Norfolk Collegiate

Congratulations to the First LEGO League (FLL) team!!! They took home second place in robot performance in Division 2 and first place in the Innovation Project in Division 2 regional competition. The team now advances to states this weekend at James Madison University. If they win, they advance to national FLL competitions, and the students are hoping that their hard work over the last few months will secure their place in the national competition.

The team is comprised of students Jonas E. ’28, Cleveland J. '28, Robert M. '28, Zack H. ’29, Evelyn W. '29, Cadence B. '30, Sadie Z. '30, Giovanni S. '30, Carter R. '30, Declan W. '30 and Kolten K. '30.

FLL presents teams with a universal theme they must meet through robot design and a project. This year's theme is "Masterpiece" and students have been challenged with imagining new ways to create technology that changes how we create and communicate art across the globe using STEAM. They also must present an innovation piece as well.

For the Innovation Project, the team created a book aimed at a middle school-aged audience on Europa, a moon of Jupiter. NASA plans to launch the Clipper in 2025 to circle around Jupiter to gather information about Europa, where they believe that life exists on this moon. The Clipper is expected to reach Jupiter in the spring of 2030.

This weekend the team, which is comprised of veteran and new FLL members, will compete against all other regional champions throughout Virginia and Washington, D.C.

"We had an amazing season," Jonas '28 said, FLL team member and three-year veteran. "We all learned a lot."

Way to go, Oaks!!!

One way in which our students serve society is by serving their community, and this holiday season our Student Council Association and our Student Government Associations are hosting a ForKids toy drive to benefit local homeless families in need. Last year, thousands of children were able to enjoy a brighter holiday through this organization, and this year our students are hoping to do the same!

If you would like to assist by donating to their efforts, please donate new, unwrapped toys by sending them in with your student now through Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Please visit https://bit.ly/3uLNyw5 for a list of requested items.

You may send in items with your students or drop them off at our upper school or lower school entrances.

Middle school band students mentored lower school band students this morning in preparation for their upcoming winter festivities.

They reviewed instrument basics before practicing together on a piece they will perform together in the lower school holiday concert next week.

Today's your last chance to catch "A Christmas Carol." The final show is a matinee at 3 p.m.!

Enjoy holiday carols from our lower school friends during intermission and grab a holiday ornament (if there are any left) from our pottery students. They are selling them for $3 or two for $5 to benefit Kaylee's Legocy. Peruse artwork students in Grades 6-12 before the show and during intermission and we promise you won't be disappointed at their talents.

We also have a stocked concession!

The show is open to the public and costs $5 for students and $15 for general admission. It's fun for the whole family and "A Christmas Carol" like you haven't seen before, so come out and support our Oaks.

Happy, happy birthday, Eloise! 🎂🎉. This sweet Oak celebrated her special day with treats with her classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program.

When you see her, wish her a happy birthday!

"A Christmas Carol" makes its second run tonight at 7 p.m.!

Enjoy holiday music before the show and grab a holiday ornament for those hard-to-shop-for people from our pottery students. They are selling them for $3 or two for $5 to benefit Kaylee's Legocy. Peruse artwork students in Grades 6-12 before the show and during intermission and we promise you won't be disappointed at their talents.

We also have a stocked concession!

The show is open to the public and costs $5 for students and $15 for general admission. It's fun for the whole family and "A Christmas Carol" like you haven't seen before, so come out and support our Oaks. You won't be disappointed.

Happy, happy, birthday London! 🎂🎉

This sweet Oak celebrated her birthday with treats with her classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program.

When you see her, wish her a happy birthday!

It’s that time again! Join us on Dec. 5 to hear about our upcoming auction event details, volunteer opportunities and brainstorm fun auction ideas! Please rsvp to [email protected].

Happy, happy birthday, Stella ’33! 🎂🎉 This sweet Oak celebrated her special day with treats with her classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program.

When you see her, wish her a fabulous birthday!

Stay after Friday's basketball games and support our students during opening night for our fine and performing arts production of "A Christmas Carol." Curtains rise at 7 p.m. in this amazing family-friendly production!

We have a full slate of activities including a gingerbread decorating workshop and holiday music from our strings students before the show. Grab a holiday ornament for those hard-to-shop-for people from our pottery students selling them for $3 or two for $5 to benefit Kaylee's Legocy. We'll even have artwork on display from students in Grades 6-12 to view before the show and during intermission.

And come hungry because we will have a stocked concession, too! The show is open to the public and costs $5 for students, $15 general admission. It's also faculty and staff appreciation night.

Cheer on the boys JV and varsity basketball teams as they take on North Cross tomorrow night in the first games of the season. Both games are at 4 p.m. with the JV team taking to the court in the middle school gym and the varsity team in the Watt-Baker Gymnasium.

Come hungry, too, Oaks! The National Honor Society will sell pizza and popcorn to raise funds for their club throughout the games. It'll be a great night in the Treehouse!

Middle school students were treated to a hot chocolate bar with all the trimmings, including marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles and candy canes.

The treat was part of their Thanksgiving assembly where they hear their completed list of everything that thankful for, which is read by Head of Middle School Chris Tillson. The list was made by the students during their advisory and was shared during the assembly.

Members of the Class of 2018 celebrated their five-year reunion over the Thanksgiving holiday at The Ghent in Norfolk.

Shoutout to Brooke Walthall ’18 for planning the event and for Mrs. Z. for attending on the school’s behalf! It was great seeing our Oaks and hearing of their successes since graduation!

Join millions around the world in giving back and showing how together we can be a force for good.

On this , we encourage you to give to Norfolk Collegiate’s student leadership fund and help us continue to mold today's and tomorrow’s student leaders by giving at https://bit.ly/47CSJfT.

Thank you, Oaks 💙🤍

Middle school students have been going head to head each month to see which advisory is the best in lunch room trivia contest. Last month, they tested their knowledge in the school's history. This month, they tested their knowledge of the City of Norfolk's history emceed by Head of School Scott Kennedy.

The trivia contests are the brainchild of Lower and Middle School Counselor Pannill Titus and are a way for our middle school advisories to enjoy time together at lunch while also working together on the fun trivia questions. The winning group also enjoys a sweet prize.

Fantasy draft and periodic table collided for upper school chemistry students in their latest project. Students created an illustrated periodic table to display in the science hallway.

To start the project, each student was randomly assigned a position in a "fantasy element draft" with each student picking two elements with the second round snaking back around in reverse order. When it was their turn to "draft," students covered their element on the periodic table in class with their name on a post-it. They announced their pick by saying the name of the element and how many protons it has.

Once they had their picks, students designed illustrated squares that showed the uses of their elements in everyday life and included information about the properties of their elements, as well as other relevant physical and chemical information.

It was an awesome way to get students thinking outside of the box about their lessons, while also leaning into their creative side.

Congratulations to our middle school students who were recently sworn in to represent their peers in upholding Norfolk Collegiate's honor code should any students be brought forth on violations to the Middle School Honor Council.

All eighth grade students nominated one to three of their peers, with the top vote earners now serving a one-year term on the council. Honor Council is one of the many student leadership opportunities available to middle and upper school Oaks.

Way to go, Oaks!

That's right, Oaks! Norfolk Collegiate is closed today through Sunday for Thanksgiving break, and Monday, Nov. 27, is a professional development day for our faculty, which means students do not have classes and extended care is not available. Classes resume on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

We hope you have a safe remainder of your holiday and we look forward to having students back in class on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

What are you grateful for? Mrs. Wright asked her advisory and classes to take a moment this past month and list some things they are grateful for on this pumpkin.

The kindness and love spread and other teachers added it to their classrooms, too. Here's a peek at some things Mrs. Wright's students are grateful for (a few days into the challenge). What are you grateful for this holiday season, Oaks?

From our Oak family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

We're so thankful for you and your continued support! We hope all of our families and community partners have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving break.

Today we're throwing back to last month's Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event and giving a shoutout to Oaks Dinari '26 and Joshua '26.

Both Oaks participated in the weekend event which packed more than 10,000 meals for people in need. The meals, which combine rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix of essential vitamins and minerals, are shipped around the world to those in need.

Way to be global citizens, Dinari and Joshua!! 💙🤍 How will you give back to those in need today and every day?

We are so, so thankful for all of our grandparents and special friends who came out today for our lower school Grandparents & Special Friends Day program.

The event is a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their magic with their families from the stage and in the classroom. Thank you to Ms. Jeanette Corey for all of her work getting our students ready for their big day and for our amazing faculty and staff for their support.

Here are a few snapshots from the day's presentations and activities. 💙🤍

On Saturday, we hosted our inaugural Mike Cutter '88 Tip-Off Tournament to honor the legacy of leadership and service of Mike Cutter ’88. Teams from Norfolk Collegiate, St Patrick’s, St. Matthew's School and The Williams School participated in the event which was staffed by student volunteers from Norfolk Collegiate.

Along with those who participated were Mike's family, his wife Amy, and his sons Stanton '24 and Archer, both of whom participated in the tournament. We are pleased to share Amy’s words at the link below and the announcement of the Mike Cutter ’88 Student Leadership Endowment Fund. The fund will help provide Collegiate students with leadership and service opportunities to carry forward Mike’s legacy in the Norfolk and Hampton Roads communities.

If you would like to support this fund and read Amy's words, please visit https://bit.ly/47jf4PG. And congratulations to the winning teams!

Thank you to all of the teams, families, alumni, supporters and friends who came out to support this amazing event! Here are some photos from the event.

Forty upper school students enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Big Apple thanks to Mr. Hoyle, Ms. Gondek and Mrs. Robb.

The annual arts trip saw three days in the city that never sleeps and the students packed in a ton of activities, including several shows, Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty, The Met, the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, Chinatown, Little Italy and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Good luck to our First LEGO League (FLL) team as they compete in the regional robotics competition today! 🤖🪐🛰️

They are competing against 12 other teams at Norview High School. Good luck, Oaks!

Happy, happy birthday Addison '31! This sweet Oak celebrated her big day with treats with her classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program.

When you see her, wish her a fabulous birthday! 🎂🎉

Our theatrical production students are hard at work bringing the set to life for "A Christmas Carol." The Hackney Theater curtains will open to the Charles Dickens classic tale in just a few weeks.

Adapted by Michael Marrone, this family-friendly version has all familiar characters we know and love who nimbly bring us through Scrooge's journey of self-reflection and redemption.

Even better, our students are pulling out all of the stops both before and during the show, so make sure you mark your calendars to be there! Shows are Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. Students are $5 and general admission is $15.

Concessions will be available as well as an art exhibit each day. Opening night will feature a free gingerbread decorating workshop and holiday music before the show as well as festive live music during intermission. Our pottery students will even be selling ornaments to benefit Kaylees Legocy. And that's just the start! The show is open to the public so spread the word, Oaks!

Happy, happy birthday, Ethan '33! 🎂🎉

This sweet Oak celebrated his birthday with treats with his classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program. When you see him, wish him a happy birthday!

More than 180 middle and upper school students put on their uniforms and took to the courts and fields and represented Norfolk Collegiate in six sports on 18 teams during the fall athletic season.

Yesterday we celebrated their grit and determination and honored some of our student-athletes during the Fall Atheltic Awards Program in the Watt-Baker Gymnasium. Here's a look back at the program. You can see the award winners at https://bit.ly/3QDZcAl.

Way to go, Oaks! 💙🤍

Happy, happy birthday, Eliose '37! 🎂🎉

This sweet Oak celebrated her birthday with treats with her classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program. When you see her, wish her a happy birthday!

We're proud to sponsor The Norfolk Forum and be able to send some of our amazing faculty and staff to see New York Times bestselling author Colson Whitehead last night.

Whitehead wrote "The Underground Railroad," an Oprah’s Book Club selection and winner of the 2016 National Book Award and 2017 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. He also penned "The Noble Hustle," "Zone One," "Sag Harbor," "The Intuitionist," "John Henry Days," "Apex Hides the Hurt," and one collection of essays, "The Colossus of New York."

Our Oaks left feeling very inspired by Whitehead and we're delighted to be a part of such a beneficial community forum.

Join us this Saturday for our inaugural Mike Cutter '88 Memorial Tip-Off Tournament. This exciting basketball tourney will help build leadership opportunities in honor of Mike Cutter at his alma mater, Norfolk Collegiate. Entry is $10 per spectator and all proceeds will benefit the Mike Cutter '88 Leadership Endowment Fund which will provide support for Norfolk Collegiate to expand leadership opportunities and service learning contributions throughout the City of Norfolk.

Games start at 10 a.m. and concessions will be available throughout the day.

Can't make it but want to support the fund? Visit https://bit.ly/47CSJfT and donate today!

Happy, happy, happy birthday, Marin '34, Sadie '35 and Olivia '35! 🎂🎉

These fabulous Oaks celebrated their big day with treats with their classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program. When you see them, wish them a very happy birthday.

The Scholastic Book Fair is here and our lower school students have been busy creating their wishlists. Yesterday and today, our older students partnered with their younger reading buddies to create their lists. They perused the fair, wrote down their Top 5 books and set their lists aside for their family and friends to use while shopping the annual fundraiser.

Help our students and the readers in your life become bolder, prouder and STRONGER READERS by shopping the Scholastic Book Fair! All purchases benefit Norfolk Collegiate.

The fair opens tomorrow, Nov. 15, and runs through Nov. 21, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Nov. 21. If you can't make it in person, you can always shop online at https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/norfolkcollegiate.

The fair is open to Collegiate family and friends, just make sure you check in at the lower school office when you come to shop.

Today’s National Pickle Day and our middle school cooking club, “Foodie Friends,” celebrated by tasting the fruits of their labors. A few weeks ago they made homemade pickles and today they were able to enjoy their homemade 🥒 on a charcuterie board.

They made spicy and regular pickles, which were delicious!!

Happy, happy birthday, Grayson '36! 🎂🎉This awesome Oak celebrated his birthday with treats with his classmates through the Lower School Birthday Program.

When you see him, wish him a fabulous birthday!

It's apple season ya'll! 🍏🍎 Our pre-K 3 and 4 students hopped on board and joined the fun with Apple Day recently. They sported their favorite red attire, read the book, "Ten Apples Up on Top," and then did lots of fun gross motor and cooperation activities throughout the day.

Our youngest learners balanced an apple on their heads and worked on passing it to a friend; they enjoyed an apple shape hunt and even made apple pie stew!!

Their pre-K4 friends did similar gross motor skill activities with apples throughout the day and enjoyed apple tasting, too. But the most fun was their apple obstacle course!

Every branch of our military is different, yet they all have answered the call to serve our nation. Thank you to all of our service personnel for everything that you do for our country and for our freedoms.

Norfolk Collegiate is closed today in observance of Veterans Day. We will reopen on Monday.