The CPES BobChat
May 2, 2021
What Do You Do When the Finish Line is Farther Away Than You Thought?
Last week, I mentioned end of year activities that we have started planning. Further details are coming about those as they get closer. Normally, at this time of year, we have about four weeks left. We shift into the mode of giving final assessments and wrapping things up. That timeline is a little longer this year due to a later start in the fall. How can we help our children and each other stay focused and maximize the time we have? 1. Enjoy what is in front of us. It is good to have the long-term goal in mind but sometimes, it is better to keep our attention on what is right in front of us. The truth is that we will miss our children when they leave us and go on to the next grade level. They grow up so fast. There is still so much that we want them to learn from us. We don't want to miss that with them. We won't get this time with them again so let's enjoy the time we have with them right now. 2. Set good short term goals that help us get to the finish line. What is our goal for the week? What can we celebrate by the end of the week? We break up long car trips by setting a goal to get to a certain place by a certain time and then taking a breather. We will need to do that with our children and each other. The old adage is "you eat an elephant one bite at a time." We help ourselves and our children when we bite off smaller goals and celebrate accomplishing them. 3. "When you work, work hard and when you play, play hard and don't get the two mixed up." This was such good advice someone gave me long ago...and it is so hard to follow. Let's be intentional to help our children know when it is time to play and when it is time to work. We can easily send up the wrong signals at the wrong time to them and then wonder why they are confused. Over the next seven weeks, we will have times that will demand our best effort. We will also have times when we can have fun. The concept is called delayed gratification. Both at home and school, let's help our kids know when is the right time to work and when is the right time to play. 4. Stay consistent. We will need to intentionally keep routines and structures for morning time, bedtime, TV time, playtime, and homework time in place a few weeks longer than normal. Don't give those up too early in the weeks ahead. Tired and cranky kids (and adults) don't make the best decisions which usually lead to bigger problems. Let's think through this now so we avoid those issues later. We know that the finish line is farther away. We don't have a choice about that. Here's what we can do. We can plan and decide ahead of time what to do to finish well. For a crazy year unlike no other, that's a pretty good goal. Thank you for what you will do to help us and your child finish well.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
Here are our CPES girls at the Girls on the Run Race this past Saturday.
Caring for CP
CP Art at Sullivan
Caring for CP
School News
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK May 10-14--It’s MAY! This month we will be having an entire week of showing our gratitude in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week! Our theme is so fitting, “We can’t Mask our Gratitude!”
May 10th-14th will be our daily events. (We know that May 3-7 is the National Teacher Appreciation Week but May 10-14 works better for CPES.) Monday will be our pasta and salad bar from CiCi’s. Tuesday will be Panera bagels with cream cheese and fruit. Wednesday will be a Publix sandwich with chips lunch. Thursday will be Dunkin Donuts coffee and munchkins breakfast. Friday will be our annual gift card tree! Each staff member gets to pick two $5 gift cards!! Attraction fundraiser company has also graciously donated coupon books to each of our staff members! What an exciting week for our teachers to be showered with acts of gratitude! We will need all grade levels to help out! Please sign up below and have everything to the front office by 8am on Monday, May 10th. (Link is below and see button below.)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-cherry3
Parent Surveys--All parents of students in grades K-12 may participate in the state Parent Opinion Survey this year. We would like your feedback by completing it by May 14.
To access the Parent Opinion Survey click on this link: https://ed.sc.gov/surveys/parent-survey/
Once at the survey, choose either the English or Spanish version of the survey to complete. Families should complete only one survey for each of their children enrolled in public school.
Next, enter the seven-digit ID of our school. The ID for our school is 4603044
Before opening the survey, the name of the school will appear, and you will be asked to confirm that you are completing the survey for the correct school.
Your time and effort in completing this survey is greatly appreciated.
Spring Pictures--Will be Wednesday, May 12. Information will be sent home about this. Only students who have prepaid orders completed will have their pictures made on this day. To order spring pictures online, go to http://mylifetouch.com and use the following code for Cherry Park: EVT498XD8 (You can also click on the button below.)
PTO Leadership and Bobcat Dash--We are beginning the process of identifying leaders for PTO for next year. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mr. Maness mailto:pmaness@rhmail.org or Erica Smith mailto:cherryparkelementarypto@gmail.com. Due to current COVID restrictions, we will not have a Bobcat Dash this spring. We wanted to make sure everyone was informed. We hope to have it again next fall.
Testing Schedule--See link below. .
Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-8324
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 April's PTO Meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88656390833?pwd=bEFyYzRuWFRYZ2lobWJTYjIxeE9KQT09 We are looking for volunteers to help lead PTO for next year. Let us know if you are interested. Elections were held last 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
May 10-14--Teacher Appreciation Week
May 10--5:30 SIC and 6:30 PTO Meetings
May 12--Spring Picture Day
May 14--Parent Surveys Completed
May 17--Virtual Testing for MAP English Language Arts for Grades 1, 2, 4, and 5 (Not Third Grade)
May 18--Face to Face Testing for MAP English Language Arts for Grades 1, 2, 4, and 5 (Not Third Grade)
May 19--Virtual Testing for MAP Math for Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
May 20--Face to Face Testing for MAP Math for Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
May 25--SC Ready Testing 3rd, 4th and 5th (Face to Face Students) for ELA Day 1
May 26--SC Ready Testing 3rd, 4th and 5th (Virtual Students) for ELA Day 1
May 28--School Holiday (Memorial Day Weekend)
May 31--Memorial Day/School Holiday