The CPES BobChat

Last week, I discussed the value of our children having hands-on learning experiences through field trips. Those opportunities can be costly but there are local resources available that are inexpensive as well. Here are a few ideas. 1. Historical Trips--The Catawba Nation Cultural Center is a treasure for understanding Native American life and history. Historic Brattonsville helps little ones experience life from the 1750"s through the 1840"s. Kings Mountain National Park is a great place to visit to learn about the Revolutionary War (and you can get a stamp in your National Park Stamp Book, too.) Downtown Rock Hill has exhibits about the Civil Rights Movement at the Freedom Walkway. There is so much to learn about our local history. 2. Cultural Trips--The Museum of York County offers many programs for our children. The Rock Hill Arts Council and the Rock Hill Symphony coordinate events and performances for the community. If you take a walk downtown, you can see numerous murals recently painted. Winthrop University, our high schools and middle schools all have schedules of drama and music performances. In addition, our local Come See Me Festival will be April 11-20 and there will be tons of activities for the community. 3. Outdoor Trips--The Rock Hill Parks and Recreation Department oversees 45 different facilities. Many of the parks include fun places for kids to run and play. There are also numerous walking paths and hiking trails for families in the area. If you like being on the water, you can enjoy paddling, boating, and fishing on Lake Wylie and the Catawba River. There is a fantastic disc golf course around Winthrop Coliseum. From bike paths to mountain biking trails, cyclists have lots of opportunities in the area. You can also watch competitions at the Velodrome and BMX track. Rock Hill is a great place for outdoor activities.

I hope you enjoy time resting and having fun with your family this week. As I think about raising our two children in Rock Hill since 1991, I recognize how blessed we were to have the resources and organizations that supported our children's growth. Thank you for all the ways you help and lead many of these groups which impact our community.

Strength and Blessings,

Mr. Maness

P.S. Here is an easy link with lots more ideas about what to do in York County: https://www.visityorkcounty.com/

https://www.comeseeme.org/

1. Volunteers Needed for K and 1st Grade Bike Lessons--As a part of our Physical Education program, students will be able to practice their balancing and bike riding skills through using Strider bikes in All Kids Bike program. Mrs. Anderson would like to extend an invitation to help volunteer during PE2 class times with helping students put on helmets and assisting students during class. If you are interested in volunteering, please click on link below. (Also, remember you have to be an approved volunteer from Rock Hill School District). If you have any questions or can volunteer, please e-mail Mrs. Anderson (eanderson@rhmail.org).

2. 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. Be Great Academy Summer Program--Registration is open for summer programming! Families can register at york.begreatacademy.com. Parents should enroll their child at Northside Elementary under Summer Camp 2024. Then the parent will go to view cart and select payment method. The registration fee is waived until March 31st.

If parents have any issues with your enrollment, please encourage them to contact member service representative Carolyn Thompson at carolynthompson@cresent.begreatclubs.org.

BGA has created a FAQ page for families to refer to if they have any questions.

FAQ Page for Families

4. 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.

5. Spring Pictures 4/24--Spring Pictures will be taken on April 24. Order forms and information will go home the week after Spring Break.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Eclipse Plan for CPES--We will not have any outdoor activities planned from 1:50-4:30 on tomorrow. The partial eclipse begins in our area at 1:56 and will peak at 3:15 and ends at 4:30. (At the peak in our area, the sun will be 80% covered.) We believe it is best for our children to view it outside with a parent to ensure the safety and health of our kids. Please remind your child that viewing the eclipse without appropriate safety glasses could damage their eyes. We will follow a normal dismissal time and schedule on tomorrow. If you'd like to view the eclipse online, Smithsonian has some recommendations for you: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-the-total-solar-eclipse-from-your-home-with-these-live-streams-online-180984095/

9. Officer Briget Grobe--Will be replacing Officer Channell starting tomorrow. Please welcome her to our school as she gets started.

April 15--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 PTO

April 11-April 20--Come See Me Festival

April 21--Last Day to Order a Yearbook or Do a Fifth Grade Dedication

April 30--5:00-7:00 PM CPES Art Show

May 31--9:00 AM 5th Grade Recognition at Sullivan Auditorium

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 Celia Kerr, Ashley Petit, Latisha Givens, Scott Kennedy, Chelsea Eichorn, Jennifer Hutchinson and Matthew Query. 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. 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.

"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