The CPES BobChat
April 16, 2023
How Do We Help Our Children Responsibly Use Technology?
Over the course of this year, we have seen kids struggle with using technology appropriately. This has led to some conflicts and problems that were unnecessary had they been more responsible. We want to be good teachers and models for them so they can make wise choices with computers, TV's, tablets, phones and watches. How can we do that well? 1. Remind them who owns the device. Until they are independent and out of our homes, children need to know that we are the owners of any device and we choose to allow them to use it. (The same should be true for anything they have as they grow up.) We are the ones entrusting them with the computer and we have the authority to monitor and examine their use at any time needed. This is definitely true with school devices and we would encourage you to do the same with any other device at home. Our children need to know that when they are responsible users, then they receive the freedom to keep it and use it. 2. Be clear about the intended uses of the technology. Hammers are made for nailing. Pots are made for cooking. Pens are made for writing. School computers are made for learning. What do you expect your child to do with any device they have at home? It is best to set guidelines and parameters at the beginning rather than putting them in place later. Technology is a great tool when it is used for beneficial reasons. When the use is hurtful or unhealthy, it can do lots of damage. We want to guide our children on the best use of the device. 3. Decide where and when and how much they can use the device. Can they use it anywhere they go or only in common spaces at home? Can they use it anytime they want or only before or after certain times of day? Can they use it for thirty minutes a day, an hour a day, or throughout the day? I would encourage an approach that gives more freedom contingent upon responsible use. For our kids, it worked out that they always used technology in our living room which is where we spent the most time together. I think that gave greater accountability for them because they knew we could sit beside them or look over their shoulder to see what they were doing. As the old saying goes, "Trust, but verify." Talking with kids about technology is like the immigrant talking with the native. It can be challenging to guide our children in an area where they probably know more than we do about how to use it. We want to be intentional about answering the why, when, where and how much questions rather than leaving them to chance. As we move ahead in the next few weeks, we will give further suggestions about how we can guide our children in becoming responsible users of technology.
Strength and Blessings to You,
Mr. Maness,
Congratulations to Kelly Watson as our Teacher of the Year!!
Special Olympics Parade
Boys Running Club at Come See Me Road Race
Virtual Art Show April 17-May 1
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 1-5
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon is May 12
Notes and Reminders
Change in PTO Meeting Date--The PTO meeting has been rescheduled and will now be held on Monday, April 17 at 6:30pm in the Media Center.
Voting will be held for the 2023-2024 PTO Board at this meeting. We encourage all parents to attend.
CPES Virtual Art Show April 17-May 1--Support CPES and our art program by participating in the virtual art show. Every frame purchased contributes funds to your child's art education program. If frames are not purchased, artwork will come home with student by the end of the year. Every student Kindergarten through 5th grade will have their own masterpiece framed and displayed on the gallery virtual website. Frames will be $28. Click on the following link to view your child's artwork: https://artomestore.com/collections/cherryparkelemschooloflanguageimmersion29730
Come See Me Festival--Began Thursday, April 13 and ends Saturday, April 22. For more information, click here: https://www.comeseeme.org/ We hope you and your family will take advantage of the community activities that will take place.
Birthday Book Club Signups--If you'd like to help distribute books on Tuesday, April 25 from 10:15-12:45, click on the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080445afad2da02-birthday3#/
Dates for Fifth Graders--Fifth graders will have their Wax Museum on April 27 at 8:15. They will assume the role of historical figures and do short oral presentations like what you might see in a wax museum. Fifth Grade graduation will be May 19 at 9:00 in the Sullivan Auditorium.
Secrets of Social Media--Rock Hill Schools Safety & Security Department in collaboration with Student Services Department is partnering with the York County All on Board Coalition, to bring this important RAPS Session to Rock Hill Schools. The District will be hosting “Secrets of Social Media” on April 26 at 6 p.m. at Rawlinson Road Middle School. This is a parent only event. We have seen an increase of incidents concerning this topic and encourage all parents to attend. See flyer below.
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 1-5--We hope you will take a moment to let your child's teachers know how much they mean to you.
Welcome to the Family Drop-In for Rising Kindergarten Families May 10 from 5:30-6:30 PM--This is a time to come and visit kindergarten classes for our new families of kindergarten children starting this fall. More information will be sent this week about this event.
Volunteer Luncheon Friday, May 12 (11:00-1:00)--We want you to know how much we appreciate you. We are having a luncheon in honor of all our CPES family members who have volunteered (or will volunteer) with us this year. We will have grilled chicken, baked potatoes and dessert. Just check in at the office and we will give you directions to the luncheon. We hope to see you there. Pleases click on the following link to RSVP by May 4: https://forms.gle/Uc4cPmcqzX6FRuTG8
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
Summer Challenger--Registration is now open for Summer Challenger for current Kindergarten through Fourth Grade students. (Rising Kindergarten students can attend, too.) You can go to this website for more information and to register: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/8320
Need Tech Support? Call 803-324-TECH
School Calendar
April 17-May 1--CPES Virtual Art Show
April 17--6:30 PTO Meeting
April 18-19--Spring Measure of Academic Progress Testing (Reading and Math) (3rd Grade will take MAP Reading on May 11)
April 25--6:30 PM Music Concert for 3rd Grade Homerooms (Missaggia, Parrish, A. Garcia) and 4th Grade Homerooms (Goodner and E. Leon)
April 26--Administrative Professionals Day
April 27--8:15 AM Fifth Grade Wax Museum; 6:30 PM Music Concert for 3rd Grade Homerooms (Wright, A. Leon, Broughton) and 4th Grade Homerooms (Riley, Tull and Preston)
May 1-5--Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4--SC READY English Language Arts Testing Writing (Grades 3-5)
May 9--SC READY English Language Arts Testing Reading (Grades 3-5)
May 10--5:30-6:30 PM Welcome to the Family Drop-In for Rising Kindergarten Families
May 11--MAP Reading Testing for 3rd Grade; SC PASS Science Testing for 4th Grade
May 12--11:00-1:00 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
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 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)
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. 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.
Previous Newsletters for 22-23 School Year
"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