Nansemond-Suffolk Academy [
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The mission of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy is to provide an academically rigorous college preparatory education in an atmosphere fostering moral character, respect, responsibility and compassion. With a commitment to honor above all, the Academy seeks to develop and inspire leaders who value diversity, creativity, scholastic excellence and community service.
preparing the
whole child
A Community of Saints
S
troll the halls and take note of bookbags left unattended and academic lockers left unlocked – signs of the student-run Honor System at work.
Visit a classroom and participate in a discussion of a Robert Frost poem. Observe how SMARTboard technology is integrated into a Math Symposium. Enjoy the dialogue inherent to a collaborative exercise in a United States history class. Join a fourth grade class for a hands-on GPS datalogger exercise around campus. Talk to teachers and ask them why they have chosen to work at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. They will comment that teaching is a calling, and they are here because they love children and believe firmly in the potential of each child. Take in a game. Witness sportsmanship and the fundamentals of the game being taught and enacted at all levels. Absorb the spirit of support as fellow students encourage their friends on the field, court or in the pool. Grab a seat to marvel in a student-produced show or concert. Enjoy a walk through the Student Portfolio Art Show, clap along with the Pep Band and hum along with the Chorus. You will find something for all. Become part of our family – a community like none other.
[ a community l i k e n o n e o th e r ]
Honor
A
n integral component of a Nansemond-Suffolk Academy education is the daily adherence to the Honor Code, one of the most established and cherished traditions
in the school community. All work is completed under the guidelines of the Honor Code. It reads as follows: On my honor I have neither given nor received any unauthorized help on this assignment, nor am I aware of any breach of the Honor Code which I shall not immediately report. Students in all divisions pledge to live within a community of trust, loyalty and honor.
[ honor ]
Academics The Helen B. Holland Early School
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n the Early School program the focus is the whole child. Developmental in nature, the program seeks to enhance the academic, social, creative, physical and emotional growth of
each child. Teachers with degrees in Early Childhood Education and/or Child Development and multiple assistants serve the program. The classes maintain a maximum student-teacher ratio of seven to one, reflecting our belief in the importance of an intimate educational setting in these formative years.
The Lower School
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he Lower School provides a challenging and innovative curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade four. Teachers keenly support an awareness and concern for individual
needs in a program that encourages expression and creativity. While the academic growth of each student is important, social and emotional maturation is cultivated by a committed and caring faculty and enhanced by teaching assistants at all levels. Critical thinking and oral and written expression are taught through interdisciplinary units. Foreign language, fine arts, computer, physical education and library research are incorporated into the curriculum. Field trips enhance the Lower School experience as well.
[ academics ]
Academics The Middle School
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he Middle School, encompassing students in grades five through seven, helps students
transition into early adolescence by continuing to develop their character, confidence and
imagination. Students are challenged by an academic program with a strong advisory and support system. Our highly qualified and caring faculty take great pride in recognizing and rewarding both effort and accomplishment in academics, athletics and citizenship. The Middle School experience enables students to grow, learn and discover their individuality. Our innovative Middle School curriculum employs the best researched methodology in independent school education.
The Upper School
T
he Upper School student body consists of students in grades eight through twelve.
Academic, personal and college guidance are the hallmarks of the Upper School experience
for our students. Counselors identify the most appropriate college choices for each student resulting in college acceptance for 100% of our seniors each year. School spirit reveals itself in various activities. Whether in the arts, athletics, student government or a club, every student can find a rewarding niche in the Upper School.
[ academics ]
[ college c o u n s e l i ng ]
College Counseling
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he Ann S. Powell Office of College Counseling assists each student in finding a college
or university that is a good match and educates students and families about the college
admissions process. Through a series of seminars and workshops that includes a discussion panel with college admissions officers, families experience highly individualized guidance through the complexities of the college selection process. Our college counselors stay current on trends in the admissions world by organizing and attending professional conferences, as well as visiting individual colleges and universities on a regular basis throughout the year. Nansemond-Suffolk Academy graduates have been accepted at these – and many more – highly regarded colleges and universities:
Bryn Mawr College Carnegie Mellon University College of William and Mary Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University James Madison University Johns Hopkins University Massachusetts Institute of Technology New York University United States Military Academy University of California – Berkeley University of Michigan University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Richmond University of Virginia Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Yale University
Faculty
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ur faculty come from all walks of life, but with the purpose of not only teaching our students the intricacies of sonnets and quadratic equations, but also nurturing the
individual gifts that each of our students possess. Our teachers love teaching, but more importantly, they love children. Our faculty understand that true teaching extends beyond the subject matter. It is the daily interaction in the hallways and on the grounds that is equally significant to what is taught in the classrooms. Most faculty have advanced degrees and all are involved in professional organizations and continually strive to stay attuned to the evolving world of pedagogy.
[ t o t e a c h , t o m e nt o r , to coach, to advise – t o k n ow o u r s t u d e nt s ]
Athletics
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thletics is an essential component in the education of the whole child. An atmosphere of dedication, trust, selflessness and sportsmanship is valued by all teams at Nansemond-
Suffolk Academy. A wide array of offerings in the fall, winter and spring seasons includes over forty-five interscholastic teams in the Middle and Upper Schools. A significant number of faculty members are coaches, reaffirming our belief that the independent school experience is multi-faceted. Our student-athletes currently benefit from the school’s recent land acquisition that expanded the campus to 100 acres.
[ ath l e t i c s ]
Visual and Performing Arts
A
rt instruction begins in the Early School, incorporating a variety of media, elements of design and a study and interpretation of many world-renowned artists. As students
transition into the Upper School, a diversified curriculum fosters growth of the student’s aesthetic world. The Drama Department of the Upper School produces an eclectic myriad of productions each year. Opportunities exist for students interested in performance, directing and stage production. In the Lower School, classroom productions are staged at every grade level. Within the Music Department, general music instruction incorporating singing, rhythm, reading and the playing of percussion instruments begins in the Early School and continues through grade five. Beginning in grade six, Chorus and Band are offered as electives. The Band Program promotes its marching, concert, jazz and pep bands. Our award-winning and accomplished singers and musicians perform both regionally and nationally.
[ a rt s ]
Student Life
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tudents, no matter the age, are engaged and involved with multiple aspects of life outside the classroom. While academic responsibilities are a priority, students are afforded
numerous opportunities to explore activities, relationships and organizations that are of interest to them. Student government, clubs and organizations enhance the total experience at our school. It is understood that leadership presents itself in a variety of fashions; thus, opportunities for leadership are plentiful, varied and consequential.
[ We inspire o n e a n o th e r to learn ]
[ s t u d e nt l i f e ]
www.nsacademy.org
Academics Arts
Honor Student Life Athletics
[ Nansemond-Suffolk Academy ] 3373 Pruden Boulevard • Suffolk, Virginia 23434