✨ We proudly celebrated Custodial Staff Recognition Week (May 12–16) with a special Custodial Appreciation Banquet held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Deep Creek High School. The evening honored our custodial professionals' outstanding contributions, continued dedication, pride in their work, and the difference they make every day in our schools and buildings. A special congratulations to Van Gholston from Western Branch Primary, who was awarded the Chesapeake Rotary Club’s Education Support Staff Person of the Year and received a $1,000 check in recognition of his service. 🎉 hashtag#CPSCelebrates
📸 View photo gallery here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8GN2WcyEVudbABAe9
📔 View program here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gn-Ex13S7HVvHSV2VNC8gpm6otUqq-9z/view?usp=sharing
👏 Thank you to all the volunteers and event sponsors who made the event a success:
✨ Sponsors: CEBCO Consultants, Rutherford Janitorial and Supply, Birsch Industries, Mancon, LLC, and The Supply Room
✨ Leon Nixon Catering, Inc.
✨ DJ Barry Cary (DJ SMUV Productions)
✨ CPS/ODU Leadership Cohort
🏆Congratulations to the Chesapeake Middle School League 2024-2025 Champions!🏆
💚💛 Great Bridge Middle School claims victory in Field Hockey and Girls Track!
🩵🩶 Hickory Middle School dominates with BOTH Girls Volleyball and Boys Soccer titles!
💙💛 Oscar Smith Middle School takes the crown in Boys Track!
No doubt, these were hard fought victories! These student-athletes showed incredible heart and came out on top! We are proud of you! #CPSCelebrates
✨ Soaring Beyond the Classroom ✨
Today, we're highlighting those remarkable educators whose dedication extends far beyond the classroom! These teachers not only guide students through daily lessons but also give their time to extracurricular activities like sponsoring clubs, coordinating events, and supporting school programs.
A perfect example: Jolliff Middle School's Drone Club has reached impressive heights this year, thanks to the teachers who've helped navigate them to success!
🎥 Check out what they've accomplished: https://youtu.be/aKL_to1bric
Honoring a local baseball legend! ⚾
Deep Creek High School dedicated its baseball field in memory of Wes "Bud" Swisher on May 13, 2025. For over 30 years, Coach Swisher taught English, P.E. and Driver's Ed and was the heart and soul of Deep Creek Baseball, achieving 34 winning seasons. 💜 He was also inducted into the Chesapeake Sports Club Hall of Fame and now his legacy lives on at his beloved field. Thank you to Coach Swisher's family, friends, former students, current baseball players, and amazing culinary arts students for making the celebration so special. #CPSCelebrates
🏆 CONGRATULATIONS to our amazing students from Sparrow Road Intermediate and Great Bridge Intermediate who competed in WHRO's Great Computer Challenge earlier this month! 🏆
These talented young students brought home multiple awards:
Great Bridge Intermediate (GBI) Awards:
1st Place: Level 2 Visual Programming/Block Coding 🥇
2nd Place: Level 2 Desktop Presentation 🥈
2nd Place: Level 2 Video Editing 🥈
Honorable Mention: Level 2 Internet Scavenger Hunt 👏
Sparrow Road Intermediate (SRI) Awards:
2nd Place: Level 2 Visual Programming/Block Coding 🥈
3rd Place: Level 2 Internet Scavenger Hunt 🥉
❤️ Thank you to the dedicated coaches:Mrs. McKown, Miss Molly, Ms. Brannen, Mrs. Davis, Ms. Brennan-Webb, Ms. Gatie, and Ms. Sinclair
We're incredibly proud of all participants who demonstrated creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork throughout the competition. Well done! #CPSCelebrates
🎵🏆 We are proud to share that The NAMM Foundation has named Chesapeake Public Schools a 2025 Best Community for Music Education!
🎸 This national recognition highlights the outstanding commitment of our music educators, administrators, students, families, and community partners who work together to ensure music remains an essential part of a well-rounded education.
🎻 Thank you to everyone who supports music in our schools and helps students grow through the power of the arts! 🎺🌟
For more about the award, visit: https://bit.ly/4kb3kVu 🎹
🌟 We’re excited to celebrate 2️⃣ of our very own educators who have been named 2025 Computer Science Champions by the Virginia Department of Education! 💻
🏆 Sarah Noffsinger (Oscar Smith Middle): 6th–8th Grade Champion
🏆 Sandra Wilfong (Deep Creek Elementary): ITRT/STEAM Coaches Champion
👏 Congratulations and thank you for your dedication to high-quality computer science education. 📽️
Check out our spotlight videos highlighting our champions:
📹 Sarah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT50-Sa4sOw
📹 Sandra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8UbAL9vd6g
💻 Learn more here: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/computer-science #CPSCelebrates #EmpowerCPS #InspireCPS
🎉 Last Thursday, we celebrated and honored 185 retirees at our annual Retirement Ceremony, held at Grassfield High School! 🏫 Together, these remarkable individuals dedicated over 4,061 years of service to our schools, students, and community! 🌟
Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our Chesapeake Public Schools family! 👏 Special thanks to the Grassfield High School Jazz Ensemble 🎷 and culinary department 👨🍳 for providing everyone with inspiring music and delicious treats for the event. 🍰🎶 #CPSCelebrates
Check out the ceremony highlights: https://youtu.be/bCJWE5zvucw
🎥 Watch the full ceremony here: https://youtu.be/u47OEETa9zc
📸 See the photo gallery here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LUp97knMd3xZjr177
📗 View our list of retirees here: https://bit.ly/4j15YMu
🐶 Meet Finn, the amazing therapy dog who's carrying on a family legacy of love at Western Branch High School! Following in the pawprints of his beloved uncle Tango, Finn has become an essential part of the school community, offering unconditional support to both students and staff.❤️
Watch as Finn works his magic in this heartwarming video by creating a calmer, more positive environment for everyone at Western Branch. 🎥 https://youtu.be/KNLsv9PR6JI
⭐Finn proves that sometimes the best educators don't need words to teach important life lessons! #CPSCelebrates
🚸 Do you have a child whose sibling has a disability? 🚸
👉 Come learn about Sibshops, a program that provides siblings of kids with disabilities with peer support and information in a lively, recreational setting. What are SIBShops? 🎥 Check out our video: https://youtu.be/gZvs_XdEpIw
When: Wednesday May 14
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM.
Location: Southwestern Elementary
Topic: "Spring is in the Air"
💻 To learn more and to register visit: https://www.cpschools.com/events?id=34991167
What are SIBShops? 🎥 Check out our video: https://youtu.be/gZvs_XdEpIw
Last Wednesday was National School Nurse Day! 🩺❤️To celebrate, our Health Services department held a special event recognizing our dedicated School Health Advisors.
Three exceptional team members received awards for their outstanding service during the 2024-2025 school year:
✨ School Nurse of the Year: Cathy Rice, RN (TES)
✨ Clinic Assistant of the Year: Samara Larison, LPN (GBH)
✨ Rookie of the Year: Samantha Heywood, RN (Float)
Proud of our healthcare heroes who keep our students healthy and thriving every day! #CPSCelebrates #NurseAppreciation
🖌️ Teenagers with paintbrushes? What could possibly go right? Find out at the CPS Secondary Art Show!
📍 Location: Chesapeake TCC Campus- Academic Building and George Pass Building
🗓️ Last day to see the show is May 13
‼️ Warning: May cause unexpected feelings of pride, joy, and "how are they this talented already?"
🎨Come see what happens when we let the young ones loose with art supplies! #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS
🌞 This Custodial Staff Recognition Week, we're celebrating the incredible teams that keep our spaces gleaming! 🌟
Our custodial professionals work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring our environment isn't just clean, but truly shines. 🧼🧹
✨ To our amazing custodial teams: Your work doesn't just make our facilities sparkle, it creates the foundation for all of us to shine our brightest every day.
👏Join us in expressing gratitude to these essential team members who polish our schools to brilliance. #CPSCelebrates #CustodialAppreciationWeek
🌟 As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, we want to share a few more heartfelt messages. The outpouring of thanks you've shared speaks volumes about the incredible impact our teachers make daily.
Thank You Teachers! We ❤️ You!! #CPSCelebrates #CPSTAW25
🏫💬You are invited to attend the Gifted Advisory Committee Meeting to help advocate in the interest of gifted students. These meetings are open to the public.
💻For more information, visit our website: https://www.cpschools.com/o/cps/page/advisory-committees-gifted-education
🌟 Teacher Appreciation Week is wrapping up, but our gratitude never ends!
The heartfelt messages you've shared this week have shown our educators just how deeply their work touches lives.
It’s not too late to show your gratitude 👉 https://www.cpschools.com/article/2176065 #CPSCelebrates #CPSTAW25
✨ Honoring the Superheroes of the Classroom! 🍎
Behind every success story stands an educator who believed first. Our teachers don't just teach, they transform lives daily.
👉Add your voice before the week ends: https://www.cpschools.com/article/2176065 #CPSTAW25 #CPSCelebrates
✨ Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎
Our incredible educators shape futures every day with their dedication and passion, and we are so thankful for them.
There’s still time to show your gratitude: https://www.cpschools.com/article/2176065
#CPSTAW25 #CPSCelebrates
☀️ Community and school leaders convened this morning for the last Superintendent's Community Engagement Council meeting of the school year. It was an opportunity to collaborate and share ideas, focusing on our enhanced district-wide safety measures and the new Empower 2030 Strategic Plan.
The insights and dedication from our community partners prove invaluable, and we're grateful for your continued engagement. A special note of thanks goes to Trane for sponsoring the event. #InspireCPS #EmpowerCPS
🗓️Just a reminder that Friday, May 9, 2025, is a Teacher Workday for all Elementary Schools ONLY. There will be no school for students enrolled in grades Pre-K-5.
💻 Visit our full calendar on our website: cpschools.com/calendar
