The CPES BobChat
February 14, 2021
How Do We Love Our Children Well by Saying "No?"
February is the month of Love. Over the next few weeks, I'd like to give a few unique ideas how we all can love our children well. It is so easy to love our children when our posture can be "Yes" and "OK" and "That is just fine." 1. But, we still love them when we have to tell them "No." Telling them "no" helps them establish the boundaries they need to keep themselves and others safe and healthy. Imposed limits by the adults show children where their rights end and another's rights begin. When we have guardrails for our kids, we show them we care enough to try and keep them from going over the cliff. Saying "no" on a little issue keeps it from becoming a bigger issue later on. Our children would never admit it, but they thrive in environments where the boundaries are clear and consistent and predictable. It actually reduces their stress and worry and they don't have to guess what might happen day to day. When we tell our kids "no," we want to convey the why behind the what so they can hopefully internalize it as a "no" that is beneficial for them for the rest of their lives. I always remind our teachers that discipline is an act of love. It is the effort to help children understand the wrong, make it right, and learn from it. We love them well when we have to say "no." 2. We also love them well when we tell ourselves "No." It is easy to understand children benefit when adults set clear boundaries for them. The truth is that the people who may need to hear a "no" is us. Do we really model the character traits we are trying to develop in our children? Are there areas of unhealthy excess that we need to limit for ourselves? If we want our children to read more and play less video games, are we reading more books and magazines and putting down our phones? If we expect our children to be polite, do we get mad when someone goes in front of us? Sometimes I just need to tell myself "no" more than I need to tell Whitney and Joey "no." We also need to consider saying "no for now" to some good things so we can have the time and energy to invest in our children while they are with us in our homes. I have to be honest that I wish I would have attended less meetings over the years. I wish I would have politely declined serving on some committees. I am glad Jan and I said "no" to some major opportunities that would have taken us away from focusing on our guys. Many times, a good "no" allows us to say "yes" to something more important. Hopefully, time with our children is one of our highest priorities. As Joey wraps up his senior year in high school and Whitney is now a college graduate, I can attest that "the days are long but the years are short." Saying "no" can be one of the best ways that we love our children well.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
Monday, February 15 is President's Day but school is in session. It is not a student holiday.
School News
Caps for Recycled Bench at Miracle Park--GT students are leading a schoolwide and community wide project collecting plastic bottle caps and lids to be recycled and made into park benches for Miracle Park. This is a program started by school children in 2010 and in partnership with GreenTree Plastics out of Indiana. Donations can be dropped off at any of the three locations: CPES, Knowledge Perk, or Boyd Hill Rec Center. They can contact me with questions. Students will be sorting and weighing donations in June to prepare for delivery to the location. We will be looking for a driver to deliver the caps to Evansville, IN in late June and bring back our benches for installation in Miracle Park. See flyer below for more info.
Keeping Everyone Safe and Healthy--Let Nurse Love know if you or your child is sick before sending them to school. Please reduce all exposures you can at school by limiting dropping off nonessential items such as computers, backpacks, water bottles and even lunches. (We can provide most anything a child needs at school for a day except for medication. All students can even eat lunch at school for zero cost for the rest of the year.) Because of your effort and our effort, most of our positive contacts of COVID come from home and not school. We appreciate your vigilance in helping keep our students and faculty safe each day.
School of Choice Update--(See button below.) The application window opened on Tuesday, December 1 and closes on February 28. Siblings of current immersion program students receive priority for acceptance but parents must still fill out the Choice application. You can go to the School of Choice website for more information: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/5064 We will have Virtual Parent Information Sessions on Tuesday, February 9 at 6:00 PM. Go to the link above (or the button below) to sign up to attend. Please let other families know about this so they can stay informed.
Thank you parents, PTO, and Crain and Company for providing a "lovely" pizza lunch for our staff. We definitely feel the love!!
Mrs. Neal and Mrs. Hunsucker Prepare Valentine Cookies
Teacher Appreciation Pizza Lunch for Staff--Thank You!!
All Our Children Participated in the Cupid Shuffle
Cherry Park Families, have you completed the School of Choice Application for your rising kindergarten child? Slots will be held only for CP families who apply for younger siblings.
Rising Sixth Grade Information
Dual Language Immersion Night for Sullivan--This is an information session for Cherry Park families whose students will be in sixth grade next year. This will help you know what the transition for our immersion students will look like. This meeting will focus more on the immersion program specifically than the February 11 meeting below. It will be February 18 at 6:00 PM. Here is the link for this Zoom meeting: https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/j/84343101892?pwd=eUxHMGlIQ2JMTVZ5aGV1aEo4dVoyUT0
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PTO and SIC Information
Parent Teacher Organization and School Improvement Council Update
The PTO serves to raise funds, coordinate volunteers and encourage teachers through appreciation activities. Click on the PTO Newsletter button below if you wish to receive the PTO Newsletter: PTO and SIC are tentatively planning to meet on the second Monday of each month this year. School Improvement Council meets at 5:30 via Zoom and our Parent Teacher Organization meets at 6:30 via Zoom. The link for February's PTO Meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82615270552 Elections were held in the spring for these organizations but all parents are welcome to attend to help provide input and volunteer. School Improvement Council members for this year are Carl Thompson, Elizabeth Lowery, Leigh Threatt, Amber Hinson, Kim Crean, Brooke Nies and Phyllis Faircloth. You can contact them at mailto:cherryparksic@gmail.com.
School Calendar
February 14--Valentine's Day
February 16--Report Cards Go Home
February 18--Dual Language Immersion Night for Sullivan (for rising sixth graders at Cherry Park) 6:00 PM
February 28--Choice Application Window Closes
March 1-5--Read Across America Week