The CPES BobChat
August 8, 2021
Mr. Maness, How Are We Going to Start The Year?
As we get started, I know you have questions. I hope that you've been able to read through the information I've already sent the past few weeks in the BobChat. Attached below is our 21-22 Cherry Park Family Handbook that also has lots of questions and answers for your reference. Still, given the uniqueness of the year, here are some questions I want to answer that may be beneficial for all of us. 1. As we see COVID numbers increase, what strategies will be implemented at CPES (and all Rock Hill Schools) to try to keep everyone healthy? The CDC and DHEC still recommend using masks indoors for all faculty, staff and students. We also recognize that our state government makes this optional for adults and children. (An Opt Out form no longer needs to be completed.) Ultimately, mask wearing is a choice for everyone but we strongly encourage it in our schools and on buses. Beyond that, we will limit visitors to the building to our main office area to reduce exposure to our staff and students. We will encourage continued hand washing and appropriate cleaning procedures in our buildings. Homerooms will be kept together as cohorts as much as possible to limit COVID spread. They will be socially distanced from each other in the cafeteria during lunch. We will socially distance as much as we can but that will be more limited than last year due to having everyone back. We will continue contact tracing as in the past. A positive contact will be defined as anyone spending 15 minutes or more over 24 hours with a person who tested positive for COVID. All classrooms will be disinfected each evening. 2. How will this affect our Open House on Thursday (from 5:00-7:00) and the first day of school? We will still have our Open House for students and parents but we will make some adjustments. We will have masks available and again, encourage the use of them. We ask that you limit the time you are at the Open House. Please do not use this time to visit former teachers. We want you to have the chance to meet your child's teachers, receive the information you need and limit your exposure. For kindergarten parents, you will be able to walk your child on next Monday to the outside door to your child's class. This would be the door that opens to our kindergarten playground. Adults will direct you where to go and we will be available to ensure all of our students know how to get to their classes. 3. What happens if our community COVID numbers go down or if they go up? As you would expect, we will adjust our strategies to become more or less restrictive based on community spread. The new strain of COVID is already having affects on our hospitals and I am even aware of a church that had to cancel services today. Our health data will drive our decision making just as it did last year. 4. On a different note, how can we know about our new teachers that will be at CPES this year? We will be wrapping up on a few hires within the next day or two. By Wednesday, I will send you an update on the new faculty members who are joining our school. We are extremely fortunate to have a wealth of experience and talent that will help lead our school. You will see some new names when you receive your class assignments (which went out on Friday) and we will send you more information about them before Open House. 5. As parents, how can we best prepare ourselves for the year? If we've learned anything from the last year, we know we have to stay flexible and plan for options. Think through what your backup plan is to your backup plan. At the beginning of every year, we anticipate some bumps in the road. Please be patient as those get smoothed out. We acknowledge will need a little grace for each other at the start. Our goal every day is to make the good much better and to make the better the best. We look forward to all that is ahead as we work together as #One Team One Mission One Rock HIll. See you Thursday.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
P.S. Our Parent Teacher Organization will have a table at Open House and you can visit it to find out more information for how you can be involved.
Parent Checklist for Returning to School
2. Complete Your Child's Registration Online--If your child has not attended at Rock Hill school, you will complete the New Student Enrollment (see button below.) If your child attended a Rock Hill school last year (including if they were in a 4K program with us), you will complete the Returning Student Registration (see button below). Be sure to be thoughtful about this because all our communication programs pull information directly from what you input and update in this system. Check to be sure all contact information is correct. Also, be sure you are thoughtful about all the people that might pick up your child. If they are not listed on the emergency contact list, they will not be able to pick up your child. Don't rush through this process. Please check and recheck what you put on the registration. All families will need to update their proof of residence and you should be able to upload it with your online application. For parents of returning students, you received an email from the district earlier this summer with your child's password information in order to complete the registration. (Be sure to check your Spam, Gray, Clutter or Junk Mail in email because it may have gone there.)
3. Bus Transportation Registration--If you need bus transportation, click on the buttons below for the 21-22 Transportation Request Form (English and Spanish).
4. Challenger After-School Registration--If you need after-school care, please register your child using the button below as soon as possible. Challenger cares for students after the school day ends and it is housed at each elementary school. Click on the button below for more information about Challenger as well. If you have a financial need for reduced rates for Challenger, please be sure to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch application on our district website.
5. School Supply Lists--Click on the button below for the 21-22 CPES School Supply List for each grade level. If you need any help securing school supplies for your child, please reach out to our guidance counselors for help. We are glad to help. Kindergarten parents, we indicated back in the spring that the district would cover expenses for school supplies. The district is covering part of the school supply expenses for all students and the items on the list are what we need parents to help supply. As always, children will need a bookbag. If at all possible, we prefer that students not use rolling bookbags because they become safety hazards when used in the building. The CPES School Supply List is also on our website.
6. Technology Protection Plan Information and Fee--Every child will have access to a computer this year. When you completed your online student registration (see above), you should have responded to questions about your child's laptop and technology fee. This $35 fee can be paid during Open House. The TPP fee can be waived if there is a financial need determined by parents filling out the Free and Reduced Lunch application below. Please click on this link for more information about the Mobile Computing Guide and the TPP fee: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/8759 Parents, know that your child will be issued their laptop in a case this year and it should always stay in that case when they use it.
7. Volunteer Screening Application--We want to encourage all parents to complete a new screening application in order to be a volunteer. If you think at any time you might want to chaperone a field trip or volunteer with us, this application must be completed and updated. Again, please click on the button below for more information and to apply.
8. Free and Reduced Lunch Application--This year, all school meals (breakfast and lunch) will be no cost to families. Why might you then need to apply for free or reduced lunch? If you wish to ask for a reduced rate for Challenger fees or if you wish to ask for a waiver of the $35 Technology Protection Plan fee, then you will need to complete this application to see if you would qualify for the reduced fees. The application can be found below.
9. District Return to School Plan for In-Person Instruction--For all policies and procedures related to our return to school this fall, please click on the following link: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/9160 It is also included as a button below. Masks are encouraged but they are optional (as determined by state law.) Parents will be sent an Opt Out form to complete for this year. Even if you completed on last year, a new one will need to be done. Given that we will have all 750 students returning the fall, we will not be able to do as much social distancing as we did last year. Classes will be kept as cohorts as much as possible. Desk shields have been taken down as well. Contact tracing will be done in a similar fashion as last year. Please see the Return to School Plan for more information.
(Parents, please check back to this list in the weeks ahead. There will be a couple of items that will be added.)
School News
1. Breakfast and Lunch This Year--All meals for this year will again be at no cost for families.
2. Masks--Students and staff are encouraged to wear masks this school year. Per state guidelines, it is not a requirement. Parents do not have to complete an Opt Out form this year. This was a change in procedures that was sent out this week.
3. Attendance--We want to encourage all families to prioritize their children's attendance at school each day. (A child's achievement is directly tied to their attendance. They can't learn what they need to learn if they are not present.) For students who miss excessive time in school, attendance conferences will be held with parents and attendance plans will be developed to improve attendance. This is a state requirement. After three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences, an attendance conference will be scheduled. Please click on the button below for our District Guidelines for Attendance for Elementary Students. Please note that we do not dismiss students after 2:00 PM.
4. Transportation Changes for Dismissal--Per district policy, parents need to know that all changes in transportation need to be made by a written note sent at the beginning of the day or parents can come in person to the office to make the change. We cannot accept transportation changes by email or by phone. These policies are in place to ensure the safety and security of your child.
5. Practicing Getting In and Out of Your Car--Parents (of little ones in particular), please practice ahead of time how your child can get themselves in and out of their car seat for arrival and dismissal time. Our Safety Patrol will open the door so your child can exit their car in the morning and they will open it in the afternoon. We will have many more cars going through the line this year and this will save lots of time if your children can get in and out of their car seats by themselves.
Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-TECH
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 and our Parent Teacher Organization meets at 6:30. We are looking for volunteers to help in PTO this year. Let us know if you are interested. Elections were held last spring for PTO officers but all parents are welcome to attend to help provide input and volunteer. You can contact our PTO at mailto:cherryparkelementarypto@gmail.com School Improvement Council members for last year were Carl Thompson, Elizabeth Lowery, Leigh Threatt, Amber Hinson, Kim Crean, Brooke Nies and Phyllis Faircloth. We will hold SIC elections this fall. You can contact SIC members at mailto:cherryparksic@gmail.com.
School Calendar
August 5--Student Classroom Assignments Will Be Sent Out
August 12--5:00-7:00 PM Open House
August 19--First Day for Students
September 3--Early Release Day for Teacher Professional Development (Students will be released at 11:00 AM)
September 6--Labor Day Holiday