CA Welcomes New Ospreys!

Chesapeake Academy Admissions Director Sonja Smith is delighted to celebrate a new flock of students for the 2024-25 school year! Chesapeake Academy welcomes dinosaur aficionado Cohen Herbert, son of Hannah Kellum Herbert and Chance Herbert (pre-K); Beau Lacy, son of Sally and Matthew Lacy (third grade); Addison Keane, daughter of Terrin Strickland (kindergarten); Liam Moore, son of Adele and Rhett Moore (pre-K); Andrew Ridgely, son of Emily and Nicholas Ridgley (kindergarten); Violet Lacy, daughter of Sally and Matthew Lacy (sixth grade); Harper Somers, daughter of Nicole and Jonathan Somers (pre-K); Lulu Dollar, daughter of Emmy Nicklin and Chris Dollar (pre-K); and Mariana Roman, daughter of Lisa and Alberto Roman (pre-K). Grant Evans-Cassidy, son of Sarah Evans and Patrick Cassidy and Elias Jones son of Dr. Lisa Jones and Dadrian Jones (both in pre-K) are not pictured.  

A Kaleidoscope of Monarchs

Teach Patterns In Pre-K!

When you start to notice patterns, they show up absolutely everywhere! One of pre-k's favorite patterns so far this year is the butterfly life cycle. Pre-kindergarten hatched a kaleidoscope of six monarchs and an (as yet) undetermined number of spicebush swallowtail butterflies! You simply cannot believe how much butterfly larvae eat! Pre-k would love for everyone to consider growing milkweed to support declining food sources for these hungry buggers!

The Scholastic Book Fair is On the Way!

The Fall Book Fair is just around the corner. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students and families to explore new books, support our school library, and celebrate the joy of reading together. More details will be coming soon, but we can’t wait to see you there!

SAVE THE DATE:

October 20-24

in the James Library!

Living Large in First Grade!

First graders are learning about living things! Guided by Ms. Vanderpool, students observed and studied the needs of plants and planted a small "black-eyed pea patch" in the window of the classroom. 

Everyone Loves Birthday Books!

The Birthday Book Program underwrites the collection of the James Library by offering supporters (parents, grandparents, friends) the chance to honor an Osprey with a special donation. The program culminates in a whole-school assembly where students receive carefuly chosen, inscribed birthday books that will be added to the library collection--and they get to be the very first reader to check that book out!

Osprey About Town: Bike Club!

The Northern Neck Bike Club believes in the power of cycling to connect individuals and foster a sense of community. Their mission is to create a positive impact in the Northern Neck of Virginia by promoting outdoor adventures, maintaining trails, and mentoring youth. This group strives to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere where everyone can learn, grow, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of our region. And there is a whole flock of Ospreys participating joyfully in the club's events!

Fostering Community and Adventure

Northern Neck Bike Club Video

CA Loves Legacies!

Chesapeake Academy Head of School Catherine Emery declares, "They must like us, because they keep coming back! The number of Chesapeake Academy legacy students is a compelling statement on the vitality of our school community.  While practices and strategies change to keep our students well prepared for their futures, the primary focus on each student's optimal growth endures." 

Legacy students pictured left to right on the front row include: Cohen Herbert, son of Chance and Hannah (Kellum) Herbert '10; Wilder James, son of Leland James, '06;  Harper Somers, daughter of Nicole and Jonathan Somers '04 and Stella Myers, daughter of Carter (Clark) Myers, '08. Standing on the second row, are Mason Dawson, son of Morgan Bishop, '03; Olivia Dawson, daughter of Morgan Bishop, '03; Taylor Rowe, son of the late Chas Rowe, '89; Lillie Grace Ruddock, daughter of former Osprey Stephen Ruddock; and Mae Ramsay Hollingsworth, daughter of Mark Hollingsworth '90.  Starting off the third row is Isaac Charlton, son of Charlotte Cornwell Charlton '98; June Nichols, daughter of David R. Nichols '94; Tillie Rowe, daughter of the late Chas Rowe, '89; and Alec and Elise Sterrett, grandchildren of Gayle Haynie Sterrett, '71. Anchoring the back row are Jamie Lang, son of Arthur Lang '99; Merritt Kelley, son Jennifer Harris Kelley, '82 and former Osprey Hurst Kelley;  Emory Simmons, daughter of Susan Faulkner Simmons '87 and James Rawleigh Simmons '76; Nora Charlton, daughter of Charlotte Cornwell Charlton '98;  Quinn Stewart, daughter of former Osprey Brooks Vickery Stewart; and MacKenzie Ruddock, daughter of former Osprey Stephen Ruddock; Penn Charlton, son of Charlotte Cornwell Charlton '98 is not pictured.

Welcome to CA's Freshman Trustees!

Lee Allen is a corporate real estate broker and JLL Charleston Office Lead, specializing in tenant representation/site selection,vacant building and investment sales as well as agency leasing in the Greater Charleston market.

Lee is also a 1997 alumnus of CA.

Kelly Antonio is a real estate agent with Bragg & Company who formerly held a variety of roles at Chesapeake Academy. Serving on the Partners Board, Antonio worked to establish affordable housing for teachers and first responders in the Northern Neck.  She is the parent of three CA graduates.

Hurst Kelly is Vice President and Senior Commercial Lender at Chesapeake Bank. Kelly currently also serves on the boards of the Northern Neck YMCA, Christchurch School Foundation, and the Foundation for Historic Christ Church. Kelly is a former Osprey married to an alumna, and he is the father of a current Osprey.

Della Kidd is a retired school administrator and the former host of Meet the Author, a series of live television talk shows featuring children’s authors nationwide. She is a current board member at Historic Christ Church; and she is active in the Northern Neck Sail & Power Squadron, and the Northern Neck Chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization. 

A&I Hub is Humming!



CA's Arts & Innovation program kicked off the first weeks of school with challenges reviewed and reinforced the Engineering Design Loop. 

Middle school was asked who could build the tallest paper tower and who could create an airplane that flew the farthest. After lessons and research, groups imagined, planned, and created their ideas. Students built before they tested and improved on their prototypes. They kept records to share their results and data with Ms. P. The tallest tower stood 60 centimeters tall using only one sheet of paper and 20 cm of tape. The longest flight path was a whopping 28 meters with the help of one paper clip worth of weight! 

Lilting Lyrics from the Third Grade

Our classroom is joyful from morning till night,

Joy dances around us, so cheerful and bright.

Beau’s biggest enjoyment was a silly surprise,

Pieing the teacher brought joy to his eyes.

The oobleck experiment was joyosity too,

A gooey, gloppy, joyous brew!

Avery felt joyfilled when others had cheer,

Their happiness made her enjoyment clear.

Thomas was overjoyed seeing friends every day,

Their smiles made joyfulness never fade away.

Connor enjoyed learning computers with pride,

Pieing his teacher made joy amplify wide.

With Mrs. Morgan and more joys galore,

He’s joyfulest learning—who could want more?

Camdyn was joy-filled with friendship so true,

And having a great teacher brought joyfulness too.

HaileyRae’s joyous heart bubbled with glee,

Mrs. Morgan and oobleck were joys guaranteed.

Pearl was joyfilled by synonyms and friends,

Her enjoyment of words brings joy without end.

Taylor enjoyed playing outside in the sun,

Place value and computers were joyous and fun.

Penn felt most joyous with graphs by his side,

And friends full of joyfulness make him beam wide.

Cayden’s enjoyment is friends she holds dear,

Their joyful voices bring happiness near.

Isla finds joy in math’s puzzles each day,

Enjoying new learning in a joyful way.

Mrs. Morgan finds joy in young minds that explore,

Their delight makes her joyous, inspired even more.

But throwing up is a killjoy, we know,

And missing a friend makes joyfulness low.



Still joy springs back, in laughter we play,

A joyfilled classroom, the joyous 3rd grade way!

Welcome to Jennifer Morgan!

Jennifer Morgan joins Chesapeake Academy's lower school program as a third grade teacher. She comes from her most recent posting as a team leader and classroom teacher at The New Community School of Richmond and prior to that from Westminster Academy, a university-style middle and high school program supporting students of home-schooling families. Jennifer is touted on the Clifton Strengths profile for her adaptability, positivity, communication, strategic skills and her ability to win people over. Assistant Head of School Kenzie Manetz lauds Morgan, "for her ability to form committed, collaborative relationships with parents and students and for her deep toolbox for meeting and communicating the wide variety of student needs. This is a teacher who celebrates a vibrant partnership with her students and their families."

Making The World A Better Place!

In fourth grade library class, students will be learning about biographies and exploring the lives of people who have made a difference in their communities. By reading and discussing these inspiring stories, students will see how individuals use their talents, values, and determination to create positive change.

Alongside this, the class will connect the lessons from biographies to real life by learning about the importance of giving back through community service. Their first project will be a sock drive, where students will collect socks to donate to people experiencing homelessness. The sock collection will begin on September 22 and continue through October 24. This experience will help students understand not only the power of personal stories, but also how they, too, can make an impact in their own communities.

Honor Board Signing

The Chesapeake Academy Honor Code is designed to promote honesty, respect, citizenship, and integrity within the student community. This code of honor serves as the underlying ethical benchmark which all Academy students are expected to observe and respect. An Honor Code Signing Ceremony is held at the beginning of each school year for all middle school students. 

At the recent ceremony in Chesapeake Academy's Middle School, students and faculty advisors reviewed the essential nature of honor in a healthy community and solemnly pledged on their honor to uphold the Chesapeake Academy Honor Code as they publicly signed the Honor Board. The Student Council is responsible for promoting and explaining the Honor Code to the student body, as well as modeling the code in everyday practice. 

The Great Fifth Grade Experiment is Underway! 

Chesapeake Academy student scientists are making sure the great fifth grade experiment is a fair one by learning how to use the tools in a science lab to measure temperature, length, mass, and volume. They are practicing careful observation and accurate recording, just like real scientists. With each measurement, students are building the skills they need to ask questions, test ideas, and discover new things about the world around them.

Advisories Connect Students in New Ways

Middle school students participated in a beginning of the year activity centered around finding commonality and getting to know one another. 

First, students individually created hexagons that represent themselves, featuring favorite hobbies, music, quotes, places, and school subjects. Then, they worked with their advisory groups to determine the many different ways that the hexagons could be connected. With some creativity, many different matches were discussed! Advisory groups agreed on a design that they felt best represented their group. 

Finally, the entire middle school gathered to work on joining the five advisory displays together. After some communication and trial and error, eighth graders took the lead in organizing the connections that best represent the middle school student body. The finished product hangs in the middle school hall for all to enjoy, and to remind us that there is JOY in connection! 

VIMS Water Study

With science teacher Robin Blake and VIMS personel at the helm, Chesapeake Academy seventh and eighth grade students seined the York river, finding 27 different organisms from pompano fish to seahorses and sea robins. Curious students proved without a doubt that there was ample biodiversity in the river.  

Inside the VIMS laboratory, students went to work using microscopes. Provided organisms from oyster reef cages in the York river, students choose five different organisms, looking at each under a microscope, and using a dichotomous key to identify it. Then they cross-referenced their identifications, using Life in the Chesapeake Bay  to secure each organism's scientific name. 

Students recorded each organism in notebooks with a drawing, its common and scientific names, and some fun facts about it.

Student Council Elections

Student Council is kicking off the year with a new slate of officers! Congratulations to our newly elected leadership team. Pictured left to right are Louisa Goodrich, President; Fin Burke, Vice President; Kailyn Allen, Secretary; and Addy Parsley, Treasurer.

Coach's Corner

The fall athletic season is here, and our Ospreys are soaring! Forty-four student-athletes are participating across our three teams: 19 soccer players, 6 cross country (XC) runners, and a record-setting 19 on the volleyball team! Volleyball and soccer are led once again by our returning coaches, and we’re thrilled to welcome Coach Jennifer Morgan to guide our XC team.

Our athletes are already showing great results. Volleyball opened with a win against Richmond County in their opening scrimmage and hosted their first play day with Lancaster and ACDS. They also picked up their first win on the road against Northumberland, earning them a 2-0 start to the season! Not to be outdone, the soccer team claimed a scrimmage win over ACDS and an exciting road victory against Richmond County. Cross country is off and running, too, with energy and determination.

Players and coaches alike are working hard, improving every day, and are looking forward to an exciting season ahead. Be sure to come out and support the Ospreys! There’s nothing like the energy of a home crowd cheering on our teams! 

With gratitude,

Coach Allen

CAPPA Update!

Chesapeake Academy Parents and Patrons Association's primary purpose is to support the school program, identifying program needs through close communication with the Head of School and providing support by mobilizing volunteers for key programs, annual support of the Bell Tower Annual Giving Fund as well as hosting other fund raisers. Most importantly, CAPPA members are the school's biggest cheerleaders. Along the way, parents develop a strong connection to the school and to one another: A win/win! There is a way to contribute for every Osprey family! 

CAPPA kicked off the school year with a fun family picnic last Sunday! Students and their families enjoyed grilling out together while playing and getting to know each other.

CAPPA has several events in the next few weeks. On Saturday, September 27, the Black Duck at Yankee Point is hosting a brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fifteen percent of proceeds that day will go towards CAPPA, so all families are encouraged to come out to enjoy a delicious meal while also supporting our school.

CAPPA's biggest fundraiser, the annual apple sale starts soon! Be on the lookout for more info, including order forms, sent home later this month. Apples are sold by the bushel, half bushel, or peck. They are fresh and delicious! 

These and other CAPPA fundraisers go toward our support of the following programs:

• Hospitality at CA’s big events (e.g. Grandparents’ Day, Holiday Program)
• Santa visit with hot chocolate & cookies
• Middle school ice cream social
• Field Day bounce house & Kona ice truck
• Teacher Appreciation Week treats & activities
• Teacher back-to-school luncheon
• Campus holiday decorations
• Annual leadership gift to the annual fund
• And more!

Additionally, ALL parents are invited to our monthly CAPPA meetings, which are held in the art room at 8:30 a.m. on the third Friday of the month. We encourage you to come out and see what we're all about, and hear about ways that you can get involved at CA. If you can't make it to the meetings but would still like to learn more about CAPPA, please contact Becca Sterrett at becca.sterrett@gmail.com or (804) 436-4643.



Cue Up Your Calendars!

9/22 New Family Roundtable, 8:35 a.m. to 9;15 a.m.

9/22 CA Volleyball @ ACDS, 4:00 p.m.

9/22 CA Soccer @ ACDS, 4:00 p.m.

9/23 Volleyball vs Lancaster, 4:30 p.m.

2/24 Tag Day

9/24 CA Volleyball @ Ware, 4;00 p.m.

9/24 CA Soccer @ Ware, 4:00 p.m.

9/25-6 Inward Bound

9/27 CAPPA Brunch at the Black Duck

9/30 CA Volleyball vs Aylett Country Day School, 4:30 p.m.

9/30 CA Soccer vs ACDS, 4:30 p.m.

10/1 Picture/Dress Uniform Day

10/1 Lunch and Learn: Building a Positive Home/School Relationship, 11: 55 a.m.

10/2 CA Soccer Vs, Middlesex, 4:00 p.m.

10/06 CA Volleyball @ Ware, 4:00 p.m.

10/6 CA Soccer @ Ware, 4:00 p.m.

10/6-10 Parent Partnership Conferences

10/7 Ditchley Cider Works, k through fourth, 8:30 a.m.

10/9 Oyster Festival Boat Trip, fourth and seventh grades

10/9 CA Volleyball @ Lancaster 4:30 p.m.

10/9 CA Soccer @ Lancaster, 4:30 p.m.

10/13-17 Spirit Week

10/14 ISAC Semifinals, TBA, 4:00 p.m.

10/15 ISAC VolleyballSemifinals TBA, 4:00

10/16 Dragon Run Field Trip, seventh grade

10/16 ISAC Finals, TBA, 4:00 p.m.

10/17 CAPPA Meeting, 8:30 a.m.

10/17 Birthday Book Orders Due

10/17 ISAC Finals TBA 4:00 p.m.

10/20 CA@ Northumberland 4:30 p.m.

10/20 CA @ Northumberland, 4:30 p.m.

10/20 through 10/24 Book Fair

10/22 CA vs Lancaster, 4:30

10/24 End of MP1

10/24 Grandparents and Grandfriends Day

10/25 Oyster Roast

10/27 School/Office Closed

10/29 Tag Day

10/29 Faculty Professional Development, 3:30 p.m.

10/29 Cross Country Meet @ Ware, all day

10/31 LS Halloween Parties, 2:30 p.m.

Attitude of Gratitude!

• Thanks to every Osprey who dug deep to get CA up and rolling for the year!
• Thanks to CAPPA for a fun-filled family picnic!
• Thanks to Katie Wilson's team of volunteers for campus clean up and to Travis Myers for clearing the tarmac behind the gym for use in PE classes
• Thanks to the Wiley Foundation, Ransone's Nursery, Grover Branson and Baylosh and to Alberto Roman and his crew for the terrific makeover in and behind Wiley!
• Thanks to Gay and Bill Chapman and Sarah Cassidy for supplying pre-k's caterpillars with milkweed!
• Thanks to the glorious girl scouts who donated treats for teachers as school opened!
• Thanks to CAPPA for treating faculty and staff to lunch as they prepped for the year! It was delicious and much appreciated.
• Thanks to the donors who made the CA refresh possible! We love the fresh new look!
• Thanks to Benton Miller and Lucas Rafael for leading the way in train track design for pre-K!