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September News & Highlights
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Dear Cville Schools community–
Sixty-five years ago, 12 courageous young people desegregated Charlottesville City Schools. Every September, we commemorate the actions of these students and their parents on Charlottesville 12 Day. This year, we made recognition of their courage a permanent feature of our division: we renamed Venable Elementary as Trailblazer in their honor.
Below, you’ll see a photo of some of those 1959 trailblazers and their family members surrounding current students of Trailblazer Elementary as they officially cut the ribbon on the school’s new name. Like any of us, these individuals just wanted what was best for themselves and their neighbors. Because of their bravery, our community is a better place. We thank these trailblazers for their leadership and courage, and for inspiring our current students to blaze their own trails today.
We have had a strong start to the year here in Charlottesville. Read on for opportunities to connect with our community, celebrate our talented students and staff, and keep up with the latest news.
I look forward to working together toward a great year.
Dr. G
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Students who desegregated Charlottesville City Schools in 1959 joined us to cut the ribbon on the newly renamed Trailblazer Elementary School on Monday morning. Watch the story on NBC29.
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Upcoming community events
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Middle & Elementary School Family Tailgates This Fall! 🏈🏐🏑
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The Black Knights Athletics Club invites elementary and middle school families out to 2024 fall tailgates. Enjoy pregame activities, refreshments, and free game tickets to support our CHS student-athletes.
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Football: Friday, Sept. 27 vs. Fluvanna
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Volleyball: Tuesday, Oct. 15 vs. Goochland
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Field Hockey: Tuesday, Oct. 22 vs. Louisa
At CHS games, only clear bags are allowed, and there will be metal detectors at any event with expected attendance of 250+.
Note: while all families are invited to attend these games, these tailgates & free tickets are for middle and high school families.
These events are supported by the C-will Fund (www.C-will.org), CCS Family Engagement Office, and CHS Activities Department.
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Join the Conversation on Cell Phones, Mental Health, and Childhood: 7pm, Sept. 19 @ CHS
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As part of a statewide event sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education, you are invited to CHS on Thursday, September 19 at 7pm for a discussion about cell phones, mental health, play, and childhood. We'll watch a livestreamed conversation between The Anxious Generation author Jonathan Haidt and the First Lady of Virginia Suzanne Youngkin. After the livestream, we’ll have small-group discussion about creating best practices for cell phones and social media both in and out of school. Schools across the state are serving as sites for this livestream event and discussion. The event at CHS is organized by Cville Schools and the PTOs of CHS and Walker/Buford. Learn more and RSVP here. This event follows the release of Virginia’s draft guidance for K-12 schools on cell phones, which matches Cville Schools’ policy of “Off and Away the Entire Day.”
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What's new around the division
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Zoning Conversations Set for Fall
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As new housing is built and the City's population grows, we are facing potential overcrowding or the need to install learning cottages at some elementary schools unless we revise our school zones. We have hired a firm to assist us with these potential revisions. Following community presentations and engagements this fall, the Board will vote on recommendations in February 2025, with likely implementation in August 2026, which would coincide with the return of 5th-graders to elementary schools. To learn more, watch the recent School Board presentation or visit our Zoning page and stay tuned for ways to engage this fall.
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Schools Win State Award for Wellness
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Congratulations to our schools for a strong showing in the 2023-24 Governor's Scorecard on Nutrition and Physical Activity awards! Johnson Elementary won Silver; Bronze went to Burnley-Moran, Greenbrier, Jackson-Via, Trailblazer, Walker, and CHS; Participation Awards went to Buford and Summit. The Scorecard measures best practices in physical activity and education, health education, food access and quality, and overall school wellness environment.
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Get Ready for Charlottesville Middle School!
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Construction on the future Charlottesville Middle School (CMS) continues at pace! All structural steel and concrete floor slabs are in place on the new academic building, and exterior brick work is starting this month. Geothermal wells are complete, and half the athletic fields have grass seed down. We are on track for 7th and 8th grade to move into this new construction next fall, when the school will officially become CMS. Visit the Middle School Modernization page for more updates.
Additionally, next fall the school’s mascot will become the Young Knights (see logo, left). A committee of students, staff, and parents recommended the Young Knights after reviewing feedback from our two community surveys held last year. Learn more about the new mascot.
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CHS Student Wins U.S. State Department Scholarship
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Congratulations to CHS senior Ruby Butler-Kuzmick for being awarded a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Scholarship from the US State Department for 2024-25. Ruby was one of only 65 students accepted into this competitive program in the US. She is spending the academic year in Senegal, where she is living with a host family, attending a local school, and acting as a youth ambassador.
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Reminder: When to Stay Home Sick
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For any illness, it is OK to go to school with just a mild runny nose or cough.
For respiratory illnesses, stay home sick when there is:
- Fever (100.0°F+) within the last 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine
- Uncontrolled cough or nasal drainage
- Diarrhea or vomiting within the last 24 hours
Return to school when...
- Overall symptoms are improving AND
- No fever for 24 hours without taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- No vomiting or diarrhea in last 24 hours
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Celebrate CHS's Golden Anniversary
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CATEC 50th Anniversary Open House, Saturday, Sept. 28, 10am-1pm. Click here for flyer.
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CHS Homecoming Football Game vs Monticello, Friday, Oct. 11, 7pm. Remember: clear bags only, with screening by metal detectors
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CHS 50th Anniversary Alumni Concert, Saturday, Nov. 16, 3:30 pm, Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center. Want to perform? Sign up here!
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Supporting future leaders on our staff
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Nine Cville Schools staff just completed Longwood University’s Educational Leadership program: Elizabeth Bohannon (Walker), Latoya Brown (Buford), Maelys Croce (Johnson), Melanie Johnson (Greenbrier), Andy Jones (CHS), Elena Kryzhanovskaya (Walker), Alexis Mason (CHS), Cicely Shelton (Trailblazer), and Tiffany Stauffer (CHS). Congratulations!
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Our stellar arts educators are stellar artists, too! Congratulations to CHS Theatre Director David Becker, who starred as “the Observer” (above) in the Four County Players’ production of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together (read about it in The Daily Progress).
To see even more staff on stage, come to the CHS Faculty Concert, Thursday, Sept. 19, 7pm at the CHS Black Box Theatre.
And come on out to PVCC this fall to see the art exhibit “Those Who Teach Can,” running September 20-November 9, with an opening reception on September 20 from 5-7pm. The exhibit includes work by Cville Schools staff Melissa Combs (Trailblazer), Aaron Eichorst (fine arts coordinator), Jennifer Kett (CHS), Alissa Drolshagen (Greenbrier), Lou Haney (Buford), Evelyn Reid (Summit), and Samantha Pagni (CHS)! Click here for more information.
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Help Our Schools Stock Up on Snacks and Cleaning Wipes!
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We’re asking for community support to fill our school snack closets and stock up on classroom disinfectant wipes! Order directly from our Amazon Snack Wishlist and Amazon Wipes Wishlist. You can also drop off items at the school of your choice or at the CHS Annex located at 1400 Melbourne Road. Donations will be accepted through Friday, October 11.
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In Case You Missed It: Food Resources, Chromebook Info, and Clarification about Lockdown Drills
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The division recently sent out two important updates:
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Read the most recent School Board Mini Minutes, with a variety of updates, including a check-in with CHS Principal Dr. Justin Malone; progress on the future Charlottesville Middle School; the first of several reports about student SOL data for our schools, and more.
The School Board also welcomes its three new CHS student representatives (each rep serves for 3 months): Anya Hudock (12th grade), Nulia Obiorah (12th grade), and Harper Ullrich (11th grade).
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Cville Schools in the News
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“She helps me when I’m sad, and she’s very precious and cute.”
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CHS Urban Farming in Full Bloom
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Urban Farming at CHS began as an after-school club working on a neglected garden plot. Ten years later it's a full-credit course in the Career and Technical Education track, with 72 enrolled students learning entrepreneurial skills as they tend to chickens and crops (see the carrot harvest from last spring, above). C-Ville Weekly recently profiled the program and its leader, Peter Davis.
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Joyful sendoff for the Cavaliers
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Last week, UVA Football got a boost of good cheer from our elementary students during a parade through the halls of Trailblazer. The team went on to win against Wake Forest. Coincidence? You decide! Watch the story on CBS19.
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Hoos your engineering mentor?
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Senior CHS engineering students are getting hands-on mentorship this semester from UVA graduate student scientists! The partnership between CHS and the UVA Link Lab is all about encouraging students to find cyber solutions for real-world problems. Watch the story on NBC29.
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Back to school means back to GYM!
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There is certainly no shortage of P.E. fans in elementary school! Here, Summit students have a ball under the parachute.
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💙 Share the Love of Cville Schools 💙
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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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