Thank you, Dear Community, for all the patience, cooperation, and support as the bus transportation settles in and our arrival and dismissal processes become more efficient.  All the busses were on on-time at both ends of the day today, all students were in classrooms by 9:25am, and we had a record-breaking dismissal time (for this week, at least)!

Tomorrow you wlll get a newsletter from either High School Lead Teacher Josh Flaherty or Middle School Lead Teacher Julie Stavitski highlighting some of the learning experiences of the week and other good information (8th grade families wll recive both).   You will continue to receive these weekly newsletters each Friday through the end of the school year; they are archived on our Leadership Blog for future reference at the links below. 

All of our communications, including social media posts, feed directly onto our school website homepage, so you also find many things there.

Thanks for a great first week back!

• https://cls.k12albemarle.org/
• https://admins.k12albemarle.org/labschools/category/middle-school-weekly/
• https://admins.k12albemarle.org/labschools/category/high-school-weekly/

Chad Ratliff, Principal

———

Hi, CLS Families!

I’m happy to be at my desk writing you this message at this exact moment–because it means our dismissal was 20 minutes faster today!  This will get even quicker as the bus routing settles and becomes more efficient and synchronized across ACPS… and if we all work together to load students as quickly, orderly, and safely as possible. 

Our facility was built in 1959 as a small, community-based school designed for walkability, pre-dating the era of large blocks of extra asphalt for big bus loops and car lines.  Therefore, we have essentially turned public, neighborhood streets into one big bus loop and car line, with only one way in and one way out.  Your continued patience and cooperation will not only help us get you and your child out more quickly–it will ensure the safety of others and maintain our standing as good neighbors.  Here are a few additional tips to help us do just that:

• While in our main parking lot
  • Do not pass buses
  • ​Do not pass other cars
• Shortcutting
  • ​​Do not text/ask your children to come meet you as you wait in line
  • Do not park in our upper lots just prior to dismissal to “beat the traffic” — this practice actually slows the process as it creates unnecessary congestion, prohibits bus movement, and creates a safety hazard for walkers
  • Do not park in the lower lot and ask students to come to you. 
• Please DO
  • Encourage your child to be looking for you and ready to go as soon as you pull up.  It creates an additional challenge when we have to seek out your child.  We are, of course, encouraging the same but your additional support will be appreciated

Heading into my 5th year as your principal, I am sad to say I’ve seen fender-benders, a light pole taken out, a bus hit by a car, and–yes–a walker struck by a vehicle, all in our main parking lot, and all as a direct result of actions like those listed above.  Luckily, we’ve had no significant injuries but we need your help to keep it that way.

As a parent of two ACPS students myself, I am no stranger to pick-up lines and the intricacies of carpooling logistics balanced against other commitments, siblings across schools, or rushing to make the next event on time.  I also recognize our school hours may even create an additional hardship but we hope the experience your child gets between arrival and departure makes it all worthwhile.  Working together as a community, we will only get better, faster, safer.   Thanks again for choosing to join this community.

See you outside in the morning!
​Chad Ratliff, Principal

Hi, CLS Families!

I’m happy to be at my desk writing you this message at this exact moment–because it means our dismissal was 20 minutes faster today!  This will get even quicker as the bus routing settles and becomes more efficient and synchronized across ACPS… and if we all work together to load students as quickly, orderly, and safely as possible. 

Our facility was built in 1959 as a small, community-based school designed for walkability, pre-dating the era of large blocks of extra asphalt for big bus loops and car lines.  Therefore, we have essentially turned public, neighborhood streets into one big bus loop and car line, with only one way in and one way out.  Your continued patience and cooperation will not only help us get you and your child out more quickly–it will ensure the safety of others and maintain our standing as good neighbors.  Here are a few additional tips to help us do just that:

• While in our main parking lot
  • Do not pass buses
  • ​Do not pass other cars
• Shortcutting
  • ​​Do not text/ask your children to come meet you as you wait in line
  • Do not park in our upper lots just prior to dismissal to “beat the traffic” — this practice actually slows the process as it creates unnecessary congestion, prohibits bus movement, and creates a safety hazard for walkers
  • Do not park in the lower lot and ask students to come to you. 
• Please DO
  • Encourage your child to be looking for you and ready to go as soon as you pull up.  It creates an additional challenge when we have to seek out your child.  We are, of course, encouraging the same but your additional support will be appreciated

Heading into my 5th year as your principal, I am sad to say I’ve seen fender-benders, a light pole taken out, a bus hit by a car, and–yes–a walker struck by a vehicle, all in our main parking lot, and all as a direct result of actions like those listed above.  Luckily, we’ve had no significant injuries but we need your help to keep it that way.

As a parent of two ACPS students myself, I am no stranger to pick-up lines and the intricacies of carpooling logistics balanced against other commitments, siblings across schools, or rushing to make the next event on time.  I also recognize our school hours may even create an additional hardship but we hope the experience your child gets between arrival and departure makes it all worthwhile.  Working together as a community, we will only get better, faster, safer.   Thanks again for choosing to join this community.

See you outside in the morning!
​Chad Ratliff, Principal

Hi, Lab Families!

I am happy to report we had a very smooth opening morning–a few transportation hiccups, as expected, but otherwise things are looking great so far!  It’s been wonderful seeing students passing by my office, chatting, laughing, some touring the building with their teachers, discovering their spaces and and meeting new folks. (Lucy, Nanette, and I even got to be part of Zoom panel with all the middle schoolers!  The had some great questions for us–ask your child if they can remember our favorite animal, or perhaps what we like to do outside of school).  

Looking over into the main office, I can tell the undistributed laptop pile is substantially smaller, and I know Dr. Powe has been steadily reworking some high school student schedules.

Important reminder: Early drop-off is a 9:10AM.  Please do not drop your your child prior to that time.  Our staff meets every morning, thus we have no supervision nor adequate space for students to congregate inside safely.  We could tell there were some understandably eager and anxious folks this morning, so we did scrap our morning plans on the fly in order to allow students an ease in opportunity–but we will not be able to continue that practice.  Our morning collaboration time is critical to the successful execution of our school model.  Likewise, our school day ends at 3:25 and Late Pick-Up is 3:40PM. Please also be mindful of that time as we want your child to as safe and healthy as possible. 

Yesterday’s email regarding traffic pattern is below and map attached for your reference, or in case you missed it.  And here’s a general Back to School Information email from 8/10 you might find helpful: https://admins.k12albemarle.org/labschools/2021/08/10/back-to-school-info/

Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any concerns or questions as your child re-acclimates to school!

Sincerely, 

Chad Ratliff, Principal

——–

Hi, Lab Families!  We are so excited to welcome students back tomorrow!!

To keep everyone as safe as possible during drop-off and pick-up times–with our largest enrollment to-date, coupled with anticipated large car ridership–it’s critical all vehicles follow these simple guidelines we have established, with assistance from the Charlottesville Police Department.

• All incoming traffic should enter the parking lot from the Forest Street entrance.  
• As you are waiting along Forest Street, please:
  • Do not line up in the oncoming lane 
  • Do not block driveways in the neighborhood 
  • Do not enter the main loop when buses are in place
  • Do not ever attempt to go around a bus entering, inside, or exiting our parking lot
• When exiting our front parking lot, please make the right turn onto Rivanna Ave., down the hill past the lower parking lot toward Rose Hill Dr.

See the attached map for your convenience and reference. 

We will have staff members in place to help with flow and safety.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Dean of Students, Lucy Akers-Allen at 434-296-3090 or lallen2@k12albemarle.org. 

Courtesy reminders that the Department of Transportation will automatically drop students from the rider list if the student has not ridden their routed bus for ten consecutive days.  That is a new policy this year.  Additionally, late or new requests for bus transportation cannot be immediately accommodated and could take several weeks for bus rerouting.

Other First Day/Week Notes: We will very easily be able to take care of schedule change requests for high school students, remaining laptop distribution and technology troubleshooting, and relaying transportation-related change requests in the first days of school.  Your child should simply ask any adult and will get pointed in the right direction.

Aside from the anticipated and inevitable logistical hiccups that come with school re-opening–particularly this year–we stand well-prepared, ready, and incredibly excited to receive your children through our doors again tomorrow! 

Yours sincerely,

Chad S. Ratliff, Principal

Hi, Lab Families!  We are so excited to welcome students back tomorrow!!

To keep everyone as safe as possible during drop-off and pick-up times–with our largest enrollment to-date, coupled with anticipated large car ridership–it’s critical all vehicles follow these simple guidelines we have established, with assistance from the Charlottesville Police Department.

• All incoming traffic should enter the parking lot from the Forest Street entrance.  
• As you are waiting along Forest Street, please:
  • Do not line up in the oncoming lane 
  • Do not block driveways in the neighborhood 
  • Do not enter the main loop when buses are in place
  • Do not ever attempt to go around a bus entering, inside, or exiting our parking lot
• When exiting our front parking lot, please make the right turn onto Rivanna Ave., down the hill past the lower parking lot toward Rose Hill Dr.

See the attached map for your convenience and reference. 

We will have staff members in place, to help with flow and safety.   If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Dean of Students, Lucy Akers-Allen at 434-296-3090 or lallen2@k12albemarle.org. 

Courtesy reminders that the Department of Transportation will automatically drop students from the rider list if the student has not ridden their routed bus for ten consecutive days.  That is a new policy this year.  Additionally, late or new requests for bus transportation cannot be immediately accommodated and could take several weeks for bus rerouting.

Other First Day/Week Notes: We will very easily be able to take care of schedule change requests for high school students, remaining laptop distribution and technology troubleshooting, and relaying transportation-related change requests in the first days of school.  Your child should simply ask any adult and will get pointed in the right direction.

Aside from the anticipated and inevitable logistical hiccups that come with school re-opening–particularly this year–we stand well-prepared, ready, and incredibly excited to receive your children through our doors again tomorrow! 

Yours sincerely,

Chad S. Ratliff, Principal

Hello, CLS Families!  As your principal, I believe there is no more important part of my work than building and supporting a creative, talented, and loving cadre of educators for your children. 

With that in mind, I’m so excited for you to meet some new additions to our team.  Elena Alba-Cantone will be (re)joining the middle school team as a Language Arts specialist and all-around project enthusiast.  She received a B.A. from UVA, spent a year at Yale for graduate school, quickly realized helping kids was the best career path, and transferred back to UVA to earn a Master’s of Teaching.  Elena spent her student teaching year almost entirely at Community Lab School, during the year when staff were rolling out the current model, and developed a true passion for Lab’s mission and system.  She then spent two years at Jouett/Journey Middle School, teaching both Language Arts and Social Studies with a PBL focus.  Jonathan Bryant is also no stranger to CLS; he served as our Health, PE and Driver’s Ed Student Teacher last year and was a quick favorite among staff and students alike!  He is currently working on his Master’s in Health and PE from Longwood University and was honored as a Teacher of Promise in 2021!  Becca Hostetter joins us from Hanover County Public Schools.  Becca graduated from UVA with a B.S. in Environmental Science and M.T. in Secondary Science Teaching.  Becca was also in the Cavalier Marching Band at UVA and was an I.B. Diploma recipient in high school!  Becca will be teaching high school Biology, Ecology, and IB Biology as well as a regular on the middle school elective circuit.  Stewart Sackson joins the middle school team as our science specialist.  Stewart grew up in Charlottesville and attended The Lawrenceville School for high school.  He was later an NSF Robert Noyce Scholar at UVA, where he graduated with degrees in biology and kinesiology.  Stewart taught biology in the ACPS Health and Medical Sciences Academy (HMSA) prior to joining CLS. The ever-delightful Nanette DeFrank joins us as Database Administrator and Bookkeeper.  Nanette has been with ACPS since 2006, most recently at Monticello High School, and can be found roaming around in her Jeep ‘95 Jeep YJ when not here at CLS!  Nanette is originally from Johnstown, PA but has been in Charlottesville since 1989 and is the proud parent of two ACPS graduates!   We are also thrilled to welcome back Ginny Elgort!  Ginny spent sixteen years at our school prior to retirement.  She worked part-time at AHS last year but is coming back home to us part-time this year with a focus on social-emotional wellness and our restorative-practices approach to conflict and behavior.  After graduating from JMU, Ms. Elgort started her career as a Home Economics teacher and already has two sewing machines set up in her new space for interested students!

Keep an eye on our Instagram for complete biographies of all our new folks over the next few weeks!

Finally, please join us in congratulating Stephanie Passman Provines.  Stephanie is returning to her elementary roots as the assistant principal at Hollymead Elementary, the school where she student taught 13 years ago!  We will miss Stephanie but we are thrilled to see her take on a new leadership position and share this work across ACPS.  Also kudos to Kate Kogge, who received the highly competitive and prestigious Einstein Fellowship and will be spending this year working in Washington D.C.!  But, in classic Kate fashion, is already connecting us with some great project opportunities and will certainly be a fixture in our community, even if from afar!

Hope you can make our Open Houses tomorrow night and meet everyone–i know they are all very eager to meet you and their students!

Yours sincerely, 

Chad Ratliff, Principal

Dear Community Lab School Families and Students:

Our Superintendent, Dr. Haas, recently announced that he is recommending to our School Board that beginning with the new school year on August 23, all students will be able to attend school in person, five days per week. There also will be an all-virtual option for any families or students who prefer to continue with online learning.

While planning for both of these options is underway and details will be provided as plans are finalized and approved, there is one decision that already has been made. Beginning with the new school year, we no longer will need to use a 4X4 schedule for student classes. The 4X4 schedule this year was specifically employed to keep students and faculty safe during the public health restrictions protecting against the spread of the COVID virus.

Recent positive developments that include the success of our mitigation practices, new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to lower physical distancing requirements and the vaccination program, no longer make the 4X4 schedule necessary at this time.

As part of his announcement, Dr. Haas did point out that “My recommendation is that our School Board approve this plan as the default unless, of course, circumstances materially change.”

We will continue to keep you updated on our progress and the details for next year as soon as they become available.

As always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions.

Yours sincerely,

Chad S. Ratliff, Principal

Dear Families, Staff and Students:

As the news release issued yesterday said, we have completed the online survey of the ten names for our new school that are under consideration.  We had more than 600 responses, which was well beyond expectations and underscores how important the name of our new school is to our entire community.

I know our volunteer advisory committee is hoping for a similar expression of opinions next Monday, when they hold an online community meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m.  This is an opportunity to hear from you about our survey results and about the process for choosing a name for our school.

You can join us at: http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/player.htm?xml/publicmeeting.xml.

If you would like to offer your views to our committee or have questions for committee members, please email SchoolNamingReview@k12albemarle.org.

As our committee chair and Head Teacher, Stephanie Passman said in the news release, “It’s not often that those who attend or serve in a school have the opportunity to help select its name.  We have been privileged from the beginning of our work to have so many members of our community interested and passionate about choosing a name for our new school.  It offers all of us the chance to think about our school’s values and purpose.”

I hope you will be part of our conversation next Monday evening.  Information on our community advisory committee, community survey results and news reports can be accessed at: https://www.k12albemarle.org/our-division/school-naming-review/school-names-under-review/murray-high-school.

Thank you and stay well.

Sincerely,

Chad S. Ratliff, Principal