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
When I lived in North Carolina, every year around this time the ducks returned. As one of the surest signs of spring, the reappearance of our familiar duck friends meant that warmer, longer days were here, and that Summer was waiting just around the corner.
For years, when the ducks would come back, I'd take Oliver, and eventually Ellis Rose too, down to the water to feed the ducks a bounty of black oil sunflower seeds. It was always a delight to see them eagerly await our arrival and then expectantly follow us around the water's edge, even when our cups were empty of food. There was also something powerful about feeling like we were helping those ducks, whose ravenous appetite betrayed the fact that they would soon be nesting, laying eggs, and eventually joined by up to a dozen beautiful little ducklings. Discovering a brood of parent ducks with their new ducklings was always a monumental day.
But in the last couple of years, I stopped going to the water, leaving the feeding and tracking of ducklings to the kids. You see, the brood starts as a group of 8-12, bumbling along in the grass or puttering across the water, always under the watchful eye of their parents. However, a few days later, the original group of 10 is inevitably 9, then 8, and before long less than a handful, maybe only 2 or 3 medium-sized ducklings still following behind the adults as they have since birth. It's always been this way, but in recent years it just became too much....the anxious counting while scanning the reeds, hoping to see the missing duckling that will never come, deep down knowing full well that its fate was never to fly.
While I find myself in a new "Neck" of the woods this year, over the last few weeks I've noticed the ducks returning here as well, and I've begun contemplating whether or not I'll be hanging back at the house in the days ahead. I have also been thinking about some more pointed questions: What does it all mean? Is there something in all of this that I'm missing? Why has it always bothered me so?
In my attempt to answer these questions, I've decided that there may be something we can learn from these feathered friends. For instance, it strikes me that despite all the past travails and yearly trauma, many ducks will return to the same body of water year after year to raise their family. One could easily dismiss this fact, waiving it away with assertions that ducks have no memories, or that they don't experience loss and therefore have no reason not to return. Having watched these ducks, the way they meticulously plan the location of their nests, how they avoid the deeper places in the pond where things have happened before, and seeing the way they react just after a loss, this just isn't true. They feel. They remember. And yet they come back. Pretty brave if you ask me.
As is often the case, when I think about something like bravery, my thoughts turn to the incredible faculty and staff we have here at Chesapeake Academy. I get to witness countless acts of bravery by our team on this campus each week. As a place where over 150 people gather together every day, many of them children, difficult interactions and conversations are sure to ensue as a vital component of the learning process. But knowing it's vital doesn't make this work easy. In fact, I know from experience that these moments can be quite traumatic because while we all have lives outside of CA, educating young people is our life's work. It's not just what we do but who we are - a calling each one of our teachers has answered with their uniquely brilliant gifts. I see the grind it takes to build out classes, lesson plans, learning groups, and advisories, each one a carefully crafted nest to support a growing student. I have observed them drawing on past experience to do everything in their power to steer a student away from the cloudy water where they could be pulled under. I have watched them painstakingly urging our students to spread their wings, because they know if they could just feel what it's like to fly, they'd see the glory of their own potential. Despite these heroic efforts, sometimes it just doesn't happen on the timeline we want, and we are left to beat ourselves up, to second-guess, to grieve.
Sounds a lot like parenting. And just as our faculty all return to our little CA pond again and again, willing to suffer the inevitable pain that is part of the growth process for ourselves and our students, our parents remain steadfast in their commitment to partner with us through every bit of the hard stuff. While I acknowledge even our best efforts can't ensure that we get it all right, I draw confidence from knowing that we will take our responsibility to each other seriously, and that we'll do everything in our power here and at home to nurture, protect, and support our ducklings. We've all heard it takes a village. I kinda like the idea of a flock.
The forecast looks a little iffy this weekend. Fine weather for ducks, as they say. Here's hoping that means it's a great weekend for all of you. And who knows, I might even take a stroll down to the water. It just might be the first of many visits this spring.
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CA Announces Summer Camp Line-up
CA Summer Camps will be here before we know it and it is never too early to plan for a summer of fun, exploration, and discovery at CA! CA Summer Camps are top rated by Virginia Living Magazine each year, and spots are limited. Don't wait! Many camps had waiting lists last summer! Camp registration begins on February 4, 2024.
CAMP IRVINGTON and CAMP IRVINGTON JR
Camp Irvington (designed for rising first through third graders) and Camp Irvington Junior (perfect for age 4 to rising K) explore each week's theme through age-appropriate field trips and activities. All entrance and activity fees are included. Campers are transported on a bus, and travel times may be up to 1.5 hours. Camp runs Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Camp Irvington Jr. costs $275 per week, and Camp Irvington costs $325 per week. Please note that a $100 non-refundable deposit is required once your spot in camp is confirmed.
Game Show Mania - June 17-18, 20-21 CI JR $225/CI $265
*Please note that there will be no camp on June 19th due to the holiday.
Come on down… for an exciting week of your favorite game shows! Campers will determine if they are smarter than the camp counselors and compete in daily gameshows and challenges!
Nature Calls - June 24- June 28 CI JR $275/CI $325
Campers investigate their natural surroundings and learn to understand the relationships of wildlife, plants, and the ecosystem. Each day the campers will become real explorers to further understand and appreciate nature. Fun-filled activities include environmental games, nature crafts, animal encounters, interactive stories, water games, and other nature activities.
Christmas in July - July 1-3 CI JR $165
*Please note that camp will only be Monday through Wednesday due to the holiday. Come cool off at camp! In addition to celebrating the 4th, campers will enjoy snow cones, a snowball fight, making snowmen, and creating gingerbread houses!
Disney Adventures - July 8-12 CI JR $275/CI $325
All of your favorite Disney shows/movies will come alive this week! Campers will create their own Disney stories to complement their favorites. Daily arts and crafts, games, art projects, and more will fill the day with fun and enthusiasm!
Wildly Creative - July 15-19 CI JR $275/CI $325
Imaginations will run wild as campers enjoy creating art projects, stories, puppets, Lego structures, and much more! Creations are only limited by one’s imagination!
Tell Me a Story - July 22-26 CI JR $275
Calling all fans of Pigeon, Piggie and Gerald, the Hungry Caterpillar, and more! Campers will go on adventures and explore activities similar to those of their favorite storybook characters!
Mystery Tour - July 29-August 2 CI JR $275
Chesapeake Academy’s famous mystery tour is making an appearance with Camp Irvington and Camp Irvington Jr! 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 CHESAPEAKE
Camp Chesapeake (designed for rising fourth through eighth grade students) also runs Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cost per week is $350 except where noted. Campers will explore each week’s theme through age-appropriate field trips and activities. All activities and entrance fees are included. Please note that a $100 non-refundable deposit is required once your spot in camp is confirmed.
Northern Neck Explorers - June 17-18, 20-21 $300
*Please note that there will be no camp on June 19th due to the holiday.
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 see all the exciting things the Northern Neck has to offer!
Arts & Theater Camp - June 24-June 28 $350
Let your creativity flow during this week while we explore how the worlds of art and theater combine to create magic! Campers will have the opportunity to work together to create a short production and learn about all that goes on behind the scenes to make it happen! In addition to learning more about themselves as actors, students will also be able to discover their set and costume design skills! This is a week that will inspire and energize your young creator and thespian!
Fun Day Sundae - July 1-3 $225
*Please note that camp will only be Monday through Wednesday due to the holiday. 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. We’ll try our hand at making homemade ice cream, too! Of course, expect splashes of red, white, and blue celebrations all week long!
Mad Science - July 8-12 $350
Through experiments and activities both on and off campus, we 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!
Animal Adventures - July 15-19 $400
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. Campers will discover critters and creatures of all stripes, spots, and colors! All entrance fees are included.
Farm to Table - July 22-26 $350
This exciting and delicious week is back! Campers will travel around the Northern Neck learning about local foods as well as 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 fun!
Mystery Tour - July 29-August 2 $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.
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/Soo.be.tize.ing/!
What makes a confident math mind? Well, one answer is a quick abilty to subitize with accuracy! No, it's not genetic! Subitizing is a skill that improves with practice and makes a huge difference in student confidence in math! Subitizing involves the abillty to recognize quantities quickly. Pre-kindergarteners practice this valuable skill frequently and have made gains in speed, strategies, and accuracy!
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It's Auction Season At CA, And Everyone Plays a Part!
Parents and friends of CA are asked to support the auction by doing one of the following to raise the funds needed to support financial assistance at CA. If we all do one thing each, it will be the most successful auction ever!
Donate an item or service valued at $50 or higher from your family or your family's business. You can email your donation information to Catherine Emry in the Development Office at cemry@chesapeakeacademy.org. Donations need to be submitted as soon as possible to be included in the printed keepsake catalog. It will be included in the online bidding website.
Sponsor the auction and receive tickets to attend the auction and an ad in the keepsake catalog. Or you can purchase an ad in the catalog. Ads can promote a business, celebrate students, or thank faculty and staff. The ad information is required to be submitted by March 15, 2024.
Volunteer to follow up with businesses who traditionally support CA's auction. We need parents and friends to call and visit businesses to thank them for their support and procure this year's donation. Catherine Emry can help you select a supporter to speak with.
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First Grade Celebrates the Lunar New Year
Exploring cultures and traditions around the world is an integral part of the first grade program. Students most recently enjoyed delving into the colorful world of Lunar New Year celebrations across Asia. Students enjoyed building dragon puppets that can be manipulated like the Lion Dancers they observed in Lunar New Year parades. Embracing diversity and appreciating different perspectives empowers students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.
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PALS Presents The Richmond Ballet's "Swan Lake"
On March 7, 2024, Chesapeake Academy's Performing Arts and Lecture Series presented The Richmond Ballet's "Swan Lake" to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students in the gymnasium. Guests included Motion Studio's Barr Class, Northumberland County's kindergarten and first grade classes, Bethel Pre-school, and Lancaster County's pre-kindergarten program.
Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, "Swan Lake" is regarded by many as the pinnacle of classical ballet. Students were enchanted by the story of Odette, the beautiful maiden who was transformed into a swan by a sorcerer, and Odile, her evil counterpart. Incorporating humor and audience engagement, the jester narrated this story of magic, mystery, and the power of true love. Sonja Smith, PALS program designer, enthused, "You need look no further than the enthusiasm of the whirling dancers on the playground after the performance to know the value of bringing ballet to young children in our community!"
Local schools, pre-schools, and homeschooling families are invited to attend PALS performances. PALS programming is funded by 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.
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Athletics Awards
Varsity Basketball
Most Valuable Player--Baylen Miller and Jake Lewis
Most Improved Player--Sam Parker
Coaches' Award--Nolan Pittman
JV Basketball
Most Valuable Player--Brantley Chance and Malcolm Sanders
Most Improved Player--Easton Minor
Coaches' Award--Benton Miller
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CA Co-hosts STEAM Propulsion Workshop with Boys and Girls Club
Balloon-powered cars, 3D-printed stomp rockets, a rain gutter regatta, and paper airplane launchers: What could be more exciting? The Boys and Girls Club and Chesapeake Academy pooled their resources to co-host a five-session STEAM Propulsion Workshop for middle school students. Hillary Smith, academic designer for the workshop explains, "Propulsion is a kid-friendly, appealing topic that is easily explained. Learning principles of propulsion through hands-on activities each week engages design-based thinking and allows students to discover the ways collaboration can supercharge creativity and bolster team effectiveness. Practicing the design loop and developing collaborative skills builds skills for a future workforce."
Autumn Gaskins, Lancaster’s Teen Program Director at the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Neck believes that, "providing youth with a safe, constructive, supportive environment when they are not at home or at school, where they can have fun with peers and be guided by trained youth development professionals is the goal! Learning some physics and developing great life skills is icing on the cake!"
Each workshop day begins with team-building connectors that help participants learn about one another and become effective collaborators. Workshop leaders cue up these connections by reminding participants of the best principles of collaboration.
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Shared vision (When we are working in a group, we work together to share one vision. Ideas need to become ours by collaborating and compromising. "We over me!")
- Community (Small talk is appropriate in the process. It is okay to get to know each other while designing and engineering. Connecting builds collaboration.)
- Persistence Counts! Redesign! (Along the way, we should test our design and make changes rather than give up if something does not work right away.)
- Collaboration, not competition. (There is no "stealing another group's ideas." All of the ideas in the room belong to all of us and are fair game as inspiration.)
"We are excited to be part of this project because the big picture goal is community-building and collaboration. We see this as a great opportunity to work with another organization that cares about young people using STEAM exercises to teach life skills, make connections, and grow," explains Chesapeake Academy Head of School Trip Cogburn.
Artificial Intelligence Intro
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Community and Coding...in Spanish!
Third graders are mastering the vocabulary that describes community in Spanish. Assigned to groups, students painted a virtual town, complete with schools, businesses, stores, and museums, and then labeled this wide variety of community buildings. Then, in a fun cross-curricular twist, students learned how to code using the Sphero edu app and navigated Sphero Bolts through their community using Spanish directions! Next up, third grade Spanish students will work with second grade friends to code the Bolts to change color and say the name of a building in Spanish.
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Doodle Notes Aid Comprehension!
As third grade gears up to begin a novel study with their second grade peers, students are taking a crash course in “Doodle Notes.” Sixth graders taught second and third graders to take notes to recapture a chapter using mostly pictures, with very few words. Here, Jackson Price is using his newly acquired skill of “doodle note” taking.
“The Doodle Note strategy is rooted in Dual Coding Theory to maximize students' natural brain processes for combining visual and linguistic information. It integrates both hemispheres of the student brain and helps maximize focus, learning, and retention of the lesson material.” (doodlenotes.org)
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PALS Presents Barefoot Puppets' "New Squid on the Block"
On February 28, 2024, Chesapeake Academy presented the Barefoot Puppets' "New Squid on the Block," a story of friendship, to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at 9:30 a.m. in the gymnasium. Guests included Lancaster County's Early Childhood Center, Bethel Preschool, and Northumberland County's pre-kindergarten through first grade classes. Beautifully crafted puppets, an original score by Ned Haskins, and a good dose of silliness combined to create a comedic, wordless performance that celebrated the warmth and beauty of an interconnected community.
Chesapeake Academy's Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS) is funded by the Wiley Foundation with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts to make arts programming more readily accessible to young children in our rural community. Local preschools, public schools, and homeschool families are invited to attend.
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Fifth Grade Embraces Adventure!
Fifth graders spent the first part of the third marking period reading adventure novels in small groups. Students focused on sharpening comprehension skills, fluency, and developed understanding of more nuanced literary elements such as theme. To cap off their novel studies, fifth graders worked in their reading groups to compose book talks that they presented to fourth graders.
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Ship Repair Digital Innovation Competition
Innovators from CA's shipbuilding design team are interviewing people involved with ship building and creating their competition presentation.The group has decided to design a hull that could withstand underwater seamounts/volcanoes. Two team members are beginning the Tinkercad component for the presentation. The competition paper is due March 14, the presentation is due March 18, and the team hits the road on March 21.
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Critical Thinking Solves Who Done it!
Seventh grade science students at CA are learning about blood typing with synthetic blood. Students tested four victims' blood to determine what type of blood would be needed at the hospital as part of a mystery scenario where students posed as lab technicians with five suspects and their blood to determine who done it. Difficult but fun!
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Allen and Emery Attend Safe Schools Workshop
Chesapeake Academy Dean of Students Catherine Emery and Athletic Director Jane Allen attended the Virginia Association of Independent Schools' Safe and Healthy Schools Conference at the University of Richmond in February.
The conference engaged independent school educators in topics including student health and wellness, personnel safety, and training. The workshop featured an engaging keynote address, "Finding the Words: Conversations that Build Resilience and Belonging," with Dr. Hayley Watson and featured learning tracks for counselors, health and wellness educators, and safety personnel. Deep dive training workshops included school vulnerability assessment and the latest updates to first aid training and included small group collaborative conversations that allowed participants to hear how peer schools managed common challenges.
Catherine Emery, CA's Dean of Students comments, "One of my many roles at Chesapeake Academy includes establishing restorative, student-centered practices to guide student learning relative to honor and discipline. It was helpful to hear from other school leaders how they thoughtfully manage honor and discipline. A key takeaway was that while outcomes and consequences may vary depending on student needs, clear frameworks for hearing discipline and honor infractions ensure that the process is equitable."
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.
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Integrated Humanities Class Explores AI Research
Eighth grade students in Chesapeake Academy's integrated studies humanities course tackled an exploration of the impact of artificial intelligence on politics, social media, education, and entertainment; and their study of this resource evolved in three parts: research, creation, and presentation. Student conclusions reflected widely disparate views on artificial intelligence with some students believing that AI would transform modern life and others feeling it will be just another tool. Baylen Miller asserts, "I think it will be like a calculator. Everybody uses it as a resource."
To begin the project, students researched the use of artificial intelligence in an assigned field (politics, entertainment, social media, and education) and used “old school” data collection skills to organize their information into a research brief. Index card notes are still a wonderful way to organize information from multiple sources into a physically movable outline.
After writing up their research, students moved into a hands-on creation phase and used widely available AI tools such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, and CrAIyon to create artifacts relevant to their field. Whether using AI to write and deliver a campaign speech or design a poster for a movie it outlined, students tested the current capabilities and limitations of the technology. Ryann Kenner opined, "AI is still a learning tool. It's not perfect and I don't think it ever will be." Skyler Casey found it has its uses, noting its value to teachers in creating assignments and assessments.
Students discovered that along with its many assets, AI still has some inconvenient quirks. Skyler Casey explains "AI can't indent. If you ask it to indent, it has a mental breakdown and it spaces five spaces between every word and starts writing in Python, which is not very helpful."
The ethics surrounding AI generated some insightful conversations among students. "For school, I think it's fine to use AI for definitions, synonyms or antonyms but it is unethical to use it for your whole entire essay." asserts Izzy Dew. "It can be used ethically to see examples of topic sentences or paragraphs," explains Jacob Lewis.
In the final phase, students had to design and plan their own way to showcase their research and creation phases. Trifolds, slide decks, and demonstrations were among the presentation options used as each member owned part of the group presentations.
Ryann Kenner sums up her research, "AI will change a lot of things in the world of education, entertainment, and politics. It is kind of unprecedented."
The Integrated Studies course in the eighth grade curriculum at Chesapeake Academy is taught by Hillary Smith and encompasses a synthesis of history, primary source material including literature, and current events explored in a socratic format. "I love teaching this course as learners have the opportunity to explore meaningful topics and often surprise us with the sophistication they can bring to the table!"
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Student Council Update
Student Council will host a middle school event on Friday, March 15 from 4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. Students will travel to Camp Piankatank for an evening of fun with a sub dinner and outdoor games, including the perenial favorite, Capture the Flag. The event costs $5, due the day of the event. Transportation is provided.
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Coach's Corner
The first set of spring sports clinics is off to a great start thanks to 27 Ospreys participating in one or more sports! (A big shoutout to our fifth grade class as they have 100% participation!)
During this four-week session, student athletes are developing endurance while running with Coach Harrison, mastering swim strokes with Coach Blake, and improving their shooting and fitness skills with Coach Tyler during basketball shooting and conditioning.
Even after just a couple of sessions, coaches and students are enjoying time together and working to grow skills! There is much more to come! Keep an eye out for photos on social media!
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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!
Butter Braid pastry sales are winding up March 8 with butter braid delivery March 21. A link has been sent out to order online, and Amy has paper forms if needed. Proceeds support CA’s athletic program! Please reach out to Katie Parker at familytraditions4@gmail.com if you have any questions.
The theme of this year's auction is Black, White & Bling, and it will take place on Saturday, May 4. Planning is underway and thank you to all for participating in the auction planning and procurement. Please reach out to Catherine Emry in the Development office to find out how you can help. Volunteers are needed and every person has a role!
CAPPA will host a family picnic on March 17 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (rain date April 21). We look forward to spending time with CA families.
The next CAPPA meeting will be held on April 4, at 7 p.m. at the Rappahannock Yacht Club. All are invited!
Future hot lunches for those who ordered:
- Friday, March 8, Chicken and Rice Bowl
- Friday, March 15, Chili
- Wednesday, March 20, Chick-fil-A
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Cue Up Your Calendars!
3/12 Kindergarten Step-up Day
3/13 Jefferson Labs Field Trip, eighth grade
3/15 Student Council Event
3/20 Tag Day
3/22 End of 3MP; half day
3/25 through 2/29 Spring Break
4/4 Report Cards Home
4/15 Second Grade Swim begins
4/22 ERBs and OLSATs Begin
4/24 PALS Presents, Jason Hudy's "Mesmerizing Magic," pre-k through grade eight, 9:30 a.m.
5/1 Dress Uniform
5/3 Interims Home
5/4 Black, White & Bling Auction
5/10 DC Trip, grades seven and eight
5/16 ARTStravaganza, all students attend
5/27 Memorial Day, No School
5/28 Exams, seventh and eighth grade
5/31 Last Day of School
6/4 Graduation, required attendance
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Attitude of Gratitude
- Tis the season when the MVPs in schools are those intrepid souls who serve as subs!
- Alongside our heroic subs are the faculty members covering classes to help each other other out.
- And alongside those heroic folks are the kind souls sanitizing daily!
- THANK YOU Ms Manetz and sixth graders for helping the second graders learn the art of doodle note taking!!
- Thanks to early auction sponsors and donors and volunteers! Together we will fund the gap!
- A particular thanks to Gleason Hollingsworth, Ainslie Hodges, Jennifer Miller, and Stacy Cogburn for doing the yeoman's work of auction procurement!
- Thanks to the Tiidewater Foundation for funding a scholarship for a middle school Osprey!
- Congratulations to Osprey family Jeff and Sheila Brown on being named the Chamber of Commerce's Volunteers of the Year!
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