C.A.P.E. Institute

Cape Henry Collegiate is committed to creating a culture of professional learning that enhances professional growth and development. As a community, we believe that the most meaningful professional learning occurs in an environment that is collaborative, hands-on, embedded with teacher choice, and grounded in best instructional practices. The C.A.P.E. Institute is an embedded professional development program named for and focused on Collaborative, Academic, Professional and Engaging learning experiences and facilitated by CHC Faculty.

"No matter the C.A.P.E. Institute course I have been enrolled in, my brain is always activated with new information. I have loved each of my courses and benefited from taking them. I greatly appreciate this built in community of professional development that is offered to me within the school year calendar." –Andrea Elliott, Lower School TeacherAll faculty will either facilitate or enroll in a course as members of the C.A.P.E. Institute. C.A.P.E. Institute courses begin in August during pre-service week and continue through February.

2023-2024 C.A.P.E. Institute Offerings

The Writing Revolution

Focus: Elevating Academic Excellence | Facilitator: Mrs. Gabrielle Kenison

Welcome to the Writing Revolution book study course! This course is designed for educators who want to enhance their students' foundational skills and writing abilities in content areas. Throughout the course, we will engage in close reading and analysis of Judith C. Hochman and Natalie Wexler's book, "The Writing Revolution." Through this process, participants will be able to critically assess their foundational skills in writing instruction and enhance their students' communication skills. During this course, we will explore the following topics from "The Writing Revolution:"

Basic building blocks of writing and sentence expansion
Planning writing
Drafting and summarizing
Composition and opinion writing
Assessing and putting it all together

By the end of this course, participants will have a better understanding of how to promote rigor in their students' writing skills across various content areas. Through group discussions and practical assignments, participants can implement the strategies outlined in the book to enhance their instructional practices. This course is ideal for educators who want to elevate their students' foundational writing abilities and promote academic excellence.

What's Your Why?: Understanding the Why of Technology in the Classroom

Focus: Elevating Academic Excellence | Facilitator: Mrs. Kathleen Sharp

This course focuses on understanding the role of technology in your classroom and how it can help modify or replace activities to meet your instructional objectives. Participants will explore technology, pedagogy and content knowledge to design a lesson that incorporates resources to meet the needs of the teacher and their students. As we work together to bring innovative strategies and resources to our classrooms, we will focus on developing our critical thinking and problem-solving skills and developing such skills in our students, thus supporting the School's goal to elevate academic excellence by incorporating appropriate technology in the classroom. Participants will identify a specific unit or project and then practice implementing technology resources that support instructional goals, student participation and desired outcomes. Rather than teaching specific technologies, this course emphasizes exploring instructional objectives and design through innovative, technology-enhanced strategies.

Becoming a Google Certified Educator

Focus: Elevating Academic Excellence | Facilitator: Mr. Will Tragert

This course is designed for any employee at CHC who wants to enhance their knowledge and efficiency using the Google Workspace for Education suite of tools. This suite includes Google Classroom, Docs, Forms, Meet, Sheets, Sites and Slides. The course is suitable for beginner to intermediate users who want to gain a deeper understanding of these tools and become more confident users. Through a project-based approach, participants will learn how to use each of the Google tools to complete day-to-day tasks more efficiently. The course will follow the curriculum provided by Google and cover one particular tool in the suite in each session. By taking this course, participants will gain more tools to complete their jobs, become more efficient and confident users of technology, and be more effective in their roles. This, in turn, is expected to boost individual wellness. The course will culminate in an invitation for participants to take the GCE exam to gain the official Google Certified Credential.

Mat and Chair Yoga for Everyone

Focus: Promoting Wellness | Facilitator: Mrs. Brooke Harrison

This course is designed to help faculty and staff connect with the promoting wellness pillar of Cape Henry's strategic plan through the practice of yoga. In addition to learning techniques to support their students' health and well-being, participants will also be able to incorporate their own personal de-stressing techniques. Throughout the course, participants will learn breathing techniques to calm and warm the body and mind and will utilize both chairs and mats for stretching and mindful movement. The course is divided into five themes: Introduction to Yoga, Breath, Team Work, Mindfulness, and Putting Your Best Self Forward. Each session will focus on specific activities and asanas/postures, including Rock, Table, Cow, Cat, Downward Dog, and many others. Additionally, the course will offer new moves and breathing techniques, and each session will include a chair portion and a mat portion, making it suitable for all levels of experience. By the end of the course, participants will have gained a deeper understanding of yoga and its connection to wellness and will be able to apply their newfound knowledge to their own classrooms, offices or homes.

Art for Mental Wellness

Focus: Promoting Wellness | Facilitator: Mrs. Megan Mattson

This course explores the benefits of art therapy in improving cognitive and sensorimotor functions, fostering self-awareness and emotional resilience, enhancing social skills, and reducing stress and conflicts. Participants will learn about the positive impact of active art-making on mental health, including reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety and regulating cortisol levels. Through the course, faculty will gain tools to manage their own stress and apply studio habits to their classrooms, promoting a positive and supportive environment for their students.

Activities and Concepts to Promote Wellness

Focus: Promoting Wellness | Facilitator: Mr. Phil Reichhoff

This course is designed for faculty who want to learn activities that promote collective wellness for themselves and their students. Participants will explore dimensions of wellness and their impact on daily life, learn group exercises, and receive a take-home workout plan for physical wellness. Additionally, the course will discuss mental hygiene, how to empower students, and focus on gratitude practices while fostering a positive classroom environment. By the end of this course, participants will have gained a deeper understanding of collective wellness and have learned practical strategies they can apply to themselves and their students.

Productivity and Efficiency for Staff Wellness

Focus: Promoting Wellness | Facilitator: Mrs. Jessica Blankenship and Mrs. Sarah Williams

This course will provide practical strategies for maximizing productivity while working with different personality styles. Participants will learn how to communicate more effectively with colleagues, manage their time and workload more efficiently, and create a more ergonomic work environment that supports their physical and mental health. The course will include interactive exercises and practical tips for navigating the challenges of school and office life.

The "B" at CHC: Belonging Basics for Students and Adults

Focus: Fostering Diversity and Inclusivity | Facilitator: Dr. Elsie Harold Lans

In this course, faculty and staff will explore the importance of belonging in their daily work at Cape Henry Collegiate and its role as a major focus of the 2022-2027 strategic plan. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the student, faculty and staff perspectives of belonging and how it is key to daily learning and long-term habits and practices. Through practical application and interactive discussions, employees will learn techniques and strategies to engage, support and welcome others in the spaces they occupy, and how these techniques can assist with supporting current and prospective CHC students, colleagues, families and the greater community. The course will culminate in developing a belonging plan with next steps for implementing techniques and strategies into daily practices.

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