Dragon Wings - June 2020

St. George's Episcopal School

DRAGON

SPRING 2020

WINGS

CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2020

Dragon Wings is a bi-annual publication of St. George's Episcopal School.

Congratulations,

class of 2020

Isabella Bankston

Molly Boggs

Sam Cross

Katelynn Dague

Drew Collins

Cameryhn DorsettFlemister

Emily Edwards

Colin Hadley

Chaz Martinez

Butler Matthews

Garrett Parker

Jeremy Potter

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams."

-HENRY DAVID THOREAU

FINE ARTS

Students thrive in the arts - Literary, Music Classes, Poetry Winner

Last fall, students in Grades 3-5 participated in a poetry contest sponsored by Griffin Choral Arts. Over 40 entries were received and narrowed down to 12 finalists and those 12 poems were sent to a composer in Minneapolis, MN. Griffin Choral Arts commissioned the composer, Dr, Ben Kornelis, to write a song based on one of the poems, and Dr. Kornelis chose Henry Stover’s poem “Your Life is in Your Hands.” Dr. Kornelis noted that, as he read Henry’s poem, it just “wanted to be sung.” He further explained: “There are some really nice gestures in it-- reach, open, wake, see, fight.” These “gestures” were transformed into a new choral work, completed on February 29, entitled “Hands.” The piece is for adult choir, children’s choir, piano with two players, handbells, and clapping hands.

Henry was able to meet Dr. Kornelis and the GCA singers in a special Zoom meeting in March. Although the music is completed, printed, and was distributed to the singers, there was only one rehearsal before the current health crisis suspended rehearsals and concerts for Griffin Choral Arts. The plan going forward is to perform the premiere of “Hands” as soon as the choir is able to return to regular rehearsals.

The GISA Literary meet was held at the beginning of March at The University of West Georgia. Students competed in various categories against other schools in our region for a chance to compete at the state level. SGES took 2nd runner up as a team, and students performed well in the individual competitions.

The following students competed: Girls Solo: Gracyn Fuller - 2nd Place Boys Solo: Will Mulder - 1st Place Girls Trio: Gracyn Fuller, Zoe Jordan, Natalie Hammock - 3rd place Piano: Anna Takle - 1st Place Comedic Interpretation: Ben Cross - 1st Place Duo Interpretation: John Henry Landreth and Peter Rigg - 1st Place Personal Essay: Ansley Potter - 2nd Place Rhetorical Essay: Talbot Potter - 5th Place Spelling: Jana Brooks - 3rd Place Impromptu Speaking: Will Mulder - 4th Place Dramatic Interpretation: Catherine Craig Argumentative Essay: Addie Travis Extemporaneous Speaking: Addie Travis Team: 2nd Runner Up

This semester, students enjoyed learning guitar, recorder, Orff Instruments and music theory in music class!

Virtual SPIRIT

WEEK!

Girls Varsity Basketball Team State-Runner Up Congratulations to the Varsity Girls Basketball Team, who played an incredible season! They ended as the State Runner-Up as they took a loss in the final state championship game against Thomas Jefferson. During the regular season, the girls team enjoyed an impressive stretch of wins.

Three players were named to the GISA Region I AA All-Region team: Ansley Potter, Natalie Hammock, and Ashlyn Jones.

Congratulations season!

to

everyone

on

a

successful

High School Beta Club Induction

TEACHERS' TALES | PAGE 2

Share your tale with us!

Meet the Interim

Headmaster Dr. Michael Drake

I come from a family of teachers. Both my parents taught in the public schools in the small town in Ohio where we lived until they accepted jobs at a new independent school in Atlanta named The Westminster Schools. I think they did this so that my brother and I would have a chance at a better education than if they stayed where they were.

As was true of my time at Westfield, I enjoyed the GISA but after eight years I felt the urge to return to a school setting where I could be around students on a regular basis rather than just when I was awarding prizes at

athletic

and

literary

competitions. Fortunately, Larry Collins had just accepted the job as head of school at Tattnall Square Academy in Macon and he offered me a job as Academic Dean and

I did my undergraduate work at the University of

history teacher. I remained at Tattnall

Virginia, finishing in 1969 as a member of one of

seven years, serving an interim year there

the last all-male graduating classes at UVA. Out of

when Dr. Collins came to St. George’s.

college I accepted the only job I was offered as a Latin teacher at the Montgomery Bell Academy, a 7-12

all-boys

school

in

Nashville,

Tennessee. Fortunately, after my second year one of the history teachers decided to go back to law school and I made the transition to history. I stayed at Montgomery Bell for twenty three years, serving one year as interim head of school when my headmaster was in the hospital for an extended period of time. I also earned a master’s degree from George Peabody for Teachers, and a doctoral degree from Tennessee State University.

I did not anticipate serving as interim head again after 51 years in independent schools, but am looking forward to being able to serve

the

school

during

the

search

process. My four years here have been especially happy ones with great students, supportive parents, and a truly outstanding staff. I think this will be an enticing job opportunity for an aspiring head and feel very confident that, given the quality of the search

committee,

we

should

attract

a

number of first-rate candidates. Despite the disappointment of losing Dr. Collins, I think

In 1992 I accepted the job as headmaster at the

the

Westfield School in Perry, Georgia, remaining

exceptionally bright.

future

of

St.

George’s

remains

there for nine years. I also was involved in Georgia Independent School Association work, serving on the Appeals Board for seven years, serving as Interscholastic

Vice

President

for

four,

and

President of the Executive Committee for one. As much as I enjoyed Perry and Westfield, after nine years I needed a change, so I accepted a job as the Executive Director of the GISA. Dr. Drake is married to Mardi of forty-six years and enjoys helping care for the horses on their farm.

They actively attend First Baptist Church of Barnesville and have two daughters and five grandchildren.

103 Birch Street Milner, GA 30257 770-357-9432

Why Give?

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.