Students School Their Teachers at Basketball
The energy was high and the smiles were even bigger at Northstar’s students vs. teachers basketball game—an event that perfectly captured the spirit of fun, teamwork, and inclusion. While the game was all about friendly competition, it also gave students a chance to sharpen their skills, build confidence, and work together as a team in a supportive, inclusive environment.
This beloved tradition, once a staple for the club basketball team, had been on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the opening of the new gymnasium, the game made a triumphant return, bringing with it a renewed sense of excitement and community. Students and teachers faced off on the court, each side eager to claim bragging rights, but the true victory was in the shared experience and joy of participation.
"It was really cool to see the teachers play," says Faith, 11th grade, about the event.
The event drew an enthusiastic crowd of parents, volunteers, community members, and fellow students. The stands were filled with handmade signs of encouragement, cheers, and laughter, creating an atmosphere that celebrated every player. During intermission, the cheer team grabbed their pompoms and marched onto the floor to perform for their fellow students. It was a powerful reminder of how sports can unite a community and highlight the importance of traditional school experiences while maintaining accommodations for individuals of all ability levels. Coached by P.E. teacher Ms. Pigg and Coach Mario, the students ultimately defeated the teachers in a 14 - 10 final score.
"I like playing basketball. I liked [the game] especially because we won," said Patrick, 8th grade, referencing the student team victory. "But I also would've still had fun even if we lost."
After the final buzzer, the fun didn’t stop. Students and staff were invited onto the court to try their hand at free throws, giving everyone a chance to participate and feel part of the action. Even Navi the Gator, Northstar's beloved mascot, got in on the fun with a one-on-one shootout against the Easter Bunny. Moments like these reinforce Northstar’s commitment to creating opportunities that are both engaging and inclusive.
"The student's teamwork really shined. It got them all those extra baskets and let them pull ahead," commented Mrs. Webb, who played for the teacher team. "I'm ready for next year's rematch."
The return of the students vs. teachers basketball game is more than just a fun event—it’s a celebration of resilience, community, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to play, compete, and belong.
Celebrating Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, Northstar filled the calendar with experiences designed to highlight, uplift, and celebrate the rich history, achievements, voices, and contributions of black individuals.
We kicked off the month with an all-student assembly explaining the origins of the month. Although only officially signed into law by Congress in 1986, Black History Month has been observed in some way since the early 20th century. This year marks the centennial celebration since its precursor Negro History Week was designated in 1926.
At Northstar, students stretched their creative muscles by fashioning an interactive “walking museum.” Advisory classes worked together to choose a person to highlight in a poster. Among subjects were black activists, politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, and more from both history and today. In addition, students and staff delved into the rich culture of black art by exploring the contributions of artists of color. From visual arts to music to the written word, the Northstar community highlighted their favorite or most impactful works.
“It’s important we learn about important people in the past, especially people who ended slavery and people like Martin Luther King,” said middle schooler Amyra about the creative project.
Upper School students expanded their knowledge by taking a visit to the Richmond Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia (BHMVA), where they heard about the achievements and trials of black folks across the commonwealth.
Instructional Assistant Jordan Johnson, who planned the celebrations, said, “Black History Month is an opportunity for learning, reflection, celebration, and connection. It’s important to create space for our students to have meaningful conversations.”
During the last week of February, Johnson hosted a panel discussion of black professionals. Among the speakers were local leaders, business owners, and health care professionals. They took questions about their backgrounds in education, the world of work, and their individual experiences as black professionals.
“There’s gonna be obstacles. That’s what life is,” said physiatrist Dr. Timothy Silver while discussing how to tackle challenges of post-secondary education. “How we negotiate them to get to the next level is up to you.”
The panelists shared messages of encouragement and positive intentions for the future of Richmond’s black community.
“Uplifting my community and seeing those same people come and support me is one of the things I really, really cherish about us as a people,” said Kayen Wilborn, a local musician.
When asked about what black joy means to her, Veterinarian Brit’nee Haskins simply commented, “Black joy is just the freedom and space to be who you are.”
Pet Care as a Profession: Why the Veterinary Assisting Program at Northstar Career Center Opens Doors for Animal-Loving Students
For students who adore animals and dream of working with them every day, the Veterinary Assisting program at Northstar Career Center offers a meaningful, hands-on pathway to real career opportunities. In a laboratory-style classroom that resembles a real veterinary office, students learn to handle, care for, and manage animals — along with the administrative and customer-service skills needed in the pet-care field.
Whether students envision caring for pets in a clinic, working in a kennel, grooming animals, or offering personalized pet services, this program lays a foundation that connects passion with professional purpose.
Section 1: Hands-On Learning in a Realistic Veterinary Setting
Northstar’s Veterinary Assisting program places students in environments that feel like actual workplaces — not just classrooms. Here, students:
- Practice safe and humane animal handling
- Learn animal care routines and facility maintenance
- Manage paperwork and client communication
This experiential approach strengthens skills through doing rather than just observing, which helps students gain confidence and independence before entering the workforce.
Section 2: Career Paths for Animal-Loving Students
One of the most exciting aspects of the Veterinary Assisting program is the range of career options it can help prepare students for. For people who love animals and want to turn that passion into work, possible pathways include:
Veterinary Assistant
Graduates can support veterinarians and technicians by caring for animals, assisting with treatments, preparing exam rooms, and interacting with pet owners — all foundational duties in veterinary clinics and animal hospitals.
Kennel Attendant / Animal Care Worker
In animal shelters, boarding facilities, and kennels, attendants feed, exercise, and clean up after animals regularly. These roles are essential in ensuring the health and well-being of pets in care.
Pet Sitter or Pet Care Specialist
For students interested in flexible, independent work, pet sitting offers a way to care for pets in their owners’ homes while owners are away — feeding, walking, and providing companionship daily.
Grooming and Basic Care Roles
Although some grooming roles require additional training, basic grooming skills like bathing, brushing, nail trimming, and coat care are valuable in many animal-care settings and can complement other job duties.
By exposing students to real animal care experiences, the program helps them clarify their interests and opens doors to careers that range from hands-on clinical work to independent pet services.
Section 3: Skills That Make Students Work-Ready
Northstar’s program goes beyond animal care techniques. Students practice:
- Professional communication with pet owners and coworkers
- Workflow management with assistive technologies and organizational systems
- Problem solving and independence on real tasks both in the classroom and community settings
These transferable skills are crucial not only for veterinary work but also for other job settings where responsibility, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills matter.
The program also offers opportunities to earn credentials — such as certifications from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) — to help students stand out in the job market.
Section 4: Real-World Experiences That Build Confidence
Northstar students don’t just learn about animal care, they do it. One example is the veterinary assisting class’s embryology project, where students care for fertilized eggs, monitor embryo growth, and experience the hatching process firsthand. These kinds of immersive, purpose-driven activities deepen engagement and foster pride in skill mastery.
These experiential moments help students develop critical thinking, responsibility, and empathy — qualities employers value highly in animal-care professions.
Section 5: Preparing for Long-Term Success
Through the Veterinary Assisting program, students build a portfolio of skills, experiences, and credentials that can be documented on resumes and shared with future employers. Northstar also supports students in transitioning to the workforce by:
- Helping them practice workplace expectations and social communication
- Encouraging reflection on career goals and next steps
- Linking graduates with community partners and employers who value skilled, compassionate workers willing to learn and grow
This career-focused support helps students enter competitive job markets with confidence and clarity about where their love of animals can take them next.
Conclusion
For animal lovers who want to turn their passion into a profession, the Veterinary Assisting program at Northstar Career Center offers an engaging, hands-on, and skill-building path forward. By blending practical pet care instruction with real-world experience, the program not only trains students for roles like veterinary assistant, kennel attendant, pet sitter, and more — it also fosters confidence, independence, and job readiness.
If you or someone you know dreams of working with animals, this program can be a springboard to meaningful work and a fulfilling career. Explore the possibilities and support vocational experiences that help students succeed in the pet care industry.
Flying High
When’s the last time you rode in an airplane? How about the last time you sat in the pilot’s seat?
Recently, Ms. Kiki’s Geography class took a field trip to the Richmond International Airport, where they got to get up close and personal with aircraft and the processes that make it possible for us to fly.
The first stop of the field trip was RVA Flyers, a flight training center where new pilots learn the skills to earn their private or commercial license. Tony, a flight instructor who led the tour of a small hanger, assisted students in climbing into a small four-seater plane, where they learned about the many controls and buttons.
“We use these planes to teach new pilots,” explained Tony. “You need to be at 17 years old and log at least 40 hours in the air to earn your private license.”
“In the plane you could move the joystick and press the pedals and the tail would go back and forth,” said eighth grade student Laureli.
After touring RVA Flyers, students got a private tour of the air traffic control tower.
From the 6-story tower, they got a birds-eye view of the entire airport complex. Workers pointed out a side of the airport not typically shared with passengers, such as the fleet of deicing vehicles and ongoing capital improvements to RIC’s airfield.
“I really liked seeing the monitors,” said Hunter, eighth grade, about the experience. “We saw a cargo plane and a big jet landing, too.”
Between answering student questions, they shared their day-to-day tasks. As one controller shared, “The busiest times are when the weather is clear in Richmond but bad in surrounding cities, because all those planes get redirected to us!”
While watching planes take off and land, students learned the basics of how to read radar equipment and dabbled in speaking with the ICAO phonetic alphabet (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, etc).
Northstar students love going off campus and exploring learning opportunities beyond the classroom!
Students Lead the Way in Recycling
At Northstar, learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom — it happens in the hallways, the lunchroom, and even by the recycling bins. Thanks to a student-led recycling initiative, our middle school students are taking the lead in reducing waste across campus while gaining valuable vocational and life skills.
Led by middle school science teacher Isabel Futterman, the program has become part of both the curriculum and the culture at Northstar. Each week, students collect recyclable items — plastic bottles, paper, and cardboard — from classrooms and common spaces. They sort, organize, and prepare the materials for transport to local recycling centers, turning what could have been waste into a lesson in responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Recently, the program received a boost through a Green Grant application. This helped purchase new recycling bins, including a triple-sort station for the new gym and community room. These additions make recycling even more accessible for students and staff. The multiple locations remind us that sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.
“Hooray!” Ms. Futterman commented about the update, “Students now have sorting bins across campus for cans, bottles, and paper products. It’s a small step that makes a big difference — and it’s led by them.”
The impact is already visible. From the office to the library to the lunch room, new blue and grey bins are in place, giving students a hands-on role in keeping our school green.
The program also gives students the opportunity to hone their social skills. When visiting offices and classrooms to collect bins, they practice proper entry etiquette. This includes knocking politely, waiting for the okay to enter, and asking if they can step in to take care of this week’s recycling.
For our students, this initiative goes beyond recycling. It’s about building executive function skills like organization, planning, and teamwork. It’s about practicing leadership and community service. And it’s about recognizing that even small actions (like choosing the right bin) can add up to meaningful change.
At Northstar, we are proud of the way our students are learning to care for the world around them, and we look forward to seeing this program grow. After all, sustainability is not just a lesson for today — it’s a skill for life.
Math: A Lesson in Timing
Timing is everything - whether you are running a race, buying the last shirt in your specific size, or meeting your life partner. It’s also true when it comes to learning math.
The pace at which educators teach students with disabilities can be a critical factor in how well they process information and make connections to “get the right answer,” says David Rosko, who teaches high school Calculus and Algebra at Northstar Academy & Career Center.
Rosko watched this play out over and over while teaching in Chicago and Virginia public schools, where math is taught at a brisk pace.
“When I first came here to Northstar, my pace of teaching math was a shock for the students, so I had to scale it back a little,” Rosko explains. “We’re still doing all the content required by Virginia’s SOLs, but the pace is slower."
Math Curriculum + Family Input + Problem Solving = Success
Northstar’s curriculum meets Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOLs). That’s a starting point, according to Rosko. Setting expectations and scaling them to support individual levels and goals involves good communication with students and families. It's something he believes Northstar does well.
“There is a flexibility for different teaching styles and a community of support that is different here,” he notes. “This is also a place where a teacher with a softer touch is a great fit for students.“
Northstar students also have an important advantage with small class sizes. While public school system classes commonly reach upwards of 20 - 30 students in a class, the student:teacher ratio for special education classes is capped at 8:1.
“That’s when you see the students and their families struggle,” says Rosko, who knows the pattern well, not just as an educator, but as a father who raised two children on the autism spectrum.
“We know having a child with a disability is difficult. It’s stressful on the whole family,” he says. “At Northstar, we want you to feel supported and comfortable.”
Experience and Agility Guide Hands-On Teaching
Middle-school teacher Edna Heinig has taught math for 26 years 一 15 years at Northstar. Her experience and flexible teaching methods enable her to change course rapidly. She recalls years in which each student in her class was operating at a different instructional level.
“I have the flexibility to teach differently, to provide a 1:1 approach when it comes to teaching strategies and pace," says Heinig. For instance, she explains, what might take two weeks to teach in a standard public school class may take four weeks to teach at Northstar. “We can work at their pace. Whatever is in the best interest of the child is most important.”
Heinig’s overall teaching philosophy and goal is to use math as a way to teach students how to pay attention to the details, follow instructions, and learn social skills through collaborating. “Math can help students learn to get along with others and help them acquire skills to survive in the world outside of Northstar,” she says.
One of Heinig’s favorite teaching methods which she finds “very effective” for middle school learners is the use of manipulatives. These tools integrate the thought process and the creative use of physical objects to solve math problems. This includes hands-on work with connecting objects similar to Lego blocks, tape measures with negative numbers for counting and applying the right answers to math problems to create new designs.
“The students are learning,” she says while demonstrating the use of manipulatives. “I use it every day and the students love it.”
Student-Led Service Project Takes a Bite Out of Hunger
When tasked with coming up with ways to be involved in the community, the group of upper schoolers decided as a class that they wanted to make a positive change in the form of a food drive.
Advisory is part of Northstar’s proprietary program focused on refining social skills such as personal responsibility, effective communication, coping skills, and self-advocacy. Each month has a different theme. Ms. Lynch’s Advisory class is embracing the monthly theme of “community” with a special service project.
Students discussed a number of ideas such as a hygiene campaign, clothing/coat drive, or even a dog toy collection for a local shelter. Ultimately, the class landed on a food drive.
“This kind of drive is more accessible,” says 9th grader Emerson about the winning idea. While not everyone could have means to donate a coat, donating an extra can of food is relatively inexpensive in comparison. Plus, food drives are a common, recognizable charitable project and are simpler to organize and advertise. The initiative aims to provide relief to families facing food insecurity in Richmond.
“We talked about what it means to be food insecure,” says English teacher Ms. Lynch, who is leading the initiative. “We can empathize with less fortunate people in our community and help them in a tangible way.” The USDA defines food insecurity as an economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
"It feels good to help people who need it in our community," says 10th grade student Barrington.
When the collection period is over, all donations will be given to Feed More, a local food bank. Feed More distributes prepackaged and cooked meals to people facing food insecurity across 34 Central Virginia districts. Nonperishables, such as canned foods, dry goods, condiments, and spices, are welcome donations. The organization asks for any snack-like donations to be nutritious.
“The food has to be healthy,” says 9th grade student Evelyn, “So no candy, please.”
Donations will be collected through October 7th.
Scouts on the Scene
A huge shout-out to Max from Boy Scout Troop 763! For his Eagle Scout project, Max has given Northstar something truly special that our students will enjoy every day.
At 17 years old, he wanted his project to make a real difference. “My brother went here, and around that time I started thinking about Scout projects,” he explained. Max, who enjoys woodcraft and working with his hands, commented, “After talking through some options with the Head of School, we decided to do a sensory walk.”
With stencils he and his crew of volunteers designed and printed, Max turned an ordinary stretch of sidewalk near our playground into a colorful sensory walk. The first step was power washing the nearly 300 feet of concrete to clear it of any debris and prep the surface, then lay the stencils and spray paint the activities in vibrant colors. Along the path, students are prompted to crab walk, spin, touch their toes, jump, balance, and more. Sensory walks are great ways for students to incorporate movement during the day while taking a break from the classroom. The exercises are fun, but they also help students build coordination, practice motor skills, and even regulate their bodies.
Max shared that his favorite part is the balance beam section. He also hopes the project has a long life here at Northstar. “I hope it lasts as long as it can and that kids like to use it,” he said.
The Eagle Scout project is a significant milestone — it represents not only years of Scouting but also the ability to plan, lead, and complete a meaningful service project that benefits the community. Max’s work is an example of how young people can leave a lasting mark while learning leadership, responsibility, and teamwork.
Already, students are eager to try out each new challenge, and teachers have noticed how much joy it brings to recess, P.E., and even quick brain breaks. What was once just a sidewalk is now an interactive space where movement and learning come together.
A Peek Inside Business Technology
In the 21st century, technology is no longer just a tool. It is a fundamental skill area for personal and professional success. For students with diverse learning needs, mastering business technology can be a transformative experience. They unlock opportunities for independence, employment, and personal growth. At Northstar Career Center, we believe in the power of individualized instruction to meet every student where they are.
When you step inside the Business Technology classroom, you may notice some things are a little different than a traditional classroom.
Northstar leverages assistive technology to create access for all learners. For instance, a student whose physical disability prevents them from typing with a standard keyboard may instead use voice-to-text software or an adaptive keyboard.
We offer choice in how students show their knowledge. For example, a student might pre-record an oral report using an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device instead of presenting live. This allows them to demonstrate their understanding in a format that plays to their strengths.
Each student works towards their own unique goals. We know that no two students learn the same way or at the same rate. In the Business Technology program, a student’s goals will differ depending on their unique strengths or challenges. For example, one student may be working towards the objective to send and receive professional emails independently. Meanwhile, their peer sitting beside them may be working towards the goal of demonstrating understanding of all the hardware components of a computer.
This practice of individualized instruction allows for flexibility in the classroom. It involves a responsive cycle of teaching and assessment. We are constantly monitoring each student’s progress to ensure they are meeting their goals and building skills.
The Lesson Matches the Learning
Northstar’s program relies on the principle of scaffolding. Teachers start building a foundation of basic skills, then gradually introduce more complex concepts. In a lesson about encryption, we are able to see these methods in action.
First, students learn about how spies use codes to send encrypted messages. Each student builds their own cipher wheel, complete with letters, numbers, and symbols. Then they write encoded messages made with their own unique cipher and were tasked with unscrambling each other’s notes.
“A lot of computer tech is abstract,” says Business Technology teacher Cynthia Izac on the lesson, “so I try to make it into something we can see and feel.”
With a grasp on basic encryption, students then learn about its real-world applications in the tech world. End-to-end encryption is a communication security method where data is encrypted between the sender and receiver, making it unreadable to third parties. The U.S. Department of Justice calls encryption "an existential anchor of trust in the digital world" and stresses the importance of its part in protecting digital privacy. Because this kind of intangible concept can be difficult to understand, a hands-on activity can help our brains make a connection.
Scaffolding breaks up curricula into bite-sized segments. This lesson on encryption leads into more complicated concepts, such as the binary numeral system and data management.
“That’s what teaching is,” says Izac. “It’s students getting comfortable with the basics and then building and building on top of that.”
By supporting inclusive education and meeting students where they are, we can help all students find their path to success.
Why Does It Matter?
Digital literacy is not just a convenient skill — it is essential for navigating today's world. For students with learning differences, it’s a key to future employment and self-sufficiency. Our Business Technology program empowers students to feel confident and capable by:
- Teaching broad job skills like navigating computer systems and using email.
- Connecting tech skills to real-world examples that prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce.
- Empowering students so they can use tools to communicate, create, and problem-solve.
At Northstar, we believe that every student has the potential to thrive. Through individualized instruction in our Business Technology program, we celebrate the uniqueness of each learner. We equip them with the skills they need to build confidence, capability, and a bright future.
Duck, Duck, Go!
What’s yellow, fuzzy, and oh, soooo cute? Ducklings, of course!
The incubation and hatching of these cute little things is a rite of passage at Northstar Career Center where embryology lessons are hands-on.
Each year, Henrico County 4-H provides the Career Center with a dozen fertilized eggs. Students of the Veterinary Assisting program care for the eggs until they hatch into ducklings. The project starts with the students setting up an incubator to track embryo growth over a two-week period during the Spring. Using a candling technique in which they shine strong light under the eggs, they watch the shadow of embryo growth underneath. When the time is right, students witness the eggs hatch and follow their progress as they “fluff up” with feathers.
"Specifically with the Embryology project, I love to do ducks! 4H gives us all the supplies needed and work with local farmers to get eggs," says Tricia Doria, who heads up the school’s program. "My students get to name their duck if hatched. They usually almost double in size in 10 days."
Once the ducklings’ coats change from fuzz to fluff they’re ready to swim. Veterinary assisting students take the lead in teaching their fellow K-12 students and sharing their experience with the embryology project. Seated around a baby swimming pool, they take turns fielding questions about the care and feeding of juvenile water fowl.
The Veterinary Assisting program is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for every student. Not every duckling hatches from an egg and not all of those that do will survive. Some years, only a quarter of the embryos may make it. The program requires students to build tolerance for varying environmental conditions, and a willingness to deal with the dirtier side of nature such as odor and excrement.
While working with animals can be a physically and emotionally demanding job, the field is projected to grow at a rate of 19 percent by 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When Northstar graduates exit the program, they have real world work experience and are prepared to work in clinics, animal hospitals, and research laboratories.
When the ducklings are just ten days old, they are returned to Henrico 4-H who distributes the ducks back to local farmers.