Winter break is here!
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 begins Dec. 22 and continues through Jan. 5.
School offices and school system buildings will remain open to the public Dec. 22, Dec. 27-29 and Jan. 2-5.
This is the final family newsletter until Jan. 5. See you in 2024!
moved to new section because I’m giving it a winter break spin
Winter break is a great time for creating art
During winter break, students are encouraged to create art to submit in this local competition:
Chesterfield County Public Schools students are invited to use their creativity to brighten a new headquarters being built for Chesterfield County Public Schools. 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.
Music teachers honored for accomplishments
Three teachers from Chesterfield County Public Schools won big awards 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.
Celebrating Virginia’s top elementary art teacher
Erika Ogier of Salem Church Elementary was recognized as the 2023 Virginia Elementary Art Educator of the Year by the Virginia Art Education Association. Described as dynamic and innovative, she says she teaches art because she enjoys engaging with students on a creative level, hearing about their experiences and watching them bring those experiences into their art. She has taught since 2016 for Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Virginia’s top tech teacher works at Bettie Weaver Elementary
Heather Russell, who teaches fourth grade at Bettie Weaver Elementary, was named 2023 Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Society for Technology in Education. Citing her work to create a STEM culture, the group recognized her for developing programs and resources that help students and families use technology in innovative and creative ways and for her dedication to always seeking new ways to blend technology into science, social studies and math instruction.
Thomas Dale High baseball field wins Field of the Year
The baseball field at Thomas Dale High was named Field of the Year by the Virginia Sports Field Managers Association. The statewide award is given to only one K-12 school (either public or private) each year. Students in Bryan Sheetz’s agricultural classes maintain all of the athletic fields at Thomas Dale High. See more photos on the school website, and watch this video to see how students are learning marketable skills while making a meaningful difference at their school.
Financial literacy awards for schools and teachers
Congratulations to the Chesterfield County high schools that were named Blue Star Schools for student performance on the W!se financial literacy certification test:
Cosby High
James River High
Midlothian High
Monacan High
Schools earn Blue Star School designation by achieving an 80% passing rate on the W!se financial literacy certification test with at least half the students on a grade level or at least 10% of school enrollment having taken the certification test.
Congratulations to the 29 economics and personal finance teachers who earned the 2022-23 Gold Star Teacher Award:
Bird High: Adam Canning
Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse: Mary Mayo
CCPSOnline: Chad Seay, Janice Skipwith, Kim Leggette, LaTizzia Bragg-Bullock and Samantha Uzzle
Clover Hill High: Kyle Miller and Stephanie Mercado
Cosby High: David Templeton, Jenna Brown, Mike Shuman and Nichola Woznyj
Thomas Dale High: Bill Wright, Felicia Campbell and Towns Josey
James River High: Jeffrey Bourassa and Madison Irving
Manchester High: Brian Graham, Charlie Krausse and Paul Kline
Matoaca High: Kendra Pahl and William De Salvatore
Midlothian High: Brett Ridens, Gabriel Taylor and Trish Reese
Monacan High: Adrian Murray, Carolyn Manheim and Meredith Shuman
Teachers earn this recognition by achieving a 93% passing rate on the W!se financial literacy certification test in at least one class.
Team Chesterfield is recruiting educators in 13 critical needs areas
Chesterfield County Public Schools invites highly qualified educators in 13 critical needs areas to apply to join Team Chesterfield. Candidates in these areas who apply by Jan. 16 at bit.ly/24needs will be considered for interviews during a Jan. 20 hiring fair:
Library
Math
Chemistry
Biology
Earth and space science
Middle school science
Special education
Spanish
ESL
English
Language arts
Reading specialists
Elementary education
Email careers@ccpsnet.net if you have questions. Learn more about Chesterfield County Public Schools at oneccps.org.
Does your child need school immunizations?
If your student is not up to date on immunizations, consider adding it to the list for winter break. Ask your healthcare provider which vaccines your child needs, and they'll work with you to schedule them. Learn more at vdh.virginia.gov/backtoschool.