Chesterfield County Public Schools -

Learn about earning college credits while in high school - Parents and students are invited to learn about the advanced academic programming available in Chesterfield County high schools. The Dec. 6 virtual session is for rising 11th and 12th grade families; the Dec. 14 virtual session is for rising 9th and 10th grade families:

• Families of rising 11th and 12th graders: Are you interested in learning about college readiness, advanced academics and opportunities your student has to earn college credit in high school? Rising juniors, seniors and their families are invited to a virtual information session at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 to learn about advanced academic course offerings, talk about expectations for participation in rigorous courses and discuss how these can benefit students in their college experience. Also, Brightpoint Community College will discuss dual enrollment courses. Register here for the Dec. 6 session. The meeting link will be emailed to you before the event.
• Families of rising 9th and 10th graders: Are you interested in learning about college course readiness and advanced academics? Rising 9th and 10th graders and their families are invited to a virtual information session at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 to learn about pathways of rigorous, college-level courses that will count for high school graduation while simultaneously earning college credit. Also, Brightpoint Community College will discuss dual enrollment courses. Register here for the Dec. 14 session. The meeting link will be emailed to you before the event.

Special education information for parents

• Survey due Dec. 15: Parents of school-age children and youth with disabilities who receive special education services are asked to complete the Virginia Department of Education annual parent involvement survey. The survey is open through Dec. 15. Please complete one survey for each of your children who received special education services in the 2022-23 school year. If you have questions, please email Chiquita Seaborne or call 804-225-3898.
• Updated guide to special education: Available now from the Virginia Department of Education is the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. The department developed this new guide to help those involved in special education, whether as families, teachers, school administrators, advocates or students. Meeting the needs of children with disabilities requires an understanding of rights and responsibilities, which include the child’s rights and the school’s responsibilities to meet their needs. This guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required during each step of that process. The guide is currently available in English; translations will soon be available in Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Urdu and Vietnamese.
• Website: Lots of helpful information is available on the special education for families webpage of the Virginia Department of Education.

Music teachers honored for accomplishments - Three teachers from Chesterfield County Public Schools won big awards in November from the Virginia Music Educators Association.

Jenny Ryan, Monacan High band director, received the Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award, which is given to only one Virginia teacher each year. With 30 years of experience as a band director, she supports music education by hosting regional events and serving as secretary for the Virginia Music Educators Association.

Cathern Hazelwood, James River High choral director, received the VCU Outstanding Music Education Young Alumni Award. A graduate of VCU, she taught elementary music for two years before moving to James River High three years ago.

David Yohe, Midlothian Middle orchestra teacher, received the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the VCU music education faculty. A two-time VCU graduate and a 31-year teacher in Chesterfield County Public Schools, he continually supports the university by accepting practicum and student teachers and serving as a mentor to new educators.

Families invited to free showing of “Screenagers Under the Influence” - Chesterfield County Public Schools invites parents and teens to a free showing of "Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs and Alcohol in the Digital Age" at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at CTC@Hull (13900 Hull Street Road). A panel discussion with health specialists will follow the screening. Get more information and reserve your free tickets here. "Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs and Alcohol in the Digital Age" examines the impact of technology on teens' decision-making about vaping, drugs and alcohol. Exploring the latest research and learning more about the personal experiences of teens and families, the film highlights the changing landscape of the substances, offering solutions for how to best empower teens as they face decisions about what they will and will not be influenced by. The film debunks myths and depicts strategies parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits and create healthy home environments. The film also includes many ways young people are using their wisdom and strength to help each other and themselves through this complicated terrain around substance use. https://tinyurl.com/ysgpmwv7

Register for upcoming Coffee & Conversations, scheduled through January. The next of these virtual gatherings is titled “Helping Your Child With Self-Regulation” and will take place 1-2 p.m. Dec. 6. Coffee & Conversation is hosted by the Chesterfield County Public Schools Office of Family and Community Engagement. https://tinyurl.com/yk8lorch

Maegan Hardy, choral director at Bailey Bridge Middle, received the Nurture Award from the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance. Sponsored by Atlantic Union Bank, the award recognizes a performing arts educator who nurtures artists of tomorrow through exemplary K-12 arts instruction. In her 12th year of teaching in Chesterfield County Public Schools after graduating from VCU, Hardy grew up in Chesterfield County and is a James River High graduate. She said becoming a chorus teacher has been her dream since middle school because of the influence of her middle school chorus teacher.

Keep your eyes on the prize, class of 2024! Here is your graduation schedule: May 20: Matoaca High at 9 a.m. at Virginia State University and Thomas Dale High at 3 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University May 21 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Cosby High at 9:30 a.m. and Manchester High at 2 p.m. May 22 at Virginia Commonwealth University: James River High at 9:30 a.m. and Midlothian High at 2 p.m. May 23 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Clover Hill High at 9:30 a.m. and Monacan High at 2 p.m. May 24 at Virginia Commonwealth University: Meadowbrook High at 9:30 a.m. and Bird High at 2 p.m. May 28 at Career and Technical Center @ Hull: Carver College and Career Academy at 3 p.m. Graduating seniors will receive tickets to share with family and friends. The ceremonies are not open to the public but will be livestreamed.

Oh, the places they’ll go! - Four Chesterfield County teachers are 2023 winners of R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. Each will receive $15,000 for unique professional development experiences. https://youtu.be/7bAVTIE8dPk

You’re invited to use your creativity to brighten a new headquarters being built for Chesterfield County Public Schools. Construction is underway on the office building (located on Midlothian Turnpike and named Springline at District 60) that is expected to open in 2025. It’s important that the headquarters show that students are at the center of Chesterfield County Public Schools, and incorporating art by our creative and talented student artists will make that clear. All students in Chesterfield County Public Schools (from prekindergarten through 12th grade) are encouraged to create an original work of visual art in a medium of their choice that expresses the contest theme of “Better Together.” Designs will be judged on the creative use and communication of the theme. Only two-dimensional works, please. Entries are due by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2024. One overall winner from each level (elementary, middle and high) will be chosen and announced in February. Each winning entry, along with many of the works submitted for this contest, will be used as inspiration and reproduced within the overall interior design of the school system’s new headquarters. There are two ways to submit artwork: • Option 1: Use this online form to submit a photo of the artwork. • Option 2: Submit the original artwork and this permission form to your school’s main office.

About 1,200 students and families explored possibilities at the CCPS college and career fair. More than 100 colleges were represented, and — for the first time — work-based learning and local businesses also participated.

Worldwide adventures in learning await four Chesterfield County teachers who were today named 2023 winners of R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence. Each will receive $15,000 for unique professional development experiences. A partnership between the Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation, the awards annually recognize outstanding public school teachers in central Virginia. “The R.E.B. awards make a big difference each year. While rewarding our extraordinary teachers for their exceptional work, the grants also create even more remarkable learning environments in our classrooms,” said Dr. Mervin B. Daugherty, superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools. “We are so appreciative of the parents, colleagues and community partners who nominated our teachers because they saw their dedication and passion for engaging and immersing their students in learning.” Here are the winners in Chesterfield County Public Schools: • Mary Elise Chonko, baking and pastry arts teacher at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, won $15,000 to study the future of pastry in Asia, gaining firsthand experience of how Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia dominate the world’s pastry scene. • Lily Hungarland, social studies teacher at Carver Middle, won $15,000 to explore cultural identity, unity and reconstruction after World War II in Japan and Germany. • Peter Schumacher, English teacher at James River High, won $15,000 to elevate students’ exposure to courage during the Civil Rights Movement by visiting landmarks, museums and people across eight states. • Ramón Zabala, Spanish and French teacher at Matoaca High, won $15,000 to explore Hispanic heritage by experiencing history, food and culture in Caribbean and South American countries. In addition to the four teachers selected as R.E.B. winners, five Chesterfield County Public Schools teachers were recognized as finalists and will receive $1,000 grants in recognition of their achievements in the classroom: Danielle Rioux of Reams Road Elementary; Kristin Thrower of Meadowbrook High; Kristen Hepburn of Greenfield Elementary; Sherry Nyquist of Wells Elementary; and Kellilyn Jones of Clover Hill High.

Chesterfield County Public Schools celebrated Teachers of the Year from every school during a Gold Star Gala. Watch this video to get to know our top Teacher of the Year: Kate Doctor of Monacan High. Here’s a digital version of the program for the Gold Star Gala, so you can see each school’s Teacher of the Year for 2023. (Chesterfield schools will soon be selecting Teachers of the Year for 2024.)

The annual CCPS college fair is now a college and career fair. Families with students in grades 6-12 are invited to register here for the free event scheduled 6-8 p.m. Nov. 2 at Manchester High School (12601 Bailey Bridge Road). Attendees can connect with colleges (100+ will be represented), explore work-based learning and access community resources ready to support students as they plan for successful futures. This flyer offers details. Exploring potential paths to college and career is part of goal 1 of the school system’s strategic plan: All students and staff will embody an infinite learner mindset.