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Norfolk Academy

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Norfolk Academy
Motto ου πολλα αλλα πολυ
Greek: Not quantity, but quality.
Established 1728
School type Private, Co-educational
Grades 1-12
Campus 70 acres (26 ha)
Headmaster Dennis G. Manning
Location Norfolk, Virginia USA
Enrollment 1200 students
Faculty 110
Endowment $ 32,416,000
Mascot Bulldog
Colors Blue, Orange, and White
Homepage http://www.NorfolkAcademy.org Norfolk Academy website
Norfolk Academy
Norfolk Academy is located in Virginia
Norfolk Academy
LocationNorfolk, Virginia
Built1840
ArchitectThomas U. Walter
Architectural styleNo Style Listed
NRHP reference No.69000343 [1]
Added to NRHPNovember 12, 1969

Norfolk Academy is an independent coeducational day school located in Norfolk, Virginia on the border between Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Chartered in 1728, it is the oldest secondary school in Virginia and the eighth oldest in the United States. In 1966, Norfolk Academy merged with Country Day School for Girls in Virginia Beach, Virginia to create the current coeducational institution. Its current headmaster is Dennis G. Manning.

Norfolk Academy also fosters several competitive sports programs. The school competes in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS). Males compete in the Virginia Preparatory League (VPL) and females in the League of Independent Schools (LIS).

Norfolk Academy has an Honor Code whereby all in the school community pledge not to lie, cheat, or steal. This includes the following signed statement at the end of each graded assignment: "I pledge that I have acted honorably in the completion of this assignment". Honor Infractions in the Middle and Upper Schools are handled by the Middle and Upper Schools' respective honor councils. The honor council consists of elected students, and the school emphasizes that the system is only as strong as its student body. The school's mascot is the Bulldog.

Academics

Norfolk Academy prepares students academically for college and adult life by fostering an atmosphere in which learning is seen as its own reward, by encouraging all students to do their best work, and by helping students decide their specific academic interests through exposing them to a variety of disciplines.The school strives to serve its students and its community with unparalleled opportunities and first-class education.

Aware of a tradition of academic excellence dating from 1728 and sensitive to the need for meeting change, the Academy attempts to maintain high standards, both academic and ethical, for students and faculty. Norfolk Academy’s German program was recognized in in 2007 as the number one German program in the country among high schools. The College Board recognition for the school and German program has been earned, as the Report notes, through the performance of students on the AP German Language Exam. Norfolk Academy is also known for its matriculation to top colleges and universities, with about 10% of the class of 2007 matriculating to an Ivy League School, MIT, Stanford, or Duke University.

An ongoing exchange with the Copernicus Gymnasium, Löningen (Germany) has been in place since 1973. This exchange is the longest-running high school student exchange program between the two countries. 

Students are required to research, compose, and deliver to the student body and faculty an original persuasive speech as a graduation requirement. Public Speaking skills are integrated into the curriculum from the 1st grade on.

Athletics

The athletic program at Norfolk Academy strives to enhance each student’s overall educational experience by providing spirited competition at multiple levels; by developing sportsmanship, physical fitness and physical abilities, self-discipline and self-confidence; by encouraging initiative, leadership, and teamwork; and by giving each student the opportunity to learn to handle the pressure of competition and deal positively with both success and failure.

Norfolk Academy conducts a comprehensive athletic program featuring 74 interscholastic competition for grades 7 – 12. Teams compete in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, the League of Independent Schools, and the Virginia Prep League.

Norfolk Academy's athletes and coaches are also proud and blessed to have recently gained a state-of-the-art, world class facility that includes a brand new Athletic Pavilion complex complete with fitness center containing top-of-the-line cardio-vascular and weight-training equipment as well as a multi-use field house that has over 20,000 square feet. Other facilities include the Burroughs and Conrad gymnasiums, the Neff Athletic Training Room, the Vaughan Aquatic Center, the Metro Information Services Tennis Complex, the Watson Baseball Field, the Rixey Lacrosse Field, a 400-meter latex track, and nine additional playing fields.

Norfolk Academy's Men's Soccer Team was often ranked in 2008 as one of the best teams in the country.[2]

Fine Arts

The John Tucker Jr. Fine Arts Center was completed in 2006 and provides students with state-of-the-art facilities including multiple Dance Studios, Art Studios, a choral room, band room, orchestra room, rooms designated for private music lessons, a Digital Editing lab,and the new Samuel Johnson Theater which provides seating for 575 in the audience including balcony and box seats.

Norfolk Academy offers private lessons in piano, guitar, harp, violin, and several other instruments for all grade levels. Offerings for more experienced musicians include jazz band, chorus, orchestra (strings), band, and harp ensemble. Lessons are offered in ballet and jazz. A dance team is also present, with practices held after school. Evening classes in modern, ballet, and African dance are also offered at Norfolk Academy.

Many arts courses are offered including Art History, Theater Experience I and II, Film I & II, Ceramics, Studio Art, Screen Play Writing, and Acting, along with the music and dance lessons also offered.

The popular winter musical and other productions are held throughout the year by the Academy Players as drama performance skills and stage crafts are taught, as wells as through theater and film courses.

Clubs and Activities

Approximately fifteen Upper School organizations offer students opportunities for planning, leadership, teamwork, and service. Each organization strives to fulfill its goals established in an August leadership workshop. Students may join up to three organizations. Each organization must perform a community service project to benefit the school or the community at large. In the spring the executive officers of the Student Council review the progress of each group and vote whether to recharter the organization for the following year.

The Happy Club at Norfolk Academy, which raises awareness and funds for Operation Smile, was the first high-school club supporting the organization — followed by over 500 other Operation Smile student clubs nationwide.

Other Clubs and activities include Forensics, International Relations, Student Council, Honor Council, the school newspaper The Belfry, and the Fine Arts Association.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15.
  2. ^ Norfolk Academy's Men's Soccer Team info
  3. ^ Weingardt, Richard, "Engineering Legends: Great American Civil Engineers : 32 Profiles of Inspiration and Achievement", 2005, Pages 124-125
  4. ^ Fiveash info
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