A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear CIS Friend,
Happy New Year! As I hope you are as well, I am feeling restored for the new year ahead. After a busy, fun, and successful holiday season, the whole CIS of Chesterfield team took a breather to rest and spend time with loved ones for the holiday break, On Tuesday we kicked back into gear, ready to finish out the second half of the 22-23 school year.
In this issue, we reflect on another successful year of CIS EXPRESS, our holiday light tour, as well as our incredible force of holiday supports for our students.
Whether or not you set new year's resolutions, I hope that you have wonderful things to look forward to in 2023!
With gratitude,
Ashley Hall, Executive Director
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TAX CREDIT ALERT!
For the first year, Communities In Schools of Chesterfield is a recipient of Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits! That means, a donation to CIS can directly reduce your State Tax liability. For additional details, click here or below.
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CIS EXPRESS - WE DID IT!
 For the third year, CIS EXPRESS, our holiday light tour in Hampton Park, was yet another great success!
- 795 registered vehicles
- $33,000 raised in sponsorships - our biggest year yet
- $1,555 raised by individual donors
- We received press coverage from: NBC 12 About Town Segment, Chesterfield Observer, Kat Simons radio, RIC Today, among others
Our Live Event Night was a big success - we saw an incredible turnout and so many children enjoyed the crafts and photos with Santa. We estimate that about 150 people attended (check out photos on Facebook & Instagram).
We have also had positive feedback on the tour! If you participated and would like to share your feedback, please fill out this brief survey.
Last but certainly not least, we have some major thanks to give to our event sponsors and hosts! Their support not only allowed CIS EXPRESS to be free and a huge success, but also that our services to students in Chesterfield continue!
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HOP ON THE BUS!
 Join us for our next bus tour! Our tours involve visits (by bus) to three CIS of Chesterfield schools, where you get to meet our Site Coordinators, hear about the work being done, and see CIS in action. Space is limited, so please sign up early.
Date: Friday, January 20th
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Chalkley Elementary School
Sign up today and share the opportunity with others!
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NATIONAL MENTOR MONTH!
 We are rebuilding our mentor squad, and we need you! In January, when we celebrate National Mentoring Month, we want to thank the people who have in the past and currently serve as mentors - to any child, in any place, through any program. They are helping to plant seeds in students that will ultimately influence and inspire them to make important choices in life!
We love mentoring because its benefits so closely align with our mission and goals for our students:
- Increased high school graduation rates.
- Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices.
- Better attitude about school.
- Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence.
- Improved behavior, both at home and at school.
You can join this critical group of people, who are changing lives one 30 minute visit at a time! Sign up to mentor with CIS of Chesterfield - you won't regret it!
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NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE
Later this month we will honor the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the best way to honor his legacy is to serve others. While our schools will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we do have a few upcoming calls to action we can offer as opportunities for you!
- Make cards of encouragement for students who join a new school partway through the year
- Host a donation drive to collect supplies our schools really need right now
To learn more about these opportunities and sign up, contact Wendy Lively at wendy_lively@ccpsnet.net.
Whether you do something to support your community through CIS or another organization, we encourage you to find time this month to give back!
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Pandemic Learning Loss
Nearly three years since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, there is now data that tells us what students truly lost in terms of learning during school closure and virtual education. This Article spells out the various factors, especially poverty, and what data we can now use to support learning loss recovery.
In this companion audio clip, you can listen to a transcript of a piece about what the latest public school test scores tell us about pandemic learning loss, and what students need now.
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