Recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the vibrant history and lasting contributions of Latin and Hispanic Americans. The observance begins today and ends Oct. 15.
The first observance of Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was later expanded to a month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.
CCPS in the Know: Suicide Awareneness
Call or text 988 at any time for help during emotional distress.
The latest CCPS in the Know video focuses on the 988 suicide prevention lifeline that offers 24/7 support for anyone in emotional distress. The help is immediate and anonymous, so please keep 988 in mind for yourself or for others in your life.
Do you have a question for CCPS In the Know? Ask it here for a chance to be featured. Watch all past episodes of CCPS in the Know on YouTube.
Reminder: Cameras in place to enforce speed limits in some school zones
Chesterfield County is placing cameras in school zones to enforce speed limits, protect students and boost road safety. Cameras are being installed at multiple schools to ensure drivers follow posted speed limits in active school zones.
The cameras will enforce speed limits only while flashing warning lights are active during school hours. On school days, the warning lights are on for one hour in the morning as students arrive and one hour in the afternoon as students depart.
Cameras at these schools are operational; going more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit in an active school zone will result in a $100 fine.
Beulah Elementary
Marguerite Christian Elementary
Cosby High
Ecoff Elementary
Grange Hall Elementary
Midlothian High
Moseley Elementary
Old Hundred Elementary
Reams Road Elementary
Swift Creek Elementary
Automated speed cameras at these schools began a 30-day warning period at the start of the 2025-26 school year.
Manchester High/Bailey Bridge Middle
Manchester Middle
Matoaca Elementary
Meadowbrook High
During this time, violators will receive warnings instead of citations when speeding in an active school zone. Beginning Sept. 22, violators will receive citations.
Cameras are planned in the coming weeks at additional schools. This website offers the latest information.
For eighth grade families, it’s time to think about options for high school
Each fall, Chesterfield County Public Schools eighth graders explore their options for high school and decide whether or not to apply to a specialty center, governor’s school or regional technology school. This video gives an overview of how those schools provide unique opportunities to explore special interests. Here are ways to find out what’s available to your student:
Informational fairs: All specialty centers and regional schools will participate in two fairs where students and families can browse tables to get information:
6:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at Bird High (10301 Courthouse Road)
6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive)
Virtual session for parents: Middle school parents are invited to learn about the specialty center process during a virtual gathering 6:30-7 p.m. Sept. 25. This is the first session in Middle Management, a new program designed to support middle school families. Register at this link for the Sept. 25 session and all other Middle Management topics that interest you.
Open houses: Starting Oct. 14, open houses are scheduled at every specialty center and regional school. A complete calendar of open houses is available online.
Website: Full details about high school options are online at bit.ly/CCPSoptions. That includes the online application form, details about open houses, links to specialty center websites and more. Here are important dates to keep in mind:
Online application opens Oct. 1 and closes Dec. 5 for specialty centers and governor’s schools.
Online application opens Jan. 5 and closes Feb. 20 for CodeRVA.
Acceptance offers will be made Feb. 27 for CodeRVA and March 4 for specialty centers and governor’s schools.
March 16 is the deadline for students to accept offers from specialty centers and governor’s schools. March 17 is the deadline for students to accept offers from CodeRVA.
A larger-than-life smile in Times Square
Landon Gilliard’s smile lit up Times Square recently. His photo was one of 500 chosen to promote the annual National Down Syndrome Society buddy walk in New York City. His mom, Stephanie Gilliard, said more than 2,500 photos were submitted for consideration and Landon was among those selected for the slideshow. The entire Times Square slideshow can be seen here; look for Landon at 19:30.
Did you notice that Landon’s wearing a Tomahawk Creek Timberwolves T-shirt? He attended Tomahawk Creek Middle last year, then moved to Deep Creek Middle when it opened this year. His mom said, “He loved his one year at TCMS and is loving Deep Creek too!”
The Gilliard family was not in NYC for the buddy walk, but they participate each year in the local Step Up for Down Syndrome event, which will take place Oct. 11.
K-12 Tutoring will be available to students in grades 3-12 beginning Oct. 1
K-12 Tutoring (formerly Stride) will launch for the 2025-26 school year on Oct. 1, 2025. The platform will be available to all students in grades 3-12. As in previous years, students will access K-12 Tutoring via their Clever backpack, and they may self-schedule sessions for as long as funding is available. At the elementary level, parents and guardians may book sessions on behalf of their student. Students must attend scheduled sessions. Non-attendance scheduled sessions will result in the student's removal from the platform. Students may cancel scheduled sessions in the K-12 platform up to 12 hours prior to the start time. More information can be found at oneccps.org/tutors.
Gifted education referral deadline for grades 2-12 is Oct. 3
Chesterfield County Public Schools is committed to recognizing and nurturing advanced academic potential in all students through engaging gifted programming options. Gifted evaluations take place during specific windows each year, and students may be evaluated only once per school year.
Referrals must be submitted by the appropriate deadline. Please note the new fall deadline is earlier than in previous years.
Grades 2–12: Oct. 3, 2025
Grades K–1: Feb. 27, 2026
The online Gifted Services Referral and Review Form is open for referring students in grades 2–12. Referrals may be submitted by a parent, teacher, student, or community member. Students in grades 2–12 who reside in Chesterfield County but are not enrolled in CCPS may also be referred for an assessment opportunity during the fall window only.
To learn more about gifted education in Chesterfield County Public Schools, review the
Gifted Education Overview flyer or visit the CCPS Gifted Education webpage.
Free event will feature 10 high school marching bands and VSU Trojan Explosion
Don’t miss this fall’s marching band exhibition featuring every high school in Chesterfield County Public Schools! The annual event will start at 6:25 p.m. Oct. 6 in the stadium of Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road), and 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. 13.
This year’s marching band exhibition will begin with the national anthem performed by band students from Carver, Elizabeth Davis, Falling Creek and Matoaca middle schools.
The heart of the exhibition will be Chesterfield County Public Schools high school marching bands performing in this order:
Meadowbrook Roaring Regiment
Bird Skyhawk Marching Band
Manchester Marching Lancers
Matoaca Marching Warriors
Monacan Marching Chiefs
James River Regiment
Cosby Titan Band
Midlothian Trojan Marching Band
Clover Hill Marching Cavaliers
Thomas Dale Marching Knights
Closing out the high-energy evening will be a performance by the Trojan Explosion Marching Band of Virginia State University, which is known as “The Best Band in the CIAA.”
Bellwood to return to traditional calendar in 2026-27 school year
Bellwood Elementary will return to a traditional calendar at the start of the 2026-27 school year. In 2018, Bellwood became the first school in Chesterfield County Public Schools to follow a year-round calendar. Improving student performance was the main reason for the change.
However, after reviewing information from the past four years that the year-round model is not improving student learning, the Chesterfield County School Board voted Sept. 9 to return Bellwood Elementary to the traditional calendar that all other Chesterfield County schools follow. Read the School Board memo.
This week: Coffee & Conversation explores how words shape children
Parenting is tough and children don’t come with an owner's manual. So, grab a cup of coffee and get some friendly support! Join the CCPS Family and Community Engagement team for Coffee & Conversation each week for a topical discussion with community experts to help understand and foster success in your students.
Join us online at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 to learn how the words we use shape the way children think, plan, and regulate their emotions. In this interactive session, families will discover how words become powerful tools that help kids pause, plan, and problem-solve. Special guest is Maria DelCorso from New Agenda LLC. Sign-up to attend here.
This week: Middle Management shares specialty center opportunities
Parenting a middle schooler can feel like a full-time job. These years bring big changes—socially, emotionally, and academically—not just for students, but for parents. “Middle Management” series will provide guidance, resources, and reassurance as you support your young person through this unique stage of life.
Join us online 6:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 for our inaugural episode discussing opportunities with the CCPS speciality centers. Sign-up to attend this and other sessions. A meeting link will be sent to you prior to the session.
CCPS teachers receive more than $75,000 in grants from Chesterfield Education Foundation
This year, the Chesterfield Education Foundation awarded 18 Innovation Grants totaling $75,294 to educators at Chesterfield County Public Schools for creative projects that enhance learning and support student success.
The selected projects showcase innovative approaches to teaching that inspire students, foster collaboration, and strengthen connections between classrooms and the community. CEF additionally awarded three MCD2 grants totaling $7,500. These additional grants provide funds to replicate the successful projects that their peers have launched at other schools.
Innovation Grants are made possible through the generosity of CEF donors, who believe in empowering educators to imagine and implement new possibilities for their students. For more information about the Innovation Grant program or to learn how you can support future initiatives, visit the CEF website.
Stop-arm cameras on CCPS buses will help protect students at bus stops
On Sept. 15, Chesterfield County Schools in partnership with Chesterfield County Police Department and BusPatrol, launched a new school bus safety program. As part of this program, every school bus will be equipped with stop-arm safety cameras over the coming weeks.
Here’s what families need to know:
How it works: When a bus stop-arm is extended and red lights are flashing, the cameras will automatically capture any vehicle that drives past. Each incident will be reviewed by trained county staff before a notice is issued.
30-day warning period: From Sept. 15 through Oct. 14, vehicle owners who illegally pass a stopped school bus will receive a warning letter. No fines will be issued during this time.
Enforcement begins Oct. 15: After the warning period, drivers who fail to stop when a bus stop-arm is extended and red lights are flashing will receive a $250 civil penalty. This fine does not add points to a driver’s license.
The law: In Virginia, all drivers must stop when a bus has its stop-arm extended. The only exception is when the bus is on the opposite side of a median or barrier.
Why this matters: Passing a stopped school bus is one of the most dangerous driving violations. In the annual National Illegal Passing Survey on March 26, 2025, Chesterfield bus drivers reported 384 violations in a single day. Each violation represents a serious risk to student safety. This program is designed to reduce violations and help keep children safe.
For more information about the use of stop arm cameras on Chesterfield County school buses, visit chesterfield.gov/safeschoolbuses.
Donate your old denim to help Chesterfield schools and community
Turn jeans into jobs while helping your school! Each year in the Denim Drive, Chesterfield County families and community members donate used denim clothing of all kinds. Goodwill tracks the denim donated on behalf of each Chesterfield County school, then awards nine cash prizes to the top three elementary, middle and high school PTAs. The denim is sold in Goodwill stores or recycled.
Last year, the drive collected 2,577 denim items. So clean out your closet and support schools and job training by bringing your denim donations to the Career and Technical Center @ Hull (13900 Hull Street Road) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 18-19.
Show off your sweet ride at annual car show benefiting Career and Technical Center
You’re invited to display your car or truck at a River City Cruizers event benefiting the Career and Technical Center. All years, makes and models are welcome — and that includes child-size power wheel and pedal cars! The registration form and vendor details are online.
Registration by Oct. 24, 2025, costs $20 per car or truck. After that date, registration costs $30 per vehicle. Students in Chesterfield County Public Schools get a 50% discount off registration.
For child-size power wheel and pedal cars, registration by Oct. 24 is required and costs $5.
The event will run 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 2, 2025, at the Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse, 10101 Courthouse Road. The rain date is Nov. 9.
Everyone is welcome to attend the car show, and admission is free for spectators. In addition to seeing 100+ great-looking cars and trucks, visitors can browse vendor tables, play family-friendly games, possibly win prizes and buy lunch from food trucks.