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Press Releases, 2009-2010CA Students Perform in “Dance Off”“EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!” was the theme of last Thursday's assembly at Chesapeake Academy as students in grades one through eight performed a Dance-Off featuring specialized dances from the decades of the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. With audience participation encouraged, just about everyone was toe tapping, finger snapping and swaying to the various beats of popular dances including “Rock Around the Clock” swing dances, “The Monkey,” “The Robot,” and “The Stroll.” Created by music teacher, Beth Somers, and physical eduction teacher, Cynthia Walker, as a logical collaboration between music and physical education, Chesapeake's Dance-Off began with third and fourth graders literally stepping back in time with a fast paced rendition of the “Running Man,” followed by “Poppin'” and “Robo Cop.” The steps learned for these 1980's dances were correographed to The Beach Boys' “Good Vibrations, Bobby Brown's “My Perogative,” and M.C. Hammer's “Can't Touch This.” The decade of the 1970's, considered a wild time for dance steps and music, was represented by first and second graders performing the Grapevine dance step and hand motions for “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward. The girls followed up with a Four-Wall line dance to Kool and The Gang's “Ladies' Night,” and everybody joined in to conclude the 1970's with grandous arm gestures spelling out the letters to The Village People's “YMCA.” The Supremes, The Beach Boys, and Chuck Berry dominated the music of the 1960's as fifth and sixth graders “rock n rolled” to dances called “The Monkey”, “The Hitchhiker,” and the “Pony and Egyptian.” Of course the “Twist” brought down the house. Happy Days were here again as seventh and eighth graders introduced the 1950's with “The Stroll.” Students paired up and performed a swing dance to Bill Haley and the Comets' “Rock Around The Clock”, which was followed by the all-too-familair “Hand Jive” from Happy Days. Not to be outdone and as a surprise to the students, Chesapeake faculty joined in the dance craze, performing unique dance renditons of “Stop in the Name of Love” by The Supremes, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, and “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus. Audience participation was a key factor to the dance-off's success, as everyone from preschoolers to grandparents were encouraged to grab a partner and skake a leg after each group presented their dances. CA Eighth Graders to Seacamp in the Florida Keys Chesapeake Academy eighth grade students returned intact and enlightened from “Seacamp 2010,” their much anticipated six-night field trip in early February to Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys for a comparative study of the south Florida marine estuary ecosystem and Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay. This unique marine science educational adventure allows students to put book knowledge to practical field work, engage in specific phylum research and data collection, and gain a broader understanding of the similarities and environmental challenges faced by two vital East Coast marine estuaries.
Chaperoned by teachers Julia Zimmerman and Cynthia Walker, eleven Chesapeake Academy students began the first day of their extended field trip with a trio of short hikes in Everglades National Park. Following a half mile loop through a dense, jungle-like “hammock” and a visit to the Pahayokee Overlook for sweeping vistas of the Everglades’ 50 mile-wide “river of grass,” the group arrived at the much-anticipated Anhinga Trail- renowned for its quagmire of alligators and wintering birds. “I never knew alligators were such energy conservers!” noted eighth grader Alex Ritenour, who was surprised to learn about their relatively slow metabolism. “They eat only three times a week and don't waste energy on prey they can't easily catch,” he added. Following the half mile raised boardwalk trail over sawgrass marsh, students met with an Everglades National Park ranger to learn about conservation and water management- the Everglades’ most critical environmental issue. En route to Seacamp on Big Pine Key, about half way down the Florida Keys, the group spent a portion of the afternoon at John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park enjoying an initiation dip in the Atlantic Ocean and a first person exploration of a mangrove community. Once at Seacamp, Chesapeake eighth graders spent the next three consecutive days participating in morning, afternoon, and evening labs and lectures collecting specimens while hiking, wading, and snorkeling in classrooms made up of coral reefs, mangrove islands, algae and sea grass communities, sponge flats, and the tidal shallows of the Lower Keys. “The tide pools were amazing and probably the highlight of my trip,” said eighth grader Ryan Campbell, who found hundreds of Janthina snails washed up in the high tide grassy debris and an unusually large collection of queen conch nestled in the exposed pools. “Janthina are little mollusks with deep purple shells that blow bubbles to float on the surface of the water column,” elaborated classmate Graham Shivers. Chesapeake Academy science teacher Linda “Doc” Hunter, who oversees the academic design of the trip, firmly believes in the value of the hands-on experience. “Students who see and interact with aquatic animals in their natural habitats develop a greater awareness of the interdependence of all living things,” she noted. “I learn a lot better when I'm being told about something at the same time I have it in my hands,” stated eighth grader Matt Bowman. Seacamp is located within the boundaries of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve, and the Great White Heron National Wildlife Sanctuary, and contains some of the most extraordinary sea and shore wildlife in the world. “While snorkeling along the mangroves, it was really cool to see the mini-highway of little fish hiding in the tangled prop and drop root system,” said eighth grader Reese Rogers, who also enjoyed floating with his classmates above a six-foot stingray and an eel while snorkeling on the nearby protected patch coral reef. Using plankton dip nets, larger hand nets, microscopes, and reference books to learn about coastal, intertidal and terrestrial ecology, students were able to witness for themselves the interrelationships of marine specimens, the conditions that affect habitat health and species survival. “I can't imagine the Florida Keys without mangroves. They not only help build up sediment and form islands but keep them from washing away as well,” said eighth grader Madison Scott. “The hands-on labs and activities at Seacamp help our students to develop a healthy curiosity and the critical thinking skills to answer ecological questions,” elaborated Hunter. Eigth grader Emily Szperski was impressed by Seacamp's lab on environmental stresses using a type of pulsating upside-down jellyfish called Cassiopiea. “We used the scientific method to record changes in Cassiopeia's pulses using a control group and others that were affected by adding salt, sediment, fresh water, and ice.” “Seacamp was a blast,” added classmate grader Rachel Jayne. “Of all the different labs on algae, plankton, shark biology, beach ecology, mangroves, and sponge communities, the night wade was my favorite. That's where we got to walk at night in waist-high water along the shoreline collecting nocturnal marine organisms,” she explained. The extended field trip also included an afternoon in Key West for a visit to The Key West Aquarium and related sites, and Mallory Square for its sunset-inspired Sundown Festival entertainment. Prior to departing for the trip, Chesapeake eighth graders were assigned areas of expertise on animal phylums like annelids, tunicates, or echinoderms, and then instructed to gather research and keep journals during the field trip for presentations to parents and classmates later in the Spring. Students and their parents spent nearly a year raising money to offset the costs of Seacamp. Chesapeake Academy eighth graders Matt Bowman, Ryan Campbell, Lauren James, Rachel Jayne, Hannah Kellum, Alex Ritenour, Reese Rogers, Weston Schomer, Madison Scott, Graham Shivers, and Emily Szyperski would like to thank the community for all the fundraising support they have received over the past year helping them achieve this once-in-a-lifetime trip. This is the Academy’s 19th consecutive year in Florida, and the ninth to the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute’s Sea Camp program on Big Pine Key. Swim for Haiti Makes a Splash! Slow and steady won the day for thirty-eight kids last Saturday as they joined forces to swim at the YMCA's Aquatic Center during a kid-driven community effort to raise much-needed funds for the people of Haiti. Challenged by Chesapeake Bank to swim a grand total of 1000 laps for a $1000 corporate donation, Swim for Haiti participants not only met that ambitious goal, but surpassed it by over 1,276 laps. “You can't swim that many laps without a lot of heart,” noted Chesapeake Academy math teacher Ted Cook, who directed the “lap count tally board.” Swim for Haiti raised a grand total of $2,372 for the International American Red Cross in support of their good work in Port-au-Prince. Ranging in age from two to sixteen, children and teens from Northumberland, Lancaster, and Middlesex Counties used freestyle strokes, kick boards, fins, and on occasion the helping hand of several “big kid” friends to clock lap after lap in what amounted to hours in the pool. “We thought it was important to give kids a chance to make a difference in the lives of people they've never met who are in great need. They see the news, they're aware of the earthquake's impact on the country of Haiti, and they're willing to help out,”noted Chesapeake Athletic Director Cynthia Walker, who helped advise Chesapeake Academy seventh graders on the organization and implementation of this student-driven fundraiser in partnership with the Northern Neck YMCA. “I'm going to swim 13 laps!” declared five year old Charlie Carrillo, who ended up, through sheer perseverance, swimming a grand total of 37 laps. Nearly every kid who participated exceeded their lap goal by over fifty percent. “We're really grateful to Chesapeake Bank for initiating the $1,000 Lap Challenge. Their generosity and support clearly motivated kids to push themselves past what they thought might be their limits,” noted Walker. In addition to the $1000 Lap Challenge, kids came to the Swim for Haiti event pre-sponsored by friends and family. Sponsorships brought in $1,279. On top of that, an additional $93 was raised by participating YMCA lifeguards throughout the state who swam laps at their respective pools sponsored by Northern Neck YMCA Director Mark Favazza. The morning of Swim for Haiti, several members of the Northern Neck Masters Swim team logged an additional 322 laps, which they “donated” in case the students needed them to meet the $1000 Lap Challenge. “You didn't have to be a great swimmer to take part in this event,” noted seventh grader Anna Moore, who swam nearly 100 laps. “You just had to be someone who wanted to help,” she added. “I'll do whatever I can to help people get food and get their homes back,” added first grader Mary Esten Brown, who swam over 50 laps. Chesapeake Academy seventh graders would like to thank Chesapeake Bank for sponsoring the event, the Northern Neck YMCA for providing the facility and lifeguard staff, and the large group of dedicated adult volunteers that included parents, faculty and alumni of Chesapeake Academy who helped patrol the swim lanes, count laps, and log a few laps themselves during the event. Participants in the Swim for Hait fundraiser included: Brent Altaffer, Ben Antonio, Walker Antonio, Boyd Bragg, Reese Bragg, Amelia Brown, Brendan Brown, Chris Brown, Kathy Broderick, Mary Esten Brown, Charlie Carrillo, Nash Carrington, Taz Carrington, Olivia Clark, Haley Dull, Camden Gaskins, Laura Honnick, Lauren James, Cyrus Jett, Starke Jett, Claire Keesee, Emmaline Keesee, Sam Keesee, Anna Moore, Emily Moore, Connor O'Brien, Jim O'Brien, Reese Rogers, Madison Scott, Sophic Scott, Sam Somers, David Stinson, Will Stinson, Emily Szyperski, Katherine Thomas, Margaret Walker, Francesca Wilson, and Thomas Wilson. Discovery Days at Chesapeake Academy
February's Discovery Day has a multi-cultural theme and is centered on the book, Land of Many Colors, by the Klamath County YMCA Family Preschool. Activities geared for students ages 4 to 7 will include teacher-based art, science, literature, music and movement activities featuring several different countries around the world. The timeless tale of the Land of Many Color may be reinforced with child-led retellings of the story through the creation of sculpture and poetry, theatrical reenactments, mathematical games relating to symmetry, sizing and sequencing, cooperation games, as well as a miniature cooling class. Discovery Days are sponsored by the Early Childhood and Lower School teachers at Chesapeake Academy and are open and free to all families in our community. For additional information or to reserve a space for your child to attend the Discovery Day event on Saturday, Feburary 27, please call Chesapeake Academy at 804 438-5575. Chesapeake Academy's final Discovery Day will be held on Saturday, March 20. Alum Jenny O'Shaughnessy Performs at Chesapeake After listening mesmerized to Chesapeake Academy alum Jenny O'Shaughnessy perform four compositions on her A and B flat clarinets at a special all-school assembly, kindergartner Charlie Carrillo wanted to know just one thing, “How did she get so good?” The answer is no surprise to anyone who knows O'Shaughnessy, a current senior at Lancaster High School and member of the band- practice, dedication, and a love for the instrument. Before a transfixed audience of faculty and students in kindergarten through grade eight, O'Shaughnessy began her program with Adagio con Expressione by C. Rose, a clarinet composition that features 32 individual pieces strung together into one piece. Played slowly and with expression, the composition is of considerable difficulty, usually designed to provide practice material for perfecting a particular technical skill. O'Shaughnessy, who is fine-tuning her clarinet repertoire in preparation for the auditions she must undergo to be accepted to music school within a university, played “flawlessly” according to Chesapeake Academy fifth grader Harley Haydon. To demonstrate range, O'Shaughnessy chose to perform Allegretto Rioluto by C. Rose next, a composition that is faster, more technical, and upbeat. She told students to listen for the two note pattern before she began playing the piece resolutely. Switching to her A clarinet, O'Shaughnessy performed Movement 1 of Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet by Igor Stravinsky. One particular feature of the Stravinsky's composition, which O'Shaughnessy explained to the students, is that the composer wrote explicit instructions as to how the piece is to be played, including breath marks and accents. “He wants the entire piece played as a whisper, which for a clarinetist is really hard to do,” she explained. “You have pull back a little to accomplish that,” she added. When Chesapeake Academy began offering after school instrumental music lessons, no one predicted that just a few years later, one payoff would be a private clarinet recital by a former student aspiring to be a member of a professional orchestra. O'Shaughnessy's final piece, performed from memory, is by far the longest and most challenging. She chose Movement 1 of Clarinet Concerto K 6 22 by W. A. Mozart, and to everyone's delight, was accompanied by Chesapeake Academy Board of Trustee member and pianist Mrs. Adelaide “Babs” McKelway. Clarinet Concerto K 6 22 is a traditional, classical piece written by Mozart for a German prodigy of the 16th century. O'Shaughnessy played the composition as if it were a long journey through a changing landscape and to the untrained ear, seemingly effortlessly. “What made you want to start playing?” asked fellow Kindergartner Ryleigh Hornsmith. O'Shaughnessy explained that her desire to one day join the Lancaster High School band motivated her to begin learning an instrument while still a fifth grader at Chesapeake Academy. “Then what made you chose the clarinet?” inquired fourth grader Hannah Stout. “My sister played the flute, and I didn't really like brass instruments at the time, so I chose the clarinet by process of elimination,” she replied. O'Shaughnessy explained briefly one challenge she overcame that almost derailed her dreams—she injured her the ligaments in her right hand from excessive practice (she practices one hour before and after school each day) and had to undergo surgeries to repair the damage. Her recovery took almost an entire year. Her deep commitment to the instrument and love of playing helped her persevere and stay on track. “I get a lot of joy from playing the clarinet and am very inspired to practice,” she added. O'Shaughnessy studies with Patti Carlson, the principle clarinetist with the Virginia Symphony and a teacher at William and Mary College, where she goes for lessons each week. The 2006 Chesapeake Academy graduate has played in the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra for four years and is currently auditioning for various music schools at the University of Michigan, Indiana University, and the University of Colorado at Boulder. She hopes to double major in clarinet performance and music education. Chesapeake Academy Hosts the Virginia Aquarium Chesapeake Academy hosted the Virginia Aquarium as the second event in their Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS) for 2009-2010. Educator Alexis Rabon of the Virginia Aquarium demonstrates the adaptations a sea star uses to survive to area preschool students during their visit to the Touch Tank. Following the play, "P.T. Phylum's Amazing Animal Adaptations," early childhood students from Chesapeake Academy, the YMCA Preschool, Kathy Shearin Preschool, Kingdom Kids, The Learning Center, and the Northern Neck Montessori rotated through educational hands-on visits to both the touch tank and traveling salt-water Aquarium truck to view as assortment of marine animals, including sea anemones, baby sharks, crabs, and turtles. PALS events are funded in part by The Wiley Foundation, Target department stores, and the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts. Second Graders Re-enact Pony Express To help understand the challenges of communication during a recent study of American westward expansion, Chesapeake Academy second graders reenacted the Pony Express of 1860-1862. Using the circular driveway of the campus to represent their assigned route, students used reasoning and math skills to make a comparative study of the efficiency of using a team of riders vs. a single rider to complete a mock 1000 mile journey. In order to help her students understand the concept of the need to switch horses every ten miles and riders every hundred miles, Mrs. Molly Vanderpool lined her students in a relay around the school's circular driveway. Representing rider number nine in an “Express Relay Team” is second grader Claireee Keesee, who hands off an important package of dark chocolate kisses to classmate Hunter Purcell, ready to take the final lap to deliver the package to its intended destination. Discovery Days at Chesapeake Academy Looking for a creative hands-on experience for your child on a cold Saturday January morning? Chesapeake Academy is hosting three “Discovery Days” this winter as a means to bring early childhood and elementary school families in our community together with enriching age-appropriate activities centered on popular children’s literature or a specific theme. Discovery Days are free and guaranteed to be a fun and memorable way to spend a winter morning with your child in a warm classroom environment in the company of other children and families. Chesapeake Academy will host additional Discovery Days on Saturday, February 27, and Saturday, March 20. For additional information or to reserve a space for your child to attend any or all Discovery Day events, please call Chesapeake Academy at 804-438-5575. Chesapeake Academy and RAL Winter Art Classes
Chesapeake Academy Hosts Grandparents Finding out how atoms are structured, what Columbus really thought after his third voyage to the new world, or which graph to use to plot the results of your chocolate taste test survey may seem like a typical day in an elementary classroom, but for grandparents and grandfriends visiting Chesapeake Academy, it was pure entertainment. Chesapeake Academy held its annual Grandparents and Grand Friends Day on Friday, October 16, with nearly 200 grandparents, great-grandparents, and special friends in attendance. Following a reception in the gymnasium hosted by CAPPA and parent volunteers, Honorary Grandparents Day Chairs Tom and Terri Groh welcomed everyone and spoke about their grandchildren and the positive effect Chesapeake has had on their lives. Next, grandparents and grandfriends were escorted to classrooms where they were entertained by teachers and students with songs, project presentations, special readings, and the opportunity to participate in classroom activities. Practicing polite introductions and manners, earnest pre-kindergartners offered chairs to their visiting grandparents and grandfriends. Working in teams, they practiced partner drawing, wrote sand letters, shared storybooks, sang songs, and enjoyed a slide show of the four year old's recent trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Kindergarten grandparents dove right into a typical kindergarten's multi-sensory world- playing sight word hopscotch, using the class Metro station to recite color words, sorting nouns, using a balance scale for weighing, playing sight word concentration, and following musical directions. First graders guided their special visitors on tours of their classroom, sang Autumn songs, answered geography questions, and paired up with grandparents and special friends to write sentences and draw illustrations about the things they like best to do together. Second graders read books to their grandparents and taught them how to take Accelerated Reader quizzes on the computer, entertaining their elders with electronic tricks on the new MacBooks. Third grade students asked their grandparents to tell them stories about times in their lives when they had to demonstrate perseverance, then they illustrated and wrote about their experiences. Then, as a follow-up to a unit on the geography of chocolate, students and special friends engaged in some chocolate taste testing, making double-bar graphs based on their preference findings. Fourth graders also interviewed grandparents about examples of perseverance from their lives, then inscribed their stories, while tutorng their guests in the use of writing-organization “Inspiration” software on the school's MacBook laptops. Special guests visiting fifth grade in Middle School enjoyed determining if they really were “Smarter Than a Fifth Grader,” taking a quiz on Christopher Columbus and Native Americans, and learning to their surprise that Indians used smoking pipes for currency and that after his second voyage Columbus concluded the earth was shaped like a pear. Students also shared acoustic poems they made from their nicknames for their grandparents. Sixth grade visitors played a similar “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth Grader?' game, before being entertained with a duo of plays and presentations about sixth grader's pyramid project from their World History studies. To inspire a dialogue between seventh grade students and their visiting grandparents and grandfriends, students researched, presented brief oral reports, and them asked questions about major world events in the 1950's that affected their grandparents lives as young adults. Topics ranged from racial discrimination, to the invention of the hydrogen bomb, and from the distribution of the polio vaccine to the birth of little Ricky on "I Love Lucy". Focusing on their current geography curriculum, seventh graders then led a talk about the patterns of human settlement on five continents. Eighth grade guests convened in the Science Lab and were entertained with a short video called “Did You Know,” which highlights how technology is expodentially changing the world. Highlighting their current science classwork, students sang “The Atoms Family Song” before teaching their grandparents and special friends how to use the periodic table to determine the structure of atoms. Guests and students later worked in teams to diagram atom models. Following classroom visits, grandparents and grand friends returned to the gymnasium for an all-school assembly in their honor. Following a welcome by Head of School Debbie Cook, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Student Council President Emily Szyperski, Middle School students presented the murals they created to express this year’s school theme of perseverance. With accompanying gestures, prekindergarten and kindergarten sang “Elephants Have Wrinkles,” which was followed by “Fly High You Grand Old Flag” and an Chesapeake Academy Osprey version of “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'” by students in grades one to eight. The program concluded with the audience joining in for a heartfelt singing of the school’s Alma Mater, and closing remarks by Head of School Cook. Grandparents and Grand Friends Day is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents and special friends to participate in their grandchild’s academic life and is highly anticipated by the entire school community. Chesapeake Academy would like to add special thanks to the following individuals for their contribution to the special day: Hospitality Chairs Lisa Major, Tammy Revere, and Becky Foster and their vast and helpful crew of parent volunteers; Beth Somers, Music Director; Claudia Worrell, Accompanist; Nancy O’Shaughnessy, Art Teacher; Pam Macaulay, Librarian; Cynthia Walker, Athletics Director, and Catherine Emry, Development Assistant. Chesapeake Academy Second Grade First Aid Earning badges for achieving skills is not just a motivator for students in Mrs. Molly Vanderpool's second grade class at Chesapeake Academy, it's an honor. The first badge earned by eager classmates for September was a “Basic First Aid” patch from The American Red Cross. The program geared toward 7 year olds teaches the Three C's of elementary first aid- Check, Call 911, and Care. “If someone falls and gets really hurt on the playground, someone needs to take charge and tell everyone what to do,” said second grader Claire Keesee.” While students were directed to seek adult help and care, they were given information on proper hygiene for cuts, including the use of coverings to prevent infection and direct pressure to stop bleeding. “If it's red, raise it above your head!” exclaimed Hunter Purcell, referring to the lesson on reacting to cuts incurred on the playground. “If it's pale, raise the tail,” he added, explaining that if someone is feeling faint, they should lie on their backs with their feet raised. “In our study of the human body, first aid is essential as children learn to care for the 'vessel' they call home,” noted Vanderpool. An essential component of the first aid class was for students to learn to handle themselves in an emergency, and to speak clearly and calmly in any potentially dramatic situation. “As children grow, they become less dependent upon adults. Allowing students to practice their reactions to an emergency is an early part of that step towards independence,” explained Vanderpool. “If someone fell down or fainted or had a heart attack, first I'd check to see if they were sleeping, then I'd call 911 if they were not sleeping, and then I'd stay with them until help arrived,” explained Lily Reihs. “Yeah, and if I'm talking to the dispatcher, I have to tell them my name and address, and tell them what happened,” said Will Stinson. “It's really important to say your words clearly and to stay calm,” added Braxton Galleher. Joe Kaulfold, a local Emergency Medical Technician who teaches CPR and First Aid, conducted the class in order to help youngsters be prepared for life's boo-boos and to practice reactions in case the adults in their lives are in need of care. “I feel a lot braver now, because we know what to do,” concluded second grader Harry Lee. Chesapeake Academy Pre-Kindergarten Students on Skype Pre-kindergarten is all about making new and meaningful connections- between friends, family, information, and experiences. Gathered around a computer, Chesapeake Academy pre-kindergartner Sienna Maske and her classmates made a connection to a part of the world very different from their own while on a live “Skype” feed with her father, Petty Officer First Class Leroy Maske, on assignment with the US Navy in the Persian Gulf. Simultaneously, Mr. Maske made a wonderfully important connection with his daughter and her classmates, by being able to meet, albeit electronically, her classmates and get a glimpse into her very special pre-kindergarten world. Pre-kindergarten teacher Beth Clark's primary goal for the internet broadcast was two-fold—to connect Sienna and her father with her pre-kindergarten experience, and to expose the class to a foreign culture. “We planned for the Skype phone call and video feed by brainstorming questions we wanted to ask,” she noted. The four year old students were curious about the weather, what the place looked like, what Mr. Maske's job was, and what cool tools he used to perform his job. Most of the gathered four-year olds could readily identify with one of Mr. Maske responses—that he loves to bang on things with hammers, and they particularly liked his camouflage uniform. Sienna and her classmates shared with Mr. Maske things about their classroom learning centers, and performed the “Hokey Pokey.” “Many of Sienna's classmates were most concerned with the separation of her family and wanted to know when he was coming home,” added Clark. “They all seemed to love the idea of him coming home for Christmas, and many hoped to get a chance to meet him as well.” Chesapeake Academy's pre-kindergarten will continue to use “Skype” to stay connected with Mr. Maske throughout the school year. “It's wonderful not only to see the how Chesapeake embraces family, but also supports our troops and utilizes technology in a way that really sparks children's interest,” noted Sienna's mother, Angela Maske. The class intends to surprise Mr. Maske on occasion with care packages with homemade goodies, and involve him as an international editor when they begin producing books as part of pre-kindergarten's Old Grey Mare Publishing Company. “It's a really great connection for Sienna and her family, and the rest of the class is learning and growing as well,” noted Clark. If you like to eat delicious roasted oysters, or raw, there is a way to get your fill and help support one of Irvington’s greater assets. Tickets are on sale for Chesapeake Academy’s 8th Annual Community Oyster Roast on October 17th beginning at 5pm in Irvington. David Tambellini, co-chair of this amazing event, says “there is no other event like Chesapeake Academy’s Oyster Roast. The fall atmosphere with friends and family gathering together to enjoy the evening along with all-you-can-eat oysters, sweet potato French fries, New England Clam Chowder, hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings, deserts and adult beverages is unbeatable. All you need to bring with you is your oyster knife. We’ll do the rest of the work while you enjoy the evening. But get your tickets now.” Early Sponsors include Kellum Brothers LLC, Anonymous, Tri-Star Supermarket, Inc., Chesapeake Bank, Dave & Vicki Tambellini, Bragg & Co, Iris & Bryan Treakle, Helen & Mervin Mitchell, Martha & Walter Rogers, Kilmarnock Antique Gallery Booth V-25, Bay Accountants, P.C., East Coast Boat Lifts, Inc., Main Street Pharmacy, Faber Orthodontists, NAPA Dozier’s Auto Parts, Chesapeake and Crescent Home, Starbrite Security, Inc. DCJS #11-2456, Agents of Select Properties, Creative DeSigns of Virginia, Get & Zip Convenience Stores, Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club, C. Scott Vail Yacht Brokerage, J&W Seafood of VA Inc., Mr. and Mrs. James A. Stahlnaker, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas M. Watkins, III, Lamberth Building Materials, Paul Christian Stamm Attorney at Law, Ransone’s Nursery and Maintenance, Kilmarnock Antique Gallery and Yours Truly Photography. The Oyster Roast will be held rain or shine, from 5:00 p.m. – 9 p.m., on Rowe Campus in Irvington. In addition, the local band Now and Then will perform 60’s- today’s hits. Tickets are only $45 per person and limited to the first 500 people to RSVP. You must be at least 21 to attend. To purchase tickets or sponsor the event, call Catherine Emry at 804.438.5575 today! Chesapeake Academy 7th Grade Nature Trail Maintenance As hands-on field work for life science, Chesapeake Academy seventh graders recently completed maintenance work on the school’s nature trail this week, carrying on a decade-old tradition of service to the school community. Toting pruners, lobbers, handsaws, shovels, and pitchforks students gathered at the forested head of the trail behind the gymnasium, working their way downhill to the serpentine creek that flows into Carter’s Creek.
Trail maintenance goals for seventh grade science students class are threefold: clearing the overgrowth for easy hiking; terracing the path to prevent erosion; and, reducing the stronghold of evasive plants such as Chinese wisteria and privet. Students learned quickly the detrimental effects of exotics, working diligently to wrestle, cut and disentangle them from the native species. “It’s like being in a battle,” noted 7th grader Collin Vaughan, who along with his classmates encountered chiggers, bag worms, mosquitos and a lone snake. Established with a Virginia Environmental Endowment grant in 1992 and with the hard work of science teacher Linda Hunter and alumni parents Bill and Cynthia Thompsen and son Craig ‘93, the Academy’s nature trail begins in a mature forest of loblolly pines, tulip and black walnut trees. Winding down among an under-story of young magnolia, red bud and red maple trees, the trails concludes in an intermittent tidal or wetlands area at the headwaters of Sam’s Cove. Prone to stream surges from summer storms and Nor’easters, the marshy area serves as a protecting filter for pollutants and sediment and road run-off. Students use the trail and the wetlands area primarily for observation and the gathering of plant and animal species to study in the classroom, as well as to fill the various brackish water aquariums in Hunter’s science classroom. Short-term maintenance plans for the headwaters area include the trimming of overhanging branches from mature trees to encourage the growth of beneficial grasses. Long-term plans for the nature trail include extending the existing waterfront access for the students to navigable water. Little Known Facts About Oysters Oysters can change genders during their lifetimes and can be eaten 12 months of the year. Also, oysters are an excellent source of vitamins A, B1(thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), C ( ascorbic acid) and D (calciferol). Four or five medium size oysters supply the recommended daily allowance of iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus. Hence, for the dietary benefits alone, please mark Saturday, October 17th on your calendar for the Chesapeake Academy’s signature autumn event – the 8th Annual Community Oyster Roast! Included will be all-you-can-eat succulent roasted oysters, clam chowder, hamburgers and hotdogs with all the fixings and sweet potato French-fries with cinnamon and sugar, sweet potato brownies as well as chocolate brownies. Beverages include beer, wine and soft drinks. You’ll enjoy warming fire pits and dance music. Early Sponsors include Pearl Sponsors Chesapeake Bank and Tri-Star Supermarket, Platinum Sponsors Bay Accounts PC, Bragg & Co, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Tambellini and Main Street Pharmacy, Gold Sponsors include East Coast Boat Lifts Inc., NAPA Dozier’s Auto Parts, Inc. and Silver Sponsors include Agents of Select Properties, Chesapeake and Crescent Home, Get & Zip Convenience Stores, Starbrite Security Inc DCIS#11-2456 and Kilmarnock Antique Gallery. Donors include Antique Gallery Booth V-25, Creative DeSigns of Virginia, Kellum Brothers, LLC, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Treakle and Mr. and Mrs. Mervin Mitchell. The Oyster Roast will be held rain or shine, from 5:00 p.m. – 9 p.m., on Rowe Campus in Irvington. Tickets are $45 per person and limited to the first 500 people to RSVP. You must be at least 21 to attend. To purchase tickets, call Catherine Emry at 804.438.5575 today!
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Looking for a creative hands-on experience for your child on a cold Saturday February morning? Chesapeake Academy is hosting the second of three “Discovery Days” on Saturday, February 27, as a means to bring early childhood and elementary school families in our community together with enriching age-appropriate activities centered on popular children’s literature or a specific theme. Discovery Days are free and guaranteed to be a fun and memorable way to spend a winter morning with your child in a warm classroom environment in the company of other children and families. 
Riding on the popularity of last year's collaboration that brought Saturday art classes to students in Lancaster, Northumberland, and Middlesex Counties, The Rappahannock Art League (RAL) and Chesapeake Academy are hosting a brand new creative series for young artists in 2010.