Archives - December 2022
A Glimpse Into Chelsea's New Lower School
December 19, 2022
With the first semester of Chelsea Academy well under way, we had an opportunity to witness an exciting new feature to Chelsea: the addition of grades K-3. They, along with the fourth and fifth graders, make up Chelsea's Lower School. The Lower School has taken up residence in the new building on Progress Drive, formerly Virginia International Academy.
Curious to see what the new lower-school students thought of their school, the journalism team took some time to ask them about their favorite parts of going to Chelsea.
Immersed in a new curriculum that ranges from Music with Mrs. Schuttloffel, to French with Mrs. Lagarde, the lower-school pupils found it hard to decide on their favorite classes. Some of their top choices included Art and English, as well as Geography with the legendary Mr. Selner. In Math, Mrs. Thomas helps all the younger grades, tutoring them in their weaker spots, and never forgetting to reward their hard work with candy prizes.
The Lower School students encounter the Catholic faith in Atrium class. Here, they have the opportunity to actively pray and learn about sacred traditions, exploring the parts of the Mass, liturgical seasons, parables, and much more through hands-on activities involving an array of materials and resources. Many of the lower-schoolers enjoy spending time in the atrium and have said it is “hands-down one of the best parts of the day.”
The variety of classes in the Lower School provided a solid foundation for these students as they prepare for Chelsea’s rigorous curriculum in the middle and upper school.
Outside of the classroom, the students enjoy participating in the school-wide House competitions and activities. These competitions not only boost school morale, but also give students a healthy competitive spirit and a sense of pride in their house and school. Most importantly, participating in the House System gives the lower-school students an opportunity to be with their Upper School peers and build new friendships.
Because of the smaller class sizes, students have an easier time getting to know everyone well. To quote third grader Felicity Shuttloffel, “My favorite part of Chelsea is making friends.” This unity is harder to replicate at a larger school and is at the core of the Chelsea experience.
Overall the Chelsea Lower School is off to a wonderful start! With dedicated teachers, a solid curriculum, and roots in faith, the Lower School, like the rest of Chelsea, guides students in becoming confident, well-rounded people.
Posted in
Academics
Fall Sports Recap
December 14, 2022
Chelsea Academy’s coaches, parents, and players gathered on Tuesday, November 15, for the annual Fall Sports Award ceremony. The progress made by the teams during the season and the accomplishments of outstanding players were highlighted. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes this fall for a successful and incredible season across the board!
Varsity Girls Volleyball
Coached by: Becky Barvick
Highlights: The team, once again, had a highly successful season, making it to the VISAA Division III Semi-Final for the second year in a row. Chelsea became conference champions after sweeping Virginia Academy in three sets. For many, the highlight of the season was beating Paul VI Catholic High School in five sets. Greta Barvick was chosen for 1st team all-state and Cici Wingate was chosen for 2nd team all-state.
Awards:
MVP: Greta Barvick
Most Improved: Olivia Zepeda
Joan of Arc: Cici Wingate
JV Volleyball
Coached by: Chris VanderWoude
Highlights: The JV girls had a breakout season this year, fishing with a winning record, and reaching the semi-finals in both of their conferences, the SCC and NVIAC conferences. One notable moment was taking St. Johns to 5 sets despite one of their all-around players, Simone Lash, being injured.
Awards:
MVP: Marya Klassen
Most Improved: Annabelle Kotulski
Joan of Arc: Simone Lash
MS Volleyball
Coached by: Mary Wingate
Highlights: The Middle School volleyball team won their conference, thanks to a thrilling victory in the championship round of the SCC tournaments. Against the highly talented Virginia Academy, Chelsea came tantalizingly close to winning, falling a mere two points short. The win against St. Johns was one of the most defining moments of the season for the girls.
Awards:
MVP: Charlotte and Veronica Barvick
Most Improved: Beatrice Lyons
Joan of Arc: Pilar Smith
Varsity Boys Soccer
Coached by: Declan Lundt, assisted by Tyler Goerl
Highlights: The Varsity Soccer team showed development and success, finishing with a 10-4-3 record. Vito Scotto di Clemente led the team in scoring with a total of 20 goals. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the season was beating the eventual NVIAC Champions, Immanuel Christian, 5-0 on Chelsea's senior night.
Awards:
MVP: Vito Scotto di Clemente
Most Improved: Andre Lagarde
Lionheart: Chris Benyo
MS Boys Soccer
Coached by: Jacob Guittierrez
Highlights: The Middle School boys showed significant team and individual improvement during the season. They also learned how to adapt during games, exemplified by a 5-1 win against a conference rival, despite being tied 1-1 at halftime. They were the only team in their conference to score two goals against the eventual conference champions.
Awards:
MVP: Paul Beasley
Most Improved: Noah Snyder
Lionheart: James Beasley
Varsity Cross Country
Coached by: Samantha Libasci, assisted by Chris Doyle
Highlights: The team had by far their most successful season in recent times. Two runners, Bryson Barnett and Helena Akers received all-state recognition. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed 2nd in the NVIAC conference and placed 6th and 4th at the VISAA State Meet respectively. Bryson Barnett also finished in 2nd place at the VISAA State Meet.
Awards:
Boys
MVP: Bryson Barnett
Most Improved: Caleb Ruger
Lionheart: Jude Lagarde
Girls:
MVP: Eileen Peppiatt
Most Improved: Helena Akers
Joan of Arc: Gretchen Klubertanz
MS Cross Country
Coached by: Nora O’ Keefe
Highlights: The team saw massive improvement, as, by the end of the season, many of the racers would be passing runners that they struggled to beat at the beginning of the season. The team, as a whole, cut an average of four minutes off their 2-mile personal records throughout the season. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams finished 2nd place in the VMSC conference.
Awards:
Boys:
Most Improved: Adam Reeves
Lionheart: Tommy Van Schaick
Girls:
MVP: Bernadette Hechinger
Most Improved: Elizabeth Lynch
Joan of Arc: Isobel McFadden
Posted in
Sports