New This Week #
Showing up for each other at Robious Middle #
The Robious Middle Builders Club helped pack bags for Backpacks of Love, which works to eliminate hunger in central Virginia by providing weekend food for children. A middle school service organization organized by Kiwanis, the Builders Club epitomizes showing up for each other.
This year, Chesterfield County Public Schools is encouraging everyone to show up:
- Let’s show up ready to learn. That means being in school each day and putting in the work.
- Let’s show up with kindness. That means having a great attitude and connecting with the people around us.
- Let’s show up for each other. That means being helpful, doing what’s right and knowing that we are better together.
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.
Denim Drive results #
The annual Denim Drive is a partnership among Goodwill, the Chesterfield County Council of PTAs and Chesterfield County Public Schools that turns jeans into jobs while helping schools. Working to make a difference, schools from across the district collected and donated 4,202 pieces of used denim clothing, which Goodwill will repurpose for use by central Virginia residents. That’s a 56% increase from the 2,688 pieces donated in 2022!
As an incentive to participate in the annual community support program, the nine school PTAs that collect the most denim win cash prizes ($1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $500 for third place). Here are the top schools in the 2023 Denim Drive:
Elementary schools
- first place: Old Hundred (480 pieces)
- second place: Grange Hall (323)
- third place: Swift Creek (84)
Middle schools
- first place: Tomahawk Creek (326 pieces)
- second place: Midlothian (314)
- third place: Robious (261)
High schools
- first place: Midlothian (593 pieces)
- second place: Cosby (484)
- third place: Manchester (284)
In Case You Missed It #
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.