The CPES BobChat
May 17, 2020
What's "It" About?
Wednesday is our last day of formal instruction this year. Thursday and Friday are turn-in days. Beyond that, we will have end of year activities and learning opportunities until the last day on June 4. Yes, I hear the collective sigh of relief (and applause). The end is in sight. In many ways, the end of the school year always feels this way. This spring has been challenging, frustrating, isolating, and uncertain. It has been a time like no other for sure. It is time to pause...take a breath...and take another. If we look at the past nine weeks with a wide angle lens, what are some takeaways for us? 1. The methods changed but the purpose didn't. No matter the style or format of the instruction, it has always been about...the learning. We are accustomed to a traditional mindset of educating twenty five kids in one classroom with a homeroom teacher for 180 days. Having to move to online instruction shook us all up. Hopefully, this change reminded us that our children can have new and different experiences (better known as learning) in all kinds of ways and from all kinds of sources. A teacher (while very important) does not have to be the sole dispenser of knowledge for a child to be able to learn. 2. Learning is valuable for its own sake. Grades, tests, work packets, and completed assignments have their place. Those pieces help provide evidence for the quality and extent of the learning. Those items are the proverbial "cart." The "horse" is really the learning. What did you discover? What do you know now that you didn't then? What next step did you take in reading, writing, and solving problems? How did your world get bigger? What questions do you have now that you didn't yesterday? We become better people when we constantly ask questions and search for answers. We hope that we challenged our students during this time to take ownership for their own learning while we were apart. 3. Learning should never come to an end. "Leaders are learners." I really believe that. Summer is almost upon us. It affords us some freedom and a little less structure. But, the learning should continue. While continuing some practice in reading and writing and math is good, I'm talking about the kind of learning that fosters new passions in children and helps them connect their school "subject areas" with real life. "Why do lightning bugs light up? I don't know. Go look it up because I want to know too." "Why do we float (or sink) in the water? Hmmm...not sure." "Which one is the North Star? Where is the Big Dipper and Little Dipper? Is that a satellite or a star?" We can model that process of discovery by asking our questions aloud and seeking out our own answers. If the big people do it well then the little people will follow....every time. My hope is that whether it is August or December or April or July, we will encourage our children to love "it," the learning. Thank you, parents and staff, for all you've done these past few months to foster that love during difficult circumstances.
Mr. Maness, Principal
P.S. Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times for Monday, June 1--11:00-1:00 and 4:00-6:00
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times for Tuesday, June 2--7:00-9:00 AM and 11:00-1:00
School News
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
E-Learning through the End of the Year--Here is a schedule for e-learning through the end of the year.
May 18-20--Instructional Days
May 21-22--Catch Up and Turn In Days for Students (All assignments should be turned in by May 22.)
May 25--Memorial Day Holiday
May 26-28--Instructional Days and Activities
May 29--Bad Weather Makeup Day (No Instruction)
June 1--Day 1--Drop Off and Pickup Materials (11:00-1:00 and 4:00-6:00)/Instructional Days and Activities
June 2--Day 2--Drop Off and Pick Up Materials (7:00-9:00 AM and 11:00-1:00)/Instructional Days and Activities
June 3-4--Instructional Days and Activities
June 5--Teacher Workday
Drop Off and Pick Up of Materials on June 1 and 2--Parents will place all student materials for drop off in a bag with your child's name, your teachers' names and grade level on it. Materials for drop off include library books, leveled reading books, books borrowed from the teacher and anything else. Drop Off will be located at the Caswell Entrance near the Main Office. Parents (and students) will stay in the car, pull as far forward as possible, and drop bags of materials in a tub held by a staff member. Materials will be collected from the driver's side window. Students in grades 3-5 can keep their laptops this summer to continue their learning. Pick Up will be located at the Cherry Road Entrance. Every student at CPES will have a bag to be picked up including materials from class, items from lockers, and a special gift. Anyone can pick up your child's bag. Parents need to have a sheet of paper with your child/ren's name, teachers' names and grade level (in big, easy to read letters) written on it. The bag will be retrieved from the school and brought to your car. You can roll down the passenger side window or pop your trunk and it will be placed there for you. Again, please do not allow anyone to get out of the car as a health and safety precaution. Drop Off and Pick Up times are 11:00-1:00 and 4:00-6:00 on Monday, June 1 and 7:00-9:00 AM and 11:00-1:00 on Tuesday, June 2.
Special Area Activities for May--Click on the button below for suggested activities for PE, Art and Music.
Teacher Appreciation--(See pictures below). Thank you so much for all the ways you supported our teachers last week. If you still need to drop off items for Teacher Appreciation, there is a black bin with a yellow top at the door where you can do that.
Need Help? If you need assistance, please contact the district at helpme@rhmail.org or call our dedicated phone support hotline, 803-980-2016 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on weekdays. You can also access resources on our District webpage: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/ (Please see below if you need technology assistance.)
Teachers Receive Their Gifts This Week--Thank You Parents!!
Baskets Take a Ride to Class
Thank You CPES Staff!!
Update Your Contact Info
Remote Learning
Staff Email Addresses and Office Hours--Can be found in the links below.
Technology Assistance--For technical issues such as logging into Canvas and Launchpad, connecting to wifi, resetting passwords, device troubleshooting, etc., the Rock Hill Schools Technology Department staff will be on-call from 8:00am - 8:00pm and can be reached via email at helpdesk@rhmail.org or via phone at (803) 985-3531. Technology help tutorials will be published at: https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rock-hill.k12.sc.us%2Felearning&data=02%7C01%7CPMANESS%40rhmail.org%7C10c38360cc8d442c802808d7cdca73c5%7C57b835c11a6c40088e2fb2a16e5f738a%7C0%7C0%7C637204141727260450&sdata=YuZ8uNvg%2BLbNyY%2FZF9ppuTRY2C1dJRTrYoa2JBVDLSw%3D&reserved=0. Click on the Parents & Students button in the left-side menu for access.
Or your child's teacher can submit a tech request as they normally would. Each school tech is still monitoring tech requests as usual.
French and Spanish Resources--Click on the button below for some helpful resources to support your child in continuing to learn a second language.
Need Wifi Access? See below flyer from Comporium about how to access free Wifi for 60 days.
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.
Calendar of Events
All school events before, during and after school have been canceled for the rest of the year.
May 18--Last Day of Formal Instruction
May 22--Bad Weather Makeup Day
May 25--Memorial Day (No School)
May 29--Bad Weather Makeup Day
June 1--11:00-1:00 Drop-Off and Pick-Up; 4:00-6:00 Drop-Off and Pick-Up
June 2--7:00-9:00 AM Drop-Off and Pick-Up; 11:00-1:00 Drop-Off and Pick-Up
June 4--Last School Day