I was reviewing three data points this week to gauge a bit about the community’s perception of the overall health of our school. I am generally not a ”take a poll to take a stand” guy, but making sure that we are seen by our customer base as providing the essential services to our students and our families in a thoughtful, compassionate manner does matter very much to me.

By all three touchstone criteria… openings in next year’s senior class, re-enrollment rates across all grade levels, and demonstrated interest from prospective families… I found heartening news. The senior class will be completely full to capacity next year with a waiting list for potential last-minute relocation prospects. The re-enrollment rates across all three divisions are higher now than they have ever been at this time of the year, and interest from new families… both within our area and relocating from afar… also exceeds previous high-water marks of year’s past. Thank you for your part in contributing to any of these benchmarks. Your loyalty is appreciated in that it affirms for me that we, as a school, are doing some important things well and serves as a constant reminder that we must improve each year to earn a deeper loyalty going forward.

The reason that I am writing about this week’s discovery is not so much to call attention to and celebrate our progress as a school and/or to thank you for your role in any of our successes, but to share my back-of-the-napkin analysis of perhaps why I think this trend might be emerging. To the headline, I think we might be gaining some positive traction in this community… both within our school and outside… because our brand is becoming clearer, and, to the heart of the matter, we are delivering on that brand more predictably.

I think what follows then that those who are experiencing firsthand the delivery of that brand are more likely to share a positive review of the school as a result. We have always had and will always have moments of dissatisfaction or disagreement within our school community because we are, after all, a collection of nearly three hundred families, each with its own preferences and biases for looking at and living in the world.

This afternoon, the visiting members of our SAIS (Southern Association of Independent Schools) reaccreditation team begin their three-day review of our program and our campus. In preparation for their visit, I was rereading our FA Today branding document. I believe it succinctly identifies key features of our brand and articulates the foundational beliefs that bind this school community together; it is largely from that foundation that we will continue to evolve and improve. If you have a moment in the next day or two, it might be worth clicking here to read it to remind and reinforce who FA is and why we are all so committed to its success.

SAIS Re-accreditation Campus Visit

MS + US Science Fair

Upper School Advisory

Varsity Golf @ Valdosta Country Club

vs. Valwood + Brookwood

Dismissal @ 10:00 AM

Varsity Soccer

@ St. Andrew's in Savannah

Girls @ 5:00 PM

Boys @ 7:00 PM

Dismissal @ 1:05 PM

All-School Faculty + Staff Meeting

Gymnasium

Varsity Baseball @ Camden

Upper School Virtual Assembly

Little Women Dress Rehearsal

Invitation Only

Junior Class College Meeting

Sea Island Green Tent

US Student Council Meeting

Mr. Jobe's Classroom

8th to 9th Grade Student Move-Up

Terry Thomas Room

Varsity Tennis @ Retreat

vs.Bulloch Academy

Dismissal @ 2:00 PM

Varsity Golf @ Brunswick Country Club

vs. Brunswick High School

Dismissal @ 2:25 PM

MS Golf @ Southbridge Golf Club

Savannah

Varsity Baseball Tournament

@ Home vs. ACE

MS + US Musical

Little Women

Hamilton Hall

Fourth Grade Field Trip

Tall Ship Lynx

MS Baseball @ Home

vs. First Presbyterian

Dismissal @ 2:50 PM

Varsity Soccer @ Home

vs. Westfield

Girls @ 5:00 PM

Boys @ 7:00 PM

MS + US Musical

Little Women

Hamilton Hall

Varsity Baseball Tournament

@ Home vs. ACE

Varsity Baseball Tournament

@ Home

vs. First Presbyterian @ 1:00 PM

vs. ACE @ 4:00 PM

MS + US Musical

Little Women

Hamilton Hall

The FA Fine Arts Department is pleased to announce the establishment of the Frederica Academy Fine Arts Alumni Hall of Fame.

A person can qualify for the Hall of Fame in one of two categories:

The purpose of the Fine Arts Alumni Hall of Fame is to honor and recognize those who have reached outstanding achievements in the arts professions and arts education. The Hall of Fame program launches in celebration of the school's 50th anniversary.

Friday, March 26, at 7:00 PM (LIVESTREAM)

FA is pleased to partner with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia to keep the music playing. Last Sunday, over 200 patrons enjoyed a glorious concert on the Sea Island Green. Fine Arts faculty Dr. Nielsen and Dr. Taylor, along with eleven student volunteers, organized by FA parents Shonda and Nathan Kohlhoff, hosted the event.

The Symphony reimagined its' "Variations on a Season" concert series this year to offer five outdoor performances. Frederica Academy is the venue for two of these concerts. In addition to last Sunday's performance, the Symphony will return to the Sea Island Green on Sunday, May 2. Click here to learn more about the series.

Congratulations to Virginia Anne Tennant, who was honored last Thursday as this month's Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Brunswick. Virginia Anne selected Mr. Jobe as her teacher honoree.

Amelia McGlaughlin and Elizabeth Temple are winners of this year's Young Playwrights Award, sponsored by the Price/Blackburn Foundation. The two Seventh Grade students share a $500 prize for their 10-minute play, Game of Witches and Rubies. Their play will be performed at the Ritz Theater in April by the Brunswick High School Theater Company.

In October 2020, Heather Heath, Director of Golden Isles Arts and Humanities, presented a playwriting workshop to Frederica's Middle School students. Inspired by the workshop, Amelia and Elizabeth envisioned their prize-winning story and entered their play into the competition.

Click here to read more about the Eugenia Price / Joyce Blackburn foundation, and the Golden Isle Arts and Humanities education outreach.

Congratulations, Amelia and Elizabeth!

Nineteen members of the Health and Wellness Club met Saturday to complete their latest community service project in partnership with four senior nursing students from the College of Coastal Georgia.

With many families facing financial difficulties, particularly during this time of COVID-19, the students wanted to do something to help the lives of other teenagers in our broader community. We are very proud of their hard work and dedication. We are also grateful to Nurse Pope and Coach Riggs for helping organize these outstanding servant leaders.

There was a large turnout of parents who attended the session for parents who have Eighth Grade students who will start their high school careers in Corn Hall next year.

Amanda Barak is a lawyer for FLETC's legal division. She visited Benefield Hall last Tuesday to speak with Mrs. Smith's Eighth Grade students about the Bill of Rights, with an emphasis on the Fourth Amendment. Ms. Barak shared information on Supreme Court cases and how they set a precedent for law enforcement.

¿Te gusta la comida del desayuno? In Sixth Grade Spanish, students wrote poems about their favorite breakfast foods. Students were invited to perform their poetry at Srta. Hill's Poetry House. On the day of their performance, there was a full breakfast spread featuring all of the items from their poetry. There was everything from bacon and sausage to yogurt and cereal. The goal was to rhyme in Spanish, and students did an excellent job writing and performing their verses.

The FA faculty and staff extend their heartfelt appreciation to all of the parents who organized and volunteered for the luncheon hosted by Parent Association last week.

The meal was catered by Jefecitas Mobile Kitchen.

Order Deadline

US Digital Photography

Field Trip to Yulee

Fifth Grade Move-Up Day

Benefield Hall

Fourth Grade Field Trip

Epworth Tabby Cabins

Middle School Carpe Vitam

Parent Nights

Sixth Grade - Hamilton Hall

Seventh Grade - MS Academic Center

Eighth Grade - Terry Thomas Room

Good Friday - No School

Spring Break

Second Grade Dad Breakfast

Sea Island Green Tent

Junior Class Meeting

Sea Island Green Tent

FA Employee

Second COVID-19 Vaccination

Gymnasium

Auburn University Virtual Visit

College Counseling Center

All-School Faculty Meeting

FA Gymnasium

Rotary Student of the Month

ACT Exam at FA

FA Junior-Senior Prom

Sea Island Green Tent

Q4 Progress Reports Posted

Fourth Grade

Archaeological Dig

Fort Frederica

Varsity Region Tennis Tournament

Coastal College of Georgia

Arts Alumni Hall of Fame

Spring Concert

Varsity Region Track Meet

@ Bulloch in Statesboro

FA Parent Association

Teacher "Grab + Go" Breakfast

Gym Lobby

BOV + Trustee Emeriti + BOT Reception

Varsity State Tennis

Individual Tournament in Macon

Varsity State Golf Tournament

Brunswick Country Club

Middle School Golf Championship

Savannah Golf Club

Senior College T-Shirt Day

Senior Honors Virtual Ceremony

PPE Night (Grades 4-11)

Gym Lobby

Varsity State Track Meet

@ Bulloch

Fourth Grade Field Trip

Red Cross Blood Drive

FA Gymnasium

Derby Day

Sea Island Retreat Clubhouse