Dear Cville Schools community –

Each month I go to our schools to deliver Royal Recognitions to some incredible staff (get to know recent winners below). We always have a great time surprising staff members with gifts and a check, Publishers Clearing House–style. But what is truly the best part is witnessing the pure pride and joy that the students feel about their teachers. Whether it’s their math specialist, their custodian, or their 4th grade teacher, they hoot, they hug, they high-five. It never gets old. Our students are so invested in these adults because these adults are so invested in them. 

At this time of year, as we’re all powering toward Spring Break, take a moment to tell a staff member what they mean to your student. Send a ParentSquare message, holler it in the car pick-up line, or work with your child to write a card. They will certainly appreciate being appreciated.

 

Thanks as always for your partnership.

Dr. G

Charlottesville City Schools is now accepting registrations for kindergarteners, students new to the division, and nonresident students. Preschool applications also remain open. We’re excited to start getting to know all our new students for the 2026-27 school year! Learn more in our ParentSquare registration post, including info about Kindergarten & Pre-K Registration Day on Thursday, April 23.

Dr. Summerlyn Thompson will become the principal of the newly expanded and modernized Charlottesville Middle School starting in the 2026-27 school year. Dr. Thompson currently serves as the principal of Walker Upper Elementary and was previously the principal of Johnson (now Tall Oaks) Elementary for seven years. “We are very fortunate to bring Dr. Thompson to the helm as we officially complete reconfiguration and welcome 6th graders to the middle school this August,” said Dr. Gurley. Read the full news release.

Want to learn more about CMS? Families of future middle schoolers are invited to come tour Charlottesville Middle School. The next tour is tomorrow, Thursday, March 26, at 12pm. Sign up for the tour.

The new, permanent home of the Charlottesville Early Learning Center (CELC) will be built on the Walker campus.

This fall, the CELC will open as planned in a temporary location within the main academic building at Walker. We look forward to constructing the new Early Childhood Center on this same campus. The City has budgeted over $30 million for the new home of our public preschool, and we will share more details for this exciting project in the months ahead.

Applications to attend CELC are due by April 1 for children in the City of Charlottesville turning 3 or 4 by September 30, 2026. How to Apply: Applications are accepted through the Go2Grow website.

Reminder: Due to a recently announced Special Election in the Commonwealth of Virginia, there will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21. The day will be a Teacher Workday for staff, with 12-month staff reporting for work as normal. CHS Athletics practices/events and CATEC nursing board exams will proceed as scheduled that day. Learn more.

CCS will host “The Pictures Project,” a free community concert TONIGHT, Wednesday, March 25, at 7pm at the MLK Performing Arts Center. In collaboration with the Cville Chamber Music Festival, the event features renowned pianist Andrew Armstrong and projections of CCS student artwork inspired by the beloved composition “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Mussorgsky. Learn more about “The Pictures Project.”

Charlottesville City Schools will offer parents, guardians and caring adults the opportunity to learn more about student assessment reports during its Crack The Code event this Thursday, March 26, from 6-7 p.m. at First Baptist Church (632 West Main Street). The event will help better educate parents specifically on NWEA MAP Growth Reports and SOL (Standards of Learning) Reports. RSVP for Crack the Code.

Elementary and middle school families are invited to spring tailgates hosted by the C-Will Fund, CCS Family and Community Engagement, and CHS Athletics:

See this ParentSquare post for details, including free concession/refreshment vouchers. These events are all about building community and helping younger students see themselves as future players on Black Knight sports teams! To that end, all CCS 3rd graders will be welcomed to CHS this Monday for Black Knight Sports Day, where they'll join CHS student-athletes at the stadium complex for sports rotations, cheers, and Black Knight Pride.

Congratulations to the 12 Charlottesville City Schools teachers that won 2025-26 Golden Apple Awards! 

Nominated by members of their school communities, these teachers were selected for their ability to inspire a love of learning, set high expectations, respond to individual student needs, and foster meaningful connections with families. Each Golden Apple award winner also receives a $500 grant for their classroom, sponsored by Better Living Building Supply and Cabinetry. 

CHS freshman Xavier Masri got an up-close look at how Virginia's state government operates this semester by serving as the Head Page for the House of Delegates in Richmond. The House of Delegates' Page program, which began in 1847, brings students from across Virginia to the state capital to work alongside lawmakers and gain valuable work and life experience. As a Page, Masri assisted delegates during chamber proceedings and helped visitors find their way around the state capital building. He also had the opportunity to work alongside state lawmakers such as Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell and Charlottesville delegate Katrina Callsen. Watch the story on NBC29.

Charlottesville High School won the Virginia Music Educators Association Blue Ribbon Award, the highest award given to school music programs in Virginia. CHS earned the honor for the 15th time after the school’s band, choir, and orchestra all earned “superior” ratings in their spring district assessment performances. Read the full story.

We're celebrating two months worth of Royal Recognitions, recognizing staff for their dedication, excellence, exemplary service, and positive impact. Each winner earns $250 to spend on their school. 

👑 Layne Rickabaugh, 4th Grade Teacher, Trailblazer

👑 Leslie Benson, Nutrition Manager, Tall Oaks

👑 Maddie Bryant, School Counselor, CHS

👑Lauren Mackey, Special Education Teacher, Greenbrier

👑X'Zavier Smith, Custodian, Sunrise

👑Daisy Collins, English Language Learning Teacher, CMS

👑Elizabeth Tison, Math Department Chair/ Math Specialist, CHS

Want to see your favorite staff member get the royal treatment? Fill out a nomination form.

Congratulations to CHS students Elaina Pierce and Sam Palmer, both of whom are 2026 state champions in Indoor Track for the 1600M AND 1000M for Class 4. WOW!

For ALL the Black Knight athletics and activities news, subscribe to Updates about CHS Athletics and Activities, Activities Director Andy Jones' weekly roundup.