Chesapeake Academy's mission: to inspire each student to approach learning with
curiosity and creativity,
pursue excellence in all endeavors,
and act with integrity--
so each can make our community and world a better place.
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The Head's Heads UP!
As we have focused on the Olympic theme for the Auction and ARTStravaganza this spring, it has been wonderful fun to plan surprise Go for the Gold Days for our students! Go for the Gold Days provide our students with the opportunity for open ended exploration, fun problem solving, and new challenges. Breaking up the routine and providing novelty helps students get in the “flow” of their curiosity and creativity. That novelty and play send endorphins to the brain! Like exercise, creative challenges allow the brain to “hook” onto new information efficiently, aid in mindfulness and self-regulation, and require sustained focus. Plus, it's just fun to be engaged in new topics or activities in a playful, low risk scenario.
The first Go for the Gold Day was last week – what a tremendous success as students played in artistic endeavors. Lower school students asked Ms. May to “put a bug in my ear” (their idiom of the week in library class last week) that they are excited for another Go for the Gold Day! Our next day will be all STEAM centered as an extension of projects in the regular classrooms. Design challenges that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math always get the creative problem solving neurons firing!
We won't announce when that next Go for the Gold Day will be, but we are anticipating with excitement when that right moment comes!
Go for the Gold!
Julie
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There are gift certificates to local stores, food and wine, items for your home and garden, cruises, golf, merchandise and CLASS DONATIONS!
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PALS Presents "The Little Red Hen"
On April 7, Chesapeake Academy's Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS) presented The Virginia Repertory Theatre's "Little Red Hen." The virtual performance was a side-splitting, foot-stomping musical adventure that followed the little red hen as her common sense provided the perfect antidote to the tricks of a conniving fox. This warbling hen's ingenuity and kind heart led the sheep, the cow, the horse, and the pig to a life lesson.
PALS programming is funded by the Wiley Foundation with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
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Funding the Gap--Together!
Independent schools have few "levers" to impact school budgets. Teacher salaries, operational costs, and tuition are the three primary levers that work together to balance a sustainable school fiscal plan. Richard Abbott, CA's Business Manager, explains how the CA community works together to fund the gap between tuition and the cost of a CA education. Chesapeake Academy is on solid fiscal footing thanks to a school community that embraces the common challenge of funding the gap. Teamwork makes the dream work. Click the link to hear CA Business Manager Richard Abbott explain funding the gap.
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Class Acts...
Chesapeake Academy 3.0: Blended Learning
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Kindergarten Learns About Snail Mail!
Chesapeake Academy kindergarteners are learning about amphibians; so what better time is there to read Frog and Toad? Toad writes a letter to Frog and sends it via snail mail, literally. So kindergarten students did the same! Students wrote letters to each other, cut and folded their own envelopes, and took them to our CA Postmistress, Ms. Connie. After the letters made the round of CA snail mail, they arrived 3 days later (with great anticipation). What joy when they arrived!
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Robotics Trains Problem Solving!
Second graders developed important skills as they dove into robotics during their station time. Students focused on reading, sequencing, and problem solving skills as they used block coding to program their Dash. Jobs that require coding are starting to dominate the jobs market. CA students develop coding skills throughout the curriculum.
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Second Grade Cake Baking!
Creativity and reading connect while second graders read Bruno the Baker by Lars Klinting. A whole group read-aloud led to discussions about baking and fun projects in the kitchen. The class agreed that it would be interesting to follow Bruno’s cake recipe to whip up some fun in the classroom. Masked and gloved bakers took on the challenge of measuring and mixing the ingredients. Once the cake was baked, everyone enjoyed a sweet morning treat to celebrate their baking prowess and their recently filled kindness jar.
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Getting Twiggy With It!
Second graders discovered that making nests is for the birds! After talking about the purpose of nests, second grade students tackled the challenge of creating a nest that held together when moved, only used natural found items, and would hold an egg. Students discovered that they needed something strong for the base and thin, flexible items for the sides. They also discovered that collaboration was key. They needed to use their words to explain an idea and to ask their partner to help with a specific task, and they needed to listen to their partner’s ideas and needs in return.
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STEM Goes Greek!
How do you build the strongest column using only a sheet of paper and two index cards? After learning about the many different columns used in Greek architecture, fourth graders were challenged to build their own. They had to follow the specific challenge rules and time constraints. The STEM project was a success as many students were surprised by the amount of weight each column could hold. A whopping 230 grams was the big winner!
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The Final Frontier?
Fourth graders have been working on a project based learning activity called Final Frontier projects in science. The projects are based around math, science, and language arts. Students made choices based on their interests and completed independent projects in the classroom. Students were able to use their creativity, imagination, ability to problem-solve, and critical thinking skills. Even though students completed individual projects there was still much constructive chatter as students provided ideas and feedback for classmates. It was a great way to wrap a fun unit on outer space and the world around us!
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Cell-ebration in Sixth Grade!
Cells and organelles have provided the focus for sixth grade science's recent learning. To confirm student mastery of this topic, students embraced the challenge to build a model of either an animal cell or a plant cell which had items that could represent each organelle. Students brainstormed ideas, using their vocabulary notes and thinking about the functions of the organelles. They had to decide what items could depict each organelle before they built the cells. They also had to create a video with an explanation.
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A House is A House For Me!
As part of a unit on population density, sixth grade students learned about creative housing options in areas with high population densities. Then students chose between building a micro apartment in a large city, a tiny house in the suburbs, or a cabin in a rural area--all to scale. This project tested their creative design, spatial reasoning, math, and construction skills, all while implementing the design loop. We might have some future architects in this class!
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Video + Logs = Vlogs!
Middle school students were challenged to plan, film, and edit a vlog on the subject of their choice. This project met two goals: first, students needed to think about how to use social media, such as YouTube, to share purposeful, interesting information; second, students practiced organizing and editing a video to produce a professional product, a skill that can be transferred to video projects in other classes. Preparation and presentation skills were key to a successful project!
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Practical Geometry!
Eighth grade geometry students used their knowledge of similar triangles and ratios to estimate the height of the flag pole. Comparing the length of the shadow to the actual height of various objects on a sunny day helped them estimate the flag pole at 30 feet.
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Science Gets a Charge from Polar Bonding
A polar bond is a type of covalent bond between two atoms in which electrons are shared unequally. Because of this, one end of the molecule has a slightly negative charge and the other a slightly positive charge.
Eighth graders are discovering polar bonds within six types of milk using dish detergent. When students twirled the detergent into 1%, 2%, skim, whole, 1/2 & 1/2, and heavy whipping cream, they discovered varying chemical reactions with the fat content of the different milks that indicated polar bonding.
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New Books for Library From Book Fair Have Arrived! |
Summer Camp is Just Around the Corner: Believe!
Voted top-rated in Eastern Virginia for the last six years, Chesapeake Academy Summer Camps combine adventure, the outdoors, and every variety of glorious summer fun. "If you are looking for quality summer experiences for kids in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula area, Chesapeake Academy has what you need!" explains Head of School Julianne T. Duvall. Camp Irvington for ages 4 to rising first graders, offers six one-week sessions and holds the answer to summer childcare needs. And Camp Chesapeake is perfect for rising second through eighth grade adventurers. Campers in both age groups will explore each week’s theme through age appropriate field trips and activities. All activities and entrance fees are included. All camps run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and cost $250.00 per week. Space is limited, so sign up early. Register for all camps before May 1 to quality for zero registration fees.
In addition to this lineup, Chesapeake Academy is hosting Girls, Gizmos, and Gadgets the week of June 28 through July 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as a specialty camp for girls in rising fourth grade through rising seventh grade. "Making full use of CA’s Arts & Innovation Hub, campers will design and code robots to perform a variety of tasks, create their own pieces using the 3D printer and laser cutter, and compete on fun challenges! This is a week that will inspire and energize your young inventor! We are pleased to offer a subsidized tuition of $100 thanks to generous donors," Duvall enthuses. This camp is full!
Fun Day Sundae- July 5-9 $250
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 new, local ice cream destinations. Of course, expect splashes of red, white, and blue celebrations all week long! Waiting List for Camp Irvington! Spaces still available in Camp Chesapeake.
Northern Neck Explorers- July 12-16 $250
Find adventure in and around the water! This favorite camp is back with new activities and destinations. Campers will swim, paddleboard, and explore parks --a perfect way to see the beautiful waterways the Northern Neck has to offer!
Farm to Table- July 19-23 $250
This exciting and delicious week is back! Campers will travel around the Northern Neck learning about local foods and harvesting and growing techniques. We will also seek the expertise of local chefs to learn more about how our food is prepared and try our own hands in the kitchen. New cooking experiences combine with old favorites to make this a can’t miss week of delicious meals!
Mystery Tour- July 26-30 $300
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!
Animal Adventures- August 2-6 $300
Calling all animal lovers! Campers will travel to local zoos and farms to see regional and exotic animals. Each day is sure to be a unique adventure as we see awesome animals up close. This is sure to be an exciting week! All entrance fees are included.
Mad Science- August 9-13 $250
Come experience the fascinating world of science at this new camp offering. We will explore astronomy, meteorology, and more through experiments on and off campus. New destinations and activities make this camp unlike anything offered before. Embrace your inner scientist and join the fun!
Chesapeake Academy camps will follow recommended COVID safety protocols in consultation with the Three Rivers Health District. In the event that CA must cancel a camp, registrants will receive a full refund.
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CA Class of 2021 Solidifies High School Plans
Planning for high school has been at the top of "to do" lists for Chesapeake Academy's Class of 2021 for months, and at last students have received their acceptances and many are ready to make the final choice for high school. Julie Duvall, Head of School at Chesapeake Academy, explains, "This is a bittersweet moment for our school community. We are very excited and proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to seeing them become assets to new school communities as they stretch toward their futures. But we are also very invested in them and hate to see them go."
Joshua Abbott will attend Lancaster High School in the fall.
Namiyah Andrews, Anna Carey, Tayloe Emery, Reagan Harding, Leona Li, Wynne Smith, and Kayla Wills will attend Christchurch School.
Max Ditch was accepted at Chatham Hall and St. Margaret's School, and she will be attending Chatham Hall.
Auriannia Henderson-Jones was accepted at Christchurch School, Chatham Hall, and St. Margaret’s School. She has accepted enrollment at Chatham Hall!
Charlotte Johnson has been accepted to St. Mary's School, and she will enroll there for the fall.
Lorry Manetz was accepted at Groton, Episcopal High School, St. Andrew’s, The Hill School, and Woodberry Forest School, and he will be attending Groton.
Robert Cunningham was accepted at Episcopal High School, The Hill School, and Woodberry Forest School, and he will be attending Woodberry Forest School.
Mason Walker currently plans to attend Lancaster High School in the fall.
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Attitude of Gratitude
- For time away and a happy return from Spring Break, we are grateful.
- It is a joy to learn and grow as teachers together! Thanks to Kim Dynia for the PD on robotics.
- New foursquare courts are bouncing with happy kids. Thanks to Ashley Duncan for making this happen.
- Thanks to all those wonderful team players who kept CA shining while custodian, Ellen Christ was out.
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Save the Date
4/26 through 4/30 ERBs
4/27, Academic Awards Assembly, 10:20 a.m.
4/28 Faculty Professional Development, 3:45 p.m.
4/28 Tag Day
5/1 Go for the Gold Auction, 7:00 p.m.
5/4 CA Field Day
5/5 Dress Uniform and Shoes
5/5 PALS presents, Geoffrey Marsh Puppetry, 9:30 a.m.
5/7 Fourth Marking Period Interims
5/10 through 5/14 Virtual Grandparents and Grandfriend's activities
5/17 Environmental Study at Echo Hill, seventh and eighth grades
5/26 Tag Day
5/31 Memorial Day, Offices Closed
6/15 through 6/18 Exams, seventh and eighth grade
6/18 Last Day of School
6/21 Faculty Workday
6/22 Graduation (eighth grade only)
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