Resiliency is something you do more than something you have. You become highly resilient by continuously learning your best way of being yourself in your circumstances.
Al Siebert
Dear FA Parents,
I continue to think about the list of admirable characteristics identified at the beginning of the school year by the teachers and staff as target components of an FA graduate’s profile. Watching the news these past ten days with a focus on the citizens of Ukraine, it seems like a lost opportunity not to mention resiliency this Sunday. Regardless of any particular political persuasion or perspective, it would be hard to argue that these trying times don’t reflect for most Ukrainians the maxim: Expect struggle; demonstrate courage.
I often hear from students at all grade levels the refrain that they are possibly being taught something specific in a subject that they have a hard time believing will ever be used in “real life.” Understanding a challenging concept in calculus. Explicating a stanza from an epic poem. Mastering the specific blocking or choreography of a musical. Recalling how a government structure worked in some distant country centuries ago. In truth, I imagine, some of these concepts might, on any given day, actually fall into that “never to be used” category.
But one’s education is a combination of all of those concepts in all of those disciplines and much more. Being literate and enlightened in a whole host of subjects is absolutely critical to competing and contributing in today’s complex and interdependent world. The educated person begins the race ahead of others… no question. Cultivating character, a larger skill set, and the disposition to fully and successfully engage in life is the real business of both growing up and of schools too; and those are the attributes and skill sets that, in fact, directly and profoundly pay the highest dividends going forward. Honor, respect, discipline, responsibility, compassion, and resiliency just to pull a handful off that faculty’s list.
No one can compare anything in our lives here in the Golden Isles to all that the Ukrainians are and will continue to experience in the foreseeable future. That is simply not fair or realistic. But we can, and certainly should, learn from them and be inspired by them, their struggles, and their demonstrated character and resiliency and think about how we might improve our lives and the lives of others by applying what we have learned in watching them.
My challenge to your children in this note is to think about times in their lives when being resilient paid dividends for them… when struggling and persevering even when the shadow of despair and frustration was upon them … and to know that learning to persevere in the face of adversity… to be resilient… is something that they are being exposed to and cultivating now, and in fact will be definitely applicable in life beyond FA. As Winston Churchill famously shared, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Respectfully,
Scott L. Hutchinson
Head of School
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Monday
FA Golf Invitational
Jekyll Island
Monday @ 10:00 AM
US Assembly (Gym)
Monday @ 3:25 PM
STEM Club Meeting
Mrs. Bradford's Classroom
Monday @ 3:25 PM
Softball Meeting
Mrs. Triplett's Classroom
Monday @ 4:00 PM
SAR Oration Contest
Corn Hall Conference Room
Monday @ 4:00 PM
MS Baseball
@ FPCA (Hinesville)
Tuesday-Thursday
Rising Ninth Grade
Shadow Days
Tuesday @ 7:15 AM
MS Faculty Meeting
Tuesday
Fourth Grade Field Trips
Epworth Tabby Cabins @ 9:00 AM
SSI Lighthouse @ 11:30 AM
Tuesday @ 1:05 PM
Fall 2022 Course Registration
Make-Up Session
9th + 10th Grades
College Counseling Center
Tuesday @ 4:00 PM
Varsity Baseball
@ FPCA (Hinesville)
Dismissal @ 1:00 PM
Tuesday
Varsity Soccer @ Home
vs. Saint Andrew's
Girls @ 5:00 PM
Boys @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday Morning
Wednesday
US Advisory @ 10:00 AM
Wednesday @ 3:30 PM
Varsity Track @ Bulloch Academy
Depart @ 12:30 PM
Wednesday @ 1:00 PM
Finance + Investment Club Meeting
Mr. Willis' Classroom
Wednesday @ 1:05 PM
Health + Wellness Club Meeting
Wednesday @ 3:30 PM
All-School Faculty/Staff Meeting
Gymnasium
Thursday @ 8:15 AM
Second Grade Dad's Breakfast
Classrooms
Thursday @ 2:00 PM
Varsity Tennis @ Retreat
vs. Pinewood
Dismissal @ 1:00 PM
Thursday @ 4:00 PM
MS Baseball
@ St. Marys
Thursday @ 6:00 PM
Quarter 3 Grades Posted
Friday
No School for Students
Friday Evening
Varsity Soccer @ Trinity Christian
Girls @ 5:00 PM
Boys @ 7:00 PM
Friday @ 6:00 PM
Varsity Baseball @ Home
vs. Robert Toombs
Saturday Morning
SAT Exam @ FA
Saturday @ Noon + 2:00 PM
MS Baseball Doubleheader
@ Home
vs. St. Andrew's
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Thank You, FA Volunteers! |
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This is a very busy time of year for FA activities on and off campus. Thank you to all of the volunteers who have made and will make all of these extraordinary student experiences possible.
We are grateful to the field trip, Rocking and Reading, Booster Club, Parent Association, Relay for Life, Knights Table, etc. volunteers who have pitched in to help.
We are especially grateful to the parent, faculty, and staff volunteers who spent time away from their families last week to travel with our Middle School students as they participated in this year's Carpe Vitam programs.
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FA Knights in The Brunswick News
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MONDAY @ 3:25 PM
Softball Meeting
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WEDNESDAY
Third Grade OLSAT Testing
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The OLSAT measures abstract thinking and reasoning capabilities that relate to a student's academic success.
To help your children do their best on this assessment, please be sure they get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast.
For more information, please click HERE to email Mrs. Pruitt.
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FRIDAY
Parent-Teacher Conferences
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Teachers will host parents interested in meeting for a conference on Friday.
Friday is a student holiday in order for teachers to be able to participate in their respective parent conferences.
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FRIDAY
Conference Day Child Care
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Childcare will be available for Lower School parents attending their parent-teacher conferences on Friday.
Parents should drop their child or children off in the Been Library while they are on campus. Participants will remain in the Library or on the Terry Thomas Playground.
Childcare will be available between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
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MARCH 14 (3.14)
Relay for Life Pi(e) Day
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The FA Health and Wellness Relay for Life Team is excited to host its next FUNdraiser - Pi(e) Day!
On 3.14, we will have a special time devoted to "pie" a few of our favorite faculty, administrators, and students to raise money for Relay for Life! Each pie is $5! Don't miss this opportunity to have a great time!
Here are the list of faculty and students that have graciously volunteered:
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Mr. Jobe - The king of heckling is ready for you! Remember that grade he gave you right before report cards?
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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.
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Dr. Nevins - She's small but mighty! Remember when she scolded you for not finishing your college essay?
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Mr. Temple - Didn't he give you lunch detention once? Or better yet, SATURDAY detention? Hmmm.
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Thomas Veal - He has his one-liners ready for you. How many pies can he take before he stops grinning?
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Jacob O'Connor - We have all been the victim of the King of sarcasm and dry humor at some point.
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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.
Tyrese Horne
FA Health and Wellness Special Projects Coordinator
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MARCH 24-26
Mamma Mia Performances
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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: $10 Adults, Free for students (including college age)
Tickets are available at the door. General Admission seating.
Friday night reserve seats are only available for parents and guests of students in the show.
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GISA Region Literary Meet |
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Congratulations to the following Upper School Students who placed 1st and 2nd in the GISA AAA Region 2 Literary Meet on Friday at Brewton-Parker College.
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1st Place, Personal Essay: Grayson Caine, '24
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1st Place, Rhetorical Essay: Gillian Sullivan, '24
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1st Place, Vocal Solo: Lea Maye Smith, '25
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2nd Place, Duo Interpretation: Case Harrison, '23 and Sydney Carroll, '23
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2nd Place, Impromptu Speaking: Emily Wyrick, '25
The team moves on to the state meet at Gordon State College on March 15.
Go FA Literary Knights!
The team is coached by Dr. Tess Nielsen, Fine Arts Director and Thespians Troupe #8989 Advisor.
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Roy Boyd and Cole Lawrence, both Frederica Academy seniors, were recently awarded with an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for a weeklong seminar next summer. They won the Colonial Dames Essay Contest based on the topic, “Choose one of the five freedoms in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and discuss why it should or should not be changed in today’s high-tech global society.”
Roy and Cole are following in the footsteps of Sara Seckinger '19, Ryan McHugh '19, and Constance Sullivan '18, Spencer Sullivan (Class of 2022), Carter Jules (Class of 2022) and Parker Schoenauer (Class of 2022) for earning this distinguished honor.
Now in its 40th year, the National essay contest sponsored by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America generously provides scholarships for students from across the United States to attend the Washington Workshops Congressional Seminar in Washington, D.C.
These students will have the opportunity to meet U.S. Senators and Representatives, attend committee hearings, listen to guest speakers on the branches of government, work in model committees with other delegates, and enjoy Washington’s top historical and educational exhibits. The National Society of Colonial Dames, corporate societies, endowments, and individual Dame members contribute funds, approximately $1,600 per winner for the project and trip.
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Eighth Grade students had a wonderful time on our trip to Washington, D.C.! We spent four fun-filled days learning and exploring our nation's history. We visited a variety of museums including the Holocaust Museum, the African American History and Culture Museum, the Smithsonian's American History and Natural History Museums, and the fan-favorite: the International Spy Museum, where students were assigned a secret agent identity and had to complete missions throughout the experience. We also visited Arlington National Cemetery, where we watched the changing of the guard and changing of the wreath ceremonies; we spent half a day at Mt. Vernon, the beloved home and farm of George Washington; and we participated in a walking Ghost tour in Alexandria. On the last day, we walked around the perimeter of the Capitol, where both the Senate and the House of Representatives were in session; and we visited the Library of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court. Among all of these great activities, we sprinkled in visits to many memorials and monuments.
As important as all these activities and experiences were, what stood out to me the most is our students! We had forty Eighth Grade students who were kind, considerate, and inclusive towards one another. They stayed engaged and respectfully listened. They looked out for each other and were always right where they needed to be (and on time). They were confident and friendly when they interacted with all the different adults and other students touring from different schools. They were fun and energetic and handled changes and challenges in our day like champs! And they were so grateful. It was such a sweet moment for me when, after a long day of activities and traveling home, almost every student said thank you when getting off the bus at 11:30 at night! Our chaperones and I were so proud to say that these students were with us. So, thank you eighth graders for representing your families and your school so well.
I would also like to give a huge thank you to our amazing chaperones: Zack Veal, Melissa Partin, Jill Smith and Becky Triplett!
Rachael Lee, Trip Coordinator
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The Seventh Grade Carpe Vitam experience included trips to White Oak Conservation, Okefenokee National Refuge, Cumberland Island, and a local trawling trip on the Lady Jane.
At White Oak Conservation, students were able to learn about many wildlife species that are being threatened in the wild. Despite the cold, rainy weather many students were able to feed the giraffes during the trolley tour, as well as visit the animal hospital to learn more about the conservation mission of White Oak.
The trip to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was a jam-packed day that included canoeing two miles up and down the Suwannee Canal, and a 3/4-mile hike down the boardwalk to the tower overlooking the Okefenokee Swamp. Students were able to see quite a few gators while canoeing and learned the importance of these types of ecosystems.
On Wednesday, we rode the ferry to Cumberland Island where the students hiked to the Dungeness ruins and were able to hunt for shark teeth on the beachfront property of the mansion ruins. They were also able to enjoy some beach time before making the trip back home to our very own island.
Thursday’s day trip on the Lady Jane is always a personal favorite of mine. While on our trawling trip, students learned about commercial shrimping, but they were also able to have a firsthand look at some of the species found in our estuaries in the Golden Isles. They enjoyed being able to hold and observe different organisms, while learning about the individual roles each one plays in our ecosystem.
The students were tired, but they enjoyed themselves and the experience of learning outside of the classroom this week! I am already looking forward to the next Carpe Vitam experience.
Ashley Zimmermann, Trip Coordinator
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Henry David Thoreau believed that the "language of friendship is not words, but meanings." With every Carpe Vitam we attend, we are blessed to witness first hand your children embracing friendships through actions. This is evident in every meal, hike, and campfire story they share. This is evident when we see them creating inside jokes between old friends or allowing themselves to be vulnerable enough to make new ones. This is evident when we see them lending a helping hand or cheering each other on. This is evident when they share a quiet moment of silence. Our wish is that they take away from this experience that the friendships they have made will be lasting and meaningful beyond words. We look forward to sharing more photos, stories, and laughter that solidify just that when we return this week. As always, a personal thank you for allowing us to be a part of this meaningful experience with them.
A very special thank you to our Sixth Grade Carpe Vitam faculty chaperones: Tracy Wagner, Dan Redanz, Jeff Rentz and our rescuers: Michael Toomey, Brad Hutcherson, Jimmy Riggs. Without their love for your children and their willingness to leave their own families none of this would ever be possible!
Forever grateful,
Leigh Toomey, Trip Coordinator
Middle School Director
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It was a wonderful week of learning and exploration in Fifth Grade!
American history and our country's fight for freedom came to life on Tuesday as the class learned more about the War of 1812. The class also learned that the Tall Ship Lynx, currently docked at Morningside Marina, is not only a vessel for history enthusiasts, but for scientists as well. While aboard the Lynx, teachers challenged students to identify the six different simple machines onboard. The students proved without a shadow of a doubt that interdisciplinary experiences ensure active learning. Connecting our island's history to the inception of the American Navy was a fantastic experience topped off by a picnic lunch at Gascoigne Park. In the same place, live oaks were cut for the first six ships of the US Navy.
The culminating activity for a recent unit on fractions and mixed numbers began with a sugar cookie recipe. Students applied their math knowledge to the conversion process when measuring ingredients. On Wednesday, the students rolled out the dough and used a cookie-cutter in the shape of our beloved Empire State. Returning from the ovens of Hamilton Hall, the Georgia cookies cooled. Students iced and decorated each cookie using colorful edible stars; each student marked the location of the five historic capitals of Georgia on the cookies. Lastly, the students ate all evidence of this lesson. YUM!
The Wanderer Memory Trail is an interactive exhibit located on Jekyll Island. Telling the story of America's last known slave ship, students learn the story of one young African boy brought to Jekyll on that ship. At the end of the trail is a lookout tower where students see the beauty of the Jekyll River against the horror of the circumstances that brought 480 enslaved people to the Georgia coast. To learn more about the Wanderer, click here.
The Wanderer exhibit allows students to crush shells using a heavy wooden post. While visiting the Horton House, students explored the tabby structure known to have been built in 1743. One of General Oglethorpe's top military aides, William Horton, used equal parts of shells, lime, water, and sand to construct the home. Frederica fifth graders will each have an opportunity to make their tabby next month.
For the past twenty years, Jekyll Island has hosted Jekyll Treasures, a hide-and-seek type game where residents hide ornament glass globes for visitors to find. Before there were styrofoam crab trap floats, the fishers of the early 1900s used glass floats to mark their nets. The glass floats would sometimes wash ashore for a Jekyll resident to find. Three fifth-grade students found the beautiful globes hidden just for them by the teachers. Eliza Fraizer, Katie Vivirito, and Connor Floyd were the lucky winners.
On Thursday, Fifth Grade students had an up-close experience of Jekyll Island's beach ecology and maritime forest while visiting Camp Jekyll. While being educated about barrier island dynamics and their impacts on this fragile ecosystem, students also had an opportunity to learn about intertidal organisms and sand sharing amongst Georgia's barrier islands. Many hands-on, tactile activities helped support their learning while having fun.
Students hiked from the beach and into the climax maritime forest. Along the way, the class learned about specific plant species and why and how they could adapt/survive in such diverse environments. While exploring the maritime forest, the teacher explained the natural process of barrier island succession. Students were amazed when discovering dunes existed in the forest – over three hundred yards from the beach. With a few students singing the sea shanty learned on the Lynx, the Frederica buses pulled into the Middle School parking lot just in time for carpool.
Melanie Howell, Micro Mester Coordinator
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The Middle School advisory canned food battle has a little over a week left. The winning advisory will win a pizza party, courtesy of the FA Health and Wellness Club. Now that Carpe Vitam is over, we are hoping to see a rise in canned food donations. These cans will be used to anchor the luminaries at Relay for Life before they are donated to Second Harvest. These are the top three advisories:
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Sandra Smith
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Coach Derrick
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Dr. Taylor
Will Mrs. Smith's advisory hold the lead or will Derrick's guys come through? Or will we see Dr. Taylor's advisory pull ahead? The competition ends March 16.
Connor Pope and Wilson McCallum
Middle School Relay for Life Team Captains
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Lower School hosted its annual Rock N’ Read event last week. This event is designed to get students reading as a part of National Read Across America Week. Read Across America Week falls on the week of Dr. Seuss’ birthday each year. Lower School students had such a good time reading in their rocking chairs and new bamboo teepee while enjoying snacks and lemonades. They also especially loved dressing up as their favorite Dr. Seuss characters on Wednesday as each grade incorporated Dr. Seuss activities in their classrooms. |
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Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration |
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Fourth Grade had a wonderful trip on the Tall Ship Lynx last week. The weather was perfect. The children fully enjoyed learning all about the inner workings of a sailboat while participating in raising the sails, steering the ship and tying knots. The firing of the cannon was a huge hit, as expected. All of this dovetailed nicely with the Fourth Grade students' study of local history and time periods. Did you know live oak trees from St Simons were used to create frigates like "Old Ironsides" in the late 1700s?
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Celebrity Third Grade Artists |
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Watercolor paintings by the following Third Grade students were chosen to be displayed at the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta throughout the summer: Lucy Brooks, Harper Fitch, Olivia Hoover and Brelend Smith.
We are so proud of these creative young Knights!
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Third Grade Dictionary Lesson |
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Third Grade students brushed up on their dictionary skills by playing games that included searching for guide words and multiple meanings. The activity ended with a duel of boys vs. girls in an exciting game of speed round! |
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Last week’s Pre-K Mystery Reader was Louis Hull’s grandmother, Adelaide Herrington. She read, The Big House and the Little House to the Pre-K class. Louis loved having "Big Adelaide" as his special mystery guest.
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March 18
FA Field Days
Student Early Dismissal
March 21-23
Fifth Grade Ebenezer Trip
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 31
US Photojournalism Field Trip
White Oak (Yulee, FL)
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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
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FA Spring Athletic Schedules |
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