North Cross School
  • WHO WE ARE
    • Vision & Values
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Building Character
    • Student & Parent Handbook
    • Board of Trustees
    • Senior Administration
    • Head of School's Blog
    • Campus Map
    • In the News
    • NOW@NORTHCROSS
  • ACADEMICS
    • Lower School >
      • Early Childhood Program
      • First through Third Grades
      • Fourth and Fifth Grades
      • Sixth and Seventh Grades
      • Meet Our Faculty
    • Upper School >
      • Eighth through Twelfth Grades >
        • Global Studies Distinction
        • STEM Distinction
        • Fine Arts Distinction
        • Internship Program
      • Course Catalog
      • College Counseling
      • Meet Our Faculty
    • Hancock Library
    • CrossWalk for Learning Differences >
      • Meet Our Faculty
    • Distance Learning
  • ARTS
    • Band
    • Chorus
    • Studio Art & Graphic Design
    • Theater
    • Friends of the Arts
  • ATHLETICS
    • Athletics Calendar
    • Teams & Schedules
    • Championships & Awards
    • Forms
    • Facilities >
      • Carter Athletic Center (CAC)
    • Meet Our Athletics Staff
    • Athletic Boosters
    • In the News
  • STUDENT LIFE
    • Dress Code
    • Extracurriculars
    • International Students
    • Boarding at North Cross
    • After-School Opportunities
    • Summer Programs
  • COMMUNITY
    • Log in to FACTS
    • School Calendar
    • Parent Resources >
      • Back-to-School
      • Student & Parent Handbook
      • Contact Us
    • Alumni >
      • Awards
      • Athletic Hall of Fame
      • In the News
      • Class Notes
      • In Memoriam
    • Spirit Stores >
      • Apparel
      • Gifts & Accessories
      • RaiderGear Athletic Wear
    • Faculty and Staff Links
    • Employment Opportunities
  • ADMISSIONS
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • What is an independent school?
    • Inquire & Tour
    • How to Apply
    • Tuition and Fees
    • International Student FAQs
    • Meet Our Team
  • SUPPORT
    • Give to North Cross
    • The Legacy Campaign
    • Meet Our Team

January 24th, 2020

1/24/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Dr. Caroline Light ’87 speaks with Upper School students this morning in Willis Hall.
Recently, we approached a “donor with capacity” to ask him for a gift to the capital campaign.  This gentleman had been generous in the past but before he made this gift, he wanted us to send him a report describing the success we are having at North Cross School.  He is a pretty data-driven kind of guy, so we gathered up the standard statistics that measure student achievement; SAT scores, AP success rates, number of AP scholars, admission numbers for certain selective universities, and the like. Fortunately for us, we stack up very nicely against public and independent schools and I like to think we will get a nice gift.

Read More
1 Comment

A Good Example

12/6/2019

0 Comments

 
PictureImage from Roanoke Times.
I have worked with families for many years and have come to realize that there are many ways to be a parent and most of them work well.  I usually trot this aphorism out when trying to talk a parent off the ledge as they are criticizing themselves for a mistake they made or, in rare cases, when parents are comparing themselves unsuccessfully to other parents. Fortunately, for all of us parents, God has a sense of humor and he made children remarkably resilient.


Read More
0 Comments

A Long Time in the Making

5/31/2019

0 Comments

 
FOLLOWING ARE DR. PROCTOR'S REMARKS FROM THE 56th COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES HELD ON MAY 25, 2019
Picture
Schoolwork is a funny thing. It is easiest when approached logically, completed well ahead of time, and reviewed for potential improvement.  But for every Ann Ashley Daniel, I am sure there are ten people like me who procrastinate until the last minute, allowing the terror of an imminent deadline to generate the creativity necessary to complete an assignment. Such was the case with my remarks this year. In fact, I was still fact checking while the graduates were in line to process. I am not sure who was most terrified, me, my wife or Susan Baker…

But don’t worry, I’ve got it…

Read More
0 Comments

Higher Learning

3/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
One of the great things about working at North Cross School is doing so alongside a community of motivated learners—students and teachers. Oftentimes, a brief suggestion turns into an amazing opportunity that benefits our school immensely and in more ways than expected. Two such cases recently have taken shape. Stephen Belderes has developed a tremendous opportunity for our students to take college-level coursework this summer and Deborah Jessee’s hard work has forged a partnership with Hollins University to provide an affordable graduate education for our faculty. 

Read More
0 Comments

In the Spotlight

11/16/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Last weekend was a really special weekend at North Cross School as we brought home Coach Brown’s third state soccer championship, saw football reverse an early season defeat to triumph in the semi-finals of the state football playoffs, Harry Pearson ’19 earned All-State honors for the fourth time in a row at the State Cross Country meet, and our lower school performance of Junie B. Jones Jr. (don’t forget the middle initial!) garnered rave reviews and sold-out crowds.

Read More
1 Comment

A Measured Decision

10/12/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
The Roanoke River from yesterday's WSLS footage.
​It is with no small degree of sheepishness that I admit to you that my college-graduate son, a North Cross alumnus, is living at home. In his defense, he is working and studying for the LSAT and hopefully law school is in his future. But his presence does remind me of the days when his friends would text him in a poorly disguised attempt to influence my snow-day decisions. My wife was of little help in defending me because she was always on the receiving end of her own back-door lobbying efforts by fellow moms. (And, yes, I am talking about you Jeannie Fishwick.)

Read More
1 Comment

Live Bravely.

9/21/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Art by E.W. Kemble in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” 1884. Credit: Getty Images
​At this year’s Convocation I spoke of the concept of the “healthy struggle,” that as parents we must allow our children not only to make mistakes but also to recover from mistakes of their own making. From an academic standpoint, healthy struggle leads to the development of a scholar who is not content with the status quo and who is always in search of a better way.  But most of all, I am referring to a social struggle; for without successful resolution of healthy social struggles, a child fails to develop people skills. In the terms of Daniel Goleman, a child who knows no struggle lacks emotional I.Q.  
 
I am a parent of two millennial children, and a self-admitted imperfect parent on even my best day, so I do not want to seem preachy in my first Crossties post of the year. I do, however, want to set forward a discussion point for us as a community this year. How can we as parents refrain from making our children’s lives “perfect” so that they can find the struggles to solve?

Read More
0 Comments

This Year’s Lineup

8/24/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ed-charles-member-1969-miracle-mets-dead-84-article-1.3877376
​You may have heard me at Convocation mention the “Miracle Mets” of 1969.  In case you are unfamiliar, this team had finished in ninth place their previous season, but came to training camp with an expectation of accomplishing much more.  And accomplish much more they did, winning 100 games, sweeping the Braves in the playoffs, and then much to my disappointment, defeating one of the greatest teams in baseball history, the Baltimore Orioles*, in the World Series.  Besides showing my age and knowledge of useless sports trivia, why am bringing this up in my first article for Crossties this year?

Read More
0 Comments

Spring Cleaning

3/16/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​There are few opportunities where we, as an entire school community, can come together as a whole for the benefit of something bigger than ourselves. One of my favorites—and perhaps this is partly fueled by my desire for a good deal—is the Big Flea. Though the physical manifestation of the Big Flea has changed over the years from a field day and white elephant sale to its current ‘day of bargains,’ it remains one of those few occasions when parents, teachers, alumni, grandparents, and yes, even students, can contribute in such a tangible way to their community here at North Cross. The sale has also become a fan-favorite in and around Roanoke. I’m told that the Facebook event alone has over 1,000 people who were ‘interested’ or already planning to attend the sale next Saturday. 

Read More
0 Comments

A Note to The ‘Dads’

12/4/2017

0 Comments

 
Sometimes we get caught up in the little things and lose sight of what is really important. This past weekend saw the death of a really good man and a valued member of our community. Dan Yardley was the father of three North Cross students and the loving husband of Kelsey, and he will be missed by all. 

Read More
0 Comments
    Picture

    Christian J. Proctor, PhD

    Dr. Proctor is the ninth Head of School at North Cross and has served as such since 2011. He has more than 30 years of experience in education. He has served as headmaster at Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, South Carolina, St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie, Louisiana, Grace Episcopal School in Monroe, Louisiana, and as Interim Headmaster at Wesley Academy in Houston, Texas. In each location, Dr. Proctor’s tenure was marked by creativity, innovation, and school growth. 

    Dr. Proctor earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Colgate University, a Master’s Degree in Geology from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A native of Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Proctor and his wife, Ellie, have two children, Katherine and Andrew ’14.

    He can be reached at cproctor@northcross.org.

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All
    Academics
    Alumni
    AP Scholars
    Arts
    Athletics
    Back To School
    Board Of Trustees
    Campus
    Capital Campaign
    Carpool
    Character
    China
    College Placement
    Commencement
    Community
    Construction
    COVID-19
    Development
    Distance Learning
    Dyslexia Awareness
    Education Reform
    Extracurricular
    Faculty
    Global Studies
    Literacy
    Lower School
    Nanchang
    Public Speaking
    School Closings
    State Of The School
    Statistics
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Vertical Divider

4254 Colonial Avenue
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
540-989-6641 • (540) 989-7299 (FAX)

HOURS: M-F; 8AM-4PM

North Cross Shanghai
North Cross School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day school founded in 1944 and governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees.

All contact information listed on this website is for official North Cross School business only. North Cross School does not accept unsolicited advertisements sent to school email addresses, phone numbers, or fax numbers listed on this site.

North Cross School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid or employment policies, or any other programs administered by the School. For more information, read our Inclusivity Statement.

​Accreditation
North Cross is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. North Cross School's Junior Kindergarten is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools who is recognized by the Board of Education pursuant to §22.1-19 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the Virginia Council for Private Education to accredit private nursery, preschool, elementary and secondary schools in Virginia
.

Memberships
North Cross is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, National Association for College Admission Counseling, and Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, The Cum Laude Society and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

​
Privacy Policy
  • WHO WE ARE
    • Vision & Values
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Building Character
    • Student & Parent Handbook
    • Board of Trustees
    • Senior Administration
    • Head of School's Blog
    • Campus Map
    • In the News
    • NOW@NORTHCROSS
  • ACADEMICS
    • Lower School >
      • Early Childhood Program
      • First through Third Grades
      • Fourth and Fifth Grades
      • Sixth and Seventh Grades
      • Meet Our Faculty
    • Upper School >
      • Eighth through Twelfth Grades >
        • Global Studies Distinction
        • STEM Distinction
        • Fine Arts Distinction
        • Internship Program
      • Course Catalog
      • College Counseling
      • Meet Our Faculty
    • Hancock Library
    • CrossWalk for Learning Differences >
      • Meet Our Faculty
    • Distance Learning
  • ARTS
    • Band
    • Chorus
    • Studio Art & Graphic Design
    • Theater
    • Friends of the Arts
  • ATHLETICS
    • Athletics Calendar
    • Teams & Schedules
    • Championships & Awards
    • Forms
    • Facilities >
      • Carter Athletic Center (CAC)
    • Meet Our Athletics Staff
    • Athletic Boosters
    • In the News
  • STUDENT LIFE
    • Dress Code
    • Extracurriculars
    • International Students
    • Boarding at North Cross
    • After-School Opportunities
    • Summer Programs
  • COMMUNITY
    • Log in to FACTS
    • School Calendar
    • Parent Resources >
      • Back-to-School
      • Student & Parent Handbook
      • Contact Us
    • Alumni >
      • Awards
      • Athletic Hall of Fame
      • In the News
      • Class Notes
      • In Memoriam
    • Spirit Stores >
      • Apparel
      • Gifts & Accessories
      • RaiderGear Athletic Wear
    • Faculty and Staff Links
    • Employment Opportunities
  • ADMISSIONS
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • What is an independent school?
    • Inquire & Tour
    • How to Apply
    • Tuition and Fees
    • International Student FAQs
    • Meet Our Team
  • SUPPORT
    • Give to North Cross
    • The Legacy Campaign
    • Meet Our Team