News Archives

 

One way our students serve society is by serving their community, and this holiday season our Student Council Association and Student Government Associations are hosting a ForKids toy drive to benefit local homeless families in need.

 

Last year, thousands of children enjoyed a brighter holiday through this organization, and this year, our students hope to do the same by stuffing the Oak Mobile with donations from Norfolk Collegiate!

 

ForKids Volunteer Coordinator Jennifer DesRoches recently spoke to middle school students about the organization's mission and how students can help other students and families in the 757.

 

ForKids' mission is to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for families and children in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore.

"What could you do and how could you be a part of our mission, even if you don’t have a driver's license," DesRoches asked students. You can volunteer. Host a toy drive. Help clean our rooms between guests. Talk about ForKids with other people and help educate them, for example.

 

If you would like to help by donating to their efforts, please send new, unwrapped toys in with your student or drop them off at our upper school or lower school entrances now through Thursday, Dec. 12. Click here for a list of requested items.

From Aug. 12 to Nov. 12, 2024, 185 middle and upper school students put on their uniforms and took to the courts and fields and represented Norfolk Collegiate in six sports on 18 teams during the fall athletic season. 

Below are the student-athletes who were selected by their coaches as award recipients during the Fall Athletic Awards Program on Nov. 13, 2024. Congratulations, Oaks!

Girls Tennis:
Varsity
•    Most Improved: Athena N.
•    Most Valuable Player: Anya B.
•    Most Outstanding Teammate: Mary Walsh M.
•    OAK Award: Margaret W.

Junior Varsity:
•    Most Valuable Player: Caroline B.
•    Outstanding Teammate: June R.
•    OAK Award: Marion C.

Boys Soccer:
Varsity:    
•    Most Improved: Zach G.
•    Most Valuable Player: Myles J.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Elliot T.
•    OAK Award: Jayden W.
Junior Varsity:        
•    Most Valuable Player: Rover R.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Will F.
•    OAK Award: Caymus F.
Middle School Blue Team:
•    Outstanding Teammate: Pierce F.
•    OAK Award: Jackson W.    
Middle School White Team:
•    Outstanding Teammate: Beck M.
•    OAK Award: Cameren S.

Girls Volleyball:
Varsity:    
•    Most Improved: Elena J.
•    Most Valuable Player: Cate W.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Chloe B.
•    OAK Award: Karina L.
Junior Varsity:        
•    Most Valuable Player: Sanaa H.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Taylor B.
•    OAK Award: Seren R.
Middle School Blue Team:    
•    Outstanding Teammate: Sophia C.
•    OAK Award: Charlotte H.
Middle School White Team:    
•    Outstanding Teammate: Lily K.
•    OAK Award: Virginia M.

Girls Field Hockey:
Varsity:
•    Most Improved: Eleanor L.
•    Most Valuable Player: Robin R.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Peyton G.
•    OAK Award: Bridget D.

Sailing:
Varsity:
•    Most Improved Sailor: Alex S.
•    Most Valuable Sailor: Emma H.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Brandt A.
•    OAK Award: Maddie M.
Junior Varsity/Middle School:        
•    Most Valuable Sailor: David M.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Kolton K
•    OAK Award: Henry V.

Cross Country:
Varsity:     
•    Most Improved Runner: Eli L.
•    Most Valuable Runner: Evan W.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Keron K.
•    OAK Award: Kyle P.
Junior Varsity:
•    Most Valuable Runner: Lucy B.
•    Outstanding Teammate: Daniel C.
•    OAK Award: Elijah J.

Sportsmanship Award: Varsity Field Hockey
    
    

Current parents Commanders Veronica and Robert Anderson, U.S. Navy, spoke to students, faculty, staff and families about their journeys from being midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy to commissioned officers during this year’s Middle and Upper School Veteran Days Program on Nov. 8, 2024. They spoke about their inspirations in joining the service and what it’s like serving as married spouses in today’s Armed Forces.

Following their graduation from the Naval Academy, both attended flight training and became unrestricted Naval aviators whose careers have taken them around the world.

When it came time to choose aviation, Veronica also selected helicopters. After sticking through fixed-wing aircrafts during her schooling, she realized they were not for her, so she selected helicopters and has been happy with her decision.

“I ultimately chose helicopters because of their missions to help people,” said Robert of his decision to fly helicopters over fixed-wing aircrafts.

As for their careers, they, too, have been fulfilled.

“I fell in love with the challenge of the military and the daily topics and opportunities to find new solutions to challenges, " said Robert.

“My current role has my squadron deployed 365 days a year,” said Veronica. “We deploy in small detachments all over the world.” What she loves the most about her job is the connections she has made with the people she has met over her career. 

“I’ve also learned the longer you stay in the military, the more opportunities you’re afforded,” said Veronica “…and some of my proudest moments have come from the military.”

Robert agreed. Being a military family comes with challenges, especially when you are apart. 

“We take the opportunity to enjoy the small moments and the large moments. Celebrating the small moments really help with us being apart as a military family.”

“For those military kids, we couldn’t do it without your support,” said Veronica.

“We love being a part of the Collegiate family,” Robert said. The Andersons are parents to Robert, Class of 2035.

Norfolk Collegiate First LEGO League Robotics team spent the last two weekends collecting and analyzing data for their regional competition and it’s bringing together Old Dominion University’s Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR) and private citizens to make it come to fruition.  

This year’s theme is SUBMERGED and it challenges students to solve a problem related to ocean exploration. The team of sixth and seventh graders competes on Nov. 16 against other schools in Hampton Roads.

They are working with ODU’s ICAR to help map a creek and then present their map to the judges as data that can help us better understand how creeks contribute to tidal flooding. Using ICAR’s BlueBoats, which are compact hydrographic survey boats, students mapped a creek in the Riverpoint neighborhood just before high tide on Oct. 20, and last weekend they worked with ICAR to learn how to process their data and turn it into the map with the help of John Klinck from ODU’s Oceanography department and Dan Perez, a PhD student at ODU. 

In addition to the data collection and coding, students are also working on coding in Python for their robotics portion of the challenge.

As long as Maddie G. ’27 can recall, she remembers watching her mother and aunt craft brassieres for Chesapeake Regional Hospital’s Bra-ha-ha®, a fundraising event that celebrates breast cancer survivorship and artistry. Using a bra as a canvas, Maddie crafted the “Breast Cancer Succs” and won first place in the “Best School Entry (14 and Above).”

 

“My mom and aunt did it all the time when I was younger, and I loved modeling when I was younger,” said Maddie.

Her creation, “Breast Cancer Succs,” was a canvas of succulents. 

“I have a weird obsession with plants. I have like 20-something plants at my house,” said Maddie. “When I originally started on the bra, I thought about a wintery theme and then one day I thought about the succulent and thought breast cancer sucks and that was it!”

However, winning first place was a surprise. 

“Winning first place during my first time was surprising,” said Maddie.  “I would recommend people get more involved with something, especially something crafty. I happened to find something that could help people.”

As for her mom, she’s super proud of Maddie.

 

“Maddie loves a challenge,” said mom Laurie Carpenter. “People tend to learn quickly about the athletic side of Maddie and her competitive nature. That also extends to the arts. I love that she is this full, well-rounded person with artistic outlets. She has enjoyed taking creative challenges head-on and entering these artistic exhibits like art shows and the Bra-Ha-Ha.” 

The Bra-ha-ha entries were unveiled at the annual Bra-ha-ha® Awards Show and Auction, which serves as a fun tribute to those affected by breast cancer, according to the Bra-ha-ha® website. Proceeds from The Bra-ha-ha® campaign help provide free mammograms and related breast health services to eligible uninsured and underinsured community members, and advanced technology at Chesapeake Regional Breast Care.

We are opening our winter sports team stores today through Nov. 13 and it's open to anyone to order not only those with students playing on the teams. These team stores below will be ordered directly through our partner BSN and shipped to the school for pickup. 

 

 

For holiday gifting, we have an exclusive opportunity to order Norfolk Collegiate fan gear through a partnership with Lululemon. These orders will be shipped directly to you in time for the holidays for your favorite Oak fan! Those items can be found here and the shop closes on Nov. 14! Don't wait to order before this specialty item store closes for the year! 

 

Mark your calendars to join our upper school students as they present their fall play, "Pride & Prejudice" in the Hackey Theater in the Meredith Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17.

 

This vibrant production of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," adapted from Andrew Davies' hit 1995 BBC TV series is a delightful comedy of manners that follows the witty and headstrong Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates family, society and her evolving (and often rocky) relationship with the proud yet captivating Mr. Darcy. Filled with humor, heart and fantastic performances, this production brings Austen's beloved characters to life in a way that will leave you smiling and cheering for love and laughter. You won't want to miss this timeless classic on stage!

 

Admission costs $5 for students and $15 general admission (cash and card accepted) and benefits Collegiate's amazing theater department. This is open to the public, so invite everyone!

 

For more information, please contact Brendan Hoyle at bhoyle@norfolkcollegiate.org.

September is National Deaf Awareness Month and in the spirit of this year’s theme of love and trust, transcending barriers, and uniting hearts in the spirit of understanding and compassion, Collegiate invited several members of the community to share information with middle and upper school students.

With the help of Lauren Gonzalez of GoSign Interpreting, who is the mother of Livia ’33 and Olenna ’36, the panel of guests connected with students about what it means to be deaf and hard of hearing in today's society.

Richard Reed and his wife, Chen Reed, along with Shernika Holley, Deaf and Hard of Hearing outreach coordinator with the Endependent Center, explained how each of them came to be deaf or hard of hearing and how it changed their lives. They explained how sign language is used and how various devices help them communicate in their lives. The guests also explained to students how they should communicate with someone in the deaf and hard of hearing community.

 

Summer Strength and Conditioning is back, Oaks! Sessions will begin on June 10, 2024, under the tutelage of Coach Matt Talley, and will continue through Thursday, Aug. 1. Sessions will be held Monday through Thursday daily in the Watt-Baker Gymnasium.

We would love to see you there, Oaks! 

Questions? Contact Coach Jon Hall at jhall@norfolkcollegiate.org.

Norfolk Collegiate’s Heath Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, NJHS, inducted 30 new members into their chapter on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. NJHS is a national organization that recognizes outstanding seventh and eighth grade students who meet academic and service requirements.

 

Congratulations to the following students: Mollie A., Laci B., Noah C., Geoffrey C., Duncan C., Blake C., Beatrix D., Charlie D., Colgin F., Mason G., Sanaa H., Charlotte H., Keron K., Elizabeth K., Eli L., Madeline M., Mary Walsh M., Robert M., Athena N., June R., Samuel R., Leia S., Tyler S., Landon T., Austin U., Eliza V., Tobias W., Bridgette W., Kiera W. and Tamya W.

The student-run ceremony honored the accomplishments of the new inductees. In fact, to date, the club’s members have performed more than 1,000 hours of community service as of this month with the newest members having performed 635 of those hours! Collegiate’s chapter supports several local organizations, such as the Samaritan House, collecting donations for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, ForKids, area animal shelters and more.

 

Members must have a cumulative grade point average of 88. Students must also demonstrate attributes of leadership, good character and citizenship, as well as a desire to render service and to provide worthy leadership. To be eligible, students must complete 10 hours of community service prior to joining and must complete an additional 10 hours before the end of the school year.

To learn more about Collegiate’s chapter of NJHS, please contact Jill Archer at jarcher@norfolkcollegiate.org.

Middle school students attended an in-school Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice conference on Feb. 28, 2024. The conference was titled, “Building a Community of Belonging,” and featured guest speaker Jason Mundy, the director of diversity, equity and engagement at Durham Academy. Mr. Mundy is also the former head of Norfolk Collegiate’s upper school and middle school. 

Mr. Mundy’s message was, “I’m just a middle schooler; what difference can I make?” It was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence. The conference opened with an address from Head of School Scott Kennedy, Head of the Middle School Chris Tillson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) Dr. Nefertiti Makeda, and a special video produced by the Middle School Allies DEI Club and upper school students who attended a National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference.

“I thought the conference was amazing, it taught valuable lessons for everyone,” said Laci B. ’28, who serves as the Allies Club vice president. “My goal (for the conference) was to get everyone to try to be kinder and to see things from a different perspective, while our goal for the conference was to share what our club was about and to teach everyone to be more of a kind inclusive person.”

Allies President Taylor B. ’28 agreed. “The conference was very educational, and I especially loved our guest speaker, Mr. Mundy. He was truly amazing and discussed some great points. I’m super excited about what the middle school will improve and make it even more exciting next year,” she said.

 

Norfolk Collegiate is proud to present “The Drowsy Chaperone” at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, in the Hackney Theater in the Meredith Center for the Arts. Our amazing student performers will be accompanied by a professional orchestra provided in partnership with Tidewater Winds. 

 

Winner of five Tony Awards, "The Drowsy Chaperone" is a loving send-up of the Golden Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another.

 

With the houselights down, a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and "The Drowsy Chaperone" begins as the man in the chair provides hilarious commentary. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and a delirious chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight.

 

The play is open to the public and will be performed live. Admission is $5 for students and $15 for regular admission and cash and card are accepted. 

 

For more information, please email Mr. Hoyle at bhoyle@norfolkcollegiate.org or Ms. Gondek at mgondek@norfolkcollegiate.org.

 

We hope you can join us for this wonderful event!

Upper school students heard from a panel of women in the military as part of the school’s recognition of Women’s History Month on March 29, 2024. This year’s theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” 

Susan Moore, upper school Math and middle and upper school Design Thinking & Computing teacher kicked off the event and spoke about her time in the United States Coast Guard Academy and the Coast Guard. 

The panel included Cmdr. Veronica Anderson, U.S. Navy; Cmdr. Brittany Laird, U.S. Navy; YN1 Mackenzie Williams, U.S. Navy; and Cmdr. Amanda Harris, U.S. Coast Guard. Each spoke about their journey in the Armed Forces and at the end, answered questions from the students. 

 

 

Several upper school students participated in the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ Diversity Dialogue Day at Old Dominion University. The one-day event brings together students from public and private schools. With the help of trained facilitators, the program works to increase the students’ understanding of what prejudice is, decrease stereotypic attitudes and develop an expanded awareness of discrimination and its harmful effects on individuals and groups. It also works to expose students to diverse perspectives and create connections between peers.

Students learned about the LISTEN Model which emphasizes:

Collegiate's winter athletic season student-athletes were honored on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in front of their peers during the Middle and Upper School Winter Athletic Awards program. The winter season saw student-athletes take on swimming, cheer, wrestling and basketball in the longest season for our Oaks, beginning Nov. 6, 2023, and ending on March 1, 2024, with our last basketball game.

 

Standout student-athletes were awarded plaques describing their role on their respective teams, including the following awards: Most Valuable Players; Most Improved Players; Team Manager and OAK Award, which honors the impressive attributes in the student to which it’s awarded. “O” stands for overachiever, “A” stands for attitude and “K” stands for knowledge. This is also the first year that the Outstanding Teammate Award is being “given to the athlete who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to their team embodying sportsmanship, character and spirit,” said Director of Athletics Jon Hall.

This year’s middle school spelling bee saw 32 students face off for the first-place honors, competing in 18 rounds and spelling 300 words. The word “gorilla” landed Kellan H. ’30 with the title of Norfolk Collegiate spelling bee champion.

Third place was awarded to Jonas E. ’28 and second place went to Grace O. ’29. 

Words like “amphitheater,” “gastritis,” “Oman,” and “bunion” were delivered to the students by the moderator Mr. Evan Benedict ’04 and the students calmly asked for definitions and usages in sentences before tackling their words.   

Middle School English Teacher and coordinator of this year’s bee Chrisy Cooper said the event was fantastic. It was evident the students were looking forward to competing against their classmates. 

Kellan will next compete in The WHRO Public Media Spelling Bee on Saturday, Feb. 10. Good luck, Kellan!

Norfolk Collegiate’s youngest Oaks have been keeping their new Oak Delivery Mail System busy and their fourth grade postal workers are loving it!

The newest addition to the lower school is not only improving our Oak’s writing skills, but it’s also improving their communication, thanks to the genius of our lower school Science Teacher Melissa Economou.

“This system will allow students to authentically write and address letters to friends and/or adults in the lower school no matter what grade,” said Economou. “Fourth grade students will be responsible for checking and delivering the mail.”