March is Women’s History Month
March is Women's History Month! Join us in celebrating and honoring the women who have shaped history, broken barriers and continue to inspire change. Thank you to all the exceptional women who educate, inspire and lead throughout Chesterfield County Public Schools and beyond.
Don’t wait! Summer camp registration is open now
Registration opened March 6 for summer enrichment camps offered by Chesterfield County Public Schools. These camps are a wonderful way to build skills, expand knowledge and make new friends. Camps are first come, first served — and once they’re full, that’s it!
Click the camp name to learn more and sign up:
Camp EPIC: hands-on career experiences for students who will be in grades 5-8 in 2025-26
Cultural Arts Camp: visual arts, music, STEAM, physical activity and world language for students who will be in grades 1-6 in 2025-26
World Language Camp: rotations through French, Spanish, German and Latin for students who will be in grades 2-5 in 2025-26
Team SKILLS: a basketball camp teaching basketball skills, teamwork and life lessons for students who will be in grades 5-8 in 2025-26
Drawing With Confidence: an immersive drawing program for students of all skill levels who will be in grades 9-12 in 2025-26
Vibrant Visions: Unlocking the Power of Color: explores the science and psychology of color while developing an artistic voice through media such as oil pastels, watercolor and more for students who will be in grades 9-12 in 2025-26
Immersion Language Camp: language immersion in Spanish or German for students who will be in grades 1-6 in 2025-26
When to expect report cards at end of third nine weeks
The third nine weeks of this school year ends March 14 for students at Bellwood Elementary and March 20 for students at every other school. On April 9 at Bellwood Elementary and on April 11 at all other elementary, middle and high schools, printed report cards will be issued to students and digital report cards will be posted to ParentVUE.
Parents can find easy-to-follow directions for accessing ParentVUE online. ParentVUE is also available as a free app from the App Store and Google Play. Parents who do not have access to ParentVUE should contact their child’s school to get login information.
For the fourth and final nine weeks of this school year, digital report cards will be posted to ParentVUE instead of being printed and mailed to homes. Parents who want a paper report card have the option of coming to school to have the report card printed out.
Now enrolling students for the class of 2038
If you or someone you know in Chesterfield County has a child that will be 5 years old by Sept. 30, it’s time to get them registered for kindergarten. Here are some quick tips before your little one makes the leap!
Your child’s school is based on your place of residence. Find out which school they’ll attend through Find My School. Some districts may have changed, so be sure to check the “2025-26” box at top.
You’ll need to have certain documents, including a birth certificate, immunization records, proof of residency and more. See what information and documents you’ll need.
To begin, preregister online through ParentVue.
After preregistration, the school will contact you to set up a school visit to complete the registration process.
Need something different from the traditional school setting? We also offer virtual options with Chesterfield Virtual School for K-8 students and CCPS Online for grades 9-12.
Learn more about registering for school and check out our resources to make sure your kids are kindergarten ready.
In the Know: How to register for school
We want to make it as easy as possible to register your child to attend Chesterfield County Public Schools. Whether your child is an incoming kindergartner or is an older student transferring schools, the registration process starts online. This CCPS in the Know video gives an overview in English and in Spanish, then you can get additional details at bit.ly/CCPSregister.
This video is part of a series that Chesterfield County Public Schools launched in the fall of 2024. CCPS in the Know videos to give quick-but-helpful insights into central Virginia’s largest school system. You can see all of the videos via this playlist, with captions available in English and in Spanish. If you have a question that you’d like answered, then ask it here. We’ll cover as many topics as we can.
Delicious! National School Breakfast week gives students a healthy start
This week, March 3-7, was National School Breakfast Week. Breakfast is an essential meal that gives students the energy to be their best at school. Eating a healthy breakfast is linked to better attendance, academic performance and test scores. To celebrate, our cafeterias served special morning meals like blueberry pancakes, apple cinnamon bread with yogurt and strawberry overnight oats. As a fun bonus, students who ate school breakfast this week were entered into a raffle to win some cool mystery books. Learn more about school meals and how CCPS promotes good nutrition.
Nutritious! Chesterfield school wins Virginia School Breakfast Award
On March 6, the Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy (CECLA) received the Virginia School Breakfast Award from the Virginia Department of Education. The award, given yearly during National School Breakfast Week, recognizes excellence in prioritizing school breakfast, and increasing protein options while lowering sugar and sodium content.
CECLA was one of only three schools across the state to receive this yearly award. CECLA Principal Dr. Lesley Harris and food services staff were presented the award Thursday morning by state and local leaders.
“CECLA is honored to receive the School Breakfast Award from VDOE. Our cafeteria staff go the extra mile each day to provide nutritious breakfast options for our students,” said Dr. Harris. “Young children learn through play and a healthy breakfast gives them the fuel for a day full of fun and learning!”
Two other Chesterfield County public schools have previously received this award – Reams Road Elementary in 2021, and Manchester Middle in 2022.
Elementary educators win Creative Teacher Awards to fund positive projects
Congratulations to Chesterfield County Public Schools teachers Lisa Gwaltney (Matoaca Elementary), Jessica Sutton (Grange Hall Elementary) and Samantha McMillian (Falling Creek Elementary) who earned Creative Teacher Awards, presented by the Gamma Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) International. The $500 awards were chosen through a blind selection process that reviewed submissions to fund innovative and positive projects. See how these creative teachers are using their awards for their students and schools.
Crenshaw Elementary art teacher honored as hero
Congratulations to Jennike Duignam for being named Hero of the Year by Connor’s Hero Foundation for her work with children being treated for cancer.
The Crenshaw Elementary art teacher has volunteered for more than a decade making art with pediatric cancer patients and their siblings during monthly sessions at the Visual Arts Center. Collaborative artworks created in those sessions are auctioned to raise thousands of dollars for Connor’s Hero Foundation during the annual Heroes Art Ball. At this year’s ball, Jennike Duignam will be celebrated as the foundation’s 2025 Hero of the Year.
This week: Coffee & Conversation talks healthy self esteem
Coffee & Conversation is an easy way to connect with experts offering advice on topics helpful to parents and caregivers. Join us online at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, as we talk about ways to foster healthy self-esteem while ensuring that children meet their full potential.
Register here for this and other upcoming sessions:
March 12: Raising Children with Healthy Self-Esteem in a High-Pressure Culture
March 19: Current Drug Trends
March 26: Transitioning to Middle School
April 16: Empowering Connections: Understanding Autism and Community Support
We’re hiring substitute teachers at March 12 event
Make a difference with a meaningful job that fits your schedule and pays well! Chesterfield Schools is hosting a substitute teacher hiring event Wednesday, March 12, from 4:30-6 p.m. at Monacan High School (11501 Smoketree Drive, North Chesterfield, VA). The daily rate for subs is $136, with high demand days paying $203. Learn more and register to attend.
School Board Meeting scheduled for March 11
The Chesterfield County School Board will hold their regular business meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, in the Chesterfield County Public Meeting Room (10001 Iron Bridge Road, Chesterfield, VA). Submit public comments to the board online or sign up to speak in person by completing this form by 2 p.m. March 11. See the meeting agenda and more here. For past meeting highlights, visit oneccps.org.
Advisory Committee Meetings this month
We have seven volunteer-driven advisory committees to the School Board that meet throughout the year to help Chesterfield County Public Schools achieve its vision of creating a better tomorrow. Learn more and see the complete meeting schedule on our website. These committees are meeting through the rest of March.
School Health Advisory Committee
6 p.m. Monday, March 10
VCU Room at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Road
Citizens Budget Advisory Committee
8 a.m. Thursday, March 13
VCU Room at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Road
Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee
8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 18
VCU Room at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Road
Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18
Conference room D136 at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Road
Gifted Advisory Committee
5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20
VCU Room at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Road
School Board approves $986.7 million budget
At its Feb. 27 special meeting, the School Board approved a $986.7 million balanced operating budget for FY 2026. The proposed budget funds operational costs for the 2025-26 school year while providing the needed resources to meet our many state requirements and guidelines, meet community expectations and retain a high-quality workforce.
The approved budget reflects an increase of $17.2 million over the budget proposal made by Superintendent John Murray in January because, based on estimates approved by the General Assembly, additional funding is now expected from the state. Priorities that were previously on the unfunded list have been added to the approved budget, including:
Student-facing needs
$9.7 million for special education support
$4 million for ELL growth
$100,000 for Communities In Schools expansion
Other needs
$1.2 million for fleet maintenance and fuel
$210,000 for other inflation
$577,000 for technology equipment
$582,000 for mega trailers
What’s next?
Now that the School Board has approved a budget, it will be sent to the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. They will go through a process that is similar to the process for schools: County Administrator Joe Casey will present the Board of Supervisors with a proposed budget on March 12. Then, community town hall meetings will be held, and the Board of Supervisors will approve a county budget on April 9. This budget includes funding for schools.
Even when this work is complete, the county budget and schools budget cannot be finalized until the state passes its budget. Once that occurs, amendments to the CCPS budget may be needed based on the final state budget. This should happen before July 1, 2025.
Budget documents and details about the budget process are available online.
March 31 is a holiday for students and staff; additional calendar update is coming in regard to instructional time and snow days
At its Feb. 25 meeting, the School Board took action to confirm that March 31 is a holiday for students and staff who follow the traditional and year-round school calendars. This date had previously been marked with an asterisk and a note that the holiday would be reviewed and adjusted if necessary.
Please note: Confirmation of the March 31 holiday was on the School Board's agenda for the Feb. 11 meeting that was canceled due to snow. Action to confirm the March 31 holiday was planned before school days were missed and information was shared with families about half days becoming full days. An additional calendar update is planned that will include the needed changes in regard to instructional time and snow days. As we have previously shared, this is what is planned:
March 21 and May 29 will be full school days for students instead of early dismissal days.
Because schools opened on a 2-hour delay on Friday, Feb. 21: We are applying for a waiver from VDOE so we do not have to make additional changes to the calendar. If the waiver is not approved, May 30 (the day currently scheduled as the last day of school) will be made a full school day. On the current calendar, that day is scheduled to be an early dismissal day.
Complete student calendars for 2024-25 that include the March 31 update are available on this webpage, including English and Spanish versions of the regular school year calendar and the year-round calendar followed by Bellwood Elementary. It is best to access student calendars from the school division website. It is suggested that you bookmark that page in your browser for quick access. If you search for a calendar via Google, then an outdated version of the calendar may appear in the results.
School Social Work Week is March 2-8
School Social Work Week (March 2-8) is an opportunity to acknowledge the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to support Chesterfield County students and schools. Please make time to express your gratitude to members of our school social work team for their unwavering commitment to the well-being and academic success of all students.
The school social work team of Chesterfield County Public Schools includes
35 school-based social workers
two attendance social workers
nine attendance intervention specialists
four McKinney-Vento personnel
These professionals support 67 schools and over 64,000 students. They offer essential mental health services, provide academic support, address attendance challenges, ensure educational stability for students experiencing homelessness and work closely with families and communities to promote student success. Their commitment to addressing challenges — from academic barriers to personal hardships — ensures that every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Read the winter issue of CCPS on the Go
The winter edition of CCPS on the Go is now available in English and in Spanish. This issue includes details about enjoying student artwork during Arts Fest in March and how to buy CCPS-branded merchandise 24/7. It also reveals the name of our top speller and who is getting inducted into the school system’s Hall of Fame. There is much, much more in CCPS on the Go, so check it out!
CCPS on the Go began in 2021 as a printed publication that was mailed to every home in Chesterfield County. Starting with the fall 2024 edition, the award-winning publication shifted to a digital format. An archive of all issues (in English and Spanish) is online.
Virginia Preschool Initiative will take the place of Head Start in Chesterfield for 2025-26
Currently, Chesterfield County Public Schools serves 736 prekindergarten students through three funding sources:
Head Start (196 students)
Virginia Preschool Initiative (432 students)
Title I (108 students)
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, CCPS will no longer seek funding through Head Start. The number of students who are currently served through Head Start will instead be served through the Virginia Preschool Initiative. CCPS leaders believe this change will streamline the application process for prekindergarten while continuing support for families and helping children prepare to succeed in kindergarten.
What is the difference between the Virginia Preschool Initiative and Head Start?
Both programs support school readiness through education, health screenings and other services. However, over the past two years, Head Start has increased staffing requirements while providing less overall funding; annual Head Start funding does not fully cover costs for required Head Start personnel. Additionally, the Virginia Preschool Initiative offers more flexibility for eligibility.
The Virginia Preschool Initiative is a state-funded program designed to provide early learning opportunities for prekindergarten students who are considered at-risk. Virginia Preschool Initiative funds offer opportunities for students from families with incomes of not more than 200% of the poverty level, students meeting certain local criteria and students with disabilities.
The Head Start program is federally funded and operates with strict regulations and guidelines for eligibility, services, staffing ratios and reporting requirements. To be eligible for Head Start, a family’s income cannot be higher than the federal poverty level. (Head Start does allow a percentage of families served to have incomes slightly higher than the poverty level).
Learn more about CCPS prekindergarten offerings at oneccps.org/prekindergarten.
Free prom dresses offered for Chesterfield students
Free prom dresses are available so that all Chesterfield high schoolers can dress in style. Dress the Dream has about 200 donated dresses ranging in size from 00 to 24+, along with a selection of shoes and accessories. Organized by Clover Hill High, Dress the Dream is open to all high school students in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Interested students should register for a time slot on the one remaining date, March 16, via bit.ly/chhspromdrive2025, then enter at door 11 at Clover Hill High (13301 Kelly Green Drive). This flyer offers additional information.
Arts Fest spotlights student creativity and artistic ability
Student creativity and artistic ability are front and center every March when Chesterfield County Public Schools celebrates Arts Fest. The school system leans in to national Youth Art Month, Music in Our Schools Month and Theater in Our Schools Month, all three of which take place in March. Arts Fest displays and events throughout Chesterfield County are free and open to the community.
Elementary school visual art displays: Paintings, drawings, sculptures and other art by elementary students will be on display March 10-April 4 in Chesterfield County Public Library branches and the Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education. Library hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Perkinson Center is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. This list shows where each elementary school will display student art.
Visual art from virtual schools: Art by students in the Chesterfield Virtual School and CCPSOnline will be on display 24/7 in online galleries at oneccps.org.
Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase: The monthlong celebration of creativity culminates with a Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase, which is free and open to the community. The event will take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 22 and noon-4 p.m. March 23 at Thomas Dale High, home of the Specialty Center for the Arts. Visual artists from every middle school and high school within Chesterfield County Public Schools will display their work, and performing arts students will present dance, musical and theatrical performances. Here is the performance schedule for the Secondary Fine and Performing Arts Showcase:
March 22 (large auditorium at Thomas Dale High)
all-county middle school bands: 9 a.m. sixth grade and 9:35 a.m. seventh and eighth grade
all-county jazz bands: 10:30-11 a.m. Duke Ellington ensemble and 11:30 a.m.-noon Count Basie ensemble
all-county guitar ensemble: 1-1:45 p.m.
fiddle fest: 3 p.m.
March 23 (small auditorium at Thomas Dale High)
Thomas Dale High jazz band and Specialty Center for the Arts vocalists: 1-1:45 p.m.
March 23 (large auditorium at Thomas Dale High)
Specialty Center for the Arts dance: noon-12:30 p.m.
Thomas Dale High presents “Into the Woods”: 3-6 p.m.
Registration is open for this spring’s SOL prep sessions
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers free support for students who passed a class but have not yet passed the corresponding test. An overview of SOL/W!se Academies is provided here. Here are links to register for upcoming sessions:
Seniors-only SOL Academy will take place 3:40-5:30 p.m. April 7-10 at Bird High. The deadline to register for the seniors-only session is April 2.
These six test prep sessions will take place 3:40-5:30 p.m. April 14-24 (Mondays through Thursdays) at Bird High. The deadline to register for these six sessions is April 9:
“Anxious Nation” film screening rescheduled for March 25
The Face FWD film series showing of “Anxious Nation” has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, after being canceled due to snow. This powerful documentary explores the rise of youth anxiety, its causes, impacts, and the need for compassion and stigma reduction.
The screening will be in the auditorium of the Career and Technical Center @ Hull (13900 Hull Street Road) with a panel discussion to follow. This family event is free, but registration is required. Learn more about “Anxious Nation” and get your tickets today.
What’s Next Wednesdays is for families with students in grades 6-12
What’s Next Wednesdays is here to help families support middle and high school students as they make plans for life after high school. What’s Next Wednesdays tackles new topics with practical guidance for every step in the journey. Each free, online session can help with key decisions that can sometimes feel overwhelming for students and their families. Register at bit.ly/WNWccps for these 6 p.m. gatherings:
March 19: Transitioning to Postsecondary Education With an IEP
March 26: How to Get Ahead of the Process: College Visits and Application Prep
April 16: Choosing the Right Fit: Weighing College Options
May 7: How to Help Navigate the College Process Without Losing Your Mind
Hall of Fame tickets are now on sale
Tickets for this year’s Hall of Fame gala are now on sale through the Chesterfield Education Foundation. Visit bit.ly/25fame to reserve your seat at the May 1 celebration of these outstanding educators:
Katherine Baugher, theater teacher at Midlothian High
Bessie Cooper, principal of Bensley Elementary
Kathy Kitchen, assistant superintendent of business and finance
Catherine “Kitty” Neale, Spanish teacher at Bird High
Brad Peebles, who began as a biology teacher and rose to become principal of the Juvenile Detention Center
Linda Wood, who began as a fourth-grade teacher, became principal of Harrowgate Elementary and retired as director of elementary education
A partnership between the school system and the Chesterfield Education Foundation, the hall recognizes retirees and volunteers who made a significant difference in Chesterfield County schools. This webpage provides information about the remarkable people previously inducted.
Immunization info for families for 2025-26 school year
The Virginia Department of Health has updated its website with important information for families of rising kindergartners, rising seventh graders and rising 12th graders. These links take you directly to the information you need to make sure your student is prepared for the 2025-26 school year: