The CPES BobChat
July 14, 2019
How Can We Get Ready for School?
Yes, July 4 has passed and our eyes are slowly turning to the start of school. Slowly. As parents and staff members, I encourage you to be thoughtful about not hurrying summer along. Enjoy time with your family. Read lots. Visit grandparents. Go somewhere new or different. Eat ice cream. Take a nap. Get or stay wet (under a sprinkler or in a pool.) Serve others. Invite someone over for lunch or supper to catch up with them. Do those things that renew you and nurture your soul. Rest. Relax. Recharge. That is truly the purpose of summer.
Having said that, some of you (especially rising kindergarten parents), may be ready to think about checking off your list those tasks to help you and your child be ready for the start of school. Here are a few things you can do now to be ready for the first day of school on Monday, August 19. 1. Complete your online registration and send in your proof of residence. Why is this so important? We need updated, accurate information so we can communicate effectively with you and so we can contact you easily in the event of an emergency. (See below for directions for this.) Please, please be thorough in providing this information. All our communication systems pull from the information you provide us. Be sure your contact information is correct and accurate so we can keep you informed. Know that class assignments will be sent out on August 1 for all families who have completed their online registration and proof of residence. 2. Purchase school supplies. This can be a fun process with your kids to help signal school is around the corner. The District Supply List is below. (We do not have a separate list and those are the items that are needed.) One change for this coming year is that we will ask all students not to attach anything to the outside of their bookbags. Those attachments end up taking paint off walls and ding up furniture. The only thing that should be attached to a bookbag is a nametag or a dismissal tag that we will provide. 3. Put the Open House date on your calendar. We will have a schoolwide Open House on Thursday, August 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM. This is a time to come and meet your child's teacher, complete any paperwork and ask questions. We will have representatives from Transportation, Food Service, and the Challenger After School Program there to answer questions. Our office staff, nurse, guidance counselor, resource and speech teachers, and our gifted and talented teacher will also be there to help with anything you might need. (If you have questions about School of Choice Bus Transportation, you can contact our Transportation Department at 980-2022.) 4. Be sure to read. The best way to be ready for school is to read regularly with your child or make sure they are reading. Incentive programs are listed below. Know that we appreciate all you do to provide your child with learning and enrichment experiences throughout the summer. Those experiences help little ones have background for what they learn with us. Enjoy your time with your children and family. Slow down. Relax and rest. If you do that well, you'll be ready for school.
Mr. Maness, Principal
P.S. Know that we will be sending additional information to you about schedules, procedures, and handbooks as we move along this summer. Our next E Newsletter will be sent on Sunday, July 28.
P.S.S. This is a picture of my son, Joey, and me in Antigua, Guatemala on June 30. We had the chance to go and work in Palin, Guatemala, with a middle school that week. We had such a good trip.
School News
Staffing Update
We have had some staffing additions and changes since May. Michelle Preston has been hired as an English partner teacher in fourth grade. Ms. Preston is a veteran third and fourth grade teacher who has taught at India Hook Elementary and Finley Road Elementary. We are blessed to have her join our staff. Javier Marin was a Spanish partner teacher in second grade and taught PE for us last year. He will partner with Ms. Preston and will be a fourth grade Spanish teacher this fall. Remi Flaherty was a half-time guidance counselor at Ebinport Elementary and India Hook Elementary last year and she will be half-time with us this fall. Carrie Missagia was a tutor with us last year and she will be a full time third grade assistant with us this this fall. We are expecting our third grade classes to be a little larger this fall and we want to be sure our students and teachers have all the support they need.
Reading Opportunities This Summer (and Next Fall)
All Students--Our schoolwide reading program is called READO. Click on the file below to see our READO card and see the incentives for our kids if they read over the summer.
Rising Fourth and Fifth Graders (Elementary Battle of the Books)--Titles are below for books that students will read to compete in next year's Battle of the Books competition. Students can read them starting this summer. Just click on the file for Elementary Battle of the Books.
Online Registration for Students
The convenient, online process will allow parents to update information from the comfort of their home before attending orientation sessions at their child’s school. The district is pleased to offer this service to its families as a way to speed up the registration process.
By completing the registration in advance, parents and guardians will be able to quickly move through the orientation and course/class schedule pickup dates to be held later at each school.
We are happy to inform you that the document upload feature is now available for both new and returning students. Please note that the documents must be in a file format accepted by the online registration system. Please see the Document Upload Feature section of the help page, listed below, for more information.
Online Registration Help webpage: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/7818 If you experience trouble with the document upload feature, or would rather deliver your documents in-person, please do not hesitate to visit the school after completing the online registration. Steps for registration:
- Register online as either a new or returning student by following the appropriate link on our homepage https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/default.aspx?PageID=1
- If you did not upload documents while registering, take any needed documents to the school your student will attend, such as proof of residency documentation.
NOTE: Please make sure to register before taking documentation to the school.
Parents/guardians will need to provide proof of residency documentation to their child’s school. Accepted documents include: Electric Bill, Gas Bill, or Rental or Lease Agreement. The document you choose to submit must include the student's parent(s) or legal guardian and the address being confirmed.
District App and Twitter
If you haven't already, please be sure to download our Rock Hill Schools app on your smart phone. Go to Settings on the app and under Follow Schools, you can choose Cherry Park Elementary (and any other schools) in order to receive information from them. You can also connect with us via Twitter @CPESBobcat. This will help you further know what's happening in the Cherry Park family.
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 next year. School Improvement Council meets at 5:30 (in the Fish Bowl) and our Parent Teacher Organization meets at 6:30 (in the Media Center.) Elections were held in the spring for these organizations but all parents are welcome to attend to help provide input and volunteer. Meetings will be held on September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9 (if needed), January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, and May 11 (if needed.)
Calendar of Events
August 1--Class assignments will be sent out for all students who have completed online registration and verified proof of residency.
August 6-9--Learning to Rock at CPES (This is training for all new teachers to Rock Hill Schools)
August 12--District Professional Learning Community Conference at CPES (District staff development for all elementary teachers will be at CPES.) This is the first day back for teachers.
August 15--Open House (5:30-7:30 PM)
August 19--First Day for Students
September 2--Labor Day Holiday
September 9--First School Improvement Council Meeting (5:30 PM) and Parent Teacher Organization Meeting (6:30 PM)
Monday, October 21--Parent Conference Day