Have a great winter break!
Happy holidays to all CCPS employees and families! Please enjoy the interim superintendent’s holiday video, then have a fire winter break vibing with your squad. Shoutout to our students for writing the script!
This newsletter will not be published Dec. 27 but will be back Jan. 3 with helpful information for the start of the new year.
Here is the winter break schedule for schools that follow the traditional calendar:
Dec. 23-31 and Jan. 1-3: winter break
Jan. 6: schools reopen after winter break
Here is the winter break schedule for Bellwood Elementary, which follows a year-round calendar:
Dec. 20: early dismissal for students
Dec. 23-31 and Jan. 1-3: winter break
Jan. 6-10: intersession break (academic/enrichment programming)
Complete student calendars for 2024-25 are available on this webpage, in English and Spanish. It is best to access student calendars from the school division website. If you search for a calendar via Google, then an outdated version may appear in the results.
Helping others is a tradition at Manchester High
For 20 years, math teacher Lauren Murray and her band of elves have made holidays especially merry around Manchester High School. Each of those years, families connected to the school have received gifts and food to brighten winter break. This year, Manchester High’s Angel Tree Project is helping about 60 children in 27 different families. Learn more about this heartwarming effort here.
Check out these January hiring events
Critical needs job fair: Chesterfield County Public Schools is hosting a special job fair Jan. 11 to fill critically needed teaching positions. To be considered, interested candidates must apply online by 11:59 p.m. Jan. 8. This hiring event is for highly qualified applicants in areas including math, chemistry, Spanish, English as a Second Language, special education and more. Candidates must hold or be eligible to hold a Virginia teaching license. Note: The critical needs job fair is not an open event, and qualified candidates will be invited after their application is reviewed. See the job fair listing for full information about qualifications and requirements.
Bus driver job fair:
Chesterfield County Public Schools is hiring school bus drivers during a job fair 4-6 p.m. Jan. 15 at Bailey Bridge Middle (12501 Bailey Bridge Road).
Position details and job fair registration can be found here.
For bus drivers, no experience is required and training for your commercial driver’s license is provided while you work. Starting pay is $23.68 an hour and could be higher with previous experience.
Winter break can be a great time for your student’s state-required vaccines
Virginia students are required to get certain vaccines before entering seventh grade and before entering 12th grade. As soon as your child turns 11 or 16, you can schedule their shots — and winter break can be a great time to do that. This flyer offers details in English and in Spanish.
Off and away all day: New cellphone policy for students takes effect Jan. 1
The School Board passed an updated policy regarding student cellphone use at its regular monthly meeting Dec. 10. The new policy takes effect Jan. 1, 2025. See the full content of policy 4010-R regarding cellphone guidance here.
Here is what you need to know:
When students return from winter break, the updated policy means that cellphones must be stored away and out of sight. Students will not be able to use a cellphone or have a cellphone in sight at any time during the instructional day. This includes lunch, times between classes, when students are in hallways, etc.
If a cellphone is not stored out of sight or is being used during the instructional day, it could result in confiscation and other consequences that are outlined in the policy.
Begin planning now
The changes will have little impact on current practices in elementary and middle schools, but there will be significant changes in high schools. It is important to talk with your child about these changes before they take place so they can begin planning for them.
Schools will soon share detailed information about what the policy means for students and the process that will be used to implement the policy.
Weapons detection system to be demonstrated Jan. 14-17
School safety is a top priority, and Chesterfield County Public Schools remains on alert. In December, the school system conducted demonstrations of a weapons detection system at Robious Middle and Meadowbrook High. A demonstration of a different system is scheduled Jan. 14-17 at the same schools. Robious Middle and Meadowbrook High families and staff members will receive additional details from their principals. Data from the demonstrations will help school leaders make decisions regarding school safety.
Chesterfield County Public Schools continuously reviews and enhances school safety measures and protocols. Here are earlier communications about school safety:
Music teachers win recognition
Virginia Commonwealth University recently honored two CCPS music teachers:
VCU selected Jamie Barrack as the 2024 Outstanding Music Educator. He teaches chorus at Meadowbrook High. This award is given for innovative and exemplary practice in music education, having a transformative impact on the profession and reflecting the core values of the VCU Music Education program in seeking to better the individual human condition through music education.
VCU selected Caroline Gryder for the 2024 VCU Outstanding Music Educator Young Alumni Award. She is the music teacher at Bellwood Elementary — and a former student of Jamie Barrack! The young alumni award is given for exemplary practice as a young music educator, impacting her school and broader community, emerging as a leader in the profession and reflecting the core values of the VCU Music Education program.
Report from School Board meeting
During its regular meeting Dec. 10, the Chesterfield County School Board acted on several items:
Cellphone use by students: Updated policy takes effect Jan. 1.
Policy 1015 (Treatment of transgender students in Chesterfield County Public Schools) was revised.
Tomahawk Creek Middle and new Deep Middle will operate on a 7:35 a.m.-2:05 p.m. bell schedule starting August 2025: See the School Board memo.
Redistricting option 2 was approved for new Deep Creek Middle School.
Serving up a CCPS app!
Chesterfield County Public Schools has a mobile app to help you easily know what’s happening. This CCPS in the Know video shows how it works. The app connects with school websites, so there will always be something new to view. Get started by downloading the free Chesterfield Schools app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store, then dive in to discover all of the information at your fingertips. Choose which schools to follow — be sure to follow the school district too — then you can find out what’s for lunch, see a calendar of events, find out when teams are playing and much more.
School bus poster contest seeks entries
The Virginia Association for Pupil Transportation invites public school students to compete in a poster contest with the theme “Safely Rolling to My Destination.” The submission deadline is April 18, and details are available here.
Registration for adult education opens Dec. 9
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers a robust array of adult education classes, and spring registration opens at 9 a.m. Dec. 9 via this website. Many classes fill quickly, so don’t put off registering for classes that catch your eye. Workforce training, enrichment classes, GED assistance and English language skills are offered. Get details about classes here, including:
drone technology
American Sign Language
social media for beginners
first aid certification
gas fitting
video game design
German cuisine
Dec. 27 is deadline to apply for Black History Month scholarships
Now is the time to apply for Leadership for the 21st Century: Black History Month 2025 scholarships. Six scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to support Chesterfield County Public Schools students planning to attend a Virginia college or university.
High school seniors may apply using this online form.
Dec. 27 is the application deadline.
The application requires a 500-word essay that explores the connection between African Americans and labor in the United States.
Scholarship winners will be honored in February during the county’s annual Black History Month breakfast.
In partnership with Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield County and Virginia State University, the scholarship planning committee works year-round to foster better cultural understanding, encourage and support students pursuing higher education and identify leaders for the 21st century. Learn more here.
Jan. 16 offers resources for families of students with disabilities
Families of children with a disability are invited to an information night 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Elizabeth Davis Middle School (601 Corvus Court). This flyer offers details in English and in Spanish. Hosted by the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center in partnership with Del. Carrie Coyner, the event is open to families of students with disabilities who live anywhere in Region 1, which includes Chesterfield County. Registration for this free event is not required but is helpful so please consider registering in advance.
There will be breakout sessions on early childhood; transition IEPs/self-advocacy; entering the adult world; collaboration, disagreements and parent rights; special education and IEPs (in English and Spanish). Additionally, PEATC and school representatives will be available to answer questions.
It’s so easy to nominate school employees!
Have you heard about this easy and important way to honor outstanding teachers and staff members of Chesterfield County Public Schools? You can nominate them for the Superintendent’s Game Changer Award! Everyone is encouraged to use this simple online form to recognize employees who go above and beyond to connect with students, build relationships, provide engaging learning opportunities and help families.
Nominations are accepted throughout the school year. Then each month, 21 remarkable employees will be chosen and will receive their awards when the superintendent and a School Board representative stop by to surprise them.
But before any teacher or school employee can receive the Superintendent’s Game Changer Award, they first have to be nominated by a parent, student, colleague or community member.
So how about it? How many game changers do you know? Please nominate them by answering the five easy questions on the nomination form. By spending five minutes of your day to fill out the form, you can spark great joy throughout Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Chesterfield County Public Schools opens online store
Now open to everyone is an online store full of never-before-available Chesterfield County Public Schools gear. The store is open 24/7 for shopping by employees, families, community partners, graduates, gift buyers and everyone else who appreciates CCPS-branded swag.
There’s never been an online CCPS store with so much to offer, so it’s time to show your #oneCCPS pride!
Go to ccpsstore.com to browse high-quality shirts, jackets, hats and more. Here are just a few of the eye-catching items you’ll find:
beanie with pompom or without
Here are answers to questions about the new store:
How much money is the school system making from this store? There is no markup by Chesterfield County Public Schools, so the price of each item is exactly the price that the online vendor charges. That applies to shipping costs too.
If the school system is not using the store to raise money, then why does the store exist? Connections run deep in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Many employees are also CCPS graduates. Generations of families have sent their children through the public schools of Chesterfield County. People have pride in Chesterfield County Public Schools, and now they can easily show that pride via CCPS-branded clothing and accessories.
How quickly will my order arrive? There is not a warehouse full of CCPS items awaiting shipment. Each item is created after it is ordered, so it will take a few days to arrive.
Does the CCPS store replace sites where Chesterfield schools offer their gear? No. School-specific gear and school-specific stores are not affected by the CCPS store.
So head to ccpsstore.com to see all of the Chesterfield County Public Schools gear that is available.
High school students can apply to join congresswoman’s Youth Advisory Council
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan has launched a Youth Advisory Council. This offers high school students in Virginia’s 4th Congressional District opportunities to actively engage with their representative, federal staff members and current events.
Monthly gatherings will entail discussions led by the council members concerning legislative proposals, current events and working through hypothetical scenarios. Members will enjoy exclusive opportunities to connect with DC legislative and district staff, gaining valuable insights into the legislative process and deepening their understanding of governance. Meetings will be held online 5:30-7:30 p.m. once a month on Mondays from January to May 2025.
To apply, students must provide a completed application form, consent form, resume and application essays by Dec. 30. Links to these forms and additional details are available at Mcclellan.house.gov/YAC. Questions? Call 804-486-1840.