The CPES BobChat

Parenting is enjoyable when our children listen, follow directions and get along. Life is great when we can say "Yes" and "Good job" and "That's awesome" to our kids. We love it when we can genuinely affirm our little ones and let them know how special they are. But, you know there are much harder words to say that are necessary to raise healthy kids. What are some of the hardest words to speak to our children? 1. "No." Saying "yes" is much easier than saying "no." "No" means that there are boundaries that can't be crossed. "No" means that there are limitations. "No" means that the world does not turn around our children. Our kids need to hear "no" from us so that they will know how to respect "no" from other authorities in their lives. We want to help our children to see that "no" for them actually means "yes" for someone else or for some other opportunity. For example, saying "no" to playing on a busy street means saying "yes" to their safety. In reality, we want them to see that "no" can be a good thing that benefits them and doesn't restrict them. Saying "no" is most helpful to children when we can explain the "why" behind the "no." 2. "I'm sorry." Sometimes, we blow it. We lose our temper because of our own stress. We overpromise and underdeliver. We don't get all the facts. It happens. A mature, genuine "I'm sorry" from us shows our children that we make mistakes and this is what we do to make it right. It gives them permission to do the same when they make poor choices. Yes, even as a principal, I have times when I need to apologize to our kids at school. 3. "Try it." We want to protect our children physically, mentally and emotionally. We also want to develop a child that is independent and can stand on his own two feet. When we say "try it," we give up some control of the outcome but we communicate confidence to her that she is ready for the challenge. If they hear "try it" from us enough, they will develop the habit of hearing "try it" in their own minds. We want them to learn as much from the risks that don't work out as the ones that do. That builds strong resilience muscles in them. Some of the greatest growth of our children happens when they are willing to take a risk. Mother's Day (and Father's Day) are holidays when we wonder how we are really doing in our parental roles. Speaking hard words into our children's lives can help them grow and mature. They are just as important to say as the easy words of "I love you" and "Yes" and "Thank you." In fact, the hard words can be some of the best expressions of care that we have for them.

Strength and Blessings to You,

Mr. Maness

Dates for Fifth Graders--Fifth Grade graduation will be May 19 at 9:00 in the Sullivan Auditorium. Please wait to arrive after 8:30 so we will not interfere with Sullivan's arrival process. The program will last about an hour. Parents who wish to sign out their child can do so in the rear of the auditorium after the program is over.

Rising Kindergarten Families--Use the link below to sign up for a kindergarten screening time for your child! Screening availability on: May 17th May 18th May 18th June 5th June 12th June 19th June 20th. Our kindergarten screening helps us with a starting point for your child’s academic success at Cherry Park. Your child will work with one of our English teachers for 15 minutes. There is nothing that you need to do to prepare for this screening. Students who attended 4K in Rock Hill School District (Central or other elementary school locations) will not need a screening slot – they will be screened at their school. If you are unavailable for the screening dates, your child will be screened when school starts. Here is the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c44a8af2aa13-kindergarten?useFullSite=true#/

Returning Student Registration--Parents, please be prompt in completing your Parent Portal account set up! You have received an email from the District with directions and your username and password connected to your student/s. This is important for you to complete as more items/information will be provided to you, as a parent, through your Parent Portal Access. For example, attendance, grades, teacher assignments, forms, etc.

Medicine Pick Up--Parents need to pick up medication from Nurse Love by the last day of school. After that time, all medication will be discarded.

Field Day Volunteer Signups--K, 1st and 2nd grade will have Field Day on Monday, May 22 from 8:30-11:30. 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade will be on Tuesday, May 23 from 8:30-12:00. We will use the fields at Cherry Park (The Park). All volunteers will need to have an updated background screening. For safety and security reasons, only those parents who are volunteers and have been screened will be allowed at Field Day. (Parents will not be able to visit students during this time. Parents are welcome to visit at lunch as always.) See below for the screening application. Please use the links below if you would like to volunteer at field day.

K-2nd Field Day Signups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4eacac22ab9-k2field3

3rd-5th Field Day Signup--https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4eacac22ab9-35field2

Student Placement Information--Please use this form if you wish to give us information about your child that you would like considered as we make placement decisions this fall. Please submit one form per child. This needs to be completed by Friday, May 26. Click on the this link to complete the form: https://forms.gle/vSbzeU8UYjsMvR7G8

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE--TRAVEL THE WORLD THIS SUMMER…IN A BOOK!

Because, afterall…READING TAKES YOU PLACES! Challenge yourself to read at least 10 hours this summer. Keep track on a special “Travel the World” bookmark. Each time you read 15 minutes check off a box. If you check all the boxes you will have read 10 hours. Return the bookmark to the library by September 1, 2023 and you are eligible for prizes. If you don’t read all 10 hours, it’s okay...there are still prizes for all who participate

Read for a total of:

• 5 hours = Small Treat
• 8 hours = Small Treat + Bookmark
• 10 hours = Small Treat + Bookmark + Rubber Bracelet + Free Book from the December Book Fair

Look for the bookmark and instructions for how to participate to come home the last week of school!

May 14--Mother's Day

May 15--Kindergarten Programs (8:00 Pope/Lopes; 9:00 Doyle/Kiker; 10:00 Smith/Notaro)

May 16--SC READY Math Testing (Grades 3-5)

May 18--First Grade Author's Teas (8:00 Webb and Rayhill; 9:00 Pezzello and Chavez; 10:00 Brenton and Garcia)

May 19--9:00 Fifth Grade Graduation (Sullivan Middle Auditorium)

May 22--Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Field Day

May 23--Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Field Day

May 25--Last Day of School (Dismissal is at 11:00)

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 Anitra Meeks, Paloma Fernandez Sanchez, Brittany Jensen, Celia Kerr, Ashley Petit, Latisha Givens, and Scott Kennedy. 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. 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.

"What Does Gratitude Look Like?" May 7, 2023 https://www.smore.com/btaur

"How Can We Help Our Children Do Well on Big Tests?" April 30, 2023 https://www.smore.com/bhyx2

"How Can We Keep Our Children Safe Online?" April 23, 2023 https://www.smore.com/pv71w

"How Do We Help Our Children Responsibly Use Technology?" April 16, 2023 https://www.smore.com/wgyk0

"What Do Great Trainers and Cheerleaders Do?" April 9, 2023 https://www.smore.com/y3t47

"What Do Great Referees Do?" March 26, 2023 https://www.smore.com/ps3q6

"What Do Great Coaches Do?" March 19, 2023 https://www.smore.com/pgbu8v

"What Role Do We Play in Our Children's Lives?" March 12, 2023 https://www.smore.com/4f1dp

"How Can We Help Our Children 'See' the World?" March 5, 2023 https://www.smore.com/ba6u18

"How Can You Share the Love of Reading with Your Child?" February 26, 2023 https://www.smore.com/8b6pm

"How Can We Share the Love...with our Children?" February 19, 2023 https://www.smore.com/3se17

"How Can We Share the Love...with People Different From Us?" February 12, 2023 https://www.smore.com/ck5xp

"How Can We Share the Love...about Cherry Park?" February 5, 2023 https://www.smore.com/mfjbh

"Can We Lose a Bad Health Habit?" January 29, 2023 https://www.smore.com/7e10cf

"Can We Lose Some of Our Stuff?" January 22, 2023 https://www.smore.com/vqz19

"Can We Lose a Little of Ourselves?" January 15, 2023 https://www.smore.com/kydtr

"What Can We Lose?" January 8, 2023 https://www.smore.com/j3spt

"What's Happening in the New Year?" January 1, 2023 https://www.smore.com/zcthu

"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 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