The CPES BobChat

Spring has definitely sprung. It is all too easy to reach these last few weeks of the year and "let go" of our routines and habits that help us stay focused. Our children can easily catch "Spring Fever" and end up making poor decisions. When we teach great decision making both at home and school, it has a huge effect on opportunities for learning for all students. How do we help our kids stay on the right track no matter what time of year it is? 1. Make sure they clearly know the boundaries. Our children can't read our minds. It is helpful for them to know what they can and can't do. Boundaries and expectations actually give kids comfort and a sense of control because they know what the structure is. None of us operate well in chaos. Whether it is a bedtime routine or an expectation about homework or chores, children should know what they should do and when they should do it. 2. Keep consequences realistic and consistent. One of my favorite discipline quotes is "It doesn't take a sledgehammer to nail a picture to a wall." When (not if) our kids venture out of bounds, try to think through appropriate, natural consequences for them. If they make a mess, they should clean it up. If they break something, they should have to pay (within reason) for it to get fixed. Doing the crime should match doing the time. The same is true when our kids do the right things as well. They should know the positive effects of good choices as well as the negative effects of bad ones. 3. Guide them towards independent decision making. Positive reinforcement for good choices can be taken too far at times. I do not believe in "feeding the seals." In a zoo, when a seal is being trained, the keepers constantly reward the animal with a fish for every positive command he or she follows. Our children need to know that doing the right thing ultimately is important because it benefits others and themselves. We don't always get a trophy for showing up and making good choices. While it is important for adults to have consequences for our kids, there comes a day when they have to make decisions on their own and live with the effects of them. Our goal as parents is to have our children stand on their own. Every step they take toward independence helps them build their own character muscles for the future.

The preschool years are the discipline years. The elementary years are the training years. The middle and high school years are the coaching years. Let's do all we can to support each other so our children can become the mature, independent people they need to be. Working on behavior now can lead to great outcomes for our kids in the future.

Strength and Blessings,

Mr. Maness

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. Birthday Invitations--It is our school policy that we do not distribute birthday invitations by students or our teachers at school. This can be an interruption to teaching and learning. d. Smart Watches--Please remind your child that a smart watch can only be used at school as a timekeeping tool. It should never be used as a communication device. This is a district policy.

2. Staff Appreciation Week (April 28-May 2) Our staff at Cherry Park are HOLLYWOOD STARS!! We will be celebrating staff appreciation week from April 28th to May 2nd. The week is full of food trucks, tasty treats, themed snacks and more surprises. Help us make our CPES staff feel like red carpet movie stars and sign up to donate items or to volunteer and donate your time.

Room temperature items such as chips, popcorn seasoning, sodas, water, etc. (anything that doesn't have to be refrigerated can be dropped off anytime from now until 4/28 to the front office with your name written on it. Please keep in mind spring break is the week before so nothing will be able to be dropped off.

Refrigerated items need to be dropped off on Monday 4/28 by the end of the day to the front office with your name written on it. Please keep in mind spring break is the week before so nothing will be able to be dropped off prior to that.

Everyone has made this year such a success volunteering, donating items and helping to spoil the staff at Cherry Park Elementary. That makes YOU a hollywood star too and I couldn't be more grateful for your help.

If you have any questions please email me at brittanirayfield@gmail.com

Thank you,

Staff Appreciation Committee

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-50735527-staff

3. SC READY Writing Test on Wednesday for Grades 3, 4 and 5--Please do all you can to have your child at school on time. They should eat a good breakfast and get a good night's sleep. Please reschedule any other appointments they might have on Wednesday. Encourage them to do their best and to take their time.

4. Welcome to the Family Drop In for New Students on May 1 from 5:30-6:30 PM--We look forward to welcoming all our new students that will start with us this fall. This is a chance for new families to come and meet teachers, see classrooms and ask any questions. Please pass this on to any new families. Please park in the lower parking lot or the right hand side of the Cherry Road Car Loop. Enter through the kindergarten gates.

5. SC READY Testing Dates--Parents of 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders, please note the days for SC READY which is our statewide test. Please mark these on your calendar. Please do not schedule any appointments for your child for these days.

Writing--Wednesday, April 30 (Note, this is the Wednesday after Spring Break. We need all students at school on Monday and Tuesday for final preparations that week.)

Reading Day 1--Wednesday, May 7

Reading Day 2--Thursday, May 8

Math--Tuesday, May 13

Science (4th Grade Only)--Thursday, May 15

6. Kindergarten End of Year Programs--Will be Friday, May 9. Pope and Lopes are at 8:00 AM, Doyle and Kiker are at 9:00 AM and Smith and Notaro are at 10:00 AM. Please park in the lower Cherry Road Lot or on the right hand side of the drive. Programs will last about 30 minutes each. Please bring your ID in order to sign in. We hope you can come.

7. End of the Year Library Information for Families--All library books are due on May 16, 2025

• 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.

8. 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. Please be sure your screening is up to date. If you volunteer, please know that it will not be possible for you to bring your younger children. (Again, this is for safety and security reasons.) Signups are available below and we appreciate your support with our Field Days. The Volunteer Screening Application is below as well.

April 30--SC READY Writing Test (3rd-5th Grades)

May 1--5:30-6:30 PM Welcome to the Family Drop-In (For families of new students coming this fall).

May 7-8--SC READY Reading Day 1 and 2 (3rd-5th Grades)

May 9--Kindergarten End of Year Programs (8:00-11:00 See schedule above)

May 11--Mother's Day

May 13--SC READY Math (3rd-5th Grades)

May 15--SC READY Science (4th Grade)

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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