FROM THE HEADMASTER...

With autumn in the air our students seem to have a little extra bounce in their steps.  From what I am hearing from our faculty, students are arriving to school and classes on time.  Tardies are at an all time low!  This is a credit to our students for taking pride in what they are doing, paying attention to detail, and showing more and more self responsibility.  Remember "the only way to be on time is to be ahead of time."

Congratulations to students who have been recognized this month by our community organizations.  Yesterday I had the privilege to recognize Senior Crighton Allen as the Rotary Student of the Month.  Today two additional students, 8^th grader Haley Caldwell and Senior Ashton Thomas, were recognized by the local Kiwanis Club with their Good Citizenship Award.  Kudos to these recipients and their parents: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Thomas, and Mr. and Mrs. Stan Caldwell.

Tomorrow many of our students and faculty will take part in Hands on Thomas County volunteer day.  Brookwood School has adopted Balfour Park as our project site.  Plans are to begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude with a lunch gathering for all participants at 12:30 p.m.  It is not too late to join us as we take on this very worthwhile project.  If you plan to attend be sure to bring along work-gloves, and if you have a weed eater, shovel, wheelbarrow and rake, bring them along also.

During this time of the year students may need to check out of school early for family appointments, circumstances beyond their control, or an athletic event.  This is understandable in most cases and usually cannot be helped.  There are times where you may need to leave school early; while this is not encouraged we understand it is unavoidable.  Please keep in mind that it is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for work or tests missed.  Please be sure we do everything possible to handle these early departures so as not to create more work for the teachers.  They are very willing to help, but at the same time do not want to add to their already busy workload if possible.  Please do all you can to help ensure that the burden of missing school is on the student not the teacher.  For additional information pertaining to absence and lateness please refer to the Blue Book, page 75.  Thank you for making arrangements with your teachers well in advance.

We thank all parents once again for their continued support of Brookwood School.  Let's keep our positive momentum going!  

                                                                                    Mike Notaro
                                                                                    Headmaster

UPPER SCHOOL NEWS (David Grooms)

Senior Picture Re-takes are on Monday, October 2^nd beginning at 8:20 a.m. in the music room.  Interested seniors should see Mrs. Callaway.  These re-takes are the yearbook pose only. 

October 13^th marks the end of the first nine weeks.  Report cards will go out the Friday of Homecoming Week.

The cast list for Camelot has been posted and is available online on the Drama Guild page.  http://www.brookwoodschool.org/page/1849


MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS (Ashley Harper)

LIGHTS!  CAMERA!  ACTION!  The Middle School is proud to announce our first evening social event of the year.  On Friday, October 20^th at 7:00 pm, Network Entertainment will present a Movie Night complete with a blow up drive in movie size screen showing a movie for our students.  The evening will begin at 7:00 pm with karaoke and fun for our students.  At 8 pm the surprise feature presentation will start and pick up will be at 10 pm.  Parents, please add this to your calendar now.  All Middle School students are invited to attend. 

DID YOU KNOW?  A ball thrown from shoulder height will land at the same moment as a ball dropped simultaneously from shoulder height.  The eighth grade worked with Mrs. Grubbs studying gravity learning the effects of horizontal and vertical forces. 

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS (Francine Wright)

ADMISSIONS REMINDER
The Lower School Office is accepting applications for enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year.  If your child has a sibling who is eligible for admission to Brookwood for the next school year, please submit an admissions application to the Lower School Office at your earliest convenience.   Also, if you know of others in the community who would like to join the Brookwood Family, please encourage them to apply.  Call the Lower School Office at 228-6145 for more information and to request an application. 

FALCONRY
 The fourth graders learned all about falconry this morning as Randy Christian,  a falconer, shared a beautiful red-tailed hawk.  Did you know that falconry dates as far back as 10,000 years?  This was especially interesting to fourth grade students as it correlates with the reading of My Side of the Mountain, which is a novel in the fourth grade curriculum.  Thanks to Dr. Quinones for arranging for Mr. Christian to visit Brookwood. 

SECOND GRADERS BRING JOHNNY APPLESEED TO LIFE
Mrs. McCall's second grade class took us on a journey through the life of John Chapman (better known as Johnny Appleseed), as students and parents gathered in Chubb Hall today.  As the children sang "The Ballad of Johnny Appleseed", the audience followed him from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania, from Ohio to Kentucky, as he planted apple orchards along the way.  When we think of Johnny Appleseed, we think of him planting apple trees across the nation.  Actually, he served the early settlers by warning them of approaching dangers.  As he traveled about, he became a popular Bible storyteller with the young children.

The stage was adorned with apple trees and baskets of apples.  In "The Apple Song", the children sang about the many varieties of apples that have developed since the first apple seeds were planted.  Did you know there were 2,500 different varieties of apples - Honeycrisp, Northern Spy, Paula Red and Crispin apples are just a few.

The song "Seasons Change" surely set the mood for the autumn season. 

Thank you to all of our parents for helping with the set, props, and apple attire, as well as their encouragement along the way.  Also, thank you to Mrs. Lee for sharing her musical talent with us.

The baskets of luscious apples will be donated to the local Boys and Girls Club.  This is a community service project of Mrs. McCall's class.

ATHLETICS 

Football News
Thanks to all who traveled the long distance last week to support the Warrior football team as they lost against George Walton.  It is clear that we have among the very best fans in the GISA.  The team plays tonight at 8:00 p.m. (est) at Panama City Christian.  Go Warriors!

Softball News
 This Monday, October 2nd will be the last HOME game for the following SENIOR softball players:  Keri McMillan, Kendra Bell, Anne McPherson, Eve Toomey, and Liz Brewer.  Brookwood will play Georgia Christian at 4:30.  We will honor these girls and their parents before the game beginning at 4:20 and finish our afternoon with the girls running their ceremonial "last lap" around the bases.  Please come support these awesome Warriors on Monday.

Fall Sports Pictures Available
The Brookwood Warriors Fall Sports pictures of the individual athletes, team pictures, and special ad pictures are available in the front office for you to see.  Order forms are available with package pricing listed.  Deadline for orders is Friday, October 6th.  If you have any questions, please call Take Your Best Shot Photography at 551-1002 or stop by their studio at 182 Big Star Drive (Next to the Humane Society).

COLLEGE COUNSELING OFFICE (Vic Spigener)

On Tuesday, Oct 3, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, will be to talk with students.  Anyone who is interested should see Mr. Spigener on Monday.

Students who are interested in Veterinary Medicine:  The University of Georgia will host its second annual Vet School for a Day on Wednesday, November 15.  Students who are interested can get a registration form from Mr. Spigener.

Congratulations go out to the following seniors:

(1)     Eve Toomey and Haven Shea on their acceptances to Auburn University and Perry Brown for his acceptance to Columbus State University
(2)     Kelly Jackson on his selection as this year's recipient of the  Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award.  Kelly will represent Brookwood in the Scholarship Competition
(3)     Elizabeth Wedding and Ashton Thomas as this year's selection to receive Brookwood's Wendy's High School Heisman Award.  Elizabeth and Ashton will compete in the Georgia's state finalist competition