Clipper Connection

Greetings, CUSD Families!

I can’t believe it’s almost time for winter recess! Please note: Winter recess will begin on Friday, December 20, which is a change from the original calendar. Take note of the next section in this newsletter for all the details.

Students will return to school on Monday, January 6, 2025, following staff in-service days on January 2 and 3.

As we head into the holiday season, I want to take a moment to wish everyone a restful and joyful winter break. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day, or simply spending time with loved ones, I hope it’s filled with happiness, peace, and great memories.

This issue of Clipper Connection is packed with important updates, including information about upcoming district-wide events and public/community meetings, as well as highlights from recent activities like the Title I Fall Family Summit. Be sure to check it out.

Again, families please note some important updates to the school calendar, including changes to the start of winter recess. Winter recess now begins on Friday, December 20, with Thursday, December 19, being a half-day for students. Schools will reopen for students on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Key dates to remember:

• Staff In-Service Day
  No School for Students: Today, December 11
• Professional Development Day
  Half-Day for Students: Thursday, December 19
• Winter Recess
  Schools Closed: Friday, December 20, 2024 - Wednesday, January 1, 2025
• Staff In-Service Days
  No School for Students: Thursday, January 2, 2025, and Friday, January 3, 2025

Please mark your calendars and plan accordingly.

I’m excited to recognize our November Staff Members of the Month!

Across CUSD, we have countless staff members who go above and beyond to support our scholars and school community. Last month, a few individuals truly stood out for their contributions.

Join me in congratulating the following CUSD staff members for being named November’s Staff Members of the Month at their respective schools!

November Staff Members of the Month:

• Lakiesha Lewis (9th Grade Science Teacher) - CHS
• Rachael Thomson (12th Grade Math Teacher, Pre-Calculus) - STEM
• J'me Johnson (Instructional Teacher Leader) - Main Street
• Ashamalanda Rooney Autistic Support Teacher, 3rd-5th Grades) - ESA Elementary
• Matthew Mundy (Social Studies Teacher) - ESA Middle School
• Nancy Peltier-Murray (Learning Support Teacher) - Stetser
• Tamiko Barber (Reading Specialist) - CUSA
• Tammy Sarosy (Life Skills Teacher) - Toby Farms

At CUSD's reorganization meeting on December 5, the School Board of Directors selected new leadership. Amanda Johnson has been appointed as Board President, and Beverly Harris will serve as Vice President.

I'm excited to see Ms. Johnson and Ms. Harris step into their new leadership roles. Both bring a wealth of experience, energy, and vision, having already served with dedication on the Board of Directors. I am confident their leadership will continue to drive our district toward success.

I look forward to working closely with them as we strengthen our schools and community together.

Reminder -- Our annual District-Wide Science Fair is December 18 at CHS.

Our scholars have been working so hard these last several weeks to create projects that highlight this year’s theme-- “Careers in the Field of Science.”

I can’t wait to see their creativity and innovation on display. This event is also open to the community so if you have time to stop by and support our scholars, we would greatly appreciate it.

EVENT DETAILS:

• DATE: Wednesday, December 18
• LOCATION: CHS
• TIME: 10 a.m. - noon

CUSD’s annual Winter Concert is back, and this year we are “Spreading Love Through The Arts.” I hope you will join us for an evening of incredible performances by our talented student performers.

You won’t want to miss this event and all the fun.

EVENT DETAILS:

• DATE: Wednesday, December 18
• LOCATION: CHS
• TIME: 5:30 PM

Tickets can be purchased through any building principal. For more information, please contact Dr. Bradley at 267-337-3123.

I look forward to seeing you there!

On behalf of CUSD and our Parent University, I’d like to invite our families to an important community discussion about ways we can work together to remove lead and protect the health of our children.

During this event, we’ll hear from public health experts who will talk about:

• The effects of lead exposure.
• How lead impacts children in our community.
• An upcoming lead testing campaign.

EVENT DETAILS

• DATE: Monday, January 6
• LOCATION: CHS
• TIME:
• Reception: 4:15 – 5:30 PM
• Meeting: 5:30 PM

Although Thanksgiving has passed, I want to highlight a heartfelt contribution to our district courtesy of Linebacker Nakobe Dean from the Philadelphia Eagles, CF Charities, and Mercy Chefs.

Thanks to their contributions, our Chief of Staff, Mrs. Averette was able to deliver over 25 turkeys and gift baskets to CUSD families in our district.

A big thank you to everyone involved for making this possible!

This past Saturday, CUSD hosted our Annual Title 1 Fall Family Summit at STEM in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Chester, the CAAT Center, and our 21st CCLC program.

Families enjoyed a day filled with engaging educational workshops tailored to different age groups. The workshops covered important topics like drug prevention, bullying, and other age-specific concerns.

The event also featured a variety of vendors, interactive activities for children, and a special musical performance by the talented Main Street Choir.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Averette and Ms. Hales for coordinating this event, as well as our partners from the Boys and Girls Club and the CAAT Center for their ongoing support of CUSD.

We hope everyone who attended had a great time. If you missed it, no worries, we are also hosting a spring summit.

Last week, we held a College & Career Fair at CHS to help our future leaders explore their next steps after graduation.

Juniors and seniors had the opportunity to connect with nearly two dozen local colleges, universities, and trade schools. The event also featured representatives from the Pennsylvania Army & National Guard, as well as local businesses.

Thank you to Mr. Franklin, our College and Career Advisor, as well as CUSD’s counseling staff and CHS building leadership for helping to make this event a success.

During halftime at the game on December 3, Chester High School alum and former Athletic Director Jeffery “Randy” Legette was celebrated for his incredible contributions to our district.

A proud member of the Class of 1975, Mr. Legette spent 33 years serving CUSD as a Dean of Students, coach for multiple sports teams, and Athletic Director for an impressive 22 years.

Mr. Legette officially retired in 2016, but his impact on our schools and students continues to be felt. The Athletics Department honored him for his dedication, service, and the legacy he built within our community.

We couldn’t be prouder to recognize one of our own—congratulations, Mr. Legette!

As we enter the second week of December, I hope you’ve been keeping up with our weekly SEL: Promoting Positive Actions calendars on our platforms.

If you haven’t had a chance, don’t worry—here’s the full calendar for the entire month!

Take a moment to explore the activities and tasks planned for December. Let’s finish the year strong together!