Happy Thanksgiving! CCPS schools and offices closed Nov. 26-28
We are grateful for everyone in our CCPS communities and we wish you a safe and special holiday with friends and family. Schools and offices will be closed Nov. 26-28, 2025, and re-opening on schedule Monday, Dec. 1.
And winter break is just around the corner, beginning Monday, Dec. 22. For more important dates this school year, visit the CCPS calendars page.
CCPS Honored for exemplary partnership with Communities In Schools of Chesterfield
Chesterfield County Public Schools was honored with the annual Dan Domenech Champion for CIS Award at the 2025 Communities In Schools of Virginia Network Summit, recognizing more than 30 years of partnership with Communities In Schools of Chesterfield.
The award celebrates CCPS’ leadership in creating a partnership that has become a model for the Commonwealth, one that demonstrates how schools and communities can work together to ensure every student has the relationships and resources needed to achieve in school and life.
Superintendent Dr. John Murray accepted the award, describing CIS-C as “part of the CCPS family” and highlighting the collaboration’s impact on reducing absenteeism, strengthening academic performance and fostering family engagement.
Today, CIS-C serves nearly 15,000 students across 16 Chesterfield County public schools, helping create thriving, more connected school communities and setting the standard for what an effective, student-centered collaboration can look like across Virginia. To learn more about this partnership, visit www.cisofchesterfield.org.
VIDEO: Monarch Butterfly Project at Falling Creek Elementary
Students are learning life lessons through the elegant Monarch butterfly at Falling Creek Elementary. An outdoor classroom project, in partnership with Chesterfield Master Gardeners and the Virginia Master Naturalists, is giving hands-on experiences to build appreciation for nature and teach the importance of pollinators. Watch this video to see the students’ imaginations take wing.
Hopkins Elementary again achieves Purple Star designation
Hopkins Elementary has been recognized as a 2025-26 Purple Star School for its support of military-connected students and families. This is the third time Hopkins Elementary has achieved this designation.
The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students through programs, staff training and community engagement.
Hopkins Elementary hosts a number of events to support military-connected students.
Each April, Hopkins Elementary celebrates the Month of the Military Child and Purple Up! Day to show widespread support of military-connected students.
Military-connected students are invited to participate in a Military Mornings group that meets throughout the year. This helps children connect with other children in similar circumstances.
The Military Mornings group helps promote schoolwide support for military families. For example, they made placemats for a Veterans Day breakfast, which they and their families attended in 2024. They also created a bulletin board showing where their families have been stationed.
This year, Hopkins also started a student ambassadors program to support students who transition to Hopkins midyear. In each classroom, one student connects with the new student, gives them a tour of the school, plays with them during recess and joins them for lunch.
Since 2018, the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children have awarded 1,083 Purple Star designations. Of those designations, only 132 schools have been recognized three times.
Fall is perfect for pumpkin investigations
First graders at Winterpock Elementary spent a fall day investigating pumpkins through hands-on learning experiences designed to engage their curiosity and scientific thinking. Students worked in teams to weigh and measure their pumpkins, count the seeds and use their five senses to make detailed observations. They also put their scientific investigation skills to the test by predicting and experimenting to see whether pumpkins sink or float. It was a fun and educational way to integrate math, science and critical thinking — all while celebrating the fall season.
Creating a deeper understanding of Jamestown
At Elizabeth Scott Elementary, fourth grade dual language teachers Vivian Rivera-Maysonet and Victoria Schilling and ESL teacher Brandy White guided students through an immersive re-creation of the history of Jamestown.
Classrooms were transformed into King James’ court and a Powhatan site in Virginia. Students rotated through each space, speaking, reading and performing in English and Spanish to demonstrate understanding beyond memorization, using language as a tool for storytelling, perspective, decision making and connection.
Thanks to art teacher Heather Levet, student-created boats and visuals added an artistic dimension that made the experience feel authentic and purposeful. The learning experience ended outside, where students gathered to share squash and cornbread.
See more photos from the project.
Last chance: Register for fall 2025 SOL/W!se academies by Nov. 24, 2025
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, 2025.
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.
Heather Snyder honored with two statewide leadership awards
Heather Snyder, coordinator of the Office of Student Health Services, was recently recognized with two statewide awards from two different groups.
The Virginia Association of School Nurses recognized Snyder as the 2025 Outstanding School Nurse Administrator of the Year, honoring her excellence in nursing administration and coordination of health programs.
The Virginia Nurses Foundation honored her with its Leadership Excellence Award, recognizing her contributions to public health nursing practice and leadership in professional organizations.
Snyder has served as coordinator of the Office of Student Health Services since 2021. In that role, she oversees health services for 64,000+ students in 68 schools and serves as the school system’s liaison to the Chesterfield Health Department and the Virginia Department of Education. See the full story about Heather at oneccps.org.
Schools and teachers achieve W!se financial education awards
Three high schools were recently honored as 2024-25 W!se Blue Star Schools: Cosby High, James River High and Midlothian High. Schools that achieve this national recognition have a significant portion of students demonstrate proficiency in personal finance by achieving high passing rates on the certification test. Students who pass the test earn a certificate of financial literacy.
Additionally, 21 Chesterfield County Public Schools teachers were named W!se Gold Star Teachers. For a teacher to earn this national recognition, at least one of the teacher’s classes must have achieved a 93% passing rate on the W!se financial literacy certification test in the 2024-25 school year.
Congratulations to the economics and personal finance teachers who were named W!se Gold Star Teachers:
Juliana Beatty: James River High
Latizzia Bragg-Bullock: CCPSOnline
Jeffrey Bourassa: James River High
Adam Canning: Bird High
Richard Davis: Thomas Dale High
Gillian Detrick: Cosby High
Jaryd Engberg: Midlothian High
John Fout: Midlothian High
Emmett Hickam: Clover Hill High
Madison Irving: James River High
Paul Kline: Manchester High
Carolyn Manheim: Monacan High
Mary Mayo: Career and Technical Center
Glenne Miller: Cosby High
Logan Miller: Clover Hill High
Brett Ridens: Midlothian High
Dustin Stiltner: Midlothian High
Patrick Sweet: Thomas Dale High
Samantha Uzzle: CCPSOnline
Kristen Wettstein: Meadowbrook High
Nicholas Woznyj: Cosby High
We want subs! Hiring event scheduled for Dec. 4
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 Thursday, Dec. 4, from 4:30-6 p.m. at Carver Middle (3800 Cougar Trail, Chester, VA) for an opportunity to learn more and interview. Advanced registration is recommended but not required.
Four teachers earn R.E.B. awards to pursue worldwide learning opportunities
Remarkable adventures in learning await four Chesterfield County teachers who won 2025 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence and will receive a total of almost $50,000 in professional development grants from the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond and the R.E.B. Foundation. Congratulations to award recipients:
Amber Kuper, Bird High: $15,000 to examine the deep connection between artists from Japan and France and how their artistic exchange has molded art and culture worldwide, both historically and in modern times.
Annwyn Long, Alberta Smith Elementary: $9,700 to explore diverse American quilting traditions and engage students in making a collaborative school quilt that weaves together heritage, math and creativity.
Bryan Sheetz, Thomas Dale High: $14,300 to visit sporting facilities across the United States and attend conferences to learn cultural and best management practices related to turf in various environments.
Jenifer Williams, Enon Elementary: $10,000 to visit cultural and community spaces in Mexico, observe classrooms and explore Mayan sites.
The teachers learned they were heading for once-in-a-lifetime experiences when Chesterfield County Public Schools leaders popped in Nov. 5 during the school day to surprise them with the good news.
Free online therapy available even when schools are closed
Holidays can sometimes disrupt students’ emotional well-being, but mental health support can provide the tools they need to stay resilient and thrive. Free online therapy for Chesterfield students in grades 6-12 continues even when schools are closed for winter break and holidays.
After completing the opt-in process for Hazel Health, families schedule telehealth sessions that occur at home. This connection 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.
In order for students to have access to this resource, parents must opt in via ParentVUE. Parents are encouraged to start the opt-in process no later than Dec. 17, 2025 to ensure their children can access online therapy sessions over winter break.
Use this simple process to get support for your child:
First, sign in to ParentVUE in order to opt in to Hazel Health. After you opt in, Chesterfield County Public Schools will share your information with Hazel Health (usually this happens within one business day). View 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.
Visit the CCPS Mental Health Support page for more information.