What are we going to do if our internet is down? What will we do when a teacher or student has to be isolated or quarantined and has to be out two or three weeks? What will you do if your childcare arrangements don't work out? What will happen if we miss a day due a weather event? What if the water pipe bursts again? Or the air goes out? Or if the computer breaks? What if we all can go full time face to face (or if we all have to go virtual)? Is your anxiety building? Is your heart racing? Is your head spinning? Here's what we are going to do. We are going to do the very best we can...and know that our best is good enough for today. That's what we will do. That's all we (you and I) can do. It doesn't mean that we will be satisfied with today's outcome. My best effort tomorrow will hopefully be better than my best effort today. But, for today I plan to live knowing that I gave it my best. I'm going to trust that you are doing the same. These past six months have taught us how to wear a mask, what six feet really is, and how best to wash hands. We have also learned how to teach and learn and parent with constant uncertainty and needed flexibility. "Monitor and adjust" is a mantra for all of us. The only predictable aspect of life right now is knowing that our plans will change. Planning still matters and is vitally important but the truth is that we must be satisfied that our best is enough. As we move ahead, know that our staff is committed to that. We know you and our children are as well. When things go awry and it feels like the bottom is falling out (again), let's hold fast to the assumption that the person on the other side is truly doing the best he/she can. If our children see the big people doing that, they will know their best is good enough as well.

Strength and Blessings to You

Mr. Maness, Principal

READO--READO sheets are due to Mr. Bartless on Tuesday, September 8 through Friday, September 11. Students need to return completed sheets to their teachers who will get them to Mr. Bartless.

Immunizations--Parents, please do not forget that Nurse Love needs your child's immunization record (especially in kindergarten) at the beginning of school. You can bring this when you come for your child's parent conference on our LEAP days.

Devices for Students--All Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade students will receive a personal device this year. As we start the year, our highest priority will be getting our Virtual Students in Kindergarten through Third Grade their device and then we will distribute devices for Third, Second, First and Kindergarten students attending Cherry Park. (Our Fourth and Fifth Graders should already have their devices.) Parents need to read the 20-21 Mobile Computing Guide and review that with your child(ren). The last two pages of the Guide should be printed and signed by the parent and child. There is a $35 Technology Protection Plan fee (and you can pay that when you come for your parent conference on LEAP days as well.) Please be sure to view the Mobile Computing Guide Parent Orientation by clicking on the link. This orientation and the guide is in English and Spanish for our parents. New!! The forms can be filled out online now. See link below.

Need a Hotspot? Click on the button (or link) below for the application for obtaining a Hotspot/Wifi: https://form.jotform.com/202474353791155

Repairing Computers--As we prepare for an amazing school year, we ask that if your child has a district issued device that is damaged or lost, please fill out the form https://bit.ly/2X1G7hp ASAP so that we can service the device prior to the start of school. Upon completion of the form, one of our technicians will be in contact with you and help you over the phone or make arrangements to swap out your device. Back to school is a busy time and we want to ensure that we are prepared for a great year. Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-8324.

District Calendars--The links for the 20-21 District Calendars in English and Spanish are below. New!! See District Calendar below for designated C Days.

1. Classes begin on Tuesday for your child. Your child's teacher has emailed you how to connect via Zoom. If you have questions for how to log on, please email him/her at the address below.

2. Got a Question? Please email your child's teacher first. If he/she cannot answer it, feel free to email Mrs. Futrelle (kfutrelle@rhmail.org) or Mr. Maness (pmaness@rhmail.org). If you email the Rock Hill Virtual Academy, they will forward the question to us to please email us first. We are your child's assistant principal and principal.

3. Schedules--Your child's virtual schedule will not match the Virtual Academy schedule. In order to provide immersion language instruction, our teachers do a combination of virtual and face to face instruction and they must follow the Cherry Park schedule as a result. Your child's teacher will send you a schedule of instruction if he/she hasn't already.

4. Computer Questions? Please see information above and links below for help.

5. Makeup MAP Testing (Grades 1-5) and Fast Bridge Testing (Kindergarten)--We will follow up with you to schedule that once we know how we will accomplish that.

6. Computer--If you haven't picked up a computer yet, please contact the school. Please be sure you have completed all the forms and sent us a check for your Technology Protection Plan for $35.

Virtual Staff Contacts

All Kindergarten English Language Arts--Lisa Smith mailto:lsmith@rhmail.org

Kindergarten French (Math/Science)--Karen Finley mailto:kfinley@rhmail.org

Kindergarten Spanish (Math/Science)--Rebeca Garcia mailto:rgarcia@rhmail.org

First Grade English Language Arts (Spanish Students)--Sara Brenton mailto:sbrenton@rhmail.org

First Grade Spanish (Math/Science)--Rebeca Garcia mailto:rgarcia@rhmail.org

First Grade English Language Arts (French Students)--Erin Webb mailto:ecwebb@rhmail.org

First Grade French (Math/Science)--Joseph McFadden mailto:jmcfadden@rhmail.org

Second Grade English Language Arts--Karen Finley mailto:kfinley@rhmail.org

Second Grade French (Math/Science)--Laura St. Aimee mailto:lsaintaime@rhmail.org

Second Grade Spanish (Math/Science)--Yahaira Reddy Singedi mailto:yreddysingedi@rhmail.org

Third Grade English Language Arts--Melissa Wright mailto:mwright@rhmail.org

Third Grade Spanish (Math/Science)--Javier Marin mailto:jmarin@rhmail.org

Third Grade French (Math/Science)--Laura St. Aimee mailto:lsaintaime@rhmail.org

Fourth Grade English Language Arts--Amanda Riley mailto:ariley@rhmail.org

Fourth Grade Spanish (Math/Science)--Meriam Polanco mailto: mpolanco@rhmail.org

Fourth Grade French (Math/Science)--Jennifer Fant mailto:jfant@rhmail.org

Fifth Grade English Language Arts--Amanda Riley mailto:ariley@rhmail.org

Fifth Grade Spanish (Math/Science)--Meriam Polanco mailto: mpolanco@rhmail.org

Fifth Grade French (Math/Science)--Jennifer Fant mailto:jfant@rhmail.org

1. Arrival--We encourage Kindergarten and First Graders to be dropped off (and picked up) at the Cherry Road Entrance. We will have staff and Safety Patrol ready to help guide your child to his/her class this week. Big brothers and sisters can walk little ones to class. We will not be able to have parents walking students to class starting tomorrow. The safest way for your child to arrive at school each day is to be dropped off in the car line. Parking and walking across four lanes of traffic is simply not safe. Please practice with them how to exit and enter your car. Also, please make sure they know what kind and color car you drive. That will help them know which one is theirs in the afternoon.

2. Get Ready the Night Before--Please help your child get into the habit of having everything ready for the next day of school the night before. This helps ensure they have what they need and limits needing to drop off anything at the office. Forgot a lunch? We will feed your child. Forgot homework or a laptop? We will work through that with your child. Forgot a mask? We have extras. If you need to drop off something for your child, it should only be medication or something absolutely essential. This limits exposure to our office staff (and for you.)

3. Dismissal--If you do not have a car tag, please bring your ID and pick one up in the office. We want to be sure we are only giving tags to approved emergency contacts. Please do this before dismissal time. Also, know that we will not do student dismissals after 2:00. All available staff members are transitioning all throughout the building and it is very difficult to dedicate staff to going to a classroom to get a child and return them to the office when they need to help other students dismiss safely.

4. MAP Testing and Fast Bridge--Students in Grades 1-5 will be taking the Measures of Academic Progress Test on the computer starting this week and into next week. Kindergarten students will take a one on one assessment called Fast Bridge starting this week. See links below for more information about these assessments.

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.

September 7--Labor Day Holiday

September 8-18--MAP Testing (Grades 1-5) and Fast Bridge Assessment (Kindergarten) for Face to Face Students

September 8--A Day Students Return (Face to Face); First Day of Virtual Instruction (Kindergarten through Fifth Grade)

September 9--B Day Students Return (Face to Face)

September 14--A Day Students Come

September 21--B Day Students Come

September 28--A Day Students Come

October 5-B Day Students Come