What a pleasure it was to gather at Dr. and Mrs. Crosby’s home on Black River for our annual River Day. Friday was rained out so we all turned up in the afternoon on Saturday, August 20. There was a little bit of everything going on all day: water was splashed, kayaks and paddleboards were paddled (and sometimes overturned), and the river was full of happy kids swimming and tubing.

By the time parents arrived to pick up their kids, we were all exhausted and exultant, a time-honored Kingfisher tradition.

Thank you, Dr. and Mrs. Crosby, for your generosity in sharing your perfect-for-fun home. Thank you to Mr. Jim and Ms. Mahi and Ms. Patti for bringing their boats and helping with lifeguarding. It was a day to remember for sure.

“Prepare to be amazed!” said TGS Board president Joyce Gates as she welcomed students and families to Awards Day 2022. Everyone was wearing their school uniforms and looking very sharp (although we were a little damp from a thunderstorm that morning which had flooded the downtown and caused some delay).

Dr. Gates began by announcing the names of all the students who won outside awards this year and they all received a warm recognition. “We go up against schools many times our size,” he said, “and regularly come back with awards.”  He also noted that our students often garner compliments for how well they conduct themselves at events.

Then Dr. Gates took a moment to reflect on the value of awards and the dangers of giving a reward where none has been earned, using the challenges of our recent Spring Trip as an example.

Finally, the big moment arrived–the presentation of the six TGS awards. Teachers came forward to give them. The winners are as follows: Isaac Shumard (Academic), Ella Cheek (Art), Annika Villafranca (Kingfisher), T. J. Ulrichsen (Senior Speech), Jack Small (Service), and Morgan Edwards (Sportsmanship/Extracurricular). These six outstanding students stood at the front of the Auditorium beaming and enjoyed their well-deserved moment.

The day passed very quickly and soon it was time to gather again for Graduation at 5:00. In the hall, there was controlled chaos as the Kingfisher Crew set up the reception and families arrived. In Senora’s room, T. J., Jack, and Ethan were putting on their robes and mortarboards and getting nervous.

At 5:00, the faculty processed in and took their places. The graduates waited for “Pomp and Circumstance” to begin, then walked slowly to the front of the Auditorium. Dr. Gates invited everyone to be seated.

Father James Touzeau gave the invocation, asking God’s blessing on the graduates and their families, then Dr. Gates invited Ethan to give the Salutation. Overcome with emotion, Ethan thanked his teachers and friends and said that he would “miss this place so much.” Then Jack stood up to give the Valediction, also expressing his appreciation for his education and the TGS community.

Finally, Dr. Gates called the roll: Ethan Anderson (U. S. C.), Jack Small (Coastal), and T. J. Ulrichsen (undecided) were duly certified and received their diplomas from Mrs. Joyce Gates. It was a grand moment when they finally switched their tassels and threw their mortarboards towards the ceiling to thunderous applause. Congratulations to the 2022 graduates and their families!

Early on the morning of April 25, sleepy Kingfishers gathered in front of the school, clutching their pillows, sleeping bags, and snacks. No one knew where we were going except the teachers! As the bus pulled out, Dr. Gates announced our destination: Wildwater Adventures, a camp where we could enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chatooga River.

The first real stop was Clemson University where we toured the campus with a student guide. Clemson is Dr. Simmons’ alma mater. There were lots of spring flowers and we could see rolling foothills in the distance. (Whenever we are on the road, we take the opportunity to visit colleges so students will have a better idea of what type of college they might like to attend).

We arrived fairly late at the Whitewater Adventure Lodge and got our bunk assignments. A lot of people were in yurts but some girls ended up in a cabin. After a dinner of hotdogs and hamburgers, Kingfishers ate s’mores and watched the starry sky until lights out. One yurt had an issue because one person had to have a light on to sleep and another person couldn’t sleep with light in the room (somehow they worked it out).

The second day of the adventure, we got to try the ropes course and climbing wall. Many people were able to conquer their fear of walking on ropes up to forty feet in the air. By at least trying the ropes course, we could earn points for our team. The first group even convinced Mrs. Crosby to go up there. Some kids had a unique way of negotiating the rope bridge, which Dr. Gates described as “samba-ing.”

The team-building activities were even more challenging than the ropes course, although they were closer to the ground. We had to flip a tarp over while standing on it, guide a blindfolded person to an object, get our whole team, one at a time, through a tire without touching it, and help each other across an obstacle course. There were some tears of frustration but also joy as people figured out how to manage each challenge. Sage’s favorite was the blindfold challenge “because it was funny to watch people walk into poles!”

Meanwhile, the 40 foot climbing wall was very popular and almost everyone tried it. “Baryck, the twins, and Zoey did the rock wall fifty billion times,” said Annika.

In the afternoon, we jumped back in the bus for a tour a Furman University, a lush green campus with a lovely lake in the middle. Furman is Mrs. Crosby’s alma mater. Instead of going back to the camp for dinner,  Dr. Gates took everyone to Fiesta, a Mexican restaurant outside of Greenville.  All forty of us sat at one long table and Baryck ate a lemon—he was the entertainment. By the time we got back to the camp, everyone was totally exhausted. “BEDTIME!” screamed the MS boys in Mr. Culbertson’s yurt as they hurled themselves into their sleeping bags. “On this trip,” said Nathan, “you slept when you could.”

On the next morning, we had breakfast and got everything cleaned up and our stuff packed. Then it was time to go white-water rafting! For many students, this was their first experience. Our guides gave us lifejackets and helmets and a paddle. They instructed everyone on what to do and what not to do out on the Chattooga.

After a short bus ride to the launch site, we boarded our rafts. The guides took the lead and everyone tried to listen closely for instructions about how to paddle. Dr. Gates told everyone never to let go of the T-bar on their paddle.

The whole trip took about three hours and the ride was fantastic. The climax of the trip was to drop through Bull Sluice down its Category 4 rapids. We had the choice to walk down or go down in the raft; most students chose to shoot down in the raft. It was a blast! “It’s like you’re dropping through a hole in the river,” said Dr. Gates. “You go deep into the water at the bottom then the raft pushes you up.”

As the adrenaline wore off, we spent some time jumping off rocks into the river and enjoying the sun.

It was soon time to head back to Georgetown. Tired Kingfishers said their good-byes to Wildwater Adventures and took to the highway. After dinner at Zaxby’s outside Columbia (where Larson got hot sauce and it became “a thing”), we arrived back at the school around 10:30.  We needed this trip and it was fabulous!

By Annika and Ethan Ab

TGS high school thespians headed down the road to the Sumter Opera House on November 30 to compete in the SCISA State Drama Festival, after winning at the regional level on November 18.

Kingfishers were first in the line-up. Dr. Gates and Senora Yorky helped make sure everything was ready. Then they sat back to enjoy The Sandbox one final time. The actors wowed them, even though they did not win.

“They hit is perfectly,” said Dr. Gates. “The audience gasped in all the right places!”

The Sandbox is an early Absurdist play by Edward Albee. There is minimal dialogue and the “fourth wall” of the theater is done away with. Big Ethan and Kelsi played Mommy and Daddy. Jordan was the Musician and Isaac was the Young Man. Sage stole the show as Grandma. “It’s a very challenging piece for actors,” said Dr. Gates, “but the kids really rose to the occasion.” Thank you to everyone who made our SCISA Drama Festival so much fun this year.

We are thankful that we could gather together again this year and share a meal together before the Thanksgiving break. The food was delicious, the fellowship was warm, and everyone was just happy to be back on track with one of our main TGS traditions.

Thank you to everyone who prepared food, set up tables, and cleaned up. A special thank-you goes to Mrs. Patrick and her students for the beautifully decorated tables.

Putting the drama drought of 2020 behind us, TGS hosted the SCISA Regional Drama Festival on November 18.  We were very happy to welcome our competitors, Cathedral Academy of Charleston, to the Winyah Auditorium. The SCISA Drama Festival challenges drama troupes all over S. C. to present short plays (no more than 30 minutes) with minimal props and scenery.

After Dr. Gates welcomed the crowd and introduced our four distinguished judges, TGS Middle School presented Perfect Timing. Brennan (Nathan Hopkins) learns a lesson about falsely accusing others, a lesson in the form of an involuntary audition for a school play dreamed up by his best friend Chris (Baryck Jackson).

Next up was CA’s Middle School with The Toy That Saved Christmas, adapted from Veggie Tales.  Buzzsaw Louie (Liam Stormer) is a popular children’s toy who rejects his manufacturer’s consumeristic message.  Louie and the children of Dinkletown learn the true meaning of Christmas from Grandpa George (Ryan Scogin), the town mailman.

Then CA’s High School presented Christmas with Little Women.  Amy (Taylor Leggette), Beth (Ariel Porter), Meg (Matti Riddick), and Jo (Emmy Hagen) keep each other’s spirits up during a difficult Christmas.  They comfort their mother Mrs. March (Faith Burgess), who has just received news that their father is sick. When Aunt March (Vivian Wade) pays them a visit, the family’s loving generosity inspires the miserly old relative with the spirit of Christmas.

Finally, TGS’s High School put on The Sandbox, an early work by Edward Albee.  In an ambiguous space that is alternatively beach, sandbox, stage, and coffin, Mommy (Kelsi Forrester) and Daddy (Ethan Anderson) bring Grandma (Sage Fairclough) to meet the Young Man (Isaac Shumard) who turns out to be the Angel of Death.

Here are the results of the competition:

Best HS play: The Sandbox                        Runner-up: Christmas with Little Women

Best MS play: The Toy That Saved Christmas    Runner-up: Perfect Timing

Best HS actor: Ethan Anderson (Daddy)

Honorable Mention: Boone Cooper (Laurie)

Best HS actress: Matti Riddick (Meg)

Honorable Mention: Kelsi Forrester (Mommy), Jordan Brenner (Musician), Vivian Wade (Aunt March), Sage Fairclough (Grandma)

Best MS Actor: Liam Stormer (Buzzsaw Louie)             

Honorable Mention: Nathan Hopkins (Brennan)

Thanks to everyone who helped make Drama Festival 2021 a great success, with a special note of appreciation to our judges (Ms. Lewis, Ms. Anderson, Mr. Jayroe, and Ms. Ebert) who gave of their time and expertise to judge us and give us advice about how to be better.