All schools and offices will be closed this Monday, January 16, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There will also be no school for students on Monday, January 23 due to a Teacher Workday. Click here to subscribe to our Google Calendar.

At its January meeting, the School Board approved the 2023-24 Academic Calendar, which is similar to previous years’ calendars. As a reminder, the calendar committee will reconvene in the spring to consider possible changes such as a week off at Thanksgiving or an earlier start in August for the 2024-25 calendar.

After several months of controversy, the state’s Board of Education is set to consider Virginia’s K-12 history standards. In the fall, conservative members of the BOE disrupted the usual approval process, and the Youngkin administration brought forward an alternate set of learning standards. After a public outcry about these alternative standards, the BOE requested to see these standards merged with those originally submitted by a committee of teachers, history, professionals, and families. Currently, both professional historians and the Virginia Department of Education have separately submitted merged standards for the BOE’s consideration. The BOE’s next meeting will be on February 2. You can learn more on our website, including ways to share your voice.

Students in grades 3-8 will be taking Virginia’s Reading and Mathematics Growth assessments from Jan. 24-Feb. 10. Later this spring, students will take the state’s SOL tests. Have questions about these state tests? Want to use this data to better understand and support your child’s growth? Join Family University tomorrow (Thursday, January 12) from 5:30-6:30. 

Our principals work hard for our students, staff, and community. Take a minute and show your appreciation during Virginia School Principals Week, January 15-21. Consider something like a note, a tweet, or a cup of coffee. And while we’re celebrating our principals: Johnson Principal Summer Thompson was featured in the Daily Progress’s annual “Distinguished Dozen” profiles in December, along with Burnley-Moran Crossing Guard Kevin Cox!

Six of our schools earned state recognition in the area of nutrition and physical activity. Jackson-Via and Johnson received a silver award, and Buford, CHS, Venable, and Walker earned bronze. Thanks to our school and division-level wellness and school health committees! Learn more about our wellness policy and programs here. Or find more about the scorecard award here.

 Students aged 14-18 can apply for paid spring internships through the City’s CAYIP program. Learn more and apply here by this Friday to gain valuable work experience! (The program is also offered in the summer.)

• ​​​​​​​CCS parents/guardians who meet income guidelines can apply for City of Promise’s Dreambuilders program. This learning program offers a $1,500 grant for parents as they reach self-sufficiency and educational goals for their family. Application deadline is Jan. 15. Apply here.

Thank you, Giant Food and Giant customers, for the Nourishing Our Youth Round Up Program award of $26,413! These funds, from Giant customers rounding up their grocery purchase to the nearest dollar, have enabled us to provide fresh fruit to the food pantry at Buford, continue a fresh fruit and vegetable program at Johnson, provide the football team with a before-game meal, and pay off student meal debt (which would otherwise be paid for by the school division).

At its January meeting, the Board elected a new chair and vice chair, Mr. James Bryant and Mr. Dom Morse, respectively. In addition to both being educators, Mr. Bryant and Mr. Morse are also alumni of Charlottesville Schools. We also recognize Lisa Larson-Torres, previous School Board Chair, for her leadership and tireless commitment to our division.

Other updates from the Board meeting include: approval of the 2023-24 Program of Studies (course offerings), budget updates from the Governor’s tentative budget, and discussion of a new state-required policy requiring that parents/guardians be notified when sexually explicit materials are being used for instructional purposes. Learn more about the Board meeting by reading the January Mini-Minutes.

• Find the full calendar of budget meetings and input opportunities here. Interested in future meetings? Next meeting is February 2. Sign up to receive notices of School Board meetings.

In addition to the Teacher of the Year Awards (scroll down to see winners below!), our division participations in the the Golden Apple Awards of Charlottesville-Albemarle. Sponsored by Better Living Building Supplies and Cabinetry, these awards honor outstanding educators who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and community involvement. Nominate a teacher now – the deadline is January 23.