The CPES BobChat
February 9, 2025
What Could We Do for Others on Valentine's Day?
Make no mistake, Valentine's Day is a big deal for our kids. Our halls are buzzing with excitement in anticipation of Thursday's class parties. Our children are making their valentines and thinking about some sweet treats. With that in mind, this Friday might be a great opportunity to help them express care for others who may be easily forgotten in our community. Here are a few ideas of ways we could "spread the love" to others who may need encouragement. 1. Consider those who have lost their spouses or loved ones. Valentine's Day can be a difficult reminder that someone's love of their life is no longer with them. It could be a grandparent or neighbor or someone who is in an assisted living or retirement community. It could be someone who has recently experienced a death or loss. Receiving a card or valentine could make their day and help them know they are still important to us. 2. Emergency workers and those in the military. So many in our armed forces will not spend Valentine's Day with their family and friends. Our police, rescue and fire department personnel will still work long shifts on Friday away from their families. The doctors and nurses in our hospitals will miss some family time in order to care for others. For the people who literally give their lives to help keep us safe and healthy, a special treat or note of encouragement could remind them why their work is so important to our community. 3. Homeless and those in crisis. It doesn't take long to look around and know that so many live on the margins in our town. There are wonderful agencies in Rock Hill that need volunteers to care for those in need. A great valentine may be donating canned goods to a food bank or hygiene items to a homeless shelter. You may know someone in your family or neighborhood or church who has recently experienced a major life crisis and needs support. Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to make a difference in those who feel neglected and forgotten.
It is so much fun for us to do something special for the loved ones in our family. I hope that my special people already know they are important to me. (It certainly never hurts to tell them and show them again and again.) Let's be sure to do that but let's also show our children ways we can extend that care to those who may be experiencing more loneliness than love this week. We can intentionally include them on our family's Valentine's Day list.
Strength and Blessings,
Mr. Maness
Friday, 2/14 is a Professional Development Day.
Monday, 2/17 is an E-Learning Day.
Valentine's Day
See info below about Valentine's Day Parties on 2/13.
How Can Parents Reduce the Spread of Illness?
Suggestions are below.
Yearbooks
See below to order.
Notes and Reminders
1. Notes and Reminders--a. Valentine's Day Parties--Will be Thursday, February 13 since we will be out of school on February 14. Your child's teacher will inform you about planned activities and needs for the day. Please do not send items without approval from your child's teacher. Also, check the District Snack Letter below for reminders that we still need to be mindful of items that can cause allergic reactions. b. Absence Notes and Documentation--Please send notes and documentation for absences to Mrs. Miskelly at the following email address: mailto:CPAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org c. New Family Acceptances of Spots in Immersion--Parents MUST indicate by this date if they have accepted a seat or not. Families that do not accept a seat move to the Wait List for that program. At that point families can be moved from the WAIT list to an open seat.
2. How Can Parents Help Reduce the Spread of Illness?
Don’t send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are sick at school will be sent home. Staying home when sick will allow your children to rest and allows you to monitor their health closely.
Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or upper sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
Take time to get a flu vaccine. Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu. SCDPH strongly recommends all South Carolina residents older than 6 months old get the flu vaccine as soon as possible to prevent the flu, unless they have a medical reason not to be vaccinated.
Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu and Covid.. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.
3. Testing Locations for COVID/FLU
Rock Hill Schools will provide free COVID/Flu tests for students and staff at the following locations. Please call the nurse at one of the locations below to schedule a time to be tested.
Belleview
501 Belleview Road
803-981-1941
Nurse - Lyn Neil
8:00am - 3:00pm (M-F)
Flexible Learning Center
1234 Flint Street
803-985-3738
Nurse - Sally Jackson
8:30am - 4:00pm (M-Thurs)
8:30am - 1:00pm (Fri.)
Applied Technology Center
2399 W Main Street
803-985-3116
Nurse - Lisa Robertson
8:30am - 3:30pm (M-F)
4. Teacher Appreciation Bags--We want to thank our PTO and parents for the "teacher bags" that you gave us. They will be well used to carry all the books and teacher supplies we need each day. Thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness.
5. Yearbooks--Families may now order a yearbook. All sales are online only and to guarantee your child receives a yearbook, all orders must be placed by March 30, 2025. The early bird discount is available and then prices will increase on January 1st. All yearbook orders are online only and there will be no additional orders after March 30, 2025. Please see the flyer below. Click on the following link to order: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/24915 (Use order #24915 if you are asked for it.)
School Calendar
February 10--5:30 School Improvement Council; 6:30 Parent Teacher Organization
February 13--Valentine's Day Parties
February 14--Valentine's Day; Teacher Professional Development Day (No School); Parents MUST indicate by this date if they have accepted a seat or not. Families that do not accept a seat move to the Wait List for that program. At that point families can be moved from the WAIT list to an open seat.
February 17--E-Learning Makeup Day
February 28--Early Release Day (Students are dismissed at 11:15)
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
"What Do We Need to Know about Program Options and Flu Season?" February 2, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/zfkvbs
"What Questions Do Families Have? (Part 3)" January 26, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/uc39sa
"What Questions Do Families Have? (Part 2)" January 19, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/8nby3
"What Questions Do Families Have? (Part 1)" January 12, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/12psc
"How Can You Give the Gift of Second Language Learning?" January 5, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/n0j1us
"High and Fast or Low and Slow?" December 15, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/am39k
"What about a Game?" December 8, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/erny5h
"How Am I Grateful?" December 1, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/m9u4b
"What Is the Connection between Thanks and Giving?" November 17, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/c6hvt
"What Do Parents Need to Know about Our Book Fair" November 10, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/36azws
"How Can We Help Our Children Make Good Decisions?" November 3, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/tj863
"Who Made a Difference at the Bobcat Dash?" October 27, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/v7pxu
"What Do You Need to Know about the Bobcat Dash?" October 20, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/jecu8
"How Do We Help Kids Process Difficult Events?" October 13, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/nefrt
"How Can We Help Kids 'Handle Hard Better?'" October 5, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/brh0j
"What Should We Remember When We Have Bad Weather?" September 29, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/28hfx
"What Do Great Coaches Do?" September 22, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/cuktn
"How Can We Support the Bobcat Dash on 10/25?" September 15, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/vs3uwm
"What Are We Thinking about Safety This Week?" September 8, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/pxhd6
"What is the Difference between PTO and SIC?" September 1, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/syh3t
"How Are We Doing?" August 25, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/b2a9s
"What Lessons Can We Learn from the Olympics? (Part 2) August 18, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/9fe7s
"What Lessons Can We Learn from the Olympics? (Part 1)" August 11, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/ejr3s
"How Can We 'Be' Ready for the First Day of School? (Final Reminders) August 4, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/0wvx9
"What Do Families Need to Know about Open House" August 3, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/3wx9d
"How Can We Start Getting Ready for School?" (Part 4) July 28, 2024 https://secure.smore.com/n/59pwv
"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