Day two is well underway here on Tybee Island. The weather has been absolutely perfect today. We began our morning with the infamous shark dissection (your children learned a new word - Ichthyology). All students were able to complete the assignment - and that doesn’t always happen! After the shark dissection, the students enjoyed lunch (pizza), and then we headed to the beach for one of the favorite classes at Tybee - “Choosies,” in which students were given a lot of different choices from playing in the water, building sandcastles, hunting for shark’s teeth, looking for seashells, playing volleyball, or just relaxing. Both our lacrosse and volleyball players spent some of this time practicing for their tournaments that begin when we return.

We're wrapping up our first full day at Burton 4-H Center, and I'd like to give parents a glimpse into our day so you can see what your children (and chaperones) have been up to. While we understand that some of you may desire more frequent photo updates, our standard practice is to capture moments throughout the day and post them in the afternoon. Due to limited internet and cell coverage at the camp, posting updates in real-time is challenging and also time-consuming. Our priority is to be fully present with the students as they are doing these fun things. However, rest assured, a comprehensive photo album will be shared soon via the school’s Facebook page.

I am passionate about sharing the wonderful events that unfold on our campus each day. This past week was particularly busy, brimming with various activities that our school community cherishes. Throughout the week, our students delighted in perusing the offerings at the book fair and showcasing their artistic talents at the art show. Culminating the week was our cherished annual Grandparents Day. The festivities commenced with a delightful breakfast and was followed by a program where our students showcased a medley of songs from beloved Broadway productions. Finally, students escorted their grandparents to their classrooms, where they engaged in special activities together.

If you follow any of our social media accounts, you will probably notice the hashtag #learningisfunatbbs. This is WAY more than a clever hashtag that we add to pictures when posting to our Facebook or Instagram pages. It is something we try to bring to life every week at our school in many different ways. One of the things that we do each spring is a school-wide contest centering on the greatest sporting event in all the land, March Madness. While trying to figure out who will win is fun, believe it or not, there are lots of ways to make this activity educational as well.

Keeping your child busy for an entire Summer Break can be challenging. Finding affordable but trustworthy childcare can be even more of a challenge. If you are currently exploring options for your child for the upcoming summer break, Camp Bobcat may be just what you’re looking for! Camp Bobcat is not designed to only provide childcare, but to provide a safe and fun environment for your child while they continue to learn new and exciting things and spend time with their peers! This year there will be a few new things happening at Camp Bobcat! 

The following is a guest post by World Languages teacher April Connell. In the post below, she shares her experiences from her time spent in Spain this summer. This was the fourth time that our school sent Ms. Connell to a Spanish-speaking country allowing her to immerse herself in the language and cultures. In previous years, she has spent time in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. This time is invaluable as she returns to our campus and shares her experiences with our students.

We believe that prayer is crucial to our success. Our school has been blessed for decades by folks that uplift our school in daily prayer. Our teachers and administration have been praying over their class lists for several weeks now. On Tuesday, August 15, from 9 am to 12 pm, we are opening up our classrooms for a special time of prayer. Parents, grandparents, and friends are welcome to come into their child’s class and pray over their child (at their desk if you desire), the class, the teacher, and our school. This will be a special time when you can come and go as your schedule allows. There will be no formal program, just time and space provided to pray. We are expecting great things this year, and know that your prayers are vitally important in this pursuit

As we are making final preparations for the upcoming school year, we are excited to share with our school community the new faculty and staff that are joining our school. Brainerd Baptist School continues to experience significant enrollment growth, and we are anticipating enrollment for the 2023-24 school year will be the highest ever. We began working to fill our open positions back in January. The hiring process at Brainerd Baptist School is a very thorough undertaking that requires interviews with multiple groups, including an admin team and a team of teachers.

A question I often answer this time of the year is, “Do you have to work over the summer?” The reality is the summer at Brainerd Baptist School is often one of the busiest times of the year. We use the ten weeks of summer break to accomplish projects throughout our building that are just not possible when school is in session. We have some big plans in store for campus improvements over the next few weeks and are excited to share them with our families below.

We are busy into our 3rd day at Burton’s 4H Center here on Tybee Island. We turned our lights out at 10:30 pm last night, and our students certainly slept a little longer after a VERY long day yesterday. Like yesterday, photos from today will be posted to our Facebook page later tonight. Here is a rundown of the things we have done today.