School Calendar Update: Students To Learn From Home March 5 #
During its Oct. 10 meeting, the Chesterfield County School Board accommodated a request from the Chesterfield County registrar related to the 2024 presidential primary because many schools serve as voting sites:
- Students will stay home March 5, which is the date of Virginia’s presidential primary.
- Teachers will provide learning materials and set expectations for students to complete work away from school.
- The 2023-24 traditional calendar and year-round calendar have been updated to reflect March 5 as an asynchronous learning day. However, the number of instructional days is unchanged because the school system will ensure that schools meet length-of-school-day and attendance requirements. This may require shifting bell schedules at some schools.
- School buildings will be open March 5, and 12-month employees will report to work. All other employees will work off-site. Supervisors will provide direction to hourly workers regarding off-site work expectations.
This Is Bullying Prevention Month
October is Bullying Prevention Month. Promote Respect is how our school division educates parents, staff and students about bullying prevention. This yearlong program focuses on proactive and positive interventions to teach expectations of respect and provides opportunities for students to practice those skills and make it a part of their daily routine. The school system website offers information about speaking up and reporting bullying.
National School Lunch Week Inspires Student Videos
Inspired by popular video games, juniors in the Mass Communications Specialty Center created videos to bring attention to National School Lunch Week (Oct. 9-13):
Here Are Next Week’s Specialty Center Open Houses
Specialty centers and regional schools are among high school options for Chesterfield County students. Eighth graders and their families are invited to this week’s open houses:
- Oct. 16 for Leadership and International Relations
- Oct. 17 for Developing Entrepreneurs
- Oct. 17 for International Baccalaureate
- Oct. 17 for CodeRVA
- Oct. 18 for Health Professions and Therapies
- Oct. 19 for the Humanities
Sparky Shares Fire Safety Tips #
During a visit to Falling Creek Elementary, Sparky the Fire Dog shared fire safety information with students. During Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 8-14), let’s take a moment to watch a video of Sparky’s visit.
Monarchs Matter At Middle School #
Tomahawk Creek Middle science classes and Spanish classes raised monarch butterflies as part of a cross-curricular conservation project and released them during an Oct. 3 event celebrating Hispanic heritage and monarch butterflies.
We’re Hiring Substitute Teachers And Food Service Associates #
Substitute teachers: People seeking a flexible schedule are encouraged to apply to become a substitute teacher at a job fair 4:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at James River High, 3700 James River Road. Advance registration is preferred but not required for attending the job fair for substitute teachers. Chesterfield County Public Schools pays substitute teachers $117.19 on regular days and $203 on Fridays and high-demand days.
Food service associates: Chesterfield County Public Schools will hire food service associates during a job fair 4:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Tomahawk Creek Middle, 1600 Learning Place Loop. Advance registration is preferred but not required for attending the job fair. This part-time job pays $15-$21.73 per hour plus a $1,250 bonus (paid in May 2024).
Coffee + Conversation Webinar Focuses On Vaping
Register here for Coffee + Conversation 1-2 p.m. Oct. 18. Sarah Birckhead, who works for the Virginia Department of Health as central region coordinator for tobacco control, will discuss talking with your child about vaping and substance use.
More information: Additional resources for families are online, including a CCPS video featuring Sarah Birckhead of the Virginia Department of Health.
Gifted Education Referrals
Gifted learners are students who show the potential for advanced thinking and reasoning, creativity and high achievement. So that schools can support, challenge, enrich and engage gifted students, Chesterfield County Public Schools conducts an annual referral process to identify gifted students. Students are evaluated during the current school year for services that will formally begin in the 2024-25 school year.
- Parents, teachers, community members, and students can refer a student for gifted evaluation by filling out this online form.
- Oct. 24 is the deadline to refer students currently in grades 2-12.
- March 1 is the deadline to refer students currently in grades K-1 within Chesterfield County Public Schools.
- A fall assessment opportunity is available for students in grades 2-12 who are not enrolled in Chesterfield County Public Schools but are residents of Chesterfield County. This referral deadline is Oct. 24.
- Check out the online gifted education overview resource for more information.
- Additional details about how Chesterfield County Public Schools identifies, serves and supports gifted learners are available here.
CEF Bravo! Awards Event Will Highlight Outstanding Achievements Of Ccps Alumni
The Chesterfield Education Foundation BRAVO! Awards is an annual celebration of the outstanding achievements of Chesterfield County Public Schools’ alumni. Since the start of the program in 2009, over 60 alumni have been honored with Bravo! awards. This year’s winners will be honored at a Nov. 16 event:
- Dr. William Collins
- Danielle Gilbert
- Nkanta N. Hines Sr.
- Johnny Partin
- Ted Salmon
- Dr. Lisa F. Waddell
Learn more about the Bravo! Awards and this year’s celebration on the CEF website.
Learn About Gifted Education Possibilities #
Chesterfield County parents are invited to learn about gifted education possibilities during Glimpse Into Gifted. The free event is for parents who wonder if their child is gifted and for parents whose child has been identified as gifted.
Glimpse Into Gifted will take place 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 19 at Beulah Recreation Center (6901 Hopkins Road). Register here for the event, which includes pizza:
- 5:15 p.m.: doors open
- 5:30 p.m.: pizza dinner begins and info booths open
- 6:15 p.m.: main speaker
- 6:30 p.m.: breakout session 1
- 7:05 p.m.: breakout session 2
- 7:35 p.m.: breakout session 3
Info booths will feature programs offering enrichment and support, and breakout sessions will address these questions:
- How do I know if my child could be gifted?
- How does the process work to identify my child for gifted services?
- Can my child be identified as gifted and receive special education or English language services?
- How can I better understand my gifted child?
- How can I help my child deal with stress and anxiety?
- What can I do to nurture my child’s gifts and talents?
Sales Tax Takes A Holiday Oct. 20-22
Whether shopping in person or online, Virginia shoppers will pay no sales tax Oct. 20-22 when buying school supplies, clothing and other items. This video provides details for the sales tax holiday that begins at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 20 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 22.
Nominate Outstanding Principals By Nov. 2 For R.E.B. Award
In partnership with the R.E.B. Foundation, the Community Foundation invites nominations for the R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership. This annual initiative recognizes principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment.
Parents, students, teachers, volunteers and community members are encouraged to nominate outstanding principals before 5 p.m. Nov. 2. Details and the nomination form are here. The awards will recognize one principal each from Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond. Each winner will receive $30,000: a $20,000 grant for school-based initiatives and a $10,000 unrestricted grant.
It’s Denim Drive Time!
Turn jeans into jobs while helping your school! Each year in the Denim Drive, families donate used denim clothing of all kinds. Goodwill tracks the denim donated on behalf of each Chesterfield County school, then awards nine cash prizes ($1,000, $750 and $500) to the top three elementary, middle and high school winners. The denim is sold in Goodwill stores or recycled. Clean out your closet and support schools and the community by bringing your denim donations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 14-15 to the Career and Technical Center @ Hull (13900 Hull Street Road).