Christchurch School
Encyclopedia
Christchurch School is a college-preparatory boarding school
in Christchurch, Virginia
, founded in 1921 by the Episcopal Church Diocese of Virginia and highly regarded for its dynamic, place-based Great Journeys Begin at the River program. The school enrolls slightly more than 200 students, including boarding and day boys, and day girls, grades 9-12 and postgraduate. Day students number approximately 45% of the student body, and are generally evenly divided among boys and girls.
Christchurch School's scenic location on the banks of the Rappahannock River
and in the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed offers unparalleled opportunity for a thoughtfully developed curriculum (Great Journeys) that is experiential and hands-on. Led by expert scientists and respected environmentalists, students discover and make connections both inside and outside the classroom and throughout the integrated curriculum. Technology is a crucial part of the program, as also is hands-on application of concepts.
A recently published book by faculty member Dr. Dean Goodwin, Global Warming for Beginners, includes an experiment designed and refined by Christchurch students.
Students and faculty run the school's oyster farm, financed by a student-run Cans for Oysters recycling program. Christchurch offers a well-regarded Learning Skills Program. Over seventy-five percent of the faculty lives on campus. Faculty serve as coaches, advisors, and dorm parents.
The school is situated in the rural and tranquil tidewater area of Virginia, near the colonial port town of Urbanna, Virginia
.
Admission to Christchurch School is based upon thorough review of the candidate's application, recommendations, questionnaires, transcripts, and a personal interview.
Christchurch is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Christchurch, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, founded in 1921 by the Episcopal Church Diocese of Virginia and highly regarded for its dynamic, place-based Great Journeys Begin at the River program. The school enrolls slightly more than 200 students, including boarding and day boys, and day girls, grades 9-12 and postgraduate. Day students number approximately 45% of the student body, and are generally evenly divided among boys and girls.
Christchurch School's scenic location on the banks of the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
and in the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
Watershed offers unparalleled opportunity for a thoughtfully developed curriculum (Great Journeys) that is experiential and hands-on. Led by expert scientists and respected environmentalists, students discover and make connections both inside and outside the classroom and throughout the integrated curriculum. Technology is a crucial part of the program, as also is hands-on application of concepts.
A recently published book by faculty member Dr. Dean Goodwin, Global Warming for Beginners, includes an experiment designed and refined by Christchurch students.
Students and faculty run the school's oyster farm, financed by a student-run Cans for Oysters recycling program. Christchurch offers a well-regarded Learning Skills Program. Over seventy-five percent of the faculty lives on campus. Faculty serve as coaches, advisors, and dorm parents.
The school is situated in the rural and tranquil tidewater area of Virginia, near the colonial port town of Urbanna, Virginia
Urbanna, Virginia
Urbanna is a town in Middlesex County, Virginia, United States. Urbanna means “City of Anne” and was named in honor of England’s Queen Anne. The population was 543 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Urbanna is located at ....
.
Admission to Christchurch School is based upon thorough review of the candidate's application, recommendations, questionnaires, transcripts, and a personal interview.
Christchurch is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.
Co-Curricular Program
In the afternoons, life at Christchurch offers a huge variety of choices that enable every student to grow by being involved in the community. Students participate in four areas, each offering opportunities to grow in confidence and ability: Athletics, River and Outdoor, Community Service and Spiritual Life, and Campus Life.Athletics
The Christchurch School athletic program functions as an integral part of the co-curricular program. Lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork, commitment, and strong effort are emphasized in our program. Christchurch School is a member of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, the Virginia Prep League, the Virginia Commonwealth Conference, the Old Dominion Football Conference, the Virginia Interscholastic Sailing Association, and the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association. Teams at the Varsity and Junior Varsity level compete with other private and public schools. The varsity soccer team, ranked 3rd at the end of the 2009 regular season, swept through the playoffs knocking off the #2 and #1 ranked teams in the state, winning the 2009 VISAA State Championship. Christchurch then won the 2010 Lacrosse State Championship and repeated in 2011. The 2011 Football was led by captains Pat young, Carlos Gray, and Winthrop Homer to a undefeated season and a first time State Championship. Beating Potomac school (Mclean) 48-15Fall Athletic Offerings
- Varsity and JV Football
- Varsity and JV Soccer
- Varsity and JV Sailing
- Volleyball
- Crew
- Natural Fitness
- Field Hockey
Winter Athletic Offerings
- Varsity and JV Basketball
- Girls Basketball
- Intramural Basketball
- Intramural Soccer
- Bowling Club
- Natural Fitness
Spring Athletic Offerings
- Varsity and JV Lacrosse
- Varsity Sailing
- Baseball
- Golf
- Girls Soccer
- Crew
Campus Life
- Drama Production
- Drama Tech
- Athletic Team Manager
- Student Athletic Trainer
- Student Tour Guide
- Chess Club
- Sustainability Task Force
- Student Athletic Council
- National Honor Society
- Honor Council
- Student Government Association
- Prefecture
Spiritual Life
- Plunge
- Fellowship
- Retreats
- Bible Study
- Compline
- Music Ministries
- Guided Meditation
- Spiritual Life Media Group
- Films and Theology
Notable alumni
- William StyronWilliam StyronWilliam Clark Styron, Jr. was an American novelist and essayist who won major literary awards for his work.For much of his career, Styron was best known for his novels, which included...
, Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning author - Vincent CanbyVincent CanbyVincent Canby was an American film critic who became the chief film critic for The New York Times in 1969 and reviewed more than 1000 films during his tenure there.-Life and career:...
, film critic for The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...