Norfolk Collegiate

Two great days. One incredible community. 💙

Our Oaks were well represented at the VAIS Teaching & Learning Institute last week at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond!

Kristine Varney, assistant head for academics, served on the Institute’s Think Tank and led a session on leadership pathways in independent schools. She was joined by Rebecca Hartrum, health and physical education; and new faculty members Gabby Roa, science; Rachel Pope, art.

From exploring the Great Teaching Toolkit, Boundaries and Brain-Targeted Teaching to sharing ideas in concurrent sessions and connecting with educators from across the Commonwealth, our team came away energized and ready for a new school year.

We’re grateful for opportunities like this to learn, grow and bring fresh ideas back to our Oak community.

Throwing it back to a pretty great day of learning with our friends at Batten University (formerly Virginia Wesleyan University).

Education students from Batten University visited our grades 3–5 students and brought lessons to life through stories, games, scavenger hunts and hands-on learning. Each grade explored a different book, followed by an interactive lesson designed by the university students under the supervision of Dr. Bill McConnell, professor of education.

Our Oaks learned about everything from pollution to pollination and how seeds travel — then put their new knowledge to the test. It’s a wonderful example of learning that goes beyond the classroom — and a wonderful example of the impact of a long-standing partnership.

Shoutout to our friends at Batten University for continuing to invest in future educators and in our Mighty Oaks!

🚨 TOMORROW! BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLEARANCE SALE 🚨

Need some NoCo gear before the first day?

Stop by the Collegiate Corner tomorrow or Friday and score 40–75% OFF clearance items, including spirit wear essentials and more!

📅 Thursday, Aug. 13 | 8:30–11 a.m. & 2–4 p.m.
📅 Friday, Aug. 14 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
📍 The Collegiate Corner
7336 Granby St., Norfolk

Clearance prices are available in-store only.
Come early, shop the sale and get ready to look good, Oaks!

Class of 2021--can you believe it's already been 5 years?

Join your classmates for an evening of reconnecting, reminiscing and celebrating the memories that made your time at Norfolk Collegiate so special.

📅 Saturday, Sept. 6
🕕 6-8 p.m.
📍 Hank's Filling Station
4301 Colley Ave., Norfolk

Please RSVP to Gray L. at [email protected]

Whether you've stayed close to home or are traveling back to town, we'd love to see you there. Bring your stories and smiles—we can't wait to celebrate with the Class of 2021!

Tag your classmates and help spread the word!

Our grade 9 health students brought back an old-school health fair, researching and presenting on a wide range of emergency health topics — from strokes, drowning, bites and stings and poisoning to head, neck and spine injuries, shock and electrical burns.

Each student became the expert on their chosen topic, then shared what they learned with their classmates, faculty and administrators.

Our Oaks aren’t just learning what to do in an emergency — they’re also learning how to research, communicate and confidently speak to an audience.

Talk about a lesson that goes beyond the classroom!

Ready. Set. Save!

Virginia's Sales Tax Holiday is here! Before you head out to score tax-free deals this weekend, be sure to check your Back-to-School Resource Board.

There you'll find everything you need to shop with confidence:
✔️ School supply lists
✔️ Dress expectations
✔️ Important back-to-school information

A few minutes of planning now can save you an extra trip to the store later.

Happy shopping, Mighty Oaks! We can't wait to welcome everyone back to campus soon.

Congratulations to Taryn Goodwin '22 on earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Hampton University this past May!

Since graduating, Taryn has joined Truist Bank's corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a consumer and small business banking intern within the Financial Services Enterprise sector. This fall, she'll return to Hampton University to complete the final year of her MBA program.

Way to go, Taryn!

👉 To our alumni and alumni families: We love celebrating your milestones—whether it's graduation, a new job, awards, adventures, or other exciting life moments. Share your updates and photos with Amanda Bryer, associate director of development and alumni engagement, at [email protected] so we can celebrate with the Norfolk Collegiate community.

Once an Oak, always an Oak! 💙

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLEARANCE SALE!

Looking for NOCO gear before the school year begins? Stop by The Collegiate Corner for our Back-to-School Clearance Sale next Thursday and Friday!

✨ Between 40-75% OFF all clearance items
👕 Spirit wear essentials and more
🛒 Clearance prices available in-store only

📅 Thursday, Aug. 13 | 8:30–11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
📅 Friday, Aug. 14 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

📍 The Collegiate Corner
7336 Granby St., Norfolk

What does it mean to be a Responsible Citizen?

Sometimes, it looks like rolling up your sleeves to help someone you've never met.

This spring, our grade 4 and 5 Oak Ambassadors partnered with Roc Solid Foundation to make a difference for families facing childhood cancer. Together, they helped assemble a backyard playset that will bring joy to a child, prepared nearly 1,500 luggage tags for Roc Solid's Ready Bags and wrote heartfelt notes of encouragement for families during some of their hardest days.

Students also had the opportunity to meet Roc Solid's founder, whose journey as a childhood cancer survivor is a powerful reminder of resilience, hope and the impact one person can have.

At Norfolk Collegiate, service isn't just something our students do—it's part of who they become. Experiences like these bring our Lower School Portrait of an Oak to life, helping students grow into compassionate leaders who understand that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference.

A special thank you to Mrs. James for organizing this meaningful experience and to Coach Holt and Mrs. Kraft for supporting our students throughout the day.

Before the applications and decisions come the moments of reflection that help students discover their story.

This week, Mrs. Robb wrapped up working with members of the Class of 2027 on their college application essays—exploring what makes their experiences unique and learning how to share their voices authentically.

We are grateful for dedicated educators like Mrs. Robb and Mr. Benedict, who invested their time and expertise to support our students throughout the summer months as they prepare for their next chapter. The college journey starts long before acceptance letters arrive, and we’re excited to support our Oaks every step of the way.