The CPES BobChat
August 4, 2019
What's New for This Year?
Every year, we look for ways that we can improve and get better. Here are a few things that will be changes as we get started. 1. Arrival Dropoff from Caswell Street---As we begin, we are going to do a trial of leaving the yellow gate open in the morning so you can turn from Caswell Street and go directly towards the main entrance of Cherry Park for dropoff. (Be sure to stop at the stop sign.) This is the same procedure that was in place last year for Challenger Pickup. You will need to get a car tag at Open House or from the office in order to come in that way. Sullivan dropoff traffic will still use their loop for their students' arrival. (I hear the cheers going up from all of you now!!) Now that this will be in place, we ask that you not park on Caswell Street and dropoff students or walk them across traffic. All Caswell Street car traffic should come through the loop by the main entrance. If you need to park in the Sullivan lot, you will need to go through the Sullivan car loop because it will not be safe to come through the gate and turn right to go into the parking lot. 2. District Snack List---Based upon USDA Nutrition Standards and School Board Policy ADF - District Wellness, the following list of approved snacks are the only allowable snacks for classroom celebrations or parties. No homemade goods are permitted. Snacks must be individually wrapped or in purchased containers/packages. Valentine’s Day parties are excluded from using the list. The list was compiled by the district Health Advisory Committee using feedback from the School Improvement Councils (during the 2017-18 school year), and parent survey responses from the spring of 2018. The snacks listed meet SMART Snack guidelines recommended by USDA. Here is the list: Pretzels,Cheddar crackers or graham crackers, Sun chips or similar baked chips, Frozen fruit bars (Ex. Whole Fruit, Outshine, Dole or store brand equivalent), Fresh fruit – Individual serving/wrapped or in purchased package container, Fresh vegetables – Individual serving/wrapped or in purchased package container, Low fat dips, Fruit cups (Ex. In water, light syrup, or 100% juice), Yogurt, Apple sauce cups, Sugar free gelatin cups or sugar free pudding cups, Fruit and veggie pouches, Cheese sticks (Individually wrapped), Pepperoni or turkey pepperoni (In purchased package container or individual sticks), Water/Flavored Water. This list does not address allergies. Please remember to always check specific allergies with your classroom teacher 48 hrs. prior to bringing food to the school. Accommodations will be made for students with allergies. This list should be used when providing snacks for the whole class at any time (including birthday celebrations during lunch.) Our ice cream selections meet the district guidelines and parents can purchase ice cream on Fridays for the class as a birthday celebration option if they wish. These parameters do not apply to what individual students bring for lunch. As always, please coordinate with your child's teacher when providing snacks for classes. They know what is best for their group of students. 3. Staff Changes--Sara Breton will be a new first grade English partner teacher teaming with Yahaira Reddy-Singedi. Laura St. Aimee will be a new French second/third grade teacher with Emily Parrish. Aida Garcia Castro (who will be called Ms. Garcia) is our new Spanish third grade teacher who will team with Tracy Mitchell. Michelle Preston (English fourth grade teacher) and Javier Marin (Spanish fourth grade) will team together. Emily Anderson will be our part-time PE teacher and Remi Flaherty will be our part-time guidance counselor. Our full-time guidance counselor, Chana Sanders, will have an intern, Cassidy Bauver. Kristina Marshall will be our speech therapist. Susan Dixon will be our literacy coach and Zulmarie Allison will be our ESOL teacher. We will also hire a part-time receptionist for our office staff. We are so blessed to have such great people serving our families. Thanks for all that you are doing to help your child transition well to Cherry Park. it takes #OneTeam One Mission One Rock Hill to make that happen.
Mr. Maness, Principal
School News
Checklist for Starting School
1. Read, read, read. That's the best way to be ready to start school. See opportunities below.
2. Complete your online registration. (Information is below.)
3. Complete the Mobile Computing Guide Parent Orientation and forms to secure a device for third through twelfth graders. Parents need to do three things: View the orientation video, Review the Mobile Computing Guide and Use of Internet/Student Assurance, and Complete the Technology Protection Plan form. (There is a $35 Device Protection Payment that can be paid at Open House in the Media Center. Mr. Bartless will collect these.)
4. Plan for after school care if needed. (Information about our Challenger After School Program is below.)
5. Purchase school supplies. (List is below. Let us know if you need any assistance with securing them.)
6. Complete Lunch Application if needed. Link is below.
7. Contact Transportation at 980-2022 if you need your child to ride a School of Choice Bus in the morning or afternoon.
8. Sign up for the District App and under Settings, you can select Cherry Park Elementary. This is your best way to received up to date notifications from the district. You can also select social media choices @CPESBobcat.
9. Attend Open House on Thursday, August 15 from 5:30-7:30 PM. Come meet your child's teacher, ask questions and tour the school. We will have representatives from Food Service, Challenger, Transportation, Nursing, PTO and Technology available to help answer questions.
Opportunity to Play Football
Cherry Park students will play on the same team as Richmond Drive students. David Bell will be the head coach and he is a wonderful guy who models great expectations for students. For more information, please click on the flyer below. You can reach Coach Bell at 803-412-2475 or wvdawgs@comporium.net.
Reading Opportunities This Summer (and Next Fall)
All Students--Our schoolwide reading program is called READO. Click on the file below to see our READO card and see the incentives for our kids if they read over the summer.
Rising Fourth and Fifth Graders (Elementary Battle of the Books)--Titles are below for books that students will read to compete in next year's Battle of the Books competition. Students can read them starting this summer. Just click on the file for Elementary Battle of the Books.
Online Registration for Students
The convenient, online process will allow parents to update information from the comfort of their home before attending orientation sessions at their child’s school. The district is pleased to offer this service to its families as a way to speed up the registration process.
By completing the registration in advance, parents and guardians will be able to quickly move through the orientation and course/class schedule pickup dates to be held later at each school.
We are happy to inform you that the document upload feature is now available for both new and returning students. Please note that the documents must be in a file format accepted by the online registration system. Please see the Document Upload Feature section of the help page, listed below, for more information.
Online Registration Help webpage: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/7818 If you experience trouble with the document upload feature, or would rather deliver your documents in-person, please do not hesitate to visit the school after completing the online registration. Steps for registration:
- Register online as either a new or returning student by following the appropriate link on our homepage https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/default.aspx?PageID=1
- If you did not upload documents while registering, take any needed documents to the school your student will attend, such as proof of residency documentation.
NOTE: Please make sure to register before taking documentation to the school.
Parents/guardians will need to provide proof of residency documentation to their child’s school. Accepted documents include: Electric Bill, Gas Bill, or Rental or Lease Agreement. The document you choose to submit must include the student's parent(s) or legal guardian and the address being confirmed.
PTO and SIC Information
Box Tops For Education
The Box Tops program has gone digital! Please download the new Box Tops app and scan your receipts to help us earn money for Cherry Park Elementary. (Grandparents and neighbors are welcome to help, too.) You can also still clip and send traditional Box Tops with a valid expiration date. The first due date for clipped Box Tops will be Friday, October 18th, but you can send Box Tops to your child’s teacher at any time during the school year. For more information, please go to http://www.btfe.com. Thanks for supporting our school!
Girls on the Run and Let Me Run Volunteers Needed
Girls on the Run--At this time, we are still in need of coaches at Cherry Park Elementary for a 2nd team. Volunteers are the heart of our program! If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining the fun, please let Program Director Jen Thorsell know ASAP. We would love to have you join GOTR for another fantastic fall season! (You can reach Jen at jennifer.thorsell@girlsontherun.org or 803-620-3036.
Important GOTR season dates:
· New Coach Training Class: August 24th and/or September 7th (8am-12:30pm) in Rock Hill
· Registration opens: August 26th
· Season: September 23rd– December 6th
· Reindeer Romp (downtown Rock Hill) 5k: December 7th at 8am
· Kickoff Meeting (lead coach attends): September 17th
· Mid-Season Meeting (lead coach attends): October 23rd
Let Me Run (Boys)
Let Me Run is a running program for 4th - 5th grade boys, but it’s more about the boy than the run. Counteracting the negative pressures society places on boys, the program uses running as the vehicle to inspire, teach, and reach them. Combining exercise with fun activities and lessons, Let Me Run inspire boys to be courageous enough to be themselves, build healthy relationships, and live an active lifestyle.
Let Me Run meets for 1 hour 15 minutes after school for 7 weeks on two non-consecutive days beginning mid-September. The season will end with the inaugural Upper Palmetto Let Me Run 5K To be held at the Winthrop Coliseum /Winthrop Lake area.
For information contact:
Don Rice, Program Director
704-743-8755
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 September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9 (if needed), January 13, February 10, March 9, April 13, and May 11 (if needed.)
Calendar of Events
August 5--Class assignments will be sent out for all students who have completed online registration and verified proof of residency.
August 6-9--Learning to Rock at CPES (This is training for all new teachers to Rock Hill Schools)
August 12--District Professional Learning Community Conference at CPES (District staff development for all elementary teachers will be at CPES.) This is the first day back for teachers.
August 15--Open House (5:30-7:30 PM)
August 19--First Day for Students
September 2--Labor Day Holiday
September 9--First School Improvement Council Meeting (5:30 PM) and Parent Teacher Organization Meeting (6:30 PM)
Monday, October 21--Parent Conference Day