With Tony back in his homeland — and "Time with Tony" consequently delayed — welcome to "Chatting with Connor!" I'm Connor Watersmith, and if we haven't met one another yet, I am FSW's Camp Coordinator this year, charged with the leadership of our summer camp operations. With that being said, that's one week of summer camp down and six more to go! 

This week, campers participated in no less than eight different half-day and full-day camp options: They've explored the natural world in Animal Architects; they've designed and showcased brilliant art in Art Potpourri; they've checkmated and outmaneuvered one another in Become A Grand Master Chess Player; they've tumbled and stretched in Flip, Flop and Roll; they've engineered oodles of contraptions in Makers Space; they've dribbled, passed and scored in Soccer Shots; they've puzzled over brain teasers and built numerical literacy in Pee Wee Mensa; and they've participated in sports from around the world in Fun with Friends. My gratitude goes out to every staff member who's helped us with the kiddos this week (it takes a village), and I'd like to especially thank every parent I've interacted with for their kingd words and cooperation as I begin this new and exciting role.

Campers and counselors alike have had a lot of fun this week, and we anticipate much more fun to come. I hope your weekends are full of even more fun and spent with the ones you love.

In Peace,

Connor

Special thanks to Stephanie Livesey for her week in creating our weekly all-camp newsletters!

We are thrilled to announce that Kim Crabbe, a true trailblazer in women’s soccer, served as the head coach for this week’s Soccer Shots camp program, working with our 4-6 year old soccer superstars. Crabbe holds a significant place in soccer history as the first Black player on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team. She made her mark not only on the national team but also played a pivotal role in the inaugural Women's Olympic Festival, showcasing her exceptional talent and paving the way for future generations of female athletes.

Throughout the week, Kim has shared her extensive knowledge and passion for soccer with our young campers. She has been teaching them fundamental skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting, along with specific maneuvers like the inside-of-the-foot pass and the pull-back turn. Beyond just the physical aspects of the game, Kim has emphasized the importance of DEIB on the soccer field and the values it cultivates in its players both on and off the field.

Kim’s dedication to the development of young players and her ability to inspire through her own groundbreaking journey have made this week truly special. Our campers have not only improved their soccer skills but also learned about perseverance, respect, and sportsmanship. We are incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such an accomplished and influential figure in the soccer world, and we look forward to our future partnership work together! 

We're thrilled to announce that construction is officially underway for our on-campus basketball court! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised over $13,000 during the virtual auction's Fund-A-Need campaign which means we'll have a completed half-court come August! This new court will be a fantastic addition to our campus, providing a dedicated space for students to stay active, enjoy the game, and remain safely out of the parking lot. Stay tuned for more updates as the project progresses, and thank you to everyone who contributed and made this dream a reality!

Tremendous congratulations to 2022 alum Aedon Schroeder on being named to the StarNews All-Area Boys Track and Field Second Team! Schroeder was only one of three total sophomores across New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick counties to achieve this honor, and perhaps even more impressive is that his season ended early after only three meets due to a leg injury! Amazing job, Aedon. We're cheering you on near and far! 

Want to build like an architect? Throw like a potter? Swim like a dolphin? Check out these six stellar offerings during week 2 of summer camp. You heard from Connor himself what a smashing success week 1 was. Let's see if we can top it! 

The June full moon is almost upon us which means we're gearing up for our co-moonity get together! Join host Rachel Presley and her family on Friday, June 21st from 6-8PM at Wrightsville Beach Public Access #4. 

Lastly, thanks to Audrey Hammond's efforts in partnering with Good Shepherd Center, we are part of the monthly volunteer schedule, assisting in the kitchen to prepare dinner for up to 118 overnight guests. We're still looking for 1 parent and 2 backups for the Thursday, June 20th from 4:30-7PM, so please sign up below! 

FriendsMail Feedback

Hi everyone! it's me, Rachel 👋🏼 (I'm breaking the fourth wall I know). Now that summer is finally here, I'd love to learn more about your experience with FriendsMail this year--what's working, what edits you'd recommend, what you want to see more of, etc. Please consider taking the short survey linked below to provide me with your honest (and anonymous) feedback. Your suggestions will help make next year's iteration of FriendsMail even better! 

2024-2025 School Calendar

Summer may have just started, but that doesn't mean we aren't counting down the days to see you again! Our 2024-2025 school calendar is set and features transition from quarters to trimesters. Download now and get those holidays and breaks dates penciled in! 

"We are so grateful for the time we had with Karen to enjoy “Snacks and Snake Snuggles.” We “won” her time in the FSW auction and couldn’t be happier - It was a thoughtful, educational, and all-around delightful morning. Our daughter so thoroughly enjoyed handling (and feeding!) the corn snakes that we may just end up with one of our own. Thank you, Karen!"

- Dina Badie (Parent to Rising 2nd Grader)