Students play a part in bus safety
Oct. 21-25 is National School Bus Safety Week which means it is a good time to share a video reminding students about what to do and what not to do on school buses.
Student holidays
Nov. 4-5 student holidays: At every Chesterfield County school, students will be on holiday Nov. 4-5. Also, parent-teacher conferences will take place Nov. 4.
Complete student calendars for 2024-25 are available on this webpage, including English and Spanish versions of the regular school year calendar and the year-round calendar for Bellwood Elementary.
Thank You, Team Chesterfield Week starts Oct. 28
Chesterfield County Public Schools is launching a weeklong celebration to honor and appreciate all staff members. Thank You, Team Chesterfield Week will take place Oct. 28-Nov. 1, and everyone is encouraged to express their thanks to teachers and school employees.
The goal of Thank You, Team Chesterfield Week is to encourage and uplift all teachers and all employees of Chesterfield County Public Schools. Unlike days or weeks that focus on one group or another, this week of appreciation covers everyone working in Chesterfield County Public Schools: teachers, cafeteria staff, office workers, bus drivers, skilled tradespeople, custodians, technology employees and all other people working in our schools and central offices.
Dates set for 2025 graduations
Keep your eyes on the prize, class of 2025! Here is your graduation schedule:
May 19: Matoaca High at 9 a.m. at Virginia State University and Thomas Dale High at 3 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University
May 20 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Monacan High at 9:30 a.m. and Clover Hill High at 2 p.m.
May 21 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Manchester High at 9:30 a.m. and Cosby High at 2 p.m.
May 22 at Virginia Commonwealth University: James River High at 9:30 a.m. and Bird High at 2 p.m.
May 23 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Meadowbrook High at 9:30 a.m. and Midlothian High at 2 p.m.
May 28 at Career and Technical Center @ Hull: Carver College and Career Academy (time to be determined)
Graduating seniors will receive tickets to share with family and friends. The ceremonies are not open to the public but will be livestreamed.
When to expect first report cards for 2024-25
The first nine weeks of this school year ended Oct. 23 for students at every school except Bellwood Elementary, which follows a year-round calendar. On Nov. 8, printed report cards will be issued to students and digital report cards will be posted to ParentVUE at every school except Bellwood Elementary (where report cards were issued Oct. 16).
Parents can find easy-to-follow 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.
Ernie Longworth named Chief Technology Officer
After a comprehensive search, Ernie Longworth has been named as the next Chief Technology Officer for CCPS. Interim Superintendent Dr. John Murray announced the appointment on Friday, Oct. 18.
“Mr. Longworth has considerable experience in both technology and curriculum leadership roles, and he will be able to leverage both of those areas of expertise to move the Technology Services Division forward.” said Dr. Murray.
Mr. Longworth has been with CCPS for 31 years, beginning his career as an Earth Science and Physics teacher at Thomas Dale High School. He also taught science at Manchester Middle and Matoaca Middle before joining the Technology Services Division as a technology integrator. Mr. Longworth also served as manager of instructional technology and assistant director of curriculum instruction before returning to the Technology Department as assistant director of technology. Most recently, he served as the director of instructional innovation.
Several years ago, Mr. Longworth oversaw the instructional aspects of the 1:1 Chromebook rollout for CCPS which was the largest such rollout in North America at the time. He was instrumental in helping to plan and navigate the hybrid learning environment during COVID, and he has led the Division of Teaching and Learning’s procurement process for some time. Among many accomplishments and across recent job responsibilities, Mr. Longworth has been at the intersection of instruction, technology, and innovation. He began serving as chief technology officer this week.
Meet the on-screen team for CCPS in the Know
This fall, Chesterfield County Public Schools launched a video series called CCPS in the Know. The videos give quick-but-helpful insights into central Virginia’s largest school system.
These Team Chesterfield members regularly share narration duties for CCPS in the Know:
Greg Beechaum, content specialist in the Creative and Media Services Department
Emma Carlson, multimedia specialist in the Creative and Media Services Department
Ken Oxendine, business partnership specialist in the Family and Community Engagement Office
Juan Santacoloma, community partnership specialist in the Family and Community Engagement Office
Cat Tompkins, family partnership specialist in the Family and Community Engagement Office
Is there something about schools that you have a question about? Families and employees can ask questions about Chesterfield County Public Schools using this online form, then get answers via CCPS in the Know videos. Topics so far have included safety, school meals, getting school info and problem solving. The entire — and growing! — playlist is available at bit.ly/knowCCPS.
CCPS in the Know is designed for social media and cellphone viewing, but the videos are also available on YouTube and websites. Captions are provided in English and in Spanish.
Coffee & Conversation offers connections on topics important to families
Coffee & Conversation is an easy way to connect with experts offering advice on topics helpful to parents. The free online gatherings take place 1-2 p.m. See the full schedule and register here for topics of your choice:
Oct. 30 topic is “The College Mindset.”
Nov. 6 topic is “Real Ways to Handle Peer Pressure.”
Nov. 20 topic is “Supporting Your Child’s Self-Esteem.”
Dec. 4 topic is “Managing Screen Time.”
Dec. 11 topic is “Recognizing the Signs of Human Trafficking.”
University of Richmond football and basketball: Discounted tickets for teachers and students
The University of Richmond is offering discounted football tickets to educators and students. Click the links below for more information about discounts for upcoming games.
Football:
Basketball:
Learn how to identify bullying behaviors
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, making this a great time to talk about how to identify bullying and what to do if it happens. Watch this CCPS in the Know video to learn more about bullying prevention.
Do you have a question that you’d like answered via CCPS in the Know? This video series gives quick-but-helpful insights into central Virginia's largest school system. If you have a question for CCPS in the Know, then ask it here. We’ll cover as many topics as we can. You can see all of the videos via this playlist, with captions available in English and in Spanish for each video.
Registration open for SOL and W!se test prep sessions
Registration is open for the SOL Academy and W!se Academy that will meet Dec. 2-12.
SOL Academy is free and open to any student who passed a class but did not pass the corresponding SOL end-of-course test in science, social studies, math, reading or writing.
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 who needs a career and technical education credential to graduate.
This webpage has complete details. Registration closes Nov. 26 for these opportunities:
Specialty center fairs and open houses offer info for eighth grade families
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. Also, two virtual fairs offer online tours of specialty centers and regional high schools.
Complete information about the application process is provided at bit.ly/CCPSoptions. That includes the online application form, links to specialty center websites and everything eighth graders need to know about the process. Here are important dates to keep in mind:
Online application opened Oct. 1 and closes Dec. 6 for specialty centers and governor’s schools.
Online application opens Jan. 6 and closes Feb. 14 for CodeRVA.
Open houses offer on-site visits for eighth grade families. Here are upcoming dates:
1 p.m. Oct. 26 open house for Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies (1000 N. Lombardy St. in Richmond)
6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 open house for Mathematics and Science High School at Clover Hill High (13301 Kelly Green Drive)
6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 open house for Governor’s Health Science Academy at Cosby High (14300 Fox Club Parkway)
6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 open house for Specialty Center for the Arts at Thomas Dale High (3626 W. Hundred Road)
6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 open house for Governor’s Academy for Engineering Studies at Bird High (10301 Courthouse Road)
6:30 p.m. Nov. 21 open house for Center for Mass Communications at Manchester High (12601 Bailey Bridge Road)
6 p.m. Dec. 10 open house for CodeRVA Regional High School (2601 Durham St. in Richmond)
Oct. 31 is deadline to apply for openings on School Board advisory committees
Advisory committees established by the Chesterfield County School Board are one way community members connect with schools. Advisory committee members are appointed from each of the county’s five magisterial districts and include parents, teachers, staff members, students and others interested in helping Chesterfield County Public Schools achieve its vision of creating a better tomorrow. Advisory committee members who are appointed by the School Board must reside in the district they represent. Go to bit.ly/BdCom for information about specific committees (including meeting dates).
The School Health Advisory Board is seeking a Clover Hill District representative to serve a partial term ending June 30, 2027. Apply at bit.ly/BdCom by Oct. 31 if you are interested and eligible.
The Special Education Advisory Committee is seeking a teacher representative to serve a three-year term. Chesterfield County Public Schools teachers can get details and apply by Oct. 31 at bit.ly/BdCom. The teacher representative can work in any magisterial district.
School Board meetings
The Chesterfield County School Board is the governing body of Chesterfield County Public Schools. Notices of upcoming meetings are posted online, along with details about public participation. Work sessions and business meetings are shown live on Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28 and livestreamed here. Meeting videos are curated on the school system’s YouTube channel.
Nov. 9: Career and Technical Center open houses
Both campuses of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center invite families to Nov. 9 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.
Through career and technical education, students explore fields across 17 career clusters. Students can earn industry-recognized certifications and connect with work-based learning experiences. November is College and Career Readiness Month, so it’s a great time to see how career and technical education helps students jump-start their careers.
Families can learn more at the school website and by coming to the open houses:
Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse (10101 Courthouse Road) will have an open house 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 9. Also, ESL students and families are invited to an info session 10-11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse.
Career and Technical Center @ Hull (13900 Hull Street Road) will have an open house noon-2 p.m. Nov. 9.
Nominate outstanding principals for $30,000 award
In partnership with the R.E.B. Foundation, the Community Foundation invites nominations for the R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership. This annual initiative recognizes principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment.
Parents, students, teachers, volunteers and community members are encouraged to nominate outstanding principals before 5 p.m. Nov. 7. Details and the nomination form are here. The awards will recognize one principal each from Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond. Each winner will receive $30,000: a $20,000 grant for school-based initiatives and a $10,000 unrestricted grant.
Recent Chesterfield County honorees include Dr. Randi Smith of Ettrick Elementary, Nina Brink of Gates Elementary and Natalie Bare of Gordon Elementary.
Gifted education referrals for students in grades 2-12
Gifted learners are students who show the potential for advanced thinking and reasoning, creativity and high achievement. So that schools can support, challenge, enrich and engage gifted students, Chesterfield County Public Schools conducts an annual referral process to identify gifted students. Students are evaluated during the current school year for services that will formally begin in the 2025-26 school year.
Parents, teachers, community members, and students can refer a student for gifted evaluation by filling out this online form.
Oct. 25 is the deadline to refer students currently in grades 2-12 in Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Oct. 25 is also the deadline to refer students in grades 2-12 who are not enrolled in Chesterfield County Public Schools but who are residents of Chesterfield County.
For more information, check out the gifted education overview and the gifted education webpage.
Free online tutoring via Stride is available for grades 3-12
Free online tutoring is now available for students in grades 3-12 via Stride Tutoring. To provide this service, Chesterfield County Public Schools is using funds available through the Virginia Department of Education’s ALL In initiative as well as other funding sources. Students can access free tutoring through Stride as long as funds are available.
To access Stride Tutoring, students along with their families should go to the backpack icon on the RapidIdentity dashboard using their CCPS-issued Chromebook. Click the Stride Tutoring icon under the “District Applications” heading. No additional login credentials are required.
Students can reserve time for online video meetings with tutors licensed in subject areas in which they need additional support. Students and families select a tutor based on expertise and availability to fit their schedule, with tutoring available in the evenings and on weekends. Students do not need a teacher referral to schedule a tutoring session. There is no limit to the number of tutoring sessions at this time. Information is available at oneccps.org/tutors.