Attendance Matters Every Day #
As we near the end of the first nine weeks, it is a good time to take stock of your child’s attendance.
Did you know that a student is considered chronically absent if they are absent for an average of two days per month? When students are chronically absent, data shows it creates a negative impact on their grades. When our younger students are chronically absent, we know that it impacts the growth of basic academic skills that are needed to succeed throughout their school career. Even if a student makes up the schoolwork missed while absent, the classroom experience cannot be recaptured — there is no way to truly make up for that lost time.
Please check in with your school’s administrative team if you have concerns about your child’s ability to maintain good attendance this school year. Our #oneCCPS team will do all we can to listen and partner with you to ensure each student has a successful year. Let’s work together to make this school year the best it can be.
Small Art Is Making A Big Impact At Elizabeth Scott Elementary
Art teacher Heather Levet’s big idea led to a tiny art museum, and students are loving it! She turned a dollhouse into a miniature art museum where student art is displayed. Watch the video to tour this unique educational space at Elizabeth Scott Elementary.
Free Event Features Every High School Marching Band
Don’t miss this fall’s marching band exhibition featuring every high school in Chesterfield County Public Schools! Starting at 6:25 p.m. Oct. 9 on the football field of Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive), everyone is invited to experience the bold sounds and precision moves of drumlines, brass and woodwinds alongside the beautiful choreography of color guards as 10 halftime shows march across the field. Admission is free. Rain date is Oct. 16.
This video from the 2022 marching band exhibition shows the fun and excitement of the annual event.
This year’s marching band exhibition will begin at 6:25 p.m. Oct. 9 with a performance of the national anthem by band students from Swift Creek Middle and Tomahawk Creek Middle. The high school marching bands will then perform in this order on Monacan High’s brand-new turf field:
- Meadowbrook Roaring Regiment
- Matoaca Marching Warriors
- Manchester Marching Lancers
- L.C. Bird Skyhawk Marching Band
- Monacan Marching Chiefs
- Midlothian Trojan Marching Band
- James River Regiment
- Clover Hill Marching Cavaliers
- Cosby Titan Band
- Thomas Dale Marching Knights
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?
Hola Festival Offers Family Fun On Oct. 11
Families are invited to the Hola Festival at Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road). The event runs 5-8 p.m. Oct. 11 and includes salsa lessons, music (including a mariachi band) and performances by elementary, middle and high school students. This flyer includes an Hola Festival schedule.
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.
Meadowbrook Entrepreneur's Startup Business Is Part Of Vcu's Shelfie Program #
Congratulations to Anne S., a Meadowbrook High junior in the Academy for Developing Entrepreneurs! She is the only high school student accepted this fall into the Shelfie Program of VCU’s da Vinci Center for Innovation and Shift Retail Lab. Anne’s startup business, Glass Memories, offers painting kits for children and teens. As part of the Shelfie Program, Anne set up an interactive display at Shift Retail Lab, attended Shelfie boot camp, practiced her business pitch and earned micro-credentials in business.
Connecting The Dots
How did you celebrate International Dot Day? Evergreen Elementary students created their own unique dots for a schoolwide collaboration encouraging students to make a positive mark on the world.
Monacan Celebrates New Turf Field #
Monacan High recently unveiled a new Sprinturf Ultrablade field. Synthetic turf allows the field to be used year-round, by eliminating downtime for grass growth and reducing rain delays. Among the students who will benefit are the football team, marching band, color guard, cheerleaders, field hockey teams, lacrosse teams, track and field teams, soccer teams and health and PE classes. Get more information about turf fields here.
Seeking Feedback On Esser Funds
Chesterfield County Public Schools seeks feedback on its use of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund. Please click here to submit comments or ideas.
Dates That May Be Useful
Monthlong recognitions in October include bullying prevention, disability history and awareness and substance abuse prevention. Additional recognitions include:
- Oct. 6 is National Coaches Day.
- Oct. 8-14 is Fire Prevention Week.
- Oct. 9-13 is National School Lunch Week.
- Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day.
- Oct. 15-21 is America’s Safe Schools Week.
- Oct. 16-20 is National School Bus Safety Week.
- Oct. 18 is School Bus Transportation Employees Appreciation Day.
- Oct. 23-27 is Virginia College Application Week.
- Oct. 23-27 is Read Aloud to a Child Week.
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).
How To Stop Vaping Is Topic Of Oct. 12 Program
According to the Virginia Department of Health, vaping is an epidemic among young people, with more than one in four high school students and one in 10 middle school students reported vaping in the past 30 days.
To combat vaping, Chesterfield County Public Schools invites parents and guardians to “How to Talk to Your Kids About Vaping” 6:30-7:45 p.m. Oct. 12 at Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road). Register for this free program at bit.ly/stopvape_TDHS.
The session will cover:
- Health risks of substance use during adolescence and young adulthood
- Myths, trends and concerns about vaping and marijuana use in young people
- Information and resources needed to address this issue with children
We’re Hiring Substitute Teachers
If you’re looking for a flexible schedule so you can work when you choose, then consider applying to become a substitute teacher. Chesterfield County Public Schools pays substitute teachers $117.19 on regular days and $203 on Fridays and high-demand days. Learn more during a job fair for substitute teachers 4:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at James River High, 3700 James River Road. Advance registration is requested but not required for attending the job fair.
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.
Families Invited To Mission Tomorrow #
High school students, middle school students and their families are invited to a future-shaping opportunity. Mission Tomorrow is offering a session 5:15-7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Richmond Raceway. See the flyer in Spanish. Click here to register.
Each year, eighth graders from Chesterfield County Public Schools and other central Virginia districts experience Mission Tomorrow, an interactive career exploration event. The evening session opens the Mission Tomorrow door to families:
- Engage in hands-on activities that introduce you to a wide array of career options. Discover your passions and talents as you delve into various industries.
- Learn about work-based learning opportunities by hearing from experts in your dream careers and gaining invaluable insights into your desired field.
- Unlock the door to internships that will supercharge your resume and provide real-world experience. Build your network and set the stage for a successful future.