National Principals Month: We're Celebrating Our Principals!
Dr. Kelly Grant has been the Principal of Lewisville High School for the past 2 years, but was a student of Chester County School District for 12 years. He enjoys being outdoors, playing golf with his daughter, and cheering on the Lions to victory!
To Dr. Grant, being a school principal means pouring knowledge and experience into the students of Chester County in the same ways that he benefited as a student of CCSD.
Thank you for all you do, Dr. Grant!
It's Red Ribbon Week, a time to promote living drug-free and making healthy choices. By staying drug-free, we build safer communities and brighter futures. Let's support each other in making positive decisions and creating lasting change!
National Principals Month: We're Celebrating Our Principals!
Dr. Tonya Campbell, Principal of Chester Park Elementary School of Inquiry, has been with CCSD for 20 years! She has three sons, whom she considers as blessings, and keep her motivated. She loves to read and collect children's books. On her free time she enjoys reading and shopping online.
To Dr. Campbell, Being a school principal can mean a lot of different things, depending on one's perspective and experiences. It means being an advocate for teachers and students. It means committing to professional growth, embracing new educational practices, and adapting to the ever-changing scope of education while supporting teachers in their development through feedback and helping them grow in their careers. Most importantly, being a principal is envisioning the future of education and preparing students for the challenges and opportunities they will face.
Thank you, Dr. Campbell!
National Principals Month: We're Celebrating Our Principals!
Teresa Edwards is now over the District's new Level Up program, but has been with CCSD since 2007. She is a dedicated mother, wife, and educator.
She says that being the coordinator of Level Up means guiding students toward success by providing targeted support where they need it most. It involves identifying students' strengths and challenges, designing tailored interventions to help them improve, and working closely with teachers and parents to ensure a collaborative approach. It's about making a meaningful impact on young learners' lives, helping them build confidence and skills that set them on a path toward future success while fostering a supportive, nurturing environment.
Thank you for all you do, Ms. Edwards!
National School Bus Safety Week aims to educate the public on school bus safety and encourage drivers to slow down and prepare to stop when they see a school bus. Thank you to our incredible drivers for doing all they can to ensure our students make it to and from school daily!
FREE for all ages! Chester High School is hosting a Fall Festival on October 29, from 6:30-8:30 pm. This is a free event that is open to the public. Join Chester High School for a fun-filled evening just in time for the Halloween season! Details are in the flyer below.
This week during National School Lunch Week, we’re celebrating the importance of healthy and nutritious meals for students across the country. School lunches are more than just a meal – they fuel our kids' minds, help them stay focused, and support their growth and development!
Let’s give a huge shoutout to ALL the hardworking Student Nutrition Staff who make sure our children get delicious, balanced meals every day! Show your support in the comments!
As we have worked to address our high school facility needs, we have engaged our community and sought the input and feedback of our families, staff, and community members. The district began by conducting a thorough facilities study at each school site to identify the most critical needs.
In March 2024, the district conducted a community-wide survey to inform residents about our facility challenges and needs and seek community feedback on possible solutions as the next step in the district’s long-range facility plan. A total of 1,140 community members completed the survey.
District leaders and the Board of School Trustees carefully reviewed and considered the input from the community survey as they determined the next steps in this important process. This led to the Board’s approval of a bond referendum question for the November 5th ballot.
Learn more: https://www.chester.k12.sc.us/page/2024-bond
CCSD is introducing My Ride K-12, a parent communication app, to its transportation operations!
My Ride K-12 is a mobile app integrated with student transportation software that allows both you and your student to access estimated times of arrival or departure for your bus. This helps ensure that you and your students are on time for pick-ups and drop-offs while making the bus route more efficient.
My Ride K-12 is now available for you to download on your Apple or Android mobile device. Simply search the app store for “My Ride K-12” to download and register yourself on the app.
For more information on how to register, visit: https://www.chester.k12.sc.us/page/my-ride-k-12
Today, CCSD Director of Safety Jorge Alicea and SRO Ward joined the students at Great Falls Elementary School to take the National Day of Concern about Young People and Gun Violence student pledge. We stand behind these students as they unite against gun violence!
Schools in Chester County are celebrating Unity Day & the National Day of Concern about Young People and Gun Violence. Huge thanks to Chester County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Attorney's Office (SC) for speaking to CMS students on standing united against bullying and gun violence.
Staff from across CCSD met today for LETRS training. This is just one of several professional development sessions that took place as part of our OEC partnership with surrounding school districts.
REMINDER: The CCSD Board Candidate Forum, hosted by the CCSD Teacher Forum, will take place on October 15, 2024, at the Chester Middle School auditorium. See the candidates speak in person, or watch live on the District's YouTube channel. The forum will begin at 6:00 pm.
REMINDER: Monday, October 14, 2024, is our District OEC Professional Development Day. There will be no school for students.
All normal school operations will resume on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Even if you do not have children attending our schools, the results of an approved bond referendum could extend to the entire community. Strong schools can attract families, support local businesses, and create a vibrant, engaged community.
Additionally, schools serve the entire community. Our facilities hosted various community events, adult education programs, recreational activities, and more.
On November 5th, our community will vote on a proposed capital referendum to build two new high schools and make key additions to Great Falls High School.
Learn more: https://www.chester.k12.sc.us/page/2024-bond
The CCSD Board Candidate Forum, hosted by the CCSD Teacher Forum, will take place on October 15, 2024, at the Chester Middle School auditorium. Come see the candidates speak in person, or watch live on the District's YouTube channel. The forum will begin at 6:00 pm.
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, our community will vote on a $227 million bond referendum question. If it’s approved, CCSD would rebuild Chester High School and Lewisville High School while making key improvements and additions to Great Falls High School.
The bond referendum is intended to ensure generations of our students have access to the facilities, resources, and spaces they need to prepare for the opportunities and challenges of the future.
The estimated property tax increase would be $230 on every $100,000 of assessed home value. The tax increase on a motor vehicle worth $10,000 would be an estimated $34.50 per year.
Find more information here: https://www.chester.k12.sc.us/page/2024-bond
DATE REMINDERS:
Tomorrow, October 4, 2024, will be a half day for students. Dismissal times are as follows:
• Elementary Schools: 11:15 AM
• Middle Schools: 12:00 PM
• High Schools: 12:15 PM
As previously announced, the weather make-up day scheduled for November 25, 2024, has been shifted to Monday, October 7, 2024, and has been designated as an eLearning Day. Please confirm all assignments with your child’s teacher.
The Fall intersession week for Chester County School District students will occur October 8 - 11, 2024.
The District’s OEC Professional Development Day will be Monday, October 14, 2024. There will be no school for students.
All normal school operations will resume Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
CCSD previously announced that the weather make-up day for Monday, September 30, 2024, would take place on November 25, 2024. Due to updated communication from the SC Department of Education, an eLearning Day can be used in place of physically making up the weather day in extreme circumstances, such as those associated with Hurricane Helene.
Therefore, the District has decided to move the weather make-up day to Monday, October 7, 2024, and designate it as an eLearning Day.
With asynchronous instruction, students work independently on the assignments provided. Teachers will advise students of all assignments for the day and will be available during normal school hours via email to provide support as needed.
The original decision to delay the make-up day until November was due to the closeness of the October 7th date, which would have had a greater impact on families and staff members, who already had plans scheduled ahead of time.
Today, we held our Annual Intern Breakfast at the District Office, and it was a wonderful event! A special thank you to Student Nutrition Services at Chester Park Complex for providing a delicious breakfast. We also want to extend our gratitude to Blake Barron (LHS), De'Harion Mobley (COLT), and Kara Murrell (CHS) for joining us and serving on the teacher panel.
Interns had a fantastic opportunity to ask questions about teaching and learn more about the Chester County School District.
