Dear Cville Schools families and staff –
During this last week of school, I want to say thank you for a great year. Our schools are stronger than ever thanks to outstanding educators and the enthusiastic community that supports them.
I want to keep this note short – particularly since this newsletter contains a lot of important information for finishing the year strong, ways to prepare for next year, and celebrations of all we’ve accomplished together.
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But I do want to give a quick comment about the Federal Executive Institute decision. As you know, the property was initially pledged to us, but is now going to UVA. As our School Board wrote in a recent letter to the editor, this is a moment for the City, UVA, and CCS to develop a bold vision for serving the students of Charlottesville. The passionate calls for investment in our schools have been extraordinary. We can’t have an Emmet Street campus, but we do have a community that wants better for its kids. And that’s something we can work with.
Dr. G
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Last week, our seniors visited their old elementary schools to walk the halls as younger students cheered. Our graduates hugged former teachers, encouraged younger siblings, viewed old class photos, and even played with the parachute. Find more photos on Facebook. |
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Wednesday, May 28: Last Day of School for Buford (regular dismissal schedule). The school is closing early to prepare to begin renovating the "old" buildings!
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Friday, May 30: Early Dismissal for Last Day of School (elementary releases at 12pm; grades 5-6 at 12:45; CHS at 1:40; and LMA at 11:30)
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Save the Date for Sunday, August 10: Better Together Back to School Bash at Boys & Girls Club (1000 Cherry Avenue), 11am-3pm
Art by Julia Jackson, Grade 5, Walker
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ABOVE: CATEC carpentry students came to Greenbrier to demonstrate skills and build birdhouses, which the students painted.
BELOW, LEFT: Buford's Farewell Festival was fantastic! Watch a great recap video here.
BELOW, RIGHT: Summit friends at recess.
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ABOVE: Johnson (soon-to-be Tall Oaks) bikers on Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day.
BELOW, LEFT: Burnley-Moran (soon-to-be Sunrise) students have been visiting Serenity Farm Equine Sanctuary in Louisa, where Principal Elizabeth Korab volunteers.
BELOW, RIGHT: Trailblazer held an incredible career day! Two (of MANY) stations shown here are 1) UVA Football players talking about their future careers and 2) a hot air balloon!
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It is now time to re-register your student for the 2025-26 school year. You can update your bus requests, phone numbers, and more to get ready for next year. The re-registration form is open in SchoolMint for all returning resident students and all approved non-resident students. Find instructions with screenshots. |
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Need summer meal assistance? Here are two options:
1) Students who are not enrolled in summer academy classes can still request free meals at summer school locations. See details.
2) Virginia's SUN Bucks program provides a one-time $120 food benefit to purchase groceries this summer. Families who receive SNAP, TANF, or an income-based medical assistance program will automatically receive SUN Bucks. Other families may also qualify and can apply.
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This summer, make plans to take care of you and your family:
- Be sure to get your student's vaccinations updated (especially for rising grades K, 7, and 12). Blue Ridge Health Department has a Back to School Immunizations webpage.
- Schedule sports physicals for athletes.
- Need help with mental health or substance use? We partner with Care Solace for free help connecting families with resources.
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Buford’s UVA Innovation Hub and CCS’s iSTEM program have received state recognition as "Programs that Work." The iSTEM PreK–4 program provides students with hands-on science, engineering, and computer science experiences embedded into the elementary school day, building a bridge to the UVA Innovation Hub, in grades 7-8. This lab school initiative, developed in partnership with the University of Virginia, is embedded within students’ regular science classes with computational thinking, design challenges, and community-connected STEM experiences. Learn more about these award-winning programs!
GET INVOLVED IN SCIENCE AT CCS: The Innovation Hub is seeking students and parents/guardians to serve on an advisory committee. Apply here.
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- Six 4th graders from Trailblazer Elementary auditioned and were selected to participate in the All Virginia Chorus. Congratulations to (left-to-right): Alton Rihner, Salima Buluma, Evie Chen, Amarah Johnson, Vera Sheynkman, and Sofia Jimenez.
- The Buford Middle School Orchestra earned Best Overall Middle School Orchestra (and 1st place superior) at the Music in the Parks competition at Busch Gardens. The musicians excelled despite starting the day with a flat tire on their bus, which caused them to arrive 1.5 hours late, just in time to go on stage! We're proud of your skill and poise!
- Jackson-Via 2nd-grader Zoe Halbert was a winner in Mr. Alex-Zan's My Help List essay competition.
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Maggie Shaw at Summit and Amrit Tamang at Greenbrier were honored as "student peace-keepers" by the UVA Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
- Congrats to CHS students Spencer Boggs, Ginger Craghead-Way, and Charlotte Abney − their film Junebug and the Sun was selected as a finalist for the VHSL Film Festival!
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Knight School students at Lugo-McGinness Academy worked with 4-H to learn garden skills including planting crops, making compost bins, and cooking farm-fresh produce.
- Congratulations to all of the artists and writers whose work is featured in this year's Unfinished Jigsaw!
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- Seniors Thimson Duolo (left) and Amin Zakari (right), leaders of CHS's defending state champion soccer team, committed to playing at Virginia Military Institute and Randolph Macon, respectively, next year. Read this week's Daily Progress Athlete Spotlight featuring Thimson.
- The Charlottesville High School Orchestra won every possible award at Music in the Parks in Williamsburg. Their two ensembles earned 1st and 2nd place in the AA High School Orchestra division, received Outstanding Orchestra, and were honored with the Esprit de Corps Award. You can help the CHSO as they continue fundraising for their summer tour to Spain & Portugal.
- Junior Sam Palmer broke the CHS mile record (which had stood for over 50 years). The previous record-holder, Doug Horn, officially passed the record baton to Sam at CHS. Read more in the Daily Progress or watch on CBS19. Sam broke the record at the Carolina Distance Carnival − there, he, Elaina Pierce, and Juliana Pierce qualified for New Balance Nationals in June.
- Senior Afton VanHooser competed in the Eastern National Gymnastics Championships in Fort Lauderdale, bringing home gold on the high bar. He finished third in the rings and fourth in the pommel horse. Watch the story on 29News.
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Join us in honoring our retirees, including five employees who have worked with Cville Schools for more than three decades! Pictured: Trailblazer teacher Leslie Hunter with Dr. Gurley at our retirement reception. Congrats to these Cville Schools retirees:
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Luella Anderson-Smith, Jackson-Via, 37 years with CCS 🎉
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Dorothy Carney, Buford, 23 years
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Mary Craig, Summit, 13 years
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Nancy Goodwin, Burnley-Moran, 30 years 🎉
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Marlaine Hall, CATEC, 19 years
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Leslie Hunter, Trailblazer, 32 years🎉
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Charles “Chip” King, Adult Education via PVCC, 13 years
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Sheri Little, CHS, 7 years
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Robert Reid, City Yard, 33 years🎉
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Francien Vigour, Walker, 17 years
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Bonnie Vineyard, Trailblazer, 3 years
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Lisa Yates, Central Office, 33 years🎉
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The Board passed the rezoning plan as recommended in January. Partial implementation begins in August 2027, with full implementation scheduled in August 2029. Exemptions include allowing families to apply for early or delayed implementation. Find more at charlottesvilleschools.org/zoning.
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As a follow-up to the Board's March 27 decision to restore school resource officers to our safety model, the superintendent's advisory committee met to discuss feedback from stakeholders, including student focus groups recently held during some health and English classes. Next steps include drafting a MOU and soliciting public feedback.
Find more details from the May 1 meeting in the Mini-Minutes.
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PowerSchool announced that a threat actor has reached out to multiple school districts (although not CCS) in an attempt to extort them using data from the incident in December 2024. PowerSchool does not believe this is a new incident. PowerSchool is working with cybersecurity experts to assess this development and have reported it to law enforcement in Canada and the U.S. If there is an incident involving Charlottesville Schools (including CATEC) we will notify impacted people. PowerSchool is offering free credit monitoring and identity protection. Learn more.
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To comply with a federal executive order, the Virginia Department of Education will no longer accept a legal sex other than F or M on school divisions’ state reports. This change has no impact on Charlottesville Schools’ own records or its commitment to supporting students and families. If a child does not have an F or an M listed as their legal sex, we will confer with the family about how to handle the state reporting. |
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To address unsafe street conditions during student arrival and dismissal, the City of Charlottesville has installed school zone speed cameras at Buford, Johnson, and Summit. Beginning May 19, cameras started monitoring for speeding violations during arrival and dismissal. Initially, warnings will be given to motorists instead of citations. Learn more.
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ABOVE, LEFT: Jackson-Via students enjoying Ivy Creek.
ABOVE, RIGHT: Walker students spotting their artwork on the downtown mall. All City Schools classes visited the exhibition!
BELOW: Buford's final concert (before it becomes Charlottesville Middle School) featured the combined band and orchestra.
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Parents/guardians of current students automatically receive this monthly newsletter from the division. Other community members are welcome to subscribe here!
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