The CPES BobChat
January 23, 2022
How Important Is It to "Play Up?"
Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence is a program that assesses and recognizes schools that reflect best practices based on educational research. During February and March, we are going through this evaluation process. February will be a month of surveying all school stakeholders and we will have a site visit on March 8 and 9. We will receive feedback after that time and it will be determined if we receive the award. But, why would we do this during the height of COVID and when we are working to address learning loss and with a new superintendent taking over and during a year when we are transitioning lots of new staff? Honestly, there will always be reasons not to go through a process like this. There is never a "good time." We are doing this for one simply reason that I call "playing up." As a rising ninth grader, my daughter had the option to play on the junior varsity volleyball team where she would get lots of playing time in games. She was also given the choice to be on the varsity team but she would not get much time in games. She decided she wanted to "play up" every day in practice with a higher level of competition so she could improve her skills and compete against the best of the best. For her at that time, that was the right decision. As a school, we want to do the same. We want to compete not on a district or state level but we want to compare our practices with nationally recognized criteria and schools. Simply put, we want to enter into a rigorous evaluation process so we can "play up" and know how we can provide the best education for our children and families. The target on the wall is getting better not whether or not we win an award. (This will likely be a process we will work through for the next few years.) Excellence is seeing today what needs to improve and working on that tomorrow to get better. As parents and teachers, we want to model that for our children so they will do the same. While there are always goals to meet and finish lines to cross, we always want to know how we can make the good become better and the better become best. It will take all of us to become a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. I look forward to the journey ahead.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
P.S. If you'd like more information about Blue Ribbon Schools, you can go here: https://blueribbonschools.com/
School News
January Teacher Appreciation--Let’s kick off the new year with a “Souper” Bowl lunch for our teachers in honor of the upcoming Super Bowl game. This month will be sponsored by our Kindergarten and 1st grade families. Thank you all so much for treating our teachers and staff! See sign up below. Deadline for items and monetary contributions will be January 26th by end of day. Please place cash or gift cards in sealed envelope addressed PTO if dropping off in the office. Venmo: @Stephanie-Greer-29
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-january1
Valentine's Day Parties--This week, your child's teachers will be sending you information about plans for our Valentine's Day parties on Monday, February 14. Please follow their lead on what and how to send in items. They know best what will be enough and what will be too much. Any food items sent need to have labels with ingredients so we can determine what is appropriate for students to have if they have a food allergy. We would also encourage any food items to be wrapped for health and safety reasons as well. Teachers will let you know if they will be making Valentines at school or if your child needs to make them at home and bring them in. We will serve pizza in the cafeteria on that day. Thanks for your support of this fun day for our kids.
eLearning Days This Past Week--Please be sure your child has completed any assignments within five days of each eLearning Day. This counts as their attendance for that day.
MAP Makeup Testing--Will continue this week.
Student Work During Isolation or Quarantine--Parents, please know that teachers will email you when students' work is ready to be picked up (if that is necessary.) Please direct all questions about what students need to do while they are out to the teachers. If you come by unannounced to pick up work, it may not be ready for pickup. Again, please coordinate with your child's teachers directly through email.
Newsletter Article Suggestions--Do you have suggestions for topics and questions that you'd like Mr. Maness to discuss in the newsletter? Always feel free to email him your ideas here: mailto:pmaness@rhmail.org
COVID Reminder--We are seeing an increase in the Covid-19 cases throughout the district. Please continue to monitor your children for symptoms of COVID. These symptoms include a new or worsening cough, fever, loss of taste or smell, congestion, sore throat, body aches, etc. Please do not send your child to school sick. If your student has COVID symptoms, which unfortunately are very similar to the common cold, they will be sent to the school nurse and the nurse will call for you to pick your child up. Please refer to the Covid-19 information on the RHSD website and contact the COVID call center with questions, 803-980-2016. You can also click on the COVID Call Center button below for more information. Please be patient as we make the needed changes in attendance due to COVID.
York County Library Winter Reading Challenge (December 13-January 31)--The Totally Cool Winter Reading Challenge is back! This winter, York County Library joins Zoobean in partnership with sponsor Lerner Publishing Group for "Read for a Better World," Beanstack’s annual Winter Reading Challenge. We challenge York County to read at least 2 million minutes as we compete with libraries and schools across the nation for a chance to win book collections, autographed books, and virtual author visits, shared among the top-performing libraries and schools. Let’s light up the mind this winter! Happy reading, York County!
To join the Winter Reading Challenge, register online or at any YCL location, and use our fun, interactive Beanstack service to receive digital badges and book recommendations as you progress! See the FAQ for details. Please click on the following link for more information: https://www.yclibrary.org/wrc
Applying for School of Choice
SOC Application (Families Who Already Have a Sibling in the Program)--Rising kindergarten students who are siblings of current immersion students (in kindergarten through ninth grade) receive priority for acceptance but parents must still fill out the Choice application by February 28.
Parent Orientation Sessions--We will have Virtual Parent Information Sessions at the dates and times below. Please click on the link beside the session to sign up to attend.
Wednesday, January 26 at 12:00 PM--https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqf-6uqTkiHNScWr4d9oL5LvEtpJEs8ntc
Wednesday, February 9 at 6:30 PM--https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-CrqzsjGd0mN3ZWMT-Rc8xBQHh3936i
Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-TECH
School Calendar
January 24--100th Day of School
January 26--12:00 Parent Information Session for School of Choice (See above)
February 1-28--Parent Surveys for Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence will go out
February 14--Valentine's Day (Your child's teacher will send you guidance for how we will celebrate the day.)
February 18--Half-Day for Professional Development (Students dismissed at 11:00)
February 21--President's Day Holiday
March 8-9--Blue Ribbon Site Visit