The CPES BobChat

I've always believed there were three important phrases to teach our children. Those three phrases embody my best thoughts and reflections as I step into my last week at Cherry Park. 1. I'm sorry. Every year, I reach this point and can list the 10-15 things I want to improve in the next year. As I look in the rearview mirror, I know I didn't get every conversation, every decision, and every action right. I hope I grew from each of those missteps. If I had it all to do over again, I would do many things differently but I also know those mistakes and failures have been my greatest teacher. I do regret when I didn't get it right. 2. Please. The word "please" reminds us that we are not in control. It is a word of kindness that recognizes we can't always force others to do what we want but it does give us agency to request and ask. With that in mind, I ask that you give our next principal the grace to lead in a way that may be different. I ask that you support him or her just like you've supported me. I ask that you give a little grace when they make a mistake and offer praise when they get things right. Please continue to carry on the mission of our school and care well for each other. Please know the best days of Cherry Park are yet to come. 3. Thank you. So many of you have asked how I'm feeling as I'm wrapping up this stage of my career. A word I've said over and over is "Grateful." I am grateful for all that has happened in the past. I am grateful for today and I am grateful for what's ahead. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunities to serve at Rawlinson Road (teacher), Mount Gallant (principal in training), Oakdale (assistant principal), Richmond Drive (principal) and Cherry Park (principal). I am grateful to have former students who are now parents and teachers and community leaders. I am proud of our first group of immersion kindergarten children who are now seniors that will graduate next Tuesday. I am grateful for all I've learned and how each challenge and learning opportunity helped me become a better person. I am so blessed by every relationship with a child, parent and staff member throughout 34 years. Know that I am so grateful for each of you.

It has been a privilege and an honor to be the principal at Cherry Park Elementary School of Language Immersion. There are so many who have been and are ready, willing and able to lead our children well. I leave with the greatest confidence that our school family will continue to care well for each other. I know that the best days are ahead of us, not behind us. Know that I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Know that I will miss you and that I love you.

Strength and Blessings,

Mr. Maness

P.S. If you want to know the "other" expressions I use all the time, see picture above.

1. Notes and Reminders--a. Absence Documentation--Please send notes and documentation for absences to Mrs. Motz at the following email address: mailto:CPAbsenceDocumentation@rhmail.org Mrs. Motz (who is at our front reception desk) will handle attendance for us through the end of the year. b. Snack List Reminder--Parents, please remember the only kinds of snacks that can be sent to school are those on the District Approved Snack List which is on one of the buttons below. This is for the safety of our students. c. Medication Pick Up--Please pick up medications from Nurse Love by 12:00, 5/27. They will discarded otherwise. We want to be sure all families receive any extra medication we have. d. Last Day to Eat Lunch with Your Child Was Last Friday--Given that we will have Field Day Monday and Tuesday and special activities on Wednesday, our lunch schedules not be at their normal times. We will also have lots of transitions happening throughout these days and want to ensure the safety and security of our children. e. Change of Dismissal for Thursday and Friday--Please send a note for Thursday and/or Friday if there is a change in the way your child will go home on those days.

2. Second Lottery for Spots Available--The 2nd lottery window for the 2025-2026 school year will be open from May 12 and run until May 23. We currently have limited spots available in French Kindergarten and French First grade. If you have any family or friends interested in applying to attend, please share those dates with them and share the following link with them for more information. https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=8539

3. Field Day--Will be Monday, May 19 for K-2nd and Tuesday, May 20 for 3rd-5th. It will be across the street at Cherry Park (the park.) For safety and security reasons, the only adults who will be admitted to attend are our prescreened volunteers. If you volunteer, please know that it will not be possible for you to bring your younger children. (Again, this is for safety, security, and liability reasons.)

4. Staff Transitions--Many of you may know about the following staff making transitions at the end of the year. We simply wanted to be sure everyone knows.

1. Janelle Miskelly—Will be leaving us as our SIS Clerk. Friday will be her last day in the office.
2. Caroline Brouillet—Will be leaving at the end of the year in order to pursue some new career opportunities. We wish her all the best as she does that. She teaches first grade French.
3. Paola Barranco—Will transition to being a full-time mom this summer and she will not be back with us this fall. She is a Spanish kindergarten assistant with Sra. Notaro. We will certainly miss her.
4. Stephanie Greer—Will be leaving in order to spend more time with her girls. We appreciate her work as Media Assistant with Dr. Austin in our media center. (Hopefully, we can convince her to still volunteer and to sub for half days.)
5. Gwen LaPier—Has been our part-time Related Arts teacher and she will be moving to Portland next week. We have been blessed to have her as a PE intern and then working on our staff. (Her position will not be replaced next fall due to budget reductions.)
6. Clydia Gullion—Is retiring as one of our fifth grade ELA teachers. We wish her the best as she and her husband step into retirement together. (Amber Allen has been hired for her position for next year.)
7. Monique Kirk—Will be shifting to York Road Elementary as the Dean of Students there. We thank her for her impact on our students and staff.

For all these ladies, we will miss them dearly and it has been such a privilege for them to be in our Cherry Park Family. Please take a moment this week to let them know how much they mean to us.

5. End of the Year Library Information for Families--All library books are due.

• Teachers have been made aware of students’ current checkouts.
• You will be notified after May 16 of any books that are still missing.
• Do not send money for library books unless you have been contacted directly by the teacher or the Media Specialist. We do not collect fees until after a complete inventory is done to make sure that the book hasn’t been returned and not scanned.

Summer Reading Incentive forms will be sent home during the last week of school.

• Be on the lookout for these.
• There will also be a copy of the form and instructions for participating on our school’s website over the summer.
• Rising first through fifth graders (this year’s Kindergarten through fourth graders) are invited to participate over the summer.
• Each student that returns a summer reading form will receive a small treat. All returned forms will be eligible to enter a drawing for a back-to-school grand prize.
• Forms will be due and prizes will be given during the first two weeks of school.

May 19--K-2nd Field Day

May 20--3rd-5th Field Day

May 21--9:00 Fifth Grade Recognition (Sullivan Auditorium)

May 22-23 Half Days for Students (May 23 is the last day of school)

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 Chelsea Eichorn, Jennifer Hutchinson, Matthew Query, Bernice Huskins, Heather Kagey, and Emily Parrish. 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 Shannon Martin/Caroline Stubbs (Co-Treasurers). We appreciate all of our sponsors (above) who contributed to our Bobcat Dash this year.

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"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

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"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

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