The CPES BobChat
April 14, 2024
How Can We Change Our Children's Mindsets about Tests?
The word "test" usually elicits a common response of "Yuck!!" Few of us like tests. Some see them as boring events to endure. Others view them as producers of high anxiety. Most of us recognize them as necessary evils. While some of these perspectives could have some truth to them, assessments are an ongoing part of life. How can we help our children have the best mindsets about the tests they will take? 1. Recognize them for what they are, no more and no less. Assessments (of any kind) are the evidence of what has happened. We don't know how fast kids can run until we time them. (See picture above of our Boys Running Club who ran their 5K Come See Me Road Race.) We don't know how good a golf player really is until he/she plays at Augusta National Golf Club. We don't know how strong a college basketball team is until they play in the NCAA Tournament. Tests help us know what kids know. They reflect where they are in their learning. This information enables us, as educators, to understand how we can support them and challenge them in their next steps as a student. 2. Help children understand that the goal is doing their best. As adults, it is all too easy to focus on grades and scores and to use them as designations of a child's identity. "You scored an A so you are really smart." "You scored a D so you must be lazy." (As teachers, we've seen high scoring students not put forth effort while low scoring students produce incredible amounts of effort to learn.) The target on the wall is determining how much a child has grown as a student. In order to do that, we simply want them to do their best. For some kids that means needing to raise their level of concern a little. For others, it means reducing their anxiety. We want our children to do their best in a sporting or performing event. We want our children to give their maximum effort on tests at school as well. 3. Taking tests require attention to the following skills. All of us need endurance and patience when answering lots of questions. For Measures of Academic Progress (which all 1st through 5th grade children will take on the computer on Tuesday and Wednesday), the assessment is untimed and kids can take as much time as needed. Tests require careful attention to detail. We encourage our children to read the questions and answers very carefully. The difference between a right and wrong answer can be one word or one simple mistake. As a result, kids need to check their work and answers. When in doubt, we want children to eliminate the wrong answers first and then make their best guess. Obviously, kids always do best when they test in familiar surroundings with familiar people when they are well rested. Please reschedule any appointments your child may have on test days.
Tests can be seen as objects of punishment or opportunities for success. The truth is we get to decide. Let's help our children develop positive attitudes about tests in the same way we want them to give their best on the soccer field or auditorium stage. This will serve them well both now and in the future.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
P.S. The CPES Boys Running Club swept first, second and third place in the under 10 age group at the Come See Me Race!! So proud of our boys pictured above and we appreciate Mrs. Anderson for sponsoring the club.
MAP Testing for Grades 1-5 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Spring Pictures on 4/24
Information was sent home last week and more information is below.
New Turf Installed
Over Spring Break, new turf was installed on our playground. Thank you for your support of this major project.
CPES Art Show Will Be 4/30
All students will have work displayed and it will be from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Notes and Reminders
1. 2024-2025 PTO Officer Nomination--Please complete the form below to submit a nomination for the 2024-2025 Slate of Executive Officers for Cherry Park's PTO. The vote will be held at April's regularly scheduled PTO meeting on April 15, 2024. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, April 12 to be included on the ballot. Here is the nomination form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclZM5TVwUrL0jeOly2iJXGH29TaT7nU20F3QDFqa8Uw6RSvg/viewform
Please email cherryparkelementarypto@gmail.com with any questions.
3. Spring Pictures 4/24--Spring Pictures will be taken on April 24. Order forms and information was sent home last week. Only students whose families have paid for pictures will have a spring picture taken. To order pictures, go to https://www.carolinaphoto.net and click at the top on "Prepay Pictures." Our school access code for ordering is YM8T6TTX. Online orders close 24 hours before pictures are taken so please complete online orders by the end of day on April 22.
4. 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 or on the following link for more information: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=24915
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. 3rd and 4th Grade Spring Music Performances--Have been rescheduled to May 7 and May 9 at 6:30 PM. (Mr. Bratton had a death in his family and had to be out of school. He needs some additional time to prepare the students.) On Tuesday, May 7, the students in the following homerooms will perform at 6:30 PM: George, St. Aime, Broughton, Goodner, Roehl and Tull. On Thursday, May 9, the students in the following homerooms will perform at 6:30 PM: Garcia, Wright, Canteli, Preston, E. Leon and Riley.
7. Absence Documentation--You can email excuses for absences or send questions about attendance to the following email address: mailto:CPAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org Mrs. Janelle Miskelly is the person in our office who now handles all attendance coding in PowerSchool.
8. SC READY Testing--This is our statewide test for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. We need all students present on the following dates: Tuesday, May 14 (English Language Arts Day 1); Thursday, May 16 (English Language Arts Day 2); Tuesday, May 21 (Science for 4th Graders); Thursday, May 23 (Math).
9. Field Day Volunteers--Field day is coming! The K-2nd Field Day will be Tuesday, June 4 and the 3rd-5th Field Day will be Wednesday, June 5. Please use the links below to volunteer at our event. Only volunteers will be allowed to attend field day because each volunteer is pre-screened by the district. This process keeps your children safe as they play and enjoy the day with their teachers and friends.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Christi Beard cabeard@rhmail.org
Emily Anderson eanderson@rhmail.org
K-2nd Volunteer Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4EACAC22AB9-48705704-k12#/
3rd-5th Volunteer Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4EACAC22AB9-48710948-3rd#/
Staff Appreciation Week May 6-10
"Hello Rad Parents & Groovy Guardians!
We are excited to celebrate and honor our teachers and staff for a full week, May 6th-10th. The week's theme is "Back to the 80s" and will be filled with daily events and activities to show our gratitude for all they do. But we need your help to make it happen! Take a look at the sign up for options available and carefully consider making a contribution of time, money or resources that make sense for you and your family.
We ask that all items be dropped off on Friday, May 3rd by the end of day to the front office with your name and PTO attached. Any checks can be made out to Cherry Park Elementary PTO.
Below you will find the schedule of events for the week.
Monday: CHILL OUT Coffee Bar & Breakfast
Charge up our staff for the exciting week with a coffee bar and a continental style breakfast.
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday Lunch & GNARLY Giveaway
Las Americanas taco bar & a GNARLY gift card giveaway
Wednesday: Stay COOL Sorbet Truck & 80s Dress Up Day
Roam sorbet truck will be parked out front playing top 80s hits and dress up is encouraged
Thursday: STELLAR Boom Box Snack Boxes
Boom Box snack boxes loaded up with 80s themed snacks and delivered to teachers and staff.
Friday: PAC MAN grand finale food truck
Wrapping up the week with a food truck & arcade themed desserts.
Should you have any questions, contact Brittani Rayfield at brittanirayfield@gmail.com.
Thank you in advance for your help in making this STELLAR, RAD & GNARLY week happen. We couldn't do these events without YOU!
Sincerely,
Teacher Appreciation Committee"
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-48978330-staff
School Calendar
April 15--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 PTO
April 11-April 20--Come See Me Festival
April 16 and 17--Measures of Academic Progress Testing for Grades 1-5
April 21--Last Day to Order a Yearbook or Do a Fifth Grade Dedication
April 24--Spring Pictures (Online Orders Due on 4/22)
April 30--5:00-7:00 PM CPES Art Show
May 2--Early Release Day for Teacher Professional Development (Dismissal at 11:15)
May 3--District Holiday (Bad Weather Makeup Day if Needed)
May 6-10--Staff Appreciation Week
May 7--6:30 PM Spring Music Concert (George, St. Aime, Broughton, Goodner, Roehl and Tull's Homerooms)
May 9--6:30 PM Spring Music Concert (Garcia, Wright, Canteli, Preston, Leon and Riley's Homerooms)
May 12--Mother's Day
May 14--SC READY ELA Test (Day 1) for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades
May 16--SC READY ELA Test (Day 2) for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades
May 21--SC READY Science Test for 4th Grade Only; 3rd Grade Takes MAP Reading
May 23--SC READY Math Test for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades
May 27--Memorial Day Holiday (District Closed)
May 31--9:00 AM 5th Grade Recognition at Sullivan Auditorium
June 4--K, 1st and 2nd Grade Field Day
June 5--3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Field Day
June 6--Half Day for Students (Dismissal at 11:15)/Last Day of School
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
"What Field Trips Are Close By?" April 7, 2024 https://www.smore.com/n/v2xga
"Why Are Field Studies So Important?" March 24, 2024 https://www.smore.com/n/cnw5j
"What's the Difference between Reacting and Responding?" March 17, 2024 https://www.smore.com/n/491bh
"How Is Reading a Game Changer?" March 10, 2024 https://www.smore.com/n/evgx3u
"What Is Important about Read Across America Week?" March 3, 2024 https://www.smore.com/n/g4u3t
"What Do We Love about Language Immersion?" (Part 4) February 25, 2024 https://www.smore.com/n/e0n5g
"What Do We Love about Language Immersion?" (Part 3) February 18, 2024 https://www.smore.com/t49v3
"What Do We Love about Language Immersion?" (Part 2) February 11, 2024 https://www.smore.com/tqjb1
"Why Do We Love Language Immersion?" (Part 1) 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