Tennis at TGS is 10% skill and 90% fun. On Tuesday and Sunday afternoons, our tennis players go out to hit some tennis balls. (Sometimes we hit “home runs” out into the marsh at East Bay Park!) Our tennis team, while not very experienced, is quickly learning how to serve, hit ground strokes, and volley under Coach Gates’ training. We do everything from running drills to playing matches, but whatever we do we always make sure to have fun. And we try not to get eaten alive by gnats!
Every Monday and Thursday, TGS students can walk (or drive) to the South Carolina Maritime Museum, which generously offers their 420 racing boats for us to use. After arriving, most sailors walk to Sweeties to grab a quick ice cream or milkshake, just in time to finish before Coach Gates arrives. Jim and Mahi Edwards wait with their Boston Whaler and kindly ferry the sailors across the harbor to the boats. After rigging, Coach Gates sets a course and everyone tries to find the fastest way around it, while also dodging the sunken boats. Come 4:30, and it’s time to pull the boats out and de-rig. Thanks to Morgan’s parents for providing transportation and life jackets, and to the SCMM for letting us use their boats!
Every year, March 14 (3.14) is officially declared Pi Day, a day to celebrate the never-ending digits of π. To honor the day, Middle Schoolers in Mrs. Crosby’s math classes brought all different types of pies. The flavors ranged from nuts to fruits to chocolate pie. “The Blueberry Meringue was by far my favorite,” Sara said. Middle Schoolers gobbled pie until they were stuffed, and then the High Schoolers scarfed up the rest of it. π has infinite digits and we apparently have an infinite love for pie.
We finally got to go kayaking on Thursday, March 13 at the Black River Cypress Preserve! The weather was perfect—not too hot, not too cold. The BRCP is located just on the other side of Andrews. It boasts 1000 acres of undeveloped river land covered in cypress trees.
Our guides for the day were four young women from Coastal Expeditions: Meredith, Morgan, Claire, and Madison. They met us at the parking lot and we trooped down to the boat landing. First, they divided us into pairs so we could use the tandem kayaks: a big kid with a little kid. Then we put on our life vests and grabbed our paddles. The guides gave us a short lesson on paddling in a small field near the boat house. Finally we went down to the landing where colorful kayaks were bunched up on the ground pointing at the river.
The guides told us to get in the kayaks while they adjusted the foot pedals. We had to sit up very tall, bracing ourselves with our knees. “This will help you become one with the kayak,” Madison told us. Soon it was time to launch. We got out of our boats and helped drag them down to the water when it was our turn. We all paddled across the Black River and massed on the opposite bank by clinging to branches until everyone was ready.
What a beautiful day and what a beautiful river! We went to see a bunch of old cypress trees and then explored a new part of the Black River. Hannah saw a giant spider on a tree and Dr. Gates saw the first swallowtail kite of the season. The students paired together cooperated with each other (more or less) and we all got back to the landing at the same time. The guides allowed us to have a race at the end. Corrin and Josh won, with Morgan and Jamie in second place.
Mr. Marsh came with us for the day, bringing all his fancy camera gear so his media students could practice using it. Gracin got to wear a Go-Pro while Bryan was allowed to use an underwater camera. Marsh himself took his big camera, his drone, and several plastic bags for picking up trash. He and all the teachers got to use single kayaks.
Kingfishers impressed the guides with their kayaking skills, which many of us probably acquired at River Day (thank you, Mrs. Crosby!). One guide told Dr. Gates that we were so good at paddling, they were able to add an extra leg to the trip. The guides were also very happy at how fast we put away the boats, paddles, and life vests. “You guys are great!” Morgan told us.
When all the gear was stowed, we ate lunch together at the picnic tables. Madison quizzed us about the seven rules of being in the wilderness. And so we took away nothing but photos and memories (except for Mr. Marsh, who had collected several bags of trash) and we left nothing but our footprints. Thank you, Coastal Expeditions and BRCP, for an awesome day on the beautiful Black River!
Sarah Green, class of 2017, never expected to find herself at the front of the Auditorium, addressing students at Open Forum. Sarah is an artist who now lives and works in Georgetown. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in painting in 2021. She spoke to us about not being afraid to take risks and overcoming obstacles.
Sarah fell in love with SCAD on her last school trip. SCAD is an expensive college but she was able to get grants for a lot of the tuition/fees. Her start at SCAD was not totally smooth (she had broken her foot skateboarding!) but Sarah was soon painting, learning, and enjoying Savannah. She even got to go on a semester abroad to Lacoste, a small village in the south of France. Sarah has since held jobs with the Myrtle Beach Art Museum and the Atlanta High Museum. She had opened her own studio in a co-op in Atlanta with several “fellow creatives.”
“When you make plans, life makes other plans for you,” Sarah told us. The building where the co-op was got pulled from the market and Sarah found herself having to start all over again. She does her best to see obstacles as learning opportunities and ways to find out more about what she is capable of. She says to herself, “I will carry this with grace.”
Now Sarah has an even bigger studio here in Georgetown where she is preparing to open for business with a gallery and website. Her favorite medium is oil and her favorite subject is people, but after her rigorous training, she can do it all. We wish her all the best as she starts her new life and business!
Congratulations to our three graduates of the Class of 2024: Sage Fairclough, Emily Pilot and Annika Villafranca! Sage will be attending Western Carolina (UNC-Cullowee), Emily will study at the College of Charleston here in SC, and Annika will be heading to University of New Haven in New Haven, CT. We are so proud of these graduates!
On May 24, 2024 at 5:30, friends and family of our Class of 2024 gathered in the Winyah Auditorium for commencement exercises. Dr. Gates welcomed the crowd and introduced the salutatorian, Emily, and the valedictorian, Annika. Both students expressed their gratitude to the school and much affection for their fellow-students. Dr. Laura Gates gave the faculty address congratulating the class for having overcome many challenges and wishing them all well. Mr. Dedric Bonds then said a beautiful prayer on behalf the three students, committing them to God’s grace and care.
Finally, Dr. Gates called the roll. He recalled key moments from each student’s development at TGS and wished each one all the best as they continue their education. Sage, Emily, and Annika came forward and received their diplomas from Mr. Sonny Burgoon (TGS Board) and Dr. Gates pronounced them certified. With joy, everyone clapped and rushed down to get pictures before enjoying a lovely reception in the front hall put on by the Class of 2026.
Many thanks to Mrs. Kathy Newton for providing our music, Mrs. Amy Rogers for the floral arrangements, and to the parents of the rising juniors who did such a wonderful job with the reception. Sage, Emily, and Annika, you are on your way and we can’t wait to hear what next year brings!
On April 17, TGS senior Annika was awarded a prestigious scholarship by the Winyah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, part of whose mission is to support exemplary students. Annika will use the DAR scholarship in the amount of $2500 to help cover her college costs this fall. Applicants had to submit their resume and letters of recommendation, then write an essay. This year’s topic was: What do you think is the most important problem our society faces?
“I wrote about how there’s a lack of individual thought among people,” Annika said. “We see others doing something and go along with it, without thinking of the consequences.”
The DAR gave out its scholarships and Good Citizens Awards at a small ceremony held in the Parish Hall of Prince George, Winyah. Family, teachers, and friends of the winners were on hand to hear excerpts from each winner’s essay and congratulate these outstanding students afterwards.
We are very proud of Annika for this wonderful achievement and grateful to our liaison Mrs. Laura DeChamplain and the Winyah Chapter of the DAR for continually supporting our school.
The Myrtle Beach Museum of Art once again played host to an amazing exhibition of art by local high school students at the 24th Annual Myrtle Beach Horry Georgetown High School Art Show. Works are on display from April 21 to May 19 and entry is free to see the show at the museum at 3100 South Ocean Boulevard.
We are very proud that Saylor’s piece, A Jester’s Walk, was accepted into this prestigious competition. Saylor used graphite pencils to depict a clown walking his clown dog. “I am very happy that I got to add my dog to my work,” she said. “It was a very interesting piece to make.” Mrs. Patrick says, “I’m very proud of Saylor for being chosen for this honor.”
The show features 2D and 3D pieces, including a handmade dress and many fine examples of printmaking from about nine area schools.
On April 8th, 2024, The Georgetown School once again got a clear view of the extraordinary solar eclipse. Students and teachers began to gather outside during sixth period, marveling at the changes in light and shadows all over our campus. The eclipse was at its peak at 3:10pm, which is after school, but lots of kids hung around to enjoy the spectacle. .
With a few pairs of official eclipse glasses, everyone was able to view this mesmerizing event. Some kids were using “pinhole cameras” to watch the progression. One student squinted up with a large piece of welder’s glass. Scott Harper from GAB News was on the scene (he had been with us in 2017 for the total solar eclipse). He took some video and interviewed Annika and Kipper on what they remembered of their experience of the total solar eclipse in 2017.
Overall it was an amazing and fun experience of nature, and we hope to see another beautiful eclipse in the future.
On March 14, TGS celebrated Pi Day. Pi (π) is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, and its first three digits are 3.14, which is why it is celebrated on March 14. To celebrate, many students in Mrs. Crosby’s math classes brought pies to share, and some did activities related to pi. “I convinced Mrs. Crosby to watch the video 100 Digits of Pi,” Branton said proudly.
During lunch middle schoolers gathered on the porch to get slices of pie. There were two tables set out. One had nut-free pies, and the other had pies with nuts. After all the middle schoolers had gotten their slices of pie, the high schoolers were invited to participate. “It was a mountain of chocolate,” Bristol said. “It was delicious.” Students liked the apple pie and cookies & cream pie the best. Pi Day is a fun celebration that combines learning and food.
Here are a few photos of Kingfishers out and about on Spring Break.
Saylor, Sydney, and Kipper visited the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. “The trip was worth it because we got to see polar bears,” Saylor said.
Mme Gates and Dr. Gates visited their daughter Maddy in Washington, DC. “The cherry blossoms were magical,” Mme Gates said. They went to see a women’s professional soccer match, where the Washington Spirit defeated the Utah Royals 2-1. “It was good to see one of the players for the national team,” Dr. Gates said.
Larson flew to Canada and saw Niagara Falls. “It was very cold.” Larson said, “But Niagara Falls was worth it.”
Annika traveled to Massachusetts and also toured the University of New Haven. “The college trip was nice because I got to learn a lot more about the college and the different things you can do,” Annika said. “We did a lot of shopping in Massachusetts for the different foods they have up there that we don’t have down here.”
Sage toured Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. “It was beautiful. There was a nice view from everywhere on campus,” she said, “I’m really excited to go to school there next year.”
Baryck took a trip to Hunting Island, South Carolina. He also went to the Darlington Xfinity Race and took a picture of the winning car! “Loud car go fast. Loud car go vroom,” Baryck said.
The Georgetown School 
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