New This Week #
Did you know? #
Speak up to support fully funding the school system’s 2024 financial plan. Call or email members of the Board of Supervisors directly, provide written comments via the Chesterfield County budget feedback form or attend one of Chesterfield County’s community budget meetings. Please email your state representatives in the General Assembly and send your feedback to the Governor’s Office.
You can attend a town hall budget meeting in any district. Meetings will be held 6:30-8 p.m.:
- Midlothian District: March 9 at Midlothian Middle (13501 Midlothian Turnpike)
- Clover Hill District: March 13 at Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive)
- Matoaca District: March 14 at in Room D136 at CTC@Hull (13900 Hull Street Road)
- Bermuda District: March 15 at Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road)
- Facebook Live: March 16
- Dale District: March 20 at Meadowbrook High (4901 Cogbill Road)
- Matoaca District: March 21 at Matoaca Elementary (20300 Halloway Ave.)
It’s time to register for summer camps! #
Camp EPIC (Exploring Pathways in Careers) offers exciting, hands-on career experiences for students who will be in grades 5-8 in 2023-24. Camp EPIC runs 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and the cost is $150 for each one-week session. Sign up now for one session or two sessions!
- June 5-8 at CTC@Courthouse: Opportunities include Cake Wars, Top Chef, Trading Places home improvement, Cyberhacker, Dental Explorers, Green Team agriculture, Stylin’ It makeup techniques, Motor Sports and Swift Coding.
- June 12-15 at CTC@Hull: Opportunities include Battlebots, Cake Wars, Top Chef, CSI Chesterfield, Stylin’ It makeup techniques, Project Runway, Emergency 911 first aid and emergency techniques, Swift Coding and Vet Tech.
Cultural Arts Camp offers arts, music, STEAM, physical activity and world language for students who will be in grades 1-6 in 2023-24. Cultural Arts Camp runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and the cost is $165 for each two-week session. Sign up now for one session or two sessions!
- June 26-July 6 at Old Hundred Elementary (Camp is closed July 4.)
- July 10-20 at Greenfield Elementary
Team MAGIK is a basketball camp for students who will be in grades 5-8 in 2023-24. Campers will improve basketball skills, develop teamwork and learn important life lessons. Team MAGIK runs 8 a.m.-noon Monday through Thursday at Midlothian Middle, and the cost is $65 for each one-week session. Sign up now for one or more sessions!
- June 26-29
- July 3-6 (Camp is closed July 4.)
- July 10-13
- July 17-20
Weekly info from Chesterfield County #
If you are interested in countywide news, events, business developments and more, then subscribe to Chesterfield County’s weekly e-newsletter, Happening in Chesterfield.
Summer school registration starts April 10 #
Registration starts April 10 for in-person summer school and closes May 26.
- Most in-person summer classes are for students who receive a special invitation.
- There are a few in-person opportunities for students who want to take a new high school course to get ahead.
Please note: CCPSOnline summer registration is open now and closes April 28 for students interested in taking high school credits online.
Spring break #
Chesterfield County Public Schools students will be on spring break April 3-7.
- March 27 is a three-hour early release day for students in schools that follow the traditional calendar.
- Students at Bellwood and Falling Creek elementary schools, which follow a year-round calendar, have a three-hour early release day on March 17 and have intersession March 20-31.
In Case You Missed It #
Kindergarten preregistration is open #
Children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 30 can start kindergarten in the 2023-24 school year. Online preregistration is now open, so families can start the enrollment process online. CCPS kindergarten kickoff week will be April 17-21.
Teachers, counselors, librarians: Apply by March 19 for virtual job fair #
Teachers, counselors and librarians are invited to a virtual job fair with Chesterfield County Public Schools. The job fair will cover all teaching vacancies PK-12 within the school system. Apply by 11:59 p.m. March 19 for a virtual interview at bit.ly/CCPSteacherfair. Qualified candidates will receive an invitation to a virtual interview that will take place March 25. All teaching vacancies are open for the event, but these areas are of special interest: math teachers, special education teachers, elementary teachers and librarians. Questions? Email careers@ccpsnet.net.
Save the date: Job fair for students is April 13 #
On April 13, Chesterfield County Public Schools will host its second annual Student Job Fair for high school students. A variety of employers will be available at the event offering short- or long-term employment opportunities with an option to interview students during the job fair. Students are asked to preregister if they plan to attend and follow this schedule if possible:
- 4 p.m. — Students whose last name starts with A- H
- 5 p.m. — Students whose last name starts with I -O
- 6 p.m. — Students whose last name starts with P- Z
Rising seventh and 12th grade vaccine requirements #
Look ahead to help get your rising seventh grader or 12th grade student ready for the fall. There are some vaccines that students must have before entering seventh and 12th grades. Last year, many people had challenges in late summer getting appointments in time for the start of school. Your student may not be able to start school on time if they do not have required immunizations.
Virginia students are required to get these vaccines before entering seventh grade:
- Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap): The Tdap vaccine is required by law for all students entering seventh grade.
- Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY): Students are required to have one dose of MenACWY vaccine before entering seventh grade.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV): The HPV vaccine is required by law for students entering seventh grade. After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent/guardian may elect for their student not to receive the HPV vaccine with no additional paperwork required by Chesterfield County Public Schools. Ask your health-care provider about the benefits of the HPV vaccine.
Virginia students must meet the following vaccine requirement before entering 12th grade:
- A minimum of two doses of meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine are required by law before students enter 12th grade. The first dose should be administered before entering seventh grade. The final dose should be administered before entering 12th grade (given on or after the 16th birthday). Meningococcal vaccines help protect against the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease.
You can fulfill these vaccine requirements now and mark this item off the back-to-school to-do list. Make a wellness appointment with your health-care provider. Additionally, the Chesterfield County Health Department offers immunizations by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 804-768-7454.
Middle and high school families: Take advantage of free tutoring #
Chesterfield County Public Schools recently rolled out free online tutoring services for students in middle and high school via Stride Tutoring. It has never been easier to find a tutor, so head to oneccps.org/tutors to get started.
- Students can reserve time for online video meetings with tutors licensed in subject areas in which they need additional support.
- Students and families select a tutor based on expertise and availability to fit your schedule, with tutoring available in the evenings and on weekends.
- Students do not need a teacher referral to schedule a tutoring session.
- There is no limit to the number of tutoring sessions at this time. Tutoring is being offered to provide an additional tool to help secondary students succeed.
- There is no cost to students/families. To provide this service, Chesterfield County Public Schools is using federal ESSER funds provided to address the impact of COVID-19 on schools.
Media Mentorship: Helping Kids and Families Navigate the Media Landscape #
Technology and media are an ever-present part of children’s lives. Where should parents and teachers turn for guidance? What does science say about helping kids learn and grow up to be healthy adults in this Digital Age? Hear from Lisa Guernsey (author of “Screen Time” and co-author of “Tap, Click, Read: Growing Readers in a World of Screens”) and Faith Rogow (author of “Media Literacy for Young Children: Teaching Beyond the Screen Time Debates”) at Media Mentorship: Helping Kids and Families Navigate the Media Landscape. Organized by the Chesterfield and Colonial Heights Positive Parenting Institute, this free gathering offers information and advice. Get all of the details and register here for this 8 a.m.-noon March 30 event at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull.
Families may qualify for museum membership scholarships #
Chesterfield County residents whose household income is less than $40,000 per year or who qualify for Virginia SNAP benefits are eligible for scholarship memberships at the Children’s Museum. Click here to apply. Scholarship memberships are made possible by the county’s Economic Development Authority. Membership is valid for downtown and Chesterfield locations and includes:
- Unlimited admissions for two adults and up to six children
- Early registration for events and programs
- Members-only hours
- 10% off gift shop purchases
- 10% off birthday parties
- Members-only preview for new exhibits
- Reciprocal membership at 200 other children’s museums
April 4 is deadline for openings on advisory committees #
Advisory committees established by the Chesterfield County School Board are one way community members connect with their local 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. Click the application button at bit.ly/BdCom to apply by April 4 if you are eligible and interested in these openings:
- Bermuda District seat on Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee (partial term ending June 30, 2023)
- Midlothian District seat on Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee (partial term ending June 30, 2025)
- Matoaca District seat on Student Health Advisory Board (partial term ending June 30, 2024)
- Wellness expert (food and nutrition) seat on Student Health Advisory Board (partial term ending June 30, 2023)
Public is asked for feedback on revising English Standards of Learning #
On Feb. 2, the Virginia Department of Education presented to the Board of Education the review and revision process of the 2017 English Standards of Learning. The department is hosting opportunities for the public to engage, provide feedback and contribute to the review of the 2017 English Standards of Learning, which identify the essential content, processes and skills for grade level courses. Public comment may be offered during community engagement sessions, through this form provided on the Virginia Department of Education website or by emailing vdoe.english@doe.virginia.gov until March 13. Advance registration is required for all community engagement sessions, and in-person sessions are limited to 100 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each in-person community engagement session will take place 6:30-8 p.m.:
- March 22: register here for session at Christopher Newport University in Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, VA 23606.
- March 23: register here for session at Virginia Commonwealth University in Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave., Richmond, VA 23220.
- March 28: register here for session at James Madison University in Memorial Hall, 395 S. High St., Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Four virtual community engagement sessions are planned:
- March 21: register here for 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. virtual session
- March 27: register here for 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. virtual session
- March 29: register here for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. virtual session
- March 30: register here for 6:30 p.m. -8 p.m. virtual session
Enrollment is open for Chesterfield Virtual School #
Chesterfield Virtual School enrollment for 2023-24 is underway. Chesterfield County students in grades K-8 can be part of Virginia’s first virtual school:
- Enrollment for new students to the Chesterfield Virtual School begins by completing this form before March 31.
- Current students will remain enrolled in Chesterfield Virtual School, unless they are on a waiver. Current students who are on a waiver must fill out this form before March 31.
Virtual students who intend to return to their school of residence are asked to fill out this form and go to their school of residence to enroll for 2023-24 before April 28.
Prekindergarten applications are open #
Prekindergarten applications are open for the 2023-24 school year. Prekindergarten is a free, full-day program, and transportation is provided in accordance with school system guidelines. Prekindergarten serves 4-year-olds who face economic and environmental risk factors that may impact kindergarten readiness. Click here for more information or to apply.
CCPSOnline registration is open for summer and 2023-24 school year #
CCPSOnline offers high school flexibility. Students can take some or all of their classes in a no-walls, no-bells, no-limits virtual environment. Registration for summer courses and for the 2023-24 school year is open through April 28. Students should talk to their school counselor about including CCPSOnline in their schedule.