The CPES BobChat

October 16, 2022

Could PLC's (Professional Learning Communities) Work for All of Us?

As teachers, we are working in Professional Learning Communities in order to improve student learning. These small groups of educators meet by grade level. We believe all students can learn at high levels and we acknowledge that we are major difference makers in children's achievement. We focus on four big questions. 1. What do we expect students to know? There are SC Standards for language arts, math, science, social studies and second language literacy. PLC's are designed to prioritize what is most important for children to learn. Some concepts are much more important than others. We work to have clarity among ourselves on what is most essential. 2. How will we know if they learned it? This question leads us to determine what assessments we use to know if our children mastered the concept. What evidence do we have that our students actually learned what was intended? We don't want to guess or make assumptions. We want to know that they know. 3. What will we do if they didn't learn it? It certainly can take more than one try for our children. We want to intervene to provide more support or more time or a different approach so our students can learn what's most important. 4. What will we do if they did learn it? What is the next goal for them if they mastered the concept? Are they ready for the next step and the next challenge and if so, what might that look like? How can we help them stretch? Every child has areas that come easy for them and those need to be nurtured as much as where they struggle. I could go into extensive detail about our processes and systems associated with each of these questions. The truth is that these four questions are a good framework not only for us as teachers, but also as parents and leaders. (By the way, parenting is leading.) Do we have clarity of what we want our children to know, do and be? How will we know when and if they meet those expectations? What will we do if they don't succeed and what will we do if they do succeed? As teachers, we never work through these questions alone. As parents, we shouldn't either. We need to lean on others' experiences to determine how best to lead our children. Know that our staff is always ready and willing to join hands with you to help you do just that. Like you, we want your children to become the best version of themselves. That happens well when we work together to make a difference in them.

Strength and Blessings,

Mr. Maness

Monday, October 17 will be a Staff Development Day and a student holiday. Tuesday, October 18 will be Picture Day and see info below.

Notes and Reminders

Picture Day--Is this Tuesday, October 18. Picture packet information already went home. You can order pictures online here: http://www.carolinaphoto.net Our Job Key is WE7D647D. Class pictures will be taken on our Picture Makeup Day on November 18.

Red Ribbon Week--Is October 24-28 and this is a time where we emphasize with our children how to make great, healthy decisions for themselves and to be drug free. Each day will be a fun "dress up" Spirit Day that matches the theme. Here is the list of those days and the theme for each day.

Red Ribbon Week Spirit Days

10/24 Monday Voting for My Future to Be Drug Free - Wear Red, White, & Blue

10/25 Tuesda1.y Too Bright for Drugs - Wear Neon and Bright Colors and/or Sunglasses

10/26 Wednesday Drug Free from Head to Toe - Wear Crazy Hair and Crazy Socks

10/27 Thursday Team Up Against Drugs - Wear school or sports gear of your favorite team

10/28 Friday Bobcat Dash! Wear Dash T-Shirts (which teachers will give out to students that morning.)

Bobcat Dash--Pledge envelopes went home last week. Here is the running schedule for the Bobcat Dash on October 28. Parents and invited to come and cheer, run and walk with their child.

Running Schedule

8:00 Fifth Grade

8:55 Fourth Grade

9:50 Third Grade

10:45 Second Grade

11:40 Kindergarten

12:35 First Grade

Halloween Day on Monday, October 31--We ask that students not wear costumes that day. We will have lots of fun dressing up during Red Ribbon Week and we want costumes saved for activities at home and in the community. We also don't want them to get damaged while at school.

Fall Student Art Show--The following students have their artwork on display at the Center for the Arts in downtown Rock Hill until November 14. We are so proud of their work. (See picture below.) Amina Niang, Foster Williams , Wilmer Molina-Chavez , Jimena Gonzalez , Amaya Bahena , Ruby Kuhn, Hadley Brandwood, Payson Cavett, Addie Jensen, Liam Smith, Dorsey Rushing, Reese Elston. A reception for these students will be held at the Center for the Arts on October 27 from 5:30-6:30 PM.

Picture Day Website

Click here to order pictures for Picture Day on Tuesday, October 18. Our Job Key for CPES is WE7D647D. Makeup pictures and class pictures will be taken November 18.

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CPES_Bobcat Dash_Pledge Envelope_2022.pdf

Click here for more information about how students can secure pledges for the Bobcat Dash.

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Elementary Attendance Guidelines

Click here for guidelines for elementary students.

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Every Kid Outdoors 4thGrade_Brochure_Update.pdf

Click here for more information about fourth graders obtaining National Park Passes.