The Upper School Homecoming dance will take place tomorrow, Saturday, October 15, from 8:00 to 11:00 pm in the SLC.

Key Club members need to bring in their $15 dues to Gina Watkiss.

Purchase your 2011-2012 yearbook now for only $55, a savings of $20.  After November 1, the yearbook price increases to $75.  Yearbook order form

The Key Club and Middle School Student Council are sponsoring a Coat Drive. They are collecting gently used coats, sweaters, and sweatshirts to be donated to One Roof.  Collections will continue until the end of October.  All sizes are needed!  Collection baskets are located throughout the school. Contact Kari Thornton or Gina Watkiss for more information. 

Last week was Interim Week, when the eighth through twelfth grade students left campus for various excursions. 

The Eighth Grade traveled to Washington, D.C., where they visited the new 9/11 Memorial, the National Archives, the Lincoln, Vietnam, Veteran's, Korean, Air Force, Jefferson, FDR, National World War II, and the two Iwo Jima Marine Memorials, and Arlington National Cemetery, including the JFK grave site and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Jesse Gilpin, Cole Jones, Madison Crymes, and Kate Everett were chosen by their classmates to present a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The class also toured Mount Vernon, the U.S. Capitol Building, and the U.S. Supreme Court, The Holocaust Memorial Museum, Monticello, Ford's Theater, and the Smithsonian, and saw a play at the Kennedy Center.  They had special tours of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral to observe earthquake damage.  What a rich way to learn about our nation's history!

The Freshmen studied and engaged in Marine Biology at the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island. From marsh transections to trawling, students were involved in hands-on research and field research on our Georgia Barrier Island.  A culminating trip to an undeveloped barrier island included a hike through the various maritime forest zones and a hunt for treasures along the beach. 

The Heritage School believes service to others and the community in which we live is an important component of a well-rounded education.  This belief is the reason why our Sophomore class traditionally performs community service during Interim week.  The students organize themselves into groups and choose a variety of local organizations in which to serve.  This year our students served at the Boys and Girls Club of Newnan, Bridging the Gap, Wesley Woods, the Carolyn Barron Montessori School, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, the Real Life Center, One Roof Ecumenical Alliance Outreach, the Welcome House, the new Coweta County Samaritan Clinic, Chattahoochee Bend State Park, the Manna Medical Clinic, Keep Peachtree City Beautiful, the AO House, and the Tyrone Youth Baseball Association.

The Juniors took an extensive tour of six different colleges.  For many of our students, this was their first exposure to a college campus outside of a football stadium.  They visited The University of South Carolina, Davison College, Duke University, Elon University, Wake Forest University, and Wofford College.  The students experienced a variety of college settings and schools of different sizes and learned about curricular offerings ranging from traditional liberal arts to pre-professional programs. 

Each year the Interim trip is a highlight for our Seniors, who have worked hard during their high school career and are facing many challenges and changes as they head toward graduation.  The students enjoyed four days of bonding and personal reflection on beautiful Cumberland Island on Georgia's sea coast. 

After each class returned from their activities, the Outing Club, consisting of Upper School students, took a weekend whitewater rafting trip on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. 

Interim Week provides unique, enriching learning experiences, creates lifelong memories, and helps distinguish Heritage from other schools.   

Click to view the slideshow!

Don't miss the Grandparents' Club bake sale tonight during the homecoming football game. There will be lots of individual treats for sale, plus delicious cakes that will be raffled off during the game for $5 per chance.  The proceeds will help get the Grandparents Club up and running with no dues necessary.

On Tuesday, October 11, Heritage hosted a self-defense class for twelfth grade girls sponsored by the Coweta County Sherriff's office.  Lt. Danny Wheat and Captain Yarbrough led the class, which consisted of a 30-minute lecture on crime prevention and awareness, followed by practical self-defense tips.  The girls were taught how to strike, elbow, and knee a potential attacker to defend themselves.  They practiced their newly learned skills on the "Redman," an officer dressed in a padded suit that protects him from physical harm.  All who participated loved the class and felt as though all teenage girls should know the basics of self-defense and crime prevention. 

During the month of September, the Sara Lee Corporation conducted a national promotion that allowed local Sara Lee Outlet customers to vote for their favorite school.  Heritage received the most votes and is the local winner!

On Wednesday, October 26, 15% of local store proceeds for the day will be donated to Heritage.  Please consider shopping at the Sara Lee Outlet at 167 Millard Farmer Industrial Boulevard in Newnan on October 26.  The more people who shop, the more Sara Lee donates! 

For the second year in a row, all nominees from the Heritage School were selected to participate in the GISA All-Select Chorus.  This is a great accomplishment. Only 272 band, chorus, and orchestra students from 41 schools were chosen to perform.  We are so proud of Donald Breyne, Cristina Couvillion, Ellie Crosby, Ben Dudley, Rachael Hamil, Kylie Isaack, Elaina Montelongo, William Newman, Alex Newman, Chase Parker, Hayden Robinson, Allison Sullivan, Julie Thames, Braeden Vandersluis, Tré Wheat, and Mack Wilkins!