Showing Up for the 2023-24 School Year
Schools open next week! If we all show up as our best selves this school year, then is there any doubt that great things will happen?
Let’s show up ready to learn. That means being in school each day and putting in the work.
Let’s show up with kindness. That means having a great attitude and connecting with the people around us.
Let’s show up for each other. That means being helpful, doing what’s right and knowing that we are better together.
Important Notes and Reminders to Start the School Year Strong
Families can find back-to-school information on the school system website. Gathered together in one place is information about registering for school, transportation, school supplies and more. Below are some of the most popular back-to-school topics.
Families are encouraged to share their back-to-school photos with the school system via this link.
Calendars are online in English and in Spanish. Be sure to review the calendar so that your student shows up ready to learn on the right day.
Digital versions of the parent handbook and student code of conduct are available in English and in Spanish.
A free menu app makes it easy to find out what is being served in Chesterfield County Public Schools. MealViewer users create a free account, choose the school they are interested in, then view detailed nutritional information (including possible allergens) about the entrees and side dishes available each day.
Tired of searching every morning for cash to pay for meals or a la carte items in school cafeterias? Setting up an account on MySchoolBucks.com can help you ensure your child has money for school meals.
Each year, families may apply for free or reduced-price school meals. The online application is available in English and Spanish. A paper application is available upon request from the school office or Food and Nutrition Services. At 40 Chesterfield County schools covered by the community eligibility provision, all students receive free school meals (Families at those schools do not need to submit an application.):
Elementary schools: Bellwood, Bensley, Beulah, Bon Air, Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy, Chalkley, Marguerite Christian, Crenshaw, Crestwood, Curtis, Davis, Ecoff, Enon, Ettrick, Falling Creek, Gates, Harrowgate, Hening, Hopkins, Jacobs Road, Matoaca, Providence, Reams Road, Salem Church, Elizabeth Scott and Wells
Middle schools: Carver, Elizabeth Davis, Falling Creek, Manchester, Matoaca, Providence and Salem Church
High schools: Bird, Carver College and Career Academy, CTC@Courthouse, Thomas Dale, Matoaca, Manchester and Meadowbrook
Bus route information is available via the Versatrans e-Link platform. Bus stops are assigned according to the address that is listed for your student in the school system’s student database. To check or make changes to transportation arrangements, contact your school’s registrar or log into ParentVUE where you can view or update this information. Please note: Once updates are entered into ParentVUE, it takes 3-4 days for schools to process this information. After the information is processed, transportation changes will appear on the Versatrans e-Link platform.
Communicating with the transportation team: The Transportation Department may be contacted through a web-based communication form or by calling 804-748-1656. When prompted, you must enter the first 3 letters of your student’s zoned school.
Certain vaccines are required for students to attend school. If documentation of these vaccines has not been provided to the school, your student will not be able to start school on time.
Incoming kindergarten students
The Virginia Department of Health has shared flyers in English and Spanish regarding required vaccines for students starting kindergarten. Documentation of vaccines must be provided to your school before a student may start school. Learn more about kindergarten registration on the division website.
Rising seventh graders
Virginia students are required to get these vaccines before entering seventh grade:
Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap): The Tdap vaccine is required by law for all students entering seventh grade.
Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY): Students are required to have one dose of MenACWY vaccine before entering seventh grade.
Human papillomavirus (HPV): The HPV vaccine is required by law for students entering seventh grade. After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent/guardian may elect for their student not to receive the HPV vaccine with no additional paperwork required by Chesterfield County Public Schools. Ask your health-care provider about the benefits of the HPV vaccine.
High school seniors
Virginia students must meet the following vaccine requirement before entering 12th grade:
A minimum of two doses of meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine are required by law before students enter 12th grade. The first dose should be administered before entering seventh grade. The final dose should be administered before entering 12th grade (given on or after the 16th birthday). Meningococcal vaccines help protect against the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease.
How to get vaccines
You may make a wellness appointment with your health-care provider to get this vaccine for your child. Additionally, the Chesterfield County Health Department offers immunizations by appointment only for children age 18 and younger. To schedule an appointment, call 804-748-1750.
Find health and wellness information online including medication procedures, sick-day guidance, forms and more. Read more about how school nurses make sure students are safe, healthy and ready to learn in this message from Angela Moore, CCPS Special Education Nurse Specialist and President of the Virginia Association of School Nurses.
Check your student’s Chromebook.
Locate your child’s Chromebook and charger.
Plug in the Chromebook, and charge it up.
Check for major damage.
If your Chromebook is damaged or not working, your child will be able to get Chromebook help when school starts. Students who are new to Chesterfield County Public Schools will receive Chromebooks after school begins.
How Visitors Check in at Schools
As we move into the 2023-24 school year, we want to remind families about the visitor check-in process that is in place at all Chesterfield County schools. We welcome visitors, but it is important that we all follow the measures in place for the safety of our students and staff. We cannot make exceptions to this process:
When visiting the school, please press the doorbell at our main entrance. Someone from our office will respond and ask why you are visiting. Once you enter the school, go to the office to check in. Our office has a computer set up where visitors can check in by scanning government-issued identification cards that have barcodes printed on them. After you scan your ID, simply follow the directions on the screen. If you are not able to scan your ID, someone in our office will help you. Visitors must present a valid form of identification to be granted access beyond the school office or to pick up a student.
Sept. 5 is Deadline for Openings on Advisory Committees
Advisory committees established by the Chesterfield County School Board are one way community members connect with their local schools. Advisory committee members are appointed from each of the county’s five magisterial districts and include parents, teachers, staff members, students and others interested in helping Chesterfield County Public Schools achieve its vision of creating a better tomorrow. Advisory committee members who are appointed by the School Board must reside in the district they represent.
Under Virginia’s open government requirements, meetings are generally required to be held in person. If you are unable to meet in person, please note that in your application under “availability for meeting attendance.” Get more information about specific committees or apply here by Sept. 5 if you are eligible and interested in these openings:
Audit and Finance Committee
Clover Hill District (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025)
Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee
Dale District (partial term ending June 30, 2025)
School Health Advisory Board (Wellness experts may be appointed from any magisterial district but should be subject matter experts with experience in the field.)
Expert on employee wellness (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026)
Groundbreaking Held for New West Area Middle School
See the kickoff of construction on the 13th middle school in Chesterfield County Public Schools, the largest school system in central Virginia. You can also read more about the new middle school.
Turf Takes the Field at Two High Schools
Bird and Monacan high schools have new Sprinturf Ultrablade fields and will hold ribbon-cuttings before football games:
6:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at Bird High
6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at Monacan High
Synthetic turf allows the fields to be used year-round, by eliminating downtime for grass growth and reducing rain delays. In addition to renewing the multipurpose fields, these projects improve accessibility, event areas and drainage. The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors covered the $2 million cost for each site, and the county Parks and Recreation Department managed the project in coordination with Chesterfield County Public Schools. The Bird and Monacan fields are intended to serve school and county activities for eight to 10 years. In the future, other high school fields will be evaluated for synthetic turf.
Free Family Movie Before School Starts
A free showing of “Minions” (including snacks) is on offer 7-10 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Chesterfield Towne Center parking lot. Get more information from the mall’s website.