The CPES BobChat
February 19, 2023
How Can You Share the Love...with Your Child?
All month, we've been discussing how we can care for others by "sharing the love." As teachers and parents, we know we love our children. But, do they know that? And, how can we express our care for them when that is hard to do? 1. Learn to speak their language....their love language. We have two very different children in our family. They are different genders. They have different personalities and passions and interests and abilities. I am always amazed how they came from the same place but are two totally unique people. Gary Chapman, a noted psychologist, developed a framework called "The Five Love Languages." He says that others may experience love best when it is expressed in the way that meets their unique need. According to Chapman, the five languages are "words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time and physical touch." Your particular child may feel most loved when it is expressed in one of those languages. We can certainly use all of those languages to express our care for our students, but one of them may mean more to them than another. You will know his unique love language by his response (or lack of response). We should be good students of our students to know what works best. 2. Consider age and stage. How we connect with our five year old should be different from how we respond to our ten year old. Little ones are going to need more physical supervision and proximity while older ones may need a listening ear. All of our kids need our time which is such a precious commodity. Time with them goes so fast and they grow up so quickly. The days are so long but the years really are short. 3. Remember that discipline is an act of love. As teachers and parents, we have to set limits for our children. If children don't understand boundaries when they are little, they will not respect them when they are older. This is the process of helping them develop self control. I often remind our Cherry Park kids that they can either learn to control themselves or someone else will. I have seen that truth lived out in so many positive and negative ways over the years. As principal, when I give a disciplinary consequence to a child for a poor choice, it is always with the goal of changing the behavior and not simply punishing the child. One of the most important ways to love our children could be when we tell them "no." All of us care deeply for our little ones at home and school. There is a difference, though, in our expressions and their receptions of that care. Let's be thoughtful how we love them to help them develop and grow and mature in a healthy way.
Strength and Blessings to You,
Mr. Maness
P.S. Thank you for all the ways you provided treats and support for our students and staff on Valentine's Day. We appreciate all you do.
Notes and Reminders
Mardi Gras Parade for French Students--Will be this Tuesday and parents of French students are invited to come and see them at 12:40 in the Caswell Car Loop.
Read Across America Week is February 27-March 3--This is a special, weeklong emphasis on reading where we highlight the value of literacy. The districtwide theme for this year is "Bringing Communities Together." We will have a special emphasis each day related to the theme where students can dress up as well. Here are the special emphases each day.
Monday--Art is For Everyone--Wear your favorite color or as many colors as you can.
Tuesday--Family Ties--School Spirit Day-- Dress up in your Cherry Park wear.
Wednesday--Reading is "Soup"er--Super Hero Day--Wear a cape or your favorite super hero shirt. (No costumes, please.)
Thursday--Friendships Hold Our World Together--Dress Alike Day--Dress like a friend or wear shirts that promote friendship.
Friday--Celebrating Successes--Career Day--Dress like a notable person or your future career.
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 completed all our Parent Information Meetings but please feel free to contact our office if anyone needs additional information. Please share with others the flyer below.
Calendar Survey--The calendar survey for the 2024-2025 school year has been sent out via email to all families and staff. Look at our FAQ about the modified calendar: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/10148
Take the survey before 5 p.m. on Feb. 27: https://bit.ly/2425calendar
The survey is also available in Spanish: https://rock-hill.jotform.com/230383201291849
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 and feel free to attend that meeting even if you are zoned for another middle school.) 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 as soon as 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
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 20--Presidents' Day Holiday
February 21--Mardi Gras--12:30 French Students' Parade
February 27-March 3--Read Across America Week (See daily emphasis in information above.)
February 28--School of Choice Application Window Closes
March 2--Rising Sixth Grade Orientation (At All Middle Schools) 6:00 PM
March 10--Early Release Day--Students will be dismissed at 11:15
March 13--Teacher Workday; 5:30 School Improvement Council: 6:30 Parent Teacher Organization Meeting
April 3-7--Spring Break
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
"How Can We Share the Love...with People Different From Us?" February 12, 2023 https://www.smore.com/ck5xp
"How Can We Share the Love...about Cherry Park?" February 5, 2023 https://www.smore.com/mfjbh
"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