School of Thought

Test Anxiety: How to Tame this Monster!
Peg Jensen, Ph.D., Director of the Diagnostic Assessment Program

      We all get nervous from time to time when we have to “perform” some task in which we do not feel particularly confident.  This is a basic form of “performance anxiety.”  If the task involved something in which we believed we were good at doing, rather than being nervous, instead we might actually look forward to the task. The main difference between these two circumstances is in how or what we think about them. 

      One approach to tackling “test anxiety” at any age is referred to as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).  Research has shown both are effective and require only short-term interventions, as opposed to years of “therapy.”   The essence of CBT and REBT is changing the way we think about a situation in order to reduce our anxiety and the earlier you introduce these concepts to your children/students, the more likely they are to enjoy school and learning.

Do List:

CBA: Upper School

CBA: Tour of CBA

Experience Equals Growth!
Implementing the 3E’s to help Kids get Involved!
Rachel Roque, MA , Organizational Leadership
Coaching Director, Virginia Beach Field Hockey

I am a firm believer that our experiences as youth significantly helps shape and mold our character when we are older.  Whether it be field hockey leagues, piano lessons, karate class or even arts and crafts, what we do when we are younger has a profound effect on who we are, how we act, and what we do when we get older.  That is why it is so important for kids to get involved in their schools, churches, or community—so that when they grow up, they become well-rounded and contributing members of society.  As adults, parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors we have a responsibility to provide youth with opportunities to participate in a myriad of activities to help them gain a wealth of experience.

Meredith Gober & Kristen Hager, Upper School Faculty

Helping Children Develop Healthy Relationships
Mrs. Evelyn Agustin                                                                      
Virginia State Certified Mediator, Family & Marriage Adviser, Educator

Bullying remains to be a problem plaguing our society and children of all ages. The act of bullying needs to be addressed by teaching children to change their behavior and offer them a learning environment that emphasizes positive interactions and acceptance.

Bullying is an aggressive and repetitive behavior that is intentional and causes verbal, mental and physical harm.  Bullying empowers the bully and victimizes the bullied. 

Heart Health in Children
Maria McKneely, RN, BSN, MSN, CCRN, CNS

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in four deaths is caused by heart disease.  In fact, someone dies every thirty-seven seconds from cardiovascular disease.  Therefore, heart health is very important in children.  Primary prevention or the first way of preventing cardiovascular disease begins in childhood.  We are born with one heart and a web of blood vessels that we must protect for a lifetime.

February is American Heart month or Heart Health Awareness month.  During this month, we think about Valentine’s Day. It is also a great time to begin taking steps to be “heart healthy.” Although it is never too late to begin taking these steps, the best prevention begins in childhood.

What to do if your child is a victim of cyberbullying?
Mary Morgan, Director of Instructional Technology

“Electronic aggression among kids is on the rise” (Forbes Magazine). The consequences of cyberbulling (electronic aggression) can be devastating. Victims sometimes take severe measures, including suicide, to stop the abuse. Cyberbullying is often a sustained attack on a child over a period of time. It follows your child everywhere. For some children there is no escaping it. It is on their phones, their computers, and on their social networking accounts. There is no place for them to hide. Children tend to not tell their parents they are being cyberbullied because they are fearful of being punished and having their Internet and phone access taken away. "Awareness about the issue is high, but awareness about what to do when it happens is mixed," says Michele Ybarra, president and research director for Internet Solutions for Kids (ISK) and an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. If you find out your child is the victim of cyberbullying these guideline will help you to deal with the issue.

Cyberbullying, Part 1
Mary Morgan, Director of Instructional Technology

What is cyberbullying?
The Virginia Department of Education defines cyberbullying as "using information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cellphones, text messaging, instant messaging and Web sites to support deliberate, hostile behavior intended to harm others." According to Virginia Department of Education guidelines, cyber-bullying can include sending "mean, vulgar or threatening" messages or images; posting sensitive or private information about another person; or intentionally excluding someone from an online group (Virginia Department of Education, 2008).

How to Choose a Private School
Sharon Sharp, Admissions Assistant

Parents often look to private schools to give their children the best education because of smaller class sizes, school safety, higher academic standards, and religious values.  Use the guidelines listed below to help you determine what type of private school will best fit the needs of your child.