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Snow Day Make-up Days
Due to the significant number of snow days encountered this winter, we will have snow make-up days on Monday, March 9, 2015 and Thursday, April 2, 2015. These dates, originally scheduled as the last day of Spring Break and the first day of the Spring Long Weekend, were listed as possible snow make-up days on the printed calendar and on the school website calendar. School will be in session both days.
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 Black History Month
On Tuesday afternoon, the middle and upper schools came together for a special assembly to recognize Black History Month. The North Cross community welcomed Roanoke City Councilman Sherman Lea and Roanoke City Police Officers A. Pennino and J. Smith. In addition to our special guests, North Cross students Isaiah Harris ’15, Sterling Moskal ’15, and Meagan Pruitt ’16 joined in on the panel discussion led by Dr. Proctor. The group discussed issues such as race, diversity, how far we have come in the past 60 years, where we still need to make improvements, and whether or not there is still a need to recognize Black History Month in America. Although there were varying opinions, one thing they all agreed on was that our diverse community feels comfortable among each other. The North Cross Chorale also performed a traditional African-American Spiritual called Witness, arranged by Jack Halloran, for the event.
Click here, or the video image, to watch a 6 minute montage from the assembly.
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 Percussionist Returns to NCS
Tom Teasley, a world percussionist and educator, made two appearances last Friday. He performed his unique blend of layered percussion for students in Fishburn Auditorium. Click here or the video image for a brief video of his opening number.
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Spring Admission Events
The school is hosting two Spring Admission Events on Monday, March 16, 2016. Please share these events with families who might be interested in learning more about North Cross School.
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Early Childhood Program Tour
Monday, March 16, 2016
8:30–9:30 a.m.: Prospective parents are invited to learn more about the NCS Early Childhood Program while observing our child-centered and academically rich environment in action.
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Visit Day for Prospective Students
Monday, March 16, 2016
10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.: Prospective students in grades 1–11 are invited to shadow a current student, visit several classes, and eat lunch.
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Save the Date: Lower School Evening Open House
On Thursday, March 19, returning and prospective families are invited to drop in the lower school between 5 and 7 p.m. Students and their parents can meet with their teachers for next year, visit the classrooms, and check out class materials.
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 Spring Break + Spring Cleaning = Donations to Big Flea
As you or your friends are cleaning out your basement, attic, garage, or getting ready to install that new fridge or replace your old sofa, just plain old de-cluttering, or getting ready for spring (yes, this snow will go away)—make sure to remember North Cross School and its Big Flea Sale.
The Big Flea Sale is a big fundraiser for the school and takes place on March 28th—right around the corner. Every donation is a big help, particularly the "big ticket" items like furniture, appliances, and sporting goods.
What do you do with your items? Our storage units are on campus—in the bus lot by the baseball field, and Jenn Mitchell and her crew would be glad to meet you there if you have items to drop off. Call her at 540-230-8584, email her at jmitchell@northcross.org, or stop by and say hello to her at the Carter Athletic Center (CAC). And when the weather cooperates, we'll do "drop off at drop off" again. The week before Big Flea Sale (March 23–27) the crew will be setting up in the CAC and can receive items you wish to donate there.
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 Summer Program Catalog Available Online
The 2015 Summer Program catalog is going to press soon. In the meantime, you can download a digital version of the catalog and application form on the school web page. Inside you will find that we offer a wide variety of programs for our lower school students, lots of sports camps, and academic classes.
Middle School Madness mini-camps will include many of our popular programs like Cooking, Guitar, Science, Chemistry, Robotics, 3D Printing, etc.* Campers will have the opportunity to interact in small, specifically designed mini-camps and workshops. The Chinese Summer Programs has recently grown to well over 200 international students who will join our middle school students.
As an added bonus, we have reduced the cost of each Middle School session to only $50 (compared to $95 per session last year), and eliminated the supply fee! A detailed list of classes will be available upon request.
Click here to visit the Summer Programs page on the school website. If you have specific questions about Summer Programs, please contact Stephen Belderes at (540) 588-8320.
* Available workshops are subject to change depending on session enrollment, instructor availability, and other factors.
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 Dr. Seuss Day
Students and teachers in the ECP program got an early start on Read Across America Day; the official day is Monday of Spring Break. So, Wednesday morning the students visited Dr. Seuss themed stations in the lower school and welcomed a special visitor to the Cartledge Multi-purpose room for a reading of Yertle the Turtle.
Click here to view photos posted on our Facebook page.
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Teacher Feature: Heather Slaughter
 When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?
I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. Both of my parents were teachers; my mom taught middle school English and my dad was a college professor at Northern Virginia Community College. I can remember my dad bringing home tests to grade and letting me help grade the multiple choice section. I would get so mad when the tests had an essay section because I couldn’t help with that. Looking back I’m surprised he actually let me grade them, I’m sure he went back to check all of my work.
Click here for the full feature.
Photo: Mrs. Slaughter with her husband, Josh, and their two children, Annabelle, 10 months, and Charlie, 2.
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 Middle School All-District Band
Due to the snow storm last weekend, the Middle School All-District Band rehearsal and performance at Patrick Henry High School was cancelled. Fortunately, Nalin Jha ’19, Davin Hansen ’19, Caroline Lystash ’20, Lauren Daniel ’20, Michael Habib ’20, and Patrick Daly ’20 will be ready to play at the rescheduled event on March 27-28 at Patrick Henry High School. In the event alternates are needed to perform, Aaron Richardson ’20, Nathalie Lemon ’20, Natalie Lorens ’21, and Mashall Rasul ’21 could be chosen to perform as well.
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Swimming State Results
The Raiders brought 11 swimmers to the State Championships on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14. The fastest 16 swimmers (or relay teams) from each event qualified for the finals.
The Girls’ Varsity team of Emma Cartledge ’18, Lilly Kemper ’18, Katherine Lake ’18, Claudia Morgan ’19, Maddie Robinson ’16, Helen Schmedtje ’17, and Margo Winn ’18 finished 6th in Division II and 20th overall:
- 200 Medley Relay Team (photo above, from left) of Margo Winn ’18, Katherine Lake ’18, Emma Cartledge ’18, and Maddie Robinson ’16 went on to the finals and placed 13th overall.
- The 400 Free Relay team of Maddie Robinson ’16, Katherine Lake ’18, Emma Cartledge ’18, and Margo Winn ’18 advanced to the finals and placed 12th.
- Maddie Robinson ’16 finaled in two individual events and finished 16th in the 100 backstroke & 14th in the 100 butterfly.
- Margo Winn ’18 finaled in two individual events and finished 16th in the 100 freestyle and 15th in the 50 freestyle.
- Emma Cartledge ’18 finished 25th in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke, Katherine Lake ’18 finished 31st in the 100 breaststroke.
- The girls 200 Freestyle Relay team of Katherine Lake ’18, Lilly Kemper ’18, Claudia Morgan ’19, and Helen Schmedtje ’17 finished 25th place overall.
The Boys’ Varsity team, comprised of Joseph Cartledge ’16, Andrew Lorens ’19, Daniel Lorens ’16, and Zach H’Doubler ’16 finished 8th in Division II and 23rd overall.
- The relay teams, comprised of the four members, finished in 20th place for the 200 Medley Relay and in 22nd place for the 200 Freestyle Relay.
- Joseph Cartledge ’16 finaled in two individual events and finished in 11th place in the 100 freestyle and 12th place for the 50 Freestyle.
- Andrew Lorens ’19 finaled in the 500 freestyle and finished in 14th place overall and was 24th in the 100 butterly.
- Daniel Lorens ’16 finished in 37th place in the 100 butterfly
- Zach H’Doubler ’16 finished in 23rd place in the 100 breaststroke
Coach Greg Lake was pleased with the results of his young team. “This was an outstanding job, and we look forward to moving up and having even more success in the upcoming years.â€
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Raiders Drop Quarterfinal Game
Despite entering the tournament as the #3 seed in the VISAA Division II tournament, the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team lost to visiting Williamsburg Christian 60-55 on Wednesday evening. The game marked the end of the Raider careers of Bennett Holley ’15, Keith Oddo ’15 (in photo) and Kennedy Nwabia ’15. The three finished their North Cross stint with a combined total of 2,999 points.
After the loss, Dr. Proctor took time to reflect on the impact the seniors, especially Keith and Bennett who played all four seasons for North Cross, had on the program. “Over their four seasons playing for North Cross, Keith and Bennett have displayed a level of commitment and leadership that is rarely seen in high school athletics. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments during their time here.â€
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Let it mow, let it mow, let it mow!
Prior to the 1970s, the furnace room of the upper school (now Eaton Hall) was used to hang athletic clothing and to store maintenance equipment—including a tractor. During their inspections, the fire chief made it clear to the maintenance manager, James O’Brien (right in photo, with William Jernigan from the 1966 yearbook), that he did not approve of parking a tractor in the furnace room. Unfortunately there was no place to put the tractor as the maintenance shed had not yet been built. One sympathetic firefighter, however, was nice enough to let the school know when the next “surprise†inspection was scheduled. This gave Mr. O’Brien the chance to get the tractor out of the furnace room. His trick was to send Kenneth Penn out to “mow the grass†on the visit days. One day, after six inches of snow hit the campus, the chief dropped in for a visit. It just so happened that Kenneth, and the tractor, was out doing his job. Kenneth waved to the fire chief and kept “mowing the grass,†snow and all.
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