Our Blog

What if the strongest preparation for what comes next begins with honoring what children need right now?

At Virginia Chance School, we believe academic excellence and a joyful childhood belong together.

As Stephanie Medcalfe begins her chapter as Head of School, she brings more than 30 years of educational leadership- and a deep belief in what children can accomplish when they are known well, challenged with intention, and given room to grow.

Our newest feature explores what drew Stephanie to Chance, the power of the preschool-through-elementary years, and why curiosity, confidence, and resilience are such a strong foundation for what comes next.

Meet Stephanie and read the full story.

Joy and learning through curiosity and investigation.

Progressive Schools, traditional schools, boarding schools, day schools, college-prep schools, parochial schools, public schools, private schools, magnet schools and home schools…the choices are many! Making the right choice for your child can be a bit daunting for parents. As a Head of an independent school, I get to answer the question, “What’s so special about your school?” and “What does it mean that Virginia Chance School is a progressive school?”

No Bad Weather Here!

Why read?
As a child, I hated to read.  My school experience was that teachers would put us into reading groups - red birds, blue birds, yellow birds and we all knew what that meant! Some of us were good at reading, some weren’t, and the colors ensured everyone knew too.  Then, in the 5th grade, I discovered the book Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. Caddie was an adventurous girl with unruly locks - she was my kind of gal.  I learned that books could help us travel to new places, make new friends, learn about others’ experiences and understand the world around us.  It took some time, but I eventually became quite the bookworm and a lifelong learner.

Dr. Ashley Anderson, a parent at Chance School, wrote an article explaining why Chance School was the best choice for her family. Enjoy the read!

Thanksgiving is the time when we all pause to count our blessings, to give thanks, be with family and friends, and be grateful. While it is always good to stop and focus on gratitude at this time, it is even better to continue this attitude of gratitude all year long if we are to experience the benefits.

Visit any classroom at Virginia Chance School, and you will see two highly qualified teachers.

Happy New Year! As families think about having a great school year, it could be helpful to consider borrowing from some of our teachers and implementing these strategies at home, too. Here is a Top 10 list for Setting Up for A Successful School Year!