CCPS News Tips
Nov. 1-30
National Novel Writing Month
At James River High, 22 creative writing students will participate in National Novel Writing Month by writing a 50,000-word novel. Students must write 1,667 words daily
to finish the project.
Contact: Allison Hoover, 378-2420
Nov. 11-Dec. 1
Collection
The Gates Elementary PTA is sponsoring Make A Difference With Change. Donations will be used to help needy Gates families during the holidays.
Contact: 768-6195
Nov. 14-23
Performance
Appomattox Regional Governor’s School will perform “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 7 p.m. Nov. 14-15 and Nov. 21-22 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 15-16 and 22-23. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors (60+) if paid in advance by Nov 12 or $10 for adults and $5 students and seniors at the door.
Contact: 722-0204 or tickets@args.k12.va.us
Nov. 17
Open house
The Humanities Specialty Center at Monacan High will hold an open house at 7 p.m. for eighth-grade students and their parents.
Contact: 378-2480
Awards
Clover Hill High will have a fall sports awards assembly.
Contact: 739-6230
PTA meeting
The Chesterfield County Council of PTAs-PTSAs will meet at 7 p.m. at the School Board Administration Building, 9900 Krause Road.
Contact: 748-1405
Field trip
Third-grade students at Ecoff Elementary will visit Pocahontas State Park at 10 a.m.
Contact: 768-6185
Assemblies
Chalkley Elementary will celebrate Staying on Track assemblies. Second grade will be recognized at 9 a.m., kindergarten at 9:50 a.m., and fourth grade at 2 p.m.
Contact: 674-1300
Nov. 17-18
Display the Day of the Dead
The Spanish classes at Meadowbrook High have created a traditional display of poems and tributes for the Day of the Dead, which is an annual celebration of gratitude, appreciation and remembrance in Mexico and many other Latin American countries. All six Spanish teachers and their 30 classes have contributed posters, which explain the colorful skulls, skeletons and wreaths, and collages or shadow boxes expressing gratitude to deceased relatives, writers, musicians or artists. The installation is open during school hours.
Contact: Mary O’Brien or Anna Henderson, 743-3675
Nov. 17-21
Coin drive
Chesterfield County elementary school students have a chance to give back to the community during a coin drive that will benefit the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg. “A Little Change Can Make a Big Difference” is the theme of the effort. Students are encouraged to deposit spare change in water bottles donated by Diamond Spring. Bank of America will collect and count the donated change.
Contact: 748-1405
Nov. 17-26
Food drive
Enon Elementary will collect food for the Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Christmas Mother.
Contact: Barbara Nester, 530-5720
Nov. 17 and Dec. 11-12
Finance Park
Chesterfield students will visit a mobile Junior Achievement Finance Park, located at 4307 W. Broad St. in Richmond, to learn about economic issues and financial decisions. Falling Creek Middle students will visit on Nov. 17. Chesterfield Community High students will visit Dec. 11. Matoaca High students will visit Dec. 12.
Contact: Junior Achievement, 217-8866
Nov. 18
Performance
Fifth-grade students at Hening Elementary will perform a musical “Tribute to America” at 7 p.m.
Contact: 743-3655
Chick-fil-A night
Elizabeth Scott Elementary families will dine at Chick-fil-A in Chester 5-8 p.m.
Contact: 541-4660
Math night
Hopkins Elementary will host Family Math Night with a nursery rhyme and fairy tale twist 6:30-8 p.m.
Contact: Vickie Bohidar, 743-3665
Assembly
Bellwood Elementary will hold an All-Star Assembly in the gym at 3 p.m.
Contact: 743-3600
Reading event
Bellwood Elementary will hold a Power of an Hour gathering at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: 743-3600
Book night
Woolridge Elementary will hold a fund-raising event 4-7 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble on Commonwealth Parkway.
Contact: Barbara Schaedel, 739-6330
Workshop
Bellwood Elementary will have a workshop for parents of English language learners and special education students at 5:30 p.m.
Contact: 743-3600
Performance
Bon Air Elementary fifth-grade students will perform at the PTA meeting.
Contact: 560-2700
Performance
Matoaca Elementary third-grade students will perform at the PTA meeting.
Contact: 590-3100
Performance
Curtis Elementary fifth-grade students will perform at 7:15 p.m. at the PTA Social Studies Night.
Contact: 768-6175
Performance
There will be a second-grade musical at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Ecoff Elementary.
Contact: 768-6185
Workshop
Chesterfield Community High’s Dream Girls will attend a teen etiquette workshop.
Contact: Sylvia Bland, 768-6156
Field trip
Enon Elementary first-grade students will visit the Virginia Historical Society 10:45 a.m.-noon.
Contact: Nancy Valenti, 530-5720
Family night
Ettrick Elementary will have family game night at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Contact: Kim Reynolds, 520-6005
Reception
During a 7-8:30 p.m. reception, the Clover Hill Elementary PTA will honor Reflections participants.
Contact: Melissa McAllister, 739-6220
Meeting
The Matoaca High PTSA will meet at 7 p.m. in the library.
Contact: 590-3108
Nov. 18-Dec. 1
Book fair
Chester Middle will have a book fair during school hours. The book fair will also be open 6-8 p.m. Nov. 18, when there will be a hot-dog dinner.
Contact: 768-6145
Nov. 19
Benefit concert
To benefit the Mataoca High canned food drive, Faultline will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is $3 or two cans of food plus $1.
Contact: Damien Allen, 590-3108, Ext. 274
Assemblies
Chalkley Elementary will celebrate Staying on Track assemblies. First grade will be recognized at 9 a.m., third grade at 9:50 a.m., and fifth grade at 2 p.m.
Contact: 674-1300
Parent Coffee Club
Chalkley Elementary will hold its monthly Parent Coffee Club at Shoney’s, 9963 Hull Street Road. The speaker is Dr. Johnnie Humphrey, associate professor at John Tyler Community College and trainer for the PBS Ready to Learn Series.
Contact: Pat Bishop, 674-1300
Performance
Theatre IV will present “Mysteries of Egypt” at 2 p.m. to grades 3-5 at Ecoff Elementary.
Contact: 768-6185
Performance
Theatre IV will present “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at 2 p.m. to grades 3-5 at Marguerite Christian Elementary.
Contact: Ellen Sapko, 530-5733
Book and breakfast
“Vote for Your Favorite Book” is the theme of Falling Creek Elementary’s book and breakfast 8:30-9:15 a.m.
Contact: Ann Muttart, 743-3630
Feast
Ettrick Elementary will have a Thanksgiving feast in the cafeteria 10:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Parents are invited to enjoy lunch with their children.
Contact: 520-6005
Parent coffee
During a parent coffee at Woolridge Elementary, topics will include stress with children, cyberbullying, healthy eating, study skills/homework challenges and effective discipline at home.
Contact: Barbara Schaedel, 739-6330
Nov. 19-20
Recycling event
Gates Elementary will sponsor a newspaper and aluminum can recycling drive 3:15-5:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 and 7:30-9 a.m. on Nov. 20.
Contact: 768-6195
Grandparents lunch
Enon Elementary students will invite grandparents or a special guest to visit and have lunch 11 a.m.-1:45 p.m. On Nov. 19, kindergarten, first- and fourth-grade students will participate. On Nov. 20, second-, third- and fifth-grade students will participate.
Contact: Barbara Nester, 530-5720
Nov. 19 and Nov. 24
Field trip
Fourth-grade students at Gates Elementary will visit the MathScience Innovation Center.
Contact: 768-6195
Nov. 19-23
Field trip
Fifth-grade students at Hening Elementary will participate in a Canal Walk field trip.
Contact: 743-3655
Nov. 20
Parent coffee
Clover Hill Elementary’s PTA and guidance counselors will hold a parent coffee 9-11:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. The topic will be “Helping Your Child Develop and Maintain Friendships.”
Contact: Melissa McAllister, 739-6220
Skate night
Grange Hall Elementary families will skate at Skate-A-Way, 3330 Speeks Drive, at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Laura Marshall, 739-6265
Workshop
Harrowgate Elementary will present a workshop for parents about balanced literacy 9:30-10:30 a.m. and again 6-7 p.m. in the parent/community trailer.
Contact: Taffy Jones-Hayes, 520-4273
Skate night
Wells Elementary families will skate 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Chester Skateland.
Contact: 768-6265
Committee meeting
The Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee will meet at 8 a.m. at the Chesterfield Technical Center.
Contact: 768-6165
Book and breakfast
Enon Elementary fifth-grade students will gather in the cafeteria to have breakfast and discuss a book.
Contact: Julie Fields, 530-5720
Terrific Fit Thursday
After school, Woolridge Elementary staff members will take part in Terrific Fit Thursday by learning zumba.
Contact: Barbara Schaedel, 739-6330
Nov. 20-22
Performance
Cosby High’s Drama Department will perform “Into the Woods” Nov. 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Contact: 639-8340
Performance
Clover Hill High’s Drama Department will perform “South Pacific.”
Contact: 739-6230
Performance
Midlothian High’s Theater Department will present “The Skin of Our Teeth” at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Contact: 378-2440
Nov. 21
Movie night
The PTA at Salem Elementary will show “Kung Fu Panda” during a free family movie night at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Contact: 768-6215
In-school field trip
Woolridge Elementary kindergartners will have an in-school field trip about the Powhatan Indians.
Contact: Barbara Schaedel, 739-6330
Visit
Advanced marketing students from Matoaca High will visit Virginia Commonwealth University.
Contact: 590-3108
School photos
Beulah Elementary will re-take pictures.
Contact: 743-3620
Muffins for Math
Bellwood Elementary parents will gather for Muffins for Math at 8:15 a.m. in the cafeteria.
Contact: 743-3600
Spirit day
Grange Hall Elementary Bulldogs will wear school colors for spirit day.
Contact: 739-6265
Muffins and Math
Beulah Elementary students in grades 4-5 will have a Muffins and Math family fun time 8:30-9 a.m.
Contact: 743-3620
Presentation
Chesterfield Technical Center students will give a presentation to eighth-grade students at Swift Creek Middle in the auxiliary gym.
Contact: 739-6315
Performance
The Tomahawk Creek Middle Players will perform “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
Contact: Charmaine Crowell-White, 378-7120
Grandparents breakfast
Marguerite Christian Elementary students in grades 3-5 will host their grandparents for breakfast at 8:45 a.m.
Contact: Kimberly Dickerson, 530-5733
Awards
Ettrick Elementary will have a student awards ceremony for the first nine weeks.
Contact: 520-6005
Nov. 24
Parent and child reading group
Chester Middle’s parent and child reading group will gather 7-7:45 p.m. in the library to discuss “Hattie Big Sky” by Kirby Lawson.
Contact: Rebecca Quesenberry, 768-6145
Grandparents breakfast
Beulah Elementary students in prekindergarten, kindergarten and fifth grade will host their grandparents for breakfast.
Contact: 743-3620
Program
Kindergarten Girl Scouts will have a program in the cafeteria at Bellwood Elementary 10-10:45 a.m.
Contact: 743-3600
Powwow
Ecoff Elementary will hold a Native American powwow all day in the gym.
Contact: 768-6185
Performance
The Richmond Symphony woodwind quartet will perform for grades 3-5 at Marguerite Christian Elementary.
Contact: Ellen Sapko, 530-5733
Nov. 24-25
Visit
The MathScience Innovation Center will present to Salem Elementary fourth-grade classes 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Contact: 768-6215
Nov. 24-26
Grandparents breakfast
Grange Hall Elementary students will host their grandparents for breakfast.
Contact: 739-6265
Poinsettias
Grange Hall Elementary students will sell poinsettias during school hours.
Contact: 739-6265
Nov. 25
In-school field trip
Second-grade students at Salem Elementary will enjoy an in-school field trip presented by the Richmond Valentine History Center.
Contact: Paige Eckard, 768-6215
Grandparents visit
Woolridge Elementary will host grandparents for breakfast and classroom visits 8:30-10 a.m.
Contact: 739-6330
Awards
Cosby High will have a fall sports awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: 639-8340
Grandparents breakfast
Marguerite Christian Elementary students in grades 1-2 will host their grandparents for breakfast at 8:45 a.m.
Contact: Kimberly Dickerson, 530-5733
Field trip
Fifth-grade Center Based Gifted students at Hening Elementary will visit the Science Museum of Virginia and IMAX Dome.
Contact: 743-3655
Pizza night
Evergreen Elementary families will enjoy pizza at CiCi’s 5-8 p.m.
Contact: 378-2400
Grandparents breakfast
Beulah Elementary students in grades 2-3 will host their grandparents for breakfast.
Contact: 743-3620
Performance
Prekindergarten students from Bellwood Elementary and Ettrick Elementary will visit the Fulghum Center for a Mother Goose performance.
Contact: 743-3600 for Bellwood or 520-6005 for Ettrick
Grandparents breakfast
Elizabeth Scott Elementary will host a grandparents breakfast 8:30-9 a.m.
Contact: 541-4660
Grandparents lunch
Bon Air Elementary students will invite grandparents, aunts, uncles or special friends for lunch and a classroom visit.
Contact: 560-2700
Turkey Trot
Ecoff Elementary will sponsor its annual Turkey Trot.
Contact: 768-6185
Field trip
Ettrick Elementary fifth-grade students will visit the Science Museum of Virginia 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. to explore rocks, minerals, electricity and magnetism.
Contact: 520-6005
Field trip
Bensley Elementary third-grade students will visit the Science Museum of Virginia 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Contact: 743-3610
Nov. 26
Beatnik Day
At 10 a.m. at Marguerite Christian Elementary, Center Based Gifted students will participate in Beatnik Day, complete with a 1960s-style coffeehouse, poetry recitations and vintage fashions.
Contact: 530-5733
Early release
Chesterfield County Public Schools will have a three-hour early release day for students and school staff members.
Contact: 748-1405
Reading
First-grade students at Hening Elementary will read “Stone Soup” and make the soup to promote community cooperation.
Contact: 743-3655
Grandparents breakfast
Beulah Elementary students in first and fourth grades will host their grandparents for breakfast.
Contact: 743-3620
Feast
Wearing Pilgrim and Native American costumes, Marguerite Christian Elementary kindergarten students will have a Thanksgiving feast at 9:45 a.m.
Contact: La-Kisha Webb, 530-5733
Nov. 27-28
Holiday
Chesterfield County Public Schools will be closed for Thanksgiving.
Contact: 748-1405
Dec. 2
Dinner
Gates Elementary will have a self-determination dinner in the cafeteria at 6:30 p.m. “How to Empower Your Child During School Years” is the topic.
Contact: 768-6195
Parent coffee
“The Overindulged Child” is the topic for Greenfield Elementary’s parent coffee 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Contact: 560-2720
Pizza night
Grange Hall Elementary families will eat at CiCi’s 4-8 p.m.
Contact: Laura Marshall, 768-6195
Dec. 3
Performance
Theater IV will perform for grades 3-5 at Salem Elementary at 1:30 p.m.
Contact: 768-6215
Holiday gift drive
Grange Hall Elementary students will collect items for Harrowgate Elementary families who need holiday help.
Contact: Laura Marshall, 739-6265
Dec. 4
Aluminum can drive
Swift Creek Middle will hold an aluminum can drive.
Contact: 739-6315
Book and breakfast
Bellwood Elementary will hold a book-and-breakfast gathering for students in prekindergarten through second grade in the library 8:30-9:45 a.m.
Contact: Mary Yerby, 743-3600
Chat ’n’ Chew
Chesterfield Community High’s Chat ’n’ Chew student group will discuss “Marley and Me” by John Grogan and enjoy breakfast.
Contact: Carol Demasi, 768-6156
Dec. 5
Book night
Bon Air Elementary will hold a fund-raising event at the Barnes & Noble at Chesterfield Towne Center.
Contact: Tia Stout, 560-2700
Spirit day
Grange Hall Elementary Bulldogs will wear their school colors for spirit day.
Contact: 739-6265
Performance
Fourth-grade students from Gates Elementary will perform the chimes at Richmond’s Landmark Theater 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
Contact: 768-6195
Concert
Clover Hill High band students will perform a winter concert.
Contact: 739-6230
Dec. 6
Holiday House and Santa Breakfast
Clover Hill Elementary will host a Holiday House and Santa Breakfast 8 a.m.-noon. There will be a pancake breakfast, silent auction of theme baskets created by each class and a craft show in the gym.
Contact: Melissa McAllister, 739-6220
Craft fair
Providence Middle will host a craft fair 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the main gym and cafeteria.
Contact: Pam Zetts, 674-1005
Reindeer Shop
Grange Hall Elementary will have a Reindeer Shop.
Contact: 739-6265
Dec. 8
Performance
Woolridge Elementary fifth-grade students will perform a winter holiday chorus program at 7 p.m.
Contact: Barbara Schaedel, 739-6330
Ongoing
Wee Deliver
Since Oct. 1, as part of the classroom literacy stations, students at Ecoff Elementary have been writing letters and notes to classmates throughout the school and dropping them into a custom-built mailbox. The senior postmaster collects the mail and files it based on delivery location. The junior postmaster delivers the mail to classrooms. Halls have been named after the core values of Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Contact: Jeanne Hensel, 768-6185
Cans for Fines
Through Nov. 26, Matoaca High students can contribute a can of food for holiday baskets to waive a library fine.
Contact: 590-3108
Box tops
Through Dec. 15, Gates Elementary will collect box tops to earn electronic whiteboards for the computer lab. The class that collects the most box tops will win a pizza party.
Contact: 768-6195
UR the Future Leadership Program
Providence Middle and the University of Richmond are partnering to pilot a leadership program. The UR the Future Leadership Program will connect selected students from Providence Middle with faculty and students from the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies. This is the first program the University of Richmond has conducted with middle school students. Full-day sessions are scheduled Dec. 18, March 12 and June 3 during which Providence Middle students will work with University of Richmond students and faculty in workshops, team-building exercises and breakout sessions designed to explore the concepts of leadership.
Contact: Tameshia Grimes, 674-1355
Mileage Club
Evergreen Elementary’s Mileage Club will continue through Nov. 25.
Contact: 378-2400
After-school enrichment
Bensley Elementary will start its second season of Project Dance on Nov. 10. Dance classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays to teach ballet and jazz to students in grades 2-5. The program will end in April with a recital.
Contact: 743-3610
Going green
Wells Elementary is going green with a schoolwide recycling program.
Contact: Amanda Moody, 768-6265
Chess club
Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Wells Elementary will play chess after school every Wednesday.
Contact: Rob Motrynczuk, 768-6265
Tutors
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Carver Middle students visit Wells Elementary to tutor students.
Contact: 768-6265
Broadcasting
The Broadcasting Club of Wells Elementary meets monthly.
Contact: Charlene Chapman, 768-6265
English classes for parents
Parents whose first language is not English may participate in English for Speakers of Other Languages classes. Instruction takes place 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Crenshaw Elementary, 3:45-5:45 p.m. Tuesdays at Davis Elementary and 2:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays at Falling Creek Middle. Classes began the first week of October and run for 10 weeks. Child care is provided for children over 2 years old.
Contact: Lisa Thompson, 743-7542
After-school class
On Wednesdays through Dec. 3, Bon Air Elementary will offer students an after-school Spanish-English bilingual reading class.
Contact: LeeAnn Newman, 560-2700
Reading nights
Harrowgate Elementary will hold Family Reading Nights October-May the first and third Thursday night of the month when school is in session 6-8 p.m.
Contact: 520-6015
Bravo! Awards
The Chesterfield Public Education Foundation is sponsoring an award for graduates of Chesterfield County Public Schools who have made remarkable contributions to their professions and communities. Five graduates will be selected to receive the first Bravo! Awards. Nomination forms are available at every high school, at the School Board Administration Building and via the foundation’s web site, www.cpefound.org . Nominations may be e-mailed to bravoawards@cpefound.org , faxed to (804) 379-2209 or mailed to Bravo! Awards Nominations, c/o Chesterfield Public Education Foundation, P.O. Box 3883, Richmond, VA 23235. Nominations are due to the foundation by 5 p.m. Nov. 17.
Contact: Jane Carlson, 379-1551
Family resource room
Chalkley Elementary now offers a family resource room to help parents help their children succeed in school. The room holds a computer with Internet access, information on how to help children academically and socially, encouraging notes parents can personalize to give their children, parenting videos and more. The family resource room is open 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m. on school days. A staff member is available to help Mondays through Wednesdays.
Contact: Pat Bishop, 674-1300
Free supplies for school employees
From Crayons to Computers is packed with donated school and office supplies to be given away. Located in the Beaufont shopping center at 7138 Midlothian Turnpike, the store is open to all Chesterfield County Public Schools employees 2:30-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays when school is in session. Donations are welcome.
Contact: 276-7407 or 305-4279
Adult Continuing Education
Adult Continuing Education offers workforce training, GED classes, English for Speakers of Other Languages and enrichment classes throughout the school year. A program guide is available at chesterfield.k12.va.us.
Contact: Debbie Hinton, 768-6140