The CPES BobChat
May 9, 2021
What Do Great Moms Do?
Happy Mother's Day!! Given that it is Mom's special day, more of my thoughts will focus on you. But Dads, so much of this is true for us, too. Enjoy your day, Moms.
Moms are well known for their sacrifices. They often burn the candle at both ends and finish most days weary, tired and worried. There is a tension, though, that great moms understand. We can't pour out what we don't have in our cup. Wise, mature moms know that parenting is not a sprint or even a 5K, it is a marathon. Great moms pay attention to parts of their own lives as they shepherd the lives of their children. Here's what great moms do. 1. They care for themselves physically. They consider how much sleep they are getting. Are they eating well and healthily? When and how do they exercise? Are they making their own doctor's appointments in addition to ensuring the kids attend their checkups? Parenting is exhausting for sure. But, we are not the Energizer Bunny that simply needs new batteries to keep going and going and going. Just like our cars, doing preventive maintenance on our physical selves on a regular basis means there are fewer wrecks when we are out on the child rearing road. 2. They carve out adult time for themselves. Moms need friends. They need time with their spouse. They need time away from the kids. Healthy moms know that adult time is a valve for stress release and it helps them have perspective. It enables them to realize "No, I'm not crazy" and "I'm not the only one" and "I don't have to do this alone." Sometimes adult time is a phone call. Sometimes it is sitting talking on the back steps after the kids go to bed. Sometimes it is a girls' weekend. All moms need time to step away from their children. 3. They pursue their own interests or hobbies. I hear you now asking, "Who has time for that?" (Must be a man who came up with that.) Hear me. It is so easy to become lost in our roles as parents and employees that we can forget that there is this other person who has their own identity inside of us. It is the real me. As parents, we can't allow our hobbies to control us at the expense of neglecting our children, but we can make some small daily deposits in ourselves that help us stay creative and that provide mental and emotional energy for the tasks ahead. A little "me time" means better quality time with others. Even just a few minutes a day can make a big difference. The truth for moms is that they can give and give until they literally give out. Great moms know that when they give permission to give to themselves, they have a greater (not lesser) capacity to give their best to their children, their spouse, and those around them. That's what great moms do.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
Chalk It for Fun Friday
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
Statewide Testing Information for Grades 3-5--Statewide tests for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will be Tuesday, May 25 (Writing), Wednesday June 2 (Reading), Tuesday, June 8 (Math) and Thursday, June 10 (Science 4th only). Please see information letter below that will help you best prepare your child for the tests on these days. We want all of our children to "show what they know" and do their very best.
Virtual Student Signups for MAP Testing--It is time to administer our Spring MAP testing. Students in 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade will take MAP Reading on Monday, May 17, 2021 at Cherry Park Elementary. Students in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th will take MAP Math on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at Cherry Park Elementary. Please sign up for both days since students will only take MAP Reading on Monday and MAP Math on Wednesday (Choose one slot for each testing day per student). Please remember that once students enter the school for testing, parents will need to be back at the school within an hour. If your child finishes earlier we will call you. Important message for third grade parents: Only sign up for the MAP Math on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Your child will take MAP Reading on June 9, 2021. A different sign up will be provided for that testing date. See button below for signups.
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. .
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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 May's PTO Meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82014320976?pwd=S0NjSXhzSkRpeUJBa1JUR2E5SFd4UT09 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