News Archives

Oak Experience Week began with a powerful call to reflection and action as students in grades 9–11 explored Virginia’s past and considered their role in shaping the future.

Head of School Scott Kennedy reminded students that growth happens everywhere.

“Learning doesn’t happen just in the classroom,” Kennedy said.

With those words, the tone for the week was set and keynote speaker Henry Chambers, professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, presented “Virginia Before the Revolution: Oak Experience Week.” His address connected directly to Virginia 250, the statewide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Chambers invited students to think critically about the historical forces that shaped Virginia — from the aftermath of the French and Indian War and restrictions on westward expansion beyond the Appalachian Mountains, to Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation, the leadership of George Washington and the Continental Army, and evolving debates about liberty and integration.

“We have different ways of thinking about problems and how we solve them,” Chambers told students. “Remember, we all learn from one another.”

Marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, he challenged students to reconsider its principles in a modern context. When is breaking away justified? What does it mean for change to be “deserved”? How have those arguments echoed through history?

“On this 250th anniversary of the document, we have a chance to think about it again — and you have a chance to give heft to it,” he said.

Following the keynote, students met with a representative from Project Citizen, a nationally recognized civic education program that empowers young people to identify real-world problems and develop policy-based solutions.

Beginning Wednesday, students will work in teams to:

The connection between Virginia 250 and Project Citizen is intentional. As students examine the ideals outlined in the Declaration of Independence—equality, justice, representation and responsibility—they are also being asked to apply those principles in their own community.

Oak Experience Week is more than a study of history. It is an opportunity for students to practice civic leadership—to thoughtfully analyze problems, collaborate across perspectives, and propose solutions grounded in enduring democratic values.

Two hundred fifty years after the founding document that shaped our nation, our students are being challenged to ask: How do we live out those principles today?

Yesterday, our middle school officially installed its second-semester Student Government Association (SGA) members during a special ceremony recognizing student leadership and responsibility.

President: Anthony P.
Vice President: Kate V.
Historian: Addison E.
Seventh Grade Representative: Rhiannon M.
Sixth Grade Representative: Emmalyn P.

Each of these students earned the trust of their classmates through nominations, speeches, and a formal vote. As newly installed leaders, they now carry the responsibility of representing their peers and helping guide the middle school community with integrity and purpose.

Following the installation, students heard from Martin Thomas, who spoke on behalf of the Peter Decker Children's Charity and our Middle School Oakreach Club. The Oakreach Club, a student-led community service organization, selected the Peter Decker Children’s Charity as the focus of its upcoming middle school donation drive.

Mr. Thomas, who serves on the charity’s board, shared the background and mission of the organization, helping students better understand the impact of their upcoming efforts. By learning about the charity’s purpose before launching their fundraiser activities in March, students were able to see firsthand how service and leadership go hand in hand.

Way to go, Oaks—your leadership and commitment to integrity are setting the tone for a strong and service-minded semester ahead!

 

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of a former faculty member and cherished member of our school community, Rufus Outland. Coach Outland’s impact on Norfolk Collegiate is immeasurable, and his legacy of mentorship, leadership and care for students was felt across generations of student-athletes. 

 

Coach Outland joined the faculty in 1994 as a physical education teacher and coach. During his 13-year tenure, he coached all levels of the boys’ and girls’ basketball program to a combined record of 115–45. Known for his high expectations and genuine care for every student-athlete, he built programs defined not only by competitive success but also by character, teamwork and respect.

 

Coach Outland also led our tennis program with equal dedication. Under his leadership, Collegiate’s tennis teams achieved a remarkable 100–35 record and captured the Division II 2007 Virginia Independent School state championship. His commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire confidence in student-athletes elevated every team and every student with which he worked.

 

Coach Outland’s presence extended far beyond the courts. He was an avid supporter of our students and attended countless athletic events even after he retired in 2007. He was a trusted mentor, a colleague and a friend whose wisdom and humility enriched our entire school community. Students remember him for his encouragement and belief in their potential; colleagues remember his professionalism, kindness and unwavering commitment to the school. 

 

Coach O gave decades of quiet service and did so with such grace and character that his positive influence is remembered with true fondness whenever his former students and players gather together. There are always shared stories about Coach O from the gymnasium, drivers education class or practice court. 

 

A funeral will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. at Grove Park Baptist Church, 1400 Rodman Ave., Portsmouth and a visitation and lunch will follow in the social hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the establishment of the “Coach Rufus P. Outland Memorial Fund” c/o The Southeast Virginia Community Foundation, 1435 Crossways Blvd., Suite 303, Chesapeake, VA 23320. Please keep his children—Perry, Wendy and Cindy—along with their families in your thoughts and prayers.

 

Congratulations to our 2026 Blue Crab Bowl Team — Alexa B. '26, Christian F. '26, Charlotte H. '26, Sanaa C. '26, and Jeremie L. '27 — on an impressive fourth-place finish among 12 teams from across Virginia.

The 28th Annual Blue Crab Bowl, held Feb. 7, 2026, in Gloucester, is one of 25 regional competitions in the nationwide National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB). Hosted in person by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Blue Crab Bowl challenges students with rigorous questions about marine science and the world’s oceans.

Collegiate advanced to the trophy round after winning three of their first four matches under the guidance of the team's captain Alexa. Highlights included a decisive victory over 12-time champion and archrival Catholic High School, and a thrilling last-second win against perennial powerhouse Seton School. The team’s knowledge, quick thinking and collaboration were on full display throughout the competition.

 

Norfolk Collegiate’s upper school History students welcomed Rabbi Michael Panitz for a thought-provoking presentation in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Feb. 3, 2026. Rabbi Panitz, a theologian, rabbi at Temple Israel, and history professor at Old Dominion University and Virginia Wesleyan University, had originally been scheduled to speak on January 27—the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp by Soviet troops in 1945.

Centered around his guiding message, “Our mandate is to understand the inexplicable, to honor the victims and to prevent future horrors,” Rabbi Panitz challenged students to consider the historical context and lasting impact of the Holocaust. He emphasized that while massacres have occurred throughout history, “but the Holocaust was different. We have to understand how the Holocaust went beyond its deep roots and what happened more recently because of it,” Panitz said. “People fight hard over what they think is the right order of society,” he noted, which is essential to ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated.

 

This year’s Middle School Spelling Bee was one for the record books. A total of 49 students took the stage—marking the largest turnout in more than a decade—and faced off in an impressive eight rounds, spelling over 100 words before a champion emerged.

After a nail-biting final round, Emmalyn P. ’32 claimed first-place honors by correctly spelling the winning word, “Nehru.” Garrett B. ’31 earned second place, followed by Avery B. ’30 in third, rounding out a strong showing by all finalists.

Moderated by Amy Cushman, the competition challenged students with a wide-ranging and sophisticated word list, including “chartreuse,” “galleon,” “chignon” and “archipelago.” Demonstrating both poise and preparation, students thoughtfully requested definitions and sentence usage before confidently spelling each word.

With her victory, Emmalyn now advances to represent Norfolk Collegiate at the TowneBank Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 7. We wish her the best of luck as she takes the next step—congratulations to all of our spellers for an outstanding competition!

Congratulations to our exceptional Seventh and Eighth Grade Forensics Team on their impressive performance at the Robert S. Sargeant Forensics Tournament, hosted by Norfolk Academy on Dec. 12, 2025.

Competing against students from Cape Henry Collegiate School, Norfolk Academy, The Williams School, and Virginia Beach Friends School, the team showcased their talents across multiple categories—including storytelling, poetry, prose, speech, and original oratory—and earned second place overall in the competition.

Individual honors were awarded to the following Oaks:

This outstanding showing reflects the team’s hard work, creativity, and confidence as communicators. Congratulations to all of our forensics students and coaches on a job exceptionally well done!

Eighteen students represented our school at Virginia Model United Nations (UN), hosted at the University of Virginia, where they participated in a wide range of dynamic and thought-provoking committees.

From a historically grounded 1773 House of Lords, to General Assembly discussions on global food scarcity, to a fully fictional committee inspired by Fallout: New Vegas, students tackled complex issues, debated thoughtfully, and embodied their assigned roles with confidence and creativity.

“All students learned new skills, proved themselves to be braver than they knew, and impressed me beyond measure,” said Advisor and History Teacher Dr. Jenna Ross. “We had two awards, given to Emma G. '27 and Aubrey M. '27, both for poised portrayals of their assigned roles.”

Before the conference, students enhanced their experience with an experiential learning visit to Monticello, enjoying lunch at the historic Michie Tavern and exploring Thomas Jefferson’s home. While initially hesitant, students quickly embraced the opportunity—bringing classroom learning from U.S. History and AP U.S. History to life through discussion, diplomacy, and debate.

The trip proved to be both academically enriching and personally rewarding, leaving students more confident, curious and inspired.

Creativity, compassion and community impact came together once again for Maddie G. ’27, who earned first place for the second consecutive year at Chesapeake Regional Hospital’s Bra-ha-ha®, a fundraising event that celebrates breast cancer survivorship through art.

Last year, Maddie won top honors in the “Best School Entry (14 and Above)” category for her piece "Breast Cancer Succs." This year, she repeated the achievement with a striking new design titled "Blooming Shrooms and Healing Boobs"—an imaginative work inspired by her love of mushrooms.

“Mushrooms show up in a lot of my art,” Maddie shared. “So this year, I decided to incorporate them into my bra design.”

Her choice was more than aesthetic. Maddie explained that mushrooms symbolize strength and hope emerging from unexpected places—an idea that resonated deeply with the mission of Bra-ha-ha®.

“Mushrooms grow in decomposing places,” she said. “Even when something is rotted or breaking down, mushrooms flourish. They come in all kinds of colors and shapes, and they’re beautiful. For that reason, I think mushrooms are a great representation of finding hope in unexpected places.”

Maddie’s creative process evolved as she worked. While her initial idea was to turn the cups into mushroom tops, she realized she could push her creativity further. With encouragement and brainstorming support from her mom, she landed on a final design—much of it developed intuitively along the way.

Balancing the project with school, swim and other commitments proved challenging.

“The hardest part was finding time to work on it,” Maddie said. “Luckily, I had my mom to help with ideas and supplies, and I worked on it little by little.”

Maddie’s connection to Bra-ha-ha® began long before she entered the competition herself. Growing up, she watched her mom and aunt create pieces for the event—and even modeled their finished designs. When she was finally old enough to participate, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I signed up for the cause and because I love art,” she said. “I thought it would be a fun project.” Winning, especially for the second year in a row, came as a surprise. “It was honestly shocking,” Maddie shared. “I signed up for the same reasons as last year—for the cause and for fun.”

Through her work, Maddie hopes to inspire others to see community service in a new light.

“There are many opportunities out there to help,” she said. “This one was fun for me, and it helped others at the same time. I want people to see that there are more ways to help the community than they might think.”

Her advice to fellow students? “Go for it. Art is very expressive, and when it comes to making a difference, expression is a great way to help.”

The Bra-ha-ha® entries were unveiled at the annual Bra-ha-ha® Awards Show and Auction, which serves as a tribute to those affected by breast cancer. According to the Bra-ha-ha® website, proceeds from the campaign help provide free mammograms and related breast health services to eligible uninsured and underinsured community members, as well as support advanced technology at Chesapeake Regional Breast Care.

Congratulations to Maddie on another meaningful—and beautifully creative—achievement.