The CPES BobChat
February 11, 2024
What Do We Love about Language Immersion?
Over the past ten days, we had a School of Choice Fair, two Parent Information Sessions (see picture above) and a Teacher Recruitment Fair. We helped prospective parents and teachers to understand some of the benefits of our immersion language program. Here are a few practical advantages for children learning a second language at Cherry Park. 1. It develops a lifelong skill, not just a special interest. A parent asked me, "How will I know if my child likes learning French or Spanish?" We believe acquiring a second language is a basic skill like learning to read or solve math problems or riding a bike. Most all children in schools around the world are learning a second or third or fourth language. This isn't developing a talent like singing or drawing or playing soccer. We think all children in all schools should learn a second language to become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural global citizens. 2. Immersion families have an additional advantage for younger siblings entering the program. Rock Hill Schools decided long ago that younger brothers and sisters of Cherry Park students who will enter kindergarten next year will automatically receive a slot if their parents complete the School of Choice application. They will not have to go through the lottery. We want families to stay together and we want to honor the commitment they make to our program. (If you have a rising kindergarten student and his brother or sister is already at Cherry Park, be sure to complete the Choice Application by February 23.) 3. High school immersion students can earn college credits for free. The language pathway for students currently starts at Cherry Park, continues at Sullivan Middle and ends at Rock Hill High and Winthrop. Our goal is for our students to take Advanced Placement French and Spanish in the ninth grade and then they can take classes that award high school credit and college credit (through Winthrop.) As the program currently exists, students can earn up to 18 hours of college credit which would equal a minor in French or Spanish at the college level. These classes are at no cost to families.
We recognize that our immersion families make great commitments for their children to learn a second language. We are blessed to have a school district that matches those commitments over the course of elementary, middle and high school. We love this program for what is does inside children. We also think there are some additional perks along the way as well. We value your investment in your child's education and our schools to help everyone be successful.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
Staff Appreciation Valentine's Brunch
Thanks so much for providing a Valentine's Brunch for our staff last Friday. It was such a special way to end the week.
Valentine's Day
Please see guidelines below for this fun day on Wednesday.
President's Day Weekend
Students will not be at school February 15, 16 and 19 due to Teacher Workdays and Presidents' Day.
Notes and Reminders
1. School of Choice Information
a. Choice Application Window is open through February 23. All rising kindergarten students who currently have siblings in the program will need to complete the Choice application to secure a spot for next year. Currently enrolled students at Cherry Park do not have to reapply for next year (unless you are in the fifth grade. See Fifth Grade Parent Information below.) Here is the link for the Choice Application: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/6855
b. District Choice Site--Here is the link for the District School of Choice Site for more information: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=8539
2. Valentine's Day Parties--Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Our Valentine's parties are the one time when we can have additional options that are not on the District Snack List. We still need to be mindful of food allergy issues in our homerooms. Our teachers know best what is the right balance of fun, food and activities for that day. They will communicate what they may need to celebrate "The Day of Love." If you have questions, let them know. Here are additional district reminders about Valentine's Day parties.
Valentine’s Day is the only day exempt from the approved snack list as indicated in Policy ADF.
All food must be store bought with a food ingredient label. No homemade treats are allowed. If snack/individual size candy is provided in goodie bags, the food ingredient label must also be available to review for allergens.
We do not take deliveries of balloons or flowers for students.
There will be a process in place to check food ingredient labels prior to giving food/candy to students. Nurses can double check a label if the teacher/staff has a question but cannot be responsible for checking all food that comes into the school for Valentine’s Day.
Be mindful - the Brach’s conversation hearts are manufactured in a plant also processing peanuts/tree nuts and dairy. These are NOT safe for our peanut/tree nut/dairy allergy kids. Teachers should not use these in classroom activities related to Valentine’s Day if they have students with these allergies.
3. "READING IS A GAME CHANGER"--Read Across America Week and Book Fair at Cherry Park
March 4-8
Book Fair DATES AND HOURS:
MARCH 4-7 8:00-1:30
MARCH 8 8:00-11:00
MARCH 6 AFTER SCHOOL 3:00-5:00
(with a parent).
Cash will be accepted only on Wednesday.
eWallet and cards accepted all week.
No checks.
“READING IS A GAME CHANGER” DRESS UP DAYS:
Monday--Sports is a Game Changer--Wear a team shirt or jersey!
Tuesday--People are Game Changers--Dress as your future career!
Wednesday--Animals are Game Changers--Wear animals prints or shirt with an animal!
Thursday--Arts are Game Changers--Wear as many colors and patterns as you can!
Friday--Books are Game Changers--Dress as your favorite Book Character!
4. 5th Grade Parent Information--Here is the link to the presentation from December about the Middle (and High) School Immersion Program. At the end of the presentation, there is a QR code for the Letter of Intent to continue in the program at Sullivan Middle. There is also a button below for the Letter of Intent. This is due on February 24, 2024 but we wanted you to have this now.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oOWWAqum-RZXHnDtno3W__HXVpZND7xm/edit#slide=id.p6
5. CPES Art Show--Every student Kindergarten through fifth grade will have their own masterpiece framed and on display on April 30th from 5-7pm. Virtual Show will be from April 29-May 6th. Frames will be $28.
Support your school art program by participating in the virtual show or at the arts evening. If frames are not purchased, artwork will come home with student at the end of the school year. See more information here: CPES Art Show Flyer
6. Yearbook Orders and 5th Grade Dedications--Orders for yearbooks are due by April 21, 2024. Also, if you want to do a dedication for a fifth grader, that is due on April 21 as well. Click on the Yearbook button below for more information.
School Calendar
February 12--5:30 PM SIC Meeting; 6:30 PM PTO Meeting
February 14--Valentine's Day
February 15--Student Holiday and Teacher Professional Development Day
February 16--Student Holiday and Teacher Workday
February 19--President's Day Holiday (Bad Weather Makeup Day)
February 23--School of Choice Application Window Closes
March 4-8--Read Across America Week and Book Fair
April 21--Last Day to Order a Yearbook or Do a Fifth Grade Dedication
April 30--5:00-7:00 PM CPES Art Show
May 31--9:00 AM 5th Grade Recognition at Sullivan Auditorium
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. 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 Michelle Dawkins (Treasurer). We appreciate all of our sponsors (above) who contributed to our Bobcat Dash this year.
Previous Newsletters for 23-24 School Year
"Why Do We Love Language Immersion?" February 4, 2024 https://www.smore.com/x4dpg
"How Can We Inform Other Parents about Immersion?" January 28, 2024 https://www.smore.com/yswvf
"How Do We Help Children Do Hard Things?" January 21, 2024 https://www.smore.com/574bh
"What Did Martin Luther King, Jr. Say?" January 14, 2024 https://www.smore.com/1c2ze
"Can One Word Make a Difference This Year?" January 7, 2024 https://www.smore.com/p9n3v5
"How Can We Manage Expectations during the Holidays?" December 17, 2023 https://www.smore.com/ceswg
"How Can We Give the "Best Gift Ever?" December 10, 2023 https://www.smore.com/1p0kd
"How Can We Find a Silent Night?" December 3, 2023 https://www.smore.com/n/p2zes
"What Reminds Me to Be Grateful?" November 12, 2023 https://www.smore.com/pvds3
"Is It about the Grade or the Learning?" November 5, 2023 https://www.smore.com/4hkq0
"Who Made a Difference at the Bobcat Dash?" October 29, 2023 https://www.smore.com/wcqun
"What Do You Need to Know about Bobcat Dash?" October 22, 2023 https://www.smore.com/f19ry
"What Special Events are Coming Up?" October 15, 2023 https://www.smore.com/brvz5
"What's It Really Like at CPES?" October 8, 2023 https://www.smore.com/a7chr
"How Do We Respond to Safety Situations? Part 2" October 1, 2023 https://www.smore.com/k9uet
"How Do We Respond to Safety Situations? Part 1" September 24, 2023 https://www.smore.com/n4c67
"How Can I Volunteer at CPES?" September 17, 2023 https://www.smore.com/7v8ky
"What CRAzy Model Do We Use for Math Instruction?" September 10, 2023 https://www.smore.com/kfbg7
"What Do We Need to Know about Arrival?" September 3, 2023 https://www.smore.com/fc0kd
"Did You Know that a Bobcat 'ROARS?"' August 27, 2023 https://www.smore.com/0g7qv
"What Do We Need to Remember as We Start Back" August 20, 2023 https://www.smore.com/yrt38
"Techno
logy Forms and Fees"--August 25, 2023 https://www.smore.com/72qcg
"How Can We Work Together to Keep Everyone Safe?" August 13, 2023 https://www.smore.com/6cbtm
"How Can Checklists Help You Start a New Year?" August 6, 2023 https://www.smore.com/0jyx61
"Who Are the Newest Hires and What Are the Latest Changes with Technology?" July 30, 2023 https://www.smore.com/z6qnp
"What's the Latest News at Cherry Park" July 16, 2023 https://www.smore.com/w9pth
"Challenger Be Great Academy Update" June 23, 2023 https://www.smore.com/8hqka
"What Staffing Changes Have Been Made at CPES?" June 18, 2023 https://www.smore.com/e0vr2