A Message from the Head of School |
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Dear FA Families,
I was reminded about our list of attributes ascribed to an FA graduate, generated by faculty and staff here at school, as I was reading the article in The Brunswick News yesterday morning about our varsity football team's impressive win on Friday night, which has earned the team a first-round bye in the state playoffs. It happened again a few hours later when our girls and boys cross country teams won the GISA AAA state championship and runner-up titles, respectively, at the state cross country meet in Macon. There is more information below about the state football playoffs and the cross country teams' historic accomplishments; we look forward to honoring the cross country runners and coaches at the Upper School Assembly in the gym on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m.
The specific graduate profile attribute I have been inspired to write about this morning is "resiliency." There are probably way more than a handful of illustrative definitions for that word regularly used in our society today; but for me, this morning, in the context of your children and our students, I am going to adopt the following core definition: resiliency is the ability to withstand adversity and recover from a difficult life event.
There are three thoughts that I’d like to convey in this brief note. The first is to share my belief that resiliency is not a trait that one is born with or without. We all have resiliency; in fact, that ability to recover quickly and fully from life’s difficulties is simply cultivated and enhanced as we practice it on a regular basis. When people have ample resiliency they can transform their experiences and their mentality to focus on the future rather than simply dwell on the past.
The second is that possessing resiliency pays dividends in everyone’s lives and that it is a worthwhile endeavor to help your child develop their resiliency. Situations that require resiliency in our children’s lives range from getting over a cold or an injury to taking criticism well without getting defensive and losing one’s temper to performing less than optimally on an important test or a competition to simply being told “no” when ”yes” was anticipated or hoped for. There can certainly be a physical element to resiliency; but more often than not, it is an attitude or state of mind. Whether one is in Pre-Kindergarten or Upper School and anywhere in between, resilient people are aware of situations, their own emotional reactions, and the behavior of those around them. They can maintain control of a situation and think about new ways to tackle problems and adjust to disappointing circumstances and then move on with their lives.
Third, and I speak now from experience here as a well-intended father of a marginally indulged only-child, much of our lives as parents can be spent trying to reduce or eliminate stressors in our children's lives. Resiliency or grit refers to that ability to successfully address those age-appropriate stressors, to maintain psychological well-being in the face of adversity. Since we all will learn or have learned over time that everyone faces adversity and disappointment in life, in hindsight I wish that I had spent more time in the early years of parenting my daughter teaching and nurturing resiliency in her and less time running interference for all of those challenging moments. Had I the opportunity to revisit that chapter of my parenting life again, I would spend less energy this time around micro-managing the rough housing with her neighborhood playmates and more time teaching her how to cope with a bruised knee or being the last one selected in choosing teams.
Respectfully,
Scott L. Hutchinson
Head of School
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THIS WEEK:
Monday @ 10:00 AM
Upper School Assembly
Varsity XC Trophy Presentations
+ State Meet Celebration
Gym
Monday Afternoon
MS Soccer Season Openers
@ Risley Middle School
Girls @ 3:30 PM
Boys @ 4:30 PM
Tuesday @ 7:15 AM
Middle School Faculty Meeting
Tuesday @ 10:00 AM
Oglethorpe University
College Counseling Center
Tuesday @ 1:05 PM
Health + Wellness Officer Meeting
Mr. Riggs's Classroom
Tuesday (2:30 PM - 5:00 PM)
COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Clinic
Shuman Conference Room
(Been Library)
Tuesday Evening.
Varsity Basketball Season Openers
@ Home vs. Faith Baptist
Girls @ 5:30 PM
Boys @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday @ 8:15 AM
FA Parent Association Meeting
Shuman Conference Room
Wednesday @ 10:00 AM
Upper School Advisory
Wednesday @ 1:05 PM
Worry Free Wednesday
US PME Performance
PME = Popular Music Ensemble
Sea Island Green
Wednesday Afternoon
MS Soccer Season Home Openers
vs. St. Mary's Middle School
Girls @ 3:30 PM
Boys @ 4:30 PM
Wednesday @ 4:00 PM
Upper School Faculty Meeting
Hamilton Hall
Thursday Morning
Virtual Veterans Day Program
Thursday @ 10:00 AM
Senior Class Meeting
Shuman Conference Room
Thursday @ Lunch
Kona Ice Truck
Thursday @ 1:05 PM
NCAA Eligibility Workshop
College Counseling Center
Thursday Evening
Varsity Basketball Games
@ Home vs. Faith Christian Academy
Girls @ 5:30 PM
Boys @ 7:00 PM
Thursday (5:30 PM - 7:30 PM)
Middle School Parent Social
Mellow Mushroom
Friday
Second Quarter
Progress Period Ends
Friday @ 8:10 AM
Lower School Morning Meeting
Gym
Friday @ 10:00 AM
Spanish Honor Society Induction
REHEARSAL
Terry Thomas Room
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FA Parent Association News |
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Parent Association Meeting
FA Talking Heads
Wednesday, November 10
8:15 AM
Shuman Conference Room
Please join us on Wednesday morning for a can't-miss, all-member Parent Association meeting featuring the division directors: Becky Pruitt, Leigh Toomey and Mike Temple. This is your chance to hear about what is going on in each division and across the school. We know you have questions... it's a great chance to ask them about what is on your mind! Please submit your questions directed to the division directors in advance by clicking here. We will NOT be doing a live Q&A so now is your chance to ask in advance! If you can't make it we will have livestream option here.
MS Parent Social
Middle School Parents
Thursday, November 11
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Mellow Mushroom
Holiday Poinsettia + Greenery Update - Thank you to everyone who purchased holiday décor from us! We are so thankful to have met our goal. Please plan on picking up your orders during the week after Thanksgiving. We will be in touch with details as soon as delivery dates are confirmed.
FA Christmas Card Volunteer Opportunity - All hands needed! Please mark your calendar and show up on Monday, November 22, after morning drop-off and help us get the mail out! Everyone welcome and encouraged for this easy, quick opportunity to help FA mail its official 2021 Christmas Card, which will feature artwork created by a Lower School student.
FA Book Fair - Parent Association expresses its appreciation to all of the parent volunteers who assisted with the FA Book Fair last week!
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Important Chromebook Information |
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Beginning this month, there will be a $2 charge each time a student uses a loaner Chromebook while their Chromebook is charging. We are hoping this financial incentive to remember to charge Chromebooks each evening will help eliminate the lost class time and staff resources involved in bringing uncharged Chromebooks to school. If students have misplaced their chargers, replacement chargers are available for a fee $30 for a new charger and $20 for a used one. Please email Dan Redanz if you need a replacement charger.
As an additional incentive for students who do not bring their Chromebooks in to be charged there will be an ice cream party held at lunch at the end of the Semester!
Developing this discipline of daily preparation for school is an important tenet of what our teachers are doing every day in fulfilling our mission of preparing students for college and life. Thanks for your help in reinforcing this at home.
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NOVEMBER
Meals on Wheels Contest
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The Upper School Service Council's September Service Project was to collect goods for Magnolia Manor. Upper School students donated personal hygiene goods and wrote cards for the residents of Magnolia Manor, and Service Council members Ryann Hankey and Reese Hankey delivered them on Tuesday. Please see attached picture.
This month, Upper School students are participating in a competition to support local food banks. Cans with pop tops, canned veggies and fruit, canned meat, rice, and noodles will help feed those in our community. Each week, we will weigh the class contributions. The grade with the most weight will win a Chick-fil-a breakfast!
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MONDAY @ 10:00 AM
Varsity Cross Country Celebration
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TUESDAY
COVID-19 Booster Shots
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TUESDAY
Varsity Basketball Openers
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WEDNESDAY
FA Parent Association Meeting
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Please make plans to attend the Parent Association meeting on Wednesday morning at 8:15 a.m. in the Shuman Conference Room. The meeting will feature the three division directors: Becky Pruitt, Leigh Toomey and Mike Temple. This is your chance to hear about what is going on in each division and across the school. We know you have questions... it's a great chance to ask them about what is on your mind! Please submit your questions directed to the division directors in advance. We will NOT be doing a live Q&A so now is your chance to ask in advance!
The meeting will be livestreamed if you are not able to attend.
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WEDNESDAY
MS Soccer Home Openers
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WEDNESDAY
MS Parent Social
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THURSDAY @ 8:30 AM
Veterans Day Programs
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THURSDAY @ LUNCH
Kona Ice Truck
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THURSDAY
NCAA Eligibility Workshop
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NOVEMBER 16
Sophomore College Night
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Dear Sophomores and Parents,
Frederica Academy's annual Sophomore College Night will be held on Tuesday, November 16, at 6:00 p.m. in Hamilton Hall. The evening, designed for both sophomores and their parents, will cover details about beginning the college search process, what makes up a completed college application file, how college applications are reviewed, and a student panel to help answer questions students and parents might have regarding the college search and application process.
Please click HERE to submit a question you would like answered by the student panel.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you on Tuesday, November 16th.
Thank you,
Mrs. Laura Nevins
Director of College Placement
Assistant Head of Upper School
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NOVEMBER 19
GISA State Football Playoff Game
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I recently returned from a trip to our sister school in Haiti. Many people have asked about the stability of Haiti right now. Sometimes the Americans who live there full time say that things are upside down in Haiti. There is political unrest, gangs, kidnappings, inflation and almost no gas in the entire country. Most schools in Haiti were closed while I was there, but our sister school, Jubilee School, was open. Children were learning and being fed. Our students walk to school and our teachers ride their bikes, many of which FA helped to purchase a few years ago. While Haiti might be upside down right now, I would say our community is just leaning a little.
It was a busy and exciting week for me. First, I delivered the letters written by FA’s Lower School students. Our counterparts in Haiti enjoyed receiving them and wrote back many notes for me to deliver to their American pen pals. Additionally, I was able to work with 4th-6th grade Jubilee students in their MakerSpace and with the librarian on a research project. Finally, we opened a bike shop in our trade school. Sharing ideas and modeling new teaching methods is very rewarding for the teachers in Haiti.
As always, thank you for your support. The hope you give to these students during a very difficult time in their country is impossible to measure.
Please contact me if you want to learn more or support our efforts.
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Congratulations to the following Middle School students for being named October REACH Honor Students! |
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Peter Vinci - Fifth Grade
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Gracelyn Grantham - Sixth Grade |
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Jaylen Baldwin - Seventh Grade
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Haseley Caine - Eighth Grade
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Boston Tea Party Escape Room |
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The Boston Tea Party Escape Room took students on a secret mission in order to break codes! The codes include ciphers, Morse code, cryptograms and a final 4-digit code based on the decoders/clues. This escape room had students decode interesting facts about the Boston Tea Party and the causes of the Revolutionary War.
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Mrs. Toomey recently visited the Sixth Grade Spanish class where a conversation about chocolate chip cookies quickly ensued. During the conversation, Gates Dixon, insisted that he baked "the best chocolate chip cookie ever." Mrs. Toomey took this as a direct challenge resulting in a Middle School bake-off. Last Monday, a blindfolded panel of three faculty members were put to the test and tried one cookie baked by Gates and one cookie baked by Mrs. Toomey.... and the winner was... GATES!
Mrs. Toomey is hoping to redeem herself with a lemon bars challenge later in the school year.
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Storybook Character Parade |
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Fourth Grade Jekyll Island Trip |
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Fourth Grade students took a trip to Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll last week to reinforce concepts learned in their Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition unit. This culminating activity was an exciting way to see erosion wearing away the north end of Jekyll and deposition building up the South end of the island. This hands-on experience was something the students will never forget.
A seining activity was cancelled due to the rip current advisory; however, a class on herpetology was a successful substitution, with the children getting first-hand experiences learning about herpetology and then seeing and touching some cool reptiles. Snakes, Turtles, and alligators...oh my! What a wonderful experience for our Fourth Grade students.
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Third Grade STEAM Challenge |
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As a culminating project to their weather unit, Third Grade students participated in a STEAM challenge. For this challenge, students had to brainstorm about everything they learned about hurricanes and their weather hazards to create a cardboard structure with their group. Each of the groups presented their structure to the class and tested their structures with "Hurricane Teachers" using blow dryers. It was amazing to see the critical thinking and reflection of each of our amazing third graders! |
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Last week's Second Grade Star Students were Izzy Simbras and Emma Taylor. They did a wonderful job presenting their decorated All About Me Star posters and interviewing each other.
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Izzy invited her brother in-law, Blake Hightower, to be her guest reader. Emma invited her Dad, Dr. Jordan Taylor, our outstanding Middle and Upper School music teacher, to be her guest reader.
Izzy and Emma shined brightly as Second Grade Stars!
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First Grade STEM Challenge |
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On Friday, First Grade students completed a fun STEM challenge. Using a large index card, tape, popsicles sticks and straws, the students were tasked with building a free-standing Thanksgiving table to hold their feast. They did a wonderful job making and executing their plan, as well as communicating and problem-solving with their partner. |
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Pre-K was fortunate to host two Mystery Readers last week!
On Wednesday, Lillian Johnson’s mom, Ashley Johnson, read one of Lillian’s favorites: Ready, Set, Dig!
On Thursday, Wilson Speight’s mom, Katherine Speight, read the Gracious Gobbler. She brought a stuffed turkey for Wilson to share with his friends.
The Pre-K teachers and students loved having these special visitors!
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FA St. Simons Land Trust Invite |
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FA Parents
Greer and Laura Brown
and Drs. Kevin and Bonnie Brooks
invite you to a private tour of
Cannon’s Point Preserve.
For those new to the area, as well as those who have lived here forever, we want to provide our Frederica Academy families with opportunities to learn more about the myriad sites and activities that are available to them on St. Simons Island.
Cannon’s Point Preserve, a 640-plus acre wilderness area
on the north-end of the island, is owned and protected by the
St. Simons Land Trust. Activities will include hiking, climbing into an observation tower that provides a bird’s eye view of the different layers of a maritime forest, as well as a scavenger hunt for the kids and a chance to analyze creek water
in the Preserve’s Coastal Ecology Lab.
Saturday, November 13, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Lunch Provided
Please Note:
Tour is limited to first 25 families!
RSVP by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, November 10,
or call 912-638-9109.
We hope you’ll join us for a guided tour and learn more
about the ecology, history, and culture of
this beautiful barrier island that we all call home.
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FA Fall Athletic Schedules |
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November 12
GISA Football Playoffs
First Round (FA Bye)
November 15
FA World Kindness Day
November 16 @ 4:00 PM
Spanish Honor Society Induction
Terry Thomas Room
November 16 @ 5:00 PM
RSM Wiffle Ball Event
FA Baseball Field
November 16 @ 6:00 PM
Sophomore College Night
Hamilton Hall
November 17
School Club Photos
November 17 (5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
MS + US Open Mic Night
November 19
GISA AAA Football Playoffs
Second Round
FA @ Home vs. Tiftarea
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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