🤖 Yesterday, we visited Southwestern Elementary to see students coding with their new Dash Bots! Thanks to a grant from the CPS Educational Foundation, students are diving into coding during #HourOfCode for Computer Science Education Week. Their excitement was inspiring! 💻
Fairy Tale Fun! These creative minds are turning stories into STEM reality!
After reading some classic tales, students at Greenbrier Primary School designed and constructed chairs for the three little bears and built towers for Rapunzel. 🐻🏰
👏 Shoutout to the Indian River High Project Adam Cardiac Emergency Response Team, led by Nurse Goodwin, for being the first CPS school to complete their cardiac emergency drills! They're on their way to becoming the first Heartsafe School in Hampton Roads. Way to go, IRHS! ❤️
🍴 We’re thrilled to introduce the Peake Café at the School Administration Building, where students shine in a hands-on culinary program. 👩🍳
📽️ Watch how this unique experience is helping them build skills and achieve their dreams: https://youtu.be/Mg9_omvUsDM
#InspireCPS
Nothing beats Biscuits with the Boss! 😎
This week, Dr. Cotton and Dr. Miller surprised bus drivers at Indian River Middle and Greenbrier Intermediate with breakfast biscuits to thank them for their hard work and to wish them happy holidays! 😋🚌🎁
Thank you to the Department of Transportation for setting up this tasty surprise and Chick-fil-A for supplying the biscuits!
#CPSCelebrates
👏 Congrats to the Governor's STEM Academy on an incredible achievement at I/ITSEC 2024 in Orlando! 🌟 Their team impressed with an AI-integrated response system, winning 1st place in the Hard Question Challenge and earning real-world interest! 🏆 #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS
📍✨ Congratulations to our GIS Scavenger Hunt champions! You mapped your way to victory with skill and determination. Way to shine! 🗺️🎊
Students participated in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) scavenger hunt using GIS technology to solve clues and uncover answers along their path to completing the challenge! Congratulations to our winners! 🏆
#GISDay #CPSCelebrates
Celebrating the Spirit of Giving 🎄✨ #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS
Yesterday, select students had the opportunity to attend the Kidz Kruz event at Oscar Smith Middle School, where they experienced a magical start to the holiday season.
The day was filled with exciting activities: students participated in holiday story readings, played bingo, sang along with the Deep Creek High Chorus, crafted beautiful snowflakes, participated in a fun dance-off, and even got to meet Santa! 🎅 They also enjoyed delicious pizza from Frank's in SoNo. 🍕
Before the event, students created wish lists of items from Walmart. Thanks to our teachers, these gifts were purchased, wrapped, and presented to the students, making their holiday wishes come true.
Kidz Kruz continues to be a joyful and heartwarming event for our students. We extend our deepest gratitude to our wonderful partners at the JCA Foundation, whose mission is to inspire children to understand the true joy of giving back- hoping that one day, they too will carry forward this generous spirit. ❤️
📣 Computer Science Education Week kicks off today! 🎉
This annual event inspires students to explore computer science and celebrates the amazing contributions of students, teachers, and partners in the field. 🌍 Celebrate this week by participating in The Hour of Code! 🌟
Students from PreK to 12th grade can join the fun! Just visit https://hourofcode.com/us/learn, choose an activity, and spend at least one hour creating your coding solution. 🖥️
Once you've completed your Hour of Code, we’d love to see it! 📸 Students, teachers, and families: share a photo holding your Hour of Code certificate!
👉 Download your certificate here: https://5il.co/299hj Don’t forget to use our hashtag #CPSHourofCode! 🚀
#CPSCelebrates #CSEdWeek
🌟 Your Voice Matters! 🌟
We’re planning for the future of our school district! Your voice is essential as we create a new strategic plan to guide us over the next five years. Click on the links below for for information about each session and to RSVP:
📅 Dec 10: In-Person (6:30–7:30 PM) School Administration Building https://www.cpschools.com/events?id=36195783
📅 Dec 17: Virtual (6:30–7:30 PM) https://www.cpschools.com/events?id=36195798
📅 Dec 18: Virtual (6:30–7:30 PM) https://www.cpschools.com/events?id=36195829
Join us for one of these events to share your thoughts and ideas. Together, we’ll build a roadmap to success for our students and schools.
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS, KAITLYN GABRIEL! 🎉
💙💛 We are proud to announce that Kaitlyn Gabriel is the 2025 Citywide Teacher of the Year! Kaitlyn is a sixth grade Civics teacher at Oscar Smith Middle School.
One of her colleagues shared: “Every single day, each of her students leave the classroom full of greater potential than when they walked in and this sets them up to be agents of change and life-long learning.”
Congratulations, Ms. Gabriel, on this well-deserved honor! ✨ #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS #CPSTOY2025
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS, SHANNON ANDERSON! 🎉
❤️💙 We are excited to announce that Shannon Anderson is the Chesapeake Public Schools 2025 High School Teacher of the year! She is an English teacher at Grassfield High School.
One of her former students shared, “Mrs. Anderson taught me the value of creating an environment where everyone - students and colleagues alike - feels valued, safe, and empowered to take risks in their pursuits.”
Thank you, Mrs. Anderson, for your incredible impact on your students and school community! ✨ #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS #CPSTOY2025
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS, BETH DEIR! 🎉
🩵🖤 Beth is the Chesapeake Public Schools 2025 Middle School Teacher of the year! She is a 7th grade science teacher at Hickory Middle School.
According to one of her colleagues, “Beth goes above and beyond to meet the diverse needs of her students, always seeking ways to inspire and motivate them to reach their full potential.”
Thank you, Mrs. Deir, for your dedication and passion for education! ✨ #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS #CPSTOY2025
🎉 CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE CAREY KING! 🎉
🩵🖤 Julie was just named Chesapeake Public Schools 2025 Elementary School Teacher of the Year! Julie is a special education teacher at Butts Road Intermediate.
One of her students shared, "She is the reason I was excited about going to school. I knew if I got frustrated or confused, she was there to help me. She was always there for me."
Mrs. Carey King, thank you for your incredible passion, patience, and commitment to your students! ✨ #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS #CPSTOY2025
❤️ What makes teaching so rewarding? ❤️
🌟 Don’t miss this inspiring video where some of our amazing 2025 Teachers of the Year share their favorite memories and the moments that make teaching so meaningful for them.
🎥 https://youtu.be/szg3o3D7PuQ
✨ What motivated the best educators to step into the classroom? 🌟
❤️ Find out in this video where some of our 2025 Teachers of the Year share the inspiration that makes them say, "This is what made me want to teach." 🏫
🎥 https://youtu.be/xTlB5ngtcBc?si=1IKJsNmPz4IQ99ZJ
📢 Attention current 8th graders and families: Applications for our high school academies are NOW OPEN! 🌟
Apply to be considered for the 2025-2026 school year:
🩺 Science & Medicine Academy (SMA): Deep Creek High School
🖥️ Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM): Grassfield High School
🌎 International Baccalaureate (IB): Oscar Smith High School
📅 Deadline to apply: December 18, 2024
👉 For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.cpschools.com/article/1863836
🧠 Oscar Smith High School’s Scholastic Bowl Team is taking on Grafton High School in an exciting Battle of the Brains showdown!
🗓 When: Saturday, December 7 at 10:00 AM
📺 Where: WTKR Channel 3
Show your support and cheer on our amazing team including, Kyle VanSlyke, Benjamin Piersall, Zachary Gatchalian, Alina Ahmed, Vedant Dixit, Riley Cornelisse, Hannah Sprague as they showcase their knowledge and skills. 🐾💙💛
✨ Good luck, Tigers! You’ve got this! #InspireCPS
🎉 We’re proud to celebrate November’s Power of the Peake winners! Yesterday, we surprised three honorees:
🌟 SUPPORT: Diane Overmiller - Executive Assistant in Human Resources
🌟 TEACH: Rebecca Karch - Teacher at G.W. Carver Intermediate School
🌟 LEAD: Helene Robinson - Principal at Southwestern Elementary
Congratulations to these three exceptional staff members—representing three categories - teach, support, and lead. This award recognizes dynamic individuals and celebrates their inspiring work in our district. #PowerOfThePeake #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS #EmpowerCPS #engagecps
👉 To learn more about the program and nominate someone to be the next Power of the Peake, visit: https://www.cpschools.com/o/cps/page/employee-recognition
🎥 Check out this video from yesterday’s visits: https://youtu.be/VyTi775Nci4
🎉 Huge congratulations to our final #CPSTOY25 finalist, E.W. Chittum's Kimberly Holt! 🎉
🎓 With a Master’s in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Library Media from Old Dominion University, Kimberly has dedicated 14 years to inspiring young minds. After nine years as a classroom teacher, she transitioned to being a school librarian, where she has spent the past five years sharing her love of reading with every student in her school. ❤️
🥉A three-time Literacy Teacher of the Year, Kimberly proudly serves as the chair of the @Virginia Reader's Choice Virginia Readers' Choice committee, working to ignite a passion for books across Virginia. Beyond her work with students, she’s a leader in professional growth, creating STEAM-integrated lessons and sharing her expertise at librarian conferences to support educators statewide. 📚
📖 In her free time, Kimberly loves diving into a good book, scrapbooking, and traveling with her husband. ✈️
👏 Her dedication, creativity, and passion make her an invaluable asset to our school community. Congratulations, Mrs. Holt!! #CPSCelebrates
