Dear CCSD families and Chillicothe community,

Happy February! This year is flying by, and I’m so appreciative of our students, staff and community for their flexibility with the last month of snow days and cancellations. We hope you are all staying safe in these unpredictable weather conditions – we still have some cold days ahead of us, but I’m looking forward to warmer weather as we continue this school year.
 
As a reminder, our support services staff is available for any students and their families who are looking for resources. Between our student group counseling options, Parent Café and GRANDfamilies Support Group, every level of your family has options to receive help and create a well-rounded plan for every student’s educational and personal needs. If you’re interested in exploring our group counseling options, reach out to our social worker Leslie Hamman for more information at 740-775-4250 ext.16172 or leslie.hamman@ccsd.us.
 
I’m happy to highlight all the amazing things going on in the district, and I’m so proud of our Cavalier community for their continued hard work and support that makes it all possible. Continue reading for more district updates!

Sincerely,

Debbie Swinehart
Superintendent 
DISTRICT NEWS
Early Childhood Education Center Update
We’re hard at work on our new Chillicothe STEM Preschool facility, which is slated to open in fall 2023. According to CCSD Administrative Consultant Kathy Payne, this new facility is built to meet the needs of today’s learners. Parents can expect inside and outside learning labs for exploration, discovery and scientific education as well as a literacy-rich environment with multiple literacy work centers and book club spaces.
 
“Our facility will include communities of classrooms with common spaces featuring the arts and physical development areas with inside and outside learning labs,” said Payne. “Our little engineering design program will feature state-of-the-art technologies, and our little learners will be hands-on with robotics, programming and digital communication.”
 
We can’t wait to welcome you to the building next year – the countdown to fall 2023 is on! 
New Student Board of Education Liaison
We are excited to announce our newest student liaison to the Chillicothe Board of Education – junior Murielle Ngalle. The main goal of the student BOE liaison is to be the voice of students across the district. Learn more about the role and Murielle’s accomplishments on our blog.
Day in the Life of a CPS Kindergartener 
As enrollment kicks off for the 2022-2023 school year, we’re looking forward to welcoming new Cavalier kindergarteners later this year. Parents of young learners are curious about what their children will learn and do in their first year of school. At CCSD, we set our students up for success with an integrated academic plan and consistent routines – our goal is for our students to love learning every day as they work toward their goals. Read more about the typical day of a kindergartener on our blog.
Leaders Grow Readers Program 
The newest installment of our Leaders Grow Readers program features Dr. John Gabis, Medical Director of Community Partnerships at Adena Health System, reading Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. Check out our previous videos on our blog. 
CPS Great Kindness Challenge 
Our little Cavaliers have been practicing kindness in their classrooms, especially as February marks National Random Acts of Kindness Day. From January 28 to February 2, Chillicothe Primary School held The Great Kindness Challenge. Each day had a different theme focusing on ways to be kind to different audiences, including yourself, family members, classmates, friends and neighbors. Each day correlated with books, videos and challenges to help our CPS students celebrate the kindness around them. In addition, each classroom participated in a door decorating contest. Congrats to Ms. Free and Mrs. Kincaid’s class, who won a popcorn party! 
Student & Family Wellness Update
This month’s student and family wellness update from CCSD Social Worker Leslie Hamman focuses on strategies to help your child cope with anxiety. Read Five Ways to Help Your Anxious Child on our blog. 
IMPORTANT DATES
  • March 4-5: OMEA Choral Group District Event
  • March 15: End of 3rd Quarter
  • March 16-18: Break
  • March 21-25: Music in Our Schools Celebration
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Chillicothe City Schools | 740.775.4250