Dragon Wings Winter 2021

DRAGON WINGS WI NT E R

2 0 2 1

St. George's Episcopal School 2021 Senior Class

CAMPUS ART

DIVISION CHAPEL

Letter writing to St. George's Episcopal Church Students

participated

in

a

school-wide

division

chapel

in

celebration of our 25th anniversary. Students wrote letters of appreciation to St. George's Episcopal Church for their support and love over the last 25 years.

E XP L ORI NG

OUR

WORL D

through the eyes of a child Early Childhood Division Science

Unlocking the keys to the world through science experiments not only stimulates a child's mind, but hands-on learning opens the door to seeing the world through a different perspective. In Early Childhood Science, students study the world with their hands. Using binoculars to get a closeup view of the outdoors, using tools to dissect

owl

pellets,

and

playing

with

magnets to learn what objects attract and repel are all examples of the variety of hands-on instruction students receive in science. Students use scientific tools to learn, imagine, create, and experiment.

J UNI OR S E RVI CE P ROJ E CT S high school LEADS program engaging in the community Each year the Junior Class has the opportunity to develop a service project that allows them to contribute to their community in a meaningful way.

This Junior Service Project (JSP) is a component of the LEADS program that students participate in for six weeks during the fall semester. The JSP is designed to help students develop leadership skills, engage in the world around them, and realize the impact they can have by taking initiative. This year’s class faced an additional challenge of finding ways to serve while coping with limitations imposed by the coronavirus. As a result, several students created projects centered at St. George’s, while others chose activities off campus including working in a local community garden, writing letters and making phone calls to isolated elderly individuals, helping care for animals at local shelters, providing hand sanitizer and encouraging notes to healthcare workers, and helping with church youth ministries. Students worked on campus by creating programs that focused on mental health awareness and education, increasing covid safety on campus, campus clean-up projects, and tutoring early childhood students outside in open-air classrooms. Despite challenges of the pandemic, these Juniors have worked to fulfill this important pillar of the school motto, “Serve with Respect.”

They have added in their own resourcefulness and ingenuity to help others during an especially difficult time.

Lillee Key, SGES class of 2022

REFLECTING BACK

remembering our past

"It is difficult to put into words what St. George’s has meant to our family. Our son Gray attended SGES from 6th-12th grades, and is now a sophomore at UGA. The decision about middle school options weighed heavily on us. From the very beginning, God affirmed that SGES was the place for him.

We credit SGES for a large part in helping Gray develop his gifts and talents that are uniquely his own. He flourished in an environment that valued him and challenged him to step up and lead. I cannot begin to list all of the opportunities he was given at SGES. He was able to serve in leadership roles both within the school and in the community. SGES is not just a school to us. It is an extended part of our family. The school community invested in our child and we will always be invested in its success. I love that while Gray is still navigating through big choices that will impact the trajectory of his life as a sophomore at UGA, he still seeks guidance from Britt Gaylor, the SGES athletic director, Dr. Collins, his former headmaster, Dr. Laura Edwards, as well as other staff members. Parents of his classmates (who have become a great blessing of surrogate parents) and the lifelong friends he made there continue to support and guide him. Sending our child to SGES was one of the best parenting decisions we ever made for our child."

-Sandra and Wes Long

"SGES will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Although it’s been several years since I graduated from the 8th grade in 2004, many fond memories have not been forgotten. I appreciate all of the activities and learning experiences that are usually overlooked in a public school setting. I once had the opportunity to be the Headmaster for a day. Another special day I will always remember was Grandparents’ Day. I am thankful to be able to look back on those fun memories and smile. Most importantly, I feel the SGES curriculum prepared me for both my high school and college years. My small class size allowed more room for personal growth especially at such an important stage in my life. Luckily, my close knit class still stays in touch even though we have gone on to pursue different careers in different places. I truly am forever thankful for my time well spent as an SGES student."

-Summer Abu-Sbeih

Gray Long, SGES class of 2019

Summer Abu-Sbeih SGES 8th grade class of 2004

25 YEARS OF TRADITION remembering our past

When I am in town and run into Mrs.

"St. George’s Episcopal School will always have a special place in my heart. I always joke that I was challenged more at SGES in middle school than I was throughout my entire high school career. I was taught how to

study,

think

critically,

and

do

my

absolute best. I appreciate the academic skills SGES taught me because I know that paved the way for me to be successful in high school and college, but that was not the most important takeaway. SGES felt like a family while I was there and it has felt like a family ever since.

McDaniel or Mrs. Bartholomew (to name a few), I am always ELATED. The teachers at SGES poured so much love into us and it has never been forgotten. In addition to the excellent relationships I had with my teachers, I also met my very best friends there, and these are friends that I kept through high school

and

roomed

with

during

college,

friends that I talk to on a daily basis and see at least once a week. We’ve all grown up together and continue to do life together. We get to thank SGES for that and so much more."

-Austin (Rooks) Raybon (pictured below with her husband, Matt, and daughter, Caroline)

Austin Raybon

Growing up I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be a student at St. George’s. SGES taught me so much, whether it was academics, faith, or what it was like to be apart of a strong spiritual community. I will forever cherish the lifelong friends and connections that I made. St. George’s will always hold a very special place in my heart.

-Claire Ann English

SGES 8th grade class of 2004

Claire Ann English SGES 8th grade class of 2005

REFLECTIONS FROM PAST INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL

Millie Bankston

On the first day of school, there was a small disturbance outside my office. Either someone was running in the hall or talking too loudly, so I stepped out to correct the behavior.

The

offending student looked me straight in the eye, smiled and said, “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.” and the behavior stopped immediately.

My heart

flipped, and at that moment I knew I had died "When SGES began, those of us at Third Ward School in Griffin watched with great interest and a little trepidation because some of our families were involved with this new school. At that time, most of the students at St. George’s were from Griffin.

When I arrived at SGES a few years

later, the school had become established at the present campus in Milner and was becoming known beyond Spalding County.

In addition to

the traditional support of Griffin families, it was gaining strong support from Lamar and Upson counties.

out of public school retirement to serve as Interim Head of School. There were two main reasons that I accepted the challenge.

First, our oldest

granddaughter, Carly Jane, was a student there.

What grandmother could resist the opportunity to work in the school her beloved grandchild attended! Secondly, some of the students were former Third Ward students, and the chance to work again with them and their families was appealing.

the

school

moved

beyond

accreditation to full accreditation.

initial

SACS

We aligned

our curriculum so that there was a smooth flow of instruction from grade to grade. We worked to increase our name recognition in Lamar, Upson and Butts counties and to build our enrollment.

Improvements were made to the

building and grounds. Most of all, though, our efforts were to continue the outstanding work

St. George’s has always been known for quality, and it showed in the daily classroom instruction.

Teachers taught students, not just content.

Students learned to think for themselves and gained the confidence and skills to express opinions cogently.

They learned to listen to

others respectfully.

And yet, while excellence

was the standard, joy permeated the entire campus. Students eagerly jumped out of cars when they arrived each morning. Smiles were abundant! Daily chapel set the tone for the day.

Succeeding a beloved Headmaster like Father John was a challenge in itself, but he graciously made the transition as easy as possible. The work he did laid the groundwork for much of the I’ve always felt that

schools have a spirit that you can feel. The spirit of SGES was one of peace and love, and Father John deserves credit for that. The faculty and staff that I inherited were impressive. The school had just received its initial accreditation from SACS, which gave it a nationally recognized stamp of excellence. My job was to build on the work that he had started and to move the school forward.

My two years passed quickly. During that time

that had already begun.

My tenure at SGES was two years, and I came

school’s future success.

and gone to heaven.

Parents generously supported the school. The Board of Trustees was composed of talented people who gave their time and resources unselfishly and guided the school wisely.

I have watched the school’s continued success with the pride of a mother hen! It has been a joy to watch it grow.

I am truly grateful for the

time I was privileged to work there, and I treasure memories of the people —adults and students— that I came to appreciate and love."

-Millie Bankston 2003-2005 Interim Headmaster

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Milner, GA Permit No. 12

103 Birch Street Milner, GA 30257

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Why give to the Annual Fund? To inspire St. George’s students to utilize what is learned in the classroom and empower them to make a difference in the world as leaders.