Monacan High School

Prom closet seeks community donations

This video shows how Monacan High is helping trim the cost of prom by offering free dresses, suits and accessories for students. As a service learning project, students run the Chiefs Closet like a boutique — complete with attractive displays, business communications and social media promotions. Community donations to the prom closet are welcome and can be left in the front office of Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive). This year’s prom is May 11. If you have questions, please email teacher meredith_shuman@ccpsnet.net.

Spring Into Wellness on April 29

Families are invited to a mental health resource fair organized by Chesterfield County Public Schools. Spring Into Wellness will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. April 29 at CTC@Hull (13900 Hull Street Road). Registration is required for this free event. In addition to more than 30 wellness vendors, speakers will cover these topics: Motivation and goal setting for tweens and teens; Understanding your child’s nature for happier parenting; and College prep and student wellness. Register at https://bit.ly/48EpdGM.

Sharing the warmth - Monacan High collected more than 100 coats earlier this school year in a community service project coordinated by Jacquelyn Thrower, head of the school’s Counseling Department. Several Chesterfield schools take part in the annual Coats for Kids effort of Puritan Cleaners.

Lighting up the room - Monacan High students in the 3D design class taught by Melinda Carson crafted unique lamps.

Black History Month - Art is one of the ways Monacan High is celebrating Black History Month. Students and teachers from all departments created art for the windows surrounding the courtyard.

A love for reading - On Valentine’s Day in the Monacan High library, Tara Hannon and Erin Michaud hosted Blind Date With a Book. Students received a valentine, designed a bookmark and selected a book without knowing its title or author. They will read the book, rate it (tell how the book date went), return the book and rating and receive a treat.

A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on intellectual disabilities. The Family and Community Engagement Office of Chesterfield County Public Schools will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 28, and a representative of Chesterfield Mental Health will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.

CCPSOnline classes are open to students in grades 9-12. With learning available 24/7 in a no-bells, no-limits virtual environment, the flexibility of CCPSOnline classes can help high school students create the schedule they want. Act now to take advantage of this Chesterfield County Public Schools opportunity:

• CCPSOnline registration for summer 2024 and for the 2024-25 school year is open through April 28, and the website offers details including registration form.
• Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about CCPSOnline at 6:30 p.m. March 4; click this link to join the discussion.

Parents can create list of books their student cannot check out

Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that parents and guardians have transparency about school library books.

The district recently added a feature to the online catalog for school libraries that offers another avenue for families to be involved in what their children read. Starting now, parents can create a list of books that their student will not be allowed to check out. (This new feature is in addition to existing opportunities for parents that provide online access to their student’s school library accounts and the ability to opt in to receive an email when their student checks out a book.)

Follow these steps to take advantage of this new method of overseeing what your child can check out from the school library:

• Look up your public access catalog login ID by going to ParentVUE using a web browser on a computer or mobile device (not using the mobile app). In ParentVUE, go to My Account to find Adult ID#. (Contact your school if you need help accessing your ParentVUE account.) Your public access catalog login ID is your ParentVUE adult ID number with G added to the front. For example, if your ParentVUE adult ID number is 123456, then G123456 is your public access catalog ID.
• Select your child’s campus on the school system’s library catalog page.
• Click My Account on the left side of the screen.
• You will be prompted for a library card number and PIN. Your library card number is your ParentVUE ID number with G added to the front. Your PIN is the last four digits of your ParentVUE ID number.
• Add books you do not want your student to be able to check out to a prohibited resource list. This document provides details about how to build a prohibited resource list for your student.

ADHD is topic of Feb. 7 Coffee & Conversation

A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on ADHD. The CCPS Office of Family and Community Engagement will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 7, and Melissa Ackley of Chesterfield Mental Health Prevention Services will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.

Scholastic Art Awards - Congratulations to the following Scholastic Art Award Winners.

• Andy Slonaker - Gold Key
• Baylee Viet-Pendleton - Gold Key
• Ruby Coaker - Honorable Mention
• Madalyn Cross - Honorable Mention

Gold Key works will now move on to be judged at the national level. Gold and Silver Key work will go on display at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond from Feb. 2nd-19th. Great job to all who submitted works in this highly competitive regional and national art competition!

School connections - Just before the start of winter break, Gordon Elementary students enjoyed a holiday concert presented by Monacan High students.

Marching toward winter break - Superintendent Merv Daugherty’s winter break video may be the best thing you see today. Huge shoutout to Clover Hill High’s Marching Cavaliers and band director Brianna Gatch!

• Winter break for students and teachers will begin Dec. 22 and continue through Jan. 5.
• School offices and school system buildings will remain open to the public Dec. 22, Dec. 27-29 and Jan. 2-5.

Anime Club Winter Party - Anime club is hosting a winter party on Wednesday December 20th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Ms Heath’s room, room 137. We will be watching a studio ghibli movie that is being voted on by the club members. Feel free to bring food to share.

Beta Club - Beta Club will meet Thursday December 14th in the Library right after school. Bring Fall service logs if your 4 community service hours are complete.

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.

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.

Music teachers honored for accomplishments - Three teachers from Chesterfield County Public Schools won big awards in November from the Virginia Music Educators Association.

Jenny Ryan, Monacan High band director, received the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award, which is given to only one Virginia teacher each year. With 30 years of experience as a band director, she supports music education by hosting regional events and serving as secretary for the Virginia Music Educators Association.

Cathern Hazelwood, James River High choral director, received the VCU Outstanding Music Education Young Alumni Award. A graduate of VCU, she taught elementary music for two years before moving to James River High three years ago.

David Yohe, Midlothian Middle orchestra teacher, received the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the VCU music education faculty. A two-time VCU graduate and a 31-year teacher in Chesterfield County Public Schools, he continually supports the university by accepting practicum and student teachers and serving as a mentor to new educators.

Boys Soccer Interest Meeting - Attention ALL boys interested in playing soccer this spring. There will be an Interest Meeting on Monday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m. in the Lower Commons. Please be sure to attend if you plan on trying-out in February. Any questions or concerns, please contact Colt Resnick at colt_resnick@ccpsnet.net

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. https://tinyurl.com/ysgpmwv7