Pre-Kindergarten Masters Bee Bots!

Research indicates that future job markets will hold many opportunities for people who are fluent coders. CA's pre-kindergarten students get this ball rolling by coding wee Bee-Bots to move around a mat. Students learn directions, one-to-one correspondence, sequence, and cause and effect from giving directions to the robot. And the mat can be tailored to feature other curricular goals like letter or number recognition, story sequencing, sight words and so much more! When budding coders reach kindergarten they begin to learn the vocabulary of coding, but they already have the nuts and bolts! 

Accreditation Update

Cheapeake Academy's 93-page Accreditation Self Study has been completed and should be ratified by the Board of Trustees at the January 16 meeting. In the weeks ahead, the Steering Committee will be putting the final touches on the necessary essential documentation required by VAIS and looking forward to hearing about the makeup of the six-person team scheduled to visit April 14-16. Chesapeake Academy is excited to demonstrate all the wonderful things happening at our school to the visiting team and to work with them on ways we can continue to grow in the future. 

On Thursday, December 7, 2023, Chesapeake Academy's Performing Arts and Lecture Series presented Mark Nizer's ScienceSplosion to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students at 9:30 a.m. in CA's gymnasium, and welcomed guests from Bethel Preschool and Northumberland Elementary School.  Mark Nizer's new ScienceSplosion performance took students on a journey through time and space, using multimedia, juggling, lasers, and more! Nizer has performed at thousands of venues around the world and brings his passion for science education together with his love of performing to both educate and entertain.

PALS programming is funded by the Wiley Foundation with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

First Grade Tackles Fractions

Beginning with a whole, first-grade scholars found lines of symmetry that divided their shapes into halves. Working on that base, students halved their shapes again to find fourths. 

This led neatly to developing an understanding of the difference between the numerator and denominator in fractions--and students began using the language, "___ parts of ____."

Using a strong math vocabulary, folded paper, cut paper, and drawings first graders are busily building a strong foundation in fractions!

Darcie TeVault Presents Two Programs at CA

Mark your calendars! On February 28, Darcie TeVault will present two programs at Chesapeake Academy! In the morning, TeVault will offer a faculty in-service training on educational pedagogy and the efficacy of teaching. And in the evening, she will host a parent program on the neurocognitive science behind raising happy, healthy children and the value of the teacher/parent partnership.

Darcie L. TeVault, Director of Professional Learning at Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), considers education to be a lifelong commitment. A native of Rhode Island, she worked in public education and private educational consulting practice before entering the world of independent schools. Prior to joining the VAIS team, Darcie served as a Language Development Specialist and Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning at an independent school in North Carolina. In that capacity, she was responsible for building teacher leaders, developing and implementing professional development, and providing instructional design support. TeVault also serves as adjunct faculty in the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Mind, Brain, and Teaching.

Ospreys About Town



A passel of dapper Ospreys served as ushers for the Tidewater Foundation's annual Holly Ball which supports local libraries, museums, and schools. By all reports, the fellows did a fine job! Alums and former Ospreys ushering at the event included Parker Throckmorton and Stewart Hollingsworth. Also in attendance were current students Alex Fulmer, Eli Stewart, and Baylen Miller. Way to support the community while looking good!

Building on What They Know...

Third grade math mavens are in the midst of a geometry unit--and in order to learn the attributes of all the shapes, each child created a Christmas village made out of 3D geometrical shapes. Students began by researching each of the shapes. Then, following a rubric, students created rough and final drafts of their villages on graph paper. Engaged hands activate enthusiasm for learning!

Fifth Grade Fashionistas!

Fifth grade Spanish students are using their expanding knowledge of clothing vocabulary to create a fashion magazine. You heard it! Vogue, step aside! These budding linguistic learners are showcasing their creativity and stretching their verbal skills. Next up is presenting their designs to the class in Spanish.

Osprey About Town

First cousin to a fish, second grader Cosmo Duncan qualified for winter invitationals in his swim league, competing among the top of his age group against four other YMCA swim teams throughout the peninsula. Duncan has been swimming this past year with the Northern Neck Pirates who are based at the Northern Neck YMCA.

Chesapeake Academy Provides Helping Hands to Toys for Tots

In the true spirit of giving during the holiday season, Chesapeake Academy middle schoolers spent a December morning working with Lancaster County Toys for Tots. Students in grades five through eight helped in the effort to unpack, sort, count, and organize the non-profit organization’s toy center. From Barbies to basketballs to books, students worked together under the direction of the Lancaster County Coordinator John Seltzer to be sure toys were in good order and ready to be packed and sent to area families in need. 

“Gratitude has been the central topic in our middle school advisory groups during November and December, and this was a wonderful way to take the idea of expressing gratitude out into our community and cap off those important conversations,“ noted Dean of Students Catherine Emery.

Student Council President Ryann Kenner added, “We always enjoy getting off of campus to help our community, and it’s really great knowing that we helped Lancaster County Toys for Tots in their work to give families a happy holiday!”

Kenner and CA student council also organized a toy drive during the first part of December at Chesapeake Academy. Students from all classes donated toys, filling two large boxes that were passed on to the organization. 

Exam Prep Explained

In order to be prepared for assessments in high school, seventh and eighth grade students have spent this week preparing for exams. Exams give students the chance to demonstrate their understanding of key essential questions and learning objectives from the first semester and are worth 20% of their semester grade.

During their week of preparation, students learned how to use study guides to break down studying into efficient, more manageable chunks and practiced using different methods to prepare and retain information.

As students enter exam week, they should get plenty of sleep, eat a good breakfast and lunch, and continue to follow their study plans! Teachers will not release exam results until students have completed all of their exams. 

Seventh Grade Science Tackles

Meiosis and Mitosis

Seventh grade students learned about the replication processes for human cells. Using play dough, students demonstrated replicating through the stages (PMAT) of mitosis. Then they created a jigsaw puzzle with descriptive diagrams and wording to demonstrate knowledge of mitosis. Students compared and contrasted mitosis and meiosis with Venn Diagrams, and then created puzzles to clarify the two concepts. 

Need a refresher? Meiosis involves genetic variation, and mitosis creates an exact replica of a cell.

Student Council Update

Student council is so pleased with the outcome of Clash of the Coins! The contest raised $935.79 for the Healthy Harvest Food Bank and donated 224 pounds of non-perishable items. That’s a total of 672 meals for local families! Thank you to everyone who helped fight hunger in our area.

Student Council will sponsor its second middle school event in February, so be on the outlook for information early in the third marking period. 

If you know of organizations that may benefit from help from our student body, please reach out to a student body representative or Ms. Emery. We're always looking for ways to serve!

Coach's Corner

Happy 2024! Ospreys are excited about being back in action! Our boys' basketball teams are steadily improving, and our new cheer squad is doing a great job! Stop into the gym over the next few weeks to see Ospreys in action!

Come support the Ospreys at any of the following games:

• Wednesday, 1/31 @ 4:30 p.m., JV Basketball vs ACDS; 5:30 p.m, Varsity Basketball vs ACDS
• Tuesday, 2/13, ISAC Semifinals at higher seed, 5:00 p.m., location TBA
• Thursday, 2/15, with a win on 2/13, ISAC Finals, 6:00 p.m., location TBA 

Go Ospreys!

Coach Allen

CAPPA Countdown!

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, and most importantly being the school's biggest cheerleaders. Along they way, parents develop a strong connection to the school and to one another: A win/win! There is a way to help for every Osprey!

CAPPA participated in a very successful Family Day at CAMP in Irvington on December 2. Thank you to the Mayhew family for their popcorn machine and supplies.  CAPPA raised $100 that was donated to the athletic program.  Thank you to the following volunteers for helping at this event: Trish Mayhew, Katie Parker, Stephanie Hamrick, Jamie Chrissy, Becca Sterrett, Maggie Major, Colleen Hopkins, and Eva Abel. Thank you to the CA kids that also helped at this event.

Chesapeake Academy had a beautiful float that won the youth award at the annual Kilmarnock Christmas Parade. Many thanks to Sonja Smith and Jane Allen for all their work on the float with the students, staff, and parents.  Many thanks to Michelle and Craig Grass for allowing CA to use their pontoon boat.  Thank you Michelle for driving in the parade. Thank you to all the families that were able to ride and walk with the float.  

January 19 will be a teacher work day half day, and CAPPA will be having an ice cream social for middle school students after the seventh and eighth grade students complete their exams.  

There will be a 7 p.m. CAPPA meeting on January 25 which is a perfect opportunty for working parents to become involved!  The location of this meeting will be confirmed and information will be sent out.  

Polish Your Parenting



• Seven Social/Emotional Skills Your Child Should Have Before Kindergarten
• 9 Tips to Make the Most of a Parent Teacher Conference
• How to Read to Differently Aged Chidren for Great Family Read Aloud Time
• 20 Places for Winter Family Fun in Virginia
• Not all Conflict is Bullying: How to Teach Students to Know the Difference

Cue Up Your Calendars

1/15 Martin Luther King Day/No School

1/16 to 1/19 seventh and eighth grade exams

1/18 Open Gym for Basketball

1/19 Half Day, End of 2MP, No Basketball

1/26 Report Cards go home

1/29 JV Basketball @ Ware, 4:00 p.m.; V Basketball @ Ware, 5:00 p.m.

1/31 Tag Day

1/31 PALS Presents Virginia Repertory Theatre's, "The Jungle Book," pre-k through five, 9:30 a.m.

1/31 JV Basketball vs. ACDS, 4:30 p.m.; V Boys Basketball @ ACDS 5:30 p.m.

2/2 Groundhog Day

2/5 through 2/9 Parent Partnership Conferences

2/7 Dress Uniform and Shoes

2/7 Academic Awards Assembly, 10:05 a.m.

2/13 ISAC Basketball Semifinals at CCS

2/14 Ash Wednesday/Valentine's Day

2/15 ISAC Basketball Finals

2/16 through 2/19 Winter Break

2/21 Tag Day

2/22 Faculty Professional Development

2/23 Interims Home

2/26 Teacher Work Day, Dr.Darcie TeVault Presents Faculty In-service

2/26 Darcie TeVault Presents Parent Program

2/28 Tag Day

3/6 Dress Uniform

3/6 Athletics Awards Assembly

3/7 PALS Presents "Swan Lake"

3/13 Jefferson Labs Field Trip, eighth grade

3/20 Tag Day

3/22 End of 3MP; half day

3/25 through 2/29 Spring Break

4/4 Report Cards Home

Attitude of Gratitude

• Thanks to Sonja Smith and Jane Allen for stepping into the breach and creating our award-winning Christmas Float. Thanks to all the participants that supported this effort and to CAPPA for supplying pizza!
• The inimitable Nonee, aka Donna McGrath, saved the day for the Pre-k parent group that wanted to win the Pre-k donation to the YMCA Festival of the Trees! Donna McGrath bought the wreath and donated the ornaments back to some grateful parents.
• Mr. John Seltzer, the coordinator for Lancaster County Toys for Tots, helped organize all 56 of our middle school students so they could sort and organize toys for two productive hours.
• Thanks to Trip and Stacie Cogburn for providing a delicious lunch for faculty before the holiday break.
• The Christmas elves who decorated the school and those who cleared up the decorations both won smiles!
• Thanks to all the teachers who volunteer to take the school's recycling to the collection site!