Groundbreaking marks start of a new Bensley Elementary
School and county leaders broke ground this week on a replacement for Bensley Elementary School. The new school is being built on the site of the current school, which opened in 1954 at 6600 Strathmore Road in the Bermuda District.
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. Virginia Public School Authority bonds will cover the building’s $52 million budget.
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.
The Bensley Elementary community selected the exterior colors of the new two-story building, which was designed using the elementary school prototype for Chesterfield County Public Schools. The new Bensley Elementary will accommodate up to 1,000 students in kindergarten through fifth grade; the old building’s capacity was 575 students.
The first floor of the 111,500-square-foot school will hold younger grades and special education classrooms, and the second floor will house older grades. Both floors will include conference rooms, teacher workrooms and offices. A gymnatorium, cafeteria, media center, art room, music room and STEAM maker space will be located on the first floor. At the main entrance, the security vestibule will be flanked by administrative offices.
October school dates
Oct. 3 holiday: Chesterfield County schools and school offices will be closed Oct. 3.
Oct. 24 early release: Students will be dismissed three hours early Oct. 24 at every Chesterfield County school except Bellwood Elementary, which follows a year-round calendar.
Complete student calendars for 2024-25 are available on this webpage
, including English and Spanish versions of the regular school year calendar and the year-round calendar for Bellwood Elementary.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at school breakfasts and lunches
Did you know that Chesterfield County Public Schools cafeterias served 8.9 million meals last year? Looking at it that way, our Food and Nutrition Services Department is the biggest restaurant in central Virginia! Watch this video to find out how Food and Nutrition Services tests recipes, creates menus, follows health guidelines and helps students achieve by keeping them well nourished.
Oct. 1 and Oct. 9 events help eighth graders learn about high school option
Specialty centers and regional schools will participate in two fairs where eighth graders can browse tables to get information about options for their high school years:
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)
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. Complete information is provided at bit.ly/CCPSoptions. That includes the online application form (which opens Oct. 1), calendar of open houses, links to specialty center websites, important dates and more.
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:
Oct. 2 topic is “Online Safety for Families.”
Oct. 9 topic is “Starting Early, Finishing Strong: Why School Attendance Matters.”
Oct. 16 topic is “Bullying and Your Child.”
Here are dates in October
September is National Bullying Prevention Month, National Book Month and Disability History and Awareness Month. Click here to see additional commemorations, including:
Oct. 2 is National Custodian Appreciation Day.
Oct. 6 is National Coaches Day.
Oct. 6-12 is Fire Prevention Week.
Oct. 7 is School Security Officer Day in Virginia.
Oct. 7-11 is Farm to School Week in Virginia.
Oct. 9 is Walk and Roll to School Day.
Oct. 11 is International Day of the Girl.
Oct. 14 is Columbus Day.
Oct. 14 is Indigenous Peoples Day.
Oct. 14-18 is National School Lunch Week.
Oct. 14-18 is Digital Citizenship Week.
Oct. 16 is Bosses Day.
Oct. 16-20 is America’s Safe Schools Week.
Oct. 20-26 is National Chemistry Week.
Oct. 21-25 is National School Bus Safety Week.
Oct. 21-25 is Virginia College Application Week.
Oct. 23 in Virginia is School Bus Transportation Employees Appreciation Day.
Oct. 23 is Mole Day; observed 6:02 a.m.-6:02 p.m. to commemorate the Avogadro constant, a measuring unit in chemistry that is denoted as 6.02x1023.
Oct. 23-31 is Red Ribbon Week.
Oct. 26 is Make a Difference Day.
Oct. 27-Nov. 2 is Read Aloud to a Child Week.
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. Additional information about school safety is available online.
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.
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
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 bit.ly/SHAB24.
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.