The CPES BobChat

As part of our Cherry Park Family, you've chosen to give your child the amazing gift of learning French, Spanish or English as a second language. Your support for your child and our school in this process is crucial and we appreciate all you do. We want the children in Rock Hill to continue receiving this gift for years to come. As we turn the page from 2024 to 2025, Schools of Choice will change names to Program Options in Rock Hill Schools. (The name change helps clear up some confusions for new families.) Here are a few ways that will help ensure your child and new children can be in the Language Immersion Program at Cherry Park in the 25-26 school year. (Some of these are new processes.)

1. Current CPES Families--All current CPES families must complete a Letter of Intent between January 8-22 for their child(ren) to stay in the program next school year. An email with a link will be sent to all families on January 8 to complete so your child can continue. Please be sure your email is updated and current with our CPES office staff. For current families who have a rising kindergarten student, be sure to complete the Program Options application between January 6 and 31. 2. New Families--The Program Options window for new applications opens on January 6 and ends on January 31. New families must enroll in Rock Hill Schools using our New Student Registration and then complete the Program Options Application. Please note both must be completed to be placed in the lottery. If the student is currently enrolled in a school within our district and NOT currently in a Program Option, you will fill out the Program Options Application for existing students. These links become active on January 6.

3. Grades 1-5 Students--We will have slots open in French and Spanish in upper grades. Students who are in Grades 1-5 (new to Rock Hill and who are already in Rock Hill Schools) will also have a language assessment after receiving notification of receiving a slot. This ensures that new students in upper grades have enough French and Spanish to be able to learn the math and science and second language literacy.

4. Share Resources with New Families--Please help pass on this information to new families you know. a. Attend an Information Session--We will host information sessions for new families on Friday, January 10 at 8:00 AM, on Monday, January 13 at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and Tuesday, January 21 at 6:00 PM. b. Consider Language Immersion Information--Click on the following link for articles, presentations and frequently asked questions: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/domain/2337 Our district site for world languages is below as well. c. View Videos--Here are couple of videos that help explain our school and program: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/domain/2334

Thank you for giving the precious gift of learning a second language to your child and other children, too. We believe we are developing global leaders who will make a difference throughout our world. We wish for you a wonderful holiday season.

Strength and Blessings,

Mr. Maness

P.S. Dates for Prospective Parent Information Sessions are below:

January 10--8:00 AM Prospective Parent Information Session

January 13--12:00 PM Prospective Parent Information Session;

January 13--6:00 PM Prospective Parent Information Session

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

1. Notes and Reminders--a. Be sure your contact information is up to date. If you are not receiving emails, texts and calls from CPES or RHSD, please contact Mrs. Miskelly to check your information in PowerSchool. There will be important information coming in the spring to your emails. You can reach her at the following email address: mailto:jmiskelly@rhmail.org b. First Day Back for Students is Monday, January 6. 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. December Teacher Appreciation--Thank you so much for the cookies and baked goods you sent for our Faculty Holiday Luncheon and Cookie Walk. Your efforts always encourage our staff.

3. 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.)

4. 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.

January 6--First Day Back for New Semester; Program Options Application Window Opens

January 10--8:00 AM Prospective Parent Information Session

January 13--12:00 PM Prospective Parent Information Session; 6:00 PM Prospective Parent Information Session; 5:30 School Improvement Council Meeting; 6:30 PTO Meeting

January 20-- Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday

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

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

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.

"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