The Head's Heads UP

This past Tuesday, Chesapeake Academy's Board of Trustees approved our 2026-2031 Strategic Plan, and I have to be honest with you: it was proud moment.

We have been thinking about and working toward this for a long time. Not just in the formal planning process, but in the year of conversations, feedback, honest reflection, and community input that shaped what this plan became. CA’s strategic plan did not come together solely in my office or in board meetings or in conversations with our administrative team. It happened because parents asked hard questions, faculty shared what they needed, community members told us what they hoped CA could be, and trustees pushed to think bigger and more honestly about our future. This plan belongs to all of us.

So what is in it? The plan is organized around three pillars, and I want to give you a real sense of what each one means, not just as a strategic priority but as a living commitment.

The first pillar is excellence in teaching and learning. At its heart, this is about making sure that what happens in our classrooms is as intentional, challenging, and joyful as it can be. We are deepening our investment in place-based learning, which means using the community, land, and river as active parts of how our students learn. Our tagline is “Small School, Huge Classroom,” and the Rappahannock watershed is a natural backdrop for putting those words into practice. We are also strengthening our approach to literacy and math, expanding our thinking about artificial intelligence and how we prepare students to engage with it thoughtfully and ethically, and continuing to recruit and support the kind of faculty who make all of this possible.

The second pillar is about strengthening connections across our community. We have a story worth telling, and our goal is to tell it loudly and consistently. We are relaunching our website this summer, developing a unified voice for how we talk about a CA education, and building deeper relationships with alumni, local organizations, and community partners. Place-based learning and community connection are not separate things at CA. They are the same thing.

The third pillar is about sustaining our future, and this is the one I feel most strongly about. Sustainability is not just a financial term. It is a values statement. Chesapeake Academy was founded in 1965 against a backdrop of racial tension, and we believe that carrying that history honestly is inseparable from our long-term health as an institution. True sustainability means building a school that more fully reflects and serves the community we exist to serve. It means diversifying our revenue, strengthening our financial aid program, taking care of our facilities, and growing a culture of philanthropy that connects donors directly to the mission they love.

This summer, we get to work. We will be developing the operational plan that translates this vision into concrete action, so that when school opens in the fall, we are not talking about what we hope to do. We are doing it. Plan highlights and goals will be available on our newly relaunched website later this summer, and we will continue to share updates in this newsletter and in our ongoing conversations with you.

I am proud of where we are. I am proud of the community that built this plan. And I am genuinely excited about what comes next. If you ever want to talk about it, my door is always open. 

With gratitude, 

Catherine

CA Garden Begins Producing

Tiny green shoots are beginning to join the crop of sunflowers third grade planted. Spinach and radishes are peeping, and scarlet runner beans are begining to wind their way toward trellises. Much anticipated loofa gourds are taking their time, but excitement is mounting about the garden all around the school.

Thanks to the most recent grant from Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom, the garden now features four pairs of interconnected satelite beds surrounding a circular center bed. Pre-k, kindergarten, third grade, and fifth grade have been primary planters this year, but visitors from around the community have strolled through. The youngest gardeners plan a salad party from their produce before school ends.

Visit often as gardens are always evolving! With some luck, the next phase will involve gravel mulch around beds to contain weeds and mud and make seated lessons in the garden comfortable.

Second Grade Presents "Little Red Riding Hood" 

In the final class production of the year directed by Robin Blake, Chesapeake Academy's second grade musical production of "Little Red Riding Hood" hit all the high notes! Guided by a cadre of articulate and generally audible narrators (Parker Daniel, Olivia Dawson, Camden Cornwell, and David Goodman), the audience was treated to an ecological twist on the traditional tale. 

Like a well-rehearsed chorus, second graders touted the tale of the trees while Little Red Riding Hood (Belle Perez), left her mom (Evan Cunningham) to head off to a bewigged Granny's house (Alyra Elam), and we all know how that ends! Highlights of the program included the battle royale between a scrappy Granny and a a beady eyed wolf (Ellis Goodrich) and the antics of the chorus of Birdettes (Sienna Miller, Sofia Roman, and Lydia O’Leary) and a complementing chorus of trees (Rune Cotter, Mason Dawson and Evan Cunningham).

CA's Third Grade Steps Back in Time at Historic Christ Church

When learning goes on the road, real-world connections to the curriculum bring learning alive! Chesapeake Academy's third grade class trekked to Historic Christ Church to discover many local connections to the Virginia history curriculum.

One obvious highlight of the visit was exploring the historic church building. Students learned about Georgian architecture and carefully observed the building’s design, creating detailed drawings of a section of the exterior. As they worked they were introduced to architectural features such as compass and segment arches, the keystone, the oxeye window, and decorative elements like the dentil and pediment, learning the vocabulary for what they observed.

The bricks for this historic church were made on site. Students were especially interested to learn that the bricks were laid in a header-stretcher-header pattern and even discovered how glazing contributes to the appearance and durability of the structure. Nothing beats going hands-on, and CA students had the opportunity to go up to their elbows in brickmaking themselves in the yard. Many were surprised by how challenging the process was, gaining a new appreciation for the craftsmanship involved in building structures centuries ago.

A visit to the museum highlighted the life and times of the structure's benefactor Robert “King” Carter and explored a variety of historical artifacts. Students discussed how art can be used to communicate messages and illuminate stories from the past. To round out the experience, colonial games and period costumes offered a taste of what life was like during the period. The day concluded with an archaeological dig, where students enthusiastically uncovered replica artifacts and worked together to guess their uses.

Historic Christ Church History Fair Projects

Chesapeake Academy third graders were excited to participate in the Northern Neck History Fair sponsored by Historic Christ Church and open to local Virginia history students. Students selected topics and created projects that dealt with some element of Virginia history from 1775 to 1783. Projects included models, dioramas, or displays created by the student individually or with a partner.  This initiative is a good reach for students," explains Head of School Catherine Emery. "And they have researched a broad range of interesting topics!"

• Martha Washington–HaileyRae George, Cayden Miller
• Jack Jouett's Midnight Ride–Avery Spore and Pearl Burke
• The Brown Bess–Taylor Rowe
• The Charleville Musket–Beau Lacy
• Food During the Revolution–Isla Kelley
• Raid on Richmond–Lillie Ruddock and Connor Brooks
• Peter Francisco–Camdyn Ritenour 
• Philadelphia Musket–Thomas Wilson 
• Pistols in the Revolution–Penn Charleton

The awards celebration will be held at Historic Christchurch on June 1 at 5:30 p.m. An ice cream social will follow.

Head of School Catherine L. Emery enthuses, "Mr. Robert Teagle of Historic Christ Church brings an infectious enthusiasm for history and for student scholarship that is an inspiration to students. This work builds strong research and communication skills, and we love to see our students prove themselves."

The Play is The Thing!

Inspired by the parable of The Blind Men and the Elephant, by John Godfrey Saxe, Chesapeake Academy fourth grade students made a deep dive into the various perspectives held by stakeholders in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As they delved, students drew a deeper understanding of the basis for differing points of view and broadened their own views as citizen scientists on this unique estuary's shores.

In a play showcasing this study, "The Watershed We Cannot See," students developed and narrated a dialog to showcase the panorama of perspectives and they plan to stage it in the school's outdoor classroom overhanging Carters Creek–a part of the very watershed they discussed. Teacher Richard Moncure comments, "The health of the Chesapeake Bay and its environs is a complex issue, and I was gratified to watch students move from preconceived opinions to a true understanding and respect for various points of view. It is just this sort of work that may eventually lead to commonsense solutions to protect the health and productivity of this local resource." 

The James Library will add $1, 622.35 to the library budget thanks to your strong support of the Scholastic Book Fair! Thank you!

ARTStravaganza Showcases The Arts at CA

Following a multimedia art show featuring talent from every student, the Chesapeake Academy community gathered to celebrate the school's ARTStravaganza performance of Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Junior Edition.

Narrated by Nolan Pittman (Tom) and his chorus of alter egos (Fin Burke, Sophia Kunkle, Ashlin Kenyon, Callum Watts, and Louisa Goodrich), this musical medley of iconic tunes had toes tapping and folks humming along to melodies that illuminated grammar, multiplication tables, civics, and science in the 1970s.

"Interjections" performed by pre-k and kindergarten grabbed hearts and funny bones as legs were swinging and kids were singing! First grade reminded us all that "A Noun Is A Person, Place, Or Thing;" and second grade "Unpacked Your Adjectives!" No-one could forget that "Three Is A Magic Number" when third grade ran the audience through the sequence with so much enthusiasm. "Interplanet Janet" performed by fourth grade featured a whirl of celestial bodies, including an un-demoted Pluto. And "Conjunction Junction" performed by fifth grade brought the beat. The unforgettable tune, "Great American Melting Pot," performed by sixth grade made loud and clear what makes our country great. Seventh and eighth grade gave the audience something to reflect on when they performed "Just A Bill" and "The Preamble."

Closing remarks by Head of School Catherine L. Emery tied the fun up with a bow, and specifically honored the incomparable Robin Blake with accolades at her final CA show. As a grand finale, eighth grader Merritt Kelley and seventh grader Jamie Lang took the stage to play a synchronized percussion piece as students processed. 

Special thanks to the arts team at Chesapeake Academy: Ms. Sonja Smith, Visual Arts Teacher; Ms. Katherine Greenfield, Music Director; and Ms. Robin Blake, Performance Director. Sound system support and lights were provided by Technology Coordinator Chas Faulkner, and Jane Allen. Chesapeake Academy's Parents and Patrons Association pulled out all the stops to provide a delightful repast for the reception. 

Fifth Grade Visits Tangier Island

Fifth Grade Ospreys left the nest to visit Tangier Island aboard the Chesapeake Breeze! In addition to making water quality comparisons, students learned about the many challenges the island faces as it works to maintain its land, culture, and identity. This trip served as a capstone excursion for a crew that has spent the year studying the Chesapeake Bay, and it connected back to our viewing of "Been Here, From Here" at the start of the year--when the class met and toured the island with Cameron Evans, star the documentary.



Special thanks to the Nichols Family and Riverside Tangier Medical Center for making this trip possible. Our Ospreys are lucky to be part of such an incredible network!

Grades K and 5 Partner in Exploring Fones Cliffs

Fifth grade Ospreys and their kindergarten buddies recently enjoyed an unforgettable day exploring Fones Cliffs and the Cat Point Creek! Before climbing down the cliffs to search for shark teeth and arrowheads, students met with representatives from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to learn about the geologic history of the cliffs, the encounters between John Smith and the Rappahannock Tribe, and the importance of protecting this special stretch of the Rappahannock River.

Ospreys also explored the Rappahannock Tribe’s role in conservation today and learned about the ongoing challenges facing the cliffs and their iconic Bald Eagle population.

SRSD Whole School Share

Chesapeake Academy kindergarten through eighth grade students and faculty adopted the Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) method for writing this year to mitigate writer's blocks, fine-tune the logistics of specific genres of writing, and elevate CA writers. Entering the homestretch of the debut year of this program, the school has covered opinion and informative writing and will dive into narrative writing next year. The results of this school-wide curricular collaboration were on display in the school's second Whole School Share event for students, teachers, parents, and friends. 

Every student developed a showcase piece, and classes created Padlets to house the pieces so families, friends, and guests could see the development in student writing. Assistant Head of School Kenzie Manetz enthused, "Effective communicators will never be outdated, and this will be an important skill as our students join the workforce!"

The SRSD approach emphasizes that writing is a skill that can be learned and improved through practice, rather than a talent that some are born with. SRSD is a research-based instructional approach that combines explicit teaching of writing strategies with self-regulation strategies. Through SRSD, students learn strategies that help them overcome obstacles and improve their writing skills. SRSD routines instill a positive attitude towards writing that boosts self-confidence as learners adopt an "I can do it!" attitude. 

No Squares in Seventh Grade--

But Plenty of Square Roots!

Seventh grade pre-algebra scholars are working on all things square roots! Students began by discussing perfect squares, radical symbols, and irrational numbers. They then approximated and found square roots before using properties of square roots to simplify radical expressions. Lastly, students will use these skills to work on applications with square roots, such as area word problems and solving for missing sides in right triangles with the Pythagorean Theorem. 

Richard Moncure: Osprey About Town

Richard Moncure was named for the Dragon Run Environmental Leadership Award! Termed, "a passionate champion of place based education," Richard "excels at using nature as a powerful classroom for youth learning. Through his work as STREAM Director at St. Margaret's School, as a middle school science teacher at Aylett Country Day School and as a former steward with the Friends of the Rappahannock, he has made a lasting impact--inspiring countless students and colleagues to deepen their stewardship, and understanding of the natural world."

Congratulations, Mr. Moncure! We are so proud to have you continuing your work at CA!

Hub Happenings: Biomechanics!

In A & I, the STEM unit on body mimicry invited students to explore how engineers study human movement to create robots and machines that move like the body. Students learned the basics of kinesiology, including different types of joints and movements, then demonstrated their understanding through a Socratic discussion on biomechanics in modern medicine and robotics. Students applied biomimicry concepts by designing and building a prototype mechanical body part using makerspace materials, 3-D printing, and items from home to replicate the movement of a real human joint.

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! 

As the school year winds down, it’s the perfect time to clear out those closets! CAPPA is hosting a uniform donation drive during the final week of school leading up to graduation. Simply drop your gently used uniforms into the donation box located in the front office. Also, be sure to mark your calendars for our Uniform Swap on Friday, August 7, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.. It’s a fantastic opportunity to refresh your student's wardrobe before the new school year begins at the end of August!

CAPPA is excited to welcome new members to our Executive Committee for the 2026-27 school year. Sarah Evans, mom to Bruce and Grant (pre-k), will serve as CAPPA President. Adele Moore, mom to Liam (pre-k), will serve as CAPPA Secretary. They are replacing outgoing officers Becca Sterrett (President) and Jennifer Beuchelt (Secretary). Sarah and Adele will join current officers Amy Poole (Vice President) and Ainslie Hodges (Treasurer) as the new CAPPA Executive Committee. We are excited to work together to continue the work of supporting the school and its families!

Cue Up Your Calendars!

5/22 Field Day

5/25 School Closed

5/26 Fourth Grade Watershed Play, 10:30 a.m.

5/26-29 Seventh and eighth grade exams

5/27 Tag Day

5/28 Eighth Grade Lock in

5/29 Last Day, half day, dismissal at 11:10

6/1 Eighth Grade Dinner, Hope and Glory Inn, 5:30 p.m.

6/2 Graduation rehearsal, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

6/2 Graduation

6/3 New Teacher Meet and Greet, rising first, third and fourth grade families, 9:00 a.m.

6/8 Report Cards Go Home

Attitude of Gratitude!



• Constant wellsprings of gratitude for the incomprable Benton Miller who masters tasks that challenge us all, and he does it with such good humor!
• Thank you to the volunteers, sponsors, donors and patrons who made CA's annual auction a success.
• Thanks to fifth grade for filling garden beds!
• Thanks to Ms. Hazel Pittman for an ice cream social.
• Thanks to Head of School for the Day, Nolan Pittman, for spicing up the end of April with some extra recess and sweet treats.
• For teachers that bring the joy of learning into every day, there is so much gratitude. For those professionals who keep their planning fresh and creative right up to the bitter end, we see you and applaud you! And for those collegial souls who step up cheerfully and flexibly to cover classes, help their peers, and solve problems daily, there may well be a celestial reward.
• CAPPA's Teacher Appreciation Week was simply wonderful with treats for all the senses! May is the perfect time of year for it too!
• Fountains of gratitude are due to retiring CAPPA Officers and for those who are stepping up to carry the mantle to support Chesapeake Academy!
• For retiring faculty heroes Robin Blake....Jennifer Morgan....Cathy Guy....and Katherine Greenfield, there are no words to covey what you have brought to CA. Wishing you every good thing in your next steps.
• For retiring student council members, you did a great job! We know you will be assets to every team you join. Thank you for your service!
• For our volunteer Board of Trustees who support our Head and give time and talent to guide the school's strategic vision.
• Thanks to Coach Allen, Coach T, Ms. Struse, and parent volunteers for a wonderful field day.