The CPES BobChat
January 2, 2022
What Do We Need to Know to Help Recruit for Dual Language Immersion?
It is the season...for signing up for schools of choice. The School of Choice application window is open from now until February 28, 2022. In kindergarten, we have 50 slots for French and 100 for Spanish and we need your help in telling others about this amazing opportunity for kids. Here are a few things you need to know as you spread the word. 1. Rising kindergarten students who are siblings of a child already in the immersion program (at CPES, SMS or RHH) receive first priority...but you must complete the School of Choice application. If this is your situation, you must sign up to indicate that your child is coming to us. (We don't know to hold a slot for you if we don't know that your child starts school next year.) Please make sure other immersion families know this and remind each other about the deadline. 2. There is great value to learning any second language. I often get asked if one language is better than another. There are great benefits cognitively, culturally, and career-wise to learning French or Spanish. French speaking countries invest more in jobs and industries in the area while Spanish is more commonly spoken. Language acquisition research shows that it is much easier to learn a third language once you learn a second one. What matters most is a child being immersed in French or Spanish at a young age so the language is embedded in their thinking just like English is. 3. Immersion is good for ALL kids. The process of learning a second language is a level playing field for kids no matter what their backgrounds are. We have kids with learning disabilities and speech issues who are very successful with us. Research tells us that the only child that might not benefit is a child with a receptive language disorder. (If a child is struggling to process his first language, it would be a struggle to process a second one as well.) If a child has a learning difficulty in an immersion program, he/she is going to have that same problem in any other school. We have a system of support to address those issues when they arise. 4. Immersion is a kindergarten through twelfth grade program. The elementary program (at Cherry Park) builds language background and vocabulary by learning content in math and science in the second language. The middle school program (at Sullivan) focuses more on reading, writing and cultural competencies in French or Spanish. The high school program (at Rock Hill High) further raises the levels of proficiency in the language and our students can earn college credit or start a third language. We are amazed at what they can do. 5. Immersion programs are the norm for the rest of the world. Every child in every other country is learning a second language starting in elementary school. Many countries want their students to learn a third or fourth language as well. As we've seen over the past two years, our world has become much smaller due to improvements in telecommunication. We want our children to know how to navigate well in a global community. Deeply learning a second language is one of the best ways to prepare them to be a citizen of the world. Know that we appreciate your commitment to your child and our school. We encourage you to have conversations with other parents who are deciding what school might be best for their child next year. We are happy to talk with them as well to help answer questions and provide information. Happy New Year to you and we will see you soon.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
P.S. Please see more information below about the School of Choice process, Parent Orientation Sessions, and links.
Please note that Wednesday, January 5 will be the first day back for students from the holiday break.
School News
MAP Testing--The Measures of Academic Progress Test (MAP) is an achievement test that students take on the computer. It is nationally normed and helps us see how a child is progressing in reading and math. All children in grades 1-5 will take the reading test on Tuesday, January 11 and they will take the math test on Wednesday, January 12.
December Teacher Appreciation--Thank you so much for your support of our staff before the break. We appreciate all that you did to encourage them by providing goodies.
Scholastic Book Fair--Was a great success. We hope your child had the chance to get some great books to read over the break.
COVID Reminder--We are seeing an increase in the Covid-19 cases throughout the district. Please continue to monitor your children for symptoms of COVID. These symptoms include a new or worsening cough, fever, loss of taste or smell, congestion, sore throat, body aches, etc. Please do not send your child to school sick. If your student has COVID symptoms, which unfortunately are very similar to the common cold, they will be sent to the school nurse and the nurse will call for you to pick your child up. Please refer to the Covid-19 information on the RHSD website and contact the COVID call center with questions, 803-980-2016. You can also click on the COVID Call Center button below for more information.
York County Library Winter Reading Challenge (December 13-January 31)--The Totally Cool Winter Reading Challenge is back! This winter, York County Library joins Zoobean in partnership with sponsor Lerner Publishing Group for "Read for a Better World," Beanstack’s annual Winter Reading Challenge. We challenge York County to read at least 2 million minutes as we compete with libraries and schools across the nation for a chance to win book collections, autographed books, and virtual author visits, shared among the top-performing libraries and schools. Let’s light up the mind this winter! Happy reading, York County!
To join the Winter Reading Challenge, register online or at any YCL location, and use our fun, interactive Beanstack service to receive digital badges and book recommendations as you progress! See the FAQ for details. Please click on the following link for more information: https://www.yclibrary.org/wrc
Applying for School of Choice
SOC Application (Families Who Already Have a Sibling in the Program)--Rising kindergarten students who are siblings of current immersion students (in kindergarten through ninth grade) receive priority for acceptance but parents must still fill out the Choice application by February 28.
Parent Orientation Sessions--We will have Virtual Parent Information Sessions at the dates and times below. Please click on the link beside the session to sign up to attend.
Wednesday, January 12 at 8:00 AM--https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdu2prDktGNZYQbD8vmlLOFMkGkJQC_4A
Wednesday, January 26 at 12:00 PM--https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqf-6uqTkiHNScWr4d9oL5LvEtpJEs8ntc
Wednesday, February 9 at 6:30 PM--https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-CrqzsjGd0mN3ZWMT-Rc8xBQHh3936i
Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-TECH
School Calendar
January 3-4--Teacher Workdays
January 5--First Day Back for Students
January 10--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 PTO Meeting (Click on the following link to attend either meeting: https://rockhillschools.zoom.us/j/6332364998?pwd=UTlkSkpPKzBUVG9Gd0hwbVRrVWFTQT09)
January 11--Grades 1-5 will take the MAP Reading Test
January 12--Grades 1-5 will take the MAP Math Test
January 17--Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No school)