Here you can find a snapshot of what we are up at CHS. If interested, you can also read about our community’s bigger events here.
Matcha & Mindfulness
The Tea Class practiced mindfulness through the art of tea preparation and enjoyment, providing a calming sanctuary in everyday life.
VAIS Conference 2024
Becca, Jonathan, and Josh attended the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) annual conference at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, where they attended presentations, workshops, and met with educators from across Virginia. In addition to learning from peer institutions, they also gave a presentation on CHS’s narrative evaluations as a mode of assessment.
Motion Lab
In the study of calculus, one of the most fascinating applications is understanding motion through derivatives. This concept allows students to explore the relationships between position, velocity, and acceleration. Using motion-sensor carts, our students saw these mathematical principles come to life by testing their initial predictions against real-life data. These hands-on experiments helped solidify their […]
Roanoke College Tree Tour
Roanoke College’s campus is home to some 1,000 trees of at least 77 different species. CHS parent and Roanoke College professor Dr. Laura Harman and her colleague, Dr. Mike Wise, gave our Plants class a tree tour of the campus. Some of the highlights included the 200+ year old Dutch Elm, which existed before the […]
Fitness Training at The Noke
Our physical education students were treated to a fitness training session at The Noke. Our PE program strives to provide an opportunity for personal growth, team building, and the development of healthy habits, whether each student is a seasoned athlete or someone just beginning their fitness journey.
Animating Shapes
The Animation class collaborated on creating characters from shapes drawn by their classmates. They sketched out basic shapes, then passed the papers around the room, allowing each other to fill in the character designs and add features. It was not only a fun project, but one that promoted collaboration and encouraged imaginative thinking.
Cempasúchil Flowers and Sugar Skulls
Our advanced Spanish language students hosted Zuheil Alvarez Cortes of The Dream Initiative, the talented local artist who ran the free weekly Día de los Muertos workshops at Morningside Urban Farm throughout the month. Together they made Cempasúchil flowers and imitation sugar skulls to use for the alter at the community ritual and celebration event. […]
Sam Dutilly (’20) – Plant Biologist
Sam Dutilly (‘20) graduated summa cum laude from William & Mary in the winter of 2023. He was recognized as a Monroe Scholar, which provided him the opportunity to delve deeply into research through guaranteed funding. His academic journey was marked by significant contributions to the field of conservation, particularly through his involvement with the […]
Gristle Butter #14
Click here to download the Fall 2024 edition of Gristle Butter. This collection is made up of contributions from Tsula A, Avery M, Daniel A, Odessa M, and Maddox B.
“El capibara con botas” Mural
Spanish language students read the beloved children’s book “El capibara con botas” by Mira Canyon and then used a box headed for recycling to create a mural about the book. The activity not only enhanced students’ comprehension of the story, but also fostered teamwork and allowed them to practice their Spanish language skills in a […]
Tea Traditions
The History of Tea and the French language students got together for a community tea party, complete with presentations about components related to the tea tradition. The china they used was from Luxembourg, which is 40 minutes from Rachel’s hometown of Metz. The mirabelle tea they served was from Metz, the bergamote tea and the […]
La Historia del Chocolate
This sweet lesson about La Historia del Chocolate provided Spanish language students with a tasty exploration of chocolate’s rich history. Any lesson combining sensory experience with cultural and linguistic education makes for a memorable and enriching part of any learning journey.
The Art of Pouring Tea – the French Way
Rachel treated us to an exquisite French Tea experience, showcasing her skill and knowledge in the art of tea preparation. She showed us her method of pouring the tea into cups and then back into the special French teapot, three times! This technique, she explained, enhances the flavor by allowing the tea to mix evenly, […]
Madeleines
The French class was busy in the kitchen making Madeleines, traditional French shell-shaped sponge cakes known for their light, buttery texture. Madeleines have a rich history rooted in the Lorraine region of France. According to legend, they were named after a young maid, Madeleine Paulmier, who baked these delicate cakes for a royal banquet. Today, they […]
Author and Professor Pauline Kaldas Visits Class
The Arab American Literature class was honored to host Pauline Kaldas, who serves as Susan Gager Jackson Professor of Creative Writing at Hollins University. Pauline co-edited an amazing anthology of Arab American fiction, Dinarzad’s Children, which has been an amazing source of Arab American fiction for the class. Pauline discussed being Egyptian American, editing the […]
Fall 2025 Community Service Day – Highland Park
In an action-packed Community Service Day, we walked to Highland Park in Old Southwest to assist Roanoke City Parks and Recreation with a variety of projects. Students, faculty, and community members spread mulch at the playground, installed an art installation, removed overgrown vegetation, and spread gravel at the dog park. Check out our work the […]
Olivia Sloan Martin (’16) Organizes a Benefit Concert
Olivia Sloan Martin (’16) spends her time coaching gymnastics and managing her band, Liv Sloan. But after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, she channelled her energy and dedication into organizing a series of benefit concerts in her hometown of Martinsville. Aiming to assist flood victims in Asheville, every penny of the entry donations were […]
Richmond Zine Fest ’24
Current and recent members of Zine Club ran a CHS booth at the Richmond Zine Fest, where they traded, bought, and sold zines with hundreds of other zine-makers. Maddox and Olchar also each had their own booths at the event. It was also a wonderful opportunity to meet up with other CHS Zine Alumni who […]
Voting 101
Community members Jinny Woodall-Gainey and Sue Williams came to talk to our students about voting. They emphasized several key points: The Importance of Voting: They highlighted how voting is a fundamental right and a way for individuals to have a say in the democratic process. Voting empowers citizens to influence government decisions and policies that […]
Ollie Herron (’23) experiences a week with WWOOF
Ollie Herron (’23) embarked on a transformative journey to Lopez Island, where he spent a week immersed in the world of organic farming through the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program. This organization is dedicated to fostering a global community that values ecological farming and sustainable practices. Ollie enthusiastically shares his experience below, detailing […]
After the PSAT ’24
After the PSAT, our students decompressed over snacks and games with friends on an absolutely beautiful day.
“History and Culture of Tea” Party
The History and Culture of Tea class organized a delicous tea party, featuring Darjeeling Tea, complete with milk and sugar cubes. Their culinary creations included classic scones, both with and without raisins, paired with rich clotted cream, tangy lemon curd, and assorted jellies. They also enjoyed savory curried egg sandwiches and refreshing cucumber sandwiches, creating […]
Scale Drawings
In the engineering class, students delved into the practical benefits of scale drawings as a crucial tool for graphical communication in design and production. This hands-on project involved gathering precise dimensions of various elements within an apartment, such as rooms, walls, windows, and storage areas, using tape measures. The challenges and learning experiences encountered during […]
Elevator Museum Trip
A group of CHS students and faculty visited Roanoke’s elevaTOURS International Elevator Museum. The group got a hands-on tour of elevator equipment from around the world! A big thank you to dieselducy for showing us around!
LJ Burnett (’21) Directs the SCAD Animation Studio’s Short Film Team
LJ Burnett (’21) is the Director for the SCAD Animation Studio‘s short film this year. It’s been a huge group effort with a team of approximately 75 SCAD students from different areas who were selected by the faculty to work on this year-long project. It’s incredibly rewarding to see it all come together! Exciting news: […]
Colorful Density Columns
Density columns are such a visually appealing and educational experiment, so we couldn’t resist sharing a photo of this year’s color creations! By creating several concentrations of sugar and water with food coloring, our Chemistry students were able to create their choice of design by layering the different solutions which stay separated by their densities. […]
Arab Culinary Treat
The Arab American Literature students learned about Arab culture through cooking, tasting, and sharing culinary delights from the Arab world: warak enab (grape leaves), tzatziki salad, and karkade (hibiscus tea). These recipes were shared by former CHS parent and Hollins University professor, Pauline Kaldas. The class also complimented the meal with a spread of assorted […]
Calculus: Match Game
The Calculus students were challenged with matching graphs, equations, and limit statements during class. By analyzing the graphs for key features, identifying the type of function each equation represented, and evaluating what each limit statement implied about the function’s behavior, this activity helped students to visualize the mathematical concepts they are studying.
Shannon Hallahan (’20) becomes an educator
Shannon Hallahan (’20) earned her Associate of Arts in Education from Cumberland University and graduated with honors from the History department. She is currently working at a Montessori preschool while continuing her education towards a Montessori Education Certification to teach children aged 3-6.
Field Journaling
The Plants class took their first field trip to the top of Mill Mountain to practice their field journaling while observing several native species and learning to use dichotomous keys.
Global Seal of Biliteracy
For the first time the advanced students enrolled in our Spanish humanities course took the Global Seal of Biliteracy exam. All five passed, earning their certificates. We’d like to congratulate Xan, Viktor, Sadie, Olivia V, and Ebelin on their impressive achievement! A note about the Global Seal of Biliteracy: Awarded in more than 50 countries, […]
Izi B’s Summer Research Internship at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion
During her summer research internship at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Izi B explored potential relationships between delay discounting, food demand, and type 2 diabetes. Delay discounting is a behavioral economic concept that involves the tendency to devalue rewards and gratifications as they are delayed in time, and prior research has […]
Phat Anchovies at Floyd Fest ’24
FloydFest was a reunion of sorts, bringing together families, current students, faculty, and alumni to celebrate and enjoy music. We were thrilled to see several CHS music program graduates take the stage, including alumni Eve-lynn D. (’16) and Eric S. (’14) who delighted the audience with their band, Phat Anchovies.
Aidan Skye Jameson (’20) graduates Summa Cum Laude
Aidan Skye Jameson (’20) graduated Summa Cum Laude from the School of Film & Acting at Savannah College of Art and Design with a 4.0 average. She also received an Outstanding Achievement Award for the Class of 2024 which is a truly impressive accomplishment. Now as a SCAD graduate, Aidan Skye will be continuing her internship […]
Wayang Kulit by Odessa M.
Odessa M spent a semester traveling throughout Southeast Asia and one of the things she most excitedly awaited, and most enjoyed, was seeing wayang kulit (shadow puppetry) in Indonesia. Through her father the art form has been a lifelong interest, and she loved experiencing it first hand in the country it came from. She also […]
Graduation 2024
We always enjoy having our alumni come back to celebrate graduation with us. And what a big turnout!
Abi Spends a Semester at The Island School
Abi spent her spring semester immersed in studies at The Island School in Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas. She learned ecology, history, and culture through direct experience in the ecosystems and communities surrounding her.
Spring 2024 Gristle Butter Issue #13
Click here to read Gristle Butter #13, featuring Zora D, Marlee C, Brittney M, Daniel A, Hazel W, Rowan S, Maddox B, Wilson K, Jay S (‘22), Vanessa B, Isha H, Tristan S, Avery M, Ebelin R, and Miles C …along with contributions from the Spanish III/IV class and other anonymous community members! This is […]
Gross Anatomy
Our Anatomy class had a hands-on experience at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. We are so grateful to Mr. David Lugar and Dr. Matt Joy for providing this amazing opportunity to our Anatomy students to visit the cadaver lab.
Roanoke City Parks and Recreation 2024
For our third and final Community Service Day of the school year, Jonathan arranged a very successful partnership with Roanoke Parks & Recreation. Some of our students stained fences on the Roanoke River Greenway. Others worked at Smith Park re-mulching the playground, breaking up soil in the greenway planters, and seeing the trout truck restock […]
Slingshots
We just love breaking out the giant slingshot on a lovely spring day. Our Physics students varied angles and distances as they conducted their velocity experiments.
Sarah Epstein’s (’20) Senior Research
Sarah Epstein (’20) presented her Independent Study project entitled “Pesticides in the Atmosphere: The Heterogeneous Ozonolysis of Triticonazole” at The College of Wooster’s Senior Research Symposium. Her presentation is the manifestation of countless hours of research, collaboration, and creative expression. Pesticides are an emerging environmental concern as they are widely used across the globe to […]
Spring 2024 Gristle Butter Issue #12
Click here to read Gristle Butter #12, featuring Zora D, Novie H, Daniel A, and Maddox B.
Bubble Math
Beautiful weather can equal math fun! Our Geometry students calculated the area and circumference of circles imprinted by popping colored bubbles on paper.
Alden Earns the Rank of Eagle Scout
Alden B, a devoted Life Scout from Troop 2 in Roanoke, has achieved the highest rank in scouting by earning the prestigious title of Eagle Scout. His journey towards this achievement required him to complete 21 required badges in addition to optional ones, a community service project, and the demonstration of leadership skills in both […]
Polygon Friends
Check out these 2-dimensonal imaginary friends the geometry students created to practice finding the area of polygons.
Turbine Blades
As part of their study of green energy solutions, the Environmental Science students tested various wind blade shapes to in an effort to determine which shapes are most efficient at converting wind energy into usable power.
Solar Eclipse
Despite the clouds, students and faculty enjoyed catching glimpses of the solar eclipse from our back yard.
Tasty Labs
The Anatomy class dabbled in the world of taste and perception through a series of edible experiments. 1) By dying their tongues blue, students could count the number of fungiform papillae on their tongues, which are small structures that house our taste buds. Individuals who have a higher density of these papillae have a more […]