2025 Summer Camp Line-up Announced!

CAMP CHESAPEAKE

Camp Chesapeake serves rising third through eighth grade students and runs

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Campers will explore each week’s theme through age-appropriate field trips and activities. All activities and entrance fees are included. 

Please note the following: a $100 non-refundable deposit per camp is required to confirm enrollment in camp, and a 3% service fee will be added to all payments made by credit card; this fee does not apply to debit cards.

Rooted in Nature: A Garden Adventure–June 22-27, $350

Join us for a hands-on adventure in the garden! Explore the world of plants, from landscaping with native species to growing your own garden. Work together to create a native plant space on campus, while learning how to cook with fresh ingredients straight from the earth. This camp blends nature, creativity, and culinary fun for a truly unique outdoor experience!

Fun Day Sundae–June 30-July 3, $325

Nothing is more patriotic than a cool ice cream after a hot summer day of adventure! Campers will participate in daily trips and activities such as bowling and beach time. Each day will include a cool treat at local ice cream destinations. Campers will try their hand at making homemade ice cream, too! Of course, expect splashes of red, white, and blue celebrations all week long! Please note that Fun Day Sundae camp will only run Monday through Thursday due to the holiday.

Exploring the Northern Neck and Beyond–July 7-11, $400

Find adventure in and around the water! This favorite camp is back with new activities and destinations. Campers will explore parks, swim, and go on adventures–a perfect way to discover all the Northern Neck and surrounding area has to offer! 

Mad Science–July 14-18, $375

Through experiments and activities both on and off campus, campers will explore the exciting world of science! Fun-filled, hands-on experiences make this a dynamite week! Embrace your inner scientist and join the fun! 

All-Star Sports Camp: Game On! $350

Get ready for an action-packed week of sports! From basketball to ultimate frisbee, soccer to pickleball, campers get to try a variety of games while building skills, teamwork, and confidence. Perfect for a beginner or a seasoned player: this camp has something for everyone!

Mystery Tour, $400

Chesapeake Academy’s famous mystery tour is back! New destinations and surprises make for a thrilling week where no two days will be the same. There is something for everyone at this camp. Mystery Tour will keep campers guessing what fun is to come each day! All entrance fees are included.

CAMP IRVINGTON 

Camp Irvington serves children ages four through rising second grade and runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Campers explore each week’s theme through age-appropriate activities and field trips. All activities and entrance fees are included. Please note that campers are transported on a bus, and travel times may be up to 1.5 hours. All campers must be fully potty-trained and able to independently manage themselves in the restroom.

Please note the following: a $100 non-refundable deposit per camp is required to confirm enrollment in camp, and a 3% service fee will be added to all payments made by credit card; this fee does not apply to debit cards.

Bloom & Create: A Colorful Garden Adventure–June 23-27, $325

Come explore the magic of nature through vibrant colors and creative fun! Little gardeners will plant flowers, learn about the beauty of growing things, and bring their imagination to life with colorful painting, crafts, and hands-on activities. From nature walks to painting pots, this camp is all about exploring, creating, and blossoming in a world full of color!

Holiday Hullabaloo–June 30-July 3, $325 

Join us for a whirlwind of holiday fun, where we’ll celebrate the best traditions from Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the 4th of July! From crafting festive decorations to creating tasty treats, each week brings a new holiday adventure. Get ready for games, arts & crafts, and plenty of holiday cheer all year long! Please note that camp will only run Monday through Thursday due to the holiday.

Nature Bond Camp: Connect, Explore, Grow–July 7-11, $325

Step into the great outdoors and discover the magic of nature! At Nature Bond Camp, you'll connect with the environment through hands-on activities like hiking, wildlife exploration, and team-building games. From planting trees to identifying local plants and animals, this camp is all about forging a deeper bond with the earth and building lasting memories with friends. Nature awaits—let’s explore and grow together!

Animal Adventures: Explore, Learn, Play–July 14-18, $350

Embark on an exciting journey into the animal kingdom! From discovering local wildlife to learning about exotic creatures, Animal Adventures is packed with hands-on fun. Explore habitats, create animal-themed crafts, and get up close with furry, scaly, and feathered friends. Whether you’re a budding biologist or just love animals, this camp is a wild ride of discovery and adventure!

Little Builders: A STEAM Adventure–July 21-25, $325

Let your creativity soar in this fun-filled camp where building meets play! Little builders will explore simple engineering, colorful crafts, and hands-on science activities. From constructing towers to exploring fun art projects, each day is an exciting adventure of learning, experimenting, and creating. Perfect for young minds ready to build, imagine, and discover the world around them!

Mystery Tour–July 28-August 1, $350

Chesapeake Academy’s famous mystery tour is back again! Surprises make for a thrilling week where no two days will be the same. There is something for everyone at this camp. Mystery Tour will keep campers guessing what fun is to come each day! All entrance fees are included.

A Successful Auction Takes a Community!

We all can play a part! Do you have an item to donate?

Would you like to offer a sponsorship?

Want to purchase an ad in the auction catalog?

There is a role for every single family!

It's all hands on deck: no wallflowers allowed!

Activity Periods Keep Learning Fresh

Third through eighth grade students are participating in a variety of activity period offerings this marking period to give Ospreys an opportunity to explore new interests and to keep learning fresh. The fun includes:

World Landmarks Lego Challenge: Students will work to build different world landmarks out of legos. They only have a certain amount of time to create, so they must work together and plan accordingly! 

Kindergarten Commissions: Older students will get creative and bring the story ideas of kindergarteners to life! After interviewing K students, they will turn their ideas into a book, slideshow, or puppet show and present back to the younger students at the end of the marking period. 

Card Games: Students are learning individual games (such as Solitaire) and traditional group games with a deck of cards!

Puzzles: Puzzle participants are completing a variety of challenges, such as jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, sudoku, riddles, and Rubik's Cube. 

Paper Art: Students will make different paper art items, such as origami, homemade greeting cards, and 3D folding creations. 

Mindfulness Coloring: Students will get the chance to unwind by completing coloring pages in a relaxing atmosphere. 

Manetz Named Assistant Head of School at Chesapeake Academy

Kenzie Iseman Manetz, former Dean of Academics, has been named Assistant Head of School at Chesapeake Academy for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year. Her success at the school springs from her passion for implementing solid educational practices that support and engage all types of learners. Manetz is driven by her interest in making learning fun, engaging, and accessible for all students. She believes wholeheartedly in the importance of developing the whole child and guiding students toward becoming their best selves. 

Manetz graduated in 1998 from Clemson University with a BA in Special Education. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Administration and a Specialist's Degree in Reading from the University of Virginia. 

Manetz became affiliated with Chesapeake Academy after moving to the Northern Neck with her husband, Brian Manetz, and their two sons, Lorry and Charley. Once her oldest son enrolled at CA, she immediately fell in love with the school community and applied for a job as a kindergarten teacher in 2012. Since then, she has distinguished herself in several roles ranging from second-grade teacher to librarian, and Academic Dean. Manetz partnered to create Chesapeake Academy’s Learning Support Services program which offers individualized reading instruction to students who require one-on-one and small-group learning as well as defining and overseeing implementation of any individualized instruction plans for students in the classroom. She was a driving force behind the school’s successful 2023-2024 Virginia Association of Independent Schools 10-year accreditation. 

Head of School Catherine L. Emery explains, “Kenzie brings experience in education, an understanding of curriculum, and a kind heart to her role as Assistant Head of School. Her skill set combined with her perspective as a parent, teacher, program leader, and administrator at CA will be invaluable in her role as Assistant Head of School.”

CA Kindergarten Answers Call to Service!

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s call to service and inspired by the recent fires in California, Chesapeake Academy's kindergarten class held a stuffed animal drive. Students donated around 40 gently loved stuffies to the Teddy Bear Brigade through the Lynchburg based charity, Gleaning the World. The stuffies will go on to find new homes with children who are facing disaster or tragedy and could be shipped anywhere in the world!  #makingtheworldabetterplace

Chesapeake Academy proudly announces the CA Cheer Squad. Pictured on the front row are Camdyn Ritenour, Belle Perez, HaileyRae George, Cayden Miller, Sienna Miller, and Pearl Burke. Bringing up the rear are Avery Spore, Alyra Elam, Aria Russell, Isla Kelley, and Abby Ross. Not pictured are Alana Rafael, Berkley Grass, Eden Ginsberg, June Nichols, Olivia Dawson, and Violet Edmonds. The CA Cheer Squad is coached by: Brie Salatino, Michelle Grass, and Jennifer Miller.

CA Celebrates the 100th Day

We've come a long way since the school year began: 100 days worth of learning and growing are under our belts! Costumes, counting, and crafts made the much anticipated 100th day of school a rousing success for a student body with rather more grey hair and assistive devices than usual!

Second Grade Tackles Geometric Fractions!

Second grade students spent the month of February reviewing shapes and learning how to partition them into equal shares. Scholars expanded their knowledge by identifying different fractions in their shapes. To conclude their unit, they teamed up with the fourth grade class to create their own pizza fraction. Working in pairs, students got to plan and prepare their pizza with their favorite toppings. Bon appetit! 

Peninsula YMCA Offers Second Grade Swim

The Penninsula YMCA offers a Safety Around Water program for second graders that teaches water safety skills, and CA's second grade is taking time in their school day to participate. 

Here's how it works:

• The program is offered free of charge to second graders. 
• The program includes eight lessons that teach water safety skills. 
• Lessons include exercises, instruction in skills like jump, push, turn, grab, and swim, and float swim. 
• Lessons also include safety topics like what to do if you see someone in the water who needs help. 

The program helps reduce the risk of drowning and builds confidence in and around water. It also opens the door to other aquatic opportunities, such as summer camps, swim teams, and other water sports. 

PALS Presents Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix

On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Chesapeake Academy's Performing Arts and Lecture Series  presented "Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix" to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students at 9:30 a.m. in the gymnasium. Featuring dogs primarily rescued from shelters and pounds, Johnny Peers showcased his personality-plus canines and their athletic antics. Peers has been featured on Letterman, Primetime Live, and Circus of the Stars, along with Disneyland, Busch Gardens and the Big Apple Circus.

PALS programming is funded through the generosity of the Wiley Foundation with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts to make the arts more readily available to young children in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. 

Mapping Perspective in Fourth Grade

Fourth grade students are taking geography skills to the next level as Ms. Haydon teams up with Ms. (Art) Sonja Smith for a creative mapping project. This activity combines social studies and visual arts, allowing students to explore concepts such as longitude, latitude, and bird’s-eye view while expressing their creativity!

Osprey About Town: Evan Cunningham

Kindness has the unique ability to transform ordinary moments into something extraordinary. CA first-grade celebrates this power through The Kindness Award, recognizing students who embody our motto: “Kind thoughts, kind hearts, and kind hands.” This motto serves as a daily reminder to create a space where everyone feels respected, valued, and supported.

Ms. Molly Vanderpool is delighted to announce that Evan Cunningham is the newest recipient of The Kindness Award! Evan’s thoughtful actions and genuine care for others have made him an essential part of our classroom community. His consistent effort to treat everyone with respect and his willingness to lend a helping hand have brightened the days of his classmates and teachers alike.

Second Marking Period Head of School List

Fifth Grade

Weston Kenner

Daniella McLaughlin

Shannon Wilson

Sixth Grade

Meera Crotty

Mason Jones

Orla Watts

Annabel Clair

Addy Parsley

Seventh Grade

Callum Watts

Kathryn Kenner

Fin Burke

Louisa Goodrich

Sophia Kunkle

Merritt Kelley

Veronica Edmonds

Nolan Pittman

Elise Sterrett

Eighth Grade

Miriam Sisson

Henry Clair

Ethan Wills

Sixth Grade Studies How Water Impacts

South Sudan

After reading A Long Walk to Water  by Linda Sue Park, sixth grade students began researching the water crisis, disease, and humanitarian efforts in South Sudan. Researchers will be displaying their findings in a fun and creative way on a science board. In their art class they will be making a 3D representation of a map of Sudan. Additionally, they are writing a research essay to go with their projects. 

Semester Head of School List

Fifth Grade

Weston Kenner

Sixth Grade

Annabel Clair

Meera Crotty

Mason Jones

Orla Watts

Addy Parsley

Seventh Grade

Kathryn Kenner

Callum Watts

Fin Burke

Sophia Kundle

Louisa Goodrich

Merritt Kelley

Eighth Grade

Miriam Sisson

Ethan Wills

Henry Clair

Thermal Heat Transfers

What can be more fun than exploring thermal heat transfers...using marshmallows! Eighth graders got to test marshmallows over a pot of boiling water, near a heat lamp and over a Sterno. Robin Blake makes science fun!

Emery and Allen Attend VAIS Safe Schools Workshop

Chesapeake Academy administrators, Catherine Emery and Jane Allen, attended the Virginia Association of Independent Schools Conference at the University of Richmond's Jepson Center in February. This in-person event included an keynote address by Chris Joffe of Joffe Emergency Services; a Deep Dive Workshop; and Learning Tracks for Health and Physical Wellness; Social, Emotional and Academic Support; and Safety & Security. 

Head of School Catherine Emery attended "Building a Culture of Cyber Resilience: Practical Strategies for K-12 Data Privacy" to better understand the threat of cyberattacks to student information systems and learn actionable ways to build data privacy programs. She also attended sessions on helping students navigate group chat drama, cultivating a mindful school culture, and collaborating to build a comprehensive health and wellness program.  Athletic Director Jane Allen focused on sessions discussing "Decisive Leadership in a Crisis," "Building a Culture of Cyber Resilience," "Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams," and "Navigating Crisis Reunification."

The Virginia Association of Independent Schools exists to assist member schools in maintaining standards of excellence (through an accreditation process), to encourage activities to exchange information about new methodologies and practices, and to promote the well-being of and public regard for independent schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

It's Always the Right Time for Valenslime...!

When the weather outside is frightful, there are many ways to take a break inside! Eighth grade science students enjoyed the book Valenslime and then chose a recipe they wanted to experiment with to find the best recipe for slime. 

Remaking the Old Masters...Northern Neck Style!

Students in Ms. Art Smith's eighth grade art class developed multimedia landscapes featuring local landmarks. Can you pinpoint these places captured by Henry Clair (above) and Lucas Clair (below).  

The assignment started with an artist study of Van Gogh, focusing on his use of thick paint and swirling brushstrokes and his landscapes. Students chose from a variety of photos of local landmarks and layered their interpretations over painted canvas backgrounds inspired by Van Gogh's skies. The final touch was a layer of color and pattern with oil pastels.

A&I Student Prints Blocks!

Imagine combining the joy of Brio trains with the sturdy structural components of Duplo blocks and being able to design tracks that spiral and roll! Eighth grader Lucas Clair has been hard at work using a 3D printer to create components that combine these two popular building toys, enabling students to expand the design parameters of both! Pre-Kindergartent 3&4 students are looking forward to working in multigrade groups to imagine the potential of this powerful combination in their own design projects. #makingtheworldabetterplace

Student Council Update!

Student Council organized a spirit week in February to support our basketball team as they headed into the ISAC tournament. Students dressed in CA colors and enjoyed cheering on our varsity athletes! In addition, Student Council will be holding a fundraiser to help California animal shelters in the wake of the recent wildfires.

Coach's Corner



At CA, we believe that sports are not just about competition: they are an essential part of developing teamwork, discipline, resilience, and character in our students. From our youngest students participating in Spirit Week to our parents and alumni who show up to cheer on our teams, each member of our community plays a vital role in motivating our student-athletes to perform their best. Your support creates an environment where our athletes can grow, learn, and thrive, both on and off the court.

We are incredibly proud of the Varsity Boys' Basketball Team for their outstanding performance this past week in the ISAC Tournament Semifinal game! After a thrilling overtime victory against ACDS the team earned a well-deserved spot in the finals. Their determination and teamwork this season have been truly inspiring, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.

Looking ahead, the varsity boys will face Ware Academy in the ISAC finals on Wednesday, 2/26, at 5:30 p.m. at Christchurch School. We encourage all of our families, friends, and alumni to come out and show your support for the team in what promises to be an exciting and hard-fought game. Let's show off our Osprey Pride! 

Additionally, our girls' and JV boys' basketball teams will play their final games of the season at home on Thursday, 2/27, against ACDS. The girls will play at 4:00 p.m., followed by the JV boys at 5:00 p.m. These games mark the conclusion of the season, and we’d love to see you there to cheer athletes on as they finish strong! 

Thank you to all of our friends and families--from the littlest spirit supporters to our parents and alumni--for your unwavering support. Your presence and enthusiasm truly motivate our student-athletes to do their best, and for that, we are so grateful. We look forward to seeing you at the games!

Go Ospreys!

Coach Allen 

Cue Up Your Calendars!

2/24 through 2/28 Second Grade Swim at YMCA

2/26 Tag Day

2/27 Academic Awards Assembly, 10:05 a.m.

2/26 PALS Presents Greenbeats Live by the Virginia Stage Company

3/3 Interims Home

3/5 Winter Athletics Awards, Dress Uniforms

3/15 Financial Aid Applications Complete and Submitted

3/21 CAPPA Meeting, 8:30 a.m., art room

3/27 PALS Presents Richmond Ballet's "Cinderella," pre-k through fourth grade; 9:30 a.m. in the gym

3/28 End of 3MP, half day

3/31 through 4/4 Spring Break

4/9 Dress Uniform

4/10 Family Picnic

4/14 Report Cards Home

4/17 PALS, Songs and Stories of Mexilachia

4/18 Good Friday

4/21 No School/Easter Monday

4/22 Earth Day

4/30 Tag Day

5/5 Interims

5/3 Auction

5/5 through 5/9, Science Field Study, seventh and eighth grades

Attitude of Gratitude!

• Here's to the foundations and organizations that contribute to Chesapeake Academy! These philathropic entities fund scholarships, contribute to program upgrades and supplies, and help CA keep the school program in top form. And they do this, in part, because the CA community turns out with 100 percent support for the Bell Tower Annual Giving Fund: There is no stronger indication of the strength of the CA community!
• Thanks to The Nettie Lokey and Charles L. Wiley Foundation, the Rappahannock Music Study Club, the Rappahannock Concert Association, the Mason and Lula Cole Charitable Trust, The Tidewater Foundation, Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom, and the H. Hiter Harris Family Trust.
• The intrepid editors from the Old Grey Mare Publishing Company in Pre-K 3&4 earn the gratitude and affection of parents and teachers daily! These good souls coach wee writers through their very first written works, making the experience fun and enriching! Many thanks to Sandy Johnson, Wendy Charlton, Amelia Sydnor, and Donna McGrath!
• Hat tip to the wonderful Gleason Holliingsworth for delivering Kindergarten's contributions to Lynchburg based charity, Gleaning the World to support disaster relief.
• Thank you to Joanie Milward and Pam Narney from the Virginia Osprey Foundation for taking the time to visit to kindergarten to share the life cycle, habits, and habitat of the osprey as well as Project Osprey Watch. 
• T'is the season to be grateful for Ransone's super plows!