UPPER SCHOOL NEWS (David Grooms)

Drama Guild Scholarship
Application letters for the Drama Guild Scholarship are due on April 10^th.  All students who participated in a Drama Guild production are eligible to apply.  A copy of the information was emailed to everyone on the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat distribution list.  A copy is also available on the Drama Guild page of the web site.

Buddy Easter Egg Hunt
Thanks to Mrs. Larson and the seniors for hosting their first grade buddies in an Easter Egg Hunt last Friday.  A great time was had by all.  The last Buddy event will be held on May 13^th before Awards Day.

Honors Assembly
Please note that the Honors Assembly recognizing honor graduates and the valedictorian and salutatorian will be held on Tuesday, April 22^nd at 8:05 a.m.  A letter will be sent to parents of students involved in this assembly after spring break. 

Upper School Awards Day
Please note that US Awards Day will be held on Tuesday, May 13^th at 9:30 a.m. in Stoddard Gymnasium

College Counseling
Seniors are reminded to give Mr. Spigener a copy of all letters of notification - especially, ones indicating merit money awarded.

AP Exams
Students in AP courses will take exams May 7 - 12.  Students need to be reviewing content from earlier in the year to help prepare for the exams.  Preparation for the exams is strongly related to success on those exams.  With the busy spring schedule it is imperative that students not wait until the last minute to prepare.  Mr. Spigener, the AP Coordinator, handles the ordering of materials and students enrolled in AP classes do not have to register for these exams. 

AP History Review Sessions
Review Sessions for AP History exams will be held on April, 6, 13, and 27.  Each session will be held in Flowers Hall Room 2.  European students will meet from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. and United States students will meet from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.

Book Changes
The faculty are finalizing their suggestions for book changes at this time.  The list of changes will be updated closer to the time of the opening of the Parent Council's Used Book Store in May.  Some probable changes include:  Math 6, Environmental Science, Finance and Economics. 

Reminder to Parents of Athletes and other Students who miss classes
Please help students remember that they are responsible for getting their assignments and having them completed for each class when they return.  Also, they need to schedule make-up tests at the convenience of the teachers. 

Ninth Grade Community Service Project
The Thomas County Humane Society recently extended their appreciation to the freshman class for their generous contributions to the organization.  As a community service project, the students, parents, and some staff members donated food, blankets, towels, heat lamps, carriers, and grooming tools.  Several freshmen have earned points by working Saturdays grooming the animals.

 Upper School Exams
The Upper School exam schedule is posted on the web site under Weekly Announcements.

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS (Ashley Harper)

Springtime "Weird Science" 
Brookwood Sixth grade students have been studying Earth's atmosphere.  They learned about the equinox when the Sun is positioned directly over the Earth's equator.  On this day the center of the Sun will spend a nearly equal amount of time above and below the horizon at every location on Earth and day and night will be nearly the same length.  Gravitational pulls allowed Alex Carico to stand an egg on its end in Science class during the equinox.

Seventh Grade Life Science students are studying birds and mammals.  They examined owl pellets and learned owls typically swallow their prey whole.  They discovered hair, bones, teeth, and feathers that they can not digest.  The matted pellets remain pressed in the gizzard until something stimulates the owl to spit the pellet out.

Diego Rivera Studies:  The sixth grade Spanish classes recently studied Diego Rivera and worked on their own Mexican murals.

Middle School Awards Day
Please mark your calendar for Middle School Awards Day on Wednesday, May 14^th at 9:30 am in Stoddard Gymnasium. 

Community Service Reminder
Please remember that community service at all levels is highly encouraged.  Eighth grade students are required to perform at least ten hours of community service during the school year.  Many students have already fulfilled this commitment and have turned in their documentation.  Others simply need to complete the forms located in the Commons area hall way.  Please encourage your child to complete his or her forms or commitment as soon as possible.  Forms are due by April 15^th.  Thank you for your support. 

Service Learning
The Middle School students recently participated in a service learning exercise and identified community service needs in our area.  Each student researched community needs and identified areas in which he or she would like to help.  After the student body reviewed the many great proposals, the following choices were made for Middle School community service projects:

·        The 8^th grade will be hosting a spring gathering for the children of Vashti.  Thank you to Chad Kelly for identifying this need.

·        The 7^th grade will be recognizing and honoring our local community service workers through providing special goodies to the police department, sheriffs office, emergency services, etc.  Thank you to the seventh grade for working together on this project. 

·        The 6^th grade will be learning more about K9 police units in our area and seeking funding to purchase bullet proof vests for these special officers.  Thank you to McKenna Vance for identifying this need.

Middle School Track
The Middle School Physical Education classes will begin training for the upcoming Middle School track meet on Wednesday, April 30^th at Tiftarea.  As in the past, this is always a fun, well attended event by our Middle School students.  Please look for details in the near future on this exciting annual event.

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS (Francine Wright)
 
Fourth Grade
Fairy Tale News:  This week, Mrs. Deen's fourth grade class presented their original play, Fairy Tale News, a news broadcast hosted by many famous fairy tale characters who join together to capture the Big Bad Wolf.   The students were not only actors, but also playwrights, composers and program designers.  Thanks to all the parents for helping with costumes, props and scenery.   Thank you to Miss Grooms for her cheerful help with the details.  And a big thanks to Mrs. Lee for bringing this great production to life with her musical talent and guidance.   This class demonstrated creativity, diligence and cooperation, which made this performance a huge success.  Great Job! 

Third Grade
Lights! Camera! Action!:  Today Mrs. Egan's third grade class presented Lights! Camera! Action,! a musical review featuring songs from today's biggest movies.  These talented students sang songs from SpongeBob SquarePants, Finding Nemo, The Polar Express, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and Shrek.   They also stunned the audience with surprise visits from some of Hollywood's biggest stars!  We would like to thank Mrs. Lee for her guidance and her wonderful musical talent.  Thanks to all the terrific parents for helping with costumes, props, and the set.  And a big thank you to Mrs. Sibley for all her creative ideas and support.   Outstanding performance!

BOX TOPS & CAMPBELL LABELS
If you have any box tops or labels saved, please send them into the library. We are preparing a shipment to be mailed May 1st. This is an on-going project, so please continue saving during the summer months.  Thanks for your help!

Lower School Chorus
On Wednesday the Lower School Chorus performed at the Plaza Restaurant for the DAR luncheon.  These talented students brought many smiles to the audience.  

First Grade
Mrs. Howell's and Mrs. Collins 1st graders took an exciting trip on Thursday to the Painted Pony Farm.  They were able to meet lots of farm animals, pet them and feed them.  The students also enjoyed a hayride and great hotdogs.  

ERB Tests
Students in grades 2 -5 really worked seriously to meet the challenge of standardized tests this week.  Each and every one of them is to be commended for their efforts.  Parents, thank you for your encouragement and support this week.

Students in Grades 1 - 5
Are you looking for a way to spend an exciting week of summer with friends? Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the Brookwood Science Camp. Students finishing 3 - 5^th grades are eligible for the week of June 2 - 6. Students completing grades 1 and 2 will attend the week of June 16 - 20. Both weeks will include interesting science experiments, adventures to area attractions, and lots of fun with friends! Watch for details, soon! Contact Jenni Martin with questions at jmartin@brookwoodschool.org.

Reading is Fun!  5th grade students enjoy reading to their kindergarten reading buddies.  These kindergartners love spending time with their buddies.

ATHLETICS (Robert East)

The spring sports season is already beginning to wind down.  The Varsity Tennis team will compete in the region tournament on Wednesday, April 9 in Valdosta.  The Varsity Golf team will compete in the region tournament on Monday, April 14 in Valdosta.  The Varsity Track team will compete in the region meet on Wednesday, April 16 at Tiftarea.  All these athletes will then move on to compete for both individual and team state honors.  Varsity Girls' soccer has only lost 1 match and is currently second in the region.  Varsity Boys' soccer is undefeated and is leading the region standings.  Varsity baseball is leading the region as well.  Middle School baseball has impressed many with great team play.  Middle School track will begin practice after spring break and will compete in the region meet on Wednesday, April 30 at Tiftarea.  Keep up with all these teams at www.brookwoodschool.org.  Check out the web site for each team schedule and come out to cheer for the Warriors!

The Varsity Boys Basketball team has won the GISA AA State Championship for 2008!!!  The Varsity Girls Basketball team also had a great season in reaching the Final Four.  Congratulations to each of these teams!  Brookwood School is on a run of unprecedented success on the basketball court.  Commemorative T-Shirts are for sale ($15).  E-mail reast@brookwoodschool.org with your size and quantity.  

Please remember to check out the school web site, www.brookwoodschool.org, for updates for all sports.  Also, click the link to the Brookwood E-Store to see what Brookwood gear is available.  The concessions and gate roster for spring sports is posted online.  Please find someone to swap with you if you are unable to work your assigned time.  Contact Coach Jarvis at pjarvis@brookwoodschool.org if you swap your time.

COLLEGE COUNSELOR (Vic Spigener)
 
Seniors who are planning to play athletics in college are reminded that they should have registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse in September!  If they did not, they need to do so immediately.  They can do so by going to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and click on "Prospective Student-Athletes" to start the process. Students also need to print out both the "Initial Eligibility Form" and the "Final Eligibility Form" and give them to Mr. Spigener immediately.  Remember, seniors were told to do this when school started, but some have not done so.