The CPES BobChat
October 16, 2022
Could PLC's (Professional Learning Communities) Work for All of Us?
As teachers, we are working in Professional Learning Communities in order to improve student learning. These small groups of educators meet by grade level. We believe all students can learn at high levels and we acknowledge that we are major difference makers in children's achievement. We focus on four big questions. 1. What do we expect students to know? There are SC Standards for language arts, math, science, social studies and second language literacy. PLC's are designed to prioritize what is most important for children to learn. Some concepts are much more important than others. We work to have clarity among ourselves on what is most essential. 2. How will we know if they learned it? This question leads us to determine what assessments we use to know if our children mastered the concept. What evidence do we have that our students actually learned what was intended? We don't want to guess or make assumptions. We want to know that they know. 3. What will we do if they didn't learn it? It certainly can take more than one try for our children. We want to intervene to provide more support or more time or a different approach so our students can learn what's most important. 4. What will we do if they did learn it? What is the next goal for them if they mastered the concept? Are they ready for the next step and the next challenge and if so, what might that look like? How can we help them stretch? Every child has areas that come easy for them and those need to be nurtured as much as where they struggle. I could go into extensive detail about our processes and systems associated with each of these questions. The truth is that these four questions are a good framework not only for us as teachers, but also as parents and leaders. (By the way, parenting is leading.) Do we have clarity of what we want our children to know, do and be? How will we know when and if they meet those expectations? What will we do if they don't succeed and what will we do if they do succeed? As teachers, we never work through these questions alone. As parents, we shouldn't either. We need to lean on others' experiences to determine how best to lead our children. Know that our staff is always ready and willing to join hands with you to help you do just that. Like you, we want your children to become the best version of themselves. That happens well when we work together to make a difference in them.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
Monday, October 17 will be a Staff Development Day and a student holiday. Tuesday, October 18 will be Picture Day and see info below.
Notes and Reminders
Picture Day--Is this Tuesday, October 18. Picture packet information already went home. You can order pictures online here: http://www.carolinaphoto.net Our Job Key is WE7D647D. Class pictures will be taken on our Picture Makeup Day on November 18.
Red Ribbon Week--Is October 24-28 and this is a time where we emphasize with our children how to make great, healthy decisions for themselves and to be drug free. Each day will be a fun "dress up" Spirit Day that matches the theme. Here is the list of those days and the theme for each day.
Red Ribbon Week Spirit Days
10/24 Monday Voting for My Future to Be Drug Free - Wear Red, White, & Blue
10/25 Tuesda1.y Too Bright for Drugs - Wear Neon and Bright Colors and/or Sunglasses
10/26 Wednesday Drug Free from Head to Toe - Wear Crazy Hair and Crazy Socks
10/27 Thursday Team Up Against Drugs - Wear school or sports gear of your favorite team
10/28 Friday Bobcat Dash! Wear Dash T-Shirts (which teachers will give out to students that morning.)
Bobcat Dash--Pledge envelopes went home last week. Here is the running schedule for the Bobcat Dash on October 28. Parents and invited to come and cheer, run and walk with their child.
Running Schedule
8:00 Fifth Grade
8:55 Fourth Grade
9:50 Third Grade
10:45 Second Grade
11:40 Kindergarten
12:35 First Grade
Halloween Day on Monday, October 31--We ask that students not wear costumes that day. We will have lots of fun dressing up during Red Ribbon Week and we want costumes saved for activities at home and in the community. We also don't want them to get damaged while at school.
Fall Student Art Show--The following students have their artwork on display at the Center for the Arts in downtown Rock Hill until November 14. We are so proud of their work. (See picture below.) Amina Niang, Foster Williams , Wilmer Molina-Chavez , Jimena Gonzalez , Amaya Bahena , Ruby Kuhn, Hadley Brandwood, Payson Cavett, Addie Jensen, Liam Smith, Dorsey Rushing, Reese Elston. A reception for these students will be held at the Center for the Arts on October 27 from 5:30-6:30 PM.
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School Calendar
October 17--Professional Development Day (Student Holiday)
October 23-28--Red Ribbon Week (See Schedule of Events Above)
October 28--Bobcat Dash
October 29--11:00-1:00 Boo Ha Ha in Downtown Rock Hill
November 8--Election Day (School Holiday)
November 18--Makeup Pictures and Class Pictures Day
Previous Newsletters for 22-23 School Year
"What Is the Latest on the Bobcat Dash and Does It Make a Difference?" October 9, 2022 https://www.smore.com/2bf4k
"What is 'Nattering' and Is It Effective?" October 2, 2022 https://www.smore.com/gmrac
"What Do Parents Need to Know about Student Attendance?" September 25, 2022 https://www.smore.com/7rnbq
"What Do We Control?" September 18, 2022 https://www.smore.com/qv3hb
"What's the Goal for Our Children?" September 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/q8k0b
"What Do You Do If You Want to Visit for Lunch?" September 4, 2022 https://www.smore.com/2ha8b
"How Was the First Week?" August 21, 2022 https://www.smore.com/t65yv
"What Do We Need to Remember as We Start Back?" August 14, 2022 https://www.smore.com/qjucf
"Open House Reminders" August 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/35c6a
"Remind Me, Who's New at Cherry Park?" August 7, 2022 https://www.smore.com/b71ef
"Where Are the Pinch Points?" July 31, 2022 https://www.smore.com/csh32
"How Can You Help Us Keep Our Children Safe and Secure?" July 24, 2022 https://www.smore.com/6bweq
"How Can We Get Ready for the Fall?" July 17, 2022 https://www.smore.com/hcp2q"What Do We Need to Know" July 10, 2022 https://www.smore.com/y35p6