The CPES BobChat
March 7, 2021
How Can We Be Grateful One Year Later?
March 12, 2020 was our last day of "normal" for school over the past year. We left on a Thursday, had a teacher workday on Friday and went virtual on Monday. COVID turned our worlds upside down. And now, maybe just maybe, we might see a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. March 13 is an anniversary of sorts for us. It is a day where there is so much to celebrate. This week and next week, let's take some time to express gratitude for so many who helped us arrive at this destination. 1. I am grateful for our children. They sit in our classrooms wearing a mask, viewing through desk shields, and listening to a muffled teacher talking in a second language. And, they are learning. They sit at home viewing a teacher in a little box, sitting patiently, and navigating all kinds of technology. Ever so quickly, they adapted to a new norm for their learning and they have made the best of it. They seldom complain and they are still excited to learn. They are courageous and resilient. Bless them. 2. I am grateful for our parents. Like our children, you rolled with the punches. You patiently followed the new rules and regulations. Whether your child receives face to face or virtual instruction, you became the learning coach and teacher assistant. You changed your schedules and realized things would be different and you supported your child and us through it all. You have been patient, understanding and forgiving. We could not do what we do without you. 3. I am grateful for our teachers and staff. No matter your job role, you were (and are) the cleaning staff, the tech support, and the health providers. You understood that safety was first and teaching came second and you constantly problem solved so many situations so children could learn. You were willing to teach virtually. You were willing to teach two different grades levels. You were willing to move your room. The expectations changed and you changed your practices. You sacrificed so much over this past year and you came to "school" online or at Cherry Park each day ready to care for kids. I am so proud of each of you. 4. I am grateful for our district leadership. It would have been easy to go too far in any direction and choose all virtual or all face to face instruction. Our Central Office staff and School Board chose a much harder path. They listened to all the voices. They examined the science and health information. They considered the effects of COVID on children's learning and teacher's instruction. They chose the hard path of moderation realizing it was not either/or decisions but both/and choices they needed to make. That takes lots of wisdom and discernment. It takes courage to balance the tensions. They provided options for families and teachers that met their health, safety, and educational needs. They are to be commended. As we come upon this anniversary of sorts, let's pause long enough to celebrate what we achieved and how far we came. There is so much for which we can be grateful.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness, Principal
Parents, please note that Thursday, March 11 is an Early Release Day and students should be picked up at 11:00. Friday, March 12, is a Teacher Workday.
School News
March Teacher Appreciation--It’s the month of “Luck” and we are so lucky to have such an amazing staff at Cherry Park! Let’s host a “pot of soup, at the end of the rainbow” lunch for our staff! Soup will be delivered by Publix deli featuring chicken noodle, broccoli cheddar, and chili! Please sign up in the link below. Thank you all!!
This month will be sponsored by our 2nd and 3rd grade families! All treats and gift cards should be brought to the main office by 9am on March 16th.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-march
National School Breakfast Week--Will be this week. Mrs. McCrorey, our cafeteria manager, is having promotions all week to encourage students to eat breakfast with us. Your child can eat breakfast with us every day. Please have them at school by 7:30 at the latest so they have time to eat and get to class on time.
Caps for Recycled Bench at Miracle Park--GT students are leading a schoolwide and community wide project collecting plastic bottle caps and lids to be recycled and made into park benches for Miracle Park. This is a program started by school children in 2010 and in partnership with GreenTree Plastics out of Indiana. Donations can be dropped off at any of the three locations: CPES, Knowledge Perk, or Boyd Hill Rec Center. They can contact me with questions. Students will be sorting and weighing donations in June to prepare for delivery to the location. We will be looking for a driver to deliver the caps to Evansville, IN in late June and bring back our benches for installation in Miracle Park. See flyer below for more info.
School of Choice Update--(See button below.) The application window opened on Tuesday, December 1 and closes on today. (Note the extension of the deadline to March 7.) 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
Cherry Park Families, have you completed the School of Choice Application for your rising kindergarten child? Slots will be held only for CP families who apply for younger siblings.
Online Book Fair February 22-March 5
Final Day of Book Fair is Today
York County Early Learning Partnership Fundraiser March 1-12
Read Across America Activities
Online Book Fair for Cherry Park (Feb. 22-Mar.7)--Visiting our online book fair is the perfect way to celebrate READ ACROSS AMERICA week. The spring book fair will be available online for ONE MORE WEEK. Parents may access our school’s book fair home page with the link in this flyer and the link below…The online fair will close Sunday, March 7, 2021 at MIDNIGHT. All books will be ordered online and shipped to your home. There is free shipping for orders of $25 or more. Flyers went home with students last week. You can click on the button below for more information as well. Mr. Bartless says, "We are less than $500 from meeting our sales goal at the online book fair. The link to the fair will remain active until midnight on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Thanks for your support of our Scholastic Book Fair."
York County Early Learning Partnership Fundraiser (March 1-12)--The York County ELP focuses on helping preschool children begin school ready to learn. They help provide books for little ones that parents can read to them over and over. There are many programs they sponsor that foster preschool literacy. You can visit their website here for more information about their work: https://elpofyorkcounty.org/ You can also click on this link for a short video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z2AEMlVZ4g_y-HJuOHo_kjob4o0_C9Q8/view All Rock Hill schools want to encourage families to participate in their Read a Thon that helps raise money for their organization. Information will go home on Monday, March 1 about this effort and you can click on the flyer below for more info about the Read A Thon. We want to thank many of your businesses and organizations who already sponsor the Early Learning Partnership.
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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 via Zoom and our Parent Teacher Organization meets at 6:30 via Zoom. The link for March's PTO Meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82419024222 Elections were held in the spring for these organizations but all parents are welcome to attend to help provide input and volunteer. School Improvement Council members for this year are Carl Thompson, Elizabeth Lowery, Leigh Threatt, Amber Hinson, Kim Crean, Brooke Nies and Phyllis Faircloth. You can contact them at mailto:cherryparksic@gmail.com.
School Calendar
March 7--School of Choice Application Closes; Last Day to Order Books from the Online Book Fair
March 8--5:30 SIC Meeting; 6:30 PTO Meeting (See link above if you'd like to attend)
March 11--Early Release Day for Professional Development (Students dismissed at 11:00); Progress Reports sent home by then
March 12--Teacher Day (Student Holiday)
March 14--Daylight Savings (Turn clocks ahead one hour)