The CPES BobChat
December 17, 2023
How Can We Manage Expectations during the Holidays?
All of us have expectations for the holidays. We have our own expectations. Our children have their expectations. Grandparents have expectations. Brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews have expectations (and that doesn't even include friends and neighbors and coworkers.) Much of the tension of the season comes because someone's expectations weren't met. How can we effectively manage our assumptions? 1. Ask. Often, we think we know what our kids want to do when we really don't. We can't navigate through our family's priorities if we don't know what they are thinking. Take time to ask them what they want from this season. We may be surprised to find out it is very different from what we were thinking. 2. Tell. Our children and family need to know what we want as well. This is where I'm guilty as charged. Too often, I expect others to read my mind. I don't always clarify what I'd like to see happen because I don't want to appear selfish. Keep in mind that making no decision to tell others is actually making a decision. Have we even thought through what our expectations are? 3. Look for the wins. See where others' priorities agree with our priorities. What do our kids want to do that we want to do? This is the easy part of meeting expectations. Use this as the starting point for determining how the holidays will look and feel. 4. Give and take. We may not be able to meet all of our or others' assumptions, but can we meet part of them? Can we take turns for where and when we will celebrate with our family? Does it have to be on the big day or can it be the day before or after? Instead of always buying the big ______ (you fill in the blank) for our children, would it be better to give them a gift card or money they can use with their own funds to secure that item? Establishing our boundaries of time, energy, and money ahead of time (and communicating them) can help prevent those big blowups inside ourselves and with others during the holidays. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the time we will spend with our kids and will keep us from transferring our stress to them. Our children definitely need to know our limits so they can set their own as they grow up. All this is an "easy say and hard do" and sometimes we have to struggle through the tension of these decisions. I wish for you much love, joy and peace in these next few weeks. Managing expectations well can lead to a happier and healthier holiday season.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
Thanks for Your Support
December Teacher Appreciation Signups
Yearbooks
Are now on sale.
Notes and Reminders
1. Book Fair--Thank you so much for supporting our Book Fair and for volunteering with it. Unused eWallet balances (from previous, current and future fairs) are converted to a gift card balance to purchase books online. Those funds can be used for up to 14 days after the fair. Funds not used will convert to eWallet amounts for future fairs.
To check your prior balance, please log into the Scholastic Account you created when you set up eWallet before.
2. December Teacher Appreciation--Let's make December extra SWEET for our CPES teachers and staff with a Holiday Cookie Walk on Thursday, December 21st along with a lunch provided by Mr. Maness. We need your help to send each staff member home with at least a dozen cookies and or treats. Please sign up below to donate homemade (preferred) sweet treats.
Some ideas for goodies: cookies, cookies, cookies, fudge, holiday candy, cake squares, etc. Please make sure all goodies can be kept at room temperature. Please label your name on the container so we can keep track. If possible please bring baked goods in something disposable.
Please send in your treats to the front office by Tuesday, December 19th - marked PTO with your name.
There are also opportunities to help serve lunch and manage the cookie station, please review the signups below.
Thank you in advance for all you do to show our teachers and staff how much you care!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-46012395-december#/
3. Kindergarten Showcases--We are looking forward to our Kindergarten Around the World Showcase. On your child's day and time (previously sent by your child's teacher on your boarding pass), you will sign in at the Cherry Rd. entrance with your government issued photo ID. Sign-in will begin after 8:10 AM and you can park in the Cherry Rd. lot or loop. It should take no more than 15 minutes to walk through the showcase. Afterwards, you will exit out of the classroom playground door. Please remember, we can only accommodate two guests per student due to space. Thank you!
4. First Grade Class Presentations This Week--Parents, please plan to park in the Cherry Road Car Loop and enter at the Cherry Road Entrance. You will need a photo ID for signing in. Here is the schedule:
Webb/Rayhill--Tuesday, December 19 from 10:00-11:00
Garcia's Homeroom--Wednesday, December 20 from 8:30--9:30
Brenton's Homeroom--Wednesday, December 20 from 10:00-11:00
Pezzello's Homeroom--Thursday, December 21 from 8:30-9:30
Chavez' Homeroom--Thursday, December 21 from 10:00-11:00
5. 5th Grade Parent Information--Here is the link to the presentation from Tuesday night 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
6. Yearbooks--Are now on sale. To guarantee your student receives a copy of the yearbook be sure to place your order no later than 11:59pm on Sunday, April 21, 2024. For more information to order, click on tab below.
School Calendar
December 21--Faculty Holiday Luncheon
December 23-January 8--Winter Break
January 8--Teacher Workday; 5:30 PM SIC Meeting; 6:30 PM PTO Meeting
January 9--First Day Back for Students
January 15--Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
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
"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