The CPES BobChat
July 28, 2024
How Can We Start Getting Ready for School? (Open House and Arrival/Dismissal)
We hope you are enjoying the final days before school starts. Here are the next areas of focus that will help you and your child have a great start. 1. Open House Drop In on Monday, August 5 from 5:00-7:00 PM--During this time, you can come and meet your child's teachers. This is also a good time to practice with little ones how to find their classrooms and tour the school. We will have representatives from Transportation, Be Great Academy, Parent Teacher Organization, and Girl Scouts in the cafeteria. Technology Fees can be paid in the Media Center and our Office Staff will help with any registration questions. Nurse Love will be in her office beside the Main Office as well. Be sure to get your blue or green "pickup cards" that you will use during dismissal. This is a great time to ask questions to be ready for school. 2. Arrival--Doors open at 7:00 and students are late at 7:40. If your child is not out of your car by 7:40, parents will be asked to sign him/her in late. Parents can walk their child in on their first day. (Kindergarten parents can walk their child in on Wednesday, August 14 as well.) Know that the safest and most secure way for your child to arrive is by getting out of your car on the sidewalk. (Little ones at the Cherry Road entrance "follow the blue line." You'll see it.) We will have lots of help to walk children into the building to ensure they go to their right class for the first couple of weeks of school. Know that traffic begins to build at 7:20 so the earlier you drop off, the less traffic there is. Students need to be at school by 7:20 if they want to eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Be sure to practice with little ones how to get out of their car seat. Safety Patrol members will open the door but will not be able to unbuckle them. It is most helpful for the car seat to be on the right side of the back seat. Please be patient and safe during arrival time, especially during the start of the year. 3. Dismissal--Teachers will take all van and bus riders to their pickup areas. Be Great Academy students will be taken to their classes as well. For all car riders, teachers will take them to the designated location for Cherry Road Car Riders (C Hall) and Caswell Car Riders (F Hall). Be sure to let your child's teacher know if your child will be picked up at the Cherry Road (Lower) Entrance or the Caswell Street (Upper) Entrance. Callers with walkie talkies will ask you for a blue or green "pickup card" (with your child(ren)'s name(s) on it) and she will call your child(ren) to go to a designated number on the sidewalk where they will wait to be picked up. If your child does not come out, do not worry. Just pull up in front of the first position and tell one of the adults who you are missing. We will get your child for you. It is most helpful (and secure) if your child goes home the same way each day. For any changes in dismissal (how your child goes home), we must have a handwritten note (not an email) sent in to the teacher or you can come to the office and drop off a note. This is a district policy. Emergency situations are handled on a case by case basis. The procedures for arrival and dismissal are further explained in our Family Handbook which you can access at the button below. Our highest priority is the safety and security of your child so please take your time and give your full attention to driving while on our campus. As always, if you have questions, just let us know.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
P.S. For all families who have completed all parts of enrollment and student verification, teacher assignments will be placed in Parent Portal by Friday.
Kindergarten Parent Orientations 8/8 and 8/10
We will have a brief 30 minute information session at 7:45 AM for all kindergarten parents on the first day of your child's staggered start on August 8 or August 10 in our Cafeteria.
Thursday, Aug 8, 2024, 07:45 AM
Cafeteria
Parent Registration Help Session
For any parents who need help completing their child's student verification or enrollment, office staff members will be available in the Media Center. This is for Spanish and English speakers.
Tuesday, Jul 30, 2024, 05:00 PM
Media Center
Beginning of School Checklist
1. Returning Student Verification--Update all contact information and emergency contact list in Parent Portal. Only students who were in Rock Hill Schools last year need to do this. If you haven't created a Parent Portal account, go to the following link: https://rock-hill.powerschool.com/public/home.html
2. Submit Proof of Residency--Electric or Gas Bill or Lease Agreement sent to our SIS Clerk, Mrs. Janelle Miskelly: mailto:jmiskelly@rhmail.org. You can also drop off a copy in our main office.
3. Purchase School Supplies--See button below.
4. New School Year Calendar--Please go ahead and note important dates from our District Calendar on your personal calendar. See button below.
5. Be Great Academy After School Program--Complete registration if needed for the program. See information below.
6. School of Choice Bus Transportation--Complete registration in Parent Portal if your child needs bus transportation before or after school. https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/587 You need to complete the Transportation Request in Parent Portal under "Forms."
7. Medical Needs--Secure any medications and doctors' orders that need to be housed with Nurse Love. After August 1, complete any forms needed for their distribution. Also, be sure to inform her and your child's teachers of any medical needs your child may have.
8. Parent Request of Home Use of Device Form--Needs to be completed only if parents want their child's device to come home. Click on the following link: https://rock-hill.jotform.com/241983560912966 (This does not have to be completed if the teachers need the devices to go home for homework, assignments and projects.)
9. Technology Fee Agreement (TFA) in Parent Portal--In order to pay the $20 Technology Fee, it can be paid by following the links in Parent Portal or paid in person at Open House (in the Media Center). To access Parent Portal, go to this link: https://rock-hill.powerschool.com/public/home.html
10. Review the Mobile Computing Guide--Please review it with your child as a part of the TFA in Parent Portal so you can know your responsibilities with technology. Click on the following link to access it: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEaWJV42GA/YlKHJ6-alHk4QJ4pg6z-lQ/view?utm_content=DAEaWJV42GA&utm_campaign=celebratory_first_publish&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor_celebratory_first_publish#11 If you complete it in Parent Portal, do not print the last two pages.
11. Review the CPES Family Handbooks--Please click on the button for the CPES Family Handbook. Please verify in the Parent Portal by completing the eCollect Handbook Verification in Form that you have read and understand student expectations.
Open House Is Monday, August 5 from 5:00-7:00
First Day Back Is Thursday, August 8
School Meals
We have a few open slots for kindergarten. See more information below.
Notes and Reminders
1. Open Slots for Kindergarten--We have a few slots open for Kindergarten French for this fall. If you know of any families who may be interested, please have them contact our Main Office at 803-985-2255.
2. Open House--Open House will be Monday, August 5 from 5:00-7:00 PM. This is a time to come and meet your child's teacher and ask questions. Please mark your calendars.
3. Staggered Start for Kindergarten--All students with last names starting with A-H will attend August 8-9 (and will not attend August 12-13). All students with last names starting with I-Z will attend August 12-13 (and will not attend August 8-9). All kindergarten students come August 14. The purpose of this staggered start is for your child to be in a smaller class and have time to transition easily to school.
4. First Day of School for 1st through 5th Grade--Will be Thursday, August 8 for all 1st through 5th Grade students.
5. Student Meals--Districtwide, students can eat breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria at no cost to families. Children need to be at school by 7:20 to have time to eat breakfast and be on time for class. Menus for each day can be found on our RHSD App.
School Calendar
July 30--5:00-7:00 PM Parent Registration Help Session (Media Center)
August 1--First Day Back for Teachers
August 8--First Day for Grades 1-5
August 8-9--Staggered Start for Kindergarten Students with Names Beginning with A-H (and the other I-Z group starting on August 12-13 will not come.); 7:45 Kindergarten Parent Orientation
August 12-13--Staggered Start for Kindergarten Students with Names Beginning with I-Z (and the other A-H group who went on August 8-9 will not come.); 7:45 Kindergarten Parent Orientation
August 14--All Kindergarten Students Are In School; 6:00-8:00 PM Girl Scout Recruitment Night (Media Center)
August 21--6:00-7:30 Scouting Recruitment Night at CPES (Media Center)
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 Shannon Martin/Caroline Stubbs (Co-Treasurers). We appreciate all of our sponsors (above) who contributed to our Bobcat Dash this year.
Previous Newsletters for 24-25 School Year
"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" (Part 3) July 21, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/y0w1e
"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" (Part 2) July 14, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/x5hed
"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" July 7, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/6x9vk
"Who's and What's New at Cherry Park? (Part 3) June 30, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ksd0u
"Who's New at Cherry Park? (Part 2) June 2, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/8cuf1g
"Who's New at Cherry Park? (Part 1)" May 26, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/c0pnvt