New This Week #
Early dismissal #
Schools that follow the traditional calendar will dismiss students three hours early on Jan. 23. You can download complete student calendars at bit.ly/CCPScals.
Congratulations to our top Teachers of the Year #
Kate Doctor, who teaches in the Health Professions and Therapies Specialty Center at Monacan High, is the Chesterfield County Teacher of the Year.
“In every school and at every level, certain teachers stand out. These teachers demonstrate care and compassion, stress the importance of rigor and relationships and do the extra things necessary to help move our students toward success. They are committed to being game changers,” Superintendent Mervin Daugherty wrote in letters he presented to the district’s top Teachers of the Year, along with flowers, balloons, banners and cakes during surprise visits to announce these awards:
- Kate Doctor is the Chesterfield County Teacher of the Year and High School Teacher of the Year.
- Maureen Capel, first grade teacher at Wells Elementary, is the Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
- Emily Skipper, math teacher at Providence Middle, is the Middle School Teacher of the Year.
#oneCCPS students share how to act on school buses #
Watch #oneCCPS students share how to act on school buses. A special thank you goes to Specialty Center for the Arts theater students and teacher Taylor Bernhard, Thomas Dale High and the Transportation Department for helping to create this important safety message.
Suicide prevention information #
Be smart about mental health. Chesterfield County Public Schools is partnering with the Chesterfield Suicide Awareness and Prevention Coalition and the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention to hold More Than Sad suicide prevention presentations. The virtual sessions for parents and caregivers will be offered in English and in Spanish at 7 p.m. March 13. Details are available here.
Jan. 31 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. Click the application button at bit.ly/BdCom to apply by Jan. 31 if you are eligible and interested in these openings:
- Bermuda District seat on Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (partial term ending June 30, 2024)
- Midlothian District seat on Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee (partial term ending June 30, 2025)
College students invited to apply for Chesterfield County internships #
Chesterfield County invites college students to apply for its 2023 internship program and get a firsthand look at how local government operates. During the internship, which runs May 30 through Aug. 3, interns will be introduced to local government operations. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 12. The intern pay rate is $14 per hour for undergraduate students and $16 per hour for graduate students. Go to chesterfield.gov/internships for more information.
In case you missed it... #
Safe water initiative #
As part of our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff, CCPS is working in partnership with Chesterfield County Government to test drinking water throughout the school division. In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly enacted new legislation regarding testing for drinking water in schools. The legislation requires school boards to develop and implement a program to test for lead in drinking water.
The Chesterfield County Risk Management’s Environmental Health Safety Office, in partnership with the Chesterfield County Public Schools Facilities Department, has developed a plan that provides guidance to meet these requirements. A triennial testing program has been developed for all school buildings, with prioritization of facilities built before 1986. Each school will be tested every three years. For more information or to see the testing schedule, visit the division website Health and Wellness page and scroll down to Safe Water Initiative.
New website for Chesterfield County Public Schools #
Chesterfield County Public Schools has launched a new division website with a new web address — oneCCPS.org — that provides a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for staff, families, students and the community.
The new website is fully redesigned and the content has been reorganized to help users find content quickly. A robust search feature will help find content until users become familiar with the new layout. Here are some features of the new website:
- Division-wide news and updates
- Information and resources for current and prospective employees
- Resources for community members, including how to connect with schools as a volunteer
- Upcoming divisionwide events for students and families
Celebrate outstanding teachers #
Nominate outstanding #oneCCPS teachers for R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence! The program is accepting nominations through 5 p.m. Feb. 21. About 15 central Virginia teachers are selected each year to receive amazing grants up to $15,000 to support professional development. Award winners have earned graduate degrees, climbed mountains, traced their ancestors and met peers from around the world — all to continue their love for learning and to pass it on to their students. Details can be found at www.cfrichmond.org/reb.
School division budget meetings and town halls are planned #
It is budget season for Chesterfield County Public Schools. In January and February, the School Board will hold weekly work sessions regarding the fiscal year 2024 budget that are open to the public.
- Budget work sessions will be held at 4 p.m. on Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7 and Feb. 13 in the Public Meeting Room (10001 Iron Bridge Road).
Budget town hall meetings will also be held in each magisterial district to share information about the proposed budget with community members. All meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m.
- Bermuda District: Jan. 25 at Thomas Dale High School – main campus (3626 W. Hundred Rd., Chester, VA)
- Clover Hill District: Feb. 1 at Clover Hill High School (13301 Kelly Green Ln., Midlothian, VA)
- Dale District: Jan. 30 at Meadowbrook High School (4901 Cogbill Rd., North Chesterfield, VA)
- Matoaca District: Jan. 26 at Matoaca High School (17700 Longhouse Ln., Chesterfield, VA); Feb. 2 at Cosby High School (14300 Fox Club Pkwy., Midlothian, VA)
- Midlothian District: Jan. 26 at Midlothian Middle School (13501 Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, VA); Feb. 1 at Manchester Middle School – (Spanish-speaking town hall) (7401 Hull Street Rd., Richmond, VA)
- Countywide Spanish-speaking Town Hall: Feb. 2 at CTC @ Courthouse (10101 Courthouse Rd., Chesterfield, VA)
On Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m., the School Board will meet to approve a proposed budget. For more information about the budgeting process, visit the school division website.
Jan. 31 is an even day #
Calendar reminder: Jan. 31 is an even day, despite the calendar odd date. This change helps balance even and odd days during the school year.
Destination Life set for Jan. 25 #
Calendar reminder: Jan. 31 is an even day, despite the calendar odd date. This change helps balance even and odd days during the school year.
Students invited to submit art to Thank a Teacher contest #
In partnership with the Supply Room, the Virginia Lottery invites K-12 public school students to share their talent in the sixth annual Thank a Teacher Art Contest. Get details and submit artwork here no later than Jan. 31. Three student artists, whether enrolled virtually or face-to-face, will be selected to win a $200 gift card and their school’s art department will be awarded $1,000 from the Virginia Lottery and $1,000 from the Supply Room. The winning designs (one each from an elementary, middle and high school student artist) will be featured on thousands of thank-you notes distributed to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.