7 Action Steps to Support CHS and Charlottesville Schools
November 22, 2023
Dear Charlottesville United Community,
We hope this message finds you well. We are writing to follow up on the CHS Listening Session held on Monday evening, and organized by Charlottesville United for Public Education. Your active participation and support have been critical in advancing our shared goals for lifting community voice and ensuring that people are seen and heard.
If you missed the Listening Session, you can view it online.
Feedback
Your input is crucial to progress. If you did not get a chance to speak on Monday night, or have a point to reiterate, please take a moment to provide your feedback through a Google Form available on our website.
Your insights are invaluable and will be shared with the School Board and Charlottesville High School leadership. The form is also shared on all Charlottesville United’s social media channels, so feel free to share widely.
Next Steps
Many people asked about tangible actions that they can take to support students, teachers, and the wider school community. We have compiled a list of 7 Actionable Steps for Supporting Charlottesville City Schools.
7 Actionable Steps for Supporting
Charlottesville City Schools
Mentor: Consider becoming a mentor for students in Charlottesville City Schools. Your guidance and support can significantly impact a student's educational journey and personal development. Learn more >>
Support: School PTOs, including the one at CHS, work hard to appreciate and support teachers and other school staff. Consider volunteering or donating supplies or cash to support their efforts. It could also be as simple as sending an email or ParentSquare message to your child(ren)’s teacher(s) letting them know you appreciate them. Learn more about the CHS PTO >>
Volunteer: Sign up to become a trained volunteer with Charlottesville City Schools. Whether it's assisting in classrooms, organizing extracurricular activities, or supporting administrative tasks, your time and skills are highly valued. Volunteer training may be required. Learn more >>
Substitute: Charlottesville City Schools, like many school divisions, are in need of more substitute teachers to fill the gap when our teachers take a sick day or are otherwise unable to come to school. Learn more >>
Advocate: Engage in conversations and initiatives that support our local public schools. Attend the CCS information and feedback session on 11/30 (rsvp here)Attend the next School Board meeting on Thursday, December 7th, and advocate for policies that benefit all students. Learn more >>
Engage: Participate in or organize drives to collect school supplies, books, or other resources that can benefit students and teachers in Charlottesville City Schools. Learn more >>
Spread Awareness: Share information about CCS's initiatives and achievements within your social circles. There is so much positive activity happening in our schools, but recent media coverage might offer the impression that our schools are broken. Let’s love on our schools while ensuring accountability and centering students with the deepest needs. Amplify the voices advocating for improvements in education and encourage others to get involved. Find all of the CCS social media accounts here. Learn more >>
Charlottesville United for Public Education remains committed to the Charlottesville community. Please consider sharing our website and/or social media pages (Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook) so that we can all stay connected and support one another. Sign up for our emails to stay engaged. Consider making a donation to support events like the Listening Session.
If you have any visuals or insights from Nov. 20 Listening Session, please share them with us (via our social media or email) as we aim to document and share these moments on our social platforms and beyond as a shining example of the ways in which we as a community can and will come together for our children.
Thank you to the hundreds of parents, students, teachers and community members who showed up in person and online to the Listening Session. We look forward to working wit you and everyone to capture and continue the momentum in support of stronger public schools for ALL Charlottesville students. Robust, meaningful, sustained engagement in CHS and all CCS schools will be the game changer that our students and community need and deserve.
Yours in partnership and with best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving,
Charlottesville United for Public Education
