Academy Profile, 2009-2010
Mission:
Chesapeake Academy is an independent, co-educational day school serving a diverse population of Preschool through Eighth Grade students in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula of Virginia. The school prepares each student for future academic, moral, social, and physical endeavors in an intellectually challenging environment with a curriculum grounded in a nurturing, family-oriented atmosphere. The Academy prepares each student to have a choice of secondary school enrollment.
Philosophy:
Located in historic Irvington, Virginia, where the Rappahannock River meets the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Academy is a school dedicated to preparing each student for future academic, ethical, social, and physical endeavors in an intellectually challenging environment.
Bound by common goals and aspirations, Chesapeake Academy students experience an academically challenging, traditional liberal arts curriculum taught by teachers who model creativity, commitment, flexibility, teamwork and a love of learning. Intellectual curiosity is valued, laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning, growth and achievement. Our caring and supportive environment guides children to develop confidence in their abilities. In all aspects of school life, teachers know their students well. This relationship allows teachers to address differences in learning styles and teach in ways children will experience their greatest achievement.
In keeping with our heritage, Chesapeake Academy students are an interconnected community of learners. Our school, guided by a purposeful social and ethical curriculum, is a place where friendships and consideration for others thrive and responsibility and leadership develop. We embrace each other’s beliefs and differences and discover that our diversity enriches us. The school’s community, formed by a unique partnership of parents, students, teachers, alumni and neighbors, works together to help children achieve academic excellence and personal growth. We believe students learn best when teachers, parents and children work in harmony.
From Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, Chesapeake Academy students develop and articulate ideas. The inclusion of visual and performing arts in the curriculum encourages self-discovery and creative expression. The physical education and athletic programs promote life-long personal fitness and character development. School-wide experiences and community service opportunities encourage students to be comfortable expressing their ideas in front of others as well as assuming future leadership roles.
Differentiated Instruction:
Differentiated Instruction is a form of instruction that seeks to maximize each student’s growth by recognizing that students have different ways of learning, different interests, and different ways of responding to instruction. Educators vary learning activities and materials by difficulty, by topic, and by students’ preferred ways of learning or expressing themselves.
Specifically, differentiated instruction teaches:
- how to recognize and plan for student differences in readiness, interest, and the way a child learns best.
- how to create and support a student-centered learning environment.
- how to focus instruction around the most essential concepts, principles, and skills of a subject.
- how to modify the content taught, the processes students use to learn the content, and the products students produce to demonstrate what they have learned, to maximize all student growth.
- how to use a variety of assessment techniques as diagnosis of student understanding to make adjustments in learning experiences.
- how to manage a differentiated classroom by flexible use of time, materials and groupings.
- instructional strategies that support a differentiated classroom such as centers, learning contracts, group investigation, tiered activities, instruction, etc.
Chesapeake Academy believes that an enriched and challenging academic curriculum, within a nurturing, child-centered environment, provides the foundation for future successes.
Accreditation:
Chesapeake Academy is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, and is, also, a member of the Educational Records Bureau. The State Department of Social Services certifies the Pre-Kindergarten, and licenses the Extended Day Program.
Admissions:
Students whose assessments, interview, prior academic record and recommendations indicate that they can succeed within the framework and curriculum of Chesapeake Academy are admitted. The Academy seeks to enroll students who are:
- Committed to learning and being a part of a community dedicated to honesty, respect, citizenship, and integrity.
- Eager to meet new people.
- Of strong moral character.
- Well rounded, with varied interests and talents.
- Excited about becoming part of a close-knit community.
- Developing themselves to the fullest through academic challenge, athletics competition, and artistic exploration.
- Chesapeake Academy does not discriminate in admission of financial assistance on the basis of race, gender, physical challenges, religious affiliation, ethnic background or country of origin.
Enrollment:
112 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Eight Grade. Average class size is 12 students. Student to Teacher ratio is 9:1. Chesapeake Academy is an independent, co-educational day school, in Irvington, serving the following counties, in Virginia: Lancaster, Northumberland, Middlesex, Mathews, and Gloucester.
Faculty and Staff:
22 full and part-time faculty and staff members carry out instructional, operational, and administrative responsibilities.
Teaching faculty are all college graduates, and four have advanced degrees.
Curriculum:
Designed for a student’s success in a college preparatory secondary school program, the core curriculum includes reading, English, spelling, math, science and social studies. Co-curricular courses and opportunities include: art, music, library, technology, study skills, Spanish, Latin, overnight field studies, physical education, and interscholastic sports. High School credit is available in Algebra I and Spanish I in eighth grade.
Grading Scale:
A+ (97-100), A (93-96), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F (<60),
Sampling of Extra Curricular Opportunities/Selected Features:
- Grades Five through Eight participate in Inward Bound, an overnight excursion to an area camp for team building and leadership
- Grade Eight has a yearly week-long comparative ecosystem field study trip in Florida (Seacamp)
- Grade Four and Middle School students participate in the Independent School Athletic Conference (ISAC) and compete in soccer, volleyball, golf, basketball, tennis and track & field.
- Early Childhood Enrichment Series events (PALS – Performing Arts & Lecture Series)
- Community Service Projects (entire school)
- Drama/Musical performances, Osprey Chorus, Tone Chime Choir, and Private instrumental/vocal music lessons
- Student Council
- Summer camp is available for ages 4-14
Tuition and Financial Assistance:
For the 2010-2011 school year tuition and fees are
- Pre-Kindergarten $5,325.00
- Kindergarten $8,975.00
- Lower School $8,975.00
- Middle School $9,490.00
Extended Day fees are based on usage. 25% of the students receive financial assistance, with an average grant per child of $3,847.00
Facilities:
The nine and one half acre campus, in Irvington, consists of the following seven buildings: Chesapeake Hall, a 13,800 square foot building housing classrooms for Grades One through Eight, a science lab, technology lab, library, Instructional Support, and all administrative offices; Wiley Hall for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten; gymnasium with an adjacent art studio; Academy Hall provides a dining hall, flexible teaching space and a meeting area for parents and community groups; the Cottage, home of the Osprey Nest (school store); and The Residence, in which the Head of School resides, and the Henry Selby nature trail.
Secondary Schools Attended By Chesapeake Academy Graduates (Since 1989):
Independent:
Public: Lancaster High School, Northumberland High School, Other Public Schools
CAPPA:
Chesapeake Academy Parents and Patrons Association (CAPPA) fosters communication among parents and patrons, facilitates volunteerism, and promotes the mission of the Academy.
Alumni Association:
Chesapeake Academy’s Alumni Association fosters community among alumni, facilitates volunteerism and communication, and promotes the mission of the Academy.
Board of Trustees/Foundation Board:
16 members of the Board serve three-year rotating terms. The four ex-officio members include: the Head of School, Foundation President, CAPPA President, and Alumni Association President. The five Foundation Board members serve three-year rotating terms and develop strategies to increase the endowment fund and focus on planned giving (The Faye Society).
Annual Budget/Annual Fund/Endowment:
Annual Budget of $1,032,165 for fiscal year 2009-2010 (July 1-June 30). CA raised $120,115 for the 2008-09 Annual Fund. Total Annual Giving for 2008-09 was $286,867. The $722,000 Endowment is managed by the Chesapeake Academy Foundation.
