Northstar Announces Grand Opening of State-of-the-Art Gymnasium and Community Center
Enhancing Educational and Athletic Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
Northstar Academy and Career Center is proud to announce the grand opening of its new gymnasium and community center. This milestone marks a significant enhancement in Northstar’s commitment to providing comprehensive educational and extracurricular opportunities for students with disabilities.
The almost 16,000 sq ft facility features a state-of-the-art gymnasium equipped with an integrated audio induction loop system, ensuring inclusivity for individuals with hearing impairments. This system is the first of its kind in a K-12 school gym in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In addition to serving as a venue for physical education classes, the gymnasium will host school assemblies, performances, and graduations, fostering a sense of community and school spirit.
During a ribbon cutting ceremony, students, faculty, and community members dedicated the space with pomp and circumstance. Festivities included a performance by the Northstar Cheer Club, a speech from recent Northstar graduate Will Griffin, as well as remarks from Board Chair Richard Bennett, M.D. and Crystal Trent, Head of School.
"This new facility embodies our dedication to creating an inclusive environment where all students can thrive," said Trent, "It not only provides a space for physical development but also enhances social interactions and community building among our students."
The event concluded with 9th grade student Emerson shooting a ceremonial first basket in a newly-dedicated basketball hoop.
Northstar’s quest to enhance its educational home began in 2022, when the school combined its separate K12 Academy and Career Center campuses and moved to the current Nuckols Road campus. The school now looks forward to the completion of a 200-meter track and activity field. The conclusion of this capital project brings Northstar closer to its vision of an inspiring campus tailored to the diverse needs of its students.
Practicing Self-Advocacy Skills in the Classroom
May I use the restroom? Do we have glue sticks? Can you explain what you mean?
These are everyday questions in any classroom. But for students with a learning disability, even simple questions can feel daunting. At Northstar, students build the confidence and communication skills to advocate and speak up for their needs.
Northstar values educating students about social skills to help them reach their potential. Each month our advisory class focuses on a different theme.
“Teaching self-advocacy is one of the most important things we do for our students here at Northstar,” says Northstar teacher Hailey Shinault. It empowers students to ask follow-up questions, request breaks, and take ownership of their learning. We are setting them up for long-term success. “
Northstar Academy, in collaboration with UVA Child Development and Kluge Rehabilitation Center, has developed a proprietary social skills curriculum. Each day in Advisory Class, along with reinforcement throughout the day, students grow their executive function skills, self-regulation abilities and metacognitive (thought awareness, planning, and goal setting) abilities.
These building blocks not only help students while they’re in school, Shinault explains, but they prepare students and build the confidence to meet life challenges and grow.
Students practice raising their hands in front of the class and asking questions. As part of the lesson, the students learn to express how they feel when they advocate for themselves. Students offer words like empowered, brave, and capable.
Doc, an upper school student, says confidently, “I feel happy. I can do it.”
The teachers use their own experiences as examples of self-advocacy, too. Shinault asks the students to help her clean off the desks and put items in their proper place. “What am I doing when I ask you for help?” she asks the students.
There is a resounding response: “Advocating.”
At Northstar, self-advocacy is more than a skill, it’s a key to unlocking confidence, independence, and future success.