The CPES BobChat
September 29, 2019
Why Is Cherry Park an Excellent School?
Last week, the State Department of Education released School Report Card ratings. Cherry Park received an "Excellent" designation. (You can go to https://screportcards.ed.sc.gov/overview/?q=eT0yMDE5JnQ9RSZzaWQ9NDYwMzA0NA to see our report card.) We scored Excellent on Academic Achievement and Preparing for Success and we scored Average on English Learners' Progress and Student Progress. (We still have work to do.) Tomorrow night, we will be recognized as a Palmetto Silver school. I am so proud of our students, parents, and staff for all the hard work that has been done to receive this award. To each of you, thank you.
While we think this is a great achievement, I believe we are an excellent school for other reasons that may not be reflected in a school report card rating. 1. When we compare our school to schools with similar demographics, our students are performing well. When looking at student achievement, we should look at absolute results and ratings but we should also compare results in schools with the same kinds of kids. When I look at that, our Cherry Park kids outperform many other schools. That is great news. 2. Our kids are learning half of their content in a second language. This is the fact that amazes me. It would seem that our kids would be handicapped by the fact that they learn most of their math and science in Spanish and French. I believe that our students perform well because they learn a second language. Research (and our own experience) says that kids think and problem solve better because they learn content in a second language. What others might consider a liability, we consider an asset. 3. Our kids are performing well at high levels in acquiring Spanish and French. According to our STAMP test results, by fifth grade, over 80% of our kids are on or above grade level in Speaking, Reading, and Writing in their second language. Our state considers it a huge win if 80% of kids are on grade level in reading and writing in English. It is amazing to see kids becoming literate in Spanish and French as well. 4. We are not satisfied with where we are. I spent lots of time looking at our data with our teachers. Their overwhelming response was "I wish we could have accomplished more." They were frustrated with the ones they thought should have done better. They focused on the small percentage that still were not at grade level. Like our kids, they want 100% and not just 80% or 90%. I love these teachers. Excellence is a state of mind, not a rating on a report card. Excellence says, "I see where I am today and I want to get much better tomorrow." Excellence is a mindset. It is a habit. It is pushing to get the best from yourself and everyone else around you. That's what we are trying to do at Cherry Park. We want to celebrate our success for sure. We also want celebrate the success of other schools in our district who work just as hard as we do helping kids. I'm glad I get to work in such an excellent school, with other excellent schools and in an excellent district. (#OneTeam OneMission OneRockHill) For today, I'm glad the state recognizes that we're pretty excellent, too.
Mr. Maness, Principal
School News
Book Fair--What difference does reading really make? When is the Book Fair coming? Can your order books online? What is the e-Wallet? Is there a competition during the week? All these questions can be answered by clicking on the Book Fair button below. Thank you for supporting reading for your child and our school, too.
Second through Fifth Grades Walking Over to Cherry Park with Mrs. Anderson (PE2)
For the week of October 14th – 18th, students in 2nd-5th grades will be going over to Cherry Park fields to practice lacrosse skills. We will be working on throwing and catching as well as practicing for the Bobcat Dash.
As we embark on this fun adventure and create meaningful experiences for your children, please be reminded of a couple of things…
- Students should wear appropriate clothing and SHOES!! BRING WATER!!
- Students will walk over and back w/Mrs. Anderson during their PE2 class that week
- Nurse Love will communicate w/Mrs. Anderson about any medical issues of concern
Thank you for your continued support and PLEASE ask your child/student how was their lesson!
Mrs. Anderson
Community Bike Ride--Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism is sponsoring a Community Bike Ride for Sullivan Middle and Cherry Park Elementary on Tuesday, October 15 from 6:00-8:00 PM. There will be a limited number of helmets and bikes available to use. See the flyer below for more information.
Picture Day--Is Wednesday, October 16. Information went home this past week. You can order pictures at http://mylifetouch.com and use the Picture Day ID: NR019375Q0
Red Ribbon Week--Will be October 28-November 1. During this week, we celebrate how we can make good decisions that help us to stay drug free. At the elementary level, we keep our conversation developmentally appropriate with our students and focus on choices that are healthy and good. See below for fun activities planned for that week.
Read Your Way to the Big Game-- USC and Clemson University, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education, are again sponsoring the Read Your Way to the Big Game Contest. All PK through 8th grade students who read 6 books will qualify to win tickets to the Palmetto Bowl on November 30. Once students have completed their readings, they should turn in the list of books read to their teacher. Winners will receive four tickets and pre-game sideline passes to the Clemson vs. South Carolina game. Teachers have to input the students by November 1, 2019 deadline. Click on the link below for more information. If we have 70% of our school to participate, we could win a $2000 grant for library books as well.
Family, Friends and Veterans please join us for our Annual Veterans Day Celebration.
Friday, November 8th
9:00 am- 1:30 pm
Kindergarten and Third Grade Ceremony at 9:00 am
First and Fourth Grade Ceremony at 10:00 am
Second and Fifth Grade Ceremony at 11:00
Red Ribbon Week Activities--October 28-November 1
National Theme: “Send a Message Stay Drug-Free”
Monday, October 28, 2019 Theme: “I am drug-free from head to toe”
Crazy Sock and Hat Day
Students and staff wear crazy socks and hats.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019: Theme: “I Love Me, I am Drug-Free”
Wear Red Day
Students and staff will wear red.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019: Theme: “Team Up Against Drugs”
Jersey Day
Students and staff will wear their favorite team jersey, shirt, or
school colors today.
Thursday, October 31, 2019: Theme: “Make Drugs History”
Throwback Thursday
Students and staff will dress from any decade. No Halloween
costumes allowed of any kind.
Friday, November 1, 2019: Theme: Spirit Day – Bobcat Dash
“I am proud to be drug-free”
Students will wear athletic wear – MUST WEAR TENNIS Shoes
PTO and SIC Information
Bobcat Dash
Our Bobcat Dash is a "fun run" fundraiser sponsored by PTO where students secure pledges for laps run during the day on Friday, November 1. This will be the culminating event of our Red Ribbon Week activities as well. We invite parents to come and cheer on their child and run with him/her. Students will run mostly during their Related Arts time:
8:00 Fifth Grade
8:55 Fourth Grade
9:50 Third Grade
10: 45 Second Grade
11:40 Kindergarten (This time is not their normal Related Arts time.)
12:35 First Grade
Pledge forms will go home this week. All contributions to PTO are tax deductible given that they are a 501c3.
Box Tops For Education
Box Tops are due Friday, October 18th. Please trim your physical Box Tops along the dotted lines and send them to your child’s teacher this week. Digital Box Tops can be submitted at any time by scanning your receipt with the Box Tops app. Remember, each Box Top we submit is worth $0.10 for our school!
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 October 14, November 11, December 9 (if needed), January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, and May 11 (if needed.)
Calendar of Events
All Week--Fall Book Fair (Media Center); 2nd through 5th Grades Walk to Cherry Park with Mrs. Anderson for PE2
October 14--5:30 School Improvement Council Meeting; 6:30 PTO Meeting (Parents attending may need to park in our Cherry Road Lot due to Pee Wee and Small Fry Football Games at Cherry Park. Come early to find parking.)
October 15--Wright to Brattonsville; 6:00 Community Bike Ride (Park in the Sullivan Faculty Lot)
October 16--Fall Picture Day (See info above.)
October 18--Polanco to Brattonsville; Boxtops Turn In Day
October 21-25--National Bus Safety Week
October 21--Parent Conference Day
October 27-November1--Red Ribbon Week
November 1--Bobcat Dash
November 8--Veterans Day Festival (9:00 Kindergarten and Third Grade Ceremony; 10:00 First and Fourth Grade Ceremony; 11:00 Second and Fifth Grade Ceremony)