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.

Head of School Retirement Announcement

Dear Christopher Academy Community,

On August 1, 1998, I accepted the challenge of being the administrator of Christopher Academy (then The St. Christopher School). I never imagined then that I would have continued in this role for so many years! It has been a great privilege and awesome responsibility for me to have the opportunity to be a part of our students’ lives. It is truly a joy to watch them grow and become confident, successful individuals. Much has happened since 1998 with the most important accomplishment being that Christopher Academy continues to fulfill its mission to “foster a love of learning”. This is due to the hard work of our exceptional faculty, staff, and trustees partnering with fantastic parents. It has truly been an honor to work with all of you.

It is time for a new chapter to begin in the life of Christopher Academy and for me personally. I have advised the CA Board of Trustees that I will retire at the end of the 2015-2016 school year effective June 30, 2016. By then I will have completed 18 years as Head of School plus 4 years of teaching here. I am very pleased that the Board has selected a successor with whom I will be able to work over the coming year to plan for a smooth transition. That news will be shared in a letter from our Board Chair, Warriner Atkinson.

I often think of Christopher Academy as the “little school that could”. Similar to the children’s classic story, The Little Engine that Could, CA is a small school that makes a powerful difference in the lives of our young students. I know that CA will continue to the be the little school that can do big things. I am looking forward to another year of greeting our students each morning in anticipation of another day of learning and growing. Then when the last day comes, I will put down my big red stop sign and turn the first page of my own new chapter.

                                                                                                  Phyllis Shannon

CA Pride - Danielle Terry

It is always quite special when we have an alumni join our staff. Danielle Terry graduated from CA (then The St. Christopher School) after completing 3rd grade. We all were excited for her when she graduated from JMU with a Social Work degree. I was especially happy when I found out that she was seeking an interim job for one year prior to going to grad school. She was hoping to have an opportunity to get experience working with children. Perfect! We had just the job for her as our Office Assistant along with doing some substitute teaching. This has given her quite a variety of experiences interacting with young children.

Ms. Terry has proven to be such a valuable asset to our staff. I have to commend her for being flexible and adaptable because she truly never knows what she will be doing when she arrives in the morning. Multitasking just doesn’t seem to be a problem for her which is a really good thing when you are working in a school. One of the first things I observed and appreciated about Ms. Terry is her ability to immediately put a child at ease. Whether the child is hurt, sick, or just having a difficult day, she has this warm, positive way of engaging the child in conversation and reassuring him or her. She is able help the child become calm and settled. Over the course of this year, she has gotten to know every student in the school.

During her studies at JMU, Ms. Terry worked as a counselor and mentor with foster children. I asked her to do a workshop with our 4th and 5th grade students on the topic of bullying. I sat in and I was impressed with the variety of ways she used to engage our students on this topic. The goal was to get them to think about their actions and how they treat each other as well as how to protect themselves when they are being bullied.

In addition to keeping up with all of the office activity and paperwork, Ms. Terry has lunch duty with third grade on Mondays and occasionally other days. She has probably subbed or helped out in some way or the other in every classroom this year. Teachers love having her come in as they know she is conscientious and will have a positive experience with the students.

Ms. Terry has also taught two Adventure Kids classes: Media Club and, currently, Volleyball. Her technology skills have been very helpful to administrators, teachers and students. She created a wonderful slide/video presentation for our recent auction and has begun the process of electronic storage of our records for us.

Ms. Terry will be leaving us on May 23 to begin a graduate program in Social Work at University of South Carolina. I know all of you join me in wishing her well as she continues her studies toward her goal of a career in Social Work. Having observed her working with our students (as well as our staff and parents) this year, I know she will excel in her chosen field. What a great role model she has proven to be for our young students. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - BETH LYDON

I think Beth Lydon must really like a challenge! Late last spring I decided to create a new position, Director of Advancement, by combining two part time positions: Development and Marketing. Her job description basically says she is to handle everything that has to do with promoting the school through marketing, volunteer activities, and fundraising. Needless to say the task list for a job like this is long and varied. I am delighted that Mrs. Lydon not only accepted the challenge of taking on the newly created position, but she did so with a positive, determined commitment to advance CA in every way she can.

As is true with so many of our CA staff, I first got to know her as an active parent volunteer helping with class activities and PTO events. Eventually I became aware that she has a financial background through her JMU degree and previous work experience. As you might guess, the teachers enlisted her to become a substitute teacher. Last year, I found out what a conscientious, dedicated worker she is when the did some long term subbing for us. I was very excited that she was interested in the Director of Advancement position.

About 5 seconds after accepting the position, Mrs. Lydon immediately went to work on organizing our 8th annual golf tournament which was quite a success in October. Initial planning of the 12th annual auction began before the golf tournament was over. Simultaneously, Mrs. Lydon launched our annual giving campaign, sought advertising opportunities in the community, and began a series of meetings with parents to revitalize our CAPS organization. Obviously, she has to be able to keep a lot of balls in the air at the same time. She is just now wrapping up the auction which was a fantastic event for CA. The auctioneer had hardly cried out the last “Sold!” when she was already discussing ideas for future events. It is fair to say that her job is never done...she has to be able to keep moving on to the next event or opportunity.

I appreciate the fact that Mrs. Lydon takes advantage of opportunities to learn about new ideas for events, projects, and communication through professional development webinars and meetings, talking to people in the community, talking to our own faculty and parents, and researching online. She just recently joined me at a regional VAIS meeting which gave her the chance to network with her counterparts from other schools. She knows there are many great ideas and is on the watch for those that are likely to be best for our CA community

Through a series of meetings with parents, Mrs. Lydon has helped identify some of the types of events, activities, and means of communication that our parents want. She also has begun to work with parents who are interested in planning some of the CAPS events. Some of these ideas will be implemented before the end of the school year and during the summer. Preliminary planning is beginning for next year. Being a busy parent herself, Mrs. Lydon understands all of the demands on our parents and values the time and effort from all of our volunteers. Finding ways to facilitate our having family events so that we can grow together as a school community is a priority for her. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA Pride - Miriam Hartman

Miriam Hartman thought she was ready to retire after a successful career as librarian with Portsmouth Public Schools. But she was not quite certain she was ready to give up working with students. Fortunately for me, Mrs. Hartman happens to be a close friend of our former librarian, Kathy Batkin, who knew exactly how she was feeling. Mrs. Batkin suggested that Mrs. Hartman should join the CA faculty and staff on a part time basis and keep the best of both worlds: The flexibility of retirement coupled with the joy of working with young students.

I think all of our faculty will agree that Mrs. Hartman became a valued member of our staff so quickly that we often forget that this is her first year with us. She works closely with our elementary faculty to ensure that our library collection is well maintained and updated. She is the "go to" person when we are seeking resources on certain topics. She oversees our AR program for elementary students. Our young students look forward to her regular visits to read and discuss books with them. In March, Mrs. Hartman presented an excellent program for parents and students about the importance of "raising a reader".

Being librarian at CA is certainly a different experience from running a more conventional library in a larger elementary school. She has to oversee and coordinate a library collection of several thousand books that is housed in different classroom libraries. To say that Mrs. Hartman had to adapt her approach to her work may be an understatement. Yet, she embraced this new opportunity with such a positive, flexible attitude and is adding her own special touches.

Mrs. Hartman’s commitment extends beyond her responsibilities as librarian. She quickly became a part of our CA community in a number of ways. We started to get to know her even before she was officially on our staff. She attended last year’s school auction just after accepting the position for the coming year. Since then, she has supported school events as fully as she is able. She is always quick to offer assistance when she observes a teacher, staff member, or student who appears to need an extra hand. What I appreciate about this is that in Mrs. Hartman our students not only have a person who inspires them to read, but they also have a great role model to be a caring, helping person. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - CAROLINA BHAN

I first met Carolina Bhan last year when she taught a Zumba class for our afternoon Adventure Kids class. It was exciting to just walk through the room. It was filled with so much energy, music, and fun that I wanted to join in with the class. When I found out that she also is a qualified, experienced teacher I knew I had the perfect person to teach Spanish for us.

Señorita Bhan is from Spain. She has degrees from Conservatorio Real De Musica, Manuel de Falla, Universidad De Cadiz, and Facultad De Ciencias de la Educacion. She was a music and elementary teacher at El Centro Inglés/escuela De Música y Danza Paso A Dos before moving to the United States. We currently share her with the Montessori Preparatory School.

Señorita Bhan told me when she first joined our faculty that she was excited to share her personal experiences growing up in Spain with our students. When I have a chance to stop in and visit her class, I always find that she is sharing many interesting stories, customs, and experiences. Her instruction is focused on helping our students develop a Spanish vocabulary including the definition, spelling and pronunciation as well as learning to appreciate Spanish culture.

Señorita Bhan loves music and is a musician herself. Each Wednesday, she along with Mrs. Crandall, fills our halls with the sound of Spanish music. Music is a wonderful way to enrich our students experience of the Spanish culture and to expand their vocabulary . Most of all it is fun to sing and move to these Spanish songs.

When Señorita Bhan joined our staff in September, she was faced with the challenge of getting know 87 students in five different grades, becoming familiar with the CA schedule, and planning a Spanish Christmas program She approached all of this with a smile and positive attitude. When she can, she comes to school for other events so that she can get to know the students better as well as the culture of the school. She has helped at some of the CARES CLUB  and the running club meetings. It was great for our students to have their Spanish teacher running with them and cheering them on as they prepared for the Operation Smile Final Mile. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - MARY LOU WILSON

If you want to become an excellent reader and writer, you should sign up for Mrs. Wilson's first grade language arts class! Mary Lou Wilson has taught first grade students reading, writing, and oral language skills for 25 years at CA. The result is students who have the best possible foundation for their future academic success.

Mrs. Wilson’s first association with CA was through enrolling her daughter in our Pre-K class. It did not take long for my predecessor, Dottie Seward, to discover that she had a parent volunteer who was not only an experienced teacher, but also a reading specialist. Mrs. Wilson was quickly added to the faculty. Her expertise as a reading specialist has served CA well over the years. She is regularly consulted by other teachers and me when a student in any grade has difficulty with reading. She also does the reading assessment for most of our new students coming in to CA.

Mrs. Wilson also teaches first grade math. When she took on this new challenge in 2008, she was excited to have the opportunity to participate in two days of workshops on Everyday Math. She came back ready to help first grade students build just as strong a foundation in math skills as in language arts.

You may not be aware that Mrs. Wilson has administrative responsibilities as well. She is the Language Arts Lead Teacher. In this role, she works with language arts teachers to ensure continuity in instruction through all of the grades. She is the primary mentor for our new elementary teachers. All in all, Mrs. Wilson is a leader among our faculty who is admired and respected by her peers. Along with steering committee co-chair, Leigh-Ann Hartley, she worked tirelessly to lead our faculty and trustees through a self study process to successfully earn our initial VAIS accreditation in 2005. She has played a major role in our subsequent re-accreditation in 2010 and preparation for our upcoming visit in 2015. She has served on one accreditation team for another school.

These extra responsibilities do not diminish her commitment to her students. First grade students always come first. She does not just teach by the "book", she is constantly finding ways to enrich the learning experience with special projects, fun events, and field trips. It is not enough to read about plants, but we should also plant them and watch them grow. It is not enough to count paper ice cream scoops, but perhaps we should eat some real ice cream scoops. It is not enough to read about an artist' painting technique, we should try to make our own masterpieces using that technique ourselves. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - ADELINA VAIRO

I first met Adelina Vairo when she enrolled her older son in our preschool. She quickly became an active parent volunteer who preferred doing more of the behind the scenes projects. One of our former teachers, Mrs. Morgan, depended on her to help create an annual display long after her children were not in her class. As you might expect it was not long until teachers began suggesting that Mrs. Vairo become a substitute teacher. She rapidly became a favorite sub because the teachers knew that she would do a great job teaching the plans they had left for their class.

When I added a teaching assistant position for second grade in 2007, teachers immediately told me that Mrs. Vairo was the best person for the job. I was certainly pleased when she readily agreed to become a member of our staff. In addition to assisting in the second grade classroom during language arts and math instruction, Mrs. Vairo is the technology instructor for second grade in the computer lab. She is enjoying helping our students explore and use new technology resources this year.

Mrs. Vairo is a quiet, calm presence in the classroom. She is a careful listener and observer of all the activity among her students . This is important, of course, so that our second grade students get extra assistance when needed to master skills and to be guided to stay on task. But it is also very important when a child is just not quite him or herself or there is a social disagreement among students. Mrs. Vairo supervises second grade lunch daily and gets to know her second grade students very well. She is likely the first one to notice when something is not quite right with a child whether it due to not feeling well or having a problem with a friend. I greatly value Mrs. Vairo's perspective and observations when I need to talk with second grade students about a problem.

Our second grade students could not have a better role model for their approach to doing their school work and being good school citizens. Each day they see Mrs. Vairo carrying out her tasks conscientiously and effectively. She is well organized and helps them become better organized. She is helpful and kind. Her words of encouragement and support mean a lot when a child needs it the most. And, of course, when they are successful, she is quick with a smile and a word of praise. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - MIRIAM TERRY

Some years back Miriam Terry told me that she really likes a challenge. Since then I have taken her at her word and called upon her many times when I need someone to “pioneer” something new. These challenges seem to energize Mrs. Terry and her enthusiasm is contagious to both her coworkers and her students..

In 2005, Mrs. Terry pioneered our first 4th grade class with ten excited students and a group of very supportive parents. A faculty committee helped her develop the curriculum and program. She taught all of the core academic subjects that year. At the same time, we began planning to add fifth grade in 2006. Happily, she was joined by Mrs. Bikowski that year to launch our first fifth grade class. Mrs. Terry chose to teach math and science to both grades while Mrs. Bikowski concentrated in language arts and social studies.

Mrs. Terry LOVES math especially University of Chicago Everyday Math. She even gets excited about teaching negative number subtraction to fifth grade students. (That is truly a mystery to me!) She also is equally enthusiastic about science and loves hands on projects. For example, fourth grade students raise oysters at Hoffler Creek, fifth grade students hatch chicks and grow spartina grass. You never know what you might find going on in her 4th/ 5th grade classroom. It is always an interesting place to visit.

Mrs. Terry also has administrative responsibilities serving both as math lead teacher and assistant head of school. She is currently taking school leadership classes through ODU . Now she can really connect with her students when they talk about homework, projects and tests because she has to do all that too.

You may not be aware that Mrs. Terry is an active participant in VAIS, our accrediting association. She currently is serving on the state conference planning committee . She has served on two accreditation teams at other schools. She is also the chair of the steering committee for CA’s ten year accreditation visit coming up in 2015.

Mrs. Terry has a great curiosity for learning new things and having new experiences. She shares this quest for knowledge with her students. This is not limited to academic knowledge. She knows it is important for our oldest students to become confident in their social and leadership skills. Her instructional approach often includes collaborative learning through which students must learn to work together as a team. She also seeks ways to help her students develop leadership skills through opportunities to mentor younger students such as the gardening project shared by 5th grade students and K-Cubs.

Most of all she is excited to see her students discover new things and master new skills whether they are academic or personal milestones. Many of our alums keep in touch with her because they know she is genuinely interested in how they are doing. When they have a special event or success, Mrs. Terry is just as excited as they are. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - SUSAN SHIEMBOB

When I found out that I was going to need a new third grade teacher for this year, I knew I would not have to look very far. Our own Susan Shiembob was the ideal choice for the job. While this is her first year teaching third grade, Ms. Shiembob is not really a new teacher. She brings experience, fresh academic training and her own unique approach to teaching. I was very happy when she readily agreed to take on this new challenge. She started planning right away before the school year ended and continued working all summer so that she would be ready for this new adventure with her third grade students.

Let me tell you a bit more about her background. Ms. Shiembob graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Ms. Shiembob also has a teaching license to teach marketing education at the secondary level. She postponed her teaching career when she became a mom. We got to know her at CA when she enrolled her oldest son, now 16, in our preschool program. Teachers soon found that they had a great parent volunteer who did an excellent job organizing and helping with class and school events. I bet you can guess what happened next. They were soon suggesting that she consider subbing and the rest is history. Ms. Shiembob was frequently called to sub because the teachers knew she would do a great job.

Eventually we recognized that Ms. Shiembob also has excellent office management skills. I took advantage of that by creating a combined position in which she worked as our office assistant in the mornings and taught physical activity and geography in the afternoons. During her two years in this combined position, Ms. Shiembob took the courses needed to add an elementary endorsement to her teaching license. She completed this additional course work just in time to be ready to assume the third grade teaching position this year filled with fresh ideas from her classes.

This was an easy transition for our students as they already knew her well since she had taught them P.A. and geography in second grade. They also know her as a running coach with our Adventure Kids running club for operation smile. And she continues to be an active parent helping out with school events such as CARES Club. Ms. Shiembob also was very active in our parent organization prior to becoming a full time employee with us. As P.A. teacher, Ms. Shiembob has organized our annual Field Day; this is one of our favorite days of the year.

Ms. Shiembob brings the same commitment to all of her roles at CA. She puts in a tremendous amount of time to be well prepared both for the classes she teaches and the activities she helps sponsor. It is important to her that her students continue to build upon the strong academic foundation they already have by third grade. She is a strong believer in the benefits of regular exercise, setting personal goals and working to achieve them. She expects her students to be of good character and always do their best. This is what she models for them on a daily basis. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA Pride - Kathy Tarr

If I were a Pre-K student I would be pretty excited to be in Mrs. Tarr's classroom. You never know what is going to be in the counting box or what the project of the day will be. The students are also excited to have a turn to share "show and tell" items each week. All are fun ways to encourage and develop oral language, letter recognition, and number sense.

Kathy Tarr has been part of our Pre-K team since 2007. Her classroom is a colorful, inviting learning environment focusing on math and language arts skills. Along with a variety of learning centers, creative projects teach and reinforce the letter of the day, oral language, counting skills, and fine motor skill development. Pre- K students are building a strong foundation for kindergarten as well as developing important social skills in her classroom.

Look a little closer and you will see that Mrs. Tarr’s classroom is very well organized. Most importantly, it is planned to help students learn to organize themselves. From the way they "check in" to how they gather their project pieces and materials to the way they select learning centers and games, the classroom activities flow efficiently and effectively. Our young students are becoming independent and self-directed through Mrs. Tarr’s procedures in such a positive way. And the Pre-K’s are so proud to tell you that they know just what to do.

Mrs. Tarr is also the technology teacher for Pre-K. The Bears, Ducks and Fish have time with her in the lab weekly as well as having a computer center in her room. She uses a combination of software and online resources to provide technology experiences to reinforce letters, numbers, problem solving, and creativity. There are lots of smiles on computer lab day! Mrs. Tarr has the additional responsibility of supervising lunch with 4th and 5th grade students, but that is a story for a future blog!

I enjoy visiting Mrs. Tarr’s room when they are having circle time and especially on “show and tell” day. The children are so excited to bring in their special item and tell their classmates all about it. Students are learning to use statements and questions as they share. For those who do not feel comfortable speaking before a group, participation in “show and tell” and other class discussions really helps build confidence. For those who are uncomfortable speaking to the group, Mrs. Tarr is right by their side offering a word of encouragement and a big smile. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - MARCIA TABET

Being an alumna of Christopher Academy is something special. Having an alumna as a member of the teaching staff at CA is fantastic. Marcia Tabet was a member of the first kindergarten class of The St. Christopher School. I was delighted to learn that fact when she enrolled her oldest son in Preschool a few years ago. Having her as an employee to continue the traditions of CA is an added bonus.

Mrs. Tabet quickly became an active parent volunteer. She was very instrumental to the success of our auctions through her ability to get many great items for them. She could be counted on to help with our school events, large or small. Her help with classroom parties, field trips, and other activities got the attention of our teachers. They appreciated her warm, friendly manner when working with students and eventually persuaded her to become a substitute teacher for us. In 2012, she joined our staff as a teaching assistant for third grade. This year she added supervision of Third Grade lunch and teaching Physical Activity classes on Monday afternoon to her responsibilities.

Many of you know that Mrs. Tabet has been a dental hygienist for a number of years. Sometimes she does a dental hygiene class for our preschool students. She continues this work a couple of times a month in addition to her CA work. Her wonderful smile is a great advertisement for her work.

You may not know that her educational background is in health and physical education and sports management. She has a Bachelor of Science from UVA in Sports Medicine and a Masters degree from ODU in Sports Management. Her job experience includes working for the New York Yankees and the Norfolk Tides. You may also spot her over at the Y coaching a basketball team. You can see why I thought of Mrs. Tabet when I needed another Physical Activity teacher this year. I am so glad she accepted this new challenge.

Mrs. Tabet enjoys sharing many different experiences with our students. You will find her helping out with our afternoon programs such as CARES Club and the Running Club. She values giving our students opportunities to be involved in community services projects and working together. I having been using the phrases "the CA WAY" and title of this series, " CA Pride", a great deal this year. This idea was inspired by Mrs. Tabet in some of of our faculty meetings when she referred to how important it is to teach our young children the CA way of behaving and doing things. Mrs.Tabet brings that wonderful perspective of what this school is all about to everything she does at CA. Now that is what I call a fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - PAM SEXTON

Pam Sexton has that special something that enables her to really connect with our first grade students. In addition to the time she spends working with them in the classroom, Mrs. Sexton is the person who is on the playground with them daily during Mouse and Lion Break and lunch. This gives her the opportunity to have informal conversations with them and get to know their personalities. The children really come to trust her and look forward to sharing their special news with her each day.

I first met Mrs. Sexton when I taught her son, Greg, in second grade. I knew her as an active parent who supported her own children and was a great volunteer. When we had a large first grade class in 1993, my predecessor, Dottie Seward, knew just who to hire as a teaching assistant to Mrs. Wilson for that year. Of course, it turned out that Mrs. Sexton quickly became an invaluable member of the first grade teaching team and has continued in that role since then.

First grade language arts instruction is so critical to the future academic success of our students . With her degree in English, Mrs. Sexton has the background to help our young students build that strong foundation of writing and reading skills. It is safe to say that Mrs. Wilson cannot imagine teaching first grade without Mrs. Sexton as her partner. During math instruction, Mrs. Sexton manages to seem to see what everyone is doing all at the same time. She moves from child to child making sure he/she is on the correct task, has the correct supplies out, and is paying attention to instruction. During independent work, she continues to be “on the move” as she checks in with students to see who needs assistance.

Mrs. Sexton is also the first grade science teacher. She loves plants and animals. This makes her a natural to excite young learners about the topics that are taught in first grade science.

Mrs. Sexton over the years has also tutored a number of our students. Sometimes they need just a little help to get over the hump of mastering specific skills. Other times they benefit from ongoing tutoring just to keep them on track. I always enjoy seeing Mrs. Sexton working one on one with our students. She gives them just the support that they need and, in the process, forges special bonds with them. Part of this can simply be a little time for personal conversation that lets them know she cares and is interested in them. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.

CA PRIDE - NANCY PERKINS

Nancy Perkins is the first person that many of our students see each day. She greets them by looking them in the eye and shaking hands as they say good morning. The teaching and learning starts the moment the car door opens with that daily greeting. What a positive beginning to our young students' day.

 Most of you know that Mrs. Perkins has been our Kindergarten language arts teacher since 1987. You may not know that Mrs. Perkins also taught elementary art to our elementary students for a number of years and continues to work with Mrs. Davenport teaching first grade art. She brings her love for art and nature into the learning experience for kindergarten students through wonderful projects that enrich the language arts curriculum.

Mrs. Perkins dedicates herself to helping our kindergarten students develop essential reading, writing, and oral skills that give them a strong foundation for future academic success. Mrs. Perkins’ classroom is a calm, peaceful learning environment during reading and writing instruction. She moves about the room quietly directing and assisting as our young learners begin to become confident readers and writers. She uses Calico, the Bear, to inspire students to write in journals. It is a special weekend, when Calico comes home with a K student.

Mrs. Perkins knows that first hand experiences bring learning to life. She seeks community resources that will provide real life experiences whether through a field trip, bringing in a speaker, or doing a special project.
When the students are working on these projects, her classroom is filled with high energy and imagination . She provides a variety of materials to inspire the students’ creativity. They may be working individually or together happily talking about what they are doing. They might be at tables or on the floor. And when it is all finished, she is just as proud of their achievements and creations as they are. Students are so excited to tell me and their parents all about their gingerbread houses or mouse houses or garden landscapes.

Mrs. Perkins has a gentle, soft spoken approach when talking with students. At the same time she has high expectations for best effort and excellent conduct from her students at all times. She models these expectations in the way she goes about doing her job in and out of the classroom. .

Mrs. Perkins is a true CA supporter. You can spot her at most school activities whether they involve her current K students or not. For example, she frequently helps with our CARES Club meetings. This year she has stayed after school to help supervise and cheer on the running club. I think it is great for our older students to know that their kindergarten teacher still takes an interest in what they are doing. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.