Dear Parents and Students, I would like to first welcome all of our new families to CMIT North Middle School. Traditionally, we would have met at this point through Summer Orientation, but this was not an option this year due to COVID-19. Despite the current pandemic, I and the CMIT team are committed to making your experience a positive one. To our returning families, welcome back! Vision for SY2021 The current COVID-19 pandemic has placed multiple roadblocks as it relates to education. However, I have chosen to look at the upcoming school year as an opportunity to do what CMIT Academy does best, be on the cutting edge of innovative teaching strategies and lead the district in student achievement. We will achieve this by continuously analyzing student data, adapting to student needs, and engaging families in the learning process. When the school year ends I expect to see an increase in student achievement in both Math and Reading, as well as positive feedback from parents, students, and teachers in the area of school culture. I have charged our faculty and staff to work towards this vision regardless of their job titles and roles. I also charge our students and parents to partner with us in achieving our goals. Distance Learning - Semester I As you are aware, Prince George’s County Public Schools will conduct distance learning throughout Semester I (August 31, 2020 to January 29, 2021). Distance learning for Semester I will look vastly different than the format utilized last Spring when the pandemic began. Please review the following details carefully. Schedule: CMIT North Middle School (CMITN MS) will utilize a six period, A/B Day schedule, which aligns with the typical student schedule of six classes each day. Classes will begin at 8:00 am and conclude at 2:40 pm. All subjects will meet just as they would if students were in the school building. A Day will meet each Monday and Thursday, B Day will meet each Tuesday and Friday, and Wednesday’s are dedicated to small group instruction, enrichment, and interventions. Each class will be 55 minutes in length and will be held live at a designated time. Occasional exceptions for live sessions may occur should a staff member or their immediate family fall ill and require leave. In those cases, classes will be recorded and published until the staff member returns or until a substitute teacher is acquired. Individual class schedules are currently being modified and will be emailed to families by August 21, 2020. Student Mock Distance Learning Orientation will be held on August 28, 2020. More information will be provided in upcoming weeks. Please mark your calendars. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Monica Goldson will announce a decision for Semester II instructional plan by December 1, 2020. Curriculum: Given the loss of instruction in the 4th quarter of last school year due to school closures, CMITN MS is dedicated to “Bridging the Gap” in learning. Wednesdays will be dedicated to working with students in small groups based on their learning needs. Needs will be identified through ongoing assessments to determine any gaps in learning. Technology: Each student will be issued a school provided chromebook. This will allow students to access applications that teachers will be utilizing. Updates for operating systems and new applications can be pushed remotely and will decrease the number of technical issues students face through distance learning. Students will be required to log in using their school issued email address and password. Additionally, testing applications that lock the students screen will be installed on the devices. These applications cannot be installed on a personal device. Dates for pickup will be forthcoming. Student Services: Students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan will receive their accommodations under the distance learning model. Co-teachers and case managers will work with teachers, students, and parents to ensure all stakeholders stay connected and participate in annual reviews and student progress. Prince George’s County Public Schools and CMITN MS are committed to the social-emotional health of our students. Students may be struggling with the change in routine, school structure, time away from friends and family, and the overall anxiety of these uncertain times. Our Professional School Counselor Mr. Johnson is dedicated to helping our students and families. PGCPS is providing progressive training to school counselors to best equip them with tools and resources. If you have any questions or concerns as it relates to the social-emotional health of your scholar please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Johnson at yjohnson@cmitacademy.org. Communication Communication is critical in any successful organization. Due to the distance learning platform we will use throughout Semester I it is even more important. We are pleased to have you as partners in this educational year. As the year progresses, and as you become either more informed or more puzzled, we encourage you to contact the school and correspond with those who might be of help. If your question deals with in-class events, grades, or curriculum please ask to speak with the teacher. If it deals with the overall program or school activities please contact your child’s assigned administrator. Mrs. Linnenkamp (jlash@cmitacademy.org) is the assigned administrator for sixth grade and Mr. Screven (jscreven@cmitacademy.org) is the assigned administrator for seventh and eighth grade. While some staff members may be working from home, all email addresses are published on our website, www.cmitacademy.org. If you are unsure who you need to speak with you may email the Principal’s Secretary, Mrs. Spence, at rspence@cmitacademy.org. Each week a Newsletter is published and emailed to parents and students. Please review this newsletter with your scholar to promote them being informed citizens in the CMIT community. The Newsletter often has information pertaining to Teacher of the Month, Student of the Month, class projects, assessment dates, and other activities. Each year we find that many families have changed their contact information over the Summer and throughout the year. Should your family have any changes to their home address, phone number/s or email addresses please contact the Registrar, Mrs. Attick, at registrar@cmitacademy.org so those changes can be updated in our system and you can stay abreast of any new messages being sent from the school. I look forward to partnering and working with each family as we work together in achieving individual and school goals. Very Respectfully,

Andrew Brauer, Principal

We understand that during this difficult time families may be struggling financially. The following list was created with this in mind and only the most essential items are included on this list. Scissors Pencils with erasers Pencil Sharpener Ruler Glue Bottle Glue Stick(s) Colored Pencils and/or Crayons Water Based Markers 3 Ring Binder (to be shared for all classes) Loose Leaf Lined Paper Composition Books or Spiral Notebooks 3-Hole Pocket Folder Highlighters Post it Notes Index Cards Pens

CMIT

Lifetouch Hello, We know your students and families are excited to receive their yearbooks capturing the 2019-2020 school year, especially because this year is different from any other. That’s why I want to personally update you on what we are doing to deliver your yearbook with the quality and commitment you have come to expect from Lifetouch. I want you to know you can count on us, and Lifetouch’s commitment to support you. While there has been a lot of uncertainty this year due to COVID-19 and recent events, we are committed to providing you updates so you can have confidence in Lifetouch as a trusted partner. Our promise to you includes: Commitment to Communicate. You will receive ongoing communications from us, including when your yearbook ships, along with shipment tracking information to help you coordinate plans to safely receive and distribute yearbooks at your school. Commitment to Support. We know you and your staff may have questions about your yearbook. To respond to questions, and help provide support, we have increased our Yearbook Adviser Support team to help answer your questions in a timely manner. You can reach our support team at 1-800-736-4761. Commitment to Fulfill. Each and every yearbook order will be printed and delivered to you so students and families can cherish this timeless keepsake for years to come. Commitment to Tradition. We recognize that the 2020 yearbook is unlike any in the past; it is filled with moments, stories, and pictures of this unprecedented time in history. Lifetouch is built on the tradition of turning moments into memories and we are committed to carrying on this tradition with you for years to come. As your partner in preserving memories that last a lifetime, thank you for your continued trust and partnership. Best Regards, Greg Hintz President, Lifetouch 11000 Viking Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Grade change procedure Parents please be aware of the process for grade changes for quarter 3 or 4, based on the completion of work by the student. 3rd quarter make up work will only be accepted from the distance learning period, March 16th-March 31st, 2020 only. The grade appeal window will be open until January 1st, 2021. In the school year 2019-2020, due to the global pandemic, PGCPS updated their Administrative Procedure 5121.1, 5121.2 and 5121.3 to reflect a new grading factor for the 4th quarter. Students could earn an I (Incomplete) or a P (Pass). In order to change the 4th quarter grade from an I to a P: 1. A student would need to complete any outstanding make-up work before January 1, 2021. 2. A parent/student would need to submit a Grade Appeal Form along with any completed make-up work. 3. The principal’s team of designees at the school where the grade was recorded would need to review and process the grade change following the grade change process outlined in Administrative Procedure 5116. Note: For the 2020-2021 school year, the SIT Chair Grade Change Role will initiate grade change requests in the PS 140 for 2019-2020 3rd and 4th quarter grades. Current 6th grade students must contact their student's previous school before entering into CMIT middle school. Grade changes for current 7th graders (former 6th grade spring Semester 2020) can be referred to Ms. Jessica Linnenkamp. She can be contacted at jlash@cmitacademy.org Parents of current 8th grade students (7th grade spring 2020) should contact Mr Jim Screven at jscreven@cmitacademy.org Please see the attached letter for more details on qulification for grade change as well as directions for the process.

Attachment(s)

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Please be mindful of the following events that will help your child navigate this period of distance learning. August 24-27th - Materials Distribution, This is for incoming 6th grade students and all students from 7th and 8th grade who have not yet received a Chromebook should they need one. If you do not need a device at this time we ask that you please wait until our new ones come in. If your student received a device during summer bridge they may keep and use that device for the upcoming school year. Other consumable materials will be made available also. Please keep in mind that not all materials have arrived at the time of this article and may require another future date to distribute. If that should happen we will keep you informed. - August 24th 9:30 am -12:30 pm - 6th Grade materials distribution/Chromebooks. - August 25th 9:30 am -12:30 pm - 7th Grade materials distribution/Chromebooks. - August 26th 9:30 am -12:30 pm- 8th grade materials distribution/Chromebooks. - August 27th 9:30 am - 12:30 pm- Makeup for anyone who missed from any grade. August 28th 8:00 am - Mock Orientation. This will allow students to experience their distance learning schedule. August 31st, 8:00 am - First Day of Instruction. This day will follow an A day schedule. September 8th - Open school night. This is an opportunity to hear from your student's teachers and learn about their curriculum. (time To Be Announced) September 10th - PTO meeting. (time To Be Announced) September 17th - Town Hall Meeting (time To Be Announced)

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Middle School Model - Remote Learning Classes begin Monday, August 31st, 2020 at 8:00 am sharp! During full remote learning, middle school students will follow a six period day schedule, students will receive live synchronous lessons daily in all scheduled classes. All student schedules can be viewed on SchoolMAX by families by August 21st, 2020. The school day will begin at 8:00 am promptly and go until 2:40 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday with Wednesday dedicated to small group instruction. Virtual learning will be 55 minutes long. There will be 6 instructional periods during the day with a lunch period and several break periods during the day. Please see your child's schedule once it is released for more details. Additionally please see the attached Quick Guide for more detailed information on the instructional day, expectations, grading, attendance and best practices for learning in a distance model.

Attachment(s)

James Screven, Assistant Principal

Parents/Students All make up work from the Spring 2020 semester for quarters 3 (March 16th-March 31st only) and 4 must be turned into the school attended during that time. Therefore, any new incoming students will have to hand in missed work, along with any grade appeals into the previous school. This work must be turned in with the PGCPS grade appeal form no later than January 1st, 2021 to be eligible. If your child attended CMIT middle school last year, has completed missed work and is eligible for a grade change, please contact the grade level administrator that your child would have had last year. If your child was a 6th grader last spring of 2020 please contact Jessica Linenkamp at jlash@cmitacademy.org, if your child was a 7th or 8th grader last year, please contact Mr. Jim Screven at jscreven@cmitacademy.org For example If you child is a newly admitted CMIT Middle School 6th grader, any made up work from last year must be handed into the elementary school your child attended. If you child transferred into CMIT middle school from another PGCPS school, you must hand in work and the grade appeal into the school attended, not CMIT middle school. If your child transferred from a school outside of the PGCPS system, you must contact that district or school to find out their policies surrounding last semester.

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.