Head of School Message
Dear FA Families,

Every child deserves a champion; an adult who never gives up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best person they can possibly be.

Rita Pierson, Educator
 
The next few months anchor the prime recruiting and hiring season for new teachers. We are now in the midst of identifying and interviewing teachers both to replace those who are retiring or leaving the area as well as teachers to teach new classes with our anticipated expanded curricular offerings. I thought for a moment today I would share with you four of the primary attributes that we look for in hiring new teachers, regardless of the grade level. Parenthetically, I would add that these are some of the same criteria that we use in reviewing our present teachers.
 
Like Rita Pierson, we believe that one’s ability to connect with, and relate to, others is the single greatest attribute for a teacher. Education and schools are first and foremost relational industries, and no amount of technical expertise or subject matter mastery will sufficiently replace a teacher’s requisite need to deeply connect with learners.
 
Secondly, the ability to read the room and orchestrate the energies of the class are both incredibly important assets in becoming an effective teacher. Creating synergy within a classroom where everyone feels included and affirmed and where the potential of each student is teased out proves a differentiated skill that separates the good from the great.
 
Thirdly, genuinely enjoying the company of the specific age group that one teaches is of paramount importance in effective teaching. Everyone knows and appreciates a high level of sincerity when interacting with others, but young people’s radar is particularly attuned to and sensitive of that attribute. All students want to try harder and persevere longer when they are being taught by adults who they believe revel in their company and are able to thoughtfully guide them and support them in their lives.
 
Fourthly, mastery of material and the best way to deliver that material and inspire thinking related to that material are all fundamental components of a first-rate teacher. Knowing what to teach and especially how best to teach it to each student’s learning profile distinguishes excellence in teachers. Demonstrating relevancy of material and individualized instruction in the context of whole-group learning also both stand high on the podium for importance in outstanding classroom instruction.
 
The teachers at FA are exceptional, proven time and again every day of every year; and they are the linchpin of the school experience for all students at all grade levels. Finding and securing new teachers who will join and strengthen our present teaching core and carry on the tradition of excellence in the classroom is the single most impactful, long-term activity taking place these next three months, and I very much look forward to sharing with you at year’s end the results of that work.

Respectfully,
 
Scott L. Hutchinson
Head of School
This Week at FA


Monday @ 10:00 AM
US Relay for Life Pi Day Event
Sea Island Green

Monday @ 4:00 PM
MS Baseball
@ St. Marys Middle School

Monday @ 5:00 PM
Varsity Girls Soccer
@ Home vs. Westfield

Monday @ 6:00 PM
Varsity Baseball
@ Pinewood
Dismissal @ 2:30 PM

Tuesday @ 7:15 AM
MS Faculty Meeting

Tuesday @ 10:00 AM
US Assembly (Gym)

Tuesday @ 10:00 AM
Middle School Assembly

Tuesday @ 5:00 PM
Varsity Boys Soccer
@ Camden
Dismissal @ 2:30 PM

Wednesday @ 10:00 AM
US Advisory
Field Day Logistics

Wednesday @ 4:00 PM
US Faculty Meeting
Shuman Conference Room

Wednesday @ 6:00 PM
Varsity Baseball
@ Home vs. Pinewood

Thursday
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
FAPA Faculty + Staff Lunch
Gym Lobby
Parent Hosts: PK, 7, 9, 10

Thursday @ 4:00 PM
FA Booster Club Board Meeting

Friday Morning

Friday Dismissal Times:
  • Lower School @ 12:15 PM
  • Middle School @ 11:40 AM
  • Upper School @ 11:40 AM

Friday @ 5:00 PM
Varsity Girls Soccer
@ Westfield (Perry)

Friday @ 6:00 PM
Varsity Baseball @ Home
vs. Pinewood

Saturday @ 10:00 AM + Noon
Middle School Baseball
Doubleheader
@ Home vs. St. Marys

Sunday @ 1:40 PM
Varsity Golf vs. FA Alumni
@ Brunswick Country Club
School Counselor Message
With more access than ever to news and media through technology, this may be the first time our children and teens have seen war playing out so often and graphically.

This can be very anxiety producing for all. David Fassler, M.D. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and has written 15 Tips for Talking to Kids about the War in Ukraine for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Click the link to explore these tips.

I hope this resource is as helpful to you as it has been for me. 

Rachael D. Lee, M.A, LPC, NCC
School Counselor (K-12th)
912-638-9981 ext. 746
School Nurse Message
2022-2023
Pre-Kindergarten Parents
Kindergarten Parents
Seventh Grade Parents
Eleventh Grade Parents

At the beginning of each school year, Frederica Academy is required to submit vaccination records for our annual immunization audit with the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The grades that are included in our 2022-2023 immunization audit are Pre-K, Kindergarten, Seventh, and Eleventh Grades. We encourage you to begin planning for this now. Please check with your healthcare provider to see if your child is up to date with all of the required vaccines for children in these applicable grade levels. Parents have had some difficulty with scheduling appointments, so we would like to give parents advanced notification of these requirements.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Nikki Pope BS RNC BSN
Frederica Academy School Nurse
200 Murray Way
Saint Simons Island GA 31522
912 638 9981 x 492
Knights Table Menu
2022 FA May Court
Region STAR Student Winner
Congratulations to Andrew Kaminer and Mrs. Boatright for being named Region 11 STAR Student and Teacher winners for 2022. They will represent FA, Glynn County, and Region 11 at the State PAGE STAR Banquet in Atlanta next month.
Congratulations, Mr. Jobe!
Steve Jobe was named Outstanding American History Teacher by the Georgia State Society Colonial Dames XVII Century. Nominated by Bren Schilling, the Saint Simons Chapter Society President, Mr. Jobe was the unanimous selection in a highly competitive candidate pool.
 
At the State Conference Awards Luncheon in Milledgeville on March 5th, Francis Gipson, the Historian Chairman presented Mr. Jobe with this prestigious award. In her opening remarks, she noted, “The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, and the great teacher inspires. She then expanded to say, “It is clear to me today that we are in presence of greatness.”
 
During his six-year tenure at Frederica, Mr. Jobe has taught a variety of Social Studies courses including: AP US History, AP American Government, AP Comparative Government, AP World History, World Geography, Political Science, and the History of the Presidents.

Congratulations, Mr. Jobe!
Pictured L-R: Georgia State Society Colonial Dames XVII Century President Amelia Pelton; Steve Jobe, Outstanding American History Teacher; Bren Schilling, President Saint Simons Island Chapter; and Francis Gipson, Historian Chairman.

Photo taken at the Magnolia Ballroom, Milledgeville, GA, on March 5, 2022. 
MONDAY @ 10:00 AM
Relay for Life Pi(e) Day

Do you find this guy's constant smiling, selflessness, positive energy, athleticism, Mensa-level intelligence, friendliness, humility, and overall perfection and popularity annoying?

If so, now is your chance to do something about it!
The FA Health and Wellness Relay for Life Team is excited to host its next FUNdraiser - Pi(e) Day!

On Monday (3.14), FA Knights helping wage a war against cancer will "pie" a few of our favorite faculty, administrators, and students to raise money for Relay for Life on the Sea Island Green during morning break! Each pie is $5 or five pies for $20. Don't miss this opportunity to have a great time!
Here are the list of faculty and students that have graciously volunteered:

  • Mr. Jobe - The king of heckling is ready for you! Remember that grade he gave you right before report cards?

  • Mrs. Lavallee - She is scared to death of germs and gross things. There was that time she wouldn't give you a pass to the nurse's office.

  • Dr. Nevins - She's small but mighty! Remember when she scolded you for not finishing your college essay?

  • Mr. Temple - Didn't he give you lunch detention once? Or better yet, SATURDAY detention? Hmmm.

  • Thomas Veal - He has his one-liners ready for you. How many pies can he take before he stops grinning?

  • Jacob O'Connor - We have all been the victim of the King of sarcasm and dry humor at some point. 

  • Emmy Mitchell - There is a good chance the co-captain of the cheerleaders has given you the friendly "Bring it On" eye-roll once or twice when encouraging you to be your best self. 

This is all in good fun as we support cancer research and funding.
FRIDAY
FA Field Day 2022
This year's school-wide Field Day will take place on Friday, March 18.

Frederica Academy's Field Day is a fun-filled day; a day when Lower, Middle, and Upper School students engage in activities that both build community and make lasting memories.

Just as in past years, Lower (K-4), Middle, and Upper School students will engage in division-appropriate activities in the morning. However, we have added a new element to this year's event.

Before departing for the day, all three divisions will come together to engage in a memorable All-School Field Day activity. To aid in the fun, all FA students (K-12) will be divided into two teams, a Green Team and a White Team. Team members should wear the color corresponding to their last name.

Middle and Upper School will dismiss at 11:40 p.m. on Friday. Lower School will dismiss at 12:15 p.m. following a pizza lunch celebration.
FRIDAY
Derby Day Deadline
MARCH 24-26
Mamma Mia Performances
International Thespian Troupe #8989 proudly presents Mamma Mia, the Broadway Musical

  • Thursday, March 24, 7:00 PM
  • Friday, March 25, 7:00 PM
  • Saturday, March 26, 2:00 PM

Tickets:
  • General Admission Seating
  • Tickets at the Door
  • Adults - $10
  • Students (including college age) - Free
  • FA Employees - Free
APRIL 13 + MAY 3
Dual Enrollment Deadlines
Rising juniors (Class of 2024) and seniors (Class of 2023) who meet the College of Coastal Georgia's admission requirements are eligible to apply for the summer and fall FA College of Coastal Georgia dual enrollment programs. Interested students must submit a Frederica Academy Dual Enrollment Application to Dr. Nevins before each deadline:

  • Summer Dual Enrollment Deadline: Wednesday, April 13

  • Fall Dual Enrollment Deadline: Tuesday, May 3
APRIL 27 (5:00 - 7:00 PM)
PPE Night (Grades 4-11)
FA will host its annual PPE (Pre-Physical Evaluations) night on April 27 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. for all rising 5th-12th Grade students. All Middle and Upper School students are required to have a current PPE on file with the school for field trips, PE, weights classes, and all athletics.

Local physicians, nurse practitioners, and physicians assistants volunteer their time to complete these screenings. The cost is ten dollars and is charged to each student's account. Please use the following link to access the PPE form, which needs to be completed and returned to Nurse Pope prior to April 27:
High School Summer Programs
Dr. Nevins is pleased to release this year's Pre-College and Enrichment Summer Program Opportunities catalog. Click HERE to access it.
Kiwanis Club Scholarship
The Kiwanis Club of Brunswick is sponsoring the Bill Brown "Keep Up the Good Work" Scholarship, a scholarship for high school seniors in Glynn County.

Award Amount: $5,000

Requirements:

  • Students must demonstrate engagement in community service through school, church, service clubs or individual activities.
  • Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Must have a recommendation from a school faculty member, principal, or counselor.
  • Student must write a brief essay explaining why they should receive the scholarship. No more than one page. The use of correct grammar is important.

Essays should be emailed to Dr. Nevins by Friday, April 8th.
 
Recommendations, transcripts, and resumes will be packaged by Dr. Nevins to accompany each applicant's essay.
Kaine Law Scholarship
Kaine Law is sponsoring the Growing Your Community Scholarship, a scholarship for high school seniors and current college students.
Scholarship Requirements:

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Admitted to or enrolled in an accredited college/university.
  • Agree to the terms and conditions of the Growing Your Community Scholarship.
  • 1,000-1,500 word essay describing your dedication to your school and the local community at large.

Scholarship Award: $1,500

Deadline: June 15, 2022

Click HERE to apply and to view the scholarship terms and conditions.
Baseball Volunteers Needed!
MS Relay for Life Update
Do you know someone who has battled cancer or has lost their life to cancer? Most of us do. Please go to our FA Health and Wellness Relay for Life Team page and purchase a luminary in honor or memory of someone who has fought the fight against cancer. Luminaries are displayed at the Relay for Life event. Please see our webpage link below. Contact Nurse Pope or Mr. Riggs with any questions.
Fourth Grade Field Trips
Fourth Grade students took two amazing field trips last week. First, they walked over to the Epworth Slave Cabins and learned about the lives of slaves and the Plantation Era on St Simons Island. This trip was hosted by the Cassina Garden Club, the incredible caretakers of this historic property.  Next, students rode over to Neptune Park for a picnic before heading into the St Simons Lighthouse. There they learned about the history of our lighthouse and many details about how lighthouses work and why they look the way they do. The students capped off the day at the oceanside playground for the best recess ever!
Third Grade Hoops Star!

The FA Class of 2031 salutes
Brelend Smith
and his Glynn County Recreation
and Parks Department 8U
teammates on making history last weekend by winning this year's 8U State Basketball Championship.

The department saw its 8U boys and 12U girls become the first youth basketball teams in the country
to win state championships.
The girls team is coached by
FA Parent Manyonna Mountain.

Congratulations,
Brelend and Ms. Mountain!
Second Grade Dads Breakfast
Second Grade students hosted their Dads for breakfast last week and shared artwork and stories about them.
Pre-K Mystery Reader
Baylor Melnyk's mother, Marla Melnyk, was last week's Pre-K Mystery Reader. She read the classic, Curious George Takes a Train.
March + April Events
March 21-23
Fifth Grade Ebenezer Trip

March 21-24
Science Fair (Grades 7-12)

March 23
Fourth Grade Field Trip
Fort Frederica Dig

March 24
Science Fair Due Date

March 24
Fourth Grade
Archaeology Lab

March 24-26
MS + US Spring Musical:
"Mamma Mia"

March 25 @ 8:00 AM
FF&F
Athletic Conference Room

March 31
US Photojournalism Field Trip
White Oak (Yulee, FL)

April 2
ACT Exam

April 4-8
Spring Break

April 13
Summer CCGA Dual Enrollment
DEADLINE

April 14 or 21
FA Fine Arts Hall of Fame
Ralston Fine Arts Center

April 15
School Holiday (Good Friday)

April 18
Varsity Tennis
GISA State Tournament
Individuals (Macon)

April 18
Varsity Golf
Region Tournament
Statesboro

April 20
MS Visiting Author

April 20
Recycled Uniform Sale
Gym Lobby

April 20
Fourth Grade Field Trip
World War II Home Front Museum

April 21
Progress Reports Posted
Quarter 4

April 21
Second Grade
Mom's Breakfast

April 21
MS + US Spring Concert
Senior Showcase

April 22
Relay for Life Event
Health + Wellness Club

April 23
Junior-Senior Prom

April 25
Varsity Golf
GISA State Tournament
Lake Oconee

April 26
Class of 2022
College T-Shirt Day

April 27
Varsity Tennis
GISA State Tournament
Teams (Macon)

April 27
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
PPE Night (Gym)

April 28
8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Board of Visitors Meeting
Shuman Conference Room

April 28
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
FA Benefactors Reception
Elizabeth + Daniel Veal's Residence

April 29
Grandparents Day
May Day
Upper School Honors Day

April 30
Red Cross Blood Drive
Health + Wellness Club
20th Annual FA Derby Day
There are two ways to access the Derby Day website.
 
1. Text FADerby to 76278.
 
If you registered for Derby Day last year, you may be automatically logged-in once you access the site. Click on the "Home" tab, and you will be off to the races! If you forgot your log-in credentials, you can click "forgot password." We encourage all patrons to "allow" text messages when enrolling because this will allow us to keep you updated as May 7 draws nearer.
 
Please note that when you receive a link via text or email from GiveSmart, it is a link that is personalized for you. Do not share this link with friends because it will be tied to your personal account and your corresponding payment information.

Please feel free to call, text, or email me with any questions, and stay tuned for information regarding this year's raffle item!
 
Brad Hutcherson
Director of Development
Frederica Academy
912.222.6653
2022 FA Summer Programs
FA Spring Athletic Schedules
FA Social Media