New This Week #
Today is deadline to apply for specialty centers and governor’s schools #
Dec. 1 is the deadline for students to submit their applications to specialty centers and governor’s schools. Details are available online about these high school options. The online application is located here; the application portal will close after Dec. 1. (Teachers have until January to complete recommendations.)
Special education information for parents #
- Survey due Dec. 15: Parents of school-age children and youth with disabilities who receive special education services are asked to complete the Virginia Department of Education annual parent involvement survey. The survey is open through Dec. 15. Please complete one survey for each of your children who received special education services in the 2022-23 school year. If you have questions, please email Chiquita Seaborne or call 804-225-3898.
- Updated guide to special education: Available now from the Virginia Department of Education is the Virginia Family’s Guide to Special Education. The department developed this new guide to help those involved in special education, whether as families, teachers, school administrators, advocates or students. Meeting the needs of children with disabilities requires an understanding of rights and responsibilities, which include the child’s rights and the school’s responsibilities to meet their needs. This guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required during each step of that process. The guide is currently available in English; translations will soon be available in Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Urdu and Vietnamese.
- Website: Lots of helpful information is available on the special education for families webpage of the Virginia Department of Education.
Learn about earning college credits while in high school #
Parents and students are invited to learn about the advanced academic programming available in Chesterfield County high schools. The Dec. 6 virtual session is for rising 11th and 12th grade families; the Dec. 14 virtual session is for rising 9th and 10th grade families:
- Families of rising 11th and 12th graders: Are you interested in learning about college readiness, advanced academics and opportunities your student has to earn college credit in high school? Rising juniors, seniors and their families are invited to a virtual information session at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 to learn about advanced academic course offerings, talk about expectations for participation in rigorous courses and discuss how these can benefit students in their college experience. Also, Brightpoint Community College will discuss dual enrollment courses. Register here for the Dec. 6 session. The meeting link will be emailed to you before the event.
- Families of rising 9th and 10th graders: Are you interested in learning about college course readiness and advanced academics? Rising 9th and 10th graders and their families are invited to a virtual information session at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 to learn about pathways of rigorous, college-level courses that will count for high school graduation while simultaneously earning college credit. Also, Brightpoint Community College will discuss dual enrollment courses. Register here for the Dec. 14 session. The meeting link will be emailed to you before the event.
Thankful for community generosity #
Hats off to the Junior Federated Women’s Club of Chester, St. Mark’s Church and Chester Family Chiropractic for generously donating 100 Thanksgiving bags before the holiday. School social workers distributed the food to Chesterfield County Public Schools families in need.
Nurturing artists of tomorrow #
Maegan Hardy, choral director at Bailey Bridge Middle, received the Nurture Award from the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance. Sponsored by Atlantic Union Bank, the award recognizes a performing arts educator who nurtures artists of tomorrow through exemplary K-12 arts instruction. In her 12th year of teaching in Chesterfield County Public Schools after graduating from VCU, Hardy grew up in Chesterfield County and is a James RIver High graduate. She said becoming a chorus teacher has been her dream since middle school because of the influence of her middle school chorus teacher.
Dec. 4 is deadline for openings on advisory board and commission #
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. Advisory committee members who are appointed by the School Board must reside in the district they represent.
Click the application button at bit.ly/BdCom to apply by Dec. 4 if you are eligible and interested in these openings on the School Health Advisory Board:
- Clover Hill District (partial term ending June 30, 2024)
- Matoaca District (partial term ending June 30, 2024)
Additionally, the Chesterfield County School Board is seeking a representative to the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission to serve from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2027. Click the application button at bit.ly/BdCom to apply for this opening by Dec. 4. Details about the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission are available at www.chesterfield.gov.
Seeking feedback on ESSER funding #
Chesterfield County Public Schools seeks feedback on its use of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund. Please click here to submit comments or ideas.
In Case You Missed It #
Coffee & Conversation set for Dec. 6 #
Click here to register for upcoming Coffee & Conversations, scheduled through January. The next of these virtual gatherings is titled “Helping Your Child With Self-Regulation” and will take place 1-2 p.m. Dec. 6. Coffee & Conversation is hosted by the Chesterfield County Public Schools Office of Family and Community Engagement.
Families invited to free showing of “Screenagers Under the Influence” #
Chesterfield County Public Schools invites parents and teens to a free showing of “Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs and Alcohol in the Digital Age” at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at CTC@Hull (13900 Hull Street Road). A panel discussion with health specialists will follow the screening. Get more information and reserve your free tickets here.
“Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs and Alcohol in the Digital Age” examines the impact of technology on teens’ decision-making about vaping, drugs and alcohol. Exploring the latest research and learning more about the personal experiences of teens and families, the film highlights the changing landscape of the substances, offering solutions for how to best empower teens as they face decisions about what they will and will not be influenced by.
The film debunks myths and depicts strategies parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits and create healthy home environments. The film also includes many ways young people are using their wisdom and strength to help each other and themselves through this complicated terrain around substance use.
Dates set for 2024 graduations #
Keep your eyes on the prize, class of 2024! Here is your graduation schedule:
- May 20: Matoaca High at 9 a.m. at Virginia State University and Thomas Dale High at 3 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University
- May 21 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Cosby High at 9:30 a.m. and Manchester High at 2 p.m.
- May 22 at Virginia Commonwealth University: James River High at 9:30 a.m. and Midlothian High at 2 p.m.
- May 23 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Clover Hill High at 9:30 a.m. and Monacan High at 2 p.m.
- May 24 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Meadowbrook High at 9:30 a.m. and Bird High at 2 p.m.
- May 28 at Career and Technical Center @ Hull: Carver College and Career Academy at 3 p.m.
Graduating seniors will receive tickets to share with family and friends. The ceremonies are not open to the public but will be livestreamed.
Virginia Down Syndrome Association plans virtual speaker series #
“Dismantling Ableism: Empowering Individuals With Down Syndrome to Thrive” is the focus of a four-night virtual speaker series organized by the Virginia Down Syndrome Association for Feb. 20, Feb. 22, Feb. 27 and Feb. 29. Early-bird registration covers all dates and costs $30; email sklauer@virginiadsa.org for scholarship information. Details about the speaker series are available online.
Calling all CCPS student artists! #
You’re invited to use your creativity to brighten a new headquarters being built for Chesterfield County Public Schools. Construction is underway on the office building (located on Midlothian Turnpike and named Springline at District 60) that is expected to open in 2025.
It’s important that the headquarters show that students are at the center of Chesterfield County Public Schools, and incorporating art by our creative and talented student artists will make that clear.
All students in Chesterfield County Public Schools (from prekindergarten through 12th grade) are encouraged to create an original work of visual art in a medium of their choice that expresses the contest theme of “Better Together.” Designs will be judged on the creative use and communication of the theme. Only two-dimensional works, please. Entries are due by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2024.
One overall winner from each level (elementary, middle and high) will be chosen and announced in February. Each winning entry, along with many of the works submitted for this contest, will be used as inspiration and reproduced within the overall interior design of the school system’s new headquarters.
There are two ways to submit artwork:
- Option 1: Use this online form to submit a photo of the artwork.
- Option 2: Submit the original artwork and this permission form to your school’s main office.