The CPES BobChat
January 31, 2021
How Do We Shift from Urgent to Important in the "New School?"
Last week, I had a chance to catch up with my friend, Richard Heckard. At one point while he talked about his work, he said, "You know, the old school is the new school." By that, he meant that the old school ways of doing business (such as quality customer care) really mattered during this isolated time of COVID. His statement really made me wonder what "old school values" may have taken a backseat during this time of urgently responding to the pandemic. And, have the big people done a good job of reinforcing these with the little people? 1. Listening. This one is an easy say and a hard do. I wonder how much I'm really tuning in to the people around me. Am I slowing down enough to deeply know how they are managing during this time? Do I have an extra fifteen minutes to call and connect or am I just staying on the run? Am I listening to what my son means and not just what he says? Our little ones (of all ages) need us just to hear them right now. 2. Patience. We want to get in, get out and get done. At school, when we ask our children to line up, they often argue about their place in line. We pause and tell them, "Does it really matter who's in front of you? We're all going to the same place." We need the same reminders. We can be so impatient as we search frantically for the shortest line. We hate to wait. In my head, I'm thinking, "If they only knew what I need to get done, they'd get out of my way." The truth is if I really knew what was happening in their lives, I'd get out of their way. Learning to wait for my turn is a lifelong lesson indeed. 3. Politeness and respect. Did I remember to tell the grocery store clerk "thank you?" When I placed my order, did I say "please?" Did I leave a tip for the waitress? Did I ask questions to find out the facts or did I simply jump to conclusions based on my own assumptions? Given that I'm older and think I know everything, am I even willing to hear a different point of view? Am I showing the children around me each day that others are more important than myself? Do they know how important that they are? I hope so. They are the reason I have my job as principal. They are also the reason we have our roles as moms and dads. It is so easy to forget that. I'm sure there are other "old school" values that our children need to see us model during this "new school" time. Please feel free to add to my list. I hope we will strive to bring the best of the "old school" to our "new school" so our children will know how to bring those values to school.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
Friday, February 5 will be a Teacher Workday and a Student Holiday.
School News
February Teacher Appreciation--It’s the month of “love” so let’s show our teachers how much we LOVE them! Pizza is already being provided by a local company, so we are going to collaborate with some yummy sides and drinks!
This month will be sponsored by our kindergarten and 1st grade families! All treats should be brought to the main office by 7:30am on February 12th. Food will be served later that morning!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-february
Keeping Everyone Safe and Healthy--Let Nurse Love know if you or your child is sick before sending them to school. Please reduce all exposures you can at school by limiting dropping off nonessential items such as computers, backpacks, water bottles and even lunches. (We can provide most anything a child needs at school for a day except for medication. All students can even eat lunch at school for zero cost for the rest of the year.) Because of your effort and our effort, most of our positive contacts of COVID come from home and not school. We appreciate your vigilance in helping keep our students and faculty safe each day.
School of Choice Update--(See button below.) The application window opened on Tuesday, December 1 and closes on February 28. Siblings of current immersion program students receive priority for acceptance but parents must still fill out the Choice application. You can go to the School of Choice website for more information: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/5064 We will have Virtual Parent Information Sessions on Wednesday, February 3 at 6:30 PM for Spanish speaking families and on Tuesday, February 9 at 6:00 PM. Go to the link above (or the button below) to sign up to attend. Please let other families know about this so they can stay informed.
Valentine's Day Parties--Yes, we are looking forward to having them on Friday, February 12. No, we will not be able to allow any items (food or cards or goodies) to come from families. We will take care of providing snacks and activities for our children. We want that time to still be fun for our kids but we also want to keep things as safe and as healthy as possible. We don't want you to needlessly spend money so please know that if you send items in backpacks or drop them off, we will have to send that back home to you. This is a districtwide decision for all our schools.
Opportunity from RHSD Education Foundation--We have launched our "Love Our Teachers" yard sign campaign and are pleased with the excitement that we've seen thus far.
Make a donation of $24 at rhsdfoundation.org and receive a yard sign to display at your home, school or business. Sign distribution will take place beginning February 12th.
Cherry Park Families, have you completed the School of Choice Application for your rising kindergarten child? Slots will be held only for CP families who apply for younger siblings.
Thank You Parents for our Staff Picnic on Friday
Sendoff for Officer Z
Thank You Cici's
Rising Sixth Grade Information
Dual Language Immersion Night for Sullivan--This is an information session for Cherry Park families whose students will be in sixth grade next year. This will help you know what the transition for our immersion students will look like. This meeting will focus more on the immersion program specifically than the February 11 meeting below. It will be February 18 at 6:00 PM.
Sixth Grade Orientation Night (For all rising sixth graders in the district.)
SPECIAL VIRTUAL EVENT FOR RISING SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
FEBRUARY 11 AT 6 P.M.
AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YOU ARE ZONED TO ATTEND IN 2021-22
Please see your zoned school’s website on February 11 for information about how to access this important virtual event.
Participate to learn more about your middle school for next year including teachers, selection of elective classes, and extracurricular clubs and activities.
Please plan to attend the virtual event at the middle school you are zoned to attend. (Cherry Park students going to Sullivan can attend theirs.)
If you are unsure about your zoned middle school, please check with your current guidance counselor or principal.
We look forward to welcoming you at this important event as you start planning for your sixth grade year!
See you on February 11 at 6 p.m.!
Dismissal Safety and Security Reminders
We want to do all we can to have the safest and most secure process at dismissal so your child goes home the way he/she is supposed to go home. With that in mind, here are a few reminders.
1. Car Tags--If you do not have a car tag (or may have lost yours), please be sure to come to the office (with your ID) and pick up a new one. Drivers that don't have one will be asked to go to the office to get a new one.
2. Change in Dismissal Method--All changes in the way students go home should be made in writing and should be sent at the beginning of the day to your child's teacher. If needed, you can drop by the office to make that change as well.
3. Additions to Your Pickup List--At the beginning of the year, you listed emergency contacts who could pick up your child from school. If you have new people to add to the list, please come by the office to do that. As always, please bring your ID when you come to the office.
Each of these policies and procedures is in place to make sure we have clarity about doing the right thing to keep your child safe and secure. We appreciate your assistance in helping to do that. Given the myriad of family situations we have, we want to keep all information current and updated. We appreciate all you do to support your child and our school.
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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 January's PTO Meeting is:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83166646886 Elections were held in the 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
February 3--Virtual Parent Information Session for Prospective Spanish Parents at 6:30 PM
February 5--Teacher Workday (End of First Semester)
February 8--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 PTO
February 9--Virtual Parent Information Session for Prospective Parents at 6:00 PM
February 11--Sixth Grade Orientation Night (for all rising sixth graders in the district) 6:00 PM
February 14--Valentine's Day
February 16--Report Cards Go Home
February 18--Dual Language Immersion Night for Sullivan (for rising sixth graders at Cherry Park) 6:00 PM
February 28--Choice Application Window Closes