Monthly Report to Parents August 2017, Volume 17 …lowcountryprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MRPNL-Sep-17-PDF.pdfpillars of Jesuit leadership in his bestseller, Heroic Leadership:

!August 2017, Volume 17

300 Blue Stem Dr, Pawleys Island, SC (843) 237-4147 www.lowcountryprep.org

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Monthly Report to Parents

September 2017

Doughnuts for Dads Draws a Crowd Our annual salute to dads, Doughnuts for Dads, took place on September 29, 2017 and drew a larger crowd than usual. Under the guidance of our new music and theater teacher, Mrs. Linelle Yates, the Lower School children sang “Good, Good Father” and “Baby Shark.”

Elizabeth Joseph, Maddie Davis, Reynolds Harris, Emma Rusnak, and JC Beacham then read aloud poems they had drafted for their fathers. At the conclusion of his poem, young JC Beacham invited guests to grab a doughnut and some orange juice.

“We are proud of our Lower Schoolers. Their performance went very smoothly this year,” commented Lower School Office Manager Gina Augustino.

Noah on the Hunt

Third-grader Noah Hens ley ventured into the field with his father, grandfather, and friends on September 9, 2017. They were hunting dove. Concerns with rising winds proved unfounded, as the hunting party saw plenty of dove. As the photograph makes clear, the hunters did pretty well!

The current dove season runs through October 15, 2017, with two a d d i t i o n a l p e r i o d s , n a m e l y November 12-26, 2017 and December 15, 2017 through January 15, 2018. Noah expects to be back in the field at least a few more times during the season.

http://www.lowcountryprep.org

!September 2017, Volume 19


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Fesperman Soars in Exceptional Performers Program

The Exceptional Performers Program (EPP) allows talented students to compete and train off campus in pursuits in which they h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d , w e l l , exceptional performance! Seventh-grader Elijah Fesperman is one such student.

Fesperman finished first in his age group in the Golf for Student Athletes (GSA) tournament held in Campobello, SC on September 16-17, 2017. Congratulations, Elijah!

The Fespermans are no strangers t o E P P. A l u m n a H a n n a h Fesperman, Elijah’s sister, is enjoying a four-year, full ride at Erskine College as a result of her excellent golf game. She, too, missed days at school in order to attend tournaments. However, her teachers provided her work to do during her absences and ensured that she kept pace with her classmates.

Other participants in EPP have i n c l u d e d S u s a S m i t h w h o intermittently trained with a voice coaches out of state for her singing, and the Sisters McClary who were internationally-ranked surfers and top scholars.

“Why force a student to choose between academic excellence and excellence in an extracurricular pursuit?” asked Middle and Upper

School Director Dave Suber. “Why not help our students to excel in both? We find these students are already disciplined and conscientious, which is why EPP works.”

EPP underscores the high value of f lexibil i ty that independent schools enjoy. In our case, EPP solves a fundamental scheduling problem. Doing so relates directly to ingenuity, one of the four pillars of leadership of the Jesuits, who have excelled in education over five centuries. The Jesuits see ingenuity as, “new approaches to problems that have stymied others.” Chris Lowney describes ingenuity and the other three pillars of Jesuit leadership in his bestseller, Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World.

Go, Molly!

Young Molly Tate has literally made a big splash with her entry into competitive swimming for LPS! At the Wilson Hall Invitational on September 30, 2017 she earned a place in state competition for the 200 yard freestyle and finished second overall in that event. She also earned a place at state competition for the 100 yard butterfly. Previously, she qualified to compete at state in the 50 yard freestyle.

Her two follow-on meets include those in either Charleston or Sumter on October 7, 2017 and then in Augusta on October 14, 2017, the state championship.

Molly just joined us this academic year. She is a member of our eighth grade. Her performance in the classroom is just as sharp as her performance in the pool—nice work, Molly!




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Volleyball Update

Both varsity and junior varsity squads continue to play well. Our varsity girls now boast eight wins and three losses. Wins involved m a t c h e s a g a i n s t C o n w a y Christian, Faith Christian (2), Coastal Leadership Academy, Ridge Christian, and Crown Academy, with losses against Cathedral Academy, North Myrtle Beach Christian and Coastal Christian Prep.

Meanwhile, the junior varsity squad has earned five wins and but a single loss. The wins came against Conway Christian, North Myrtle Beach Christian, Coastal Christian, and Ridge Christian, with the loss against Cathedral. Nice work, ladies!

Soccer Update

Boys varsity soccer now stands at two wins and four losses. The Marlins defeated Calvary Christian and Northside Christian. They lost to Conway Christian, the Lowcountry Wildcats (2), and Calvary Christian.

Nonetheless, the Marlins can still pull out a winning season. With a handful of regular season games to go, the playoffs loom on the horizon. The Marlins have risen to the occasion in previous seasons. Let’s do it, again!

Badminton, Anyone?

Athletic Director Gwyn Single has introduced the game of badminton to campus. Three nets set up across the length of the basketball court allow for three simultaneous games. The Lower School students, in particular, have jumped in with zeal.

“These kids are eating it up,” said AD Single. “We have got considerable athletic talent among our Lower School students—good to see them jump into something new and enjoy it.”

Since her recent employment, AD Single has also introduced formal curriculum to the PE program, Ultimate Frisbee, and Pickle Ball. Additionally, she has e n h a n c e d s t r e n g t h a n d conditioning training in the weight room. What’s next, AD Single?




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Hurricane Irma spared Pawleys Island and our school for the most part. However, it did result in high winds, heavy rain, flooding, power outages, and minor damage—could have been much worse and certainly does not compare with what the residents of the Caribbean experienced.

Students in the Middle and Upper School did a nice job of securing the campus on the Friday before the storm. They moved inside objects such as trash cans, doormats, and recycling bins that could have posed a hazard if lifted by heavy winds. The storm cost us two days of school, a loss not much lamented by students! While our playground cover managed to weather Hurricane Matthew, high winds this time did sever its suspension cable on one corner.

Families by the ocean and by the river reported flooding. Power outages ranged from Pawleys Island to Murrells Inlet.

Hurricane Matthew landed 11 months ago and was not as kind to Pawleys Island. The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season lasts until November 30, 2017. We’ve still got a full two months to go and are hoping for the best.

Hurricane Irma Spares Pawleys Island Coach Tanoff Moves up a Level in Coaching

Mr. Ben Tanoff, who formerly t a u g h t U p p e r S c h o o l mathematics and coached varsity basketball before moving on at the end of Academic Year 2016-17, has moved up a level in his coaching. He is now the graduate assistant basketball coach at Pikesville College. The team gained national-level attention in 2011 when it won the NAIA Division I Men’s B a s k e t b a l l N a t i o n a l Championship.

As far as his graduate studies, Coach Tanoff is working on his MBA. Add i t iona l ly, he continues to train for marathons. He ran his first two while serving as a teacher here. Wishing you the best, Coach Tanoff!




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GoodEATS Kicks Off Annual Fund

The McClarys hosted this year’s GoodEATs at Frank’s Restaurant on September 17, 2017. The event serves as the kickoff for the Annual Fund and drew a solid crowd, once again, this year.

Gues t s o f honor were the Alvarados whose home in the Car ibbean was r eg re t t ab ly destroyed by Hurricane Irma. The family had originally planned to relocate to the local area next year but accelerated plans, given Irma. In their harrowing escape from the storm, the family selflessly took care of other stricken families and went the extra mile by evacuating their pets, as opposed to leaving them behind.

The keynote speaker was Charles O Nation, II, former trustee and parent of alumni. In his remarks, he underscored the school’s academic strength, championship athletic teams, and the talent and high morale among members of the faculty and staff.

The menu was classic Frank’s with a shrimp appetizer, pork as the entree, and pound cake for dessert. Regrettably for swooning diners, no recipes were shared.

We thank not only the McClarys for hosting but also Trustee Stacey Smith for her tremendous work in orchestrating a smoothly run event—we are most grateful!

Alumna Pens Book with Mother

Alumna Chloe Grabeman, Class of 2014, has co-authored a book with her mother, Mrs. Linda Grabeman. The book is entitled, Real and True: Hope for the Restless Heart.

Chloe is currently in her junior year at Lee University. She returned to Pawleys Island for last year’s baccalaureate service and shared words of wisdom with members of the senior class.

Mrs. Linda Grabeman is the au tho r o f s eve ra l books , including No Prissy Shoes: Trusting God to Walk You Through Your Cancer Journey and Praise on Purpose: 365 Days of Uplifting Words. She has been a guest speaker in our Distinguished Speaker Series. Students still remember her message, namely that everyone experiences a “game-changer” in life. She offered clear guidance in how to deal with such unsettling events. Nice work, Chloe and Mrs. Grabeman!




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Continued Implementation of the

Strategic Plan

We have now implemented 46 percent of Strategic Plan 2020 with 45 percent of our five-year timeline elapsed. So, we are slightly ahead of schedule.

Over the past 30 days, the Board approved as implemented Goal I F, “Prescribe more clearly the desired incorporation of Judeo-Christian values into student activities.” We have defined proper incorporation as including these nine items:

1. Promotion of the Golden Rule in everyday life

2. Monthly chapels featuring both Old Testament and New Testament readings

3. Celebration of Christmas

4. The Lord’s Prayer in the Lower School

5. Welcoming the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus

6. The cross and the Bible on the school’s logo

7. T e a c h e r s ’ p a t i e n c e , forgiveness, accountability, and discipline of students

8. Teachers’ efforts to help students see their errors, repent of their errors, and reconcile themselves in their relationships

9. Our Honor Code that is based upon scripture

Over the course of the past summer, we drafted a plan listing those sub-goals we aim to implement during this academic y e a r . L o o k f o r t h e implementation of one sub-goal per month.

O u r a c c r e d i t i n g a g e n c y, AdvancED, requires a strategic plan as part of the school’s continuous improvement. The plan forces us to look beyond the day-to-day and well into the future, which is healthy for any organization. In June 2019, we will begin drafting our next five-year strategic plan.

Teacher Feature

Why is the new art teacher, Ms. Meagan Johnson, creating such a buzz? Have you seen the artwork her students are producing? That might make a believer out of you.

Ms. Johnson comes to us from Coastal Carolina University where she recently completed a master’s degree in art education. Her speciality is graphic arts. Over the course of the summer, when we were searching for a new art teacher, we remembered to reach out to Coastal Carolina University and are glad we did!

“The students here already have a good foundation in art. I am l o o k i n g t o a d d t o t h a t foundation,” said Ms. Johnson.

Regarding job satisfaction, thus far, “I couldn’t ask for anything better!” Neither could we. Welcome aboard, Ms. Johnson!


Documents

Monthly Report to Parents August 2017, Volume 17 …lowcountryprep.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MRPNL-Sep-17-PDF.pdfpillars of Jesuit leadership in his bestseller, Heroic Leadership: