The CPES BobChat

Last week, we looked at answers to some frequently asked questions that families have about Program Options for Cherry Park. Here are a few more of those questions that can help parents as they make decisions for next year.

1. What application do different families need to complete and by when do they need to complete it? a. Current Kindergarten through Fourth Grade Families--Need to complete the K-4th Letter of Intent https://forms.gle/hJ6QQy6VncPQqLtc7 by this Wednesday, January 22. (We currently have 600 of 675 families who've done this.)

b. Current Fifth Grade Families--Need to complete the 5th Grade Letter of Intent by this Wednesday, January 22. (We have 105 of 120 who have completed it.) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUYJUZGCXWCoYjwhFEy7ozW2lL5KwudKh-S8XYpuXkxf0NOg/viewform

c. New Students--New families and existing families of rising kindergarten students need to complete the Program Options Application https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/6855 by Friday, January 31. (Go to the bottom of the page and click the "Apply" button.) We have 50 spots for French and 100 spots for Spanish in Kindergarten. We have a few spots in first grade for new students in first grade French and Spanish. We also have a few spots available for Grades 2-5 students and those applicants will need to pass a language screening before being seated. Parents who have a child currently at Cherry Park still need to complete an application by 1/31 if they have a rising kindergarten child.

2. Is there an advantage for my child learning French versus Spanish? We encourage families to consider their values. If it is most important for your child to learn any second language, then language preference does not matter. French provides more opportunities in business and industry because there are more French based corporations in the Charlotte area and in SC. Spanish would be more commonly heard around us. Both are Latin based languages and are equally easy to learn. Research tells us that when a child acquires a second language, it is easier to pick up a third one. We would argue that learning any second language is vitally important (just like learning math and science and writing).

3. Can my child handle language immersion? Will he/she like it? Make no mistake, there will be challenges of all kinds for kids in school. There are skills that are easier for some kids and harder for others. There are problems that come along the way in every school of every type. There is no such thing as a perfect, problem free school. I have spent half of my 27 years as a principal in a traditional school setting and half as an immersion principal. 99.5% of the challenges that come are the exact same in either setting. Very rarely is the problem attributed to a child learning a second language. When something pops up on the radar, we clearly identify the problem, determine an appropriate solution and implement and monitor the plan. Learning challenges happen and we have a great team (called our Multi-Tiered System of Support) to effectively address them for the best interest of your child.

We want all families to be well informed about our school and program. Thank you for always asking good questions and helping others understand what we do and why we do it. You are our best advocates and we appreciate you sharing with new families the amazing opportunities at Cherry Park.

Strength and Blessings,

Mr. Maness

P.S. Dates for Prospective Parent Information Sessions are Tuesday, January 21 at 6:00 PM and Tuesday, January 28 at 8:00 AM.

P.S.S.--Tomorrow will be a school holiday to observe Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.

1. Notes and Reminders--a. Valentine's Day Parties--Will be Thursday, February 13 since we will be out of school on February 14. Your child's teacher will inform you about planned activities and needs for the day. Please do not send items without approval from your child's teacher. Also, check the District Snack Letter below for reminders that we still need to be mindful of items that can cause allergic reactions. b. Erin's Law--Please see the Erin's Law Letter below for more information about the safety lessons our school counselors will be teaching again to students this spring. Feel free to contact Mrs. Flaherty or Ms. Baskin if you have any questions. c. Absence Notes and Documentation--Please send notes and documentation for absences to Mrs. Miskelly at the following email address: mailto:CPAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org

2. Girls on the Run Coaches--Currently, we have a need for coaches to support our 3rd-5th grade girls who sign up to participate. We have a couple of coaches who could do one day but not a second day. Please click on the S25 Coach Recruitment Flyer below for more information. You can also contact mailto:jennifer.thorsell@girlsontherun.org (803-620-3036).

3. CPES Families with Rising Kindergarten Students--Please do not forget that you will need to complete a Program Options application between January 6 and January 31. Siblings of current CPES students receive priority for admittance but our district must know that your child is coming. Please be sure to complete the application at the Program Options link above.

4. Vision Screenings--The Lions Club of Tega Cay will come 1/28-1/29 to help Nurse Love do vision screenings for our students. Nurse Love will follow up with any families as needed. See Lions Club Screening letter below and please let Nurse Love know if you would like for your child to opt out.

5. Birthday Book Club Signups--We are gearing up for our Birthday Book Club celebration for the year! We will celebrate on Thursday, February, 6 2025. Each child receives a free book of their choosing for their birthday! We need volunteers to help distribute the books during each students lunch time. You will find the sign up time slots on the sign up genius linked. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE AN APPROVED VOLUNTEER THROUGH THE DISTRICT! It is district policy that all volunteers have been approved. Thank you so much for your help! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-50604853-february#/

6. Yearbooks--Families may now order a yearbook. All sales are online only and to guarantee your child receives a yearbook, all orders must be placed by March 30, 2025. The early bird discount is available and then prices will increase on January 1st. All yearbook orders are online only and there will be no additional orders after March 30, 2025. Please see the flyer below. Click on the following link to order: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/24915 (Use order #24915 if you are asked for it.)

January 20-- Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday (No School)

January 21--6:00 PM Prospective Parent Information Session

January 22--K-4th Grade Letter of Intent Due; 5th Grade Letter of Intent Due (See links above)

January 31--Early Dismissal Day (Students are dismissed at 11:15); Program Options Application Window Closes

February 3--Program Options Lottery for the 25-26 school year. Families notified on the same day, if they were given a seat in a Program Options school or are on a Wait list.

February 13--Valentine's Day Parties

February 14--Valentine's Day; Teacher Professional Development Day (No School); Parents MUST indicate by this date if they have accepted a seat or not. Families that do not accept a seat move to the Wait List for that program. At that point families can be moved from the WAIT list to an open seat.

February 17--E-Learning Makeup Day

School Improvement Council--This group seeks to determine how Cherry Park Elementary can be the best school it can be. It is a sounding board and feedback group for the school and district. Members are elected for two year terms. Members of this year's Council include Chelsea Eichorn, Jennifer Hutchinson, Matthew Query, Bernice Huskins, Heather Kagey, and Emily Parrish. Ex-Officio Members are Mr. Maness (Principal) and Mrs. Futrelle (Assistant Principal). Meetings are held at Cherry Park on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 PM. All parents are invited to attend.

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. 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. Officers this year are Amanda Winters (President), Emmanuel Daniel (Vice-President), Celia Kerr (Secretary) and Shannon Martin/Caroline Stubbs (Co-Treasurers). We appreciate all of our sponsors (above) who contributed to our Bobcat Dash this year.

"What Questions Do Families Have? (Part 1)" January 12, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/12psc

"How Can You Give the Gift of Second Language Learning?" January 5, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/n0j1us

"High and Fast or Low and Slow?" December 15, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/am39k

"What about a Game?" December 8, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/erny5h

"How Am I Grateful?" December 1, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/m9u4b

"What Is the Connection between Thanks and Giving?" November 17, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/c6hvt

"What Do Parents Need to Know about Our Book Fair" November 10, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/36azws

"How Can We Help Our Children Make Good Decisions?" November 3, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/tj863

"Who Made a Difference at the Bobcat Dash?" October 27, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/v7pxu

"What Do You Need to Know about the Bobcat Dash?" October 20, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/jecu8

"How Do We Help Kids Process Difficult Events?" October 13, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/nefrt

"How Can We Help Kids 'Handle Hard Better?'" October 5, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/brh0j

"What Should We Remember When We Have Bad Weather?" September 29, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/28hfx

"What Do Great Coaches Do?" September 22, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/cuktn

"How Can We Support the Bobcat Dash on 10/25?" September 15, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/vs3uwm

"What Are We Thinking about Safety This Week?" September 8, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/pxhd6

"What is the Difference between PTO and SIC?" September 1, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/syh3t

"How Are We Doing?" August 25, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/b2a9s

"What Lessons Can We Learn from the Olympics? (Part 2) August 18, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/9fe7s

"What Lessons Can We Learn from the Olympics? (Part 1)" August 11, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ejr3s

"How Can We 'Be' Ready for the First Day of School? (Final Reminders) August 4, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/0wvx9

"What Do Families Need to Know about Open House" August 3, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/3wx9d

"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" (Part 4) July 28, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/59pwv

"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" (Part 3) July 21, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/y0w1e

"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" (Part 2) July 14, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/x5hed

"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" July 7, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/6x9vk

"Who's and What's New at Cherry Park? (Part 3) June 30, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ksd0u

"Who's New at Cherry Park? (Part 2) June 2, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/8cuf1g

"Who's New at Cherry Park? (Part 1)" May 26, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/c0pnvt