Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-10
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10):
Watch for your school’s Teacher of the Year to be featured on Chesterfield County Public Schools social media: Facebook, Instagram and X.
Take part in the annual Thank a Teacher campaign run by the Virginia Lottery by sending a digital thank you note from the comfort of your home. Teachers will receive the notes during Teacher Appreciation Week. Four lucky teachers will win big prizes.
The National PTA has great ideas about showing appreciation to teachers.
School Nurse Day is May 8
May 8 is School Nurse Day, so let’s show our school nurses some love. Each year, School Nurse Day is celebrated on Wednesday during National Nurses Week (May 6-12). School nurses are more than just health-care professionals; they are pillars of support for students, providing physical, emotional and mental health services within the school setting. From administering first aid and managing chronic conditions to promoting healthy habits and offering emotional support, school nurses contribute significantly to the overall well-being of students.
We’re hiring bus drivers on May 7
Chesterfield County Public Schools is hiring school bus drivers during a job fair 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 7 at Swift Creek Middle (3700 Old Hundred Road). Candidates are encouraged but not required to register in advance at bit.ly/24BusDriverJobFair. If you have questions, email careers@ccpsnet.net or call 804-748-1405.
Work where you will make a difference
Competitive pay starting at $23 per hour
Get paid during free training for commercial driver’s license
Flexible position with full-time benefits
Bonus opportunities
Vote on façade colors for the new west area high school
Voting has begun to choose the façade colors of the new west area high school. See the options and cast your vote today.
Information about the construction project was shared during an April 30 community meeting. Exterior design options were shown, and voting opened for community members to choose their preferred façade colors. Online voting will remain open until 5 p.m. May 14.
When it opens in 2027, the new high school is expected to primarily draw students from the Cosby High zone and will also affect the Manchester High and Midlothian High zones. Attendance zones have not yet been determined.
At its Feb. 22 meeting, the Chesterfield County School Board approved the fiscal year 2025 capital improvement program, which includes construction of the west area high school. The project is funded through a Chesterfield County bond referendum approved by voters in November 2022.
The 12th high school in Chesterfield County, the school will accommodate up to 2,400 students and will be located at 17500 Duval Road.
Construction update
Peek into the new Falling Creek Middle School, which will open in August 2024, and learn how Chesterfield County Public Schools is building for the future. In this video, Superintendent Merv Daugherty and Chief Operations Officer Josh Davis discuss the schools being built across the next five years.
Congratulations to our Students of the Year!
Each year, every Chesterfield County school honors students for demonstrating citizenship and the school division’s core values of integrity, equity, teamwork and ingenuity. During an April celebration, 131 students gathered with their families, principals, teachers and others to be recognized as Students of the Year for 2024 during an event sponsored by Feinstein 360 Orthodontics.
A video of the Students of the Year celebration is available on the school system’s YouTube channel. Photos and a list of Students of the Year are available online.
Summer school registration open until May 28
Registration for in-person summer school closes May 28. Fill in learning gaps. Strengthen skills. Get ahead. Whatever your motivation, summer school can help make summer count! Summer programs are available for students with and without an individualized education program who meet the criteria detailed on the summer learning page. Scroll to the bottom of that webpage for answers to frequently asked questions and contact information.
Nominate Hall of Famers by Aug. 31
Nominations are open through Aug. 31 for the next inductees into the Hall of Fame of Chesterfield County Public Schools. Nominees should be memorable educators and volunteers who made a significant difference in Chesterfield County schools. Nomination details and a simple nomination form are available at bit.ly/CCPShall.
Across more than 150 years, Chesterfield County Public Schools has been served by outstanding teachers, administrators, support staff and volunteers who have given their time and talents to help students and schools succeed. In recognition of this exceptional work, Chesterfield County Public Schools and the Chesterfield Education Foundation annually honor individuals for their contributions by inducting them into the Hall of Fame.
Visit the digital Hall of Fame to see photos, biographies and videos of honorees. Questions? Contact the Office of Family and Community Engagement at 804-639-8690, ext. 1111.
Dates that may be useful
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and includes Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10) and School Nurse Day (May 8). Click here to see additional commemorations, including:
May 3 is School Lunch Hero Day.
May 4 is Star Wars Day.
May 5 is Cinco de Mayo.
May 5-6 is Holocaust Remembrance Day.
May 5-11 is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
May 5-11 is Be Kind to Animals Week.
May 6-12 is Screen-Free Week.
May 6-12 is Children’s Book Week.
May 8 is Bike to School Day.
May 12 is Mother’s Day.
May 15 is International Day of Families.
May 18 is Armed Forces Day.
May 18 is National Speech Pathologist Day.
May 20 is International Human Resources Day.
May 21 is World Day for Cultural Diversity.
May 27 is Memorial Day.
May 31 is No Tobacco Day.
Chesterfield PAL offers Outdoor Adventure Camp
The Chesterfield Police Activities League invites Chesterfield County residents 14-17 years old to apply for Outdoor Adventure Camp. Camp will run June 17-21 and include rafting, ropes course, hiking, beach trip and more. The camp is free, and teens can apply here. Space is limited, so not everyone who applies will be accepted into camp. Questions? Call 804-221-0982.
Seeking feedback
Chesterfield County Public Schools seeks feedback on its use of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund. Please click here to submit comments or ideas.
Vote on façade colors for the new west area elementary school
Voting has begun to choose the façade colors of the new west area elementary school. See the options and cast your vote today.
Information about the construction project was shared during an April 22 community meeting. Exterior design options were shown, and voting opened for community members to choose their preferred façade colors. Online voting will remain open until 5 p.m. May 6.
When it opens in 2026, the new elementary school is expected to primarily draw students from Grange Hall Elementary and Moseley Elementary zones. Attendance zones have not yet been determined.
At its Feb. 22 meeting, the Chesterfield County School Board approved the fiscal year 2025 capital improvement program, which includes construction of the west area elementary school. The project is funded through a Chesterfield County bond referendum approved by voters in November 2022. The building will accommodate up to 1,000 students and will be located near Westerleigh Parkway next to the new west area middle school.
Kindergarten registration continues
Kindergarten registration is underway for children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 30. Online preregistration for the 2024-25 school year is available here, along with information and links to help families with the enrollment process.
May the force be with you on May the 4th!
The Chesterfield Police Activities League invites families to explore new galaxies with books during the third annual “Star Wars” Reading Day. In addition to reading, the event will include a costume contest, silent auction of collectibles, giveaways and more. All ages are welcome 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 4 at the North Courthouse Road Library (325 Courthouse Road).
Vaccine information for rising seventh graders and seniors
It is not too early to get state-required vaccines.
Rising seventh graders: Virginia students are required to get certain vaccines before entering seventh grade. The Virginia Department of Health provides information in English and Spanish.
Rising seniors: Virginia students are required to get certain vaccines before entering 12th grade. The Virginia Department of Health provides information in English and Spanish.
Annual survey about parent involvement in special education services
Parents of school-age children and youth with disabilities who receive special education services are asked to complete the Virginia Department of Education parent involvement survey. The annual survey is open through Dec. 13. Please complete one survey for each of your children who received special education services in the 2023-24 school year. You can access the 13-question survey at these links:
Parents have online access to frequently asked questions (scroll to “indicator 8” for information about the parent involvement survey). Parents also have online access to printable versions of the survey in English and the survey in Spanish.
If you have questions, then email Chiquita Seaborne or call 804-418-4672.
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.