gn3nAnO3YeauYC1oG

Mrs. Crespo-Montano, Science Teacher & TRAC Bridge Advisor

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the 72nd Annual Prince George’s Area Science Fair (PGASF) went virtual where all projects were judged online via Google Slides or a PowerPoint Presentation uploaded to Google Form. Three projects from Chesapeake Math and IT Academy North Middle School were selected to participate in the Broadcom MASTERS program as a result of the 2020 Virtual Prince George's Area Science Fair (PGASF). Eight grade students Jescie Tinio and Moyosoreoluwa Adeyemo, from Arizona State University, and seventh grade student Ryhanna Mbakop from George Mason, successfully made it and advanced to the next level competition. Broadcom MASTERS is the nation’s premier middle school national level STEM competition. Students who complete the free, online application could be selected as one of the Top 300 MASTERS, and the top 30 finalists win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC in the fall to compete in hands-on team challenges during finals week. Cash prizes of up to $25,000 await the top middle school researcher in the United States! We asked these girls some questions and these were their responses: WHAT IS THE TITLE OF YOUR PROJECT? Moyo: "Death Rays" Jescie: "Looking for Acute Angle" Ryhanna: "Circle Of Life, Circle Of Stress" HOW COULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PROJECT? Moyo: "This experiment focused on the effects of the exposure time of ultraviolet rays on bacteria. I exposed bacteria to ultraviolet rays, for a specific amount of time. Afterward, I found my data and used it to make a conclusion." Jescie: "I have made a pneumatic launcher in order to test the differences of the distance that a ball is launched at 3 different launch angles." Ryhanna: "The purpose of my experiment was to determine whether one's amount of stress depends on their age group. Moving forward, I had hypothesized that an individual's amount of stress does depend on their age group. After developing a hypothesis, I started my experiment. I created a survey and interviewed different people of different age groups. Furthermore, I collected all the data and took the average of all the different age groups. I used that data to compare and come up with a conclusion." WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR PROJECT? Moyo: "This project shows the effects of ultraviolet rays on living things, specifically bacteria." Jescie: "My project can be used as an example in many different areas of real life such as sports and maybe aero technology." Ryhanna: "Nowadays, stress has become a major cause of mental illnesses in all generations. Stress is everywhere and affects young and old people’s health. It causes depression, high blood pressure, and in most cases strokes and suicide. With this being said, it’s imperative nowadays to teach everyone how to reduce their level of stress and stay healthy. So, I wanted to base my STEAM fair project on the level of stress within different age groups." WHAT IS YOUR YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE DISTRICT'S STEAM FAIR COMPETITION? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BROADCOM MASTERS PROGRAM? Moyo: "I am very excited, to say the least. I never thought that I would make it this far when I first started this project, but now that I have, I have no choice to try my very hardest and do my absolute best." Jescie: "I feel very excited to experience participation in the Broadcom MASTERS program. I feel that this is a very big accomplishment in my science career. I am going to try my hardest and do my best!' Ryhanna: "My experience in the district's STEAM Fair was nerve-wracking, to be candid. Due to coronavirus, I had to make a slideshow for my presentation, which was even more nerve-wracking because I didn't know how professional it was supposed to look. With that being said, I had looked through professional slideshows to see how they looked, and used those to inspire me and made my project using all of those ideas. Being quite honest, I didn't expect to get selected to participate in the Broadcom Masters program, but when I did, I was really excited and amazed."

Science Team

Thank you Mr. Brauer for joining us for our last scheduled PTO meeting of the school year. All participants were able to submit questions and the meeting was very informative! To view the recording of the meeting, please click on the link below. You will be directed to the meeting agenda that will have links to the recording and additional resources that were mentioned during the meeting. PTO Meeting Agenda with embedded links- https://cmitnorthpto-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/mscorrespondingsecretary_cmitnorthpto_org/EZ8TTlCWnk1AmIkIrXLW7YsBuMXZdFerb5CPnvi0-pFRUQ?e=Ktqzrz

Thank You, MS CMIT PTO

Parent Teacher Organizations, strive to fill in gaps in resources at their school. In a PTO organization, every member counts, every vote counts, and our school needs every family and teacher to become a member in order to give our scholars the best educational experience possible. Parents and teachers, we need your support! Please consider joining the PTO. Some of the benefits of membership include: -Increased resources for students and teachers -voting rights for one school year -one $10 membership fee covers the entire family How to join the PTO -Register and pay via A to Z Connect by clicking here- https://atozconnect.com/cls/join_checks_tbl_add.php?join_request=yes -Pay via PayPal and send receipt and identifying information to: MStreasurer@cmitnorthpto.org

Thank You, MS CMIT PTO

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.