INTER ALIA “ A M O N G
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THE HABERSHAM SCHOOL AUGUST 2026
Message from the Principal John S. Breckenridge, Principal “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:39 The Habersham School has a story to tell. When I joined the school two and a half years ago, I only did so to help Habersham tell that story to our community and to the rest of Savannah. For those wondering, the story for Habersham is not a complicated one…we want to be a permanent Christian educational institution in Savannah. Permanent as in secure and thriving. Permanent as in forever. For the purposes of this short article, it will suffice to say becoming The 100 Year School is our story. Permit me to explain. Savannah, the city of my birth and rearing, is a place with many institutions: hospitals, churches, and, yes, schools, that are a century old. Just because it's old, however, does not make an institution, even a Christian one, stable and healthy. But it is at least one indicator of the seriousness of purpose that a place has that it intends to endure far into the future. We recently completed our fourteenth year as a classical Christian school, and we have a long way to go.
UPCOMING ACADEMIC DATES: Meet the Teacher - 8/10
First Day of School - 8/12 I am an optimist, Opening Ceremonies - 8/14 but I am certain that I will not see The LS Academic Night - 9/3 Habersham School’s one-hundredth MS/US Academic Night - 9/10 anniversary in 2112. But I imagine it all the time, and I trust that day will come. If we were not building for that kind of future here, I would not want to be a part of The Habersham School. Our covenantal focus must be a blessing to the students we presently serve, yes, but also we must build this school carefully and faithfully; in order to ensure our future opportunity to serve the thousands of students that will come in the decades ahead, including families and students not yet born. Our story at Habersham is an evolving one. We are partnering with Christian families, one at a time, and seeking to be a place for great learning to take place. More importantly, however, is that in our work we see each student as body, mind and soul… each person God gives us bears His image. What a blessing that is. Anyone who has spent time at Habersham will tell you…it is different here. continued on next page
Message from the Principal cont’d Why am I confident in our future? Because I believe, for the sake of the gospel in Savannah, that the city needs a school like ours that has the vision to teach classically, with an unapologetic commitment to the truths of Christ. Further, I believe that Christians in Savannah, who want what we stand for, will respond to our distinctives. That is already happening. In fact, our enrollment is full, and there are more people seeking employment than we have jobs available. More than that, our reach is growing into portions of this community that, until now, have been unattainable. We give God all the praise for these developments. Let us be thankful, consistent and faithful in the years ahead as we see the Lord turn Habersham into The 100 Year School.
Habit Training Brandi Holloway, Grammar Lead Teacher “What you would have the man become, that you must train the child to be.” Charlotte Mason (Vol. 2, p. 15.) The practice of habits in the classroom is foundational to both classical education and Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. A habit is a routine of behavior that occurs regularly, shaping the way a child thinks, acts, and responds to the world. Charlotte Mason believed that habit training was an essential part of education, and classical educators likewise affirm that repeated practice forms character and virtue. Habits train children to act rightly, even when doing so is difficult, helping them grow into wise, disciplined, and joyful adults. Mason called habits the “rails on which life runs smoothly,” reminding us that good habits, such as attention, temper, obedience, and truthfulness make daily life more intentional, peaceful, and purposeful. In the classroom, habit formation is not merely about managing behavior; it is about shaping the whole child. By guiding students in steady, positive practices, teachers help them develop patterns that support learning, relationships, and spiritual growth. At The Habersham School, habit training is considered one of the primary ways we strive to meet our mission. We aim to instill habits that serve students not only academically but throughout their lives. Consistency, practice, and accountability are essential, and habit itself should be embraced as a delight and an opportunity for children to flourish through small, faithful steps each day.
“...we see each student as body, mind and soul…each person God gives us bears His image. What a blessing that is.”
MCCARTY’S MANTLE Kingdom Investment: A Philosophy of Financial Partnership Pat McCarty, Head of School We have many opportunities to support great causes. There is a need. A story to tell. They may draw at our heartstrings because we, or someone we know, has been impacted by their mission. Thus, we want to support them. This is the genesis of philanthropy. Philanthropy originated in Ancient Greece, where the word philanthropia was coined to mean the "love of humanity". May I suggest that tithes and offerings, supporting Christian ministries, and giving to The Habersham School, is not philanthropy; it is stewardship. Every invitation to give invites families into the sacred work of advancing the Kingdom. True generosity requires a shift in perspective. When God works in a person’s heart, an obligation transforms into a joyful opportunity to invest in eternal purposes. Over my career in Christian education it has been a privilege to witness donors recognize that their resources belong to God, and to see them experience the deep spiritual fulfillment of partnering with a Kingdom-focused mission. continued on next page
Kingdom Investment cont’d
“...we do not seek donations as transactional expenses, but ones that have a transformational impact on the next generation of leaders - the children who enter our school each day.”
In a school context we face unique challenges. Because families already pay tuition, they often view annual funds and other fundraising efforts as "extra" burdens. My desire is to help them see that we do not seek donations as transactional expenses, but ones that have a transformational impact on the next generation of leaders - the children who enter our school each day. Every dollar given enriches a child’s spiritual and academic life, allowing The Habersham School to flourish and to thrive. Our work is fundamentally different because it is rooted in the Gospel. We are cultivating a community where giving is an act of worship, obedience, and shared participation in God’s story. When we center our financial conversations on this eternal vision, we move from simply "fundraising" to building disciples.
“I want to ignite a deep passion for the Patriot Program, making it an experience that every student genuinely longs to join and takes immense pride in representing.”
Introducing New School Podcast, The Dean’s List Clay Hining, Dean of Families and Students The inaugural episode of The Dean’s List podcast will be available in the early hours of August 7, and you can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Why would The Habersham School launch a podcast? The simple answer is to help parents feel better connected to classical Christian education, and to be better equipped and prepared as parents. At The Habersham School we recognize God’s design: parents are children’s first and best educators. In that light Habersham aims to be an extension of the Christian home—a resource to help parents fulfill their God-given responsibility. We do not think of parents as simply customers, but as members of the school community and partners with us. Therefore, we strive to be a source of helpful and Godly wisdom to parents, and our prayer is for the Dean’s List podcast to aid parents in their educational endeavors.
Message from New Habersham School Director of Athletics Brandon Eiff, Director of Athletics While secular sports culture often pursues athletics as a path to selfglorification, my goal is for The Habersham School and its families to view the playing field as a vital classroom for spiritual and intellectual formation. At The Habersham School, our goal is not merely to accumulate trophies, but to cultivate Christ-centered men and women who master their bodies, tune their hearts, and honor their Creator. For my wife and me, this mission is deeply personal. Having both played college athletics, we know firsthand that sports are a crucible for character. The arena taught us that "the hard" is precisely where God cultivates faithfulness, discipline, and reliance on Him. For our new Habersham family, we believe sports should be defined by the glorification of God, teamwork, sacrifice, hard work, commitment, excellence, and intentional character development. We will play with fierce competitiveness continued on next page
New Director of Athletics cont’d
Commencement 2026
because God is honored by our maximal effort, but our true victory lies in Christ-like virtue. We also believe sports are a powerful vehicle for continued educational growth. Athletics demand a level of discipline, time management, and focus that directly drives academic excellence. This is a reality we live out in our own home: our son is currently committed to pursuing both an athletic scholarship and an academic one, fueled by the understanding that the drive required to succeed on the field is the very same drive that produces champions in the classroom. As I step into this role, I am focusing on two major goals for our community. First, I want to ignite a deep passion for the Patriot Program, making it an experience that every student genuinely longs to join and takes immense pride in representing. Second, I want to build a stable, thriving athletics program that stands the test of time. We will achieve this long-term stability by planting seeds early, establishing robust developmental pipelines in our lower and middle schools so our youngest athletes master the fundamentals from day one. This will create a thriving and seamless transition to high school. Alongside these goals, we are fully committed to helping families navigate the college recruiting landscape. We want to leverage our own collegiate backgrounds to help students use their athletic and academic excellence to open doors at the next level. Together, let’s show the world what it looks like when Christ is the captain of our pursuits. Welcome to the next chapter of Habersham Athletics!
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