School safety is a top priority
Because school safety is a top priority, Chesterfield County Public Schools remains on alert year-round. Each school has a comprehensive safety plan that includes regular fire drills, tornado drills and lockdown drills so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency.
Each school also has a threat assessment team trained to evaluate potential problems and respond appropriately.
Middle and high schools have school resource officers, who are police officers trained to work in schools. In addition, Chesterfield County Public Schools employs security officers in every elementary, middle and high school.
Multiple safety measures are built into our school buildings. This includes indoor and outdoor cameras; front doors that stay locked until visitors are buzzed in; and computerized checks of visitor IDs. Additionally, within the next few weeks, enclosed vestibule areas that restrict visitors to the front office will be completed at the remaining four schools.
These are just some of the ways we protect students and staff members. We are all partners in efforts to keep schools safe. So if you see something, then say something. If you know something, then make sure someone at your school knows it too. See the message Interim Superintendent Dr. John Murray shared with families last Friday and additional information about school safety.
Mental health support information on the school division website
The school division’s website (oneccps.org) has a new page called Mental Health Support. This page includes information about mental health support and resources available to families, and it also explains the roles of school counselors, school psychologists and school social workers so families can determine the best point of contact when an issue arises.
Oct. 2 is deadline to apply for adult and student openings on School Board advisory committees
Advisory committees established by the Chesterfield County School Board are one way community members connect with 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. Go to bit.ly/BdCom for information about specific committees (including meeting dates).
The Gifted Education Advisory Committee is seeking a Midlothian District representative to serve a partial term ending June 30, 2026. Parent representatives must have a child participating in gifted education at the time of appointment. Apply at bit.ly/BdCom by Oct. 2 if you are interested and eligible.
The Student Health Advisory Board is seeking a student representative to serve a term of one or two years. High school juniors and seniors can get details and apply by Oct. 2 at
Chesterfield Schools app makes info available when you want it
This CCPS in the Know video focuses on … information from CCPS! Watch to find out about the new Chesterfield Schools app that makes it easier than ever to stay up-to-date with news from Chesterfield County Public Schools. Find out what’s for lunch, see a calendar of events, learn when teams are playing and more.
CCPS in the Know videos give quick-but-helpful insights into central Virginia's largest school system. If you have a question that you’d like answered, then ask it here. We’ll cover as many topics as we can via CCPS in the Know. You can see all of the videos here, with captions available in English and in Spanish for each video on our YouTube channel.
Coffee & Conversation offers connections each week
Coffee & Conversation is an easy way to connect with experts offering advice on topics helpful to parents. The free online gatherings take place 1-2 p.m. weekly. See the full schedule and register here for topics of your choice:
Sept. 25 topic is “Mental Health Emergencies: Prevention and Response for Families.”
Oct. 2 topic is “Online Safety for Families.”
Free event will feature 10 marching bands
Don’t miss this fall’s marching band exhibition featuring every high school in Chesterfield County Public Schools! Starting at 6:25 p.m. Oct. 7 on the football field of Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive), everyone is invited to experience the bold sounds and precision moves of drumlines, brass and woodwinds alongside the beautiful choreography of color guards as 10 halftime shows march across the field. Admission is free. Rain date is Oct. 14.
This video from the 2022 marching band exhibition shows the fun and excitement of the annual event.
This year’s marching band exhibition will begin with a performance of the national anthem by band students from Bailey Bridge, Carver, Manchester and Salem Church middle schools. The high school marching bands will then perform in this order:
Meadowbrook Roaring Regiment
Matoaca Marching Warriors
Manchester Marching Lancers
L.C. Bird Skyhawk Marching Band
Monacan Marching Chiefs
Midlothian Trojan Marching Band
James River Regiment
Clover Hill Marching Cavaliers
Cosby Titan Band
Thomas Dale Marching Knights
We’re hiring practical nursing teachers
The Adult Education Department of Chesterfield County Public Schools is seeking practical nursing teachers and paying $37.11 per hour. If you are interested in the position, then email your resume to Dawn_Wells@ccpsnet.net. Requirements to work as a practical nursing teacher include:
Hold an RN degree or higher
Be available to teach classes 6-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse
For eighth grade families, it’s already time to think about options for high school
Each fall, Chesterfield County Public Schools eighth graders explore their options for high school and decide whether or not to apply to a specialty center, governor’s school or regional technology school. This video gives an overview of how those schools provide unique opportunities to explore special interests. Here are ways to get better acquainted with what’s available to your student:
Informational fairs: All specialty centers and regional schools will participate in two fairs where you can browse tables to get information:
6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 fair at Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road)
6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 fair at Clover Hill High (13301 Kelly Green Drive)
Open houses: Open houses are scheduled at every specialty center and regional school, and a complete calendar of open houses is available online.
Website: Complete information is provided at bit.ly/CCPSoptions. That includes the online application form, details about open houses, links to specialty center websites and more. Here are important dates to keep in mind:
Online application opens Oct. 1 and closes Dec. 6 for specialty centers and governor’s schools.
Online application opens Jan. 6 and closes Feb. 14 for CodeRVA.
Acceptance offers will be made Feb. 28 for CodeRVA and March 5 for specialty centers and governor’s schools.
March 17 is the deadline for students to accept offers from specialty centers, governor’s schools and CodeRVA.
Donation of CPR kits supports student graduation and community health
The American Heart Association donated 14 instructional CPR kits to Chesterfield County Public Schools on Sept. 12. Each kit contains 10 manikins and other items for teaching CPR and AED use to students.
Thanks to support for the American Heart Association from the family of Dr. Eric and Autumn Edwards, these sites received kits: Bird High, Cosby High, Thomas Dale High, Matoaca High, Midlothian High, Monacan High, Academy 360 and the juvenile detention center. A graduate of Monacan High, Dr. Edwards is co-founder and CEO of Phlow Corp., a public benefit corporation focused on health care.
During a presentation at Bird High School, school and association leaders celebrated this community partnership that supports students along their path to graduation and students demonstrated hands-only CPR. To earn a Virginia high school diploma, students must receive hands-on training in CPR and learn how to use an AED. In Chesterfield County Public Schools, students fulfill these requirements during ninth grade PE classes.
“We are so appreciative of this student-centered donation that was made possible by one of our graduates,” said Dr. John Murray, interim superintendent for Chesterfield County Public Schools. “Adding 140 manikins to the CPR aids already in our schools will definitely increase the hands-on practice students receive. In addition to benefiting students, that will benefit the entire Chesterfield County community, where our students might encounter someone in need of CPR.”
Next year, the American Heart Association plans to provide CPR kits to the Chesterfield County high schools that were not part of this year’s donation.
We’re hiring substitute teachers
If you’re looking for a flexible schedule so you can work when you choose, then consider applying to become a substitute teacher. Chesterfield County Public Schools pays substitute teachers $136 on regular days and $203 on Fridays and high-demand days.
Learn more during a job fair for substitute teachers 4-6 p.m. Sept. 25 at Manchester Middle, 7401 Hull Street Road. Advance registration is requested but not required for attending the job fair. Requirements to work as a substitute teacher include:
Be at least 18 years old.
Hold a high school diploma or a GED certificate.
Have two years of work experience with children (paid or unpaid) or have at least 60 college credit hours.
To work as a long-term sub, at least 60 college credit hours are required and a bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Sept. 25 is date of Bensley Elementary groundbreaking
It’s time to break ground for the new Bensley Elementary School, and the entire community is invited. (If you can’t be there in person, then look for video and images on the school system website and social media feeds after the event.) At 10:30 a.m. Sept. 25, leaders from Chesterfield County Public Schools and from Chesterfield County government will put shovels into dirt to symbolically kick off the construction project. The event will take place at 6600 Strathmore Road.
Bensley Elementary students and teachers have moved into the old Falling Creek Middle building on Hopkins Road for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years while their old building is torn down and the new school is built. Scheduled to open for students in August 2026, the new school is part of a community facilities bond plan approved by Chesterfield County voters in 2022.
Help schools and the community by getting rid of your old denim
Turn jeans into jobs while helping your school! Each year in the Denim Drive, families and community members donate used denim clothing of all kinds. Goodwill tracks the denim donated on behalf of each Chesterfield County school, then awards nine cash prizes to the top three elementary, middle and high school PTAs. The denim is sold in Goodwill stores or recycled. Clean out your closet and support schools and job training in the community by bringing your denim donations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 19-20 to the Career and Technical Center @ Hull (13900 Hull Street Road).
Car and truck show will benefit Career and Technical Center
You’re invited to display your car or truck at a River City Cruizers event benefiting the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center. All years, makes and models are welcome — and that includes child-size power wheel and pedal cars! The registration form and vendor details are online.
The event will run 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse, 10101 Courthouse Road. In case of rain, the event will take place Oct. 20.
Registration by Oct. 7 costs $20 per car or truck, and later registration costs $30. Students in Chesterfield County Public Schools get a 50% discount.
For child-size power wheel and pedal cars, advance registration by Oct. 7 is required and costs $5.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event, and admission is free for spectators. In addition to seeing 100+ great-looking cars and trucks, visitors can browse vendor tables, play family-friendly games, possibly win prizes and buy lunch from food trucks.
Parent handbook is a year-round resource
The annual parent handbook for Chesterfield County Public Schools is a helpful resource throughout the school year. Every student receives a printed copy to bring home, and the publication is also available online in English and in Spanish. This is the second year that the parent handbook has also included the standards for student conduct, which previously was published separately.