Discovering Ourselves
Dear FA Families,

Four years. It takes four years for a child to learn to develop their emotions. It takes four years to reconcile the Gregorian calendar by adding an extra day. And it takes four years for freshmen to become seniors, to transition from childhood into adulthood.

Really, that’s all high school is -- a transition. We can go on and on about AP classes, clubs, GPAs, test scores; but, at its core, high school is a runway, a strip where life picks up speed until eventually, we fly away. That strange feeling is setting in, where the weight of takeoff begins to pull your stomach down to your shoes, everyone quietly hoping that we get off the ground in time. It’s that sublime of reality, that feeling of awe and terror (thanks, Mrs. Edenfield).

But right now, as only four Mondays remain for the class of 2021, I want to take a moment to reminisce on the past four years -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Freshman year was my first year at Frederica, but despite my lack of knowing anyone, I think we all were in the same headspace. Freshman year is a foundational period, the make or break time. As I was watching the Masters this weekend, I was reminded that freshman year is a lot like Thursday at Augusta: you can’t win the Masters on Thursday, but you sure can lose it. Freshmen are wide-eyed, confused, and generally pretty loud; but, there is still that loose-cannon sense of joy as a freshman, the pleasure from ridiculousness, that makes everything so much more enjoyable those days. Dr. Kevin Oliver, who, like me, was also new to the school in 2017, was on the receiving end of the worst aspects of the ridiculousness of our youth. As we learned about the votive statues of prehistory (which were often a little sensationally provocative), we cut up day after day about how there was a naked lady on the screen. Or, maybe when Mrs. Henderson asked me to leave class, and I decided to quote Talladega Nights instead. That’s a summation of our freshmen year; an unchecked year in which we pushed high school to its limits, learning where teachers would have leeway, and where they would break. We were immature, restless, and obnoxious; but, it formed our foundations for professional respect, personality development, and opened our eyes to high school itself.

Sophomore year is when things were kicked up a notch. I remember when we all had gotten through the first two weeks of school that year. Sitting in the Nash Academic Center, Will Thompson looked up and asked, “What happened?” It was a thought we all shared. Classes grew exponentially harder, teachers tightened their grips on our behavior, and most important of all, Mr. Jobe entered the picture. At the time, none of us realized that Mr. Jobe is probably the closest comparison we will have for our professors the next couple of years, but I definitely know it now. His unbridled intelligence, his ease in which he dishes out deprecating humor, his taste for black coffee delightfully paired with pretzels and mustard. I’d be lying if I said Mr. Jobe fits into any other archetype besides that of a professor. Setting the groundwork of the expectations of a university-type environment, though obviously not the real thing, is how sophomore year made its mark on me.

Junior year, for better or for worse, is when things start to get more regimented. Finally, managing a routine becomes easy. I stopped forgetting things, started keeping a calendar, spent much more time studying, devoted more time to clubs, etcetera. Yet, I think it would be a misrepresentation to solely confine the junior experience to my own eyes. Junior year is the year when the reality of who you are becomes harnessable. Many of us bear down into school like never before; yet, some people find other passions their junior year; for some it’s devoting more time to horseback riding, fishing, or hunting; for others, they start businesses or part-time jobs. That year, the outside of the classroom -- how we devote our free time -- becomes just as important as the inside. In short, it’s the identity year.

So, where does that leave us now? As just four Mondays remain, take pride in how each path one could have taken these last four years has led you exactly to where you stand today. Like Orwell wrote in 1984, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” With each baseball hit, with each soccer ball kicked, with each scholarship awarded, with each AP test taken, with each Temple Tantrum, finish strong. Find the self in these last weeks, because that is what Frederica gave us in these transition years -- ourselves.
 
Gratefully,
 
FA Upper School Student Council President
Duke University Class of 2025
This Week at FA

Monday-Friday

Monday-Friday
Lower School Rock + Read Week

Monday @ 10:00 AM
Upper School Advisory

Monday @ 3:00 PM
Varsity Golf @ Idle Hour
Stratford Invitational
Dismissal @ 10:00 AM

Monday @ 4:00 PM
Middle School Faculty Meeting
Hamilton Hall

Tuesday @ 8:00 AM
Second Grade Dads Breakfast
Sea Island Green Tent

Tuesday at 10:00 AM
Middle School Assembly

Tuesday @ 1:00 PM
FCA Leaders Meeting
Mrs. Graham's Classroom

Tuesday @ 1:00 PM
Cultural Awareness Club Meeting
College Counseling Center

Tuesday @ 3:30 PM
Varsity Track @ Ware County
Dismissal @ 1:00 PM
Depart @ 1:15 PM

Tuesday @ 4:00 PM
Middle School Golf
Dismissal @ 1:30 PM
Depart @ 1:40 PM

Tuesday @ 4:30 + 6:30 PM
Middle School Baseball
Doubleheader @ Home
vs. First Presbyterian

Tuesday
Varsity Soccer @ Home
vs. St. Andrew's
Girls @ 5:00 PM
Boys @ 7:00 PM

Wednesday (9:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
COVID-19 Campus Vaccine Clinic
Appointment Only
Gymnasium

Wednesday @ 10:00 AM
Upper School Virtual Assembly

Wednesday @ 1:00 PM
Auburn University Virtual Visit
College Counseling Center

Wednesday @ 1:00 PM
2021-2022 Varsity Volleyball Meeting
Soccer/Football Bleachers

Wednesday @ 2:00 PM
Varsity Golf @ Retreat
vs. Bulloch Academy
Dismissal @ 12:10 PM

Wednesday @ 3:20 PM
Q4 Progress Ends (Grade Cut-Off)

Wednesday @ 3:30 PM
All-School Faculty + Staff Meeting
Gymnasium

Thursday @ 12:30 PM
Rotary Student of the Month
Virtual Brunswick Rotary Club

Thursday @ 1:00 PM
US Student Council Meeting
Mr. Jobe's Classroom

Thursday @ 2:00 PM
Varsity Golf @ Brazell's Creek
vs. Pinewood
Dismissal @ 10:00 AM

Thursday @ 3:30 PM
LS After-School Programs
Mini Session 2021
Registration Deadline
Click HERE for Registration Form

Friday
Varsity Soccer @ Home
vs. Trinity Christian
Girls @ 5:00 PM
Boys @ 7:00 PM

Saturday Morning
ACT Exam @ FA

Saturday @ 11:00 AM + 2:00 PM
Varsity Baseball Doubleheader @ Home
vs. Bulloch Academy

Saturday (8:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
FA Junior-Senior Prom
Sea Island Green Tent
Senior Walk-Out @ 10:00 PM
Knights Table Menus
Chef Sunny and the Knights Table Team are continually looking at ways to enhance our student and employee food service experience. To that end, they invite Middle/Upper School students, faculty, staff, and current FA parents to complete a short online survey designed to provide valuable feedback regarding what currently works well, what can be improved, and other helpful ideas or suggestions to make Hamilton Hall a better dining experience.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey!
THIS WEEK
LS Rock + Read Week
Lower School students in Grades 1-5 will Rock and Read on the front porch of the Administration Building this week.

Monday – Second Grade
Tuesday – First Grade
Wednesday – Fifth Grade
Thursday – Fourth Grade
Friday – Third Grade
THIS WEEK
FA Summer Programs News
We are excited to announce that we are adding two more camps to our FA Summer Programs Catalog: Exploring Stories Camp and FA Junior Knights Cheer Camp!

  • Exploring Stories Camp will be offered June 14-17 from 9:00 a.m.- Noon by Dr. Monica Miller-Smith for campers in Grades 1-5. If your child enjoys reading books, playing games, and being creative this is the perfect camp! Campers will spend time outside exploring books that are featured in the new StoryWalk®. Boys and girls will play games, complete activities, and make arts and crafts. Campers will engage in fun activities that cultivate literacy development, teamwork, and creativity.

  • FA Junior Knights Cheer Camp is specifically designed for our FA students in Grades 1-4, and will be offered July 12-15 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. This camp is designed to be the first opportunity to join our new Lower School Cheer Team. Cheerleaders will learn cheer basics and our FA cheers from some of our very own varsity cheerleaders. The best part is this camp doesn't end in the summer. We will have the opportunity to continue cheer practice in the fall after school starts with the Junior Knights Cheer Club.
WEDNESDAY
LS After-School Deadline
Lower School is offering a mini-session After-School program starting the week of April 19 and ending the week of May 3.
 
Your registration and payment should be submitted no later than Wednesday, April 14.

Please email Heather Day if you have questions or want more information.
APRIL 28
PPE Night (Grades 4-11)
All rising 5th through 12th grade students need to have a Pre-Participation Physical Evaluation (PPE) for each new school year. This is required due to the rigorous activity expected by our physical education, athletic, and field trip programs.
 
As a school service, the FA Athletic Department and Southeast Georgia Health System conduct on-campus PPE's for current students in grades 4 through 11 during the month of April each year. Once completed, each student will be covered to participate in physical education classes and all athletics for the entire upcoming school year. We are very fortunate to have community volunteers provide this service for a $10 donation to the FA Booster Club, which will be charged to your school account.

PPE Night for the 2021-2022 school year will be held in the gym on April 28, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
 
Parents, if you would like your student to have the exam done at school, please click HERE to print the packet of forms. Parents should complete pages 1-6 and return the entire packet to school. Completed forms can be submitted to Adam Norman, Nurse Pope, or Coach Zimmermann no later than April 19.
 
We will conduct pre-screening sessions during PE (Grades 4-8) and lunch (Grades 9-11) for students who have submitted their forms between April 12-23. Turning in forms early allows us to do pre-screening (Height and weight, vision screenings, etc.), which helps make the PPE Night run much more smoothly.

If you prefer to have the exam done by your family physician, please click HERE for a form packet. Complete pages 1-6 before taking the entire packet to your doctor and returning it to school when the exam is completed.
Congrats, Mrs. Toomey!
The Georgia Thespian Society, the state's honors and advocacy organization for student theater, has named Mrs. Toomey its 2020-2021 Administrator of the Year. Mrs. Toomey received the award from the society in recognition of her outstanding commitment and dedication to theatre education and professional achievement.

Bravo, Mrs. Toomey!
FA Receives Music Award
Frederica Academy has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.

FA was among only 80 schools in the country to receive the award and the only Georgia school on the 2021 recipient list. This is the second year in a row that Frederica has earned this distinction.

Now in its 22nd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to school districts and schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, The FA Fine Arts Department answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
US Digital Photography Exhibit
Dr. Nielsen's Upper School Digital Photography class has been invited to exhibit its "Brunswick Then and Now" project at Kennesaw State University's (KSU) Zuckerman Museum of Art and Youth Art Gallery through June 2021.
Congrats, Bekah Brooks!
The Kiwanis Club of Brunswick has announced that Rebekah Brooks is its April Student of the Month. Congratulations, Bekah!
US Health + Wellness Club
The FA Health and Wellness Club partnered with the FA varsity cheerleaders to help spread Easter spirit to the House of Hope. House of Hope, located in Brunswick, is a faith-based, therapeutic safe house for minor females who have been freed out of domestic minor sex trafficking. Founded by a former FA parent, Darcelle Burandt, House of Hope offers a refuge to young women who have suffered a traumatic past.

Luke Veal chaired the project and recruited fellow seniors Will Thompson and Izzy Crumbliss to serve as co-chairs. The cheerleading team heard about the effort and offered to partner with the Health and Wellness Club. The result was amazing! Eleven overflowing Easter baskets for the residents (three extra!) and enough candy-filled Easter eggs to provide an Easter egg hunt were delivered to House of Hope on Thursday, April 1.

Junior Mary Helen Veal, a cheerleader and club member, helped fill the Easter eggs for the hunt and delivered the goodies. Mary Helen was one of many FA students who helped paint and decorate at House of Hope a few years ago before it opened. "It is really nice to keep supporting House of Hope," Veal said. She added, "these girls deserve happiness and support!."

Senior Maddison Moore and junior Cammie Pope, both cheerleaders and officers in the Health and Wellness Club, are very encouraged by the enthusiasm and energy put forth by students in the various service projects the club sponsors each month. "Helping others really does make you feel better as a person," remarked Pope. "The idea of improving the mind, body, and spirit of others was our original goal when we established this club," shared Moore.

The Health and Wellness Club will end the year with the second COVID-19 vaccine clinic on April 14 and a Red Cross blood drive on April 30. With 51 people already signed up to donate blood, club members are excited at the prospect of a huge successful drive.
Middle School Fred Facts
Under the guidance of Mr. Lenon, the Middle School produces a video news program each week. Click on the button below to watch the latest video.
Fifth Grade "Move-Up" Day
Fifth Grade students enjoyed spending part of a school day in Benefield Hall before Spring Break in preparation for their transition to Middle School next year.
Fourth Grade Field Trip
Fourth Grade visited the Cassina Garden Club Slave Cabins before Spring Break. The students walked over to the cabins, which are located adjacent to Epworth-by-the-Sea, to learn more about the plantation era on Saint Simons Island in preparation for their upcoming archaeological dig and to support their ongoing Black history studies.

Three members of the Cassina Garden Club gave an informative tour of the cabins and shared their history and artifacts with the students.
Third Grade Marketplace
Third Grade students created a marketplace for their culminating economy project. As a part of this project, students acted as producers as they handmade paper products to sell to their classmates. Students then created “stores” where they advertised their products to boost interest. Finally, students were given “money” to shop in the marketplace. It was so much fun to see what was created and how enthusiastic students were when shopping! 
Easter Photos (1 + K + PK)
April + May Events

April 19 @ 9:00 AM
Second Grade Bee Visit

April 20
Fourth Grade
Archaeological Dig
Fort Frederica

April 20
Varsity Region Tennis Tournament
Coastal College of Georgia

April 20
Q4 Progress Reports Posted

April 21 @ 8:15 AM
Parent Association Meeting
Hamilton Hall
Featured Speaker: Laura Nevins

April 21
Bongang Visiting Artists
Panel Installations

April 21 @ 6:30 PM
MS + US Spring Concert
Sea Island Green

April 21
Varsity Region Track Meet
@ Bulloch in Statesboro

April 22
FA Parent Association
Teacher "Grab + Go" Breakfast
Gym Lobby

April 22 @ 6:00 PM
BOV + Trustee Emeriti + BOT Reception

April 23 @ 8:10 AM
Lower School Morning Meeting
Soccer/Football Bleachers + Field
Mrs. Smith's Class

April 23 @ 7:00 PM
US Grades 9-11 Honors Video

April 26
Varsity State Tennis
Individual Tournament in Macon

April 26
Varsity State Golf Tournament
Brunswick Country Club

April 27
Middle School Golf Championship
Savannah Golf Club

April 28
Senior College T-Shirt Day
Senior Photos @ 10:00 AM + 1:00 PM
Senior Honors Virtual Ceremony @ 7:00 PM

April 28 @ 5:00 PM
PPE Night (Grades 4-11)
Gym Lobby

April 29-30; May 1
Varsity State Track Meet
@ Bulloch

April 30 @ 8:10 AM
Lower School Morning Meeting
Soccer/Football Bleachers + Field
Ms. Myles' Class

April 30
Fourth Grade Field Trip

April 30
Red Cross Blood Drive
FA Gymnasium

May 1 (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
Derby Day
Sea Island Retreat Clubhouse

May 2 @ 3:00 PM
Coastal Symphony of Georgia Concert
Sea Island Green
Ticket Holders Only

May 3-6
Middle School Carpe Vitam
Sixth Grade @ New Ebenezer (May 3-5)
Seventh Grade @ Honey Creek (May 3-6)
Eighth Grade @ St. Augustine/Orlando (May 3-6)

May 3 @ 8:00 AM
AP US Government Exam

May 3+4
GISA AAA State Baseball Tournament
GISA AAA State Soccer Tournament
Round 1

May 4 @ 8:00 AM
AP Calculus AB/BC Exams

May 4 @ 8:00 AM
Second Grade Moms Breakfast
Sea Island Green Tent

May 5
Varsity State Tennis Team Tournament
Macon

May 5 @ 8:00 AM
AP English Literature Exam

May 5 @ Noon
AP Physics Exam

May 5 @ 3:30 PM
All-School Faculty + Staff Meeting
Gymnasium

May 6 @ 8:00 AM
AP US History Exam

May 6 @ Noon
AP Computer Science Exam

May 7
MS Post Carpe Vitam Student Holiday

May 7 @ 8:00 AM
AP Chemistry Exam

May 7 @ 8:10 AM
Lower School Morning Meeting
Soccer/Football Bleachers + Field
Mr. Robert's Class

May 7 @ 8:30 AM
PK Mother's Day Tea

May 7 @ 10:30 AM
Class of 2021 Group Graduation Photo
Gowns - No Caps
Under the Oak (Corn Hall)

May 7 @ 11:00 AM
Senior Meeting
Gymnasium

May 7 @ 11:30 AM
Senior Lunch - Food Truck
Middle School Parking Lot

May 7 @ 11:45 AM
Senior Baccalaureate Video Recordings
Outside of Benefield Hall

May 7+8
GISA AAA State Baseball Tournament
GISA AAA State Soccer Tournament
Round 2

May 8 (Morning)
SAT Exam @ GA

May 10 @ 8:00 AM
AP World History Exam

May 10 @ 9:00 AM
Senior Exams

May 11 @ 8:00 AM
AP Spanish Exam

May 11 @ 9:00 AM
Senior Exams

May 12 @ 8:00 AM
AP English Language Exam

May 12 @ 9:00 AM
Senior Exams

May 12 @ 4:00 PM
Graduation Practice
Sea Island Green

May 13 @ 6:00 PM
Class of 2021
Baccalaureate Ceremony
Community Church (St. Simons Campus)
2700 Frederica Road
By Invitation Only (Limited Seating)

May 14 @ 8:00 AM
AP Biology Exam

May 14 @ 8:10 AM
Lower School Morning Meeting
Soccer/Football Bleachers + Field
Mrs. Squire's Class

May 14 @ Noon
MS + US Student Dismissal

May 14 @ 2:00 PM
May Day Ceremony
Sea Island Green
May Court (10 Representatives + Escorts in Grades 6-12)
May Pole Program (Grades 4+5)
Music Program (Grade 3)

May 14
GISA AAA State Soccer Semi-Finals
Mercer University

May 14+15
GISA AAA State Baseball Tournament
Semi-Finals

May 15 @ 8:30 AM
Class of 2021
Graduation Ceremony
Sea Island Green
By Invitation Only (Limited Seating)
Livestream Available

May 15
GISA AAA State Soccer Finals
Mercer University

May 17 @ 8:00 AM
AP Comparative Government Exam
AP Computer Science Principles Exam

May 17 @ Noon
AP Statistics Exam

May 17-20
MS + US Exam Reviews

May 20 @ 8:45 AM
Second Grade Beach Trip

May 21 @ 9:00 AM
MS + US History Exams
Early Dismissal

May 21+22
GISA AAA State Baseball Tournament
Championship Series
Mercer University

May 24 @ 9:00 AM
MS + US Math Exams
Early Dismissal

May 25
Last Day of Lower School (PK-Third Grade)

May 25 @ 9:00 AM
MS + US English Exams
Early Dismissal

May 26
MS + US Make-Up Exam Day

May 26 @ 9:00 AM
Fourth Grade Closing Ceremony
@ St. Simons Presbyterian Church

May 26 @ 10:00 AM
Fifth Grade Closing Ceremony
@ St. Simons Presbyterian Church

May 26 @ 11:00 AM
Eighth Grade Closing Ceremony
@ St. Simons Presbyterian Church

May 27-28
Teacher Post Planning
Spring Athletic Schedules
FA Social Media
FA Quick Links
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