News Archives

Get ready to gear up for the upcoming school year—summer strength and conditioning is back! Under the leadership of Coaches Louis Mineor and Matt Talley, this program is designed to build athletic performance, foster team camaraderie and prepare student-athletes of all levels for fall sports.

We encourage all eligible participants to take advantage of this great opportunity to stay active, build strength and connect with our athletic community. We’d love to see you there!

• Varsity Sports Begin: Aug. 11
• Junior Varsity Sports Begin: Aug. 18
• Middle School Sports Begin: Aug. 25

It is with heartfelt sadness that we share the passing of a long-time and cherished member of the Norfolk Collegiate community, Mrs. Betty Jones, who passed away last week.

Mrs. Jones served our school with distinction from 1975 until her retirement in 2010, impacting generations of students and families through her roles as a teacher and, most notably, as director of college counseling. Her work laid the foundation for our current college counseling program, and her influence continues to shape our approach today.

While the tools and timelines in the college admissions process have evolved over the years, our philosophy has remained grounded in Mrs. Jones' belief in helping students find the “right fit.” She eloquently and consistently emphasized the importance of students taking ownership of their journey—an approach that remains central to our mission.

Mrs. Jones' impact extended well beyond the walls of her office. She played an integral role in leading curriculum development, teacher task forces, strategic planning efforts, and successful accreditation processes. Her quiet strength and dedication to excellence helped shape much of the school's work during her tenure.

Beyond our campus, Mrs. Jones was a respected leader in the broader college counseling community. She was honored with the Richard L. Apperson Award by the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admissions Counseling (PCACAC), which recognizes extraordinary service to students, the profession and the association itself.

After retiring, Mrs. Jones and her husband, Bill, continued their commitment to education by sponsoring the Jones Speaker Series, which brought authors, scientists, historians and musicians to campus, reflecting her belief in the essential role of the humanities in a well-rounded education.

Please join us in keeping Bill, and their sons, Bruce ’87 and Brad ’89, in your thoughts and prayers during this time. A private family service was held earlier this week, and a memorial service will be planned for later this summer. We will share details with our community once they are available.

Mrs. Jones leaves behind a legacy of compassion, excellence and service that will continue to inspire generations of Oaks to come. She will be deeply missed.

Collegiate's winter athletic season student-athletes were honored on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in front of their peers during the Middle and Upper School Winter Athletic Awards program. The winter season saw student-athletes take on swimming, wrestling and basketball in the longest season for our Oaks, beginning Nov. 4, 2024, and ending on Feb. 25, 2025, with our last basketball game. The winter season saw 4 varsity sports and 12 teams compete with several TCIS semi-finalists and quarter-finalists and several student-athletes go on to be named to VISAA and TCIS teams. Additionally, the middle school Blue girls basketball team were named champions of the Norfolk Collegiate Middle School League 8^th grade division defeating Norfolk Academy in the championship game.

Standout student-athletes were awarded plaques describing their role on their respective teams, including the following awards: Most Valuable Players; Most Improved Players; OAK Award and Outstanding Teammate.

 

“Connect. Care. Thrive.” LaShawn Merritt, a Portsmouth native and three-time Olympic gold medalist, kicked off LEAP Term by inspiring students through his Merritt Mindset. Following his inspirational remarks, Merritt worked with students in the Watt-Baker Gymnasium through a series of interactive workshops entitled the “Merritt Mindset.”

This year’s LEAP Term will see students engaging in a week full of guest speakers, interactive workshops, and off-campus experiences highlighting the importance of connection, caring for one another, ourselves and our communities, and learning to thrive through challenges and successes.

Having Merritt kick off the week with his Merritt Mindset where he stresses the importance of being “connected, caring and building relationships” if you want to become a champion was the perfect start to an engaging week for freshmen, sophomores and juniors. 

“My core values guided my success,” said Merritt, who holds three gold medals and 13 championships. However, “my success came in my preparation.”