DRAGON WINGS
FALL 2018
St. George’s Episcopal School
LEARN with
PASSION SERVE with
RESPECT LIVE with
PURPOSE LEAD with
INTEGRITY
Celebrating a milestone
Over 20 years ago, the Founders of St. George’s Episcopal School decided to begin a private school that embraced the mission to learn with passion, serve with respect, and live with purpose. Over the years, the addition of lead with integrity was added to reflect what was already happening inside the classrooms at St. George’s. This past month, the school celebrated together as they watched the future of St. George’s begin outside the classrooms - a scene of construction trucks and hard hats filled the campus. As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect and thank those who have given to the milestone campaign. The future of St. George’s is still shaped by our Founding mission as we empower a future generation of students. We ask for your financial support in the Milestone Capital Campaign. Facilities are important and help us accommodate our growth, but in the end what really matters is what happens inside each building, and that’s the heartbeat of St. George’s Episcopal School.
HomecoMing
Dance
A w�k of school spirit and fun, and a high school only event to cap off �e homecoming w�k!
Spreading love & kindness
In our school & community
Embracing the mission to serve with respect in our own halls and the world around us.
Early Childhood sponsored the Kindergarten raised $375 for Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, and also school-wide Operation Christmas Child Reading Buddies raised money for Turning the Tide shoebox project, collecting supplies for fosters friendships and mentors in our approximately 30 shoeboxes. Ministry. own school.
Middle School participates in #kindnessmatters As part of electives, Middle School students participated in “Kindness Matters” talk, identifying ways everyone can be kind to others. Students wrote notes of kind and encouraging words to place on their lockers.
Lower School spearheads SOCKTOBER Sock Drive Even a small act of caring, like donating a pair of new socks, makes a huge difference in our community, and St. George’s students embraced this national #socktober movement to benefit those seeking assistance at Rushton’s Hope, a local non-profit organization in Griffin. The end result of their month-long collection effort? 700 pairs of new socks!
Class Trips
Students share their experiences
Costa Rica
After several hours of bumpy roads, fantastic naps, and amazing views, we were all excited to see the place we would be staying. As soon as we stepped out of bus onto the UGA Campus, we could see the gorgeous view of Costa Rican countryside and smell the fabulous aroma of guava trees. We all took a breath of fresh air and headed to our adorable cabins. We then ate dinner, which was followed by the best hot chocolate known to man, and then were given a talk on ways to respect the environment. The next few days were filled with exciting and educational activities. We were able to see so many types of animals, including two types of monkeys, snakes, and a vast array of birds. It would be impossible to count all the different types of insects there were. We saw anything and everything from beautiful Blue Morpho Butterflies to stick bugs to huge mounds of leaf-cutter ants. We were even able to see a tarantula (at a very safe distance of course). However, this trip wasn’t only to see the incredible wildlife. We were also educated on the vast amount of medicinal plants that could be found on campus. Not to the mention the farm, which taught us so many new ways to recycle and reuse. We were able to see how they farm their vegetables and the huge banana grove. It was a lot like the coffee plantation we later visited. They let us try their delicious coffee. No one will be able to drink their regular Folgers after that. However, that does not compare to the adventurous zip lining we did. We zip lined all the way down the mountain. The views were glorious! We could see everything above the rainforest and had so much fun doing it. After all of these fun things, it was hard to say goodbye to the fantastic country, but we have so many fun memories to remember it. -Emme Edwards, 11th grade
. C . D , n o t g n i Wash
The 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. will probably remain one of the most memorable trips I have ever taken. I felt like it not only made me feel closer to our class but it also made me feel more a part of our great nation. The trip helped me feel more like a part of the school, because I am still a little bit of a new kid. My favorite part of this trip was going to the Newseum, because I felt like it was the most interactive experience I had during the trip. The Holocaust Museum was the most memorable experience. A lady there asked me to pray for her country because many there are starving. I am glad that moving to this school gave me the chance to go to Washington. I loved being a part of this trip and learning more about our country. Our class left for Washington as a class but came home more like
a family.
-Ty Taylor, 8th grade
Scenic Seattle
While on the Seattle trip class trip, we were given the opportunity to visit some historic landmarks. It was sights like the Underground Tour, Mount Rainier, and San Juan Island that I thought were very astounding. As part of the Underground Tour, our group was shown the underground city of Seattle. Seattle, at the time of the Westward Expansion, was a small, unkempt town built on a hill. This town was destroyed in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, which left nothing but damaged frames of houses and businesses. The towns people, instead of finding new land, built a new city on top of the hill that used to be Seattle. I found it fascinating being able to walk in parts of the old buildings and learning what they were used for before the Great Fire. At the Mount Rainier National Park, we were taken on trails to view the mountain’s profound beauty. While walking these trails, it was so easy to lose myself in the snowy tops and wonderful wildlife on the mountain. One sight on the mountain that I found very tranquil was Myrtle Falls, a graceful waterfall that flows on the side of the mountain. Mount Rainier is very exquisite, and I enjoyed being able to view this marvelous landmark. Our class also traveled to San Juan Island, where we enjoyed sea kayaking. During this excursion, both classes collaborated to circumnavigate a miniature island. While on the water, we observed a group of harbor seals and admired the houses built next to the sea. Going sea kayaking was a great part of the trip because we were allowed to build relationships with our classmates as well as see beautiful parts of the island. The St. George’s Seattle trip was very engaging. I enjoyed learning about the city’s heritage, exploring the prominent landmarks, and growing closer to my fellow classmates. I cannot wait for my next class trip and the adventures and opportunities it will open up. -Lizzie Hammock, 10th grade
Seattle
A Panoramic View of the Pacific Northwest
Each year I’ve been at St. George’s, the school has allowed me to go on a class trip. This year the 9th and 10th grades went to Seattle, Washington. On the trip, we were provided with opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and build friendships with another grade. We started the trip off with a hike at Mt. Rainer, where we got to talk with park rangers and watch marmots roam the mountainside. The next day we went on an underground tour of Seattle, to Pike Place Market, and to the Space Needle. During the tour, we were guided through underground passageways buried after the Great Seattle Fire. Later that day, we separated into groups and were allowed to wander through Pike Place Market, which was filled with art and locally owned shops. After the market, we walked to the Space Needle, where we saw breathtaking views of the city and had the option to stand on a rotating glass floor 520 ft. in the air. The third day in Seattle we went to the Museum of Pop Culture and traveled on a ferry outside of the city to Friday Harbor. The Museum of Pop Culture was incredibly intriguing due to exhibits dedicated to Marvel, horror films, and rock bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Once we got to Friday Harbor, we settled into the houses and got ready to kayak the next day. Kayaking in Friday Harbor was an adventure because we saw harbor seals and tasted fresh seaweed from the ocean. Going to Seattle was such an amazing experience, and on behalf of 9th and 10th grade, I would like to thank our parents and our chaperones. - Talbot Potter, 10th grade
The May 2018 Dragon Wings issue was not delivered to our St. George’s community due to a postal delivery problem. In this issue of Dragon Wings, the Alumni and Faculty Spotlight sections have been re-published.
Alumni Spotlight Graham Tatum
SGES 8th Grade Class of 2002
later in life you will come across many different types of people and different situations in which you have already had the chance to experience. One of the most important things I learned in my time at SGES is no matter what card you are dealt, use it to the best of your The mission of SGES is to learn with ability while keeping ideas, beliefs and passion, serve with respect, live with opinions of others in mind. purpose, and lead with integrity. How What, if any, advice would you give to a has that shaped you? The rigorous curriculum put forth current SGES student? several challenges along the way. Though If I could give any advice to a current difficult, I was able to perform to the best student, I would tell them to try your of my ability. With the help of teachers best at all times, never give up, use and staff, I overcame these obstacles. the help of others around you, and These challenges allowed me to learn a remember that the challenges you face lot about myself and help me to become are only preparing you for the future. I What does SGES mean to you and how a better person. The atmosphere at would also tell them to enjoy the small, has your experience at SGES prepared SGES allows students to interact with friendly, and helpful atmosphere at many different types of people and learn SGES. you for life? SGES helped pave the way for me from them. This is important because What is your occupation and what schools have you attended since being a student at St. George’s? After attending SGES, I went to Spalding High School for four years where I played football and baseball. After graduating from SHS, I went to Georgia Southern University. I graduated from Georgia Southern in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and a minor in Business Management. Since graduating from GSU, I have worked as a job supervisor for Alex Tatum Construction, my dad’s construction company. I have taken on many different tasks ranging from supervising to handson carpentry.
academically. The challenging curriculum along with smaller classes allowed for the chance to learn at a higher level. This was important for me because it put me further ahead than many others who were not able to attend SGES.
Dragon SportsReport
Fall Sports Achievements Varsity Soccer
Varsity Cross Country Sam Potter - All Region Runner, All State Runner Leighton Clements - All Region Runner All State Runner Ellis Clements - All Region Runner Varsity Boys Team: Region 3rd place, State 4th place Varsity Girls Team: Region 3rd place
Middle School Cross Country Knoxie Burson - 3rd place, State Meet
All Region Players Leighton Clements Gray Long Sam Potter All State Players Leighton Clements Gray Long Sam Long Team: Region Runner Up, State Runner Up
Varsity Volleyball All Region Players: Shelby Doffing Sarah Edwards
Faculty Spotlight Dr. Michael Drake
High School Social Studies
What courses do you teach at SGES? My classes are high school social studies classes. We teach Advanced Placement Human Geography to ninth graders along with some tenth and eleventh graders; Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics to all tenth graders; and Advanced Placement United States History to all eleventh graders. This way I get a chance to teach every student in the high school. What do you love about working at SGES? I love the family nature of St. George’s. I have taught in and visited many schools during my years in the Georgia Independent School Association. All of them talked about being a family, but I think we do it better than most I have seen. The students seem to care about each other; I rarely ever see egos get in the way of friendship; and we get wonderful support from parents who expect a great deal from their children and also from us. I think that this is a major part of the reason for the success of St. George’s. What is your favorite part of the day at SGES? My favorite part of any day is the time I get to spend in the classroom with children. I am very old fashioned in many ways and I believe that class time is precious. The opportunity to share information with students and to hear their conversation about how the day is going never gets old for me.
What kinds of things do you do in the classroom to instill the mission of SGES in the students you teach? I see my classroom as a learning laboratory so that my real focus is on the “To Learn” component of the mission statement. I am smart enough to know that I am not going to make history majors out of all my students, but I want to make certain that they understand the workings of our wonderful system of government, how we got to the place we are in history, and our role as humans in the world around us. I also spend a great deal of time trying to interact with students outside the classroom to support them in the other aspects of the mission statement, accompanying them on trips that have educational value and supporting them in as many extra-curricular activities as my teaching schedule allows.
that this resonates with children. After 49 years in education, I am not always certain that children respond to my “old fashioned” teaching methods and my sense of educational worth as was true in earlier days. But I feel that any school has an obligation to expose children to a variety of teaching and learning styles so hopefully my methods will make them better prepared for similar teachers whom they might meet at the college level. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not teaching at SGES? Away from school I enjoy reading, traveling when I can, and being the assistant horse person in my family. I have limited knowledge of horses, but as long as my wife tells me exactly what she wants me to do, I am good at following directions.
“I have taught in and visited many schools during my years in the Georgia Independent School Association. All of them talked about being a family, but I think we do it better than most I have seen.” What is your favorite project or piece of curriculum with which you’ve been involved at SGES? For me, watching children grow as people and in their knowledge in the areas we are covering in the classroom is a high for me. I am not as creative as many younger teachers, but I like to see myself as a story teller and hope
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