Friday Family Update
Upcoming dates
Jan. 19 is an early release day for students at all schools except Bellwood and Falling Creek elementaries.
On Jan. 31, schools will run the even day schedule instead of the odd day schedule.
Nominations are open for R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence
Nominate outstanding teachers for R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence! The program is accepting nominations through 5 p.m. Feb. 20. About 15 central Virginia teachers are selected each year to receive amazing grants up to $15,000 to support professional development. Award winners have earned graduate degrees, climbed mountains, traced their ancestors and met peers from around the world — all to continue their love for learning and to pass it on to their students. Details can be found on the foundation’s website.
Chesterfield County School Board elects chair and vice chair and schedules meetings for 2024
Dot Heffron (Clover Hill District) was elected chair. Ann Coker (Bermuda District) was elected vice chair.
The newly elected Chesterfield County School Board met for the first time Jan. 12. During the meeting, the School Board elected Dot Heffron as chair and Ann Coker as vice chair and approved a 2024 meeting schedule. Information about School Board meetings, policies and more is available at oneccps.org/page/school-board.
Forging connections
Students in the Leadership Academy at Matoaca High spent time at the Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy reading to the prekindergartners. The high school students also served as lunch buddies and donated books to the students and school. What a great example of showing up for each other!
We’re hiring cafeteria workers during Jan. 24 job fair
Chesterfield County Public Schools is hiring part-time food service associates to work in school cafeterias during a job fair 4:30-6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Swift Creek Middle, 3700 Old Hundred Road South. Online registration is encouraged but not required.
Work where you will make a difference.
Hourly pay is $15 to $21.73.
$1,250 bonus to be paid in May 2024.
Questions? Call 804-748-1984 or email careers@ccpsnet.net.
Learn about school district’s budget during January and February meetings
Budget season for Chesterfield County Public Schools begins Jan. 23 when Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty presents his budget proposal to the Chesterfield County School Board. Public meetings throughout January and February offer opportunities to learn about the FY 2025 budget and speak up about priorities:
The superintendent will present the proposed budget during a School Board work session at 4 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Public Meeting Room (10001 Iron Bridge Road).
A budget town hall will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Meadowbrook High (4901 Cogbill Road), which is in the Dale District.
A budget town hall will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Clover Hill High (13301 Kelly Green Lane), which is in the Clover Hill District.
A budget town hall will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Manchester High (12601 Bailey Bridge Road), which is in the Matoaca District.
A budget town hall for Spanish speakers will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Manchester Middle (7401 Hull Street Road).
A budget town hall will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road), which is in the Bermuda District.
The School Board will hold a second work session on the budget at 4 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Public Meeting Room.
A budget town hall will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Midlothian Middle (13501 Midlothian Turnpike), which is in the Midlothian District.
On Feb. 13 in the Public Meeting Room, the School Board will hold a third work session on the budget at 4 p.m., then will hold a public hearing on the budget at the start of a 6:30 p.m. business meeting.
The School Board will meet to adopt the budget at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Public Meeting Room.
Budget work sessions and public hearings will be livestreamed at chesterfieldschoolsva.swagit.com/live/ and shown on Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28. Details about the budget will be posted on oneccps.org.
Students can apply by Feb. 11 for I’m Determined event
The 2024 I'm Determined Youth and Family Summit is a three-day event sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education and the Partnership for People With Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University. Youth with disabilities meet to network and discuss issues of importance. Youth ages 14-18 and families will learn about three key components of self-determination: competence, autonomy and relatedness. Students who would like to be considered for attendance at this summer event can submit this application by Feb. 11. Parents will attend separate sessions built specifically for them.
Resources for families of students in special education
Guide to special education: Available 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.
Neurodiversity speaker series starts in February
Families and educators who support neurodivergent youth are always looking for trusted, helpful and practical resources to support neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Speaker Series includes free, virtual events (Feb. 7, March 26, May 9, Aug. 29 and Sept. 24) crafted with their specific needs in mind. Go online for details and registration information. The series is presented by the Parent Venture, Children’s Health Council, Compass High School, REEL2E and the RILEY Project, with funding from the Educating All Learners Alliance.
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 chesterfield.gov.
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 this happens, decisions are typically made about 4:30 a.m.
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.
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.