THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES AND WELCOME TO MIRIAM TERRY

Today is my last official day as Head of School for Christopher Academy after 18 years.  I simply want to say "Thanks for the memories."  

• I have loved greeting the children each morning as they come into school. It has been such fun to watch how excited they are to see their friends. Although I always cautioned them to walk, I was secretly delighted they wanted to skip and run into school together.  What a privilege and joy it has been to watch these precious children grow and learn.
• It has been an honor to have been co-worker with such a dedicated and hard working group of educators as we have at CA.  Administrators, faculty and support staff are all committed to do the best for our students every single day.  Working collaboratively with them has resulted in a school that preserves rich traditions while continuing to evolve to meet the needs of 21st Century learners.
• Behind the scenes is a group of hardworking volunteers:  the CA Board of Trustees.  These individuals dedicate countless hours to the governance of our School to ensure that we continue to fulfill our mission.  They have always been a tremendous support to me.
• And where would be be without our wonderful parents who partner with us in so many ways to make CA such a great school?  Active parent involvement is a tremendous part of what has made CA exceptional. Kudos to our CAPS leaders for doing such a great job this past year.
• And, of course, I have to say how very proud I am of our alumni. When they leave CA they go in so many directions, but I am always confident they have the foundation to do well.  It has been a joy to have alumni back to volunteer and visit and especially, to enroll their own children.

Congratulations and welcome to Miriam Terry who is the new Head of School.  I am so happy to turn the school over to her capable hands.  She has a fantastic vision for CA.  The future is bright for our CA students as we continue to "foster a love of learning."

Fantastic Volunteers

One of the best things about Christopher Academy is the wonderful support we get from parents and grandparents of our students. Today, April 14, 2016, we celebrated our volunteers by hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. This is just a small way to say what volunteers really mean to our school. I can't find sufficient words to clearly describe what a difference you make when you volunteer. I think the most important part is that our students see their parents and grandparents involved as part of a team with their teachers to provide them an exceptional learning experience.


The thing about volunteering at CA is that there really is something for everyone. We have an active parents organization, CAPS (Christopher Academy Parents Support), that has organized several wonderful events this year. There have been two new events this year, Science Night and the Sock Hop, that were huge successes. I saw families from every grade group here having a great time. We have had a couple of successful book fairs and our yearbook team is working hard to put the finishing details on the yearbook (which will be a treasured keepsake). Elementary students enjoy special lunches every month. All of this happens because of volunteers.


I know that CAPS is already making plans for similar events next year. They are limited only by the number of people who join in to help. So if you loved those events, try to find time to help with an event or project next year.


For those who cannot be frequently at school or who aren't comfortable being in charge of an event, you make a difference when you join the approved driver list to drive on field trips, help plan a class party, do tasks at home for teachers, or sign up to help with any of our special events or projects. Whether you can do a little or a lot, it all adds up to making Christopher Academy a school that is a very special place for our young students to learn and grow. Thank you to all our volunteers for being a part of the CA community.

HEAR US ROAR! VAIS ACCREDITATION

On February 3, we received the very important news that after more than two years of self-study and work, Christopher Academy had been approved for continuing full accreditation. VAIS Executive Director, Betsy Hunroe, wrote:

"On behalf of the VAIS Board of Directors and Accreditation Committee, I wish to extend congratulations to you, your faculty, staff and trustees upon the unanimous approval on January 22, 2016 of Christopher Academy for continuing full accreditation from the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. The VAIS accreditation program is one of a select few recognized at the national level through the National Association of Independent School's Commission on Accreditation and, of course, the VAIS program is also recognized and approved by the Virginia Board of Education through the Virginia Council for Private Education.

We are very grateful to you, your entire faculty, staff, and trustees for the energy and thoughtfulness you put toward the self-study, including the documentation and the leadership of the steering committee. Perhaps most of all, we commend the entire Christopher Academy community on its dedication to students and the "can do attitude" with which all tasks are undertaken."

Sometimes I am asked why it matters that our school is accredited. It matters because we want to be confident that we are continuing to provide our young learners the best possible academic and social foundation that we can. Being accredited does not simply mean that CA can check off a list of standards. Being accredited means being engaged in an ongoing and rigorous process of strategic planning, self-study, and self-improvement. Being accredited means recognizing what you do well as well as what you need to do better.

Through our recent self-study process, careful consideration was given to what is the identity of Christopher Academy. The message that came out loud and clear is that CA is an exceptional elementary school for Preschool through 5th Grade students. This is what we do really well and with confidence that our students will be well prepared for wherever they go next. Our own assessment (which was echoed by the peer review of the Visiting Team) is that we specialize in teaching early learners. And what can be more important than providing a great start in life for these precious children?

Through this process we also identified some ways that CA can become an even better elementary school. We recently announced that in 2016-2017 our kindergarten will be a full day program and that we are adding an extended day program. Both of these changes are important ways that we will strengthen our commitment to doing our best for our students and families. We are excited about the future in CA and proud of our continued accreditation through VAIS.

Christopher Academy - The Best Gift for Kids

Our Christopher Academy families are happily looking forward to our Winter Break to celebrate Christmas and other family traditions.  We have had such fun with our parties and programs over the past couple of weeks.  Our halls are decorated with Santa, Christmas trees, angels, and snowmen. Presents are being wrapped and eagerly given.  Simply put it is a fun time of year.

A couple of weeks ago, I spent the morning in "Santa's Room" during our Holiday Mouse Breakfast.  I love hearing all the special wishes for what the kids hope to find under their trees on Christmas morning.  Santa promised to do his best and to maybe have a few surprises.  You can't help but smile when you see the children having this magical moment.  As I listened, I began to think about what is the best gift for kids and I have some ideas.

This is what I know about our kids:  As much as they love to get presents, they also love to give.  Now giving doesn't necessary mean an actual present all wrapped up with a pretty bow.  Giving also is helping others.  CA kids like to know that they are making a difference.  We just need to give them the opportunities.  Through various community service activities, in keeping with our Be Kind Do Kind theme we have done just that.

In November, CARES Club students sorted and organized all of the personal hygiene items that had been donated for the American Red Cross "Holidays for Heroes" project.  We have multiple activities that afternoon, but this was the one they were most excited about.  In December, CARES Club students presented a delightful program for the residents of Churchland House.  But the best part of the afternoon, was the gift of a smile shared between a child and an older person.

Just last week, our K-Cub students were positively joyful when they spent the afternoon sorting, packaging and wrapping all the items donated for the Portsmouth Humane Society.   Again, you just had to smile watching their enthusiasm. It could have been done more quickly and efficiently by adults, but think what would have been lost if the teachers had not patiently let them do this themselves.

This is what it comes down to:  The best gift we can give our kids is our time, our patience and our encouragement.  Sometimes we live at such a frenetic pace, it is easier to do things ourselves rather then letting them do things themselves.  Household chores are a great opportunity to simply talk and work together.  And guess what...when you give your child this gift of time, you have also given yourself the best gift of all.

CA IS THANKFUL FOR...

Within the past month, our Christopher Academy community has experienced two major events:
our VAIS 10 Year Accreditation Visit,October 25 -28, and our Celebration of Grandparents and Grand Friends on November 24.  Both required considerable preparation and both gave me reason to reflect on what I am most proud of and thankful for when it comes to CA.

• I am especially thankful for our students. It is such a privilege to be a part of these young learners' lives.  I begin each school day greeting students as they happily arrive at school. They always make me smile.
• I am thankful for the parents of our students who have made the choice to chose an independent school like Christopher Academy.  It tells me that providing an excellent academic and social foundation for your children is a priority.  Your support and involvement makes all the difference in your child's experience at CA.
• I am thankful for the support of our students' extended family.  Grandparents support CA is so many ways:  volunteering, serving on the Board of Trustees, and supporting fund raising events to name a few.
• I am thankful for and honored to work with such an exceptionally dedicated and highly qualified faculty and staff.  They are specialists in preschool and elementary education. They are continuously striving to foster a love of learning.  They do such a great job of striking the ideal balance between our rich traditions and the educational challenges of the 21st Century.
• I am thankful for the individuals who serve on our Board of Trustees.  They are committed to ensuring that Christopher Academy continues to be an important asset to our community.
• I am thankful for and proud of our alumni.  It is so exciting to see how they confidently and successfully transition into their next experience.  Many of our more recent alumni frequently visit and volunteer to help. It is also fantastic when alumni enroll their own children at CA.
• I am thankful to be a member of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.  VAIS challenges independent schools to continuously improve and provides many resources to support us.
• I am thankful for our larger school community which includes the members of both St. Christopher Episcopal and Centenary United Methodist churches.  They work closely with us to provide a rich experience for our students enhanced with special events such as our Grandparents Day.
• I am thankful that Christopher Academy can provide quality, affordable independent elementary education in the tri-city area of Portsmouth, North Suffolk, and Western Branch Chesapeake. I think we make a difference for the children who live in these communities.
• I am thankful that I know that each child who attends Christopher Academy will develop into a confident and lifelong learner who is well prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century.

BE KIND, DO KIND

Christopher Academy is proud to be participating in the Be Kind/Do Kind program.  CHKD and Kohl's Cares have partnered to provide resources and encouragement to area schools to promote treating others with kindness and respect. Sandra Fabian of CHKD commented to me that adults tend to repeatedly tell children what NOT to do, but spend far less time discussing with them what they SHOULD or CAN do instead. She said one of the goals of their program is to focus on talking about and modeling for our children better options for how we treat others.

Virginia Stage Company is also partnering with CHKD and Kohl's Cares by providing two programs free to all participating schools in our area. On September 24 they performed  The Selfish Giant at CA for K-5th grade students. Our students enjoyed a high caliber professional play, met the actors, asked questions, and received a positive message about the value of sharing, being respectful, and being kind. VSC will return later this year with a program for 4th and 5th grade students related to bullying.

Inspired by the play, our students created their own KINDNESS TREE that is filled with colorful leaves on which they have written ways they have or will treat others kindly and respectfully.  They are reminded of these ideas every time they pass the tree on the wall in the hallway.  CARES Club is using Be Kind/Do Kind as our theme for all our community service projects this year.

CHKD also provided activity booklets to stimulate thinking about positive ways to interact with each other. I have completed a couple of these activities with third, fourth and fifth grade students. I have been pleased and impressed with the discussions I have had with thes students. I know they don't always make the best decisions when they are out on the playground and at lunch. Unkind things happen and we have to intervene. But our students DO know the right thing to do and for the most part they know why it is the right thing. 

Our goal is to help them develop that internal switch that directs them toward doing the positive thing instead of the negative hurtful thing. This is tough when we live in a world in which what they see and hear from adults is more along the "in your face, one line put downs" that characterizes much of what is on TV and in videos. I am hopeful that our children will guide us adults to also Be Kind/Do Kind.

Miriam Terry Appointed Head of School Effective July 1, 2016

E. Warriner Atkinson, Christopher Academy Board Chair, has announced the appointment of Miriam Terry to the position of Head of School effective July 1, 2016.

Dear Christopher Academy Community,

I am very pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has selected Miriam Terry as our new Head of School effective July 1, 2016. We are confident that Mrs. Terry is exceptionally well qualified and prepared to become the next administrative leader of Christopher Academy. During the coming year, Mrs. Terry will work closely with our current Head, Phyllis Shannon, to ensure a smooth transition. 

Miriam Terry has been a teacher at Christopher Academy for 18 years teaching math, science, language arts, social studies and physical activity to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. In addition, Mrs. Terry has two years of experience teaching public school in Fairfax County. She has served as Lead Math Teacher since 2008 and as part-­time Assistant Head of School since 2011. 

Mrs. Terry has a BS from Southern Illinois University and a M.Ed from Lesley University. In May 2015 she received a M.Ed degree from Old Dominion University in Educational Leadership in Administration & Supervision. 

She has taken an active role in the Virginia Association of Independent Schools by serving on VAIS Accreditation Teams in 2011, 2012, and 2014 and on the VAIS Annual Conference Committee. Mrs. Terry served as co­-chair of the CA Interim Accreditation Steering Committee in 2010 and is currently the chair of our Ten­-Year Accreditation Steering Committee. She has participated in many professional development workshops and conferences related to accreditation, math and science. 

While Mrs. Terry brings exceptional credentials and experience to the job, she brings something more. Mrs. Terry passionately believes in the mission of Christopher Academy and is committed to doing all that she can to ensure that CA is doing the very best to prepare our students for the 21st Century. She is highly respected by her peers, parents, students, and alumni many of whom keep in touch with her. With her leadership, Christopher Academy will have a bright and exciting future.