The CPES BobChat

Last week, we discussed how we can grow healthy kids physically. We know that better physical health leads to better learning. During this past week, all fourth graders went to the District Natatorium for swim lessons for four days. Why do we believe it is important to take precious class time to help our children learn to swim? 1. It saves lives. It is estimated by the American Red Cross that half of Americans can't swim and don't know strategies to save someone from drowning. Here in Rock Hill, students have drowned because they did not know how to swim. During these four days of swim lessons, students learn how to get themselves in and out of the water and they learn simple safety techniques to help others in distress. To be clear, our children don't become lifeguards after four days but they do learn how to throw someone a flotation device or how to use one themselves. Learning to swim is such a valuable safety skill. 2. It helps overcome fear. We are amazed that some children are in tears getting in the water at the beginning of the week. It is a huge celebration for them to put their face in the water and blow bubbles. It is fun to see others jump off the side of the pool (or to let go of it) or to swim in water over their heads. Learning to swim builds their confidence and encourages them to try to overcome other fears in their lives. No matter how comfortable a child is in the water, there is always a challenge to get better as a swimmer. 3. It helps kids discover a new interest or new way to exercise. Some of our kids are like fish or dolphins. (I think I'm more like a turtle.) Because we expose our kids to swimming, some find a new passion or giftedness for it. Our district sponsors swim teams at the high school level and there are also swim teams to join around town. We never know who might represent us in the Olympics one day. For other children, the water may become a place of comfort and solace for them. We see some kids actually relax more in the water than out of it. This may become their way to relieve stress and anxiety as opposed to the water causing it. For our teachers who take the kids to swimming, they see so much growth that happens during these four days.

We hope you will encourage your child in their next step in swimming. Pools, ponds, rivers, and the ocean are so close to us. It is not hard to find a place to get in the water. We simply want our children to have the confidence that they can be in it and enjoy it.

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. RHSD Teacher's Choice Art Show--The following students had pieces selected in the show. We are so proud of our students. See above for their work: Graham Spencer, Ava Cooper, Sterling Morgan, Hayden Chavis, Adriel Holmes and Hayes Huskins. c. Support Staff of the Year and Teacher of the Year--We are so proud of Michelle Milslagle and Tanjie Woods and all the work they do with our children. Congratulations to them. d. Oratorical Contest Winner--Hadley Watson represented Cherry Park in our district contest. She did a great job.

2. 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. 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.)

3. 2025-2026 PTO Officer Nominations--Please click on the button below to submit a nomination for the 2025-2026 Slate of Executive Officers for Cherry Park's PTO. The vote will be held at April's regularly scheduled PTO meeting on April 14, 2025.

All nominations must be submitted by Friday, April 11 to be included on the ballot.

4. SIC Traffic Survey (Due Today)--Our School Improvement Council has discussed how we could improve our traffic safety for Cherry Park. As a part of that process, we would like your feedback and perspective. Please click on the following link and complete the survey by end of day on March 30. Thanks for participating to help keep our children safe. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5QJ4dracYZ1zKvhYHFSpZnzee6Pqdk8gNUsaarzrdXDS8Iw/viewform

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. April Birthday Book Club Volunteer Signups--We are gearing up for our Birthday Book Club celebration for the year! We will celebrate on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Each child receives a free book of their choosing for their birthday! We need volunteers to help distribute the books during each students lunch time. Click here to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49A4A923AAFBC70-50604945-april#/

7. Come See Me Road Race (April 5) and Boys Running Clubs--I (Mrs..Anderson) have been so proud of both running clubs for putting in the miles of running/walking and can't wait to see how they do! This is a great race and it also offers a mile run for little kiddos as well! I would love to see more students and their families come out to run/walk and be active! Here is the link for signing up to run and walk.

https://www.comeseeme.org/event/road-races/

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.

March 30--Last Day to Order Yearbooks

April 3-12--Come See Me Festival

April 8--MAP Testing (Reading or Math. Your child's teachers will decide.)

April 10--MAP Testing (Reading or Math. Your child's teachers will decide.)

April 15--5:00-7:00 Art Show (All students will have artwork in the show.)

April 17--6:00 Fourth Grade Music Performance

April 21-25--Spring Break

April 28-May 2--Staff Appreciation Week

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

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

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.

"How Can We Grow Healthy Kids...Physically?" March 23, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/0jba5

"What's Ahead for This Spring at CP?" March 16, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/1ejcy

"Mrs. Preston, How Can Parents Help Their Children Become Better Readers?" March 9, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/ecwts

"How Can Reading Take Our Children Places?" March 2, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/jr7wu

"What Can We Do to Help Alleviate Traffic at CP?" (Part 2) February 23, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/82gwk6

"What Can We Do to Help Alleviate Traffic at CP?" February 16, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/h2qar

"What Could We Do for Others for Valentine's Day?" February 9, 2025 https://secure.smore.com/n/sjc7h

"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