A College Preparatory Private School with Two Campuses in Suffolk, VA. Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12.

Inclusivity and Multiculturalism

Students holding hands at an assembly
At NSA, students are engaged in their personal growth, inspired to discover their passions and empowered to make a difference in the world using their diverse backgrounds, knowledge and experiences.
 

We aspire to be a school community that values and practices the tenets of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice for all as well as one that practices the NAIS Principles of Good Practice for Equity and Justice. Our community is on a journey to grow and learn together to create a sense of belonging for all.

Our community is on a journey to grow and learn together to create a sense of belonging for all.

Inclusivity and Multiculturalism in Action

Harbour View Campus student celebrates Lunar New Year

Kindergarten and first grade students learned about Lunar New Year during their Festivals of Light unit in Global Connections. In addition to Lunar New Year, the unit also covered Hanukkah, Diwali, Las Posadas and St. Lucia's Day. Students celebrated all they learned with a festive party, where they took part in some of the traditions of the different winter holidays.

Read More about Lower School Students Learn About Lunar New Year, Festivals of Light
Director of College Counseling Mary Hunter Hardison '01 with Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack

Director of College Counseling Mary Hunter Hardison '01 traveled to Lynchburg to visit Randolph College, where she serves on a counselor advisory board. While there, Mrs. Hardison toured campus, spoke with the college's president and its staff and attended Randolph's second Student Success Summit, where she heard from Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack, author of "The Privileged Poor." 

Read More about Director of College Counseling Attends Event Addressing Challenges Faced by First-Generation, Lower-Income College Students
Upper School students learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.

In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Upper School Saints set aside time to discuss his life and the ways they can learn from his work. Ahead of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, students listened to an important message about Dr. King and his impact on our country through his work for civil rights and equity. They then watched a video about Dr. King and reflected with their advisory on ways they can share their gifts to serve others.

Read More about Upper School Students Reflect on Life, Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Kindergarten students celebrate friendship

During the holiday season, our kindergarten students at our Harbour View Campus came together to celebrate the unique qualities that make each of their classmates so special! Thanks to the incredible support of our families, our students adorned festive trees with heartwarming messages about friendship and exchanged beautiful friendship bracelets with one another.

Read More about Harbour View Campus Celebrates Friendship During Holiday Season
Upper School students during Spain trip

Three Upper School students embarked on an unforgettable Thanksgiving trip to Spain. From the vibrant streets of Barcelona to the historical charm of Madrid, their journey was filled with incredible experiences, including visiting the Park Güell, the Barcelona Cathedral, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the Picasso Museum, the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum. 

Read More about Upper School Students Spend Thanksgiving Break Exploring Spanish Culture
International student shares holiday customs with first grade students

First graders explored German holiday traditions with international student Greta Boedefeld '25. Greta shared different winter customs in her native Germany, such as visiting Christmas markets and observing Advent and St. Nicholas Day. During a lively Q&A session, students got a firsthand look into Greta's life in Germany.

Read More about International Student Shares Holiday Traditions with Lower School Students
Lower School students learn about Hanukkah in Global Connections class

Ms. Glass shared the origin and traditions of Hanukkah with kindergarteners and first graders before introducing new lines to their "Festivals of Light" song, which covers different winter holidays celebrated around the world. Ms. Glass then read "Is It Hanukkah Yet?" by Nancy Krulik, which is a book about a Jewish girl eagerly waiting for holiday celebrations. 

Read More about Lower School Students Learn About Hanukkah in Global Connections Class
Students at Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian "Corn Harvest" Powwow and School Day

Our fourth graders embarked on an enriching adventure to Courtland, where they attended the 32nd annual Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian "Corn Harvest" Powwow and School Day. Immersed in the vibrant culture, our students explored replica villages of the indigenous Cheroenhaka Indian Tribe, gaining firsthand insights into their way of life.

Read More about Fourth Grade Students Attend Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian "Corn Harvest" Powwow and School Day
Student poses with art created during workshop on kindness and inclusivity

Sixth grade art students had a lesson with a visiting artist from the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, where they had the opportunity to incorporate themes of kindness and inclusion into their artwork. Students designed keychains with messages of positivity, shared friendship bracelets with one another and created colorful designs to promote peace.

Read More about Middle School Students Use Art to Celebrate Kindness and Inclusivity
Collaborative art display created by Lower School students

In art class, Lower School students worked together to create collaborative displays, which were inspired by the book of the year, "I Am Me: A Book of Authenticity." Head of Lower School, Main Campus Mrs. Bartlett '01 and Head of Lower School, Harbour View Campus Ms. Oakes stopped by classrooms to read the book, which encourages students to embrace their individuality and be their authentic selves.

Read More about Lower School Students Celebrate Unique Qualities
Pre-K4 students pose for photo after Eid al-Fitr lesson

For Muslims around the world, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. The Shehata family spoke with our pre-K4 students about how they celebrate Eid with their loved ones. During Eid, families share a meal together, enjoy sweets and show kindness to one another. Students also learned that Eid is celebrated when the moon is a crescent shape, so they painted and decorated wooden cutouts shaped like crescent moons, stars and lanterns.

Read More about Pre-K4 Family Shares Eid al-Fitr Traditions
Student learns about Australian Aboriginal art

Kindergarten and first grade students spent time learning about the Aboriginal people as part of their unit on Australia! The Australian Aboriginal people have such a rich culture, which includes a special type of art they make by using dots. Australian animals and other symbols are covered in dots that tell stories. Students enjoyed trying out the technique and making their own dot art.

Read More about Kindergarten, First Grade Students Learn About Culture of Australian Aboriginal People
Sixth graders play board game centered around immigration unit

Sixth grade history students channeled their creativity to showcase everything they learned during their unit on immigration. They designed board games, made paintings, wrote fictional journal entries, put together scrapbooks and more to reflect the three phases of immigration they learned about in class: leaving the homeland, traveling to America and assimilation.

Read More about Sixth Grade Students Learn About the Immigration Process
Sister Cities International: 2022 Theme, Generation Rescue Sustainable Water For All

On February 3, Suffolk Sister Cities International hosted the opening reception for the 33rd Annual Young Artists and Authors Showcase at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Each year, the showcase encourages youth from around the globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork and literature.

Read More about Sister Cities International Young Artists and Authors Showcase Returns
Real Talk: HBCU Edition

The College Board is hosting an event, "Real Talk: HBCU Edition," on Wednesday, March 2, and Thursday, March 3, at 7:00 p.m. for students who are considering a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) but aren't sure which one is right for them.

Read More about Real Talk: HBCU Edition
Fifth grade students create iconic symbol of Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31-November 2. Fifth grade students learned more about this holiday in art and worked on creating their very own sugar skulls.

Read More about Fifth Grade Students Create Iconic Symbol of Day of the Dead
Rising Junior Selected for Youth Leadership Summit

After a competitive application process, Cliff Thomas ’23 was one of 50 students selected to participate in the Sister Cities International (SCI) Youth Leadership Summit. The annual conference brings together youth from around the world, providing them with opportunities to develop leadership skills while exploring and addressing global issues.

Read More about Rising Junior Selected for International Youth Leadership Summit

Did You Know?

25%

of NSA's students are students of color

2X

NSA has nearly doubled students of color in the last decade

4X

The Board of Trustees has quadrupled the number of trustees of color over the last decade

2X

NSA's tuition assistance budget has more than doubled in size over the past 10 years

$2.7M

Tuition assistance awarded for the 2023–2024 school year to make an NSA education more accessible to a wider range of families of all backgrounds

$6,282

The average need-based tuition assistance award in 2023-2024. Awards range from $500 to over $10,000 and do not have to be repaid.

Support Inclusivity and Multiculturalism at NSA

NSA received an anonymous gift of $100,000 to establish a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Endowment Fund. Please click on the link below to make an online donation. On the giving form, please select Annual Fund and check the box for inclusivity and multiculturalism. We greatly appreciate your support and your commitment to inclusivity and multiculturalism at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy!

Make a Gift

Meet Our Inclusivity and Multiculturalism Team

Our inclusivity and multiculturalism team is composed of members of the faculty, staff and administration who represent diverse genders, religions, races, sexual orientations and identities as well as cultural and ethnic backgrounds in an effort to be representative of our entire student body.