The CPES BobChat
November 5, 2023
Is It about the Grade or the Learning?
As the first nine weeks has ended, there have been so many great conferences between our parents and teachers about grades and learning. Of course, kindergarten, first and second grade children receive 1's for Beginning, 2's for Developing, 3's for Meeting, and 4's for Exceeding each standard that was taught. Third, fourth and fifth graders receive A's (90-100), B's (80-89), C's (70-79), and D's (60-69), and F's (50-59) based on the standards taught. As parents, it is so important to have the right perspective on our kids' grades. Here are a few thoughts that can help. 1. Grades and identity are two different things. Our children are not more or less important based on their grades. Who they are and how they are learning are two separate issues. Children's giftedness and abilities can be reflected on a ballfield, on a stage, on a service project, in a conversation, and in a classroom. Our value and appreciation for our children should be based on who they are and not what they do. As a corollary, our identity as parents should always be completely separated from our children's performance (in any area.) 2. Grades are one reflection of how our children are learning the things they are supposed to learn. We no longer include "effort grades" such as class participation or homework completion. We are doing our best to reflect how well our children are learning state standards. When I was in school, compliance and effort usually meant good grades. Those traits (and others) can help lead to good marks, but they are not always reliable for helping us know whether or not our children are learning at high levels. If a child makes straight A's but doesn't pass the SC READY test (which is based on state standards) at the end of the year, that should raise some questions. (Rarely, there are kids who will learn everything they should and who won't score well on big tests. There are lots of factors to consider with standardized tests.) As parents, we should know how they are making progress all along the way throughout the year with no surprises at the end. 3. Growth matters as much as performance. No matter where our children are on any scale, we always want to see them growing. If they started the year at a high level, we want them ending the year at a high level. If they are below the standard, we want to help them meet (and even exceed) the standard. "Are they growing?" is the question that is as important as "Did they get it?" 4. Focus more on grades when they matter most. Grades "count" the most when our children start taking classes in eighth or ninth grades. These grades impact choices beyond high school. Even at that age, I would encourage parents to continue focusing on the learning of their child. Improving the learning most always improves the grade.
Our children's grades are definitely important. Their learning and their growth as a learner matters much more. Grades, test scores, teacher observations and feedback all give snapshots of a child's learning. They need to be used together (not in isolation) to get a clear picture how our children are doing. Let's always be thoughtful to keep the "learning horse" pulling the "grading cart." When that happens, our children will arrive at the right destination.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
Toys for Happiness
Canned Food Drive for Hope of Rock Hill
Fifth Grade Parent Meeting
Notes and Reminders
1. Toys for Happiness Signups--Parent Smart has had the pleasure of coordinating the application site for Toys for Happiness in Rock Hill for many years. They are happy to partner once again with WRHI and several agencies throughout York County to assist families who may struggle to provide holiday gifts for their children. The holiday assistance program serves families with children up to age 14.
They will be registering families at the Sylvia Circle Family Learning Center the first three Fridays in November: Nov. 3rd, 10th, and 17th. See flyers below for more information.
Please let Parent Smart know if you have any questions.
If you'd like to volunteer or know more about Toys for Happiness, click here: https://www.wrhi.com/events/tfh
2. Canned Food Drive--We are hosting a food drive of non-perishable items the month of November that will benefit the Hope of Rock Hill food pantry. The class that brings in the most donations will win ice cream treats and the teacher will win a gift basket. Please bring in donations of non-perishable food items in jars, boxes and cans. We recommend sauces, soups, beans, oatmeal, rice and pasta as an example. Monetary donations are also accepted, $1 is equal to 1 can. Please make your check out to Hope. Inc or label your cash donations food drive in an envelope. Below is a sign up genius if you would like to volunteer your time counting cans for the classrooms. Thank you for helping to give back to those in need within our community.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-45656860-food
3. 5th Grade Parent Meeting--Are you interested in your student continuing in the Dual Language Immersion program in middle school? If so, please plan to attend a transition meeting on Tuesday, December 5th at 6 p.m. at Cherry Park. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the DLI program components and expectations at both the middle and high school levels. We look forward to seeing you at this meeting.
5. EdSpaces Conference Visitors Tour Cherry Park November 6--EdSpaces is an education building and design conference that will be in Charlotte, NC November 7-9. On November 6 as a pre-conference option, conference attendees will visit Cherry Park and two other schools. We will host visitors from 12:00-5:00 that day. Their bus will park in the Caswell Car Loop near the front entrance.
6. CPES Spirit Wear Store--The online Spirit Wear store is now open and will remain open through Dec. 1. All orders will be delivered to school by Dec. 19th. We will not be able to accept late orders and we are not able to offer returns or exchanges.
Here is the link for the CPES Online Store: https://metroprint.printavo.com/merch/cherry-park-elementary
It will open again in the spring.
7. Fall Back for Daylight Savings Time--We don't want anyone late on tomorrow so please make sure your clocks have been set back an hour.
8. Afternoon Dismissal--Our car lines are consistently finishing up at 2:30 at the latest each day. If you arrive at the Cherry Road entrance after 2:30, your child will be heading up to the office area and will need to be picked up there. Please be sure you are arriving for pickup by 2:30.
9. Thank You for Our Halloween Staff Appreciation Event--Staff members were served spaghetti and meatballs, bread, desserts, and candy. We appreciate all you do in the big and small ways to support our staff. See pictures below.
School Calendar
November 5--Daylight Savings Ends (We Fall Back an Hour)
November 6--12:00-5:00 EdSpaces Conference Visitors Tour Cherry Park
November 10--Veterans' Day
November 13--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 PTO
November 14--Makeup Pictures and Class Pictures
November 17--Carolina/Clemson Day (Wear your favorite team's colors)
November 21--Second Graders Attend Winthrop Women's Basketball Game
November 22-24--Thanksgiving Break
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
"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