The CPES BobChat
February 5, 2023
How Can You Share the Love...about Cherry Park?
February is when we celebrate Valentine's Day and think of those we love. It is also a great time to share with others what you love about our school with prospective families. Here's a few things you can do to help recruit new families. 1. Word of Mouth--There is nothing better than a mom talking with another mom and a dad talking with another dad. We want others to simply know about the choice of children acquiring a second language. We find that we can send out alot of communication in a variety of formats but telling others about your experience is our best advertising. Think of those who have children who will start kindergarten next year. Let them know about us. 2. Social Media--Feel free to copy and paste the flyer above and send it out through your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other accounts. (You can also copy and paste the "School of Choice Application Window" section under Notes and Reminders that is below.) So many of you have connections with others who haven't heard about our school. You can also send them to our website, forward a newsletter, or give our email address. Use whatever is easiest for you to share with other families. 3. Flyers for Daycares or Community Organizations--On Monday, we will have printed flyers available for pickup to take to programs that have four year-olds who will start school in the fall. Feel free to share these with church or community organizations that may help inform families. If you choose to drop off flyers, please let our office staff know where you are taking them so we can know that school or organization has been covered. 4. Invite Us to Come and Share--We love to tell our school story of impacting the next generation of change makers. If you are a member of a club or organization that might be interested in having us speak, we are more than glad to come and make a presentation in whatever format works for you. I'm always amazed when someone tells me, "I didn't know we had a language immersion school." We simply desire to inform and hopefully inspire others to learn a second language. We believe that we are making a difference in children who will make a difference in others. We want to "share the love" about Cherry Park and need your help in doing that. We appreciate all the ways you support our school and your child. You are the greatest difference maker in our students.
Strength and Blessings to You,
Mr. Maness
P.S. The School of Choice Application Window closes on Tuesday, February 28.
Notes and Reminders
School of Choice Application Window (Updated Information)--Opened on January 5 and you can go to the following website to apply: https://rockhill-registration.hosted.src-solutions.com/login (This is the updated link where you will complete your New Student Registration and you School of Choice Application.) Remember that rising kindergarten students who currently have siblings in the program have first priority to secure a slot at Cherry Park but parents must complete the New Student Registration/Choice Application. We will also accept new students in first grade French. We have a few slots available in upper grades for students who apply and have appropriate language skills in French and Spanish. The application window closes on February 28. Please share this information with your friends and family. We want all families in Rock Hill to know about this opportunity for their children. We will have CPES Parent Information Meetings for Choice on the following days and times:
February 8 at 12:00 PM
February 16 at 6:00 PM
National School Counselors Week--We want to thank Mrs. Flaherty and Ms. Baskin for all they do to support our children each day. Please let them know how much you appreciate them for the difference they make in our students.
Updating Volunteer Screening--Please be sure your Volunteer Screening is up to date. Anytime we have someone going down to a classroom to volunteer, we want to be sure that person is approved to be with children. Whether someone is doing a presentation, working with a small group, chaperoning a field trip or leading games at Field Day, we want our kids to be safe and secure. If you've done a volunteer screening in the past, know they are valid for two years only. They must be updated after those two years. Here is the link for completing the volunteer screening: https://securevolunteer.com/Rock-Hill-School-District/home
Rising Sixth Grade Parent Information and Orientation--The Sixth Grade Parent Information Meeting will be on March 2 at 6:00 PM at your child's middle school. (Most of our students will go to Sullivan.) Please note this on your calendar. This is a time that middle school leaders will share important information about schedules, classes, and transitions for our children. All fifth grade families will receive a link for a Letter of Intent for you to complete to let Sullivan know if you plan for your child to continue in immersion. You do not need to do a School Choice application if you plan for your child to continue in immersion. That Letter of Intent link will be sent when it is ready to go out.
Summer Challenger--Registration is now open for Summer Challenger for current Kindergarten through Fourth Grade students. (Rising Kindergarten students can attend, too.) You can go to this website for more information and to register: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/8320
Valentine's Day Parties--Valentine's Day is such a fun day for our kids. Please follow the lead of your child's teacher for how they will plan for that time and what they need. We will have homemade pizza for lunch that day so there is no need for it to be brought in or sent in. (See flyer below.) We want to be mindful, as always, that items sent should have labels of ingredients in the event a student has a food reaction and we need to track down the allergen. We also want to avoid foods with nuts given that we have students in most every homeroom with nut allergies. Your child's teacher will be in touch to provide further information. Please be mindful that the Brach’s conversation hearts are manufactured in a plant that also has peanuts/tree nuts. All food must be store bought with a food ingredient label. No homemade treats are allowed. If snack/individual size candy is sent in, the large bag with the food ingredient label must also be sent available in order to review the food ingredient label.
Bringing Lunch for Children--As we always have, we welcome parents and approved visitors to come and eat lunch with their child. We also understand that children forget their lunch and parents need to drop off their lunch box. When there is a need to bring a child a lunch, keep the following in mind:
1. Items Dropped Off--We have a process in place to take all items dropped off in the morning to classrooms by 9:30 AM. Parents needing to drop off something should do that before 9:30 AM.
2. Bringing Lunch--We do not have enough staff to take lunches or other items to classrooms throughout the rest of the day (unless there is a medical need.) Parents who bring a lunch will need to sign in and take the lunch to their child during their lunch time. Be sure to drop off your name tag when you leave. We will not call students to the office to get their lunch because we do not want to interrupt classroom instruction for our children.
3. Food Safety--Another reason we don't drop off lunches is due to food sitting on a counter and spoiling. Lunches dropped off before 9:30 AM should not need refrigeration or heating. They should be packed in a way to keep food cold or hot through lunch time.
4. If Your Child Forgets a Lunch--Know that we will always have your child eat in the cafeteria. Mrs. McCrorey, our cafeteria manager, will always make sure children eat. You can send lunch money the next day if needed.
5. The Why Behind the What--These policies are in place because we serve 783 students each day. We would love to have enough staff to take down a lunch for every parent who wanted it delivered. That simply is not reasonable nor possible. We want to maintain a focus on teaching and learning and safety. Thank you for your help with these policies we have in place.
Yearbooks--Yearbooks are now on sale. All sales are online only and this year there will not be an additional order after April 7, 2023. You will need to use the Order Number 24915. Click here to order a yearbook: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=24915
Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-TECH
School Calendar
February 8--12:00 PM CPES Parent Information Meeting for Choice
February 13--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 Parent Teacher Organization
February 14--Valentine's Day
February 16--6:00 PM CPES Parent Information Meeting for Choice
February 17--Early Release Day for Staff Development (Dismissal is at 11:00)
February 20--Presidents' Day Holiday
February 28--School of Choice Application Window Closes
March 2--Rising Sixth Grade Orientation (At All Middle Schools) 6:00 PM
Parent Organizations
Parent Teacher Organization--This group has three main goals: Raising funds for the school, appreciating the staff and securing volunteers as needed. The Cherry Park PTO is a 501c3 tax deductible organization. Officers for 22-23 are Stephanie Greer (President), Amanda Winters (Vice-President), Liz Lowery (Secretary), and Erica Smith (Treasurer). Meetings are held at Cherry Park on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 PM (right after the SIC meetings.) All parents are invited to attend. All financial records are distributed and updated at each month's meeting.
Previous Newsletters for 22-23 School Year
"Can We Lose a Bad Health Habit?" January 29, 2023 https://www.smore.com/7e10cf
"Can We Lose Some of Our Stuff?" January 22, 2023 https://www.smore.com/vqz19
"Can We Lose a Little of Ourselves?" January 15, 2023 https://www.smore.com/kydtr
"What Can We Lose?" January 8, 2023 https://www.smore.com/j3spt
"What's Happening in the New Year?" January 1, 2023 https://www.smore.com/zcthu
"What 'R' You Going to Do during the Holidays?" December 18, 2022 https://www.smore.com/8c6u49
"How Can We Reduce Holiday Stress?" December 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/vmx8s
"Why Do We Clap and Cheer for Our Children?" December 4, 2022 https://www.smore.com/jegnm
"When Is the Best Time to Express Gratitude?" November 20, 2022 https://www.smore.com/b2xmt
"What Do You Need to Know about the World Cup 2022?) November 13, 2022 https://www.smore.com/d8c4x
"What's Happening in November at CPES?" November 6, 2022 https://www.smore.com/zyuje
"Who Showed Up for the Bobcat Dash?" October 30, 2022 https://www.smore.com/gjsm8
"How Do We Make Time Slow Down?" October 23, 2022 https://www.smore.com/c19u8
"Could PLCs Work for All of Us?" October 16, 2022 https://www.smore.com/6edtw
"What Is the Latest on the Bobcat"w Dash and Does It Make a Difference?" October 9, 2022 https://www.smore.com/2bf4k
"What is 'Nattering' and Is It Effective?" October 2, 2022 https://www.smore.com/gmrac
"What Do Parents Need to Know about Student Attendance?" September 25, 2022 https://www.smore.com/7rnbq
"What Do We Control?" September 18, 2022 https://www.smore.com/qv3hb
"What's the Goal for Our Children?" September 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/q8k0b
"What Do You Do If You Want to Visit for Lunch?" September 4, 2022 https://www.smore.com/2ha8b
"How Was the First Week?" August 21, 2022 https://www.smore.com/t65yv
"What Do We Need to Remember as We Start Back?" August 14, 2022 https://www.smore.com/qjucf
"Open House Reminders" August 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/35c6a
"Remind Me, Who's New at Cherry Park?" August 7, 2022 https://www.smore.com/b71ef
"Where Are the Pinch Points?" July 31, 2022 https://www.smore.com/csh32
"How Can You Help Us Keep Our Children Safe and Secure?" July 24, 2022 https://www.smore.com/6bweq
"How Can We Get Ready for the Fall?" July 17, 2022 https://www.smore.com/hcp2q"What Do We Need to Know" July 10, 2022 https://www.smore.com/y35p6