Head of School Message
L-R: Julie Chandler Lawing '86, Joan Harris, Melanie Barger '87, Jim Jones '79, and Karen Cate.
Dear FA Families,

On April 14th, Frederica Academy hosted its inaugural Fine Arts Hall of Fame event in the Terry Thomas Room in the Ralston Fine Arts Center. The purpose of the Fine Arts Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor alumni and educators who have been outstanding in the realm of the arts professions and arts education. Induction into the Hall of Fame may be given to either alumni or educators who have provided meritorious service to the Fine Arts program at Frederica Academy.
 
Three distinguished alumni and three distinguished educators were honored this year. Dr. Tess Nielsen, Fine Arts Director, presented the awards to the following three alumni and the following three educators: Julia Chandler Lawing ’86, fine art oil painting; Melanie Barger ’87, painting and design; and Jim Jones ’79, artist were all recognized in the alumni category. Joan Harris, retired sixth grade and theater teacher; Karen Cate, retired music teacher, and Annalisa Taylor, retired visual arts teacher were recognized as distinguished former FA educators.
 
Modeled after the school’s Sports Hall of Fame, a panel of the school’s teachers and administrators review, discuss, and ultimately select from nominations submitted by the larger school community. By formally recognizing these honorees both in this ceremony and with plaques permanently displayed in the Ralston Fine Arts Center, we hope to honor the specific individuals, raise the visible profile of the Arts in our school, and inspire our present and future students by exposing them to the lives and the works of these inductees. At FA, we believe in the powerful role of the arts in the lives of our developing students – fostering imagination, creativity and healthy self-expression.
 
Congratulations to our first six inductees into the FA Fine Arts Hall of Fame.

Respectfully,

Scott L. Hutchinson
Head of School
This Week at FA

Monday (All Day)
Varsity Golf

Monday @ 10:00 AM
US Assembly
Gym

Monday @ 2:00 PM + 4:00 PM
GISA AAA Baseball State Tournament
@ Dominion Christian (First Round)

Monday @ 4:00 PM
Varsity Girls Soccer
State Playoffs (First Round)
@ Home vs. Tiftarea
Dismissal @ 2:30 PM
Admission: $10 - Adults; $8 - Students

Tuesday + Wednesday
Varsity Tennis
John Drew Smith Tennis Center (Macon)

Tuesday @ 7:15 AM
MS Faculty Meeting

Tuesday @ 8:45 AM
Second Grade Field Trip
Massengale Beach Park

Tuesday @ 10:00 AM
May Day + May Court Practice

Tuesday @ 2:00 PM (If Needed)
GISA AAA Baseball State Tournament
@ Dominion Christian (First Round)

Tuesday @ 4:00 PM
US 2022-2023 Student Council Elections
Application + Video DEADLINE

Tuesday @ 5:00 PM
Varsity Boys Soccer
State Playoffs (First Round)
@ Home vs. Augusta Prep
Admission: $10 - Adults; $8 - Students

Wednesday @ 10:00 AM
US Advisory
Student Council Officer Videos

Wednesday
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
PPE Night (Gym)

Thursday
Class of 2022
College T-Shirt Day

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

Thursday @ Noon
Rotary Student of the Month
Congrats, Carter Jules!

Thursday @ 1:00 PM
Senior Luncheon
Front Practice Field
Jefecitas Mobile Kitchen
Senior College T-Shirt Photos
Senior Radio Recordings

Thursday @ 3:20 PM
US Student Council Election Closes

Thursday
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
FA Benefactors Reception
By Invitation
Elizabeth + Daniel Veal's Residence

Friday @ 8:30 AM
Lower School Grandparents Day
May Day
Sea Island Green

Friday @ 10:00 AM
FA Gymnasium

Friday @ 10:30 AM
MS Powder Puff Football Game

Friday Dismissal Times
  • Lower School @ 11:00 AM (No KiX)
  • Upper School @ 11:30 AM
  • Middle School @ 11:45 AM - Noon

Friday

Saturday (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
Red Cross Blood Drive
Health + Wellness Club
We have a busy few weeks coming up on campus, and we need parent volunteers. Please read on and let us know when you can help! Volunteer time slots are short shifts at all times of day!

For Parents of all students -- Next week (May 2-6) is Teacher Appreciation Week. We love to shower our teachers that week with the appreciation they deserve for working hard all year to educate, support, and love our children. The PA has planned an extremely fun and thoughtful week to show all of our teachers and staff how much we appreciate them. We ask everyone to get involved and help us share in thanking them. We would like ALL students to write a handwritten note to their teacher to be dropped off on Monday May 2nd on the way into school. It can be short and sweet as long as it includes a few words (or a picture) from the student to say thank you. We will also need parent volunteers to make the week go seamlessly. We have several fun ways planned to treat our teachers and a few spots that need to be filled. Please click here to sign up to volunteer!

Lower School Garden Rock Painting Project - this week (Monday 4/25 to Wednesday 4/27).  Lower School is working on a painted rock project to cover the ground in our newly redesigned courtyard. We are asking for parent volunteers to help set up, clean up, and chaperone this event. There will be two morning shifts and two afternoon shifts. Each shift will be about 40 minutes. Please click here if you are interested in helping with this fun and colorful project. 

We would like to thank everyone who came to our PA meeting last week to hear Laura Nevins and Scott Hutchinson speak. Dr. Nevins gave an update on our senior class’s college acceptance news. It was impressive and informative. Mr. Hutchinson spoke to the changes that will be happening on campus and in the classrooms over the next few months as part one of the implementation of the Gateway Capital Campaign. If you have not had a chance to hear either of them speak on these topics, the meeting is available online here.
Knights Table Menu
Grandparent Photo Reminder
LS GRANDPARENT PHOTOS NEEDED!

Lower School teachers kindly ask their classroom parents to submit FA grandparent photos to them by Monday, April 25. Photos would ideally include grandparents with their FA grandchildren but photos with only grandparents or other family members will work as well. Printed photos are preferred but digital images can be emailed to classroom teachers or Heather Day if printed photographs are not available. Thank you!
MONDAY @ 4:00 PM
Girls Soccer Playoff Game
TUESDAY @ 5:00 PM
Boys Soccer Playoff Game
WEDNESDAY (5:00 - 7:00 PM)
PPE Night
The FA Athletic Department and Southeast Georgia Health System will conduct an on-campus PPE night for current students in Grades 4 through 11 on Wednesday, April 27, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., for the 2022-2023 school year.

Students will be covered to participate in school and sports for the entire 2022-2023 school year once they complete the PPE evaluation on Wednesday and all of their forms have been completed, signed, and submitted.

A parent or legal guardian needs to be in attendance on Wednesday for the registration process since some forms require their signature.

PPE participants should park in the Corn Hall parking lot and enter the doors to the gym across from Hamilton Hall.

We are very fortunate to have community volunteers provide this service for a $10 donation to the FA Booster Club.
FRIDAY
Lower School Grandparents Day
Please note that KiX will not be offered on Friday, April 29.
FRIDAY
Middle School Information
Middle School students and faculty will attend the May Day Celebration on Friday in support of Melanie Howell '88, who will be retiring this year after her exceptional tenure at Frederica Academy over the past several decades as a student, parent, administrator, and teacher. Mrs. Howell will be honored during the program and will crown this year's May Queen.

Middle School students will also cheer for their May Court Representatives, Fifth Grade musical performers, and Student Council President during the May Day program.

Middle School Friday Schedule:

  • 8:15: Students report to their Advisory or Homeroom
  • 8:30: May Day Celebration (Sea Island Green)
  • 9:30: Students report back to their Advisory or Homeroom
  • 10:15: 3rd Annual Powder-Puff Game (front practice field)
  • 10:30: 5th/6th girls play
  • 11:00: Half-time show
  • 11:15: 7th/8th girls play
  • 11:45: Dismissal (MS Carline)

Please NOTE the additional info regarding the rest of the half-day:

  • Students' dress code for the morning will be FA uniforms. 
  • Anyone participating in the Powder-Puff game may bring a change of clothes (appropriate athletic wear) to change into before the game. 
  • Non-participating students may bring a towel to sit on during the Power-Puff game.
  • Dismissal will take place promptly from 11:45-Noon in the Middle School carline.
FRIDAY
Upper School Information
FRIDAY DEADLINE
United Way Youth United
SATURDAY
FA Campus Blood Drive
MAY 2 DEADLINE
Youth Leadership Glynn
The Youth Leadership Glynn program is in its 23rd year of sponsorship by the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. This program is designed to prepare and educate our emerging young leaders on community issues while furthering their knowledge of Brunswick and Glynn County.

The program is offered to select high school students with strong leadership potential and is designed to:
  • Present in-depth programs that will acquaint students with community needs and resources and provide interaction with community leaders and decision makers.
  • Develop an understanding of leadership qualities, team building skills and community service.
  • Provide opportunities for students to develop a level of mutual respect and trust.

Program Requirements:
  • Student must be a high school sophomore or junior in the 2022-2023 school year.
  • Student must have reliable transportation to and from the scheduled activities.
  • Student must be able to attend one half-day per month with a schedule that will be given out at orientation.
  • Student is only allowed to miss only TWO sessions during the year and may not leave sessions early. 

Program Qualifications:
  • 3.0 GPA or higher
  • Less than 5 unexcused absences from school
  • No behavioral problems on record

A committee has been formed by the Chamber of Commerce and will interview the students in groups. The committee will then meet to select the next Youth Leadership Glynn class. Students will be notified if they have been accepted into the program by the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

*Applications are due to Dr. Nevins by Monday, May 2nd!*
The deadline was set by the Chamber of Commerce.
MAY 7
20th Annual FA Derby Day
There are two ways to access the Derby Day website.
 
1. Text FADerby to 76278.
 
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

Fine Arts Hall of Fame
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI
Melanie Barger ‘87; Painting & Design
Julia Chandler Lawing ‘86; Fine Art Oil Paintings
Jim Jones ‘79; Artist
 
DISTINGUISHED EDUCATORS
Karen Cate, Retired Music Educator
Joan Harris, Retired 6th Grade and Theater Educator
Annalisa Taylor, Retired Visual Arts Educators
 
On Thursday, April 14, it was a joy to induct the first cohort of the FA Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Committee members Melanie Barger '87, Roxana Bush, Laura Edenfield, Brad Hutcherson, Tess Nielsen, Helen Rentz, and Tom Willis welcomed back the alumni and retired educators. An audience of faculty, family members, and students gathered in the Terry Thomas Room to present awards and share memories. Each awardee was introduced with a tribute and retrospective on his or her time at Frederica and their collective impact in the arts. It was a unique moment to reunite Joan Harris and Karen Cate with their former, and now very successful students Julia Lawing, Melanie Barger, and Jim Jones. Annalisa Taylor, a retired celebrant, was not in attendance but will still receive her award.
 
Established in January 2021, the Fine Arts Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and educators who have been outstanding in arts professions and arts education. An Alumni Honoree is a Frederica Academy graduate who participated in any of the school’s Arts programs during his or her tenure, and focused his or her college study in the arts, or has a profession in the arts. A distinguished educator honoree is someone who has given meritorious service or has been a loyal friend to the Fine Arts program. The committee hopes to make the induction ceremony a bi-annual event, and to develop a space in the Ralston Fine Arts center to display awards, trophies, and commendable achievements of current students and alumni.

Dr. Tess Nielsen
FA Director of Fine Arts
Congrats, Tiana Jackson!
Tiana Jackson was recently honored by the College of Coastal Georgia's Black Scholars Program for her community engagement and academic achievements.

Well done, Tiana!
2022 Prom Queen + King
Cammie Pope and Harry Driggers were crowned Frederica Academy's 2022 Prom Queen and Prom King at last night's Junior-Senior Prom.

Congratulations, Cammie and Harry!
FA Thespian Induction
Brooke Lewis
Nicholle Patron
Aubreon Smith
Lea Maye Smith
Margaret Spiers
Emily Wyrick
Last Thursday night, International Thespian Troupe #8989 welcomed these six new members. The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society for high school theatre students. To become a Thespian, a student must earn an initial 10 points, or the equivalent of 100 hours, of high-quality theatrical performance. Dr Tess Nielsen advises the troupe. Congratulations, new Thespians!
Spring Open Mic Night
Last Thursday was the spring performance for the Middle and Upper School Music program. The evening featured solo and small group acts, as well as the Chamber Strings Ensemble, and Middle and Upper School Popular Music Ensembles, led by Dr. Jordan Taylor.

Prior to the opening of the show, The Thespian Honor Society--the organization promoting student theater--inducted six new freshman and sophomore members and celebrated the accomplishments of eight departing senior members.

The Open Mic format, which promotes student creativity, featured all types of student-oriented acts, from singer-songwriter styles, to Broadway tunes, to original rap, jokes, and instrumental solos. 

The Chamber Strings Ensemble, which has grown and developed this year, played "You'll Be Back" from Hamilton. The Middle and Upper School Popular Music Ensembles presented a variety of modern music featuring the talents and styles of our instrumental and vocal students.

It was a great night of music on the Sea Island Green and a wonderful conclusion to a productive and fun season of music.
FA Relay for Life
The FA Health and Wellness Relay for Life team had an amazing time at the Relay for Life event this past Friday night. Months of hard work and dedication paid off as our team soared past our goal of $5,000. Our cotton candy booth was fun and inviting, and we had many children and adult visitors! We also did face painting free of charge, and that was a huge hit!

As our team watched the survivor lap, we witnessed over 100 people of all ages who have fought cancer and won. When our team members helped light the luminaria and attended the remembrance ceremony, we felt the immense heaviness and grief of the loss of so many cancer victims. Our team experienced immense pride in our contribution to helping fight cancer as we made our team lap around the track. It was an emotional, thrilling, and hilarious night. 

We can't thank everyone enough for their support. A special thanks to Refresh and Refine and Missy Durkin for the awesome donation of an IPL Laser treatment gift certificate and to Andrea and Gabby Vacherone for the donation of a Yeti cooler. Both items were auctioned off for our team account in the silent auction.

Highlights of the night included Holly Lewis, Anna Counts, and Carley Blogg winning the coin drop contest for our team, Ella Claborn representing us our model in the toilet paper fashion show (she can work the runway), Jon Phillip Spiers making the biggest (and most ridiculous) cotton candy treat for a tiny customer, Chandler Sitz and Andrew Kaminer enjoying VIP passes to the bounce house, Ava Layne Hennessy and Megan Trowbridge displaying their skills at the face painting table, Briley Johnson being the BOSS at the money table, Mary Wallace Champion demonstrating her design talent for Ella's toilet paper dress, Kenzie Todd being completely lost during the scavenger hunt, Maddison Baldwin enjoying the cotton candy a little too much, and Cammie Pope assisting her grandfather (a two-time cancer survivor) around the track during the survivor lap. 

Mr. Riggs and I could not be prouder of our club and the tremendous amount of time and energy all of our members put into making this event a success. 

Thanks again!

Nikki Pope BS RNC BSN
Frederica Academy School Nurse
912 638 9981 x 492
MS Author Visit
Last Wednesday, the Middle School hosted Steve Sheinkin. Mr. Sheinkin is the author of Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—The World’s Most Dangerous Weapon as well as The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery. These books were required reading for our Seventh Grade and Eighth Grade History classes this semester. Although Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade students were not required to read Mr. Sheinkin’s books, they were eager to welcome him because they understand the significance of meeting a published author! The students rotated by grade through a presentation given by Mr. Sheinkin, where he talked about how he became an author and about how he makes stories come to life through the writing process.

Please see http://stevesheinkin.com/ for more information about Mr. Sheinkin and his other published books.
Fifth Grade Lady Jane
Last week Fifth Grade students boarded the Lady Jane and enjoyed a ninety-minute excursion. While aboard the Lady Jane, students learned about Brunswick's shrimping history, shrimp / trawl boat operations, and performed several trawls. The catch from the trawl net was placed on an observation table where a naturalist identified aquatic organisms, described specific adaptations, and explained how the animal survived in the estuary. Students also were taught the importance of Georgia’s estuaries and the ocean ecosystems.
Fourth Grade Museum Visit
Fourth Grade students took a trip to the World War II Home Front Museum at the old Coast Guard Station last week. They were led by two knowledgeable tour guides and learned all of the ways the war impacted the Golden Isles. The children loved spotting foreign planes, writing their names in Morse code, building Liberty ships, etc. If you haven’t been to the museum, plan a trip!
Second Grade Moms Breakfast
Pre-K Baby Chicks
Pre-K has spent the last four weeks incubating baby chicks in its classroom! The teachers have been talking about Life Cycles of different animals and this was a wonderful experience for the children. The chicks spent 21 days in the incubator until they were ready to hatch. Several chicks hatched during the school day and the students were able to watch this process. There has been so much excitement surrounding the baby chicks, and the children had a wonderful week taking care of them in the classroom and getting them ready to live happy, healthy lives on the farm!
Pre-K Mystery Reader
Last week’s Mystery Reader was John Henry Adams’ mom, Taylor Adams. She read There’s an Alligator Under My Bed, by Mercer Mayer and brought everyone “alligator bait” to eat as a special treat!
May Events
May 2-6
Teacher Appreciation Week

May 2
AP US Government Exam (8:00 AM)
AP Chemistry Exam (Noon)

May 3
Seniors Last Day
Senior Cap + Gown Photo (8:00 AM)
Yearbook Dedication Assembly (10:00 AM)

May 4
AP Literature Exam (8:00 AM)
AP Comparative Government (Noon)
AP Computer Science A Exam (Noon)

May 4 @ 3:30 PM
All-School Faculty Meeting

May 5
AP Statistics Exam (Noon)

May 5 @ 7:00 PM
Fifth Grade Play

May 6 @ 8:00 AM
AP US History Exam

May 6
Fathers, Faith, and Frederica

May 6
FAPA Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

May 7
Derby Day
Sea Island Retreat Clubhouse

May 7
SAT Exam

May 9-11
Senior Exams
May 9
AP Calculus AB/BC Exam (8:00 AM)
AP Computer Science Principles (Noon)

May 10
AP English Language Exam (8:00 AM)

May 11
AP Spanish Language Exam (8:00 AM)
AP Biology Exam (Noon)

May 12
AP World History Exam (8:00 AM)
AP Physics Exam (Noon)

May 12 @ 6:00 PM
Class of 2022 Baccalaureate
Community Church (SSI Campus)

May 13 @ 10:00 AM
Class of 2022 Graduation Practice

May 14 @ 8:30 AM
Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony
Sea Island Green

May 20, 23, 24
MS + US Exams
Early Dismissal

May 24
Last Day of Lower School Classes

May 25 (Morning)
LS Closing Ceremony (Grades 1-4)

May 25 (Afternoon)
MS Closing Ceremony (Grades 5-8)

May 25
MS + US Make-Up Exams

May 25-27
Teacher Post Planning
FA Athletics
2022 FA Summer Programs
2022-2023 School Uniforms
Given supply chain and embroidery delays, Frederica Academy encourages FA families to order uniforms now for the 2022-2023 school year. Uniforms will be required for all students in Grades PK-11 next year
FA Social Media