The CPES BobChat
June 7, 2020
What Can We Do This Summer?
Whew!! We made it!! Thank you for all the ways you helped our children these past few months. There was so much "heavy lifting" for all of us from the changes caused by COVID-19. As we turn our eyes to the summer, we look forward to some down time and a chance to reflect and relax. While we do that, I would also encourage all us to model for our children how we can still learn. Our teachers have provided some different ways kids can continue their content area learning and they have already been sent to you this past week. Email them if you didn't get them. (Some are also listed below.) Here are some other suggestions that are fun and meaningful for those days when kids (or adults) might say "I'm bored." 1. Read lots. Books can take us on all kinds of adventures during a season when travel may be a little more limited. Whether we are reading to our children or they are reading to us, there is nothing greater we can give our children than a love for reading. Newspapers, magazines, cookbooks, comic books and even the back of cereal boxes all count for reading. Help kids know it is even OK to read a book more than once. (All kids can participate in READO over the summer. See below.) 2. Play in the dirt. Kids need to go outside as much as they can. Help them view their backyard through the lens of a gardener or a zoo keeper or an astronomer or a meteorologist. Take them on hikes or go camping. Ask them questions about what they see and what they find. My family has recently loved meeting two new backyard friends we've named Larry the Lizard and Sal the Salamander. 3. Work a puzzle. Whether it is a physical puzzle with pieces you put together or a crossword puzzle or a Sudoku math puzzle or brain teasers, you can find age appropriate puzzles in the newspaper, in the grocery store and on the internet. Puzzles help us learn to think differently and to problem solve. 4. Have a new experience. Nothing drives learning better than doing something you haven't done before. Kids need (more than ever) to meet people who aren't like them so they can understand that differences can be OK. They need to go to a new park or a different grocery store or a new restaurant that has food unlike what they've eaten. Is there a game they haven't played? Is there a different kind of art they haven't tried to create? Have they gone on a virtual field trip to a zoo or museum they haven't seen? Just like we nudge our children to try new foods, we need to model for them how they can try new experiences that help them grow. 5. Give them a job (or jobs) and a way to serve. Our most successful kids are those who are responsible and can see a task through to the end. They need to know that life isn't all about them and that they can make a difference in others. As parents, I wonder how often my expectations were too low of my children rather than too high in these areas. Kids can do amazing things to help when we give them the opportunity and guidance. Their self-confidence grows by leaps and bounds when they know they've done a job to the best of their ability. Know that I hope you and your family have a great summer. Rest up. Relax. Have tons of fun. Love on your children and hug them for us. The school year is so important but summertime gives fantastic opportunities for learning that lasts a lifetime. Strength and blessings to you.
Mr. Maness, Principal
School News
Staffing Changes--We are so saddened that Ms. Sharon Crocker (4th/5th Grade English Language Arts), Mrs. Martha Miller (Resource), and Mrs. Susan Dixon (Literacy Coach) will be leaving CPES. Each of them is pursuing some exciting opportunities for them this fall. Mrs. Tracy Mitchell will move from 3rd Grade English Language Arts to Mrs. Crocker's position in 4th/5th Language Arts. She will be on the French teaching team with Ms. Fant. We have hired Dr. Allison Nichols as our resource teacher. She has served in many different capacities as a self-contained and a resource special education teacher. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our school. Mrs. Karen Finley will be our new literacy coach. She is a native of France who is highly fluent in English as well. She knows best practices in literacy for any language and has served as an immersion teacher for nearly twenty years. We are so blessed to have them join our Cherry Park family.
Summer Office Hours--All school buildings remain closed through the month of June. If you need to contact an office staff member, please email us (and addresses for all staff are below). We are not manning the phones again until July 1.
Retrieving Your Child's Bag--Currently, we have 60 bags that have not been picked up. Please email Mrs. Neal, Mrs. Deyerle, Mrs. Futrelle or Mr. Maness to set up a time to pick it up. Email addresses are below.
Yearbooks--We were notified this week that yearbooks will not be back until after July 1. With COVID-19, there was a production shutdown which has delayed getting the books back in time. We will contact you when we are sure they will be shipped and we will get those to you.
Terrific Kids--Please click on the link below for our last Terrific Kids recognition of the year.
Rock Hill PE Virtual Road Trip
During this last month of school, we are going on a Virtual Road Trip! Our goal is to visit 13 of South Carolina’s State Parks and 49 National Parks across the US by adding the miles we walk, run, hike, or bike each day. The only requirement is that the miles have to be self-propelled, so motorcycle and car rides do not count. All elementary students in the district and their family members are invited to participate! We will update the map daily so you can keep track of our progress. You can input your miles as often as you would like, by day or by week, whatever works best for you. If completing miles outside your home, remember to practice social distancing and always get permission from an adult.
If you do not have a way to measure or track distance, here is a tip for estimating your miles:
· walking for 15 minutes would be about 1 mile
· jogging for 10 minutes would be about 1 mile
· riding a bike for 6 minutes would be about 1 mile
Click on this site to log your miles - https://sites.google.com/rhschools.org/rh-elementary-pe-virtual-run/home
Teacher Appreciation--If you still would like to drop off items for staff members, there is a black bin with a yellow top at the main entrance where you can do that.
Update Your Contact Info
Summer Learning Resources
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.