DRAGON WINGS
FALL 2016
St. George’s Episcopal School
Head of School Larry Collins
Mark Peek Chair, Board of Trustees Board of Trustees Lindsay Boatright, Secretary Andy Bush Suni Clements Larry Collins, Head of School Jessica Deen Chris Edwards, Vice-Chair Laura Edwards, Past-Chair Jim Granum Alvin Goldstein Leigh Hancher Enid Lofters-Jones Jay Matthews Phillip Mouchet Mark Peek, Chair Hal Rahn Daniel Searcy, Treasurer Rev. Nancy Shepherd, Ex-Officio Jackie Smith Lori Tucker Nicole Walters George Weldon, Ex-Officio
Did you know?
Approximately 20% of current SGES students have been the recipients of a Georgia GOAL scholarship. The GOAL scholarship allows a taxpayer to direct a portion of their income tax liability to improve pre-k through 12th grade educational opportunities in Georgia. Individual and corporate taxpayers are eligible to receive a Georgia income tax credit for contributions made to the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program. Now is the time to apply for the 2017 tax credit. Visit www.goalscholarship.org for more information, or email Meredith Thacker at mthacker@sges.org.
HEADlines a message from our headmaster
Dear St. George’s Community,
In reviewing the draft of this edition of Dragon Wings, it seemed to me that we had already accomplished a year’s worth of accomplishments and activities just within the first nine weeks. Our cross country teams continue to set a high standard with the girls’ team earning State Runner Up and a region championship. The boys’ team had another successful varsity season with a 5th place finish in the state and a 3rd place finish in our region. We are so proud of our students’ achievements. This September our students in grades 3 – 10 went on class trips all across the country. From Cumberland Island, to Washington D.C., to Seattle, our students had the opportunity to encounter various educational experiences. On campus, we hosted our annual Grandparents and Grand Friends Day. This is one of the most meaningful days of the entire year. Our 8th graders shared a few memories of their grandparents and our younger students provided a great musical program. In addition, our students have hosted Blessing of the Animals, our first ever high school dance, and multiple service projects. As you will read in this edition, we have had a great start to the school year. We hope you enjoy catching up on the activities as much as we did experiencing them. Larry Collins
2016-2017 Annual Fund Kickoff The Development Office kicked off the Annual Fund campaign in October. The Annual Fund is St. George’s yearly fundraising effort to raise monies needed to provide for the outstanding education for each student at SGES. Funds from this campaign benefit many projects and on-going learning opportunities for our students. If you would like to make a donation to the SGES Annual Fund, please go online to www.sges.org or contact Mitzi Hammock at mhammock@sges.org or 770.368.9495.
High School Fall Social barn dance 10.15.16
fun times | lifelong friends | good music | great dancing
SGES HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT
Blessing of the Animals
On a beautiful Friday morning in September, St. George’s families gathered in the Grove with their families -- including their beloved pets to celebrate their lives as God’s creation. Animals of all shapes and forms, including cats, dogs, goats, horses, and even turtles - were brought to be blessed by Revered Nancy Shephard of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Griffin in celebration of God’s love for all of creation. Students led in the singing of the hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, with student chimes providing the backdrop chords.
Class Trip Recap
Cumberland Island Rock Eagle - 3rd grade Space Camp - 4th/5th grade 6th grade Herpetology? Lake ecology? Those are the classes our third graders took during their overnight trip to Rock Eagle near Eatonton, Georgia. Following the classes, the group enjoyed touching live animals - turtles and even snakes - and were even able to wade in the Rock Eagle lake with nets to try and catch animals. Once caught, each animal was collectively decided whether it was a vertebrate or invertebrate, and if it was a biotic or abiotic part of the lake. Classes also included Native American skills - including hunting, surviving, and starting a fire. At nighttime, the class studied noctural animals. To top the trip off, a class bonfire with roasted marshmallows, smores and popcorn was enjoyed by the entire class!
Class Trip Recaps continued on next page
Always a fun adventure for SGES 4th and 5th graders, the Space Camp trip gives our students an opportunity to learn about the history of the space program while exploring the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Museum. A few days of complete hands-on learning gives students an opportunity to experience the excitement of astronaut training while they participate in simulators, making rockets, and taking on the roles of mission control where they work together to perform a mock mission.
As part of the science curriculum, the 6th grade class travelled to scenic Cumberland Island to explore various coastal ecosystems and compare them with local ecosystems. They met with a sea turtle researcher, searched for sharks teeth, and enjoyed the ocean as well as climbing the live oak trees. Students stayed at nearby Crooked River State Park and explored the nature center, hiked on the nature trail through the maritime forest and salt march where they were able to see tortoises, crabs, and other birds.
Alumni Spotlight May Melton Geiger SGES Class of 2010
What does SGES mean to you and how has your experience at SGES prepared you for life?
I am very proud of my SGES background and the extensive education I received there. The teachers at SGES taught me the study habits that have helped me excel in high school and college. At the University of Georgia, the majority of my classes are mass lectures with 300+ students in the classroom. I believe that the small class sizes and individual attention from teachers was very beneficial for me in elementary and middle school. My academic foundation at SGES helped me highlight my strengths and weaknesses and encouraged me to try my best at every endeavor. While I am very proud of the scholastic aspects of SGES, I am especially appreciative of the spiritual foundation I received there. It was a privilege to be surrounded every day by people with the ultimate goal of serving Christ. I matured immensely in my faith throughout my years at SGES. The friends I grew up with at SGES remained my best friends throughout high school as we attended Bible Study and Younglife together. I am so thankful to have a core group of Christian friends, and I have SGES to thank for that.
Christ to others. SGES taught all of us that we have a purpose in Christ and I believe he is guiding me every day. When I hold a position of leadership, I strive to be a leader that people will enjoy following. I’ve held these ideals close to my heart because SGES instilled these core
Obviously SGES is proud of who you have become since graduating. What are some things you’ve done and been involved in since your days at SGES? • International Business Co-Marketing and Spanish double major: my Spanish classes at SGES helped me cultivate my love for the language and the culture! • Chaplain and Ritual Chairman of Phi Mu Fraternity. • Member of Pi Sigma Epsilon - Marketing, Management and Sales Fraternity. • Clarke County Mentor Program - I mentor and tutor an underprivileged Hispanic child weekly, conversing in Spanish and English. • UGA Miracle - raise money yearly for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and visit Scottish Rite to play with sick children.
“I matured immensely in my faith throughout my years at SGES.”
The mission of SGES is to learn with passion, serve with respect, live with purpose, and lead with integrity. How has that shaped you? These are morals that I’ve tried to live by since leaving SGES. I am still passionate about my studies, and I am appreciative that my foundation at SGES taught me to pursue a career in what I love. I strive to treat everyone I encounter with respect and kindness, because I believe our actions and attitude can exhibit
values in me, and I appreciate the path they’ve led me down. Since your time at SGES, have you looked back on any particular memory or specific experience at SGES with particular affection? Yes, I am particularly sentimental about morning chapel at St. George’s. It is amazing that SGES starts every day off right with an organized religious service for students and staff. This practice highlights the importance of Christ before everything else and helps begin the day with a joyful attitude. I took this for granted while at SGES, but it was such a blessing. I wish I had the same privilege in college.
What advice would you give to a current SGES student? Be thankful for this school you attend! You are blessed beyond measure! And hold on to the friends you make at SGES for the rest of your life.
The SGES Jr. Beta Club promotes the ideals of character, service and leadership among students. In order to become a member, students must earn a 3.7 grade point average in their academic classes during their 6th or 7th grade school year and exemplify worthy character. During the school year, Beta club members participate in service projects throughout the year including a Thanksgiving canned food drive and treats for Lamar County Firefighters. Students also participate in a Jr. Beta Club convention where they compete against other students in academic, art and engineering competitions. Our students routinely place in the top ten in both individual and group competitions. Officers were elected in October and include: Ansley Potter, President; Ellie Taylor, Vice-President; Camryn Boatright, Chaplain; Will Mulder, Secretary; Talbot Potter, Service Project Coordinator
Epworth - 7th grade
The annual seventh grade class trip to Epworth by the Sea has earned a reputation for being a meaningful trip that is both fun and challenging for our students. Seventh graders participate in a three-day ropes course involving team games, low ropes course elements, individual high ropes elements, and team high ropes elements. The trip allows our students to challenge themselves, to practice communication and leadership, and to develop skills necessary for working with others. Perhaps most importantly, students come away appreciating not only their own gifts and talents, but also the gifts and talents of their classmates.
Washington, D.C. - 8th grade Students in the 8th grade at St. George’s spent a wonderful week in Washington, DC. Trip highlights included the United States Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Holocaust Museum and Ford’s Theatre. The Holocaust Museum and International Spy Museum are always student favorites and exploration of Mt. Vernon and the Smithsonian Museum. At night, the students toured many memorials in DC. Students enjoy this time of learning in our nation’s capital and creating memories together that will last a lifetime.
Class Trip Memories An essay by Sarah Edwards, 10th grade SGES student For the high school field trip this the orcas swam off, we paddled for about two year, we travelled across the country to Seattle, hours and were able to see Harbor seals and Washington and some surrounding areas. On even taste kelp. After a while, we all became a the trip, we went to many places and learned little sore, so we paddled back to the bay for a many different things. Overall, this was one of delicious lunch of veggie sandwiches and fruit. the best school trips we have ever been on. After lunch we explored a little and played on Before we reached Seattle, we had some nearby cliffs, a secluded beach, and even many adventures. fed some local “All of us were in awe of the mountains, the When we arrived deer. When we had in Washington waterfalls, and the rainforest-like trees.” been exploring on Sunday, we for about an hour, travelled to Anacortes and boarded a ferry. we piled back in the vans to return to Friday On the ferry, we all took advantage of the Harbor, where we shopped a little before beautiful scenery and took pictures, some boarding the ferry. Later, after the ferry ride, of us even acted like we were on the Titanic. we squeezed into the vans to travel to Mount When we grew tired of sightseeing, we went Rainier. The ride was fantastic. We spent all five inside and had a wonderful time just talking. hours talking, laughing, and even watching The next day, we woke up early and one of our classmates roll down his window boarded a bus that transported us across the and talk to passengers in other cars while we tiny island, which resembles the Wyoming were in traffic. countryside to me, to the bay where we The following day, we bundled up would sea kayak. When we arrived, we all for a day at Mount Rainer. It was beautiful, as received some quick instructions before being there was not a cloud in the sky. The ride up pushed out into the water. I was immediately to the Sunrise House was breathtaking, as the overjoyed. Right in front of us was a pod of mountains look like the Dolomites in Italy or orcas. They were more beautiful than I could the Picos in Spain. All of us were in awe of even imagine. For about five minutes, we all the mountains, waterfalls, and the rainforestsat in awe of these beautiful creatures as they like trees. When we reached our destination, breached the water and played around. Once we went on an educational tour, and it was
gorgeous. The wildflowers on the rolling hills were in bloom, and a beautiful view of Mount Rainer completed the picture. We were lucky enough to see several marmots and even a bear! Seattle was amazing. We visited the Chihuly Gardens and the Space Needle, both of which were beautiful. We visited the EMP Museum and saw exhibits that included the Seahawk’s Super Bowl trophy, a Nirvana exhibit, and props from movies like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Back to the Future, and The Wizard of Oz. Afterward, we toured the Boeing factory, which wasn’t fun in my opinion, but we learned a lot about planes and they had a great hands-on exhibit that we all enjoyed. Later, we toured underground Seattle, which was very cool because nothing has been changed down there since the fire in the 1800’s. Afterward, we went to Pike Place Market, which was a highlight of the trip. We all enjoyed being able to explore the market. On our last day in Seattle, we visited the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which we all enjoyed more than we expected. Overall, the Seattle trip was amazing. We all had an amazing time and hope to go on another adventure soon.
Seattle, Washington High School Class Trip
For six days, our high school students spent time exploring the diverse landscape Washington state. Students interacted with orcas, sea lions, seals, and other wildlife on their kayaking trip in the Haro Strait between San Juan Island and Victoria, B.C.. Students travelled to Mount Rainer to hike and explore the mountain’s ecosystem, where they spotted marmots and a black bear. While in Seattle, students visited the Chihuly museum, explored the Space Needle and the Ballard Locks, and toured underground Seattle. An afternoon at Pike’s Market and a tour of the Puget Sound ended their visit to the Pacific Northwest.
Faculty Spotlight Joan Voight Kindergarten Teacher
What do you love most about St. George’s? I love teaching and all the kids that I have been blessed to teach. Also, I love how close we all are as a school family. What is your favorite part of the day at St. George’s? I think it is first thing in the morning before chapel. They pile in with huge smiles, hugs to share and stories to tell. I even have past kindergarteners stopping by to say hello! What an awesome way to start the day! What kinds of things do you do in the classroom to instill the mission of SGES in the children you teach? Inspire children to learn with passion: I like to foster curiosity. “I wonder why” is a powerful thing to ask in conversations and opens up all sorts of learning possibilities. Also, I like making it fun and relevant and provide open-ended play to develop problem-solving skills Inspire children to serve: The bible verse Mark 10:45 says: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.” So this is what I try to instill in my little ones. This year we started school off with the theme of Acts of Random Kindness. The children took cookies to the Milner first responders, left cookies in the mail box for our postal worker, and even surprised Dr. Collins and other classmates with cookies. In October, they donated $335.00 to the Noah’s Ark Sanctuary which they had raised by selling candy during lunch. However, what thrills me to no end is having these sweet children outside of class instigating their own lemonade stands just to raise money to add to our donations. My hope by serving is that they learn to live with purpose. So that they can see that even though the world is bigger than them, their impact can be bigger than the world through kindness and generosity. To lead with integrity: I believe all children are good, but we can’t control their behavior. We can only control the consequences of their behavior, whether it is good or bad. When a child makes a poor choice, I like for the child to rewind and examine how he or she could have made a better choice. I hope they learn to be honest. Avoid gossip. Work hard and look for the good in others. Treat those around you with respect and kindness. When you mess up, admit it and try again are characteristics I hope to instill. You’ve influenced over 15 years of Kindergarteners at St. George’s, watched them grow and mature, and graduate high school and college. Do you have any favorite memories? I have been blessed to teach so many children. They all have left a special place in my heart. At the end of every year I get to watch each child Bridge from kindergarten and get the chance to reflect on how special they have become in my heart and then to watch them grow into such fine young adults. It’s just incredible! They have brought years of laughs and tears. I think one of my favorite days is spending the night in the classroom to watch the penguins hatch and seeing the excitement on the kindergartener’s face in the morning. Priceless!!!
It isn’t uncommon to see Mrs. Joan dress just like the children in her class. Pirate Day in Kindergarten is one of many themed days that match learning units. In this unit, children study creatures of the sea and end their unit with a fun pirate-themed day.
Grandparents and Grand Friends Day celebrating families, sharing memories, embracing togetherness October 7th, 2016
The moments that shape us, the memories that sustain us, and the influences in our lives we recognize with affection are those closest to us our grandparents and grand friends. An annual tradition for St. George’s, this year was another wonderful year. Our 8th graders gave touching speeching of gratitude; our youngest bravely stood singing “Yo-ho, Yo-ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me”; talents were showcased -pianists, singers, and dancers; our older students played bucket drums; and our high school students were there to graciously greet and provide hospitality to our guests. St. George’s is thankful for an incredible extended family - our grandparents and grand friends.
Dragon Sports Report Another year of solid athletics has begun. Among other awards, we are excited about our Cross Country team awards this year. In the Region Meet, SGES Girls won GISA region 1-AA Milz Cain finished 2nd overall Talbot Potter finished 3rd Ansley Potter finished 4th Emily Edwards finished 5th overall Elizabeth Hammock finished 9th Cameron Boatright finished 10th overall SGES Boys finished 3rd in region Sam Potter finished 2nd overall Leighton Clements finished 9th overall
Above: Volleyball team Left: Clay Target Sports team
In the State Meet: Varsity Girls placed 2nd Varsity Boys placed 5th Milz Cain placed 6th Sam Potter placed 3rd
Our Varsity Golf team was awarded a champion banner during a recent Celebration Chapel.
THIS IS to learn with passion First grade students practice handwriting and spelling skills in a creative way by smothering cool whip on the desks and writing words with their fingers. While it’s super fun, it’s an easy way to “erase” their words and create new ones in a messy way. Second grade students studied the early olympics, the Greek alphabet, Greek culture and geographic aspects of Greece, and completed their unit studies with the Greek olymics. Third grade students watch the life cycle of butterflies in their classroom from catepillar to releasing butterflies, as well as chicken eggs to chicks. This hands-on learning approach makes learning fun!
THIS IS to serve with respect Kindergarten students started off the year with a project called “ARK”, where they demonstrated Acts of Random Kindness to school faculty, local postal carriers, and the police department. Students at St. George’s learn how to serve with respect at an early age, and this continues to develop throughout their life. St. George’s hosted the September Fall Family Picnic on September 11th. While there was certainly plenty of outdoor games and bouncy houses for the younger kids, it was the volunteers from the middle and high school that kept everything organized and running smoothly. A little rain didn’t stop this crew from serving our younger students.
THIS IS to live with purpose
Our high school students took a retreat trip Whitewater rafting in August. Designed for the beginning of the school year, it was a time of developing friendships, practicing teamwork, and experiencing life together. On Fridays, St. George’s recognizes students who have gone over and above expectations to be a helpful and caring students to others. Any student noted by faculty who has shown outstanding citizenship during the week is recognized during chapel on Friday mornings. Parents and friends are invited to chapel anytime, but Fridays are an especially welcomed time to participate in Chapel.
THIS IS to lead with integrity Our high school students help mentor lower school students in every aspect of school life at St. George’s. From academic success programs to athletic readiness - such as our high schoolers providing a time of “pep talk” before a cross country meet, our high school students lead younger students and contribute to shaping their leadership skills. Our 5th grade students participate in Reading Buddies with our younger students. This helps our 5th graders develop into leaders and allows our younger students to interact with those that are older.
Upcoming Events: November 21-25:Thanksgiving Break December 19: Lessons and Carols 7:00pm December 20: Early Childhood Christmas Pageant 8:00am December 20: Early Dismissal 11:30 December 20: Alumni Night December 21 - January 3: Christmas Break January 4: Classes resume
Get-a-way Gig March 4, 2017
Peter Pan March 10, 2017
Founders Day May 7, 2017
Stay connected with us! 103 Birch Street Milner, GA 30257 770-358-9432 www.sges.org
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