Friday Family Update

Upcoming dates

• All schools and school offices are closed Jan. 15.

• Jan. 19 is an early release day for students at all schools except Bellwood and Falling Creek elementaries.

• On Wednesday, Jan. 31, schools will now run the even day schedule instead of the odd day schedule.
  

• School year calendars are available online.

Let’s keep showing up!

Throughout this school year, Chesterfield County Public Schools is encouraging students, staff members and families to show up ready to learn, show up for each other and show up with kindness. If we all show up as our best selves, then there is no doubt that great things will happen. Here’s an example of that from Meadowbrook High: The school hosted representatives from 20 colleges during the fall semester, with five colleges offering on-site admission to a total of 129 students.

Changing lives here and across the globe

Students at Ecoff Elementary and Gendetesfa Primary School in Ethiopia are learning about each other, about their cultures and how their schools are similar and different. Chromebooks donated from Chesterfield County Public Schools sparked additional learning opportunities at Gendetesfa and made it easier for the two schools to communicate with each other. This video and this article tell the story of the connection between Ecoff Elementary School and Gendetesfa Primary School.

Jan. 31 is deadline for openings on advisory boards and commission

Advisory committees established by the Chesterfield County School Board are one way community members connect with schools. Advisory committee members are appointed from each of the county’s five magisterial districts and include parents, teachers, staff members, students and others interested in helping Chesterfield County Public Schools achieve its vision of creating a better tomorrow. Advisory committee members who are appointed by the School Board must reside in the district they represent. Click the application button at bit.ly/BdCom to apply by Jan. 31 if you are eligible and interested in these openings:

• Citizens Budget Advisory Committee: Matoaca District (partial term ending June 30, 2025)

• School Health Advisory Board: Clover Hill District (partial term ending June 30, 2024); Matoaca District (partial term ending June 30, 2024)

• Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission: Additionally, the Chesterfield County School Board is seeking a representative to the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission to serve from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2027. Details about the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission are available at www.chesterfield.gov.

Breaking ground Jan. 19 for new Davis Elementary

A groundbreaking ceremony for a new Davis Elementary School is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 19. The public event will take place on the soccer fields behind the current Davis Elementary (415 S. Providence Road). This will be the first school built using a new elementary school prototype for Chesterfield County Public Schools. Scheduled to open in August 2025, the new building is part of a community facilities bond plan approved by Chesterfield County voters. Virginia Public School Authority bonds will cover most of the building’s $51 million cost, supplemented by federal funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Legislators tour Chesterfield Recovery Academy

Members of the Virginia General Assembly toured the Chesterfield Recovery Academy in December in order to learn more about the state’s first recovery high school program. The school website provides details about the program, which is open to students from these central Virginia school divisions:

• Charles City County

• Chesterfield County

• Colonial Heights

• Dinwiddie County

• Goochland County

• Hanover County

• Henrico County

• Hopewell

• New Kent County

• Petersburg

• Powhatan County

• Prince George County

• Richmond

• Surry County

• Sussex County

I Survived: An Evening with Lauren Tarshis 

The Chesterfield County Public Library welcomes author Lauren Tarshis for a virtual discussion 7-8 p.m. Jan. 21. Registration is required for this free event, which is designed for families with children ages 8-11. Tarshis is the author of the New York Times bestselling I Survived series and the Emma Jean Lazarus series. Books in the I Survived series tell thrilling stories from history through the eyes of a child. 

Dates that may be useful

January is National Thank You Month and National Mentoring Month. See more upcoming commemorations and celebrations here, including:

• Jan. 14-20 is Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week.

• Jan. 15 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

• Jan. 18 is Winnie the Pooh Day.

• Jan. 19 is National Popcorn Day.

• Jan. 24 is International Day of Education.

• Jan. 24 is National Compliment Day.

• Jan. 25 is Robert Burns Day.

• Jan. 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

• Jan. 28 is International Lego Day.

Prepare now for snow and other emergencies

It may sometimes be necessary to close schools, delay opening or release students early when bad weather occurs or there is another emergency. Families should have a plan in place for these times.

If schools are closed, open late or close early, then announcements will be posted on oneccps.org and social media and will be communicated to families via text and email. If schools are open regular hours, then no announcement will be made. 

To receive emergency messages, parents and guardians should make sure their contact information, including cell number, is up to date in ParentVue.

Chesterfield County Public Schools officials make decisions as early as possible, but sometimes there is too much uncertainty to make an early determination. 

When Chesterfield County Public Schools closes because of severe weather, transportation is not provided to Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School and CodeRVA Regional High School..

Feb. 2 is deadline for student artists

You’re invited to use your creativity to brighten a new headquarters being built for Chesterfield County Public Schools. It’s important that the headquarters shows 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 Feb. 2.

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.

Act by Jan. 16 to be considered for critical needs hiring fair

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.

Happy videos from before winter break

• The annual Winter Wonderland at Hopkins Elementary focused on reading, student performances, family fun and holiday magic.
• Gates Elementary first graders explored Holidays Around the World.
• Reams Road Elementary created a domino-type tumble using cereal boxes, then donated it all to the Chesterfield Food Bank.

Registration begins Jan. 9 for adult education classes

Chesterfield County Public Schools offers a robust array of adult education classes, and registration for spring opens at 9 a.m. Jan. 9 via this website. Also, additional details about adult education and a catalog are available here. Workforce training, enrichment classes, GED assistance and English language skills are offered. Here are a few specific classes scheduled this spring:

• practical nursing
• heavy equipment operator training
• veterinary assistant
• cosmetology
• Medicare basics
• drumming
• digital photography
• cake decorating
• CPR

Seeking feedback about 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.

Free dental cleanings on Feb. 3

Glowing Smiles Dentistry is offering free cleanings, fluoride and sealants for children from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 3. The dental office is located in Suite 120 at 9097 Atlee Station Road in Hanover County.