The CPES BobChat
October 20, 2019
What's the Best Way to Talk with Kids about Alcohol and Drugs?
Next week is Red Ribbon Week. We will highlight how to make good decisions and stay drug free. This is an important message for our kids to hear. It can also be a sensitive subject to discuss. What is the best way to help our kids have the right perspective? 1. Help them understand that anything in excess is not good. Too much candy or TV or video games or dessert is not a good idea. We want little ones to know there are healthy limits that should be placed on anything we do. There are always short term or long term consequences for anything done to an extreme. Helping little ones see this in the small things enables them to help set limits for themselves on the big things later in life. 2. Encourage them to ask the question, "What is the wise choice in this situation?" We have to coach them in this process and model for them how to do this. Some of our best teaching moments might be when we show them how our mistakes were not the wisest of choices. "Yes, Dad had to pay an extra fee because he forgot to pay the bill on time." "Mom forgot to write herself a note so that didn't get done." As our kids get older, we want to ask them the questions that help them make good decisions. "Do you think it is a good idea to leave that toy outside?" "What do you think will happen if you spend all your money on that?" "Is that really what you want to do? Why?" 3. Keep the conversation developmentally appropriate. A five year old can understand that smoke makes us cough. An eleven year old can begin to understand how drinking alcohol can impair someone driving a car. We always want to be sensitive to what our kids can understand at the right age. 4. Have the conversations all along the way and not just "one big talk." Teachable moments pop up and we want to use them to help our kids. Ask your kids questions about what they think and help guide them to their next steps. We want to keep the conversation going so that they will not be afraid to ask us tough questions when it matters the most. 5. Help them know what the law says. In our culture, there can be lots of different opinions about drinking and drugs. Our kids can hear mixed messages at times. What is clear is what the law says. They need to know what the legal consequences are for decisions about alcohol and drugs. Talking with our kids about difficult subjects isn't always easy, but it is one of the most loving things we can do as adults. We want the best kind of life for them and it is our job to make sure they know how they can make the best decisions possible.
Mr. Maness, Principal
School News
Thank You Volunteers!! We want to thank all our volunteers who helped with our Book Fair and Picture Day this week. You made such a difference.
Visitors--Parents, please remember that a visitor will not be allowed to eat lunch with your child if he/she is not on your emergency contact list or unless that person is with you. If you wish to add others to your emergency contact list in Powerschool, please come by the office to do that. All visitors will need a driver's license so they can be appropriately screened.
Deliveries to the Classroom--It would be a huge help to the office staff if all items to be delivered to the classroom could be dropped off by 9:00 AM in the morning. This would allow all items to be dropped off at one time rather than throughout the morning.
Lost and Found--Please be sure to check our Lost and Found (above picture) at the top of the stairs in the cafeteria. All items will be donated after this Friday, October 25. (Thank you, Anna, for all your help keeping things organized.)
Red Ribbon Week--Will be October 28-November 1. During this week, we celebrate how we can make good decisions that help us to stay drug free. At the elementary level, we keep our conversation developmentally appropriate with our students and focus on choices that are healthy and good. See below for fun activities planned for that week.
Read Your Way to the Big Game-- USC and Clemson University, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education, are again sponsoring the Read Your Way to the Big Game Contest. All PK through 8th grade students who read 6 books will qualify to win tickets to the Palmetto Bowl on November 30. Once students have completed their readings, they should turn in the list of books read to their teacher. Winners will receive four tickets and pre-game sideline passes to the Clemson vs. South Carolina game. Teachers have to input the students by November 1, 2019 deadline. Click on the link below for more information. If we have 70% of our school to participate, we could win a $2000 grant for library books as well.
Family, Friends and Veterans please join us for our Annual Veterans Day Celebration.
Friday, November 8th
9:00 am- 1:30 pm
Kindergarten and Third Grade Ceremony at 9:00 am
First and Fourth Grade Ceremony at 10:00 am
Second and Fifth Grade Ceremony at 11:00
Red Ribbon Week Activities--October 28-November 1
National Theme: “Send a Message Stay Drug-Free”
Monday, October 28, 2019 Theme: “I am drug-free from head to toe”
Crazy Sock and Hat Day
Students and staff wear crazy socks and hats.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019: Theme: “I Love Me, I am Drug-Free”
Wear Red Day
Students and staff will wear red.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019: Theme: “Team Up Against Drugs”
Jersey Day
Students and staff will wear their favorite team jersey, shirt, or
school colors today.
Thursday, October 31, 2019: Theme: “Make Drugs History”
Throwback Thursday
Students and staff will dress from any decade. No Halloween
costumes allowed of any kind.
Friday, November 1, 2019: Theme: Spirit Day – Bobcat Dash
“I am proud to be drug-free”
Students will wear athletic wear – MUST WEAR TENNIS Shoes
PTO and SIC Information
Bobcat Dash Volunteers
We need help from volunteers for our Bobcat Dash. Please click on the link above if you could come and help on November 1.
Schedule--Our Bobcat Dash is a "fun run" fundraiser sponsored by PTO where students secure pledges for laps run during the day on Friday, November 1. This will be the culminating event of our Red Ribbon Week activities as well. We invite parents to come and cheer on their child and run with him/her. Students will run mostly during their Related Arts time:
8:00 Fifth Grade
8:55 Fourth Grade
9:50 Third Grade
10: 45 Second Grade
11:40 Kindergarten (This time is not their normal Related Arts time.)
12:35 First Grade
Pledge forms went home last week. All contributions to PTO are tax deductible given that they are a 501c3.
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 next year. School Improvement Council meets at 5:30 (in the Fish Bowl) and our Parent Teacher Organization meets at 6:30 (in the Media Center.) Elections were held in the spring for these organizations but all parents are welcome to attend to help provide input and volunteer. Meetings will be held on November 11, December 9 (if needed), January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, and May 11 (if needed.)
Calendar of Events
This Week--National Bus Safety Week
Monday--Parent Conference Day
Thursday--6:00 PM Master Plan Presentation (Sullivan Auditorium)
Next Week--Red Ribbon Week
October 28--Report Cards Go Home
November 1--Bobcat Dash
November 3--Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 5--6:00 PM Master Plan Presentation (Freedom Temple Ministries)
November 8--Veterans Day Festival (9:00 Kindergarten and Third Grade Ceremony; 10:00 First and Fourth Grade Ceremony; 11:00 Second and Fifth Grade Ceremony)
November 11--5:30 PM School Improvement Council; 6:30 PM Parent Teacher Organization Meeting
November 12--6:00 Master Plan Meeting (City of Rock Hill Operations Center on Anderson Road)
November 26--Thanksgiving Lunch