A Message from the Head of School |
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Dear FA Families,
Over the next few days and weeks you will receive information about Frederica Academy's Annual Fund and Apogee program. I hope that you will give strong consideration to being a part of both initiatives.
The Annual Fund is a practice employed by independent schools throughout the country to help address the gap between tuition charged and the true cost of educating a student. Other income streams like the endowment or supplemental income from food services, summer programs, or after-school care also help with that disparity, but at FA it is the Annual Fund and Apogee that carry the lion’s share of that burden.
As a result of the unprecedented generosity of our school community, last year our Annual Fund was the highest in the history of the school topping $500,000, and those funds were used for important classroom, campus facility, programmatic, and professional development improvements and investments that make FA unique.
The Apogee program is equally important to the successful and affordable operation of the school. This program allows Georgia taxpayers to make a donation to Apogee and then receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their state income taxes. Apogee shares the donor's gift with Frederica Academy; the restriction on the school is that we can only use that money for need-based financial aid, allowing students who would otherwise be unable to afford the school to attend. This is a critically impactful program as it supports high quality students who enrich the lives of their peers and contribute to the school in a wide variety of ways. The truth is that all students benefit from the Apogee program as the quality of one’s peers significantly affects performance, attitudes, and behavior.
It takes a combination of a variety of factors to come together to create a first–rate school. Having the right adult personnel on campus who can lead the right programs with the right students and inspire the right culture sounds like a pretty simple equation. It can be with a strong, comprehensive vision and the funding to support that vision.
Please click here to see an overview of all of our 2021-2022 donor opportunities.
Beyond tuition revenue, the Annual Fund, Apogee, and our other donor programs have proven to be the financial lynchpins of our recent success, and I am hopeful that the tradition of generosity for all of these initiatives will continue in 2021-2022.
Respectfully,
Scott L. Hutchinson
Head of School
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Monday @ 10:00 AM
Upper School Assembly
Gym
Monday @ 3:20 PM
NHS Induction Rehearsal
Gym
Monday @ 4:00 PM
Middle School Tennis
vs. St. Francis
@ Glynn Academy
Monday @ 5:00 PM
Middle School Volleyball
@ Home vs. Risley
Monday (Evening)
First Quarter Grades Posted
Tuesday @ 7:15 AM
Middle School Faculty Meeting
Shuman Conference Room
Tuesday (All Day)
Middle + Upper School
Tuesday @ 9:50 AM
National Honor Society Assembly
Gym
Tuesday @ 4:00 PM
Middle School Tennis
vs. Glynn Middle
@ Glynn Academy
Wednesday (All Day)
Worry Free Wednesday
Unity Day
WEAR ORANGE!
Wednesday @ 10:00 AM
Upper School Advisory
Wednesday @ 1:05 PM
University of Alabama (Huntsville)
College Counseling Center
Wednesday @ 1:05 PM
US Debate Team Meeting
Athletic Tent
Wednesday @ 4:00 PM
Department Chair Meeting
Mrs. Gallagher's Classroom
Wednesday @ 5:00 PM
Middle School Volleyball
@ Home vs. Needwood
Thursday (Morning)
Second Grade Pirate Day
Thursday @ 9:00 AM
First Grade Field Trip
Pumpkin Patch + Petting Zoo
Thursday (9:00 AM - Noon)
Upper School Author Visit
Thursday @ 10:00 AM
University of West Georgia
Mr. Jobe's Classroom
Thursday @ 10:00 AM
Senior Class College Meeting
College Counseling Center
Thursday @ 11:00 AM
Kindergarten Field Trip
Saint Simons United Methodist Church
Pier Village
Thursday (Lunch Periods)
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
Sponsored by: FA Parent Association
Thursday
GISA Region Cross Country Meet
Varsity Boys @ 5:00 PM
Varsity Girls @ 5:30 PM
College of Coastal Georgia
Thursday @ 5:00 PM
MS + US Faculty
Grab + Go Meal
Hamilton Hall
Thursday (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
Friday (ALL DAY)
Student Holiday
Friday (ALL DAY)
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday @ 7:30 PM
Varsity Football Game
@ St. Andrew's (Savannah)
Saturday (Morning)
ACT Exam
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2020-2021 FA Appreciation Report |
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Each fall, the Advancement Office produces an Appreciation Report that recognizes and celebrates the commitment of all parents, alumni parents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, grandparents and other friends of the school who supported Frederica Academy’s mission and the important work of our students through gifts and service during the prior school year.
The 2020-2021 Appreciation Report pays a final tribute to the school's 50th Anniversary celebration and features Mary Ford Fitzjurls on the cover dressed in 70's attire in recognition of the school's remembrance of the first day Frederica Academy opened its doors on August 31, 1970.
Before we publish Frederica Academy's 2020-2021 Appreciation Report, we kindly ask that you review it in draft form and let Brad Hutcherson know if we have inadvertently omitted or incorrectly listed anything in the report.
Thank you.
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Parent-Teacher Conferences |
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Frederica Academy parents are encouraged to take advantage of the parent-teacher conference opportunities offered on the evening of Thursday, October 21 (Middle and Upper School) and during the day on Friday, October 22 (All Divisions). School will not be in session for students on Friday, October 22.
Please use the divisional buttons below to schedule your conferences.
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Frederica Academy will host a virtual Veterans Day assembly on Thursday, November 11, which will be livestreamed on the school's YouTube and Facebook pages.
We are collecting photos and information on service members to put into a slide presentation, which will also be shared with students and families as part of our Veterans Day observance. Please submit photos of family members who have served our great nation. Include the name of the individual, branch of service, and the student(s) they are related to at Frederica Academy.
Thank you for your time and help in making Veterans Day memorable for the students at Frederica Academy.
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Lower School After-School Clubs |
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Basketball Buddies
We are excited to announce our Basketball Buddies club. This club will be the only club that runs for six weeks rather than 3 weeks, where it ends on Monday, December 6. In this club, students will learn about basketball skills and will play basketball-related games. The students will have a chance to perform two demonstrations of the skills during halftime of a varsity boys game. Each student will also receive a t-shirt and basketball as a part of this club.
DIY Christmas Ornaments
In this holiday club, participants will make a different keepsake ornament for the Christmas Tree each week. We will end this club with a super special treat! Make sure you sign up because this club has very limited spots!
Payne Stewart Golf Clinic
We are debuting our new partnership with the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation as part of our after school clubs. This club will be a 2-hour club for each of the three weeks. In this club, students will participate in a one-of-a-kind introductory golf experience where they use specialized golf equipment, multi-sport gear, and proven training techniques. To see the club in action, view the videos below.
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Everybody Loves PE
Love PE? This club is for you! Join us for a mini session full of fun!
Robotics
We had such a great time in our first session of Robotics this fall, that we are offering a mini session. In this session, students will continue to use micro bit controlled robots to do relays and special tasks. If you didn't participate in the first session, you don't want to miss this one!
Wacky Tacky Science
Do you love science? Do you love making a mess? Do you love making new things? This is the club for you! Join us for three messy sessions where we use science to make slime, bouncy balls, and scientific explosions.
Chess
If you love playing chess or are a beginner, our chess club is sure to strengthen your skills. We invite you to join us for a mini session that focuses on your individualized chess skills.
Dress Up Stories
This club is designed especially for our young minds. In this club, boys and girls will dress up as their favorite characters, super heroes, and princesses to explore imaginary worlds through crafts and play. They are sure to love this special time with one of their very own teachers!
Flag Football
Join us for a club full of excitement as students will learn different football-based skills and practice how to play them in a variety of flag football games.
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Plans are being finalized for Frederica Academy's Summer Programs for 2022.
Please email Heather Day if you are interested in leading a camp or working on the Summer Programs staff next June or July.
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TUESDAY
Special Assembly Schedule
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TUESDAY
National Honor Society
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TUESDAY
Homecoming T-Shirt Deadline
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WEDNESDAY
National Unity Day
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The Health and Wellness Club is sponsoring National Unity Day on Wednesday, October 20, in support of bullying prevention. Everyone is encouraged to wear orange! National Unity Day has been celebrated in the United States since 2011 and is to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.
The school's participation in National Unity Day is also an extension of the school's Compassion It Campaign this month.
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THURSDAY
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
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Parent Association is hosting a luncheon for faculty and staff on Thursday, which will feature the Porch Food Truck. The truck will be parked in the Middle School parking lot at the entrance to the Athletic Complex.
Thank you, FA Kindergarten, Fourth Grade, Eighth Grade, and Eleventh Grade Parents!
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THURSDAY
MS + US Parent Conferences
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FRIDAY
Parent Conferences (PK-12)
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OCTOBER 25-29
Homecoming Dress-Up Themes
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LOWER SCHOOL THEMES:
Monday: Pajama Day
Tuesday Favorite Sports Jersey
Wednesday: Hat Day
Thursday: Crazy Sock Day
Friday: Green + White Spirit Day
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MIDDLE SCHOOL THEMES:
Monday: Pajama Day
Tuesday: Western Day
Wednesday: Gold Day
Thursday: Camo Day
Friday: Green + White Spirit Day
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UPPER SCHOOL THEMES:
Monday: Sports Jersey Day
Tuesday: Generation Day
- Freshmen - Tiny Tots
- Sophomores - Awkward Tweens
- Juniors - Middle Ages
- Seniors - Senior Citizens
- Faculty - High School Students
Wednesday: Holidays
Thursday: Halloween
Friday: Spirit Day (Island Paradise Influence)
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OCTOBER 26
FA Trunk + Treat
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Please join the Parent Association on Tuesday, October 26th, between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., for a family Halloween Trunk or Treat!
We will have Trunk or Treating and pumpkin decorating for students in PK-5th Grade. Siblings invited. We encourage students in Grades 6-12 to get involved by volunteering at the event!
We would like to invite families to participate as a Trunk! Please sign up your vehicle to host a trunk to pass out treats. We are encouraging clubs, teams, groups and more to get involved and host a trunk together. Your trunk can be simple, silly, or spooky. We welcome all participation.
Please note all vehicles must be parked by 5:00 p.m. in the Upper School parking lot and be completely set up by 5:30 p.m. Once you are parked, you will not be able to move your vehicle until 7:00 p.m. when all children have left and the site is cleared. Reserve your spot now and sign up by clicking HERE.
We also need parent volunteers to ensure the event’s success and safety. An hour of your time will make a huge impact on our event. Please sign up HERE to get involved.
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NOVEMBER 1-3
Spring Musical Auditions
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AUDITIONS for Spring Musical "Mamma Mia" are November 1, 2, and 3 after school, 3:20 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Terry Thomas Room of the Ralston Fine Arts Center.
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DECEMBER 1
Spring Dual Enrollment Deadline
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The deadline for current juniors and seniors who are interested in applying for Dual Enrollment at the College of Coastal Georgia during the 2022 Spring Semester is Wednesday, December 1. |
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FA Haiti Sister School News |
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Frederica Academy has been making meaningful connections with students at our sister school in Haiti for the past eight years. These connections span grade levels and complexity from pen pal letters and videos to fundraisers for supplies and playground equipment to solar powered chargers designed by Engineering classes to the creation of a database for research. Our students benefit by making these connections with real people and learning about their life experiences.
I travel to Haiti several times each year to work with students and teachers at the Jubilee School. My vision is to take FA students one day in the future. Currently, the country is just not safe enough to do that so making the connections from a distance is the only option for now.
My next trip to Haiti will be October 25-31. This trip will focus on opening a bike repair shop at our trade school (part of a job creation program), working with Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade students on a research project with the database created by Adam Elsharkawi, sharing pen pal letters from FA’s Fourth Grade (photos below) and teaching in our newly designed MakerSpace. I will be taking microscopes donated by FA and a second Raspberry Pi created by Adam. As always, thank you for your support and prayers for the future generations in Haiti.
Current Donation Needs:
- Used or new soccer socks (we donated old FA uniforms last year but no socks...age 8-16)
- Pencils and individual student pencil sharpeners
- Candy - individually wrapped
- Bike accessories - bells, lights, water bottles, water bottle cages, handlebar grips, kickstands, bike locks
Please contact me should you have questions or want more information.
FA Haiti Sister School Coordinator
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Freshman + Senior Retreat |
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While sophomores and juniors took the PSAT exam last week, FA freshmen and seniors spent Wednesday morning at the Epworth Ropes Course. |
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World Language + Culture Club |
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Mrs. Gallagher hosted the World Language and Culture Club's recent El Salvador event in her classroom last week.
Jocelyn and Brianna Galdamez were the featured speakers and shared cuisine with the club members. Briley Johnson and Maddie Baldwin also presented.
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Last Tuesday, Seventh Grade and Eighth Grade students participated in a playwriting workshop sponsored by Golden Isles Arts & Humanities and the Price/Blackburn Foundation. Heather Heath, a leader in Community Theater, led the workshop and gave students an overview of the basic principles of writing a play. The Young Playwrights Award that Middle School students can enter will be judged for originality, creativity and content, as well as form and structure. From this workshop, Frederica has had two top-prize-winning playwrights in the past two years. Frederica Academy enjoys a productive partnership with the Ritz Theatre education programs, as the students attend plays at the theater and participate in year-round community arts events offered by the Foundation.
Mrs. Heather Heath joined the staff of Golden Isles Arts & Humanities in 1998 and became its Executive Director in 1999. She has more than 25 years’ experience working in the arts with a strong background in theatre. As Executive Director of Golden Isles Arts & Humanities, Heather is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization and programming all the many events they sponsor. Heather worked professionally as an actor in over 50 productions in the Atlanta area and the Southeast. Her work as an actor has been critically acclaimed.
Click HERE to email Tess Nielsen, FA Director of Fine Arts, for more information.
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Señora Wagner's Spanish Fiestas |
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In Señora Wagner's class, students have been learning about all 21 countries that have Spanish as their official language. They have been learning that there are customs and food traditions that are unique to each country. Last week marked the end of Hispanic Heritage Month and students were invited to bring in a dish typical to a Spanish country to end this culture unit with a FIESTA. |
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The regional CoastFest student art contest was cancelled this year due to Covid. Because our Fourth Grade students had already started creating their entries, we decided to have our own show!
A panel of four judges chose the winners, who were announced at Lower School Morning Meeting on Friday, where each of the following winning artists received a ribbon, prize, and certificate.
1st Place - Miles Rentz
2nd Place - Cece Green
3rd Place - Henry Dorminy
Honorable Mention - Winter Hunter
Honorable Mention - Cooper Lamb
Honorable Mention - Amir Swann
Please be sure to check out all of the artwork, which is on display in Hamilton Hall.
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Fourth Grade has had some incredible readers this quarter! Their teachers are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and are excited to be starting a fresh quarter full of new challenges!
Mr. Roberts' students took their "Compassion It" lessons from Mrs. Lee to heart by showing acts of compassion in large and small ways. We are proud of our kind and compassionate students.
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Third Grade students traveled to Jacksonville to visit the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) on Friday. They attended the program Wild Weather where they got to learn first hand about severe weather. The students ended their day learning about how the sun affects our climate in the planetarium. It was a wonderful field trip!
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Pre-K's Mystery Reader last week was Alba Grace Piazza’s mom, Lizzie; her grandmother also joined them. Mrs. Piazza read a Halloween book to the Pre-K students. Alba Grace loved sharing her mom and grandmother with her classmates!
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Last week, the Pre-K class learned all about fire safety and what first responders do to protect us from fires. On Friday, Captain Hawkins and F.F. Thompson from SSI Fire Station 2 came to campus to visit the Pre-K class. They talked to the Pre-K students about fire safety, demonstrated the gear they wear, and showed them all of the different tools they carry on their truck. We are so thankful for our first responders and everything they do to keep us safe. |
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FA Fall Athletic Schedules |
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October + November Events |
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October 25-29
Homecoming Week
October 26 (5:30 PM - 6:30 PM)
FA "Trunk or Treat"
Middle School Parking Lot
Sponsored by: Parent Association
October 28
GISA AAA Regional One-Act Play Festival
Vidalia
October 29 @ 2:20 PM
Homecoming Pep Rally
Football Field
October 29
Varsity Football Homecoming Game
vs. Pinewood Christian
Homecoming Court @ Halftime
November 1
Lower School Storybook Character Day
Parade @ 8:00 AM
November 1
Book Fair Set-Up
Been Library
November 1-3 (3:20 PM - 5:00 PM)
Spring Musical Auditions
"Mama Mia"
Terry Thomas Room
November 2-5
FA Book Fair
Been Library
November 2
School Bucket Shot
Grade Group Photos
November 3 @ 3:30 PM
All-School Faculty Meeting
November 4 @ 10:00 AM
Varsity Letter Jacket Sale
Gym Lobby
November 5 (Morning)
PSAT 8-9 Exam (Eighth Grade)
Noon Dismissal Post Exam
November 5 (Morning)
Noon Dismissal Post Exam
November 5 (Morning)
Noon Dismissal
November 5 (Afternoon)
RSM Uniform Unloading
Gymnasium
November 5
Varsity Football @ Trinity
November 6
GISA State Cross Country Meet
November 6-7
RSM Uniform Distribution
FA Gymnasium
November 6
FA Homecoming Dance
Sea Palms
November 9
Varsity Basketball
Season Opener
@ Home vs. Faith Baptist
Girls @ 5:30 PM
Boys @ 7:00 PM
November 11 @ 10:00 AM
Veterans Day Assembly
November 12
GISA Football Playoffs
First Round
November 15
FA World Kindness Day
November 16
Spanish Honor Society Induction
November 16 @ 5:00 PM
RSM Wiffle Ball Event
FA Baseball Field
November 16 @ 6:00 PM
Sophomore College Night
November 17
School Club Photos
November 17 (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
MS + US Open Mic Night
November 18-21
RSM Classic @ The Lodge
November 19
Third Grade Field Trip
Mighty Eighth (Savannah)
November 24-26
Thanksgiving Break
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