CCPS Express

The first semester of this school year has been marked by numerous achievements that support the goals of our Achieve 2027 Strategic Plan. Take a moment to watch the brief video overview of CCPS student and staff successes. Wishing you all a Happy New Year, and here's to an even more successful second semester ahead!

Sarah Calveric, Ph.D.

Our CCPS Superintendent's Advisory Committee will be meeting on Monday, January 27. This meeting will cover the architectural firm's Facility Study and Demographic study report findings. These findings will inform the future new facility/renovation recommendations put forth by the School Board for Board of Supervisor and community consideration. While committee members will be present, this meeting is open to ALL CCPS parents. Please join us in the CMS auditorium at 5:00 to better understand the impact aging infrastructure, population growth, and diversifcation of student services is having upon the school division's future construction roadmap!

Thank you to the school community members who responded to our FY26 Budget Survey and/or participated in a budget activity in a CCPS advisory meeting. Your input guided the school division's FY26 initial budget priorities which will be highlighted at the beginning of the Budget Public Hearing on Monday, January 13 (6:30 at CMS). If you would like to advocate for any of the following priorities or any item not noted below, please plan to join us!

Initial FY26 Budget Priorities: Employee Compensation, Health Insurance Increase; Exceptional Education Positions (skilled nurses, paraprofessionals, building IEP case managers, teacher); Student Support Services (secondary mental health provider, 3 CHS counselor contract lengthening, .5 counseling position); General Education Teachers (Reading Coach-currently grant funded, Innovation Specialist-currently grant funded, Classroom Teachers - Spanish, English Language Learner, elective, English); Support Staff (lunch buddies, payroll specialist, BGES administrative intern-currently grant funded, 2 administrative assistants); Technology (student Chromebook replacement, classroom projector/TV replacement, staff laptop replacement).

As we start the new year, we are excited to share an invaluable resource that reflects our spirit of care and commitment to the whole child.

This ParentGuidance Coaching micro-tutorial video is designed to inspire and empower us all—families, caregivers, and educators alike—by providing tools to navigate the holidays with greater balance and well-being. It’s a reminder that by supporting one another, we strengthen the vibrant community that makes CCPS so special. Watch the video here: Coaching Video Tutorial

Sharing resources like these helps de-stigmatize conversations around mental health while bringing the gift of hope to those who may be feeling vulnerable this season. Just one family sharing this with another can spark a wave of connection and care across our community. Together, we can ensure Caroline County Public Schools continue to shine as a place where every child, family, and staff member is nurtured and supported—a place to thrive, learn, and create.

If you have any questions, contact Coordinator of Student Support Services, Rachel Wheeler at rwheeler@ccps.us.

The Virginia Department of Education is offering a series of feedback sessions for parents, educators, and community members to share their thoughts on the Virginia Board of Education’s newly proposed School-Connected Overdose Response and Notification Guidelines to help local school divisions develop effective action plans for school-connected overdoses and timely parental notification. Those interested in attending or speaking at a feedback session must register using the following Zoom links listed below. Public comment regarding the Guidelines may also be provided through this public comment form.

• Thursday, January 9, 2025 — 5:30-7 p.m.
  • January 9 Zoom Link & Speaker Registration

• Monday, January 13, 2025 — 5:30-7 p.m.
  • January 13 Zoom Link & Speaker Registration

• Tuesday, January 14, 2025 — 5:30-7 p.m.
  • January 14 Zoom Link & Speaker Registration

The Virginia Department of Education is partnering with CCPS to provide a Student Assessment Summary report for students in grades 4-12. The report is a product of the VVAAS (Virginia's Visualization and Analytics Solution) system that provides information to help school divisions and parents support students. The report details a child's SOL performance over time as well as how a child's performance compares to other students across the Commonwealth. Reports will be sent home by schools the week of January 6. Parents will receive an email which includes a letter from the state superintendent. It is important to note that VVAAS is only able to generate reports for students who have taken at least two SOL tests. If a student is new to the Commonwealth or has not taken at least two SOL tests, then, parents will not receive a student assessment summary report.

Join HR and the Richmond Teacher Residency Program on January 14th at 5:00 PM for an exciting information session tailored for aspiring educators! Caroline County Public Schools is thrilled to announce plans to host two residents in the program next year. Eligible applicants should hold an associate's degree or have completed at least two years of college. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more—sign up for the information session using the link provided!

Mark your calendars! CCPS will host a Substitute Interview Day on January 15th from 10 AM-12 PM. Substitute teachers can earn $110 per day, while long-term substitutes earn between $180 and $210 per day. Interested applicants can apply directly on our website. For any questions about substitute opportunities, contact Alexcis Callahan at Acallahan@ccps.us. Ready to join our team? Apply here: CCPS Substitute Application.

To see all of our opportunities and/or apply with us online, click here.

Come out and support the inaugural Caroline Education Foundation Golf Tournament in partnership with The Golf Club at Mattaponi Springs and CCPS. All proceeds will support the CEF's continued work associated with student scholarships, educator innovation grants, and other CCPS educational efforts! If you like to golf or you know a business who would be interested in participating, check out the flyer for more information. We hope to see you on Friday, April 25th!

While germs and sickness can definitely require absenteeism, regular school attendance is essential to student performance and social-emotional growth! Take a look at attendance at each CCPS school building. Let's work together to drive these numbers down! Our goal is for each school to be "GREEN", which would indicate each school has 15% or less of the total student population in attendance for at least 90% of the school year! As a reminder, students are chronically absent at the end of the year if they've missed 10% or more of the school year, which is approximately 17 days.

Should you need support in developing an individualized attendance plan for your student, please email our attendance officer, Ms. Jen Larsen at jlarsen@ccps.us.

The Virginia Lottery is now accepting art submissions from K-12 students for their annual Thank a Teacher Art Contest. Click HERE for more information. Submissions are due February 3, 2023.

The winter months are officially here which means the opportunity for inclement weather rises. As such, the school division works continuously to ensure the safety of CCPS staff and students while also minimizing disruptions to teaching and learning. With that being said, Mother Nature has a way of appearing unexpectedly, so we want each household to be prepared should this occur!

ASSESSING WINTER WEATHER

Division staff monitor weather reports from various sources: National Weather Service, the Sheriff’s Office, and local news channels. If snow, ice, freezing rain, or extremely cold temperatures are predicted, CCPS determines if conditions could be hazardous to buses/cars, students waiting at bus stops, and student/staff drivers. Additionally, with our bus route spanning over 550 square miles, inclement weather may occur in isolated pockets of the county. Because of this, our “road crew” assesses road conditions in multiple locations to be certain travel is safe across the whole school division.

MAKING A TIMELY DECISION

Whenever forecast data permits, CCPS strives to make a decision the night before, so our families are better able to make alternate arrangements. However, when weather predictions are uncertain or evolving overnight, we use the early morning hours to gather additional weather information and assess road conditions. When this happens, crews are on the roads between 3:30-4:45 a.m., so the weather team and CCPS leadership are well equipped to make a call by 5 a.m. While early, a 5:00 a.m. decision allows the school division to send messaging out prior to buses, staff, and families getting on the road.

COMMUNICATING DELAYS AND CLOSINGS

When a school closure or delayed opening occurs, CCPS will communicate the information in the following ways:

• phone call and text message (Text “Y” to 67587 to receive text messages)
• email
• Facebook post on the CCPS division page
• media outlets (Channel 6, Channel 8, Channel 12, WFVA 1230/ B101.5, WNNT, WRAR, FM 95.9, FM 104.5, Fredericksburg.com, Caroline Alert)
• CCPS website (ccps.us)

While making inclement weather calls may appear easy, it is a rather complex process requiring data, people, and tremendous communication. We thank you in advance for your support of our efforts to keep our students and staff safe while protecting quality teaching and learning as appropriate and feasible!

Applications are now open for our CCPS governor’s at STEM/Lab school programs:

8th Graders in algebra are eligible to apply for Commonwealth Governor’s School. CGS students travel to King George for half a day each school day for all core subjects; math, science, English, and history. Classes are heavily AP-based courses with interdisciplinary connections. Field experiences including plays, trips to Shenandoah, D.C and even Philadelphia are integral parts of the CGS experience. Learn more at https://cgsva.org/.

ALL 8th graders are eligible to apply for the Academy for Technology and Innovation. ATI is a full-day lab school focused on STEM, computer science, and data science. Applications are based on a lottery system as are all lab schools in Virginia. Students spend their school day at the Stafford Campus of Mary Washington University engaging in all core subject and elective courses. Learn more at https://atiumw.org/.

9th graders in geometry are eligible to apply for Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School. CBGS has a marine and environmental focus. Students take their math and science courses at the Bowling Green campus of CBGS. Field experiences explore geography and water environments including the mountains, Chesapeake Bay and even the Outer Banks. CBGS has a hands-on focus for learning science and math. Learn more and find the online application at https://cbgs.k12.va.us/.

All applications are due on Friday, January 10, 2025. Please email Mrs. Kiger with questions or for more information at hkiger@ccps.us.

Ashley Daig, is a highly dedicated and versatile educator at Bowling Green Elementary, where she has made a significant impact since joining the school in August 2017. With a degree in Elementary Education from Bridgewater College and a Master of Education in Administration from Grand Canyon University, Mrs. Daig has built a well-rounded and impressive career in education.

Throughout her time at BGES, she has excelled in a variety of roles, including collaborative teacher for both Kindergarten and third grade, summer school principal, after-school coordinator, and school club sponsor. Most recently, she has served as the lead mentor for the school, where her leadership and support of colleagues have been invaluable. Additionally, Mrs. Daig's resourcefulness was on full display when she volunteered her classroom to serve as the broadcasting studio for the morning announcements after the original space became unavailable.

What truly sets Mrs. Daig apart is her ability to foster an environment of excitement and engagement in the classroom. Her students eagerly look forward to being in her class, where they benefit from her deep content knowledge, relationship-building skills, and unmatched patience. She is a collaborative team player and maintains positive relationships with staff, contributing to a supportive school culture. Mrs. Daig is also committed to her professional growth, regularly engaging in professional development opportunities and applying new teaching strategies to improve her practice.

For all these reasons and many more, Mrs. Daig is an exemplary educator and a deserving recipient of the BGES Teacher of the Year award.

Mrs. Fox has been an educator with Caroline County Schools for 20 years, bringing a total of 24 years of experience in teaching grades 2 through 5. She resides in Richmond with her husband Kevin and is the proud mother of two sons Ethan Owen. In the classroom, her passion is for the growth and achievement of all of her students. She meets each child where they are and works every day to teach with her heart, support her students’ social and emotional skills, and to develop a love of reading.

Mrs. Fox serves as the third grade team leader and has held this role for several years. Under her leadership, the team consistently strives for excellence, and she is instrumental in guiding her novice colleagues to achieve outstanding outcomes for their students.

Mrs. Fox is the 3rd grade representative for the CCPS History Team and a trainer for Benchmark Advance (3-5). She is also serving on the division Budget Advisory Committee. This past summer, Mrs. Fox was part of the VDOE 3rd Grade Reading SOL Committee. Over the years, she has served as a new teacher mentor, helped to write science curriculum, served on numerous division committees, welcomed student teachers, and been a part of the Teacher’s for Tomorrow program at Caroline High School.

Mrs. Fox is an asset to MES and CCPS and deserving of this recognition as MES Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Matthias always has a positive attitude. She is always willing with a smile and gives 100% with all tasks. She is well loved by her students because she truly does make a meaningful connection with each of them.

Her colleagues share, "She’s always professional and sets a great example for both students and staff. Her ability to build strong, meaningful relationships with her students creates a positive and supportive classroom environment where learning thrives. I love going to her class and watching the students work, they are always on task and learning. Meadow is a team player who’s always willing to collaborate with her colleagues, sharing ideas and working together to help everyone succeed. She truly deserves this recognition!"

Mr. Barnes graduated from Longwood University in 2013 with a degree in History and Secondary Education. His career began as a Social Studies teacher at Dan River High School, where he taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. After relocating to the Richmond area in 2016, he joined Caroline Middle School, where he continues to teach. Throughout his tenure at Caroline, he has taught a wide range of subjects, including U.S. History I (USI) and World History I (WHI), and currently serves as the Head of the History Department.

Mr. Barnes has taken a leadership role this school year at CMS, guiding his students to effectively prepare for and succeed on Problem-Based Assessments in history, which will count as SOL verified credits. He has actively collaborated with fellow Social Studies teachers in his department, the division's Social Studies specialist, and testing coordinators to ensure that all requirements are met.

Mr. Barnes is an engaged and influential member of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) at CMS, where his input has played a key role in shaping the instructional non-negotiables for the 2024-2025 school year. He has leveraged the Problem-Based Assessment (PBA) platform to enhance literacy awareness and practices in his teaching, benefiting the students he serves. In addition to his commitment to literacy, Mr. Barnes has taken the lead at CMS in organizing the "Mission Tomorrow" field trip, which provides 8th-grade students with valuable career exploration opportunities.

Mrs. Gattie has over 15 years of teaching experience with the past three years at Caroline High School. A resident of Bowling Green, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to her students and the school community.

At CHS, Mrs. Gattie has elevated the Mass Media program to new heights, inspiring students by creating CAV Nation News and the Cavalier Podcast Network. She also piloted the AP Seminar course, providing students with a rigorous and engaging academic experience. Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Gattie has been a pillar of support for colleagues, stepping in to teach when needed and assisting with grading during absences.

Outside of the classroom, she facilitates the school's literary magazine and teaches adult English Language acquisition courses in the evening. Whether supporting athletics, volunteering, or mentoring students, Mrs. Gattie consistently exemplifies professionalism, enthusiasm, and care. Her ability to connect with students, inspire creativity, and foster collaboration makes her a model educator and a deserving recipient of the Caroline High School Teacher of the Year award.

Click HERE to access school menus and meal information.

The Caroline School Nutrition Department uses the NutriSlice app, which gives everyone access to nutritional information about our menu:

Take a look at the November 2024 School Board Meeting highlights:

Dec. 9, 2024 Regular School Board Meeting

• Workshop: FY26 Budget Workshop & Joint Legislative Resolution Discussion
• Achieve 2027 Spotlight: Performance Based Assessment for 3rd Grade Students
• Recognitions: VSBA President Announcement, Superintendent Art Honor, 2Q ABCD Staff Awards
• Information from the School Division: , Exceptional Education Student Overview and Monthly Update on Revenues and Expenditures
  
• Action: FY26-FY30 Capital Improvement Plan, Updated Cell Phone Policy, New Courses, CCPS Legislative Priorities and Joint SBO/BOS Legislative Resolution

The next School Board Meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2025 for reorganization. This meeting will also include the FY26 Budget Public Hearing.

The School Board would like to thank our citizens that attend, advocate, and speak during public comment. For more information on these topics, you can access the Boarddocs link or view the meeting at our CCPS YouTube Channel.

Last month, our partners from Hanover-Caroline Soil and Water Conservation visited Bowling Green and Madison Elementary Schools to deliver engaging environmental lessons for our third graders. Students explored the impact of waterway pollution and the importance of conserving our water resources. Through hands-on activities aligned with their curriculum, students gained a deeper understanding of water and soil conservation.

We love our Partners in Education! If you are interested in being a Partner in Education, click HERE

If you or someone you know is looking for local food pantries, you can use this Pantry Locater Map.

There is also an app: https://fredfood.org/Pantry-Locator-App

County Line Baptist Church Food Pantry is open on Wednesdays from 8:30am-1pm. Delivery possible if NO transportation.

January 6-7: Inclement Weather Closures

January 9: Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

January 13: School Board Mtg. (5:30pm) and FY26 Proposed Budget Public Hearing (6:30pm)

January 15: Report Card Distribution (Altered Due to Inclement Weather)

January 13-Jan 17: Virginia Principal's Appreciation Week

January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Schools Closed)

Website: www.ccps.us
School Board: 16261 Richmond Tnpk., Bowling Green, VA, USA
Phone: (804)633-5088 Twitter: @carolineschools

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolineschools