Larry Watt, Executive Director of SCISA, met with Head of School Dr. Gary Gates at our school on Friday, October 5.  Good news!  We are now members of SCISA and able to participate in all SCISA events, including sports.  Thank you, SCISA, for speeding up the process!

TGS students spent hours at Hobcaw House this past weekend, helping with SCELP’s annual Wild Side Dinner.  The first group of volunteers went down Friday to set up tables.  A second group showed up Saturday morning to put together centerpieces for the tables with our art teacher Mrs. Patrick.  A final group of students did clean-up duty, both during and after the event itself.  It was a lovely evening and we are proud to have played a role in SCELP’s continuing success in protecting the coastal environment.

Join us down at Francis Marion Park at 1:00, Sunday, October 13 for a five-mile walk-a-thon to benefit the Front Street Fire Relief Fund.  The walk-a-thon is sponsored by several local groups, including The Mitney Project, Portofino’s Restaurant and The Georgetown School.

If you can’t walk with us, please consider sponsoring a TGS student in the event.  Call the school (520-4359) for more information.

The walk-a-thon will be followed by a $12 barbecue dinner put on by Portofino’s.  Everyone is welcome.  Proceeds will also benefit the Front Street Fire Relief Fund.

U. S. C. biologist “Hutch” Hutchinson was our guest at Open Forum on October 2.  Hutch told students all about his rather unorthodox education, which consisted of extended periods of attending graduate school, working on farms and spending time in the cypress swamp.  The cypress swamp continues to be the focus of his research.  Hutch is investigating how increased water salinity affects cypress trees at different times of the year.  And he also has a fascinating theory about why cypress trees have knees!  Hutch encouraged students to follow where their own curiosity leads them.

A tragic fire which destroyed almost the entire 700 block of Front Street riverside became a learning experience for The Georgetown School.  Inspired by the Open Forum speaker this morning (Sept. 25), reporter Jason Lesley of The Coastal Observer, students and teachers walked down to Front Street to interview workers and bystanders, and to photograph the events.  Mr. Lesley stressed the importance of providing information quickly and accurately to members of the community and got students enthused about investigating this particular story and helping people understand the terrible news. For most students, conducting an interview was a new experience.

They quickly overcame their shyness, talking to policemen, firefighters, property owners, insurance agents and eyewitnesses.  Students reconvened at the school around lunchtime to choose photos and to begin writing up their interviews in a news story.  To read the story, click here. http://tgsthewire.wordpress.com/

On the school-wide boat trip with the Department of Natural Resources September 17, students saw a demonstration of how pollution run-off can affect our rivers and estuaries.  They practiced scientific measurement by measuring the temperature, salinity and clarity of the water in a pond at Hobcaw.  Students used microscopes to view microorganisms in the water.  Then everyone got into the DNR boat for a trip around Winyah Bay, where they caught and identified several species of juvenile fish, then took the same water measurements in the estuary.  “My favorite part of the day was seeing three bald eagles soaring over the bay,” said Dr. Gary Gates.  Thanks to the DNR, staff at Hobcaw and Dr. Michelle Neubauer for organizing the trip.

 

     

The whole school participated in a badminton tournament on the lawn Wednesday, September 18.  Savanna and Chandler won!

Portofino’s on the Wharf (815 Front Street) is hosting a four-course wine-tasting dinner to benefit The Georgetown School on Monday, September 30 at 6:00pm.  Come enjoy some great food and specially chosen wines while you watch the sun set on Georgetown Harbor.

Tickets are $70 per person.  Please call the school (843-520-4359) to reserve your place and arrange payment.  You can also purchase cases of wine at a discount during the dinner.

Menu for the evening includes: Santorini Shrimp over Arugula, Grilled Salmon Provence, Grilled Lamb Chop over Israeli Couscous with Mint Demi-Glaze and Blackberry Tart.  Many thanks to owner Laurie Manning for planning this wonderful event!

Kingfishers are on the move!  We are getting together to run in the annual Bridge2Bridge race October 12….and if we aren’t running, we’ll be cheering and making brunch!  Get your event t-shirt from Anna Skerman and show your Kingfisher spirit.  You must register by October 1 to get the Kingfishers Running Club discount.

To register:

The catered lunch program is now launched, featuring five popular Georgetown restaurants and a $5 menu.  On Monday, Wildfish Grill serves burgers and grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches.  Tuesdays, the Rice Paddy does chicken salad sandwiches with fresh veggies.  Portofino’s brings pizza and fresh veggies on Wednesdays.  Thursdays there are burritos, tacos and quesadillas from El Cerro Grande and Friday we enjoy Caesar salad with grilled chicken from the River Room.