The CPES BobChat
January 3, 2021
How Do We Shift from Urgent to Important?
2020 was all about "urgent." Our children, parents, and staff responded to the COVID 19 crisis as best we could. Safety and health were our top priorities. We all made major adjustments to work and school and home. We watched COVID numbers rise and fall and rise again. We seemed to constantly wait for the the other shoe of the next problem to drop. And, that's what we needed to do and what we should have done and we will need to do more of that in the days ahead. We're not out of the woods yet, but I think we can see better days ahead. It may be time to reconsider what is not only urgent but what is really important. As parents and teachers, we want to model for our children that there is more to life than always responding to the next crisis or problem in front of us. This is a great time of year to process and return back to center to think deeply about the long term and not just the short term. In fact, if we can pause long enough to see where we really are and think about what's most important, we may be able to avoid some of the pain of a constant focus on the urgent. Our children may see urgent a little differently when they want to finish a video game or TV show instead of completing their homework or chores. For them and us, it is all too easy to prioritize the immediate over the long-term. As we all look at the rearview mirror of the past 12 months, we can easily see places where we might have gotten off track. What does that look like for you and your children? A new year gives us another chance to start over and refocus. Over the course of this month, I will discuss some particular areas where I know I've allowed the urgent to overshadow the important. Let's work together to help our children know what needs to move up on the "important list" and what needs to move down on the "urgent list."
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
Parents, please remember that tomorrow, Monday January 4, is a Professional Development Day for teachers and it is a student holiday.
A Truckload of Drinks for our Front Line Workers
Carts are Full to Support our Workers
Thank You for All Your Support
Thank You, Mrs. Butler from Crain and Company
Teacher Appreciation by PTO in December
Thank You, Mr. and Mrs. Khaled
School News
Keeping Everyone Safe and Healthy--If your child is positive for COVID 19 or has been a contact of someone who is positive over the holidays, please click on the following form and complete it: https://hipaa.jotform.com/203524055790150 Let Nurse Love know if you or your child is sick before sending them to school. Please reduce all exposures you can at school by limiting dropping off nonessential items such as computers, backpacks, water bottles and even lunches. (We can provide most anything a child needs at school for a day except for medication. All students can even eat lunch at school for zero cost for the rest of the year.) Because of your effort and our effort, most of our positive contacts of COVID come from home and not school. We appreciate your vigilance in helping keep our students and faculty safe each day.
School of Choice Update--(See button below.) The application window opened on Tuesday, December 1 and closes on February 28. Siblings of current immersion program students receive priority for acceptance but parents must still fill out the Choice application. You can go to the School of Choice website for more information: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/5064 We will have Virtual Parent Information Sessions on Wednesday, January 27 at 8:00 AM and on Tuesday, February 9 at 6:00 PM. Go to the link above (or the button below) to sign up to attend. Please let other families know about this so they can stay informed.
Cybercrime--Is getting more serious by the month and during the holiday season the bad guys up their game. Hackers are getting smarter about tricking people into clicking on fraudulent links or opening up malicious attachments in emails. It can happen to you personally on your own computer and email as well.
We have help!!! As part of a security awareness program that we will be implementing for our users, we are able to offer our families a Home Internet Security course through KnowBe4, the world’s largest integrated platform for security awareness. This is well worth your time and contains valuable information on how to create strong passwords, online banking security, keeping your identity safe, avoiding malware, protecting children online, securing your home network and email safety.
Here is the link and password for the course.
Website: https://www.knowbe4.com/homecourse
Password: homecourse
See link below for "Red Flags for Keeping Emails Secure."
Be Ready--Every family needs to have a backup plan ready to go if your child has to quarantine. We hope to localize any remote learning situations to a student or a class or a grade level or an individual school. The reality is, though, that we may need to return to remote learning for a period of time if the governor or district determines it is necessary for health and safety reasons. We are prepared for remote learning. Please do the same.
Free Breakfast and Lunch Meals for Students
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting hardships placed on families, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has extended the Emergency Seamless Summer Option program to allow all enrolled students to receive a free breakfast and lunch through June 22, 2021, or until federal funds run out.
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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 (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.
School Calendar
January 4--Teacher Professional Development Day (No Students)
January 5--First Day Back for Students
January 11--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 Parent Teacher Organization
January 18--Martlin Luther King Jr. Holiday
January 23--Rock Hill Schools EXPO for Schools of Choice--10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at South Point High School
January 25--Early Release Day for Professional Development (Students dismissed at 11:00)
January 27--Virtual Parent Information Session for Prospective Parents at 8:00 AM