Life at CDS
Chesterfield Day School realizes that there is more to a school year than what occurs in the classroom alone. Keeping parents informed, and providing the support and services to meet each family's needs, is of primary concern to the Administration and Staff.
Weekly events are highlighted on the information board in the School driveway. Parents receive our weekly online newsletter, the Communique, bi-weekly classroom newsletters, and can access class Web pages. Through Ren Web, parents may view their child's grades and homework. Each grade has a rooom parent who emails all parents with news about activities and events for that particular class.
Each year begins with the Ice Cream Social when parents can sign up to volunteer for various Parents' Club activities. Parents' Club meetings are listed on the school calendar, and activites are often broadcast via electronic invitations, flyers, signs, and bulletin boards.
At the beginning of the year, parents are invited to the Back to School Night when they enjoy a light supper and go to their children's classrooms to hear teachers speak about their broad goals for the year. The School year includes two Conference Days, where parents meet with teachers to discuss their child's progress and goals for the future. For parents of younger children, home visits, special Toddler Parent and Preschool Parent evenings tell the story of what transpires in those academic years. Special meetings to teach parents about the principles and philosophy of Montessori are held, and written material is provided to explain different aspects of Montessori education. As children get older, the secondary school selection process is explained at special meetings, and parents are invited to special meetings to hear about the CDS outdoor education program. All parents are invited to the Curriculum Journey at the end of the first semester so that they can begin to understand how their child's education will progress in the following year at CDS.
Chesterfield Day School recognizes that the bonds between family and school are built upon communication, and every member of the School's faculty, staff, and administration is available to address issues as they relate to them.
Parents are invited to attend activities like the Talent Show, the Specialist Performance in the spring, the Winter Holiday Gathering, and weekly Monday Gatherings, where each class presents a play or recital built around the School's Character Education Program. The schedule for after-school sporting events (soccer, basketball, floor hockey, track and field) against other area Independent Schools are listed on the calendar.
The School calendar lists events, and details are provided in the weekly electronic newsletter, the Communique, thich is sent electronically to enrolled parents.
