Reminder: Oct. 2 is a holiday
All CCPS schools and offices will be closed Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, and will reopen Friday, Oct. 3.
For our complete calendar and other important dates, visit our calendars page.
Bears running through the woods
Bears took over the Pocahontas State Park trails over the weekend. But not to worry: They were the Bears of Bailey Bridge Middle School out to enjoy their annual Den Dash 5K. The school’s PTSA organizes the fun run, which is always a good time.
VIDEO: Blasting off at Bellwood Elementary
Students at Bellwood took their science classroom to outer space through engaging projects exploring the wonders beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Check out our latest video to see what far-out activities they did, and which special guest astronaut they got to meet along the way!
This week: Coffee & Conversation shares how to build resilience in kids
Parenting is tough and children don’t come with an owner's manual. So, grab a cup of coffee and get some friendly support each week with Coffee & Conversation. We’ll have a topical discussion with community experts to help understand and foster success in your students.
Join us online at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 for a workshop about practical family-friendly ways to help children build grit, problem-solving skills, and confidence to keep going when things don’t come easily. Special guest is Valerie Fowlkes from Chesterfield Prevention Services. Sign up here to attend.
Missed a conversation? Visit our Programs for Families page to watch past sessions.
Free telehealth sessions available to support mental health for students in grades 6-12
To support students and families, Chesterfield County Public Schools offers a connection to free mental health telehealth services for students in grades 6-12. Offered through Hazel Health, the telehealth program is free for students in grades 6-12 whose parents opt in to the opportunity. Participation is optional and requires parent/guardian consent via ParentVUE.
This resource can help students with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, social skills, bullying, and more. It is important to note that Hazel Health does not replace emergency services.
Families are able to schedule telehealth sessions that occur at home on weekdays during the afternoon and early evening. Sessions will not take place at school.
How can parents schedule telehealth appointments for their child?
This simple process is how to get telehealth support for your child:
First, sign in to ParentVUE in order to opt in to Hazel Health. After you opt in, then Chesterfield County Public Schools will share your information with Hazel Health (usually this happens within one business day). Here are instructions in English and Spanish to use ParentVUE to opt in.
Next, go to this Hazel Health page to create an account and complete the online consent.
Finally, schedule an enrollment call and your child’s first appointment with Hazel Health.
For more information, visit oneccps.org/mental-health-support.
Students can apply to be a General Assembly page
Each year during the Virginia General Assembly session, 13- and 14-year-olds have the opportunity to serve as pages and get an in-depth look at the legislative branch of government. Oct. 1, 2025 is the deadline to apply to be a Senate page; Oct. 17 is the deadline to apply to be a House of Delegates page. Complete details are available here for the 2026 page programs.
Hiring event for substitute teachers scheduled for Oct. 7
Do you want a meaningful job with a flexible schedule so you can work when you choose? Become a substitute teacher! Chesterfield County Public Schools pays substitute teachers $136 on regular days and $203 on Fridays and high-demand days.
Attend our substitute teacher hiring event Oct. 7, from 4:30-6 p.m. at Midlothian High School (401 Charter Colony Pkwy, Midlothian, VA) for an opportunity to learn more and interview. Advanced registration is recommended but not required.
CCPS Advisory Committee Meetings for October 2025
CCPS has seven volunteer-driven advisory committees to the School Board that meet throughout the year to help Chesterfield County Public Schools achieve its vision of creating a better tomorrow. Learn more and see the complete meeting schedule on our website.
These committees are planned to meet this October:
Special Education Advisory Committee
5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025
Community Room at the North Courthouse Road Library - Chesterfield Public Library
325 Courthouse Road, Richmond, VA 23226
Citizens Budget Advisory Committee
8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025
Conference Room #1205 at the School Administration Offices
7053 Celebration Park Avenue, Suite 100, N. Chesterfield, VA 23225
Gifted Education Advisory Committee
5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025
VCU Room (Conference Room #B151) at the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center@Hull
13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112
School Health Advisory Board
6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, 2025
Conference Room D110 at the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center @ Hull
13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112
Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
VCU Room (Conference Room #B151) at the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center@Hull
13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112
Specialty centers and regional schools: It's time for eighth graders to consider 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)
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 specialty centers are online at bit.ly/CCPSoptions. Find information about regional schools here. The online application form, details about open houses, links to specialty center websites and may be found on the pages linked above. 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.
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 10 CCPS high 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.
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.”
Notice and opportunity for public comment
What are your thoughts about police department partnership? Chesterfield County Public Schools and the Chesterfield County Police Department have a close connection, working as partners to protect students and school staff members. A memorandum of understanding, which is updated regularly, provides a framework for the partnership. The Chesterfield County School Board invites public comment on an updated memorandum of understanding. Email comments to ccpsinfo@ccpsnet.net before Oct. 2.