The Faculty Family BobChat
March 1, 2020
Does the Bond Referendum Affect Cherry Park? (After All, It Is a New School.)
I received this question this week and want to be sure you know the potential impact on Cherry Park if the proposed bond referendum passes. Will we be affected? In a word, absolutely. 1. A third of our students would get new classrooms. Please don't forget that all of our fourth and fifth graders and our GT class are located on F Halls which are rooms we renovated from the existing Sullivan building. Most of those classes are 672 square feet compared to 900-1,000 square foot classes in the new part of our building. And, we are putting bigger bodies in those smaller classrooms. We function in those spaces but they are not optimal for our needs or growth. Sullivan is a 1950 building that continues to need renovations to it's infrastructure. I compare it to continuing to drive a car with 150,000 to 200,000 miles on it. At what point does the cost of repairs become more than the cost of replacement? 2. We would get new turf for our upper grades playground. Our kids have enough room to play but we are putting 120-150 kids on grass five times a day (and that does not include use after school by Challenger). We are simply wearing the field out. That leads to more dirt coming into the building which means more cleaning that needs to be done. New turf would definitely help us. 3. Updates and upgrades to security features would be done. The district recognizes that there are always better systems and controls for keeping our children safe. While our current safety technology works well for us, it will need updates in a few years to meet future needs. The bond would help address that. 4. Our students will benefit later from the middle school and high school projects that would be done in the next few years. Our little guys will become big guys and we want them to learn in the most safe and modern environments both now and in the future. All Rock Hill schools will be improved and updated and I hope our children will always attend a school as nice as Cherry Park Elementary. Every child in Rock Hill deserves that. Please know that the needs above were based on assessments done on all of our buildings last year. Plans could change based on unanticipated problems or needs that may become bigger priorities. For more information about the proposed bond referendum, you can click on The One Plan at https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/8262.
Mr. Maness, Principal
Family Matters (for our Staff)
1. Tuesday Afternoon's Faculty Meeting--All certified staff will meet at 3:00 in the Media Center. We will hear a short presentation by our Food Service leaders about a new option you'll have for ordering lunch.
2. Instruction Rounds--Our district staff will come and do observations and provide feedback to us on Wednesday, March 4 from 8:00-10:00 AM. They may observe PLC meetings if you have yours during this time as well. Please be sure not to schedule anything for that day.
3. Lockdown Drill--Is still coming and will be coordinated with Sullivan. Be ready. When we do this, as always, think about what goes well and what needs to be improved. The goal of all drills is to develop flexible thinking to make the wisest choices in any safety situation.
4. PBIS Visit--Our district PBIS representatives will be visiting CPES on Thursday at 8:30 AM.
5. Retirees and Clover Visit--Thanks so much for your preparations and for allowing visitors to come into your classrooms and observe. Over the years, we have visited so many places to help us understand how to become better teachers. We want to help others do the same. While I know it can certainly be an interruption, I feel blessed that others want to come and visit us and see the great things happening in our school.
6. Recess Supervision--As always, please be sure you are following the Safe Schools model of playground supervision. Please be sure to spread out and maintain good sightlines for where all of our students are playing.
7. Heavy Lifting This Week--I want to say a huge THANK YOU to some of our staff who did some heavy lifting this week to help it be a success. First, thank you Office Staff. Angela Neal and Angela Kendree managed our Book Fair and ensured it was done right. Both of them stayed late in the afternoons and on Wednesday in the evening. We sold $12,500 in books. All this happened while Robby was out. Jazmin and Ceslie covered everything in the office so that Angela and Angela could do that. In addition, Angela N and Jazmin helped get snacks ready for our Clover visitors and our York County Retirees, too. (I would make the argument that Jazmin and Ceslie were best dressed for Read Across the World activities.) Next, we had such a good Art Show because of Molly Garrard. Molly spent lots and lots of time preparing student artwork and had tons of help from Christi Beard and Cara Rezzai to make that happen. We sold 305 pieces of artwork ($7625 total) and profits will go to our Art program. We also had lots of great parent volunteers who helped with the Book Fair and Art Show. Further, we appreciate our Cleaning Crews their help this week. Sherese Gallette and Joe Jackson worked tirelessly to do extra cleaning for all our visitors this week and for the Book Fair and Art Show. Mr. Mobley, Mr. Johnny, Mr. Chuck and Mr. Torrance from our PM Crew came in early to make sure our cafeteria and PE room were clean and tables were out of the way. (I could only stand by and smile as I watched those guys line up 16 cafeteria tables at a time and push them across the floor. Never would have thought of that in a million years.) We have such good cleaning crews. Susan Dixon and Amy Giles made the necessary adjustments while Robby is out to take over different responsibilities in Challenger so everything moved in the right direction. Nothing great happens without great leaders. Your leadership matters and I appreciate all the times you take initiative when no one is looking. It was a big week, a good week, and a fun week because you led yourselves well and you led our children well. Thank you, merci et gracias!!
School News
Thank You for Your Support with our Book Fair and Art Show--We appreciate your support of your artist and reader and of our school. We could not have been so successful without our parent volunteers. For the Book Fair, we want to thank Melissa Maynard, Tianay Foster, Leigh Threatt, Jennifer Rollins, Mary Ann Kennedy, Sara Redmond, Dani Kimbrell, Brooke Nies, Natisha Grandjean, Heather Powell and Ashellee Carr for all their help. We also appreciate our volunteers at the Art Show who were Jeanne Pearson, Katherine Langer and Lauren Butler. Thank you so much for your time and energy.
Staff Updates--Our media specialist, Robby Bartless, will be out through Spring Break. Last Saturday, he fell from a ladder while trimming a tree. He was sent immediately to the trauma center at CMC Main. They determined he broke his femur in his leg and his shoulder. He had surgery to repair both injuries early this week. He left the hospital on yesterday and is recuperating with his family who live in Greenwood, SC. He is doing well and has begun walking on his own. While his injuries are not good, he feels lucky that they were not much worse. You can drop off any cards in the office and we will send them to him. Ms. Jordan Smith will take over for him on Monday as the long-term substitute. She interned with us in second grade this past fall and has been subbing with us this spring. We are saddened to let you know that Meriam Polanco, one of our third grade Spanish immersion teachers, will not be with us for the rest of this year due to illness. We hope she will be able to return to work this fall. Mrs. Zulmarie Allison will continue teaching for her during this time. If you wish to send any cards, you can give those to Mrs. Wright or Mrs. Allison and they will get them to Ms. Polanco. I know Mr. Bartless and Ms. Polanco appreciate your thoughts and prayers as they continue to recuperate.
@CPESBobcat on Twitter--Want to see what's happening at CPES? Twitter is a great way for you to see our school family at work and play each day. Download the Twitter app and follow us @CPESBobcat. You might see your little one or favorite staff member.
Spring Registration Timeline--Please click on the button below so you can know deadlines for registering your child for next fall.
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. Meetings will be held on March 9, April 13, and May 11 (if needed.)
Calendar of Events
Friday--9:15 Wax Museum Presentations by Fifth Graders
March 7--Spring Forward One Hour for Daylight Savings Time
March 9-12--Fourth Graders Swim Lessons
March 9--5:30 PM SIC; 6:30 PM PTO
March 13--Teacher Staff Development Day (Student Holiday)
March 20--Spring Pictures
March 31--Bond Referendum Vote (Information about projects can be found at www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/oneplan); 6:30 PM Spring Music Performance for Kindergarten, Second and Fourth Graders in Sullivan's Auditorium
April 6-13--Spring Break
May 21--Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Field Day (in AM)
June 1--9:00 AM Fifth Grade Graduation (Sullivan Auditorium)
June 2--Third, Fourth and Fifth Field Day (All Day)