News & Events

Norfolk Academy launches its fifth Maymester program this spring, giving Upper School students unique opportunities to cap their sophomore and junior years. This program offers an array of experiential learning, internships, and international travel. The goal is that through their exploration, students will gain new interests and a better understanding of these many various topics.

This blog will be updated regularly during Maymester with blogs from students and teachers.

Friday, May 22

American Revolutionary Expressionists, who will ultimately travel to Philadelphia, gave it their “awl" during hand-made journal-making sessions before going deeper into journal mode on an afternoon tour of the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk. It was an A+ first day!

Along the Border Maymester spent Day 1 at Dos Santos Thrift Store and Food Pantry. Students moved furniture, sorted clothes, and learned about the lives of migrant workers. 

Yellowstone Day 1 started bright and early at 4 AM at the airport. We enjoyed five hours of sitting down on airplanes. Then we saw the mountains as we landed in Bozeman and were immediately happy. After we got our room assignments, we went on an excursion through Bozeman to Pete's Hill, where we saw a better view of the scenery. It was a long day but we'll be refreshed and ready in the morning! - Kate & Addison

Coastal Ecology went to the Ryan Resilience Lab on the water in Norfolk. The lab has a living shoreline that hosts many grasses, plants, and creatures, providing a unique biological experience while also boasting its advanced and intricate architectural features. Students were given information sessions by the former first lady of Virginia, Pamela Northam, and a group of graduate students and professors from Old Dominion University. Students also got to explore the water with some of ODU's most advanced submersible drones! Students also participated in a community engagement project picking up trash around the area, preventing pollutant runoff into the water. We can't wait to keep learning about the water that surrounds our home and faraway communities! 

Impact Lab went to The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium. The primary goal was to help strengthen the bond between members of our Maymester Group. However, it also got us in the mindset of problem solving. The ropes courses and zip lines at the Adventure Park are somewhat difficult physically, but the hardest challenges are overcoming fear (whether it be of failing, falling, or heights) and stepping back to figure out how to properly get through the element (like a puzzle). This lines up well with what Alex Vanik from Serve Virginia taught us in the afternoon. First he taught us about how Serve Virginia aspires to build a culture of service and volunteerism in all corners of the Commonwealth. Next, we moved into an activity discussing how to work through volunteerism to get something done (e.g. beautifying a school courtyard or helping after a snowstorm). We used the acronym SPARKLE, which stood for Service, Philanthropy, Advocacy, Research, Kindness, Leadership, and Education, to discuss how to use volunteerism in our communities. This first day was a perfect way to kick off Impact Lab by introducing us not only to each other, but also to our main questions and goals. We look forward to an impactful two weeks of learning and service! - Nikolas Dukas

Saturday, May 23

Yellowstone started off the day with a group going for hot yoga and another group going for a run. We then hit the road for a stop in Livingston. We arrived to our Lodge for the week, a beautiful spot on the Yellowstone River. We got situated, moved everything in and did an introductory lesson on prior knowledge of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We set some rules for the week and had a family dinner. Then half of the groups would have to go on a game drive and saw pronghorn, elk, and even a skunk. The other group was serenaded by River under the sunset. -Ethan & Danny 

Tuesday, May 26

Impact Lab met Leila Mills from the marketing firm TechArk, which has worked with Norfolk Academy extensively. She walked us through what a PSA is and explained it is a message displayed in a public place with the goal of raising awareness or changing attitudes toward a social issue. She also talked about how a PSA works, mentioning there are many steps in making an effective PSA. First she talked about the hook. The hook breaks through digital noise and gets the reader or audience to stop everything they are doing to look at the PSA. The shared truth exposes reality to the viewers that they were not previously aware of. Value Alignment connects reality to core human values. It’s important when making a PSA to connect the message to what people believe and how it can impact them effectively. Lastly, Ms. Mills talked about low-friction action and how we can direct the viewer to help out in a simple but meaningful way to make an impact based on the PSA. In conclusion, Ms. Mills gave Impact Lab a better understanding on how public service announcements work and how organizations use them to effectively promote their products and social issues. - Ashton Crocker

New York City Maymester enjoyed a great visit with alumni today. The NA graduates shared their knowledge on the importance of mentorships in their lives.

Visual Media was in the studio this morning, creating green screen images for editing assignments.

From Continental Camp tents to contemporary artistic statements, the American Revolutionary Art Expressionists practiced historical empathy and freedom of speech at the American Revolutionary Museum in Yorktown.

Coastal Ecology took a field trip to William and Mary’s Batten School of Marine Science (VIMS), where students learned all about algae growth, oyster farming, and the anatomy of oysters. We visited one of VIMS’s newer buildings, the habilitation center, where the staff showed us how they breed these invertebrates. Through algae production, oyster farms carefully raise oysters by controlling water conditions and feeding schedules to keep them healthy. Specifically, the group studied how these mollusks help filter the Chesapeake Bay, provide oxygen, and create habitats for other species. We also explored the Chesapeake Bay and its vast ecosystem both in and outside of the classroom. Inside the classroom, our group was taught about many different species making up the Chesapeake Bay that aid in keeping it healthy. Mud crabs, barnacles, different types of worms, shrimp, and sponges were just a few species that we got the chance to learn about and even examine under microscopes. Outside the classroom we headed down to a living shoreline and got our hands dirty while seining with large nets to fill up our mini aquarium and scout out other organisms living in our water, the coolest being eels. After lunch, we headed back to the classroom to finish the day with a filter building competition where each group got $100 (fake dollars) to spend on materials to make the best functioning filter. We were scored off of speed, water clarity, and the amount of water left after it was filtered. The Krusty Krabs took a win for the day.

Wednesday, May 27

Yellowstone: We began the day with breakfast at 7:30 before leaving for a campsite where we looked at the beaver dams. Then we drove up the mountain and hiked for an hour uphill to a small pond (large puddle) to look for and ID amphibians. River caught two salamanders bare handed and another with a net. A few of the girls also found one in a different pond. Then we saw a snake and pulled it out of its snake hole to get a better look at it. We think it was a gopher snake. Then as we walked back we saw VERY fresh baby black bear prints in the mud. - Emmalee and Allie

Civil War: Toured the location for the Battle of Antietam today. Tuesday, the group hit the road, going to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Students traced the Union march south and met a Union reenactor who showed them a typical soldier's gear and how to march, maneuver, and form a skirmish line. 

From mini-protest signs to emoji word puzzles and felt faces, the American Revolutionary Expressionists exercised their freedom of expression following a tour of Nina Chanel Abney: The American Dream in ArtLAB at the new MOCA at Virginia Wesleyan University. 

Visual Media in Sports Maymester has been so good it made the news! The group was at Harbor Park on Wednesday, meeting with marketing and communications specialists for the Norfolk Tides. WAVY-TV happened to be there the same time, and saw the opportunity to work a few students into the segment they were filming on Turn Back the Clock Night. Watch: https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/inflation-steps-up-to-the-plate-forcing-norfolk-tides-to-adjust-turn-back-the-clock-deals/

Impact Lab: Today we engaged in two distinctly different activities with non-profit organizations on the Eastern Shore; one with Dos Santos and AWAC (Agricultural Workers Advocacy Coalition) and one with the Cape Charles Main Street Initiative.

Amay's blog post about Dos Santos: Today, Impact Lab had the amazing opportunity of visiting Dos Santos Thrift Store in Onley. Through selling amenities at affordable prices for those in need, they earn money to buy food for their food pantry, where they distribute food for the workers along the Eastern Shore. There, we learned about the several aspects and processes required to help communities in need. We also enjoyed learning a bit about AWAC and the Legal Aid and Justice Center. After learning more about these collaborative foundations’ efforts, we volunteered around the warehouse. These jobs included preparing welcome kits, working the register, and other important things that benefited the workers there. It was a great opportunity to get more involved in the community and we enjoyed meeting the many people who work there. The staff was welcoming and friendly. Overall, this experience was enjoyable and we learned many important lessons about struggling communities.

Cole on Cape Charles: Today, Impact Lab had the opportunity to visit Cape Charles Main Street in Cape Charles. During our visit, we toured the small town and learned more about the businesses, history, and community that make Cape Charles unique. As we walked through the area, we saw how shops and attractions help bring visitors to the town while also supporting the people who live there. Throughout the visit, we learned about the importance of small businesses and how communities work together to create a welcoming environment for both residents and tourists. Overall, it was a fun and memorable experience that helped us better understand the value of community.

Thursday, May 28

Civil War Maymester visited the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. Students went through steps on how to fire artillery and saw monuments dedicated to those who fought and died there. 

Yellowstone: What a wonderful week we've had in Montana and Wyoming! Today was out final full day in the field. In the morning, we learned about invasive species in the area. We worked in teams to collect data on specific invasive species we found in set areas. We also provided service back to the land by pulling invasive species. Then, we went to Arch Park to complete surveys for the program. From there we enjoyed a soak at Yellowstone Hot Springs. After dinner, we finished our research projects that we will present before we leave for the airport. 

Internships: From the board room to the operating room to the courtroom and in many professional settings in between, juniors participating in the Maymester internship are spending five days immersed in the world of work. They're learning about the law, medicine, finance, engineering, and about the kind of future professional they wish to be. 

Along the Border arrived in Texas on Thursday. After eating at Chamizal National Memorial, the group went to the U.S.-Mexico Border at Doniphan Park in El Paso. Our guide explained the security features including surveillance cameras on the pole, razor wire, and steel mesh. 

Friday, May 29

The 3:30 a.m. alarm came early as Coastal Ecology made its way to Norfolk Airport for a departure to Big Pine Key. We watched several SeaCamp staff members tag a nurse shark they had caught earlier that morning before releasing it back into the water. At 8 p.m., we began our first official program activity and turned in our phones to the chaperones for the remainder of the trip. Our evening session focused on cnidarians, the group of animals that includes jellyfish. We conducted a lab investigating whether different environmental stressors would affect the rate at which jellyfish pulse. After safely returning the Cassiopeia jellyfish to the water, it was finally time to head back to our cabins for a 10:30 p.m. lights out.

American Revolutionary Expressionists continued their journey into the founding freedoms of our fragile democracy accompanied by General George Washington and led by General John Jumper at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. About our more perfect union, Jumper, a retired Air Force General, asserted: We are never going to be perfect; it is the striving that matters.  General Jumper, who is also a current NA Trustee and past board member and interim director of the Museum, is a decorated retired fighter pilot and retired CEO of Leidos, a defense and government contractor. For the group, he arranged a staff-guided tour of the Museum's blue chip collection, including Washington's war tent.  Afterward, he hosted a catered luncheon and remarks in the Museum's board room. His powerful message implored students to worry less about their college major and more about the kind of people they are. He challenged them to be able to articulate more about what they are for than what they are against.

Impact Lab visited KUSP (Keeping Us Secure and Prosperous) to discuss the community garden, the Food Bank, and how the community manages its compost. KUSP’s purpose is to minimize Norfolk’s food insecurity. Impact Lab arrived and met with Jay, a  farmer who founded KUSP, to discuss how the garden works. The garden receives plenty of help from the elementary schoolers to tend to the garden. The garden grows plenty of plants including tomatoes, leafy vegetables, herbs, peppers, and more. After that we visited the Food Bank across the street from the community center to discuss how the Food Bank partners with farmers. Farmers will give products that are not uniform to the Food Bank to help feed the community. Impact Lab then went to the compost bin on site to discuss how both the Food Bank and the community use it. The Food Bank uses it to dispose of any food that has gone bad to then provide compost for distribution to those that can use it. We also admired the hydroponic garden that the community maintains for production of vegetables and herbs year round. The day gave Impact Lab a better understanding of how cycles can be used in communities to continuously improve them. We enjoyed getting our hands a little dirty as we planted tomatoes and peppers and helped water all the beds. It was a full day!

Saturday, May 30

Coastal Ecology's first full day at SeaCamp began with the 7:20 a.m. breakfast bell. At 9 a.m., we headed to the swimming lagoon for our snorkeling workshop. Once everyone successfully completed the workshop, we moved to the lab to learn about cnidarians and conduct a squid dissection. We examined both the internal and external structures of the squid and finished the activity by using the ink sacs to give ourselves squid ink tattoos. Following lunch, the group split into two teaching groups for separate afternoon activities. One group boarded a boat and traveled to Looe Key to snorkel on the coral reef. Along the way, we observed a variety of marine life, including a giant pufferfish and a barracuda. The second group launched kayaks and paddled along the mangrove coastline, spotting several bird species and juvenile lemon sharks. The trip concluded with a paddle to Horseshoe Island, where we learned about the three different species of mangrove trees found in the Florida Keys and saw a small mangrove snake in its hole. The evening program focused on the habitats created by different types of algae and the important role they play in supporting marine ecosystems. Students then examined algae samples and discovered a surprising variety of organisms living within them, including tiny brittle stars and several species of shrimp.

Today's activities for Along the Border: Harvesting and trimming onions at Jardin Milagros, Garden of Miracles, under the direction of  Jerry and Susie Hobson, who became farmers in retirement. All of the food grown at the farm is given to a food pantry to support those in need. We also had a presentation from an immigration attorney and took a sunset walk at the Holly Retreat Center.

Sunday, May 31

Coastal Ecology: Our day began with the 7:20 a.m. breakfast bell. After breakfast, the group split in two. One group headed out to kayak through the mangroves and visited Horseshoe Island, while the other boarded a boat for a snorkeling trip to Looe Key. Throughout the morning, students encountered a variety of marine life, including bonnethead sharks and barracuda. Following lunch, the groups switched activities. One group set out for Looe Key, but was unable to reach the reef and instead stopped at a nearby coral head. Although smaller than Looe Key, the site still offered excellent snorkeling and a chance to observe a diverse array of marine organisms. Meanwhile, the second group explored the seagrass beds near the SeaCamp campus. Students discovered a variety of creatures living among the grasses, including crabs, fish, and even seahorses. Afterward, we had the opportunity to snorkel in the Shark Pond, hoping to catch a glimpse of the bonnethead shark. Unfortunately, the shark did an excellent job avoiding its noisy visitors, and none of us were lucky enough to spot it. Everyone returned to the Marine labs for the evening program where we played a game called Esmerelda Island. In the game, each pair of students were given a role on an island, and then the group had to tackle a series of problems facing the island. 

Monday, June 1

Poverty in America has spent the past week serving the community, building a home with Habitat for Humanity on the Eastern Shore. 

Visual Arts students worked on their photography skills at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. 

Tuesday, June 2

Impact Lab had the opportunity to visit the ViBe Creative District in Virginia Beach. The organization was created to revitalize the area between 17th and 24th streets and now it’s a bustling area with many businesses. It's also been an opportunity for artists to share their work, as many of the area’s sidewalks, fences and walls can be seen with beautiful artwork on them. There, we met Kate Pittman, the initiative's executive director. She took us on a tour of the neighborhood and it was amazing. She showed us different businesses and homes. There was art everywhere you looked, whether it was murals, paintings, crosswalks, road intersections or exhibits in the VB art center. It was also cool to see the difference between the renovated and unrenovated part of the ViBe; it almost looks like a different place entirely. After we toured, we made small pieces of artwork we could take home. Kate reminded us that we could change the piece at any time, so there was no pressure. On our way home, we stopped at Yorkie’s, a really good sandwich place, for lunch. We talked about what we learned and loved about the ViBe District: it's important to support smaller areas like the ViBe and Cape Charles because not only does it help the businesses and artists, it also offers economic growth and a space to come together as a community. When we returned to school, we worked on our PSAs.