“DO NOT ENTER,” said the sign at the bottom of South Island Road.  That’s how everybody on the field trip to the Yawkey Wildlife Preserve knew they were on the right road. Parents and teacher chaperons drove around the sign and parked at the South Island Landing.  The group of sixth and seventh graders awaited the ferry in the chilly March air under a cloudy sky, running around the site and trying to skip rocks in the ICW.

Around 9:00, Mr. Jim Lee of DNR crossed over in the boat to pick us up and take us over the water to Cat Island.  He gave us a brief introduction to the Yawkey Wildlife Preserve—31 square miles of pristine coastal land donated by noted conservationist Tom Yawkey to the state of South Carolina in 1976.  Then we hopped on the bus and headed out to explore. 

Our first stop was a recently burned section of pine forest, where Mr. Jamie Dozier of DNR taught us how to recognize loblolly, long-leaf, and pond pines.  We had the first of many conversations about forest fires, which play a vital role in the life cycle of the long-leaf pine and that of many other species.

The land that is today the Yawkey Wildlife Preserve looks pretty wild and untouched at first glance.  However, several industries have thrived here over the years, leaving behind evidence of human activity.  Mr. Jamie showed us a “cat tree”—a pine tree which used to be regularly exploited for its sap (resin).  He also explained that a lumber business in the 1920s cut down almost every tree on the acreage. We saw a fallen metal chimney and a small water cistern that were used in the steam engines of its lumber milling and planing equipment. We also saw traces of the railroad tracks that hauled the boards to waiting barges on the Santee Delta.

Mr. Jim then drove us to see a forest of mostly long-leaf pines, where three colonies of red-cockaded woodpeckers make their home.  These members of the Picidae family are endangered because they only nest in long-leaf pines.  The long-leaf pines (oddly enough) have been dying out over many decades because there were not enough forest fires.  We saw mature long-leaf pines with white bands painted around their trunks; these are where the wood-peckers nest.  Sadly, we did not see any of these fascinating birds but Mr. Jim assured us that if we can come back during their nesting season in May, they would be all over.

• 

• 

• 

More evidence of human activity appeared as we drove long to another area of the property.  Mr. Jim brought us to a beautiful 40-foot chimney fashioned from handmade bricks which used to serve the rice mill.  The rice mill burned down completely but the tall chimney remains intact. We saw the handprints of the workers who made the bricks in the clay.

Finally, Mr. Jim talked to us about the small industry of tar and pitch production. Workers (known as “tar-heels”) would build a mound of heart-of-pine scraps, cover it completely with dirt with a small air hole, then set a smoldering, underground fire.  The fire released heavy resin from the wood in the form of tar and pitch.  These products were stored in barrels and sold to shipbuilders in the U.S. and Europe.  Producing tar and pitch was an extremely hardscrabble way to make a living for these forest folk.

Seeing the forest soaring above its fire-blackened bed was really magical. “Can we just stay here a little longer?” asked Nathan.  Mr. Jim thought it was a great idea.  Off the kids went, running through the trees, hollering and exploring.  When it was time to board the bus again, everyone had filthy shoes and soot-blackened pants, source of much amusement.

Our final lesson with Mr. Jim was about the sense of well-being which spending time in the forest confers.  “Your blood pressure drops and your cognitive function goes up,” he told us. “It’s especially important for young people.”  Lucky for us, we are invited to come back anytime.  Kingfishers had experienced first-hand the joy and fun of being outside in such a beautiful, protected place.

Thank you to Mr. Jim Lee and Mr. Jamie Dozier of DNR for being our tour guides.  Thank you, Dr. Neubauer, for setting up this wonderful field trip and thanks to Mrs. Crosby and Mme Gates for chaperoning.  “This was the coolest field trip ever,” said Quinn.

What would happen if a Harpy Eagle fought a Kangaroo? Or an Ifrit sparred with a Brussels Griffon? That’s what Kingfishers found out when March Mammal Madness began.

Back in 2016, Dr. Katie Hinde of Arizona State and some colleagues decided to play with the idea of NCAA March Madness.  They staged online contests between different, wonderful animals, creating an alternate sports universe, with brackets to fill out and regular eliminations until the championship.  Learning about mammals turned into a game.

“It seemed like the school could use some fun,” Dr. Neubauer said.  “And it seemed like it could be kind of entertaining and you could also learn something.” To participate in March Mammal Madness, students filled out a bracket with the animal they thought would come out on top if two animals were placed in the same environment.

Every Tuesday and Thursday in March, battles were held online and new rankings would be posted in the hallway. Students would gather around and see if their predictions for the most recent match were correct. If they were, the students would earn more points and possibly go up in the leaderboard.

Some students were constantly moving up while others stayed in the same position. “I feel like it was fun even though I’m in last,” Baryck says. He had the honor of holding the last place position for the whole competition. Mme Gates also found herself near the bottom.  “I was really counting on that Civet to do better,” she says.

The Kangaroo became the 2021 Champion Mammal by outlasting the Harpy Eagle.  Luke picked the most correct champions, and he became our local winner.  “I’m honestly surprised,” he says. “I’m the only fifth grader who did it.” March Mammal Madness gave students the opportunity to learn more about mammal and their habits.  Thanks, Dr. Neubauer!

by Annika

Middle schoolers attended the first-ever Kamp Kingfisher on Thursday, October 29. At Kamp Kingfisher, class takes place outside! Mrs. Crosby, dressed in hiking boots and cargo shorts, taught math on the sidewalk to students who worked their problems on their individual whiteboards.  Ms. Grippo’s fifth-graders also did math and Language Arts out under a convenient oak. Dr. Neubauer’s Life Science class occupied the front lawn to carve pumpkins and decorate the portico for Halloween. 

Mme Gates’ Latin II students re-enacted a naval race from one of their stories using carboard boats with bamboo masts. Physical Science left their circuit work to go on a Halloween walk with Mr. Patrick. Everyone had a grand time.

A sudden rain shower at lunch forced the postponement of a giant game of Sharks and Minnows involving tiny water squirters. But the fun didn’t stop. Mrs. Crosby’s Language Arts class made a “campfire” outside and read their spooky tales out loud to each other. Then they got to eat individually wrapped s’mores. Everyone was worn out by the end of the day.

Thank you, Mrs. Crosby, for organizing such a fun day for Middle School!

Dr. Neubauer’s determination to take our students on a real field trip paid off on October 20.  Kids from fifth to seventh grades had the opportunity to go for a ride on SC-DNR’s educational vessel Discovery.  As in years past, they got to observe wildlife and birds along the Waccamaw River and they also got to examine and measure all the fish the staff pulled up in the net.  

When the good ship Discovery dropped the Kingfishers back off at Land’s End, everyone walked downtown to the S. C. Maritime Museum for lunch and a visit to their Water/Ways exhibit.  This traveling presentation “explores the centrality of water in our lives, including its practical role in agriculture and economic planning, and its impact on culture and spirituality.”  The exhibit is sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with state humanities councils.

By the time the kids had walked back to school just before sixth period, they were pretty tired.  “I can’t believe we have to go back to class,” said one.  “We walked five miles!”

Thank you, Dr. Neubauer and Ms. Grippo, for figuring out the logistical challenge of taking our kids off campus and keeping them safe and socially distanced at the same time. We are always happy to be on the water and walking the streets of Georgetown.

Mysterious items began to appear in the downstairs hall of the school this week, as preparation for our first-ever Pileau To Go fund-raiser got underway: stacks of containers, bags of bread, wrapped slices of pound cake, and more.  By Thursday, everything was almost ready to fill orders for more than 600 orders of pileau that our Kingfishers had presold for $8 a plate.

On Friday September 25, a truck pulled up on the front lawn, holding several giant pots of steaming homemade chicken pileau.  The Baker family are the local expert at preparing this quintessentially Southern dish and they went all out for us.  The smell was delightful and the taste was even better! Thank you, Mike, Ashley and the whole clan, for sharing your cooking skills and for working so hard to make this fund-raiser a success.

Kingfisher Crew Co-Captains Sandy Martin and Mahi Livain worked tirelessly.  They spent hours organizing the work force and supplies, making sure everything was ready for pick-up day.  Kingfishers responded generously, buying plates, preparing sides, and dishing up the food.  Congratulations to all for a job well done with amazing sales to help our Scholarship Fund!

“The Pileau To Go fund-raiser was successful on all fronts, raising money for our school and involving a large number of our families in a cooperative effort,” said Dr. Gates. “It generated contacts and interest and goodwill in the community.”

Thank you, Kingfisher Crew!  Go Kingfishers!

We will have school from 8:30-12:30 on Monday, March 16, then close down and switch to “distance learning.” On Monday, students will learn how to use our on line classrooms and take home all necessary books and materials at the end of the day. The building will be closed after 12:30 for the rest of March. All classes will be held on line.

Love was in the air and there was certainly some crazy dancing at the first ever Middle School Valentine’s Day Dance, held at Kimbel Lodge on February 14. It was hard to tell who was more excited–the parents or the kids–as the young men arrived in coats and ties and the young ladies in dresses and pantsuits with heels. Small gifts of candy, chocolate, plush animals, and flowers were exchanged, then the party began in earnest.

DJ-T. J. played a steady stream of popular music, then switched to “My Way” by Frank Sinatra for the first slow dance. Parents had thoughtfully brought in a table full of delicious food: meat balls, sandwiches, chips and dips, cupcakes, and a red velvet cake in the shape of a heart. The dancing and eating continued until a brief pause when Bristol and J’Marion were crowned Prom Queen and King.

Around 8:30, everyone hit the floor for a final, screaming rendition of “YMCA” before leaving with parents and friends. Thank you to the Dickerson family for creating this such a beautiful occasion and congratulations to Middle School Student Council for taking the lead and making TGS history.