Remembering Jim Holland
The Chesterfield County School Board and Superintendent John Murray express their grief at the passing of Board of Supervisors member, friend, Chesterfield giant and all-around wonderful human being James “Jim” Holland, who died Tuesday. His death leaves a rip in the fabric of our community that will not easily be mended.
Each time Jim Holland spoke at an event, he would start with, “It’s a great day in the Dale District!” Thanks to him, there were many great days in the Dale District and across Chesterfield County.
Even before he was elected to the Board of Supervisors, Jim was a strong supporter of Chesterfield County Public Schools. He lived his belief in the power of public education by volunteering in PTAs and other school groups. During almost two decades on the Board of Supervisors, Jim consistently spoke up for our community’s students, teachers and schools to make sure Chesterfield’s learning environments and opportunities are second to none.
We will deeply miss Jim’s friendly outlook, approachable personality and ability to bring people together to resolve problems. Please join us in keeping Jim’s wife, children, family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.
Chesterfield celebrates Teachers of the Year at Gold Star Gala
Chesterfield County Public Schools honored Teachers of the Year from every school at a Gold Star Gala on Oct. 15.
The top honoree was Davis Elementary reading specialist Maria Meyers who is the 2025 Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools. She has received multiple awards throughout her career but considers her top accomplishment to be "the students that can now read ... and the teachers that can now effectively and efficiently teach their students to read because of the guidance [I have] been able to provide."
Other top honorees were Carly Alford, who teaches English as a second language at Providence Middle and is the CCPS Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Victoria Fitzgerald who is the visual arts teacher at Meadowbrook High and is the CCPS High School Teacher of the Year.
In an unusual situation, a wife and husband were named 2025 Teachers of the Year for their schools: Nancy Sheetz for Bensley Elementary and Bryan Sheetz for Thomas Dale High.
See the full list of our Teachers of the Year from every school.
Registration now open for fall 2025 SOL/W!se academies
Registration is now open for our fall 2025 sessions of the SOL/W!se academies. Fall sessions will take place Mondays through Thursdays from Dec. 1-4 and Dec. 8-11 at Clover Hill High. The deadline to register for fall is Nov. 24.
SOL Academy is free and open to any student who passed a class in science, social studies, math, reading or writing but did not pass the end-of-course SOL test.
W!se Academy is free and open to any student who passed the economics and personal finance class but did not pass the W!se financial literacy test and needs a career and technical education credential to graduate.
Learn more about the SOL/W!se academies and register to attend online.
Academies are offered in the fall and spring. Students who have questions about their diploma status should contact their school counselor. Learn more about the academies. For questions, email solacademy@ccpsnet.net.
Eighth graders invited to open houses at specialty centers and regional schools
Open houses offer an in-depth look at specialty centers and regional schools. A complete calendar of open houses is available online. Here are the ones scheduled in the next few days:
6:30 p.m. Oct. 20: Humanities Specialty Center at Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive)
6:30 p.m. Oct. 21: Governorʼs Health Science Academy at Cosby High (14300 Fox Club Parkway)
6:30 p.m. Oct. 23: Center for Innovative Technology at Matoaca High (17700 Longhouse Lane)
1 p.m. Oct. 25: Maggie L. Walker Governorʼs School for Government and International Studies (1000 N. Lombardy St. in Richmond)
Full details about high school options are online at bit.ly/CCPSoptions. That includes the online application form, links to specialty center websites and more.
The online application opened Oct. 1 and closes Dec. 5 for specialty centers and governor’s schools. The online application opens Jan. 5 and closes Feb. 20 for CodeRVA.
CCPS in the Know: The Chesterfield Schools mobile app
This CCPS in the Know video focuses on… information from CCPS! Watch to find out about the Chesterfield Schools app that makes it easier than ever to stay up-to-date with news from Chesterfield County Public Schools. Find out what’s for lunch, see a calendar of events, read news and more.
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.
Explore career pathways at Nov. 8 Career and Technical Center open houses
Both campuses of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center invite families and students to Nov. 8 open houses to learn about engaging, up-to-date programs available to high school students. Flyers provide details in English, in Spanish and in Arabic.
In career and technical education, students explore career fields ranging from health professions to technology to skilled trades to logistics and more. In dozens of career pathways, students can earn industry-recognized certifications and connect with work-based learning experiences. Learn more on the Career and Technical Center website and by going to this year’s open houses:
Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse (10101 Courthouse Road) will have an open house 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 8. These programs are available at CTC@Courthouse: agriculture, automotive technology, baking and pastry arts, carpentry, collision repair technology, computer networking, computer systems technology, cosmetology, culinary arts, dental careers, early childhood education, electricity, HVAC, medical administration, medical assistant, nurse aide, pharmacy technician, precision machining technology, radiologic technology, teachers for tomorrow and veterinary science.
Career and Technical Center @ Hull (13900 Hull Street Road) will have an open house noon-2 p.m. Nov. 8. These programs are available at CTC@Hull: advanced biotechnology, advanced engineering, commercial photography, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, digital arts, emergency telecommunications, mechatronics and robotics, nail technician, physical and occupational therapy, and veterinary science.
Career and Technical Center applications for 2026-27 open at 7 a.m. Nov. 1 and close at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 18. Details about the application process, including a link to the online application portal, are available here. Email Karen Golden at karenm_golden@ccpsnet.net if you have questions.
Enforcement begins for school bus stop-arm camera violations
Chesterfield County Public Schools, in partnership with the Chesterfield County Police Department and BusPatrol, has launched a new school bus safety program. Beginning Oct. 15, 2025, motorists who fail to stop when a bus’s stop-arm is extended and red lights are flashing will receive a $250 civil penalty.
Over the past month, a 30-day warning period allowed vehicle owners who violated the law to receive a letter without a fine. With the grace period now over, enforcement is active on Chesterfield County school buses equipped with stop-arm safety cameras.
The stop-arm cameras automatically capture any vehicle that drives past a stopped bus with flashing red lights. Each incident is reviewed by trained county staff before a notice is issued. The fine does not add points to a driver’s license but serves as an important deterrent to help protect students at bus stops.
In Virginia, all drivers must stop when a school bus’s stop-arm is extended unless they are traveling in the opposite direction on a divided roadway separated by a median or barrier.
Passing a stopped school bus is among the most dangerous driving violations. During the warning period in Chesterfield County, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 8, 2025, more than 1,400 violations were recorded.
The stop-arm camera enforcement program is designed to reduce these violations and help keep children safe as they travel to and from school. For more information about the use of stop-arm cameras on Chesterfield County school buses, visit the Chesterfield County government website.
Innovative initiative supports Ettrick Elementary families
Ettrick Elementary is the site of an innovative pilot program designed to boost family engagement. 2-Gen was created by VCU’s Center for Teacher Leadership and is backed by a $30,000 grant from Google in partnership with the Chesterfield Education Foundation. The initiative provides adult education to kindergarten parents to improve economic stability, civic involvement and self-sufficiency.
2-Gen support includes a personalized education plan and monthly seminars focused on durable skills, such as financial literacy, career development and well-being. Kindergarten students will engage in quarterly workshops alongside their parent, teacher and a career coach. This two-generation approach fosters a culture of learning and collaboration within families in order to improve long-term outcomes for both generations.
This week: Coffee & Conversation discusses supporting children with disabilities
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. 22, for a down-to-earth conversation about staying calm, keeping perspective, and working as a team with your child’s school. Learn simple strategies to stay solution-focused and show yourself a little grace along the way. Special guest is Amy Bartilotti, Coordinator for the CCPS Office of Family and Community Engagement. Sign up to attend here.
Missed a conversation? Visit our Programs for Families page to watch past sessions.
Highlights from the Oct. 14 School Board meeting
The Chesterfield County School Board held its regular meeting on Oct. 14. The meeting included presentations from advisory committees and our community engagement team. There were also recognitions for outstanding students, schools, partners, staff members and our Mirror Me program.
Check out all the highlights from the Oct. 14, 2025, board meeting.
Return your unused medicine at Medication Take Back Day event
Is your cabinet filled with unused or expired medications? Dispose of them safely at the Medication Take Back Day event. The event will be 10 a.m.-2p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Wegmans (12501 Stone Village Way, Midlothian, VA). No needles will be accepted.
These events help prevent drug abuse and protect the environment. Learn more about medication take-back programs.
Report card schedules for the 2025-26 school year
Chesterfield County Public Schools issues report cards to K-12 students at the end of each of the four nine-week grading periods. Digital versions will be posted to ParentVUE. Students will receive report cards for the 2025-26 school year on these dates:
Traditional Calendar
Quarter 1: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 (printed and digital)
Quarter 2: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (printed and digital)
Quarter 3: Friday, April 10, 2026 (printed and digital)
Quarter 4: Thursday, June 4, 2026 (digital only)
Bellwood Year-Round Calendar
Quarter 1: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (printed and digital)
Quarter 2: Friday, Jan. 16 2026 (printed and digital)
Quarter 3: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (printed and digital)
Quarter 4: Friday, June 5, 2026 (digital only)
Pre-K classrooms will provide progress reports in November, February, and May.
For the final quarter, report cards will only be posted to ParentVUE and will not be printed and mailed to homes. Parents who want a paper report card have the option of coming to school to have the report card printed out.
Using ParentVUE: Parents can find directions for accessing ParentVUE online. ParentVUE is also available as a free app from the App Store and Google Play. Parents who do not have access to ParentVUE should contact their child’s school to get login information.
Donate your old denim to help Chesterfield schools and community Oct. 18-19
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.
Oct. 22 College and Career Fair makes it easy to explore the future
Chesterfield County Public Schools families with students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to attend the annual College and Career Fair. Representatives of 100+ colleges, work-based learning partners and community resources will be gathered into one place for your convenience:
6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
Thomas Dale High main campus
3626 W. Hundred Road
The College and Career Fair is free, but families should go to strivefair.com to register and receive a barcode that will make it easy to connect with their top colleges and learn more about colleges they may be less familiar with.
Additionally, business partners and work-based learning students will be at the College and Career Fair to share information about the variety of ways Chesterfield County students can explore their areas of interest.
Nominate outstanding principals before Nov. 6
Let’s support our excellent principals by nominating them for the prestigious R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership.
Nominations can come from parents, students, teachers, volunteers and community members. The deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 6. Learn more and make your nomination for the R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership at the Community Foundation website.
Public school principals from Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond are eligible for the awards, which come with a $10,000 cash grant for the principal and an additional $20,000 for the principal’s school. Recent Chesterfield County honorees include Dr. Nicholas Olson of Salem Church Middle, Dr. Randi Smith of Ettrick Elementary, Nina Brink of Gates Elementary and Natalie Bare of Gordon Elementary.