Friday Family Update banner

Friday Family Update - Jan. 26, 2024

Chesterfield County Public Schools

January 26, 2024

Chesterfield Virtual School is open to grades K-8 

Registration for the Chesterfield Virtual School opens Feb. 5 for Chesterfield County students in grades K-8. As Virginia’s first virtual school, the Chesterfield Virtual School provides the opportunity to learn with teachers from across the country and students from all over Chesterfield County. This creates a powerful and unique tapestry of diversity.

The Chesterfield Virtual School works for students who are self-sufficient and self-driven. School days begin at 7:45 a.m. with morning meetings. Before students are dismissed for the day at 2:15 p.m., teachers cover all core academic subjects. After-school clubs offer additional connections for students. The Chesterfield Virtual School also offers gifted instruction, honors classes, special education and ESL. 

  • Enrollment for new students begins Feb. 5 and ends April 28.

  • The website offers details about the Chesterfield Virtual School and will include an enrollment form starting Feb. 5.

CCPSOnline registration opens Feb. 5

Students in grades 9-12 can register for CCPSOnline classes starting Feb. 5. With learning available 24/7 in a no-bells, no-limits virtual environment, the flexibility of CCPSOnline classes can help high school students create the schedule they want. Act now to take advantage of this Chesterfield County Public Schools opportunity:

  • CCPSOnline registration for summer 2024 and for the 2024-25 school year begins at 9 a.m. Feb. 5 and ends at 5 p.m. April 28.

  • Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about CCPSOnline at 6:30 p.m. March 4; click this link to join the discussion. Also, students can talk to their school counselor about how CCPSOnline may fit into their schedule. 

  • The website offers details about CCPSOnline and will include an enrollment form starting Feb. 5.

Chesterfield County Public Schools is holding two job fairs

Chesterfield County Public Schools is seeking outstanding teachers:

  • Elementary teacher job fair: The primary focus of this event is finding qualified K-5 teachers, including special education and ESL. Candidates must apply by Jan. 31 to be considered for an interview. Applications will be reviewed, and qualifying teachers will be invited to an in-person interview between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Feb. 3. Questions? Call 804-748-1984 or email careers@ccpsnet.net.

  • Job fair for high-needs schools: This virtual job fair is seeking teachers for high-needs schools. Candidates must apply by Feb. 11 to be considered for an interview. CCPS high-needs schools are Bellwood Elementary, Chalkley Elementary, Ettrick Elementary, Falling Creek Elementary, Hopkins Elementary, Carver Middle, Falling Creek Middle, Matoaca Middle, Salem Church Middle, Bird High and Meadowbrook High. Applications will be reviewed, and qualifying teachers will be invited to a virtual interview Feb. 12-16. Questions? Call 804-748-1984 or email careers@ccpsnet.net.

Jan. 31 is an even day

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

Town halls offer opportunities to learn about proposed budget

Budget season for Chesterfield County Public Schools began Jan. 23 when Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty presented his budget proposal to the Chesterfield County School Board during a work session. Budget information is available on the school system’s website, including the budget presentation to the School Board.

Public meetings throughout January and February offer opportunities to learn about the FY 2025 budget and speak up about priorities:

  • 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 (10001 Iron Bridge Road).

  • 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 http://chesterfieldschoolsva.swagit.com/live/ and shown on Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28. Details about the budget will be posted on oneccps.org.

Families invited to free “Frida Kahlo” opera

Chesterfield County Public Schools families with students in grades K-6 are invited to a free performance of “Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World.” The Virginia Opera will present two performances that tell the real-life story of a young girl living in Mexico City and her friendship with famed artist Frida Kahlo, who paints her portrait.

Families can use this form to reserve free seats for

  • 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 performance at Meadowbrook High

  • 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 performance at Elizabeth Davis Middle

Questions? Call 804-639-8632.

ADHD is topic of Feb. 7 Coffee & Conversation

A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on ADHD. The CCPS Office of Family and Community Engagement will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 7, and Melissa Ackley of Chesterfield Mental Health Prevention Services will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.

High school students invited to Feb. 24 RVA Teen Summit

High school students are invited to attend the RVA Teen Summit on Feb. 24. This is the second year for the event, which is designed to connect central Virginia students and provide a safe space for them to speak out. This flyer provides details. Free and open to CCPS high school students, the summit will take place at the Richmond Convention Center with transportation provided from four hubs. Students can get a permission slip here or at their school’s front office. Completed permission slips are due by Feb. 15 either returned to the front office at your child's school or emailed to amelia_bartilotti@ccpsnet.net.

Groundbreaking marks start of a new Davis Elementary

School and county leaders broke ground on a replacement for Davis Elementary School on Friday, Jan. 19. The new school is being built next to the current Davis Elementary, which opened in 1964 at 415 S. Providence Road in the Midlothian District.

The new Davis Elementary is the first school to be built using a new elementary school prototype for Chesterfield County Public Schools. The two-story building will accommodate up to 1,000 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade; Davis Elementary’s current capacity is 780.

Scheduled to open for students in August 2025, the new school 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.

Honoring senior adults who volunteer

The Chesterfield County Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame is accepting nominations through April 5. For more information, email agingresources@chesterfield.gov or call 804-768-7878.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.