Chesapeake Public Schools - Our teachers are HANDS DOWN THE BEST!

The Chesapeake Preschool Initiative (CPI) program is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. 🎒 CPI is a FREE full-day program for children who will be four years old by September 30th and live in Chesapeake. 💻Please review our website for eligibility criteria and to apply: https://www.cpschools.com/o/cps/page/cpi 🎥 You can also check out this webinar exploring the preschool options that are available for Chesapeake families as well as learn next steps for enrolling your child: https://youtu.be/OpG0nmF_XcA

🎉 Last night, more than 60 Chesapeake Career Center students signed letters of intent to join the workforce during our annual Career Signing Day at the Chesapeake Conference Center! Joined by future employers, instructors, and loved ones, these students celebrated their next steps by signing letters of intent for careers in dental assisting, collision repair, early childhood education, automotive technology, emergency response, healthcare, cosmetology, HVAC, welding, and more! 👏 Congratulations to our seven J.A. Cotton Career Scholar Award winners, one from each high school, who each received $1,000 to support their future careers. Thank you to the Chesapeake Public Schools Educational Foundation, Indian River High School JROTC, and The Polyphics from Grassfield High for making the evening special. #CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS #EmpowerCPS 📸 View photo highlights from the event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vZEqrAvpzqBBZfgx8

🎨📐 Art meets Math at The Chrysler Museum of Art! Today, Grassfield High School AP Calculus students visited the Chrysler Museum, where they presented their "Mathematics Through the Ages" projects. Students navigated through the galleries, stopping to highlight artwork they had selected and researched that connected to mathematical concepts throughout history. Watching them blend art and mathematics was a lesson in logic, history, and creativity. We’re so proud of their hard work and inspiring presentations! ✨ Shout out to AP calculus teacher Joy Squicciarini for designing this project, and making it happen. #CPSCelebrates

🍉🍕 Our School Nutrition Services team celebrated another successful school year at their Spring Fling on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Indian River High School. The evening recognized individuals and teams in categories including highest breakfast and lunch participation increase, marketing and promotions, and customer service. Congratulations to our award winners: 🌟 Smiles for Miles: Donna Lovett (DCE) ⭐ Rising Star: Maribeth Nachim (SEE) Marketing & Promotions: 🥇 1st place: Hickory Elementary 🥈 2nd place: Great Bridge Primary 🥉 3rd place: Camelot Elementary Thank you for helping our students receive the nutrition they need to be successful everyday! #CPSCelebrates

Join us as we remember and honor our heroes on Memorial Day. ❤️🤍💙 #MemorialDay Our schools and offices will be closed Monday, May 26, 2025.

🌳 Earlier this month, Sparrow Road Intermediate School visited the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Museum for a day of hands-on learning! Through their knowledgeable guides, students discovered local history, learned the difference between marshes and swamps, found out how businesses operated back in the 1700s, and much more! The trip perfectly combined education with enjoyment, proving that learning outside the classroom can be both informative and fun! #InspireCPS

👏 We’re proud to congratulate seven of our exceptional seniors who each received a $2,000 scholarship from the Cavalier Auto Group. 🎓 Dane Cunningham - Deep Creek HS 🎓Colby Dominek- Great Bridge High 🎓Ian Shickley - Grassfield High School Sadie Larson - Hickory High School 🎓Paige Ratcliff - Indian River High 🎓Hailey Ward - Western Branch High School 🎓Tina Pan - Oscar Smith High We appreciate your support of our students and your continued partnership with the Chesapeake Public Schools Educational Foundation. #CPSCelebrates

🐣 Last week, Mrs. LiVoti, Mrs. Walters, and Mrs. Waterfield’s 2nd grade classes at Deep Creek Central Elementary welcomed baby chicks after 21 days of careful observation and learning. From studying the life cycle to journaling and egg candling, students were hands-on every step of the way. Now that the chicks have hatched, the students are making sure they have everything they need: food, water, clean bedding, and plenty of snuggles! These students are egg-sperts at chick care, what an egg-cellent job!" 🐣👏 #CPSCelebrates

☀️💲The Virginia SUN bucks program assists families with the cost of groceries during summer break when school is not in session. It is a one-time benefit of $120 to each school-age child that meets the program requirements. To learn more about these benefits or to apply, visit: https://www.cpschools.com/page/ebt

❤️ In collaboration with Project ADAM and the Chesapeake Fire Department, we’re working toward the goal of providing all of our schools with cardiac response training as well as equipping them with defibrillators. Indian River High was Chesapeake's first Heart Safe school, B M Williams Primary following right behind them! We couldn't be prouder of everyone involved. Shout out to our nurses, teachers, and staff who are learning these life-saving skills. Special thanks to the Project ADAM team for helping us protect our school family! More Heart Safe schools coming soon! ❤️ 📹 Check out the video story: https://youtu.be/pbctNar3OUE: #InspireCPS #ProjectADAM

Congratulations to Jolliff Middle School for winning the 2025 CMSL TownBank Principals Cup! Each year, this award is given to the school who earned the most points across ALL regular season Chesapeake Middle School League athletics this year. Last week, Great Bridge Middle handed over the title (and the trophy) to Jolliff Middle School. Awesome job to every Jolliff team that made this happen! 🎉#CPSCelebrates

✨ 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