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Message from the Alumni Board
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Cook Athletic Field - Over Halfway There!
We currently have gifts and pledges for Cook Athletic Field amounting to $187,078. Our goal for the campaign is $360,000. We are over halfway there!
Please join us in honoring Richard Cook by making a pledge or gift to Cook Athletic Field at the highest level to which you are comfortable. Your gift really does matter.
We aim to complete Cook Athletic Field campaign by May 2016 in order to have the field ready by fall of 2016. Click here to make an online gift to Cook Athletic Field.
“The North Cross community needs to recognize this man’s contribution to his students and players by coming together and building this field in his honor†- Chris Proctor, Headmaster
For questions or additional information, please contact Chris Moore at 540-989-6641,ext.271 or cmoore@northcross.org.
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State of the School Address
On January 27, the annual State of the School address was issued to families. The address provides a brief update on the current state of our school, outlines a number of our recent successes, discusses the recent survey results, addresses some of the challenges we face, introduces new initiatives, and an presents the tuition rates for the 2016-17 academic year.
Watch the address on our YouTube page.
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 Tuesday with a Teacher Event
The Early Childhood Program teachers will host the next “Tuesday with a Teacher†program on February 16 at 1:30 p.m. in the Lower School. The teachers will share how our Early Childhood Program balances academic, social and emotional development in a fun and nurturing environment for children age three through kindergarten.
This event will also give prospective parents an opportunity to learn more about our Early Childhood Program. We encourage you to bring a friend or share this invitation with families who may be interested.
Register here
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Teacher Features and Staff Stories
Enjoy the following features of faculty and staff members.
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 Screening Selma
In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, middle and upper school students attended a screening of the 2014 film Selma on January 14 in Fishburn Auditorium. The movie is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches. Before the film, Dr. Joseph Keaton of Central Baptist Church shared his experiences from the Civil Rights Movement with the students. After the screening, several upper school wrote short reflections.
Visit the Crossties Blog to watch a short video clip and read remarks by students.
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 Scribe School
As a follow-up to their studies of Sumerian life and achievements in Mesopotamia around 2000 B.C., fifth grade students, working with teachers Lily Angus and Lisa Cone, traveled back in time 4,000 years to attend Scribe School.
​These young scribes learned cuneiform, an early form of writing, on clay tablets using a stylus.
Visit the Crossties Blog to learn more and view photos by Lily Angus and Lisa Cone.
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 Digging Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are a big part of the first grade experience at North Cross School. During the year, students visit the Virginia Museum of Natural History and complete in-depth study of fossils and dinosaurs.
Last month, the students kicked off the six-week study of dinosaurs by working in small groups to sequence the stages of fossil formation. They also became paleontologists who carefully uncovered fossils during a chocolate chip cookie dig.
Read more and see photos on the Crossties Blog.
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 "Compass" Wins Gold Medal
The 2015 Compass yearbook, titled “Out of Line,†won a Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. To qualify for Gold Medal status, a yearbook must earn 800–1,000 points on a grading rubric that considered the quality of reference, verbal, and visual material. The North Cross yearbook received 966 points which also earned the yearbook “All-Columbian Honors†from the organization.
Adviser Becky Sharkey was understandably proud of her students. “When you consider that the yearbook was completed by just seven students, it really speaks to their combined passion and commitment during the entire year,†she said.
The Compass Staff included (front row from left) adviser Becky Sharkey, Maddie Robinson ’16, Mary Kate Graeff ’16, Hannah Dorton ’15, (back row) Ansleigh Graeff ’18, Justin Jensen ’16, Keith Oddo ’15, Mackenzie Graham ’16.
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Model United Nations Conferences
As part of the Global Studies Program, 40 upper school students took part in Model United Nations conferences last month. At these events, student delegates have the chance to experience the challenges of international negotiation by assuming the roles of UN representatives from different countries and members of other international decision-making bodies. The programs provide a great opportunity for students to discuss and debate issues of international importance.
 Twenty-four North Cross juniors and seniors traveled to Boston for the Harvard Model United Nations. The trip was led by Robert Robillard, Nitza Plaski, and Victor Lamas. “We have three students who are serving on specialized committees, which demand almost constant speaking and action in small rooms with fewer than 20 people,†Mr. Robillard said.
Read his full update and see photos on the Crossties Blog.
 A new experience was offered this year for freshmen and sophomores—with another 16 students attending the Ivy League Model United Nations in Philadelphia. The students represented the country of Liberia and were part of committees tackling a variety of issues, such as disarmament and women's rights. Wes Clagett, leading the trip with Jennifer Landry, outlined the challenges facing the delegates. “As a small African country, we looked to work with other African countries, as well as larger countries such as the United States to resolve the issues discussed in the way that best suits Liberia and the world,†he said.
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All-District Band Honors
A record number of middle school band students earned All-District recognition after auditioning last month at Glenvar Middle School. The top scores are placed into two bands—Symphonic (first band) and Concert (second band). Congratulations to the following students:
Symphonic Band
- Brian Bao ’20—5th chair: Clarinet
- Lauren Daniel ’20—8th chair: Clarinet
- Nathalie Lemon ’20—2nd chair: Oboe
Concert Band
- Ryan Creehan ’21—3rd chair: Tenor Saxophone
- Patrick Daly ’20—3rd chair: Trombone
- Michael Habib ’20—5th chair: Trumpet
- Jessica Helmer ’21—6th chair: Clarinet
- Natalie Lorens ’21—6th chair: Flute
- Olivia Murchison ’21—15th chair: Clarinet
- Mashall Rasul ’21— 7th chair: Flute
- Malek Thabet ’21 —5th chair: French Horn
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Inherit the Wind
Turnout for the January 26 performance of Inherit The Wind was very good, given the weather. Director Polly Jones was happy that the students had a chance to perform a second time. “I would like to thank the entire cast and crew for their commitment and flexibility. I was delighted that we were able to get so many students involved, and for some, it was their first time participating in a theatrical production. I will, of course, greatly miss the senior members of the cast and crew,†she said.
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Logan Gallery
On display in Logan Gallery is a new show titled "West of Ireland; Through Artists' Eyes". Last June a group of artists and friends traveled to Ireland, painted on site, took thousands of photos and have been making paintings from those images. The show, including “Portmagee Homes†by Martha Ann Garrison in photo, will be on display until March 4.
Visit the Logan Gallery page for more information.
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 A Rivalry Renewed
On January 21, it was announced that after a six-season hiatus, the Raiders and Celtics will kick off the 2016 football season at Vinyard Park on August 26. The agreement to resume the rivalry was hashed out over a recent lunch meeting with Athletic Director Eric Lawrence, Head Coach Stephen Alexander, and representatives from Roanoke Catholic.
Read the story posted at roanoke.com.
In photo from the 1982 season, quarterback Jimmy Mayson ’83 prepares to hand off to Carl Bumgarner ’83 against Roanoke Catholic. North Cross won the game 31-8. The 1982 Raiders team went 6-4 on the season to earn back-to-back VIC championships.
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 Lowery and Maurer Sign
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 Senior Swimmers
On January 26, the varsity swim team recognized (from left in photo by Janine Kess) seniors Campbell Lake ’16, Joseph Cartledge ’16, Daniel Lorens ’16, and Maddie Robinson ’16.
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Muscaro-Satterwhite Service Award
During the halftime of the girls' varsity basketball match-up with Fuqua on Friday, February 19, Athletic Director Eric Lawrence will present the 2016 Muscaro-Satterwhite Service Award.
This award is given in honor of former Athletic Directors Jim Muscaro and Donna Satterwhite. Together they served as leaders and mentors in the North Cross athletic and school community for over 75 years.
Previous winners include Tim Bibee in 2014 and Denise Revercomb in 2015.
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CAC Parking
The Carter Athletic Center has received several warnings from the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue about illegal parking in fire lanes. If illegal parking in the fire lanes persists, the CAC and the school could be heavily fined in an emergency situation. Parking in fire lanes—which are clearly marked by yellow curbs—is being enforced by towing at the owners expense.
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Athletic Scores on Twitter
Athletic team results are now available on our Twitter account with the tag #NCSAthletics.
Following us on Twitter is the fastest way to get the latest scores and updates from the school. Scores will also be included in our regular Twitter feed on the right side of the home page and on the Athletics page of the school website.
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Class News & Notes
Please send your updates for Class Notes to Rebekah Bradley at rbradley@northcross.org. If you wish to include a photo, please attach it to your email.
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Catherine Grainger '05 was engaged to Jay Justice in December. The couple plans to marry this upcoming August. Congratulations, Catherine and Jay!
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Allan Robinson '80 has taken a new job as Senior Vice President of Claims for Horace Mann Insurance Company in Springfield, Il. This past April, he ran in the Boston Marathon with Team Red Cross and he served on the American Red Cross Board of Directors for Central Massachusetts.
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