Students return from summer break at Chesterfield’s only year-round school

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — For most children in central Virginia, Monday, July 22 was another day spent in the warm glow of summer break — but for students at Bellwood Elementary School in Chesterfield County, it was the first day spent back under the fluorescent lights of the classroom.

“That first day of school is always just, you can’t replicate it,” said Dr. Mervin B. Daugherty, Chesterfield County’s Superintendent. “They’re excited to see teachers from last year and new teachers this year [and] the opportunity to see their friends again.”

Since adopting the policy in 2019, Bellwood has been Chesterfield County Public Schools’ only year-round school.

“There [are] nine weeks of instruction, and then they’ll have a three-week period where they have an interim period where some students may even come back for additional learning. And then the teachers are off pairing for the next nine weeks,” Daugherty said.

Daugherty said the schedule is a way to help address learning loss.

“We’re starting to see changes in attendance and behavior, reading and math scores have moved, and the opportunity to give families a different option here,” Daugherty said.

Daugherty said students at Bellwood will go on their next break in September. The first day of school for the rest of Chesterfield is on August 19.

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