The CPES BobChat
May 1, 2022
How Do We Help Our Children Get Ready for "Big Test" Days?
This week starts our "big testing" week with third graders taking their SC READY Reading Tests on Tuesday and Thursday. "Big tests" help you know how your child is doing as a learner and they help us know how we are doing as teachers and as a school. A test is only one of many assessment snapshots that enable us to have a clear picture of progress. In addition, they serve as guides for knowing what extra supports children need or how they may be enriched as well. Tests are a part of life and as adults, we want our children to know how to best take them. Here's how we can prepare them for the event. 1. Practical Logistics--We all do better on assessments when we take them in familiar surroundings in familiar circumstances with familiar people. Please reschedule any appointments children have for testing days. Be sure they are on time and have the materials they need. They need to rest well the night before and have a good breakfast on the testing day. Prepare for a positive and relaxing routine on those days. Try to eliminate any stresses ahead of time if possible. Predictable structures and schedules for those days reduce anxiety for our children. 2. Appropriate Mindset--There are two ends of the spectrum for our thinking about tests. One is that they don't matter and are not a big deal. The other is that they matter too much and can be devastating for one's academic future. Neither approach is appropriate. (We would probably not encourage either of those mindsets if our kids were playing in a championship game in sports or if they were in the finals of a competition.) We simply want them to do "their personal best." That means checking their work and taking their time. That means remembering to do what their teachers prepared them to do. That means knowing that someone else's score doesn't matter. Their best effort is good enough. Rather than focusing on a test they have to take, we want children to know it is their opportunity to shine and show what they can do. Their effort expended in this task can make a big difference in their score and we want them to know it is worth it. Big tests are weird because they are not the normal way we check student progress in learning. We want to do all we can to encourage and model a healthy approach to working through these events just like any other challenges in our children's lives. In the end, we want to celebrate the achievements and growth they made as a learner. Let's be intentional and thoughtful to help them "get ready."
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
P.S. Know that we will have "big tests" for our third, fourth and fifth graders in the next three weeks. We will also do lots of individual reading and math assessments with kindergarten, first and second. We want our little guys to do their best on those as well. See the schedule for testing below.
Notes and Reminders
Third Grade Testing This Week--Our third graders will take Part 1 and Part 2 of their SC READY English Language Arts test this week on Tuesday and Thursday.
MAY Is National Teacher Appreciation month! It’s also when we treat our staff all week! This year’s theme is “Mahalo for Being so Tiki-Riffic!” May 2-6 we will appreciate staff each day with food and treats. Each day we will be doing something different and fun. The sign up will have a list of all things needed for the week.
Monday is fruit popsicles from Bajo Cero San Marcos
Tuesday is sub sandwich, pasta salad, and cookies for lunch
Wednesday is snow cones from a sweet Parent Lauren Butler
Thursday is brunch from Rock Hill Bagels with a side of fruit and yogurt
Friday is our traditional gift card tree for staff to choose from!!
It’s gonna be a great week! Thank you for being the best PTO and contributing this year! Sign up linked below! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-maynational
Field Day--Signups for Field Day will end Tuesday, May 3. We will have Field Day for K, 1st and 2nd on Tuesday, May 24 in the morning. If you would like to volunteer to help that day, please click on the following link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4EACAC22AB9-k2field2 Field Day for 3rd, 4th and 5th will be Wednesday, May 25. If you would like to volunteer on that day, click on this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4EACAC22AB9-35field1 We look forward to having volunteers back helping us.
Rock Hill Education Foundation--The foundation is in the running for a $25,000 grant through State Farm. Let's support their effort as they support our children and teachers.
Voting is open and closes Friday, May 6 at 11:59 PM and anyone 18 or older with an email can vote 10 times daily at:
Spring Testing Dates--Are listed below on the Calendar section and you can click on the button below for dates. Please check those dates and please reschedule any appointments you have for your child on those dates. Children do best on their tests when they take them with their own teachers in their own classrooms.
Welcome Back Parents--We are excited to have parents visiting back with us a t Cherry Park. If you are volunteering at Field Day or on a Field Trip or in any other capacity, you must have an updated Background Check that has been done in the last two years. Please see the link below for doing this. (Most volunteers will need to have one updated.) We will begin having parents visit for lunch starting Tuesday, April 19. Please keep the following in mind when you come for lunch:
- Parents can sit at designated empty tables inside or outside the cafeteria. Parents should not sit with classes at their tables.
- Parents need to wrap up their time eating with their child when lunch ends. Students should join the class as they dismiss from the cafeteria.
- Parents cannot walk back to class or recess with their child after lunch.
- Lunch time is a time for parents to spend with their child. It is not appropriate to invite other children to sit with you or a time to conference with teachers. Also, please do not ask the office to call your other children in other grade levels to come and eat lunch during this time.
- Parents should sign in at the office upon arrival and sign out at the office so we can account for who is in the building. Visitors need to be on the child’s emergency contact list and need to bring their license for screening as always.
- Lunch is $4.40 for adults. If you'd like to eat with us, just join your child in line to get your lunch.
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
Karen Finley is our Certified Support Staff Member of the Year.
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School Calendar
May 2-6--Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3--3rd Grade English Language Arts SC READY Test(Writing)
May 5--3rd Grade English Language Arts SC READY Test (Reading)
May 10--4th and 5th English Language Arts SC READY Test (Writing)
May 11--3rd Grade MAP Reading Test
May 12--4th and 5th English Language Arts SC READY Test (Reading)
May 17--3rd, 4th and 5th Math SC READY
May 19--4th Science SC PASS
May 23--Fifth Grade Graduation at 9:00 AM (Sullivan Auditorium)
May 24--K, 1st and 2nd Field Day
May 25--3rd, 4th and 5th Field Day
May 26--Last Student Day (Students are dismissed at 11:00)