Charlottesville City Schools

Community members who want to learn updates and good news about our schools can subscribe for newsletters such as our monthly News & Highlights, CHS Athletics & Activities, and more.

The Office of Community Relations is the first point of contact for inquiries from the media about Charlottesville City Schools. We can connect reporters with experts within our staff, assist news crews with filming/photographing on campus, assist media outlets with covering open-press events and provide advisories, statements, photos or news stories. For all media inquiries, contact Amanda Korman Simalchik. 

Community members, partners, and organizations who wish to receive notifications about weather-related delays or closures that impact Charlottesville City Schools can subscribe for weather-related communications.

Access the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request form and send the form to Amanda Korman Simalchik.

We get many requests to send home flyers, and as a division, our policy is to reserve backpack distribution of flyers to programs sponsored by our school division and/or the City of Charlottesville. (We make a few exceptions in cases where the program is a nonprofit which both has no paid staff and offers meaningful scholarships.) To request flyer approval, email kormana1@charlottesvilleschools.org.

• Staff emails: Periodic updates sent year-round include important announcements from the superintendent, human resources, finance, and operations. 
• Media relations support: We coordinate all schools-related media appearances for staff. We also offer media training. 
• Professional learning: Courses offered semi-annually for skill-building on different communications tools like ParentSquare and social media. 
• Communications support: Our office can supply approved Cville Schools images, logos, and videography

Confidence & Comprehension Club (K-6)

Confidence & Comprehension Club is a Community Schools initiative designed to support elementary students across all schools by strengthening reading confidence, comprehension skills, and a sense of belonging. Using feedback from students, families, and educators—and working alongside community partners—this initiative creates supportive spaces during the school day and beyond where students can build literacy skills, confidence, and positive relationships.

What’s happening now: (Updated January 15, 2026)

• At Sunrise Elementary, Boys & Girls Club staff are supporting recess using the Flourish curriculum, helping students build social-emotional skills, cooperation, and positive peer interactions during unstructured time.

• At Tall Oaks Elementary, a College Mentors for Kids pilot is launching this year to support reading confidence and mentoring. If the pilot is successful, the program is planned to expand fully next school year.

• Reading clubs are active at Trailblazer and Summit Elementary Schools, led by Juanika Howard, Youth Opportunity Coordinator with the Charlottesville Department of Human Services, providing consistent literacy engagement and relationship-building for students.

• Stacey Reedal is leading efforts to provide literacy kits to schools, with kits distributed to students identified by school leadership as benefiting from additional at-home reading support.

• Across elementary schools, Confidence & Comprehension Club activities focus on small-group literacy support, confidence-building, and joyful engagement with reading, aligned with classroom instruction and school goals.

• At Walker Upper Elementary, Confidence & Comprehension Club activities are currently on hold due to the school’s transition. Planning will resume once the transition period is complete to ensure programming is responsive and well-supported.

• Ongoing collaboration with school staff and community partners continues to strengthen literacy, mentoring, and enrichment opportunities across the division.

Confidence & Comprehension Club is designed to meet elementary students where they are and support strong foundations in reading, confidence, and connection to school.

See related post on the CCS Collaborative Community Schools Board

Volunteer Training

Volunteer Training

Who should complete the Volunteer Training Process?

Anyone interested in becoming a Level 1 or Level 2 Volunteer should complete the online training and registration form. Visitors do not need to complete the training or registration form, and current CCS Employees do not need to complete the training.

Here is our process to volunteer:

Step 1: Watch the Cville Schools Volunteer Training Video, which covers information in the CCS Volunteer Handbook.

Step 2: Watch the VDOE Recognizing Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect video (highly recommended) CCS Child Abuse & Neglect Policy

Step 3: Complete the Cville Schools Volunteer Application Registration Form

How long does it take to complete the volunteer process?

Once you complete the three steps, applicants will receive an email confirmation upon approval.  You cannot volunteer or provide services in any capacity until this notice is received.  Volunteer status is good for the remainder of the academic year.

• For Level 1 volunteers, processing can take up to 2 weeks.

• For Level 2 volunteers, the background check can take up to 6 weeks.

See related post on the CCS Collaborative Community Schools Board

Questions, Comments, Concerns, or Words of Encouragement

Each school has designated staff who coordinate Community Schools efforts, including volunteer engagement, partnerships, and student/family supports. These school-based contacts are the primary point of connection for ideas or needs related to a specific school community.

Use the school list below to find:

• Volunteer coordinators

• Primary Community Schools contacts

• Emails and phone numbers for direct outreach

School teams work closely with families, students, and partners to respond in ways that reflect the needs of their school community.

If you need further support, please reach out to Abigail Ferguson - Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for CCS at fergusa1@charlottesvillschools.org

See related post on the CCS Collaborative Community Schools Board

Evaluation

Status: In Progress
Reporting Period: 2025–26 School Year
Lead: Family and Community Engagement Team
Last Updated: 1/15/26

This card tracks the implementation and progress of the Charlottesville City Schools Community Schools Evaluation Plan for AY 2025–26.

The evaluation focuses on:

1. Processes (what we are building and implementing),

2. Perceptions (students, families, and partners experience)

3. Outcomes (what changes we expect to see over time).

The plan prioritizes practical, non-burdensome data collection, uses existing data where possible, and incorporates student, family, and community voice. This card links to the live evaluation tracking table and is updated regularly.

See related post on the CCS Collaborative Community Schools Board

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