The Winyah Auditorium was the scene of bustling activity the day before Thanksgiving, as citizens of Georgetown gathered to express their thankfulness through words, music and dance in a “Gathering of Gratitude.”  Thom Martin, music director of Georgetown Presbyterian Church and president of the Winyah Auditorium, brought together several different groups including our school, Helping Hands, Hispanic Outreach of Georgetown Presbyterian, and the Mitney Project for the program.  Thom passed the mic around, giving everyone the chance to share their gratitude (in English, Spanish, Hindi and Hebrew!).  The program included a dramatic reading by Sam and Dr. Gates, a cello solo by Nathan, flute solos, children’s songs led by Senora Yorky and two dance numbers with Shakeema helping.  The “Gathering of Gratitude” was an opportunity for citizens of Georgetown to come together and realize how blessed we are.

Bronwen and Jayla put finishing touches on our middle school mural, which was entered in the Wyland Foundation National Mural Contest. This year’s theme was oceans and our mural’s title is “Oceans Live.”  Art teacher Kathy Patrick is very proud of the hard work, research and efforts of the middle school students. Every middle school student put a brush to the piece! It was a wonderful collaborative success. Painting techniques and composition with Mrs. Patrick combined with Dr. Neubauer’s scientific expertise makes this piece a winning entry, we hope.  Keep your fins crossed!

The send-off to our 2014 Thanksgiving vacation was a delicious meal, in the great Kingfisher tradition of focusing on food.  Students arrived at school at 8:30 and attended periods 1 and 2, then began setting up a very long series of tables in our hall.  In the meantime, the Commons tables were covered in various dishes to share: turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, corn pudding, rolls, and all manner of desserts.  The food was prepared by teachers, and many desserts were brought by high school students, including Senora Yorky’s Spanish class.

Dr. Gates gave thanks and we filed through the Commons oldest to youngest. When everyone had had seconds, he sent the students to get dessert, youngest to oldest.  The meal was scrumptious and relaxing and it didn’t take long to clean up, because everyone pitched in.  We are indeed grateful for the second year of our school’s existence and for the students and teachers who make everything worthwhile.  Have a great vacation!

“In what book was the kitchen painted yellow with sail boats in the molding?”  This was just one of the many difficult questions that TGS sixth and seventh graders dealt with on November 20 when they traveled to Thomas Sumter Academy for the 2014 SCISA Battle of the Books.  To compete in this event, teams of students had to read 20 books and answer questions about them.

“This was our first time at the Battle of the Books and I am quite proud of the students for doing well,” said Mrs. Lane Crosby, “We did not know what to expect.”  Seventh grader Bronwen agreed, “It was much more challenging than we originally expected.” The Kingfishers rose to the challenge, though.  They played three rounds, winning one and almost winning a second!

Battle of the Books was a learning experience for the participants this year.  Next year, they can better prepare by reading all the books on the list and by being ready for the in-depth, detailed questions.  Dr. Neubauer reminded everyone that “Competition is good, whether in sports or academics” and the day was certainly a success from that point of view.  Thank you, Mrs. Crosby and Dr. Neubauer for organizing and chaperoning the trip!

Story by Grayha (7th grade)

All reports on Sunday, November 9 predicted sun from 2:00-5:00, so the Kingfishers took heart! The weather was absolutely beautiful by 3:00 and the parking lot at the South Carolina Maritime Museum was filled with more than 200 hungry oyster-eaters who showed up early and stayed late. The sweet smell of smoke from the fire pit filled the air and steam rose from the oyster pots and trays as Joe Exum, Jeep Ford and Brad Payne did their magic. All over, volunteer parents and students were getting all sorts of jobs done: making signs for the trash cans, setting up the silent auction, selling drinks, tickets and baked goods, serving hot dogs and BBQ, cleaning up shells and trash, and keeping the trays of steaming oysters coming out to the tables.

John Lammonds showed up to play his music and regaled the crowd with everything from “Ring of Fire” to “Blister in the Sun.” The mood was mellow and relaxed.

This Oyster Roast was a chance for us to work together, to be with friends new and old and to make some money for our scholarship fund.  It was successful on all three counts (including a  great new PTO initiative–the silent auction!). Thanks go to PTO president Lisa Haas, for getting us organized, to John for giving us music, and to all the volunteers for working so hard.

It was dark and drizzling at 6:30am when the sleepy TGS drama team piled into cars and headed down the road towards the Sumter Opera House. After winning the SCISA One Act Play competition, they were on their way to the SCISA State Drama Festival. The Kingfishers watched five other high schools perform before presenting “Wait Wait Bo Bait” just before lunch.

“I was nervous and I wasn’t even on the stage,” said Daniel, “But it went really well!”   The whole cast put in their best performance ever, seamlessly performing their lines and cues. “Wait Wait Bo Bait” was also the main crowd-pleaser, drawing laughter and applause from the audience. Dr. Gates said, “It was flawlessly executed.” The excited drama team prepared to wait for the judges’ decision later that day.

In the meantime, Dr. Gates decided to drive everyone up to U.S.C. for a quick campus visit before the awards ceremony. “It was good and we got to see Chris Elliott,” said Top. “We were at the Horseshoe for five minutes,” added Joe.

They returned to the Sumter Opera House in time for the Awards Ceremony and Sarah was chosen 2014 Best Actress, an amazing honor! Drama coach Mrs. Judith Gates is so proud of the whole ensemble for a job well done.  “They knew they nailed it,” she said, “They didn’t need me to tell them.” She is thrilled at Sarah’s Best Actress Award and the way the cast and crew supported each other when the pressure was on, bringing us to victory. Thank you, ensemble, parents and helpers for a great day!

The 2014 Latin II Funeral Games were held on Britain’s southern seashore on Friday, November 7, to commemorate the life and death of Queen Boudica.  First, the Latin II student enjoyed a feast of Italian food: creamy pasta with chicken and spinach, lasagna, Caesar salad, garlic bread and cannoli.  Then all of Middle School went out on the lawn in 5th period to start the games.  Sam (sacerdos) and Grayson (rex) welcomed everyone and Ryleigh explained who Boudica was.

Adara led the games with help from Tiyon and Mme Gates.  First, there was a discus throw, then a javelin toss, then a series of foot races.  The games concluded with a boat race between two British tribes, the Regnenses and the Cantiaci.  It was a fun day–thank you, parents and students!

The entire middle school went to the salt marsh just north of Huntington Beach on Tuesday, November 4.  They spent the first part of the day learning to use oil pastels by painting a landscape with Mrs. Patrick, experiencing some of the joys and challenges of making art en plein air.  Throughout the day, students gathered details about the beautiful setting to be used as imagery in a descriptive paragraph that everyone is writing for Mrs. Crosby.  They paid attention to their five senses and will write about how the mud felt and smelled, for example.  Finally, they dug clams and oysters out of the mud with Dr. Neubauer.

“I hit the jackpot,” says Wilfredo, “I kept finding a bunch of them together.”  “I caught a crab,” reports Adara and Tiyon admits, “I was up to my waist in water!”  Some people had challenges.  “My shoes had a hole and kept filling up with water,” says Bronwen, and apparently Zachary and Mrs. Crosby got stuck temporarily in the mud.  Sundiante says her favorite part of the day was catching the clams and oysters.

Students brought their bounty back to town in buckets. The next day, Biology students dissected the largest clams in their lab while Mrs. Crosby, Mrs. Patrick and Dr. Gates set up a “kitchen” on the sidewalk outside our building for the rest.  Dr. Gates steamed the clams and oysters while Mrs. Patrick made New England clam chowder.  When lunchtime came, the table was covered in delicious seafood.  “This is great!” said Maston as he downed his thirtieth clam, seasoned with a bit of Tabasco.  We are proud of all the kids who tried clams, oysters and chowder for the first time!  Thanks to Dr. Neubauer, Mrs. Crosby, Mrs. Patrick and Dr. Gates for a delicious culinary, artistic and scientific experience.