P.E. Class Gets a Refresh
Northstar staff are great at adapting. With the addition of new gym equipment, Northstar’s P.E. teacher, Ms. Pigg, will have the tools to customize her curriculum. Because of the generous support provided by the Women’s Giving Circle, a fund of the Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Richmond, she has the equipment she needs to help our students learn and thrive.
While traditional physical education goals can fixate on athletic ability, Northstar's daily P.E. activities are adapted to meet the needs of every students. Northstar has invested in new equipment with student success in mind. Tools such as yoga mats, varying size balls and birdies, and even the color of the volleyball net have been purchased with student success in mind.
- Multi-size balls help students with developmental delays or differing skill sets in the same class. It also gives students the chance to first build their confidence with an easier-to-grasp ball, then gradually move to into standard equipment.
- A bright orange volleyball net assures students with visual impairments can see the net while playing, and special jumbo-size badminton birdies allows students to clearly track them in the air, helping with hand-eye coordination.
- New mats for yoga lessons help our students practice mindfulness, emotional regulation, and strategies for coping that are crucial for students with disabilities.
- Additionally, organized and clean storage units ensure the long-term sustainability of this equipment.
This equipment has also allowed Ms. Pigg to be creative during P.E. class. During the 2024-25 school year, lower school students played a version of “Battleship" in the new gymnasium. This game, involving mats, scooters, and balls, was an fun way to practice sportsmanship, teamwork, balance, and dexterity. Varying sizes of balls are used, allowing the game to accommodate students with differing muscle tone and gross motor skills.
Thank you again to the Women’s Giving Circle for providing invaluable support to Northstar students!
Pomp and Circumstance for Graduates
The staff and faculty of Northstar are pleased to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2025. On Thursday, June 5, students, families, and loved ones gathered in the gymnasium and community center to honor nine graduates from the Academy and 21 students who completed their programs at the Career Center.
"Throughout their years at Northstar, our students work tirelessly to reach their goals and pursue their dreams," said Wanda Ramsey, Assistant Head of School.
One of Northstar’s most cherished traditions is the senior essay. In the weeks leading up to graduation, every senior reflects on their educational journey by writing a personal essay. In them, they describe past challenges, growth, future plans, and the people who have supported them along the way. Each candidate takes the podium to share these heartfelt stories during Baccalaureate, a special ceremony held the evening before graduation. This year, Northstar's family volunteer group SCOPE (Seeking Careers, Opportunities, Possibilities, and Education) awarded two students, Maya and Bryan, with scholarships to support their next educational adventure.
"Since being at Northstar I've improved my reading by at least four grade levels and passed all the tests I needed to graduate. I've also gotten to work as a mentor for one of my classmates whose disability impacts her differently than mine. Being at this school with classmates with so many differences has made me a lot more empathetic and understanding . . . . I want to use my voice to advocate for people like me when it comes to people with learning disabilities and mental health. I want to show everyone else who has a disability like me that they can be successful and they can chase their dreams."-Maya, a 2025 graduate
At Northstar, we believe every student deserves a customized education tailored to their unique strengths and abilities. Graduation day is not just a milestone — it’s a celebration of the incredible journeys, hard work, and perseverance that brought each student to this moment. Our students have the flexibility to pursue various pathways, with options to earn an advanced, standard, or applied studies diploma, reflecting their personal goals and accomplishments.
Our graduates also earned a variety of credentials across Career Center's five specialized program tracks: Hospitality, Construction and Maintenance, Business Technology, Materials Handling, and Veterinary Assisting. Each credential represents dedication, skill-building, and workplace readiness for exciting next steps.
Congratulations to the incredible Northstar Class of 2025!
Northstar Cheer Club Steps in Style at Richmond Urban Dance
"Step, step, cross. Step, step, cross."
That’s how it all began as 20 students from Northstar’s Cheer Club laced up their sneakers and took to the dance floor at Richmond Urban Dance. During this exciting field trip, students had the opportunity to learn a brand-new routine taught by professional instructors in a welcoming, high-energy environment.
"First we did the Cha-Cha Slide, then the teacher taught us new choreography for a new song," said 7th grader Laureli. "We got to do our own dances, too, which was really fun."
“It was incredible how quickly the students picked up the routine,” said Northstar board member Nancy Jordan, who attended the session.
As the hour-long class came to a close, the dancers gathered in a supportive circle, and each student had the chance to shine with a freestyle moment in the center — cheered on by their peers and beaming with confidence.
“It made my week to see their smiling faces and to watch them cheer each other on as they danced!” Jordan added.
Cheer Club is an inclusive club available to any Northstar middle or upper school student. Northstar includes extracurricular activities as part providing a well-rounded school experience to every student.
Richmond Urban Dance offers a free weekly class designed for people with disabilities, providing an inclusive space where creativity, movement, and self-expression take center stage.
