The CPES BobChat
March 28, 2021
What's Happening at Cherry Park, Mr. Maness? Are We Getting "Back to Normal?"
As we wrap up this week and head into Spring Break, I want to update you on life at Cherry Park and how we might be getting "back to normal." 1. We're excited to have staff members getting vaccinated. Most second vaccinations have been administered at this point. So many have expressed relief to have this done. We appreciate Mrs. Sadie Kirell who worked with the Rock Hill Community Clinic, Good's Pharmacy, and Walgreens to help this happen. 2. We are hiring staff for next year. Currently, we have a couple of positions open and have started interviewing for them. We are not sure what grade levels these might be because there may be a few shifts happening like we do every year. As this becomes clearer, I will keep you informed. 3. We will add support to help our students after Spring Break. Through ESSER funding from the state, districts will have an allocation to help with students' learning losses due to COVID. We are working on our plan to secure additional help that will make a difference with our students this school year. 4. We are still following CDC and DHEC guidance for preventing the spread of COVID. The recommendations for schools are still to wear masks, use desk shields and maintain three feet or more of distance with our students. If those requirements change, the district will let you know. 5. We are already planning for the end of the year and the start of next year. So many of our plans will be based on CDC and DHEC guidance. We are hoping to resume some of our normal transition activities but we may have to do them differently than we did in the past. We appreciate all the ways our school family has continued to monitor and adjust through this time. Like you, we look forward to taking some steps of being "back to normal" when it is appropriate and safe to do so. Thanks for all you do as you continue to support your child and our school. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Spring Break.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
We will not have a BobChat newsletter next Sunday due to Spring Break which will be April 5-9.
School News
Staff Update--We are so glad to have Mr. Skip Torrance with us as our music teacher while Mrs. Rezzai is out on maternity leave. He will work with our students through the end of the year. We are saddened that Mrs. Giacinta DeAngelis (better known as Madame Didi) will be leaving us this Wednesday. Madame Didi works as an assistant with our upper grades French students. She will be moving to Hilton Head. We wish her all the best and we will dearly miss her.
Testing Schedules--We have begun determining tentative test dates. Most likely, we will be doing MAP testing for Grades 1-5 the last two weeks of May (5/17-28). We will have SC READY testing for Grades 3-5 June 1-18. As soon as we have determined the exact dates, we will be sure to notify you. Kindergarten students will assessed on Fast Bridge during those final weeks of school as well. We need all students present for them to do their best on these assessments.
Safety and Spring Break--Please be thoughtful about your plans for Spring Break. We ask that you continue to focus on health and safety and limit your exposure to those who could possibly be positive for COVID. Our COVID numbers have dramatically decreased and we want to keep them as low as possible as we return from this break.
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.
Rising Sixth Grade Families--The Sullivan SIC will be filling 4 parent representative spots next year. Here is the Nomination Form Link: https://forms.gle/bbHh2Cbdw9Yczfmy7 if you'd like to consider serving on their SIC. Nominations will be open Friday, March 19th through Sunday, March 26th at 5pm. Elections will be April 16-19th, 2021.
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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 March's PTO Meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82419024222 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
April 5-9 Spring Break
April 12--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 PTO