See how we surprised our Teachers of the Year!
Each year, Chesterfield County Public Schools leaders notify the top three Teachers of the Year of their selection by sweeping into their classrooms with balloons, banners and big excitement. This video shows the moments that this year's honorees heard the good news. Congratulations to the Teachers of the Year from every Chesterfield County school!
Chesterfield Virtual School is open to grades K-8
Registration for the Chesterfield Virtual School opened Feb. 5 for Chesterfield County students in grades K-8. As Virginia’s first virtual school, the Chesterfield Virtual School provides the opportunity to learn with teachers from across the country and students from all over Chesterfield County. This creates a powerful and unique tapestry of diversity.
The Chesterfield Virtual School works for students who are self-sufficient and self-driven. School days begin at 7:45 a.m. with morning meetings. Before students are dismissed for the day at 2:15 p.m., teachers cover all core academic subjects. After-school clubs offer additional connections for students. The Chesterfield Virtual School also offers gifted instruction, honors classes, special education and ESL.
Enrollment for new students begins Feb. 5 and ends April 28.
The website offers details about the Chesterfield Virtual School, including this application form.
CCPSOnline registration is open
Students in grades 9-12 can now register for CCPSOnline classes. With learning available 24/7 in a no-bells, no-limits virtual environment, the flexibility of CCPSOnline classes can help high school students create the schedule they want. Act now to take advantage of this Chesterfield County Public Schools opportunity:
CCPSOnline registration is open through April 28 for summer 2024 and for the 2024-25 school year.
Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about CCPSOnline at 6:30 p.m. March 4; click this link to join the discussion. Also, students can talk to their school counselor about how CCPSOnline may fit into their schedule.
The website offers details about CCPSOnline.
Apply now for prekindergarten
Prekindergarten serves 4-year-olds with the greatest need, helping them build skills and prepare for kindergarten. A limited number of spots are available at these sites:
Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy serving Bellwood, Bensley, Beulah, Marguerite Christian, Curtis, Ecoff, Enon, Gates, Harrowgate, Salem Church, Elizabeth Scott and Wells elementary schools
Bon Air, Davis, Chalkley, Crenshaw, Crestwood, Ettrick, Evergreen, Falling Creek, Greenfield, Hening, Hopkins, Jacobs Road, Matoaca, Providence and Reams Road elementary schools
Applications are being accepted now for the 2024-25 school year. This webpage has details and links to the application form in English and in Spanish.
Bee the best!
Congratulations to Walker W. for being the top speller in Chesterfield County Public Schools. The Salem Church Middle eighth grader correctly spelled “syndicate” to win the districtwide spelling bee on Jan. 25. Walker will represent Chesterfield County Public Schools in the regional spelling bee later this year.
FACE FWD film series starts Feb. 27
Chesterfield County Public Schools will host a free documentary film series for families and educators on these Tuesdays:
“The Disruptors” on Feb. 27
“Split Up” on March 5
“Deej” on March 26
Organized by the Office of Family and Community Engagement, the FACE FWD film series will explore cultural competency, social-emotional development and adolescent support. Tickets are free, but reservations are required via Eventbrite for each of the four films. Each film will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112.
Reserve your free tickets for “The Disruptors,” which will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in the CTC@Hull auditorium. The film explores attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which is one of the most commonly diagnosed and widely misunderstood neurological conditions in the world, affecting nearly 10% of children and a rising number of adults. But what if having an ADHD brain is actually an asset? A growing number of innovators, entrepreneurs, CEOs, Olympic athletes and award-winning artists have recently disclosed that their ADHD, managed effectively, has played a vital role in their success. “The Disruptors” hears from many of those game-changing people about their ADHD, debunks harmful myths and takes viewers inside a number of families as they navigate living with ADHD.
Feb. 20 is deadline for R.E.B. nominations
Nominate outstanding teachers for R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence! The program is accepting nominations through 5 p.m. Feb. 20. About 15 central Virginia teachers are selected each year to receive amazing grants up to $15,000 to support professional development. Award winners have earned graduate degrees, climbed mountains, traced their ancestors and met peers from around the world — all to continue their love for learning and to pass it on to their students. Details can be found on the foundation’s website.
Davis Elementary groundbreaking
It was chilly on Jan. 19 when school and county leaders broke ground for a new Davis Elementary School. This video shows the event and includes previews of how the new building will look.
Parents can create list of books their student cannot check out
Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that parents and guardians have transparency about school library books.
The district recently added a feature to the online catalog for school libraries that offers another avenue for families to be involved in what their children read. Starting now, parents can create a list of books that their student will not be allowed to check out. (This new feature is in addition to existing opportunities for parents that provide online access to their student’s school library accounts and the ability to opt in to receive an email when their student checks out a book.)
Follow these steps to take advantage of this new method of overseeing what your child can check out from the school library:
Look up your public access catalog login ID by going to ParentVUE using a web browser on a computer or mobile device (not using the mobile app). In ParentVUE, go to My Account to find Adult ID#. (Contact your school if you need help accessing your ParentVUE account.) Your public access catalog login ID is your ParentVUE adult ID number with G added to the front. For example, if your ParentVUE adult ID number is 123456, then G123456 is your public access catalog ID.
Select your child’s campus on the school system’s library catalog page.
Click My Account on the left side of the screen.
You will be prompted for a library card number and PIN. Your library card number is your ParentVUE ID number with G added to the front. Your PIN is the last four digits of your ParentVUE ID number.
Add books you do not want your student to be able to check out to a prohibited resource list. This document provides details about how to build a prohibited resource list for your student.
Budget is moving toward Feb. 22 vote
Public meetings offer opportunities to learn about the proposed FY 2025 budget and speak up about your priorities. Budget work sessions and public hearings are livestreamed at http://chesterfieldschoolsva.swagit.com/live/ and shown on Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28. Here are remaining dates:
On Feb. 13 in the Public Meeting Room, the School Board will hold a third work session on the budget at 4 p.m., then will hold a public hearing on the budget at the start of a 6:30 p.m. business meeting.
The School Board will meet to adopt the budget at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Public Meeting Room.
Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty proposed the budget on Jan. 23. You can view that presentation here; watch a video of the School Board work session here; and review budget details here (including how to contact elected leaders). The $913.7 million budget reflects commitment to continued educational excellence and addresses three sets of priorities:
Compensation and required increases: Providing a 4% salary increase to employees and allowing for increased costs for services and state-mandated increases
Maintaining service levels: Continuing the quality education and support services our community values
Additional needs: Addressing other needed items for schools based on final state revenue numbers
Free dental care for children without insurance
The VCU School of Dentistry is offering free dental care for children who are 14 or younger and who do not have insurance. Appointments are required and can be made by emailing PedsDent@vcu.edu this information: child’s name, date of birth, phone number and home address. Appointments will be scheduled Feb. 16 at the Children’s Pavilion in downtown Richmond. These flyers provide information in English and Spanish.
Video guide and other resources for families of students in special education
Guide to special education: Available from the Virginia Department of Education is the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. The department developed this new guide to help those involved in special education, whether as families, teachers, school administrators, advocates or students. Meeting the needs of children with disabilities requires an understanding of rights and responsibilities, which include the child’s rights and the school’s responsibilities to meet their needs. This guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required during each step of that process. The guide is currently available in English; translations will soon be available in Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Urdu and Vietnamese.
New video guide: The Virginia Department of Education has released a video guide to the special education evaluation process. These video modules provide parents, families and other stakeholders a brief but comprehensive overview of the special education process on these topics: introduction to video series, identification, evaluation, eligibility, individualized education program, reevaluation, early intervention and what’s next. Each module is designed to be viewed as a stand-alone resource or viewed in succession.
Website: Lots of helpful information is available on the special education for families webpage of the Virginia Department of Education.
We’re hiring for high-needs schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools is holding a virtual job fair seeking teachers for high-needs schools. Candidates must apply by Feb. 11 to be considered for an interview. CCPS high-needs schools are Bellwood Elementary, Chalkley Elementary, Ettrick Elementary, Falling Creek Elementary, Hopkins Elementary, Carver Middle, Falling Creek Middle, Matoaca Middle, Salem Church Middle, Bird High and Meadowbrook High. Applications will be reviewed, and qualifying teachers will be invited to a virtual interview Feb. 12-16. Questions? Call 804-748-1984 or email careers@ccpsnet.net.
Space remains in adult education classes
There is still time to register for adult education classes offered by Chesterfield County Public Schools. One opportunity that is starting soon is Medical Assistant 1, which begins Feb. 12. The class costs $775 and meets 6-9 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays through May 23. You can register online for this class and other classes, including additional workforce training courses, enrichment classes, GED assistance and English language skills. The school system's website offers details about adult education. Questions? Call 804-768-6140.
Resources for grandparents who are raising children
Chesterfield County Public Schools will join other organizations on Feb. 20 to offer information for grandparents and other relatives who are raising children during a Kinship Program and Resource Fair. This flyer provides details in English and in Spanish.
High school students invited to Feb. 24 RVA Teen Summit
High school students are invited to attend the RVA Teen Summit on Feb. 24. This is the second year for the event, which is designed to connect central Virginia students and provide a safe space for them to speak out. This flyer provides details. Free and open to CCPS high school students, the summit will take place at the Richmond Convention Center with transportation provided from four hubs. Students can get a permission slip here or at their school’s front office. Completed permission slips are due by Feb. 15 either returned to the front office at your child's school or emailed to amelia_bartilotti@ccpsnet.net.