After a great start to the school year, attend a Back-to-School Night to check in with teachers and get a better sense of what’s coming up!
As Yom Kippur approaches, we note that we accidentally scheduled some back-to-school nights on 9/18. We apologize & will develop better systems to prevent a recurrence. If you can’t attend but want to meet with your teacher or get school updates, please contact your school.
Burnley-Moran: Tuesday, September 18, 5:30-7pm
Clark:Tuesday, September 18, 5:30-7pm
Greenbrier: Tuesday, September 18, 6-7:30pm
Jackson-Via: Tuesday, September 18, 6-7:30pm
Johnson: Tuesday, September 18, 6-7:30pm
Venable:Thursday, September 20, 5:30-7:30pm (Welcome Back Pot Luck to follow)
As the @CHSBlackKnights Twitter feed suggests, our students and staff have been busy since the first day of school. Here are a few recent stories from the feed…
The Second St. Gallery is featuring the “Teeny Tiny Trifecta” art exhibit–small works of contemporary art by local artists including CHS student Sahara Clemons and Walker art teacher Samantha Pagni! Online sales open 9/8 here.
Zyahna Bryant traveled to Hartford, Connecticut to accept the Harriett Beecher Stowe Center 2018 Student Prize. Congratulations, Zyahna!
Cole Fairchild attended his first School Board meeting as our newest student representative. He is one of three students selected to serve for the 2018-19 school year.
100+ students showed up for the first BACON Club meeting.
Members of the Cross Country team were among the 400+ volunteers helping with the Charlottesville Track Club ‘s 36th Annual Womens 4-Miler to benefit the UVA Cancer Center Breast Care Program.
“Dreaming America: Poems by Detained, Undocumented Latin American Teens” is a play devised, directed and performed by TheatreCHS students, inspired by the book of the same title. Performance is coming up on September 18 at CHS.
Tina Yawson from Charlottesville’s sister city in Winneba, Ghana visited with Ms. Sweet’s art students and several coordinators and instructional coaches.
Black Knights translate for families at our ESL Back to School Night.
First CHS BSU meeting of the year! Great turnout and discussion!
Our Link Crew leaders meet with their assigned freshmen crews and get to know them by sharing Hi’s and Low’s.
Cville Weekly had this to say: “There’s something so charming about employing a group of high schoolers to perform at your reception, but make no mistake: These aren’t your regular high schoolers. By the time they’re rising seniors—like the kids in Chestnut Oak, one of the quartets in the current CHS string ensemble —many of them have already performed in world-class venues such as the Chartres Cathedral in France or St. Mary’s Church in Killarney, Ireland. In other words, they’re practically pros.”
After an emotional 11-month recovery from a lacerated pancreas, field hockey player Alex Ferguson scored the game-winning goal in the Black Knights’ season opener. She is the first Schewels Athlete of the Week for the 2018-19 season. Read the C’ville Varsity story here. PC: Cville Varsity
Mr. Deegan’s World History students tell their personal stories in a creative way using Mad Libs to build “Where I’m From” books, inspired by George Ella Lyon’s poem. Thanks for the idea and materials, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities!
The 2019 Niche.com K-12 rankings are out, and Charlottesville City Schools earned an A+ , placing #6 overall among Virginia school districts and landing in the top 3% in the nation.
Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents. Additional recognition for CCS from a variety of Niche categories include:
#2 of 133 – Most Diverse School Divisions
#3 of 132 – Best Places to Teach in Virginia
#6 of 132 – Districts with the Best Teachers in Virginia.
A+ ranking in College Prep and Diversity categories and A in Academics and Teachers.
We’re proud of the good work of our students and teachers, and we appreciate the support of our community. While any given ranking system has its limitations, Charlottesville City Schools has done so well by so many measures, that the combined feedback paints a portrait of excellence. Three other indicators would include:
100 percent of Charlottesville City Schools met the state’s accreditation standards in 2017-18, compared with 86 percent of schools statewide. Out of 132 divisions in Virginia, Charlottesville is one of just 65 divisions that presently have all their schools fully accredited.
Having trouble creating your PowerSchool account? Need to add a child to the account? Want a hand finishing up your back-to-school forms? Working on your free/reduced lunch application?
Call or stop by during our Help Nights on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 4-5. All Charlottesville families are welcome to attend either event. iSe habla español!
On Tuesday, 9/4, from 5-7pm, we’ll be at Clark School (1000 Belmont Avenue).
On Wednesday, 9/5, from 5-7pm, we’ll be at CHS (1400 Melbourne Rd).
Just need a student ID or a password reset? For student IDs, you can call your school. For password resets or other questions, call either 245-2943 or 245-2962. During the help nights, you can also call 245-2943 from 5-7pm.
These important back-to-school forms are required for all returning students every year. (If you completed forms for a new student this spring or summer, you do not need to do them again.) Most of the answers are pre-completed for you. These forms help with:
health and emergency information
field trip permissions
authorizations for a friend or relative to pick your child up from school
accurate bus information
and much more!
Thanks to all who have completed them, and if you need any assistance, please call us or join us for the Help Nights for Back-to-School Forms.
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 22. See below for new school counselor assignments, bus routes, supplies list, and other important back-to-school information.
School Day Hours:
9:05am to 3:50pm (with a one-hour delayed start on the 2nd Thursday of some months)
Open House Information:
The CHS open house is Monday, August 20 from 5-7pm.
Please visit our CHS Counseling website for important dates, career and college preparation information, and more!
College Counselor Assignments have changed for 2018-19 school year. Our caseloads are determined by our students’ last names and if they are part of the ESL program. Please see the distribution below to know which counselor to contact.
A-Co:
Kerry Avakian
(434) 245-2684Cr-Hi:
David Wilkerson
(434) 245-2689Ho-M:
Brianna Hill
(434) 245-2687N-S:
Melanie Key
(434) 245-2686Department Chair & T-Wa:
Sarah Elaine Hart
(434) 245-2688
We-Z & ESL:
Lisa Morales
(434) 245-2685
Office hours for school counselors are 8:30-4:00pm, Monday-Friday. Please contact your student’s counselor if you would like to request an appointment.
Fall Sports Information:
Visit gocville.org to follow CHS sports and activities, including try-out info and parent meetings.
Q: What if I miss my time slot?
A: If you can come to the MLKPAC before 3:30pm on Senior Picture Day, come on out. Otherwise do make ups.
Q. Where do I take my photo?
A: Go to the PAC, and they will direct you from there.
Q: What should I wear?
A. Wear an undershirt and bring several of your favorite outfits.
Q: Should I take a photo?
A: Yes, it gets you a Senior id, you may want to use the formal shot to send out to relatives, and it’s the first check on your name and image for the yearbook. You can still submit a private photo as well.
Q: What if I want to submit a personal photo?
A: First, take your photo with Lifetouch on Senior Picture Day in the PAC and then do your private setting. Submit the private one by October 1st to Ms. Ewing at ewingd1@charlottesvilleschools.org. Make sure it’s a high-resolution photo (300 DPI) and rename it with your first and last name. Place your name in the subject along with the words “Senior Photo.” Example: Barney Rubble Senior Photo.
9th-11th Grade Portrait Information:
Non-Senior Picture Day: September 18-19, 9am-4pm, MLK PAC or CHS small gym
Non-Senior Picture Make-Up Day: October 17, 9am-4pm, MLK PAC or CHS small gym
Staff Portrait Information:
Staff Picture Day: August 17, 2018
Individual portraits: 12-4pm
Staff group photo: 11:45am
For a downloadable PDF of the CHS Summer Events calendar (July-August), click here.
Members of the Charlottesville High School Class of 2018 received their diplomas at graduation exercises on June 7, 2018 in John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. A recording of the live event can be seen at http://bit.ly/2018CHSGraduation. Congratulations, Class of 2018 CHS Black Knights!
School may be out for the summer, but many of our students are busy at work making presentations at conferences and receiving awards and opportunities at the state and national level.
Cole Fairchild; Photo: Eze Amos
CHS student Cole Fairchild and engineering teacher Matt Shields were selected as part of the 2018 cohort of Bezos Scholars and recently attended an all-expenses paid trip to the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Each year, the Bezos Family Foundation selects rising public high school seniors who apply with an educator partner to the year-long leadership development program. After attending the festival, scholars return home to organize their own community change projects, known as Local Ideas Festivals (LIFs). We can’t wait to see what Cole and Mr. Shields have planned.
Zyahna Bryant; Photo: Matt Eich
Meanwhile, CHS student Zyahna Bryant is preparing to accept multiple awards for her student leadership on social justice issues. In September, Zyahna will travel to Connecticut to accept the 2018 Harriet Beecher Stowe Foundation Student Stowe Prize and $1,000 for her essay on social justice. In October, she will accept the 2018 Yale Bassett Award for Community Engagement. In addition, this spring she was the recipient of the 2018 Princeton Prize in Race Relations for her advocacy work at CHS and recently attended a two-day conference at Princeton that included presentations, celebrations, and a $1,000 prize.
2018 VA Governor’s School attendees
In addition, the following CHS students are attending the 2018 Summer Virginia Governor’s School for Humanities and Visual & Performing Arts: Rachel E. Beling-Humanities, Talia Marshall-Humanities, Alyce Yang-Humanities, Davida Rimm-Kaufman-Agriculture, Adria Cafferillo-Instrumental Music (Flute), Sahara Clemons-Visual Arts, Sophia Greenhoe-Dance, Linnea Schenck-VA Governor’s Foreign Language Academies (French). Congratulations on earning this distinguished opportunity!
Jack Timmins and Adela Cervantes will present at the 2018 International Space Station Research and Development Conference.
Buford middle school students presenting at the National Museum of American History
And lastly, a group of Buford Middle School engineering students have been conference-hopping this summer, presenting their work with the Smithsonian Invention Kits at national conventions in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. The students have been sharing their projects, challenging audiences to make speakers out of every day items, and leading workshops to teach the teachers about using the invention kits in their own labs.
Online registration for summer school classes will continue until June 14. CHS will offer both virtual and face-to-face summer classes for current students and rising 9th-graders.
Summer School Dates: June 18 – July 27
NOTE: many of our popular courses such as Health/PE and Virtual Economics & Personal Finance do have CAPACITY limits. Registration will be accepted in the order in which it is received.
Students attending CHS in the 2018-19 school year are considered “In District.” Students on Free or Reduced Lunch are eligible for reduced tuition rates. Out-of-district students are not eligible for Free/Reduced rates. Tuition is non-refundable.
Course
In District Tuition Price
Out of District Tuition Price
Reduced Lunch Tuition Price
Free Lunch Tuition Price
Full Credit Course
$400 each
$550 each
$200 each
$25 Each
1/2 Credit Course:
PE 09 & 10
Health 9 & 10
$200 each
$350 each
$100 each
$25 Each
You may bring your tuition payment (cash, check or money order payable to Charlottesville High School) to the CHS Office.
Or, you can pay your summer school tuition online through MySchoolBucks at http://bit.ly/chssummertuition. A convenience fee will apply.
As you make plans to attend commencement exercises for the Class of 2018 in just a few weeks, please keep in mind these important details:
When: June 7, 2018, 7:00 p.m. Graduates should arrive by 5:30 p.m.
Where: John Paul Jones Arena. Free parking is available at the arena.
A live stream of the graduation ceremony will be available at www.facebook.com/cvilleschools. No Facebook account or password is needed to view.
Security Information: Please read the following UVA JPJ Arena security policies carefully, especially noting the bag policy.
Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and cannot exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. Clear one-gallon plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bag or similar) are also permitted.
Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand and no larger than 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches (with or without a handle or strap) can be taken into the arena and will be subject to search. An exception will be made for items necessary for medical reasons after proper inspections at a gate designated for this purpose.
Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to: purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags and camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size.
Items needed for small children must be in a clear bag that meet the stated dimensions.
Bags and purses that do not meet the above criteria cannot be held by staff or stored inside or around JPJ Arena. For clarity, diaper bags and backpacks are also prohibited.
Arrive early. Our entrance procedures may take a few minutes and traffic is often heavy around JPJ Arena. Therefore, we request that all guests arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Please plan accordingly.
Wear as little metal as possible. Large metal jewelry/belt buckles, etc. are allowed, but can slow down the entrance process and/or delay your entry.
Understand prohibited items. Balloons, flowers, umbrellas, outside food and beverage, artificial noise makers, and strollers are specifically prohibited inside JPJ Arena. Gifts for graduates may be presented when they meet families on the plaza after the ceremony.
Ninth-graders: Come meet new classmates, get your schedules, and tour CHS!
Date: August 20, 2018
Time: Orientation begins promptly at 9am and will finish at 1:30pm.
What: This is a required — but fun — program for all incoming freshmen. Students will receive their schedules, tour the school, and meet with their upperclassmen mentors, Link Crew Leaders. Lunch is provided.
Transportation: School buses will be running their regular fall routes to transport students to the building. Buses will drop students off at the MLK Performing Arts Center entrance. Buses will transport students back home at the conclusion of the orientation program at 1:30pm. Students are encouraged to ride the bus, but parents may provide transportation.
Information: Information on bus routes and pick-up times can be found below.
Note for parents: If you are going to provide transportation for your child, please understand the orientation program is for students only. There are no accommodations available for parents while their children are in the orientation program. It is strongly recommended that you simply drop off and pick up later.
After a great start to the school year, attend a Back-to-School Night to check in with teachers and get a better sense of what’s coming up!
These important back-to-school forms are required for all returning students every year. (If you completed forms for a new student this spring or summer, you do not need to do them again.) Most of the answers are pre-completed for you. These forms help with:
