Chesterfield Educators Win R.e.b. Awards For Teaching Excellence #
Worldwide adventures in learning await four Chesterfield County teachers who were named 2023 winners of R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. Each will receive $15,000 for unique professional development experiences. A partnership between the Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation, the awards annually recognize outstanding public school teachers in central Virginia.
Here are the winners in Chesterfield County Public Schools:
- Mary Elise Chonko, baking and pastry arts teacher at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, won $15,000 to study the future of pastry in Asia, gaining firsthand experience of how Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia dominate the world’s pastry scene.
- Lily Hungarland, social studies teacher at Carver Middle, won $15,000 to explore cultural identity, unity and reconstruction after World War II in Japan and Germany.
- Peter Schumacher, English teacher at James River High, won $15,000 to elevate students’ exposure to courage during the Civil Rights Movement by visiting landmarks, museums and people across eight states.
- Ramón Zabala, Spanish and French teacher at Matoaca High, won $15,000 to explore Hispanic heritage by experiencing history, food and culture in Caribbean and South American countries.
In addition to the four teachers selected as R.E.B. winners, five Chesterfield County Public Schools teachers were recognized as finalists and will receive $1,000 grants in recognition of their achievements in the classroom: Danielle Rioux of Reams Road Elementary; Kristin Thrower of Meadowbrook High; Kristen Hepburn of Greenfield Elementary; Sherry Nyquist of Wells Elementary; and Kellilyn Jones of Clover Hill High.
Veterans Day #
Click on the video above to hear a message from Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty.
Reminder: Families Of Students In Grades 3-8 Should Check Parentvue For A Letter About Tutoring Support
A letter is now available in the documents section of ParentVUE for students who qualify for additional tutoring. Please log into ParentVUE to learn if your child meets the criteria to receive additional support and next steps. This initiative is specific to math and/or reading for students in grades 3-8. Families will receive a separate letter for each student in these grades who qualifies for additional tutoring. Please note that a letter will only be present for students who qualify for additional tutoring. If your student does not qualify, no letter will be present in ParentVUE.
Please note: If you have used the QR code or link at the bottom of the letter and, as a result, erroneously opted your child out of tutoring, you may still opt your child in by writing your principal to request your student be opted in.
In September 2023, the Virginia Department of Education released an ALL In initiative to partner with parents of students in grades 3-8 in the areas of tutoring, literacy and attendance. Based on guidance standards set forth by VDOE, test scores were used to determine whether students could benefit from additional tutoring support:
- For students currently in third grade, the fall 2023 Virginia Growth Assessment was used.
- For students in grades 4-8, the spring 2023 Standards of Learning test was used.
- VDOE parent resources for the All In initiative can be viewed at doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/all-in-tutoring.
Use the mobile ParentVUE app or click here to log into the ParentVUE web platform to see if your child qualifies for more tutoring and respond if necessary by Friday, Nov. 10. If you have trouble accessing ParentVUE, please contact your school.
Two Coffee & Conversation Webinar Events Next Week #
Click here to register for upcoming Coffee & Conversations, scheduled through January. Two of the virtual gatherings hosted by the school system’s Office of Family and Community Engagement are scheduled next week:
- Building Resilience in Children to Prevent Drug Use (1-2 p.m. Nov. 15): Let’s talk about developing resilience in children. Several traits found in resilient children — such as high self-esteem, empathy, help seeking and self-awareness — are also factors that deter children from using harmful substances like tobacco, marijuana and alcohol.
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (1-2 p.m. Nov. 16): A growing number of grandparents are taking on parenting their grandchildren, forgoing the traditional grandparent/grandchild relationship. This often means giving up leisure time, traveling and other aspects of your independence. What support do you have in Chesterfield County? Join this session to learn more and meet others who may be in similar shoes.
Report Cards Can Now Be Found In Parentvue
In addition to viewing a digital version of your student’s grades, a PDF version of their report card is now available in the documents section of ParentVUE. Click here for instructions to access your student’s report card. If you have trouble logging in to ParentVUE, please contact your school.
This Is National School Psychology Week #
National School Psychology Week is November 6-10. Thank you to our school psychologists who support student learning and mental and behavioral health, promote positive and inclusive school climates, serve on school safety and critical incident teams and collaborate with families, teachers and administrators to improve student outcomes.
Special Event At Curtis Elementary #
It was fun all around when Curtis Elementary created a sensory friendly trunk-or-treat for students in special education.
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.
Kindness Is Our Superpower
Jacobs Road Elementary kindergartners are working to become superheroes of kindness. As part of the Promote Respect bullying prevention program, students learned how heroes treat others, then completed three missions demonstrating their knowledge of how they can be good friends, respectful students and positive members of their community. See more images of kindergartners whose superpower is kindness.
Fall Fishing #
It was a beautiful afternoon to be outdoors when the Bird High fishing club headed to YMCA Camp Thunderbird at the end of October. Club members, family members, alumni and sponsors enjoyed time on the lake. See more photos on the Bird High website.
Teachers In Bleachers
Matoaca Elementary teachers turned out to celebrate homecoming at Matoaca High and support students participating as cheerleaders and football players.
Support Available For Parents And Families
- Online parenting program focuses on tweens and teens: Active Parenting of Teens and Tweens is an online program offering parents the confidence to meet the challenges and savor the joys of their children’s teen years. There are five weekly sessions 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from Jan. 23 to Feb. 20; $50 covers all five sessions. Get more information and register on this website. Questions? Email the Prevention Services Office of Chesterfield County’s Mental Health Support Services or call 804-768-7800.
- Parent and family consultations available free: Parents and caregivers are invited to consult with experienced professionals to talk through topics such as parenting stress, effective discipline, tantrums, helping around the house, healthy relationships, bedtime, preventing risky behaviors and more. Meetings can be in person, by phone or virtually with consultants in the Prevention Services Office of Chesterfield County’s Mental Health Support Services. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, email the Prevention Services Office or call 804-768-72120.
Health Insurance Marketplace Is Open
Through Jan. 15, Virginians have the opportunity to enroll in an open marketplace health-care plan or make changes to their current plan. Details are available on this website.
Fraud Awareness Week Is Nov. 12-18
Organizations worldwide lose an estimated 5% of their annual revenues to fraud, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. In honor of Fraud Awareness Week, which takes place Nov. 12-18, Chesterfield County is bringing awareness to its fraud, waste and abuse hotline (804-318-8000) and is encouraging county residents and employees to report wrongdoing involving fraud, waste and abuse of Chesterfield government and school assets or resources. Examples of violations include but are not limited to:
- Falsification of records
- Serious abuse or excessive use of time
- Theft of funds
Tips are consistently the most common way to detect fraud. The Chesterfield County fraud, waste and abuse hotline (804-318-8000) can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers can remain anonymous as caller ID and call-back features have been disabled to maintain confidentiality. Visit the reporting fraud, waste and abuse website for more information.
Safe Water Initiative Includes Water Testing
As part of our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff, CCPS works in partnership with Chesterfield County Government to test drinking water throughout the school division.
Schools where testing will occur this year may be found on the school division’s website: On the Health and Wellness page, scroll down to Safe Water Initiative and click on the tab School year 2023-24 (schools built after 1987).
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, visit the school division website.
Nov. 18: Career And Technical Center Open Houses #
Both campuses of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center invite families to Nov. 18 open houses to learn about the 30+ programs available to high school students. November is College and Career Readiness Month, so it’s a great time to see how career and technical education can help students jump-start their careers. Families can learn more at the school website and by dropping in during the open houses:
- Career and Technical Center@Courthouse will have an open house 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 18.
- Career and Technical Center@Hull will have an open house noon-2 p.m. Nov. 18.
Accessible Community Event Set For Nov. 19
The Virginia Friendship Circle is organizing its third annual Walk N Roll and Friendship Fair 1-3 p.m. Nov. 19 at Fountain Lake in Byrd Park. Everyone is invited to walk, run or roll along the 1-mile course, then enjoy inflatables, face painting and more. Register here for the free event. This flyer provides all the details.