The CPES BobChat
February 13, 2022
Do You Really Need to Complete the Blue Ribbon Parent Survey?
We have sent by mail a survey to every parent and guardian in our school. You should receive it by Monday. In it, there is a QR code and link to the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Parent Survey for Cherry Park Elementary. It is a 15 minute survey and it is in English and Spanish. You will need your unique code in order to complete it. Please be sure to read the letter that goes with it that gives you guidance on how to complete it. (Please remember that the questions were written before COVID and should be answered with that in mind.) Now, back to the question, "Do you really need to do the survey?" We are inundated with surveys. There's one for your server at a restaurant. There's one to complete on your grocery store receipt. You probably got three in your email today. We understand. Here's why this one is so important to us. 1. It will help us know what we are doing well (and need to keep doing.) It is always important to have clarity about what's working. We think we have put into place some "keepers" that make a difference in our children and school community. We need to know our strengths so we can continue developing those. 2. It will help us know how we need to improve. As a school, we are only three years old. We have a great staff, student body and parent community. But, we know we can get better. We know the past few years have been crazy and this is a great time to stop, think, and examine where we are. This evaluation process which includes your feedback will help us see how we are "really" doing. 3. It will help us set goals and plans for next year and the years to come. Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence provides a comprehensive, 360 degree picture of where we are and how we are. Whether we get the award or not, the information we receive will guide our decisions about future priorities. We think we're pretty good, but we want to be better by comparing ourselves against national standards and the high expectations of all members of our school family. Your feedback gives us clarity to direct us where we need to go next. So many of you ask what you can do to help our school. You want to make a difference at Cherry Park. For this week, the best way you can volunteer is to give fifteen minutes of your time to answer a few questions. Yes, we really do need you to complete the survey.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
P.S. A copy of the letters in English and Spanish are below for your convenience. Please use your unique survey code on the label of the letter that was mailed to you in order to complete the survey.
This Friday, February 18, will be a half-day for students due to professional development for teachers. Students will be dismissed at 11:00 and the Challenger Program will be closed. Monday, February 21, will be President's Day and school will not be in session.
Notes and Reminders
Kindergarten Choice Slots Are Filling Up--Please be sure you've completed your Choice Application if you have a rising kindergarten child. The deadline for applications is February 28. See below for more info.
"First Timers" in First Grade French--Please help let other families know we have a few spots open for French in first grade for first time students. Families interested simply need to apply through the normal School of Choice process below. Please pass on this information to any families you know about signups in kindergarten for French and Spanish as well.
Valentine's Day Parties--Valentine's Day parties will be tomorrow, Monday, February 14. Please follow the directions from your child's teachers on what and how to send in items. They know best what will be enough and what will be too much. Any food items sent need to have labels with ingredients so we can determine what is appropriate for students to have if they have a food allergy. We would also encourage any food items to be wrapped for health and safety reasons as well. Teachers will let you know if they will be making Valentines at school or if your child needs to make them at home and bring them in. We will serve pizza in the cafeteria on that day. Thanks for your support of this fun day for our kids.
February Teacher Appreciation--It’s that time to “LOVE” on our staff at Cherry Park! This month’s event will be sponsored by our 2 nd and 3rd grade families! We will be doing a bagel breakfast with a side of fruit! Rock Hill Bagels and Deli will be catering yummy bagels and cream cheeses for our event. Sign up linked below. Please have everything dropped off to the office or monetary contributions submitted by end of day on Wednesday, February 23rd . Thank you all for always loving on our teachers each month! Venmo: @Stephanie-Greer-29 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-february1
Virtual Teacher Recruitment Fair--Rock Hill Schools is hiring! Do you know someone who wants to join our team? Our Virtual Recruitment Fair will be Feb. 26, 2022. Share this with your friends and family to spread the word: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/9660
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
This week was National School Counselor's Week. We are so blessed to have Ms. Flaherty and Ms. Baskins as our counselors. We appreciate all they do and the difference they make in our school.
Applying for School of Choice
SOC Application (Families Who Already Have a Sibling in the Program)--Rising kindergarten students who are siblings of current immersion students (in kindergarten through ninth grade) receive priority for acceptance but parents must still fill out the Choice application by February 28.
Upper Grades Student Applications--We do accept applications for students in Grades 1-5. For a student to be accepted in an upper grade, we must have a slot available and he/she will be assessed in Spanish or French to determine if his/her language abilities are at the class average. (The exception this year is that we are taking a few new students for first grade French.)
Sixth Grade Immersion Program at Sullivan Middle School
Fifth Grade Parent Information Meeting--Was held this past Tuesday. If you could not attend it, here is the link of the meeting that was recorded: https://rhmail-my.sharepoint.com/personal/kcromer_rhmail_org/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fkcromer%5Frhmail%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FAttachments%2Fzoom%5F0%2Emp4&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fkcromer%5Frhmail%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FAttachments&wdLOR=c7B842C3E%2DF8EE%2D462F%2D8AA5%2DAC1B877902B5&ct=1644691371791&or=Outlook%2DAttachments&cid=D9411237%2D39BF%2D4911%2DB095%2D55184686D504
Letter of Intent--In order for your child to continue the immersion program at Sullivan Middle School, all you have to do is complete the following Letter of Intent: https://forms.gle/SRF1tJHnk2p oAgcj8 (This is a new link. I know some of you had a problem opening the previous link.) We need all parents to complete the letter of intent to let us know your choice for next year. Please complete by Friday, February 18.
High School Program--Please remember that we now have the high school immersion program in place at Rock Hill High where students can earn college credits from Winthrop by taking Dual Credit classes. Our middle school program helps effectively prepare our students for the high school program.
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School Calendar
February 1-28--Parent Surveys for Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence will go out
February 14--Valentine's Day (Your child's teacher will send you guidance for how we will celebrate the day.)
February 18--Half-Day for Professional Development (Students dismissed at 11:00)
February 21--President's Day Holiday
February 26--Rock Hill School District Virtual Teacher Recruitment Fair
February 28--School of Choice Applications Due; Blue Ribbon Schools Parent Surveys Due
March 8-9--Blue Ribbon Site Visit