October 27, 2017
Your Dollar Did This!  

Inward Bound group challenges build problem solving and trust among group members.  In this challenge, each member must get across an imaginary electric line. Teams brainstormed, made plans, supported one another, and eventually brought everyone across. Doesn't everyone want to be part of a team that leaves no one behind?  The Bell Tower Fund ensures that programs like the Middle School's Inward Bound are well planned and supplied.  Thank you for your support!

"Solving a problem for which you know there's an answer is like climbing a mountain with a guide, along a trail someone else has laid. In mathematics, the truth is somewhere out there in a place no one knows, beyond all the beaten paths. And it's not always at the top of the mountain. It might be in a crack on the smoothest cliff or somewhere deep in the valley." 
Class Acts...
What's Happening on the Halls?

The Accreditation Process is one tool in Chesapeake Academy's continual quest for excellence. The process offers the school access to the breadth of experience available from peer schools. The interim accreditation visit at Chesapeake Academy compared the school's mission and philosophy with its daily practice.  Pictured left to right are Erica Deane from Highland School, Warrenton, VA; Ken Seward from Good Shepherd Episcopal, Richmond; Stacy Irvin from St. James' Episcopal School, Warrenton; Maureen Williams from Richmond Montessori School; and Tom Mast from Green Hedges School.
Parent Partnership Conferences Form Basis for Student Success!
 
Our first  Parent   Partnership  Days (PPDs) of the year are scheduled for the week of November 13.  In Early Childhood and Lower School,  conferences  are designed for parents to find out about the progress, goals, challenges, and successes of their child, as well as to share any helpful information with the teacher. Lower School students will be completing a reflective piece on their first marking period that will be shared at their conferences.
 
Conferences  may be scheduled through Mrs. Connie Smith or directly with the teacher.  Conferences  are available after school and into the evenings for parent convenience.  If your child has more than one academic teacher (second, third, and fourth grades), please feel free to schedule a conference with the homeroom teacher (who will have a full picture of the child's academic work) or  conferences  with both the homeroom teacher and the partner teacher for that grade. 
 
In Middle School, PPD  conferences  are generally scheduled with the advisor and the student. Students review and reflect upon their strengths and challenges, sharing their goals with their parents. If you would also like to meet with a classroom teacher in addition to the advisor and student conference, you are encouraged to make an appointment for a conference with classroom teachers as well. 

We look forward to seeing all parents at PPDs in November and early February.  These times are critical for effective collaboration and understanding between school and home!
Trilling--not Trolling--for Magical Fish Makes An Exciting PALS Performance

Engaging and interactive, Virginia Opera's "Trish and The Fish" featured two sopranos and a baritone who brought Grimm's fairy tale to life--with their own twist!
The Performing Arts and Lecture Series provides quality arts and sciences programming for young children thanks to the generosity of the Nettie Lokey Wiley Foundation. 

Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Big and Fat!  

In their first field trip of the year, Pre-Kindergarten 3&4 ventured to the Belmont Pumpkin Patch on the big bus to learn about animals, plants, and PUMPKINS!  Hayrides, picnics, and the best pumpkin playground rounded out the morning. Families, friends, and fall!  What's not to love?  Check out the Pumpkin Patch fun!

This is not the outfit she wore to greet the team.
The Head's Heads Up 

We have all breathed a sigh of relief now that the multiple events of October and our Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) accreditation visit are in the rearview mirror.  It is a wonderful time to take stock of what we presented to VAIS and what they told us about their experience being part of our community for a few days.

The visiting team was comprised of two heads of school, one business manager, an admission director, and a classroom teacher. The breadth of their backgrounds contributed to a very thorough examination of all aspects of the school--instruction and program, finance, governance, safety, community, and mission.  In each area, the school received multiple commendations with recommendations to continue on the path that we are on. The endorsement of Chesapeake Academy by the team was unanimous, clear, and heartfelt.

Arriving last Sunday afternoon, the team met with the faculty and staff for a tour and a presentation on various aspects of the school program. Larkin Denton '18 and Callie Souders '18 gave the team a tour of campus, and they did a fantastic job communicating the student experience at Chesapeake Academy. Then, faculty members highlighted project based learning (PBL), STEAM, robotics, math, and arts and innovation initiatives in short, interactive segments. The team met with the Board of Trustees afterward to glean their perspective on governance and finances.

On Monday, the team spent the day in and out of classrooms, meeting with administrators, faculty, and staff members and observing all aspects of a school day--from carpool drop-off in the morning to extended day in the late afternoon.  At lunch time, some team members were hosted by Milly Branflick, Lucie Johnson, Sam Antonio, and Harrison Hinton, representing the Lower School who shared what they love about Chesapeake Academy as well as answered questions from the team.  In the Middle School, Leyton Dew, Calista Nelson, Rebecca Meberg, and Jack Porter joined accrediting team members for lunch to describe their experiences. A quick visit from two alumni--Walker Antonio '15 and Ben Antonio '17--rounded out lunch time with the students.

Tuesday morning included additional classroom visits, as well as a few meetings, and culminated in an all school assembly.  Accrediting team members were challenged to play a Kahoot (an online quiz) about Chesapeake Academy, and it was clear they had done their homework!  Finally, kindergarten through eighth grade students sang "True Colors" from their Grandparents' and Grandfriends' performance, and their performance was truly moving.

Once the students left, the accrediting team met with the faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees in an exit meeting. These are the key points from their report:
  • The faculty and staff do an amazing amount and are always thinking about what else they can do to take things to the next level. As the chair of the team said, "You have set the bar very high." He went on to indicate that this community needs to take care of this faculty.
  • The program of the school is dynamic, authentic, and differentiated, thanks to the efforts of the faculty and staff.  
  • Character values are embedded in all that we do and are evident in the relationships within the school.
  • The Board of Trustees and parents are tremendous supporters of the school.  Parents were able to articulate their "Why Chesapeake" clearly, even though they were all different. 
  • The school culture is one of joy and engagement for all constituent groups. 
  • The school plays a vital role in the larger community and serves as a hub for families in the area.
We are grateful that our accrediting team saw what makes CA a unique "gem of a school" and look forward to receiving the final report in the next few weeks.  



Character Counts.... and Shows!

On Sunday, October 22, CA students, Larkin Denton and Callie Souders, joined the faculty and staff in welcoming the VAIS accreditation team. After several days of "tour" prep, these student hosts took the team on an hour-long tour of CA.  Needless to say, the team was most impressed with our tour guides--confident, informative, and articulate.  The one question Larkin and Callie were unable to answer....what happens when the honor code is broken?  The tour guides  indicated that it didn't happen very often so they weren't sure , and that speaks volumes to the character of our middle school students!  Well done, Larkin and Callie!


Children's Author David Lopez Visits CA!
Author David Lopez will be on campus on  Wednesday, November 8  to regale students in kindergarten through fifth grades with tales from his 
Maddie's Magic Marker s eries. In addition, he will conduct a writer's workshop session for sixth through eighth graders to explore how to construct a complete novel, characterization, historical research, and more.  

Mr. Lopez visited several years ago and was a favorite with the students. Information on ordering books from his series will be sent home with kindergarten through fifth grade students today.  Check out his website.

Teach to Learn...in Second Grade

The second grade has been learning about Columbus, and these kids are ready to become teachers themselves. Each student was tasked with creating a lapbook (filled with interesting resources) that illustrates the story of Columbus. Then, after practicing with a pal, they were given the chance to teach first grade friends using their lapbook. Smiles abound as these tiny teachers shared new learning with others. Learning is alive at CA.

Math is all Around Us 2.0

It is time for Round Two of the engaging, multi-age, single gender Math is All Around Us period in Lower School. This time, it looks like fractions are back in action and teamwork will be paramount in another cooking project--this time, LET THEM EAT CAKE! Teams surveyed at least 25 individuals outside of the Lower School to discover five favorite cakes and three favorite icings. Next week they use these statistics to decide on a recipe/cake for their team to bake. Let's hope they keep their heads--in Math All Around Us.


Chesapeake Bay Foundation Brings Habitats Alive!

Excited to experience this one-day educational field experience on the Bay, Chesapeake Academy fourth graders got their hands into watershed dynamics, water-quality testing, estuarine food chains, oyster reef ecology as well as oyster dredging, trawling for fish, mapping skills, crab potting, point source/non-point source pollution, and the various ways people make their livelihoods on the Bay. Busy hands!

Fourth graders boarded the Jenny S. with Chesapeake Bay Foundation educators who guided this tour of the wonders of the watershed. Students observed samples of aquatic life and learned about the effects of human activity on the estuary.  Miles Hollingsworth exclaimed,  "I loved learning about how to hold a crab and what the differences are between sooks and jimmies!"  Porter Pittman explained his astonishment at the adaptations of flounder, "These fish adapted to have both eyes on one side as they live on the bottom of the bay and one eye would always be in the mud."  Trevor Haynie professed to love holding fish!  "But it was sort of gross," he concluded.

Fourth grade teacher, Ms. Kaitlin Benson commented, "This was a really well-organized field study, and the kids learned a lot while having fun. The CBF staff encouraged them to think about the health of this natural resource and to take positive action to work toward the Bay's restoration when they can.  I believe the kids are motivated."


Lawn Boy Launches Fifth Grade into Market Research    

Davenport & Company Financial Advisor, Brian Manetz shared his knowledge of stocks with Chesapeake Academy fifth graders as they began a cross curricular unit that fits in with the school's economics thread. Students will read the novel, Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen, a hilarious story about a young entrepreneur who strikes it rich in the stock market, and use this background along with the insights obtained from Mr. Mantez to invest $1,000,000 in a two-week long mock stock market! 

The economics thread in the CA curriculum at the fifth grade level features classroom economies, guest speakers, mathematics and literature connections, and market experiences. Chesapeake Academy third through fifth graders are also preparing to participate in the Virginia Council on Economic Education's Market Days at Virginia Commonwealth University.


Guatemalan Cultural Exchange Begins
  
Chesapeake Academy is delighted to announce the arrival of the fifth exchange student at the school from Guatemala, Julian Prieto.  Sponsored by the Faces and Our Culture exchange program, Prieto will participate fully in all aspects of school life at Chesapeake Academy. Faces and Our Culture is an organization that pairs host families and Guatemalan exchange students for a cultural  program.  Middle Schoolers are excited to welcome Julian (pronounced Hoo-lee-an) and have already found so much in common. While in the United States, Julian will be staying with sixth grader Jackson Pyles and family.


Mapmaking Goes 3D in Sixth Grade  

The mighty explorer, Magellan never touched a GPS!  During our unit on Magellan, students learned about the various geographic tools he used to navigate. One tool that he did not have access to, but which the sixth graders will read on our hiking trip, is a topographic map. Students first matched a series of topographic maps to cross cuts of different shaped mountains. Then students designed and built 3-D topographic maps.


Cleaning up Norse Mythology   

Why are the runes of the Futhark straight lines? Sixth graders have a pretty good idea after carving their names using a variant of ancient Runic text as part of their study of Norse mythology. 

Hint: The answer is that it is pretty darn hard to carve curves into wood, stone, or even soap!


Sixth graders are learning about matter particles in motion!
.


Tripp and Adrianne Bugg, parents of Davis (fourth grade) and Anna (first grade).

Why Chesapeake? Indeed!

We chose Chesapeake Academy for our children for several reasons. My husband (Tripp) and sister-in-law (PJ) went there as children and each had an amazing experience. We love that it is a small school and are ever impressed with how each student and faculty member knows our children and genuinely cares about them and their development. We love that there is a real, hard copy, written plan for their education and that when we hit bumps in the road we are guided, hand-in-hand, as if our kids were their own. CA is a part of our village...and it certainly takes one!

It's a special environment in which to grow up, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Chesapeake Academy pushes kids to expand and grow in a healthy way.  The one-on-one attention as well as the hands-on approach benefit my children.

What is most important for a family who is considering CA to know? That CA is a family. You will feel welcome and a part of something bigger than yourself. You will feel confident your children are being cared for and are getting a top-level education. You will not be disappointed!

Our lives would be dramatically different without this little school. And the entire Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula region would be impacted. So make a donation - any amount - and ensure that CA is an option that supports children and the broader community for many generations to come!



Curious about Beautycounter? Now is the Time to Find Out!
Beautycounter creates effective makeup and personal care products that are safe, non-toxic, and free of the harmful ingredients found in most beauty products. Come see Becca Sterrett and Charlotte Charlton here at Chesapeake Academy to shop, socialize, learn more about safer beauty--and support our school! 

There will be Beautycounter fundraising  events on Wednesday, November 15 and  Thursday, November 16  from 4 p.m. -  6 p.m. in the library. 

Ten percent of all sales from these events will benefit Chesapeake Academy. 


You can reach these ladies at   becca.sterrett@gmail.com  and  charlton.charlotte@gmail.com
if you have questions.  What a nice way to support the school!




Student Council Leads The Fun!

In celebration of the hard work the sports teams have put in this fall season, in addition to all the other wonderful activities the kids have participated in during this very busy October, we are celebrating with a Spirit Week. All students are welcome to participate, free of charge. If students choose not to participate on a particular day, that is just fine, but it is still a regular uniform day. 
  •        Monday, October 30: Tourist Day
  •        Tuesday, October 31: Black & Orange Day
  •        Wednesday, November 1: Pajama Day, dress uniform if you are not participating.              Bring dress uniform for any photo retakes.
  •        Thursday, November 2: Super Hero Day (existing or invented by the student)
  •        Friday, November 3: Crazy Hair Day (with regular uniform)
Outfits should be school appropriate and not distracting to the student wearing it. No masks should be worn during school. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact Student Council Leader Kim Dynia at  kdynia@chesapeakeacademy.org.

Student Council will host a Capture the Flag Night on  Friday, November 3 . Attendance is open to all middle school students, and it will take place from  5:30 to 7:30 p.m . For an entrance fee of $5, students will enjoy an evening of snacks, capture the flag, and other fun outdoor games!

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one." 
                                                                                 George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Tell Your Friends About Discovery Day at Chesapeake Academy!

Discovery Day is a fun and creative hands-on experience for community children on Saturday mornings. These events are offered as a means to bring together early childhood and elementary school families in our community with enriching, age-appropriate art, science, math, movement, and music activities centered on popular children's literature. Chesapeake's first Discovery Day, on Saturday, November 11, will feature teacher-guided activities centered around the book, If I Build a House, by Chris Van Dusen. 

Discovery Days are sponsored by the Early Childhood and Lower School teachers at Chesapeake Academy and the Wiley Foundation and are open and free to all children ages three through six in our community. While these events are not for current Chesapeake Academy students, we encourage our families to share this opportunity with families with young children. 

If you know of a family that may have interest in attending our first Discovery Day (HINT: you could submit a referral form to earn a $1000 tuition credit!), please have them contact Hilary Scott at 804.438.5575 or hscott@chesapeakeacademy.org to reserve a spot!  


Christchurch School Shares PEAC Experience with Seventh Grade

Chesapeake Academy seventh graders joined Christchurch School faculty members for a place-based extension of the academic curriculum (PEAC) experience in marine ecology. Students discussed watersheds and compared water quality from the Chesapeake Bay and from the Dragon Run watershed physically, chemically, and biologically. Contrasting the biomes and ecological diversity, students were also able to catch live organisms to compare between the two ecosystems and conduct a macro invertebrate survey. They learned to identify natural filters and understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy water. The students enjoyed taking their learning on the road--seining, working in shallow water, canoeing, and investigating the waterfront at the two locations.

Christchurch School's Director of Place-Based Extensions of the Academic Classroom, Dave Cola, describes the importance of these experiences, "PEAC lessons break down the walls of single teacher classrooms and use natural and social resources in our region to enhance classroom effectiveness and relevance. These lessons lead to greater student engagement and emotionally charged, meaningful experiences and expose students to relevant people and communities."  



Published Author, Sarah Condrey, Launches NaNoWriMo Season for Eighth Graders

Author of the Cloverdale Series and various children's literature, and our very own Kindergarten Aide, Sarah Condrey, spoke with eighth grade's Writer's Workshop as they prepared for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November. " I was delighted to come and talk with our eighth grade writers! We discussed ways to improve writing and how to overcome the challenges to writing a novel. I'm looking forward to reading their creations!" 


Chesapeake Academy Walks for Water!

Sponsored by the school's Student Council and guided by local philanthropist Glenn Cockrell, Chesapeake Academy students grabbed buckets and walked down Steamboat Road to gather water to carry back to the campus. As the buckets grew heavier on the hike, students reflected on their conversation with Egette Indelele, a Tanzanian student who described the impact of living with little access to clean water. This Walk for Water, designed to raise money for Water Missions, International raised  $700.00--an outcome that pleased students hoping to make a difference in addressing this world issue.

Athletic Director, Ian H. York
Coach's Corner

The fall athletics season came to an end with the Golf and Volleyball teams competing for ISAC Championships. 

The Varsity soccer team ended their season with a hard fought contest at Aylett Country Day School in the ISAC Tournament. 

The Golf team played at Piankatank Golf Course in Middlesex to end the season but did not prevail. Coach Molly Vanderpool says the team really come together recently with several of the players winning their flights but their final contest eluded them. 

The Volleyball team played Aylett Country Day School in the Christchurch School gymnasium for their final games.  Their ending contest was a real back and forth competition that showed them off as a team.
  
Basketball open gyms will begin November 2 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Open gyms will continue every Tuesday and Thursday until basketball practice begins. 
 
All uniforms from the Fall season must be returned immediately!

Duke chipped in on his second shot from 95 feet!


"The difference between the poet and the mathematician is that the poet tries to get his head into the heavens while the mathematician tries to get the heavens into his head." 

CAPPA Countdown!

Two months into the school year and our campus has been rocking! Convocation, Grandparent's Day, Oyster Roast, apple sale, Book Fair and the visit from the VAIS team on top of sporting events and daily classroom activities have kept us all busy. I would like to thank everyone for helping make each of these events successful. We are a small campus with a lot happening, and it takes a group effort to get it all done. A huge thank you to everyone who pitched in--and to think we are only in October!  

Next up will be the Christmas Float and our Holiday program...so keep an eye on your in-boxes for more information.

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." 

The CA mascot loves an attitude of gratitude!
THE Attitude is Gratitude
  • Thanks to the faculty for driving the volunteer force for the Community Oyster Roast. These folks never fail to step up! Thanks also to parents who volunteered. Many hands make light work and all help is appreciated!  And much gratitude goes out to Chris Cammarata--who chaired the event!
  • Hilary Scott, Director of Admission, would like to recognize the following parent volunteers for helping to distribute the November Discovery Day posters in over 100 locations in the surrounding counties: Kate Carey, Gracie Wessinger, Jennifer Hinton, Whitney Shelton, Robin Cunningham, Phoebe Hollingsworth, Kim Olsen, Sonja Smith, Fiona Chao Li, Diana Wolfson, and Alison Weddle.
  • The Virginia Holocaust Museum has gone above and beyond to helps and support Chesapeake Academy students in their study of this period of history.
  • Many sincere thanks to Glenn Cockrell for bringing the story of Water Missions International to Chesapeake Academy in such a real and compelling way.
  • The staff at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation makes marine sciences sing for Chesapeake Academy's students in their field studies on the Bay.
  • Week in and week out hot lunch servers show up and serve hot lunch with a smile. 
  • Northern Neck Fence Company deserves kudos for a job well done on the fence they installed behind Wiley.
  • CAPPA volunteers that helped prepare for the VAIS Accreditation Visit created delicious treats for the reception and helped in so many other ways.
  • Members of the Accreditation Team left their homes and schools to participate in a process that benefits Chesapeake Academy.  Thanks to these folks.
  • Thanks to the faculty and staff for "keeping the pedal down" for a long stretch of many long hours and special events without lettting the lustre leave their teaching!  These folks are simply, THE BEST!
  • Thanks to the CA Board of Trustees who showed up en masse to represent the school in the accreditation visit.  
  • Often the first to volunteer, Mr. Grover Branson drove the school bus for the Pumpkin Patch, pitching in to pack the pumpkins on the bus and providing all around good humored support!
  • That spirit of rallying around a need and making life's hardships easier is alive and well at Chesapeake Academy.  Like a ripple in a pond...the grace offered in need...spreads out and refreshes all around.
  • The Campus Beautification team certainly brought their A-game!  Thanks to Alison Weddle, Julie Thostenson, and Alan Rafael who prepped the campus for our string of big events.
  • Hilary Scott wishes to thank fifth grade for assembling 1,000 goody bags for the Lancaster By the Bay Chambers, Kandy for Kids, on Saturday, October 28.  A treat was enjoyed by all after the last bag was filled!    
"Mathematics expresses values that reflect the cosmos, including orderliness, balance, harmony, logic, and abstract beauty." 
                                                                                                             Deepak Chopra


Don't Miss the Dates!

10/27 Human Settlement Patterns Field Study in Blue Ridge, sixth grade 
10/30 Its A Great Pumpkin, 10:05 a.m.
10/30 Woodberry Admissions, seventh and eighth grade boys, 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.
10/31 Halloween (kindergarten through fourth grade parties at 2:15 p.m.)
11/1 Dress Uniform
11/1 Picture Retakes 
11/1 Fall Athletics Awards, 10:05 a.m.
11/2 Oyster Festival Education Day (third, fourth, and fifth grades)
11/3 First Marking Period Ends 
11/3 Student Council Sponsors "Capture the Flag," 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
11/5 Daylight Savings Time Ends, Fall back...
11/8 Faculty Professional Development, Innovation and Design
11/8 Author Visit, David Lopez, kindergarten through eighth grade
11/8 St. Margaret's School Admissions, seventh and eighth grade girls, 12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
11/11 Discovery Day at CA, 9:30 a.m.
11/13 through 11/16 Parent Partnership Conferences
11/13 Academic Awards Assembly
11/15 PALS, Virginia Repertory Theatre's Pinocchio, 9:30 a.m.



Chesapeake Academy | | chesapeakeacademy@chesapeakeacademy.org | 
 Post Office Box 8   107 Steamboat Road    Irvington, VA 22480