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County libraries will forgive fines Sept. 12-16
Are fines keeping you from fully accessing everything the Chesterfield Public Library has to offer? Read Away Your Fines! Stop by any Chesterfield County library Sept. 12-16, read for 30 minutes and tell a staff member about what you read. It’s that simple, so don't let fines hold you back any longer. This opportunity is open to anyone with an overdue fine with the Chesterfield Public Library. Find your nearest location via this webpage.
Students: Your presence matters
This is Attendance Awareness Month, and we want students to know that their presence matters. When students are in school, they help create a vibrant and complete learning environment. Chesterfield County Public Schools is here to support families and ensure every student is able to show up ready to learn in class.
Registration is open for free PSAT and SAT prep sessions
The PSAT Academy is free and open to Chesterfield County Public Schools high school students who want to prepare for the PSAT exam that high schools administer for free each October. Register here for the Sept. 23-26 PSAT Academy. Registration closes Sept. 18.
The SAT Academy is free and available to Chesterfield County Public Schools high school students who want to prepare for college entrance exams. While there is no cost for the academy, students must purchase this study guide from the store or online site of their choice: Princeton Review Digital SAT Premium Prep, 2025 (ISBN 9780593517529). Register here for the Sept. 23-26 SAT Academy. Registration closes Sept. 18.
Summer graduation
Almost 100 Chesterfield County Public Schools students who fulfilled high school diploma requirements this summer will graduate during a 6 p.m. ceremony on July 25. The graduation will be livestreamed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/vK_cmx-bvjM?si=InI2UpyGdIFonD_y.
Partnership with police department
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.
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.
- To read the draft updated memorandum, click this link or copy the url and paste it into your browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LPF2X_l5E4aZPXf7CYW3NLk2W0-XVZdD/view
- Email comments to ccpsinfo@ccpsnet.net before Aug. 4.
You’re the tops!
Congratulations to CCPS Performing Arts Teachers of the Year:
Congratulations to CCPS Performing Arts Teachers of the Year:
- Performing Arts Leadership Award: Rob Ellis, Cosby High theater teacher and department chair for the fine and performing arts
- Performing Arts Novice Teacher Award: John Donnell, first-year teacher of band and music technology at James River High
- Performing Arts Unsung Hero Award: Emily Oyan, Bird High band teacher
- Performing Arts Teachers of the Year (two winners): Connor Thompson, guitar teacher at Elizabeth Davis Middle; and Joanna Chocklett, dance teacher at Thomas Dale High
School bus road-e-o
CCPS bus drivers gathered June 3 for a road-e-o, a friendly competition to demonstrate skills needed to safely transport students. The road-e-o included spotting safety problems and navigating an obstacle course. Some school system leaders also tried driving a bus (accompanied by an experienced trainer). School Board Chair Dot Heffron, Chief of Operations Josh Davis and Transportation Director Calvin Frye only knocked over a few cones on the obstacle course!
CCPS bus drivers gathered June 3 for a road-e-o, a friendly competition to demonstrate skills needed to safely transport students. The road-e-o included spotting safety problems and navigating an obstacle course. Some school system leaders also tried driving a bus (accompanied by an experienced trainer). School Board Chair Dot Heffron, Chief of Operations Josh Davis and Transportation Director Calvin Frye only knocked over a few cones on the obstacle course!
Retrieve your student’s medication June 3-4
Parents and guardians must pick up their children’s medications from the school clinic, but the medications must be available for student use through the last day of school on May 31. All remaining student medications, including over-the-counter medications, may be picked up from the school clinic during normal school hours June 3-4.
After 4 p.m. June 4, all leftover medications will be packed and turned over to the Chesterfield County Police Department for disposal. Once medications are packed for police collection, they cannot be retrieved so it is important for parents to pick up medications on time. Late pickups are not permitted, and medications cannot be stored at the school during the summer.
All medications must be picked up even if your student will attend summer school. At the beginning of summer school, parents will need to provide children’s medication to the summer school coordinator at your child’s summer site. Please contact your child’s school nurse to request a copy of the medication order for all medications being administered during summer school.
Parents and guardians must pick up their children’s medications from the school clinic, but the medications must be available for student use through the last day of school on May 31. All remaining student medications, including over-the-counter medications, may be picked up from the school clinic during normal school hours June 3-4.
After 4 p.m. June 4, all leftover medications will be packed and turned over to the Chesterfield County Police Department for disposal. Once medications are packed for police collection, they cannot be retrieved so it is important for parents to pick up medications on time. Late pickups are not permitted, and medications cannot be stored at the school during the summer.
All medications must be picked up even if your student will attend summer school. At the beginning of summer school, parents will need to provide children’s medication to the summer school coordinator at your child’s summer site. Please contact your child’s school nurse to request a copy of the medication order for all medications being administered during summer school.
El Librotazo, the big book party, is planned for July 9: During this event, each child in attendance from birth through high school will select 3 to 5 books to keep to add to their home libraries. Additionally, attendees will enjoy activities, cultural performances, a mobile exhibit from the Children’s Museum of Richmond, music, food and more. This free event will be held Tuesday, July 9 from 5-8:30 p.m. at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds. Chesterfield County Public Schools will host the event in partnership with the Chesterfield Education Foundation and Dominion Energy.
Prom closet seeks community donations
This video shows how Monacan High is helping trim the cost of prom by offering free dresses, suits and accessories for students. As a service learning project, students run the Chiefs Closet like a boutique — complete with attractive displays, business communications and social media promotions. Community donations to the prom closet are welcome and can be left in the front office of Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive). This year’s prom is May 11. If you have questions, please email teacher meredith_shuman@ccpsnet.net.
This video shows how Monacan High is helping trim the cost of prom by offering free dresses, suits and accessories for students. As a service learning project, students run the Chiefs Closet like a boutique — complete with attractive displays, business communications and social media promotions. Community donations to the prom closet are welcome and can be left in the front office of Monacan High (11501 Smoketree Drive). This year’s prom is May 11. If you have questions, please email teacher meredith_shuman@ccpsnet.net.
Spring Into Wellness on April 29
Families are invited to a mental health resource fair organized by Chesterfield County Public Schools. Spring Into Wellness will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. April 29 at CTC@Hull (13900 Hull Street Road). Registration is required for this free event. In addition to more than 30 wellness vendors, speakers will cover these topics: Motivation and goal setting for tweens and teens; Understanding your child’s nature for happier parenting; and College prep and student wellness. Register at https://bit.ly/48EpdGM.
Families are invited to a mental health resource fair organized by Chesterfield County Public Schools. Spring Into Wellness will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. April 29 at CTC@Hull (13900 Hull Street Road). Registration is required for this free event. In addition to more than 30 wellness vendors, speakers will cover these topics: Motivation and goal setting for tweens and teens; Understanding your child’s nature for happier parenting; and College prep and student wellness. Register at https://bit.ly/48EpdGM.
A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on intellectual disabilities. The Family and Community Engagement Office of Chesterfield County Public Schools will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 28, and a representative of Chesterfield Mental Health will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.
Neighborly connection - FIRST Robotics and engineering students from Bird High mentored students at Gates Elementary; the schools are located next to each other. In the new Lego lab at Gates Elementary, the older students helped the younger students learn to code robots and prepare for FIRST Lego League competition. Everyone’s commitment and hard work paid off when the Gates Elementary team (the RoboStars) brought home two trophies from a local tournament: first place for robot performance and first place for innovation skit.
CCPSOnline classes are open to students in grades 9-12. With learning available 24/7 in a no-bells, no-limits virtual environment, the flexibility of CCPSOnline classes can help high school students create the schedule they want. Act now to take advantage of this Chesterfield County Public Schools opportunity:
- CCPSOnline registration for summer 2024 and for the 2024-25 school year is open through April 28, and the website offers details including registration form.
- Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about CCPSOnline at 6:30 p.m. March 4; click this link to join the discussion.
Parents can create list of books their student cannot check out
Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that parents and guardians have transparency about school library books.
The district recently added a feature to the online catalog for school libraries that offers another avenue for families to be involved in what their children read. Starting now, parents can create a list of books that their student will not be allowed to check out. (This new feature is in addition to existing opportunities for parents that provide online access to their student’s school library accounts and the ability to opt in to receive an email when their student checks out a book.)
Follow these steps to take advantage of this new method of overseeing what your child can check out from the school library:
Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that parents and guardians have transparency about school library books.
The district recently added a feature to the online catalog for school libraries that offers another avenue for families to be involved in what their children read. Starting now, parents can create a list of books that their student will not be allowed to check out. (This new feature is in addition to existing opportunities for parents that provide online access to their student’s school library accounts and the ability to opt in to receive an email when their student checks out a book.)
Follow these steps to take advantage of this new method of overseeing what your child can check out from the school library:
- Look up your public access catalog login ID by going to ParentVUE using a web browser on a computer or mobile device (not using the mobile app). In ParentVUE, go to My Account to find Adult ID#. (Contact your school if you need help accessing your ParentVUE account.) Your public access catalog login ID is your ParentVUE adult ID number with G added to the front. For example, if your ParentVUE adult ID number is 123456, then G123456 is your public access catalog ID.
- Select your child’s campus on the school system’s library catalog page.
- Click My Account on the left side of the screen.
- You will be prompted for a library card number and PIN. Your library card number is your ParentVUE ID number with G added to the front. Your PIN is the last four digits of your ParentVUE ID number.
- Add books you do not want your student to be able to check out to a prohibited resource list. This document provides details about how to build a prohibited resource list for your student.
Kathryn Clarke
High School Teacher of the Year
Kathryn “Katy” Clarke, program coordinator for the Governor’s Academy for Engineering Studies and technology education teacher at Bird High, is the High School Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools. She began her career at Bird High in 2009, left for five years to teach at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, then returned in 2021 to Bird High.
Clarke grew up in Chesterfield County and attended Ecoff Elementary, Salem Church Middle and Bird High. Fun fact: Adrienne Blanton, now principal at Bird High, was her math teacher and cheerleading coach at Salem Church Middle. Clarke earned her bachelor’s degree from Longwood University.
Bird High science teacher Patricia Raybould, who taught Clarke when she was a high school student and is now a colleague, said this: “For as long as I have known Katy, she has been passionate about education and working with young people. Even as a high school student, Katy took on leadership positions. … As Director of the Governor’s Academy, she has fostered a similar environment within the faculty that teaches the engineering students. However, her passion for the student experience doesn’t stop with the students in our program. Katy has volunteered as a member of the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) committee to help ALL students at Bird have a positive experience in our building and learn the skills they will need as adults. … Katy has the ability to find joy in almost every situation.”
High School Teacher of the Year
Kathryn “Katy” Clarke, program coordinator for the Governor’s Academy for Engineering Studies and technology education teacher at Bird High, is the High School Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools. She began her career at Bird High in 2009, left for five years to teach at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, then returned in 2021 to Bird High.
Clarke grew up in Chesterfield County and attended Ecoff Elementary, Salem Church Middle and Bird High. Fun fact: Adrienne Blanton, now principal at Bird High, was her math teacher and cheerleading coach at Salem Church Middle. Clarke earned her bachelor’s degree from Longwood University.
Bird High science teacher Patricia Raybould, who taught Clarke when she was a high school student and is now a colleague, said this: “For as long as I have known Katy, she has been passionate about education and working with young people. Even as a high school student, Katy took on leadership positions. … As Director of the Governor’s Academy, she has fostered a similar environment within the faculty that teaches the engineering students. However, her passion for the student experience doesn’t stop with the students in our program. Katy has volunteered as a member of the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) committee to help ALL students at Bird have a positive experience in our building and learn the skills they will need as adults. … Katy has the ability to find joy in almost every situation.”
ADHD is topic of Feb. 7 Coffee & Conversation
A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on ADHD. The CCPS Office of Family and Community Engagement will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 7, and Melissa Ackley of Chesterfield Mental Health Prevention Services will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.
A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on ADHD. The CCPS Office of Family and Community Engagement will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 7, and Melissa Ackley of Chesterfield Mental Health Prevention Services will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.
Marching toward winter break - Superintendent Merv Daugherty’s winter break video may be the best thing you see today. Huge shoutout to Clover Hill High’s Marching Cavaliers and band director Brianna Gatch!
- Winter break for students and teachers will begin Dec. 22 and continue through Jan. 5.
- School offices and school system buildings will remain open to the public Dec. 22, Dec. 27-29 and Jan. 2-5.
Original oratory winners - Congratulations to Chesterfield speech and debate teams that brought home trophies from a national tournament hosted by George Mason University in December:
- Cosby High student Cebastian B. (standing on left in back row) won first place and the Eagle Trophy in original oratory. Jaclyn Clark, NBCT, coaches the Cosby High team.
- Bird High student Kyle-Joseph S. (sitting on left in front row) placed third in original oratory. Melissa Ligh, NBCT, coaches the Bird High team.
Capturing the moment - Proud families took photos at Bird High when the National Honor Society inducted new members recently. Membership in the organization is based on scholarship, service, leadership and character.