The CPES BobChat
January 1, 2023
What's Happening in the New Year?
I hope you've enjoyed time with your family during the holidays. Here are a few reminders as we start back this week. 1. School of Choice Recruitment--The School of Choice application opens on Thursday and will be open until February 28. Please be sure to let friends and family members know about this. If you have a rising kindergarten child who currently has a sibling in the program, be sure to complete the Choice Application so your K5 child can secure a spot at Cherry Park. On this Thursday, Rock Hill Schools will host a School of Choice Fair at our district office at 386 East White Street from 6:00-7:30 PM. This is a great opportunity for interested families to come and talk with us at our booth. We will also have four Parent Information Meetings in January and February at Cherry Park at the following days and times:
January 18 at 8:00 AM
January 31 at 6:00 PM
February 8 at 12:00 PM
February 16 at 6:00 PM
During these sessions, we will lead tours of the building, visit classrooms, and answer questions. We hope you will share your experience with our school with your friends. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn a second language and we want as many people as possible to know about French and Spanish immersion. 2. New Semester--Our first semester ended before the holiday break. We begin our second semester on Thursday as our children return. Report cards will go home on Wednesday, January 11. We will also do a mid-year check using our Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment on January 24-25. This is an achievement test in reading and math that Grades 1-5 take on the computer. Also, don't forget that Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday will be on Monday, January 16. 3. Attendance--We appreciate all you do to have your child attend school each day and to be on time. When children are not in school, they miss the opportunity to learn what is needed for them to be successful. In our context, they also lose valuable exposure to the second language they are learning. As we move ahead this semester, we will follow up with families whose children have had excessive absences and tardiness. We want to work with you to help our students be present so they can learn and grow.
We cannot do what we do without your support. Know that we appreciate your kindness and generosity towards our staff and school during the holidays. You make a difference everyday in your child's life and in ours, too. As we turn the page on a new year, we look forward to all that is ahead for our school family.
Strength and Blessings to You,
Mr. Maness
Happy New Year!! Please remember the first day back for students will be Thursday, January 5.
Notes and Reminders
School of Choice Application Window--Opens on January 5 and you can go to the following website to apply: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/6855 Remember that rising kindergarten students who currently have siblings in the program have first priority to secure a slot at Cherry Park but parents must complete the Choice Application. The application window closes on February 28. There will be a School of Choice Fair on Thursday, January 5 from 6:00-7:30 PM at the District Office. We will have CPES Parent Information Meetings for Choice on the following days and times:
January 18 at 8:00 AM
January 31 at 6:00 PM
February 8 at 12:00 PM
February 16 at 6:00 PM
Battle of the Books Information for Fourth and Fifth Grade Students and Parents
- Students should read as many of the books as possible by January 5, 2023…If a student needs to borrow a paperback over the break, please see your teacher or Mrs. Austin.
- Students need to fill out an official application and have a parent or guardian sign the form and return it by January 12. Applications are on the table by the door in the Media Center. These can be returned any time before January 12 to the same location. These are different from the interest surveys completed earlier in the year and must be signed by a parent or guardian.
- The selection process will be a quiz on all the books. A numerical score will be given to determine the top 6 scorers (plus 2 alternates).
- The quizzes will be given during the week of January 9. Quizzes must be completed without help from anyone. Teachers can send students to take a BOB quiz anytime during the week. Students will take the quizzes in the Media Center. All quizzes are due to have been completed in the Media Center by January 13.
- The team of 6 (plus 2 alternates) will be selected and announced by January 17, 2023. In the event of a numerical tie on the quizzes, tiebreaker questions will be asked to come up with the top 6 plus 2 alternates.
- The team (including the alternates) will check in weekly with Mrs. Austin for a review of each book by means of completing a story map. Dates and times for these check-ins will be announced and held during school hours.
- Formal practice dates will be announced and held during school hours. There is no before school or after school commitment.
- More details about the final competition will be forthcoming as these arrangements from the district are still in the planning process.
BOB TIMELINE
Read as many of the books as possible.--January 5
Parental Permission Due--January 12
Quizzes Given--January 9-13
Team Selected and Announced--January 17
Check-ins and Practices--TBA
District Competition--TBA
Yearbooks--Yearbooks are now on sale. All sales are online only and this year there will not be an additional order after April 7, 2023. You will need to use the Order Number 24915. Click here to order a yearbook: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=24915
Information about the Flu
Parents and Guardians,
We currently have a large number of students absent with influenza, “the flu” and influenza-like illness at Cherry Park this past week. As you may know, the flu is spread easily from person to person and school-age children are among the groups most affected. Flu symptoms include fever (over 100 degrees F), body aches, headaches, sore throat, cough, and fatigue and typically lasts from 5-7 days.
If you suspect your child is getting sick, please do not send them to school. Students who are experiencing the symptoms listed above need complete the following steps:
- Stay home from school
- Call the COVID Call Center to report your child’s symptoms 803-980-2016
- The COVID Call Center staff will provide additional information about flu and COVID testing
- The COVID Call Center will also ensure absences are coded correctly
- The COVID Call Center will work with the Nursing Services department to determine classrooms that have an increase in student illness.
Our school staff are working closely with the RH Schools Nursing Services department and SC DHEC to monitor flu conditions in our school, make decisions about the best steps to take and ensure disinfecting practices are being followed. Custodial staff will continue to disinfect classrooms and common areas regularly. Classrooms with an increased number of sick students will be disinfected nightly.
Here are a few things parents can do to help our school reduce the spread of illness:
- Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or upper sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
- Take time to get a flu vaccine. Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu. DHEC strongly recommends all South Carolina residents older than 6 months old get the flu vaccine as soon as possible to prevent the flu, unless they have a medical reason not to be vaccinated.
- Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils.
- Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
- Don’t send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are sick at school will be sent home. Staying home when sick will allow your children to rest and allows you to monitor their health closely.
Mr. Maness and Nurse Love
Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-TECH
School Calendar
December 22-January 4--Winter Holidays for Students; (January 3-4 Teacher Days)
January 5--First Day Back for Students; School of Choice Application Window Opens
January 9--5:30 SIC Meeting; 6:30 PTO Meeting
January 11--Report Cards Go Home
January 16--Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
January 18--8:00 AM CPES Parent Information Meeting for Choice
January 24-25--MAP Testing for Grades 1-5
January 31--6:00 PM CPES Parent Information Meeting for Choice
February 8--12:00 PM CPES Parent Information Meeting for Choice
February 16--6:00 PM CPES Parent Information Meeting for Choice
February 28--School of Choice Application Window Closes
Parent Organizations
Parent Teacher Organization--This group has three main goals: Raising funds for the school, appreciating the staff and securing volunteers as needed. The Cherry Park PTO is a 501c3 tax deductible organization. Officers for 22-23 are Stephanie Greer (President), Amanda Winters (Vice-President), Liz Lowery (Secretary), and Erica Smith (Treasurer). Meetings are held at Cherry Park on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 PM (right after the SIC meetings.) All parents are invited to attend. All financial records are distributed and updated at each month's meeting.
Previous Newsletters for 22-23 School Year
"What 'R' You Going to Do during the Holidays?" December 18, 2022 https://www.smore.com/8c6u49
"How Can We Reduce Holiday Stress?" December 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/vmx8s
"Why Do We Clap and Cheer for Our Children?" December 4, 2022 https://www.smore.com/jegnm
"When Is the Best Time to Express Gratitude?" November 20, 2022 https://www.smore.com/b2xmt
"What Do You Need to Know about the World Cup 2022?) November 13, 2022 https://www.smore.com/d8c4x
"What's Happening in November at CPES?" November 6, 2022 https://www.smore.com/zyuje
"Who Showed Up for the Bobcat Dash?" October 30, 2022 https://www.smore.com/gjsm8
"How Do We Make Time Slow Down?" October 23, 2022 https://www.smore.com/c19u8
"Could PLCs Work for All of Us?" October 16, 2022 https://www.smore.com/6edtw
"What Is the Latest on the Bobcat"w Dash and Does It Make a Difference?" October 9, 2022 https://www.smore.com/2bf4k
"What is 'Nattering' and Is It Effective?" October 2, 2022 https://www.smore.com/gmrac
"What Do Parents Need to Know about Student Attendance?" September 25, 2022 https://www.smore.com/7rnbq
"What Do We Control?" September 18, 2022 https://www.smore.com/qv3hb
"What's the Goal for Our Children?" September 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/q8k0b
"What Do You Do If You Want to Visit for Lunch?" September 4, 2022 https://www.smore.com/2ha8b
"How Was the First Week?" August 21, 2022 https://www.smore.com/t65yv
"What Do We Need to Remember as We Start Back?" August 14, 2022 https://www.smore.com/qjucf
"Open House Reminders" August 11, 2022 https://www.smore.com/35c6a
"Remind Me, Who's New at Cherry Park?" August 7, 2022 https://www.smore.com/b71ef
"Where Are the Pinch Points?" July 31, 2022 https://www.smore.com/csh32
"How Can You Help Us Keep Our Children Safe and Secure?" July 24, 2022 https://www.smore.com/6bweq
"How Can We Get Ready for the Fall?" July 17, 2022 https://www.smore.com/hcp2q"What Do We Need to Know" July 10, 2022 https://www.smore.com/y35p6