The CPES BobChat
November 7, 2021
Do We Need to Slow Down?
The Question: "How are you doing?"
The Answers: "Fine. We're just so busy." "We're meeting ourselves coming and going." "Busier than I want to be." Or, the answer I usually give is "Moving right along."
I've just finished reading a book by John Mark Comer called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. As we turn our eyes towards the holidays and a new year that is right around the corner, I wonder if it might be a good time to consider how crazy busy we are and how that may affect our children. What might be a few reasons to think about showing our children a different pace of life? 1. Our bodies work better when they are rested. We know there is a crash coming and that we need to HALT when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. How much sleep is enough to effectively recharge our batteries? Are we getting a quantity and quality of sleep each night? We easily see the difference in a child's behavior when they are well rested or not. I wonder if our family members or coworkers would say the same about us. 2. Our stress levels go down when we build margin into our schedules. Even if we're sleeping enough, how are we feeling when we move non-stop from one thing to another every day? We need "re-creation" time by scheduling activities that nurture our heart and mind. When did you last do something you would call a hobby? All too often, we are running ourselves (and our children) ragged by the pace of our schedules and then we wonder why we are stressed out. 3. Slowing down provides time and space for those most important to us. Jan and I cannot believe how fast the past eighteen years passed with our two children. We tried to slow time down but it just didn't work. It is easy to think that we'll have time "someday" but that day is really today. One lesson we learned over the years was that in order to have "quality time" with your children, you really do have to have a "quantity of time" with them. Slowing down now conveys how much you care for those who matter the most to you. (L-O-V-E is spelled T-I-M-E.) Busyness has become such a badge of honor in our culture. We mistakenly believe that we may be more important if our schedule is more busy than others. What if we showed our children a different way of life that was truly more healthy and fulfilling? Slowing down may make a huge difference in their lives during the few short years they are with us.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
Daylight Savings ended yesterday. Please be sure you have turned your clocks back one hour.
School News
SIC and PTO--Will meet tomorrow evening via Zoom. SIC will meet at 5:30 and PTO will meet at 6:30. You can use the following link in order to attend those meetings: https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/j/6332364998?pwd=UTlkSkpPKzBUVG9Gd0hwbVRrVWFTQT09 You can also click on the button below.
Makeup Pictures--Our make-up day for school pictures will be Wednesday, November 10th. Students who were absent will need their picture taken for the yearbook. (Teachers have extra picture order forms for students who were absent.) If a parent wishes to have a re-take of their student, they must bring their entire picture packet to the photographer on the day of make-up pictures.
Names On Student Personal Items (Jackets/Sweatshirts/Hats/Gloves/Lunch Boxes/Water Bottles)--Parents, we often have so many items in our Lost and Found. It is so easy to return lost items to students when we find names on those items. Please help label them so they can get back to your family.
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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 this year. School Improvement Council meets at 5:30 and our Parent Teacher Organization meets at 6:30. We are looking for volunteers to help in PTO this year. Let us know if you are interested. Elections were held last spring for PTO officers but all parents are welcome to attend to help provide input and volunteer. You can contact our PTO at mailto:cherryparkelementarypto@gmail.com School Improvement Council members are Amanda Campbell, Paloma Fernandez Sanchez, Brittany Jensen, Anitra Meeks Amber Hinson, Kim Crean, Brooke Nies, and Phyllis Faircloth. You can contact SIC members at mailto:cherryparksic@gmail.com.
School Calendar
November 7--Daylight Savings Ends (Fall Back One Hour)
November 8--5:30 School Improvement Council Meeting; 6:30 PTO Meeting (Both Via Zoom)
November 10--Makeup Picture Day (See details above)
November 11--Veterans Day
November 24-26--Thanksgiving Holidays
December 22--Last Student Day before Holidays (End of First Semester)
December 23-January 4--Winter Holidays
January 5--First Day Back for Students