Teen Volunteers Embrace Northstar with Big Hearts
A volunteer group of six teens and two adult chaperones gather in the sweltering parking lot of Northstar’s campus on this mid-June morning. They don rags, cleaning supplies and water buckets as they detail buses and vans used to take students with disabilities into the community.
“We need someone tall to hose the top of the bus. I can’t reach up there,” the young man says as he gingerly sprays a taller teen with the hose. They both giggle.
“We need more rags, please,” a girl says to anyone who will listen.
Undeterred by Virginia’s heat and humidity, the teenage volunteers joyfully sing, laugh, and playfully coach each other as they work on the task at hand.
For three days, these teens work through a robust task list that includes painting a large storage unit, cleaning and moving furniture and landscaping. Each task addresses a need and directly impacts Northstar special education students, while helping the school reset and prepare for the upcoming school year.
“Our goal in addition to completing the tasks was to raise awareness about why individualized education is important for students with disabilities,” Director of Development Susan Herzick says, "The campers were enthusiastic about helping. They asked questions about the task, but also about the students.”
The teenage volunteer work group that visited the Glen Allen campus were among about 250 teenagers and adult chaperones who participated in Catholic Hearts Work Camp-Richmond. They hailed from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio to strengthen their faith and help the local community, explains Program Manager Caryn Fresco, a special education teacher and tutor for over 30 years.
“We provide a safe opportunity for teens and adults from across the country to convene, love, serve, and connect not only with their faith but with organizations or deserving individuals in our metro-Richmond community,” Fresco says. The teen and adult campers eat, sleep and attend morning and evening faith-based programs at Benedictine Schools of Richmond.
The local camp is an outgrowth of the mission trips hosted by Catholic HEART Workcamp, which was founded in 1993 by Steve and Lisa Walker in Orlando, Florida. A group of teenage boys on return from a mission trip, notes Fresco, initially pitched the program to “share their faith and community service commitment” in Central Virginia.
Northstar welcomes volunteers and offers one-day and event volunteer opportunities.
Welcome Head of School Ms. Raffanello!
Northstar is thrilled to welcome Bethany Raffanello as our next Head of School, beginning July 1, 2025. After an extensive international search, Bethany stood out as the clear and unanimous choice of our Board of Directors—thanks to her compassionate leadership, deep commitment to inclusive education, and decades of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs.
“Bethany Raffanello emerged as the clear choice to lead Northstar into its next chapter,” said the Board of Directors in a joint statement. “Her professional expertise, warm and engaging personality, and alignment with Northstar’s mission made a lasting impression on every group she met during her campus visit.”
"I've been inspired by the passion and commitment I've seen across the Northstar community, and I am eager to listen, learn, and work alongside you as we build on the school's strong foundation and move forward together," said Bethany.
Bethany brings nearly 20 years of experience from The New England Center for Children (NECC), where she has worn many hats—from classroom teacher to Director of Student Administration. Her work has taken her across the globe, including time spent at NECC’s campus in Abu Dhabi, where she led early childhood and secondary programs and supported staff and families alike with a thoughtful, student-first approach. At every step, Bethany has championed excellence in special education and built strong, collaborative communities around her.
She holds an MBA from Quinnipiac University, a Master’s in Education from Simmons College, and a bachelor’s in psychology and sociology from Drew University. She’s also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LABA), with specialized training in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University.
Bethany will replace Crystal Trent, who has served as Northstar's Head of School since 2017. Under her leadership, Northstar notably relocated to a new facility in Henrico County in 2022.
Bethany’s blend of warmth, wisdom, and vision makes her a perfect fit for the Northstar community. We can’t wait for our students, families, and staff to get to know her and begin this exciting new chapter together.