Summer of Discovery

Nexus Global Studies sent students all over the world during the 2022-2023 school year! More than 390 students traveled to six states and 12 countries, including the Netherlands, Botswana, Fiji, Vietnam, Belize and more. We are grateful for the dozens of chaperones who make these trips possible every year and we look forward to many more adventures in the future.

Vietnam and Cambodia

In Vietnam and Cambodia, Upper School students visited Angkor Wat, watched the sunset from the top of the Ba Keng, cleaned up a beach in Ha Long Bay and learned about the role of Buddhism in the region.

Little Nexus: Florida Keys

more states and countries.

Iceland

In Iceland, Upper School students hiked the Solheimajokull glacier, went whale watching in Dalvik, and visited “Diamond Beach.” The beach got its name from the iceberg pieces that are brought back ashore by the waves, then polished into “diamonds” by the sand.

Botswana

Middle School Around The World Breakfast

By Mrs. Alexandra Oglesby, Director of Communications

Cape Henry Collegiate’s mission to graduate globally aware citizens starts early – at breakfast, to be specific. This year, the Middle School brought back its Around the World Breakfast for the first time since the pandemic halted the annual tradition.

The idea is simple: Students bring in traditional breakfast foods from other countries to share with their peers. The effect, however, is profound.

“The breakfast makes students want to learn even more,” said Middle School teacher Mrs. Leigh Anne Clay. “They come back and say, ‘We wish we could have longer with it to learn even more about the culture.”

Teachers are intentional about helping their advisory groups choose countries they may be less familiar with. This year, representation came from South Korea, Morocco, Italy, Pakistan and more.

“There were a lot of new foods that I hadn’t tried before,” said 8th grader Coral Hobbs. “My parents have a lot of kimchi at home, but I didn’t try it until the breakfast at school. There were so many other foods I was trying, I just figured I would try that, too. I really liked it!”

Coral and her classmate Henry Scolnick pointed out that food, whether familiar or new, can be the basis of international relationships. Coral noticed that foods like rice or grains were used around the world with slight variations, a fact she says “could get you talking,” and Henry believes expanding his palate will expand his world.

“If you have a common taste, that’s how friendships start, because you have something you can talk about.”

Lower School Global Presentations

By Dr. Danielle Kreassig, Lower School Curriculum Specialist

What a year it has been for our Lower School students! Without ever leaving Cape Henry’s campus, they traveled to Antartica, Australia, Asia, South America, North America, Europe and Africa. Our unique Nexus Global Studies curriculum provides a gateway for students to learn about different cultures, histories and experiences of our world. The expectation is for students to graduate from the Lower School understanding the importance of diversity, multiculturalism and empathy for others by learning about different countries and continents around the world. We accomplish this by providing learning experiences that encourage authentic interactions with their selected continent.

The Lower School journey to becoming globally and culturally aware in our increasingly interconnected world begins with our youngest learners beginning to develop a broad understanding of the differences between our community and communities around the world. The students and teachers in prekindergarten, kindergarten and transition delve into the continents of Antarctica and Australia with weekly integration of plants, animals, traditions, landforms and significant people from these areas. These beginning years lay the foundation to value and respect different customs, traditions, art, music and cuisines, leading to a richer and more inclusive understanding of the world.

Our first and second grade Dolphins build upon their early literacy skills of reading, writing, communicating and researching while producing book keepsakes highlighting their acquired knowledge. In first grade, all of the students read “Same, Same But Different” by Ms. Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw. The students then created their own “Same, Same But Different” A-Z book comparing our corner of the world with their selected countries in Asia. Second graders took their acquired knowledge about South America and wrote and published a classroom book to showcase all that they have learned. While strengthening their communication skills, students had many opportunities to discover what connects us all around the world and to appreciate our different lifestyles, beliefs, and customs.

The foundation we build in the early grades allows older Lower School students to dive deeper into our cultures here in North America, along with the multitude of countries in Europe and Africa. It also provides opportunities to interact and communicate with people from different backgrounds. The curriculum focuses on strengthening research, communication and technological skills while fostering opportunities to connect our students with experts who study, research and work across these continents. Our program strives to foster curiosity, cultural awareness and encourage a lifelong love of learning and exploration.

As we prepare the Lower School students to enter into the Middle School years, our goal is to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate an interconnected world, foster appreciation for diversity, and promote a more inclusive and harmonious world in their journey to graduate as independent thinkers and globally aware citizens.