The CPES BobChat
December 8, 2019
How Can We Be "Giving Ninjas?"
Black Friday. Cyber Monday. The Gift Exchange. My Wish List. It can be enough to make a person say "Bah Humbug!!" Gift giving is a special part of so many traditions during this season of the year but it seems that it has been high-jacked by consumerism. What is a person to do and how can we help our children have a better perspective? I have found a secret weapon in the battle against materialism. It is the art of giving in secret and becoming a Giving Ninja. We can do this in big and small ways. Bake some cookies with your kids and leave them on your neighbor's doorstep. Ask your children when might be a good time to pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-through line. Mail a gift card to someone your kids know who might need it. Give to a charity without receiving recognition. Decide with your kids how much of tip to leave for a server at a restaurant. Send an encouraging note as a family and don't sign it. Decide to give your children a small amount of money and plan with them how to give it away spontaneously and secretly. When we do this, I believe it has a bigger positive effect on the givers than the receivers. (Yes, it is more blessed to give than receive.) When we do this, it reorients our focus. It encourages us to open our eyes to the needs of others. It makes us smile and laugh. It makes us grateful for what we have and what we can give away. it reminds us that life is truly not about us. Our children need to understand the same things. When they see the joy there is in giving (and not just getting), they know that they can positively impact others and yet be the person most blessed. Let's decide that we we will show them how to become Giving Ninjas this holiday season and throughout the rest of the year, too.
Mr. Maness, Principal
School News
Winthrop Basketball Game--We are taking all of our students to the Winthrop Men's Basketball Game on Tuesday, December 17 at 11:00 AM. Kindergarten and First Graders will be shuttled on buses to the Winthrop Coliseum. Second through Fifth Graders will walk. (It is less than a mile from door to door.) If there is bad weather, we will shuttle everyone. Permission slips and more information will come home this week.
School of Choice Information
If you have a rising kindergarten student who has a sibling in our immersion program, please be sure to complete your School of Choice application between December 2 and February 28. If your child is already in our immersion program at Cherry Park, you do not have to apply again. Please help spread the word about opportunities to come and take a tour and the Choice Fairs below.
School of Choice Tours at Cherry Park--You can click on https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4bacac29a31-spanish2 to sign up for a tour.
Tuesday, December 10 at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, January 14 at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, February 18 at 6:00 PM
Rock Hill Schools Programs EXPO--Will be Saturday, January 25 from 10:00-12:00 (Location TBD). Both of these events will be places where we highlight our immersion program for prospective parents.
Reminders from Nurse Love--The flu season is upon us. Please do not send your child to school sick. If they have vomiting, diarrhea or fever, please do not send them to school. They are to be fever free for 24 hours before sending them back to school. Flu signs and symptoms include: fever, chills, muscle and/or body aches, congestion, sore throat, and cough. Please consult your child's physician if you suspect your child may have the flu.
The Dental Van will be coming on 12/9/19 and the Lions Club will be coming on 12/13/19 to help with vision screenings.
Lions Club Vision Screenings--Will be this Friday, December 13. Please see the letter below and if you have any questions, feel free to contact Nurse Love. This is a great opportunity for our students.
Guidance News From Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Flaherty--Over the next few months, our guidance counselors will provide instruction consistent with the requirements of Erin's Law that was passed by our legislature. From more information, please see the letter below from our district. If you have any questions, you can contact Mrs. Sanders or Mrs. Flaherty.
PTO and SIC Information
December Teacher Appreciation:
Christmas Cookie Walk and Lunch Duty for Teachers
It's almost time for our last Teacher Appreciation event of 2019! Next Friday, December 13th, we would love to provide homemade cookies for a "Cookie Walk" for our teachers during their lunch time. We would also like to provide coverage for their lunch duty on this day (many have asked for this luxury!)
So, below, you will find sign ups for cookies (we want to send each teacher and staff member home with 2 dozen delicious treats!) as well as slots to cover each teacher during their respective lunches. Please sign up for either OR both! And please sign up to cover YOUR child's teacher!
Thanks so much for your willingness to jump in all year and help us show Cherry Park staff just how much we love them!
If you send your cookies in on a plate or platter that needs to be returned, please make sure that it is clearly labeled. It will be available for pick up Friday afternoon or Monday morning after the event.
Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Roseanne Koellner & Leigh Threatt
Teacher Appreciation Committee
December SIC Meeting--The district Instruction Department plans to present the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) high school advanced language pathways at the December 9 SIC meeting at 5:30 PM prior to provision of a staff recommendation to the Board of Trustees in January. All attendees at the meeting will be allowed to provide input to the district staff. The meeting will be held in Sullivan’s PD Room which is located to the right of our Main Entrance. All parents are invited to attend.
Bobcat Dash Pledge Receipt--Similar to the kind of receipts given at other non-profits, we want to provide a form for you to fill out as a receipt for any pledge donations you made. Parents, feel free to pass this on to family members or neighbors who donated as well. You can find the form below. All contributions to PTO are tax deductible given that our PTO is a 501c3.
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. Meetings will be held on January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, and May 11 (if needed.)
Calendar of Events
Monday--Birthday Book Recognition during Lunch; 5:30 SIC Meeting--Presentation by District Staff on High School Pathways for Immersion Students (Sullivan PD Room/Falcon Room on the right coming into the Caswell Drive)
Tuesday--8:00 AM School of Choice Tour at CPES
Wednesday--Fourth Grade to Schiele Museum
Friday--December Teacher Appreciation (Cookies and Lunch Supervision)
December 16--First Grade to Discovery Place
December 17--11:00 AM CPES Attends Winthrop Men's Basketball Game (More details to come.)
December 19--Cherry Park Holiday Concert 6:00 PM in the Sullivan Auditorium (First, Third and Fifth Grades will perform in it. Kindergarten, Second and Fourth will perform in the spring.)
December 20--Half Day for Students (Students will be dismissed at 11:00); 8:30 School Performance of our Holiday Concert by First, Third, and Fifth Grades
December 23-January 7--Christmas Holidays (January 6 and 7 are Teacher Workdays)
January 8--Students Return from Winter Break
January 14--8:00 AM School of Choice Tour at CPES
February 18--6:00 PM School of Choice Tour at CPES