CCPS Express
Monthly Newsletter
Superintendent's Message ~ Spring Has Sprung
What a great feeling to have completed a 5-day school week! The series of inclement weather really did a number on teaching and learning, athletics and activity schedules, and various school based events. Let's hope that we are squarely entering spring with daylight savings beginning on March 9th!
Together, we can support our CCPS scholars with a strong finish to the 24-25 school year! This starts by being in the know! Take a look at the massive amount of information included in the March Express, reach out to you child's teacher(s), read to your student, check PowerSchool grades, and join us for an event or two!
As always, feel free to use Write CCPS or Ask the Superintendent to communicate questions, concerns, or compliments. You will receive responses within 24-28 hours! #OneCaroline
Sarah Calveric, Ph.D.
Caroline High School is excited to announce that, starting this spring, we will partner with the NFHS Network to bring live and on-demand streaming of our high school sports and events directly to you. This collaboration will allow families, friends, and fans to watch their favorite teams and activities from anywhere, ensuring you never miss a moment of the action. The NFHS Network is a paid subscription service that covers 27 different regular season and postseason sports, as well as other high school activities, celebrating the accomplishments of student-athletes, student broadcasters, and high schools across the country.
By joining the NFHS Network, we aim to enhance community engagement and provide greater exposure for our student-athletes. The platform is user-friendly and offers high-quality streaming, making it easier than ever to support our schools.
We look forward to launching this service in time for the spring sports season and will provide more details on how to access and subscribe (fee associated with service) in the coming weeks.
Come join us at the following meetings to hear more about the CCPS FY26 Budget. These meetings were originally slated for February but were shifted for better alignment with the County Administrator's budget presentation on March 24th.
1. Dr. Calveric will present the proposed CCPS FY26 Budget at the March 10, 2025 School Board Meeting.
2. Dr. Calveric and the School Board will present the approved CCPS FY26 Budget at the March 11, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting at the Caroline Community Center with the meeting starting at 6pm.
State Updates: The Senate and House crossover bills included approximately $1M of additional state funds to support additional support positions and special education. The budget bill also included state funding for a $1,000 bonus for Standards of Quality (SOQ) positions. The state budget is now awaiting Governor Youngkin's signature. He has until March 24th to approve or amend the budget bill. CCPS will continue to monitor the state budget in hopes the additional funding presented by the Senate and House are approved by the Governor.
CCPS is currently working on the implementation of a new product for student enrollment called Enrollment Express. This new application lives in our student information system, PowerSchool. When a new family comes to the division, the enrollment process will start on our website, https://www.ccps.us/. Families will select the enrollment link and complete basic demographic information. Once this information has been submitted, registrars will approve the initial form and families will receive an email with directions for creating a parent portal account. The remaining documents and agreements will be completed electronically in the portal application. Our first official use of this product will be for Kindergarten Registration in March. More information to come!
NEW RESOURCES - Monthly Mental Health Series
Check out this new resource (see calendar below)! In our partnership with the Cook Center and ParentGuidance.org, we invite you to be part of our new monthly mental health series. Below, you will find the link to the calendar of Mental Health Series topics that will be presented live in March. Each event will begin at 7 & 9 PM ET. See flyer below (Spanish MHS Flyer)
Please watch this 1 minute video overview to learn how to register for the live webinars. Once you register you can access all of the on demand resources. https://vimeo.com/1037509342
If you have any questions, contact our Coordinator of Student Support Services, Rachel Wheeler at rwheeler@ccps.us.
In partnership with The Advisory Council for Exceptional Education (ACEE) , this month's Exceptional Education Disability Awareness highlight focuses on Traumatic Brain Injuries.
“Traumatic brain injury” means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force or by other medical conditions, including stroke, anoxia, infectious disease, aneurysm, brain tumors, and neurological insults resulting from medical or surgical treatments, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma (34 CFR 300.8(c)(12)).”
VDOE Resources:
For more information on the eligibility process view the Virginia Department of Education’s Video Guide to the Special Education Evaluation Process for Families. Access these flyers for more information on steps to take when concerned about a child's development.
CCPS Virtual Teacher Job Fair
Join us for our CCPS Teacher Virtual Job Fair from February 3rd to March 31st! Simply register for a time that works best for you, and we’ll schedule an interview with a principal or an HR team member. We look forward to connecting with you!
Please note this fair is for external candidates only or for employees who are not currently in teaching positions.
Substitute Interview Day!
Mark your calendars! CCPS will host a Substitute Interview Day on March 14th 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.
Visit Caroline Days
Invite your friends to visit Caroline County! Know anyone who may be interested in teaching in Caroline! Invite them for a tour of our schools. Email Paige Tucker at ptucker@ccps.us for more information.
Pathways to Teaching in Caroline
Interested in becoming a full time teacher? Caroline County Public Schools offers several routes to teacher licensure for individuals holding a Bachelor's degree. Join us for a virtual information session on March 12, 2025. The registration link is: https://forms.gle/txfNG8Cnwr9rDUft8.
To see all of our opportunities and/or apply with us online, click here.
Grades 6-8 supplemental and intervention programs submitted for review by the Virginia Department of Education and under consideration for Board approval are available for public inspection through public review access codes. The public is invited to review and to submit written comments via this survey. Public comment for these materials will be collected February 20, 2025-March 24, 2025.
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:
Caroline High School Celebrates a Successful CTE Month
Caroline High School wrapped up a dynamic Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, emphasizing career readiness through hands-on learning. Students engaged in industry field trips, guest speaker sessions, and skill-based projects in healthcare, engineering, business, and more.
Highlights included:
- Teachers for Tomorrow students mentoring elementary students on career exploration.
- Building Trades Day, where Mr. Hughes’ classes collaborated with Habitat for Humanity and industry partners on a home build.
- Guest speakers from Chesterfield Police sharing insights on law enforcement careers.
- CTE Trade Show, featuring hands-on demonstrations from the Army National Guard, Air Force, Germanna Community College, and Allan Myers.
- Intern Expo, sponsored by the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, where two students earned top participation awards.
Looking ahead, March brings more career-focused events:
- Marine Career Day in Tappahannock, offering a deep dive into maritime careers.
- Caroline Sheriff’s Office Externship, providing three students with firsthand law enforcement experience.
- Sheehy Ford Automotive Tour, where students will shadow technicians.
- JA Finance Park, teaching Economics & Personal Finance students essential financial literacy skills.
These experiences bridge classroom learning with real-world application, preparing students for future careers. We appreciate the businesses supporting our mission! If you’re interested in partnering with our CTE program, contact Melissa Frye (mfrye@ccps.us) or Kristina Sanders (ksanders@ccps.us). Together, we can shape tomorrow’s workforce!
1. Are students in elementary and middle school required to take state tests? All students enrolled in Virginia public schools are expected to take the applicable state tests. For students in elementary and middle school, these tests include reading and math in grades 3-8 as well as history and science tests administered once at each level.
2. Is there a testing opt-out option in Virginia? Per state regulations, there is no opt-out of testing in Virginia. Students who do not take applicable tests receive a score of 0 and the parent refusal impacts the school's federal participation rate.
3. How do state tests relate to the verified credits required for high school graduation? Each student in middle and secondary school shall take all applicable end-of-course tests following the completion of the related course. After receiving a passing score on the tests, students receive verified credits for graduation. Students must earn five verified credits (math, reading, writing, history, and science) to earn a standard or advanced diploma. Once a student has earned a verified credit in a subject, then, they do not take end-of-course tests in the same subject area unless the test is necessary for federal accountability requirements (math, science, reading).
4. When are the state testing windows for CCPS*?
Virginia Alternative Assessment Program March 3-April 18
End of Course Writing March 3-28
Integrated Reading and Writing Component March 17-28
Non Writing SOL April 14-May 16
*Please note individual schools have their own testing calendar that falls within these windows.
5. What can I do to prepare my child for testing? The Virginia Department of Education has developed practice items for each test. To find out more about these practice items, go to the SOL Practice Item page. It is important that on the day of testing that students get plenty of sleep the night before, eat a good breakfast, and feel motivated to excel. Familiarity with the tools and types of questions that are available on the tests is one factor that can increase a student's level of comfort and feelings of motivation.
February 10, 2025 Regular School Board Meeting
Take a look at the February 2025 School Board Meeting highlights:
- Workshop (4:30PM): FY26 Budget Development Update
- Achieve 2027 Spotlight: Mid Year Update- Achieve 2027
- Recognitions: Superintendent Art Honor, Spelling Bee, Presidential Award: Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching (PAEMST), Black History Month, CTE Month, Virginia's US Presidential Scholar: Excellence in Career and Technical Education, Athletes for Awareness Award, School Counseling Week, School Board Appreciation Month, and Clerk & Deputy Clerk Appreciation Month
- Information from the School Division: ATTEND Update, Mid Year Data Update, Monthly Update on Revenues, Expenditures, and ADM Update
- Citizen Comments: 2
- Action: Approval of Consent Agenda
- New Business: No New Business Items
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.
Partners in Education Spotlight: Caroline County Sheriff's Office
In an exciting initiative aimed at nurturing future talent and fostering community engagement, the Caroline Sheriff's Office is welcoming three Caroline High School students for the second year of its high school externship program. Over the next five weeks, these students will explore careers in law enforcement through hands-on experiences, including patrol shadowing and investigative insights.
Paired with experienced deputies, the externs will gain valuable mentorship, learning teamwork, problem-solving, and the importance of community service. This program reflects the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to education, career development, and inspiring future leaders in public safety.
Stay tuned for updates as these students share their journey. Follow us on social media to celebrate their achievements!
We love our Partners in Education! If you are interested in being a Partner in Education, click HERE
Local Food Pantries
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.
Rehoboth UMC Food Pantry is located at 18580 Partlow Road, Beaverdam, VA 23015:
Hours of Operation:
Wednesdays - 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
Fridays - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Pet Food Pantry - 3rd Friday of the month, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
(804) 448-3619
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is an extension of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s mission to bring together communities, companies, and conservationists to improve the lands and waters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Festival-goers can expect to see award-winning films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, Native American, and indigenous cultures.
Everyone is welcome - although we recommend no kids under 13. Tickets are on sale NOW (scroll down to Virginia Showing). Student tickets are $15.
Caroline County Public Schools
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
