Savannah United Spring 2021 Recreational Soccer 

Registration is open for Spring 2021 Recreational Soccer with Savannah United. 

Register online @ SavannahUnited.com .

Questions or concerns? Please contact Savannah United Program Director, Paul Smith, p.smith@savannahunited.com or Recreational Administrator, Vanessa Asterman, v.asterman@savannahunited.com.

Savannah United is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Toddler Tuesdays nature program @ Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah

Toddler Tuesday is a program for 1-4 year old children and their caregivers that focuses on one of Oatland’s animals, or a relevant nature theme. The program will meet at the picnic pavilion and will include: singing, fingerplay, a story, an encounter with one of our animals, and a take-home craft.

UPDATE: Cost for the program is $5 for children and $5 for adults.

Registration is required and there are a limited number of spaces so reserve early.

Registration is made online, but the program fees will be paid at the front booth on the day of, and not in advance, so please, if you know you won’t make your reservation, please call and cancel so organizers can open the space for someone on the waitlist.

See the 2021 Toddler Tuesday Winter Schedule and register online here.

Questions about the program? Call 912-395-1517, or email michelle.kelly@sccpss.com

Free, lottery-funded Pre-K for 2021-2022 school year

2021-22 Pre-K Lottery Information

This free, state-funded Pre-K at some Savannah-Chatham public schools is open to all children who are 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 residing in Chatham County.

Learn more here. 

Pre-K applications for the 2021-22 school year will be available from February 16 to March 4, 2021.  When completing the application, be prepared to submit your child’s birth certificate and proof of address in the application.  Lottery notifications will be sent on April 7, 2021.

​To participate in the Pre-K Program, children must be four years of age* on or before September 1, 2021, and must be a resident of Chatham County.

​* Five-year-old children who have not previously attended the Pre-K program and who have developmental delays that impact their readiness for school may also enroll at the request of their parents. A Parent Acknowledgement form must be completed during registration.

For additional information, please email: amanda.drought@sccpss.com

Some Savannah private preschools and childcare facilities also offer the state-funded, free Pre-K program and have different application deadlines. Please contact those facilities for their application deadlines.

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Kindergarten & older

The application period opens Feb. 1 2021 for grades kindergarten & older for Savannah-Chatham public schools for 2021-22 school year.  Application window closes Feb. 19 2021.

Learn more here.

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Learn more about each school via videos.

VIDEO LINKS:

Elementary Schools             Middle Schools                    K-8 Schools

High Schools                         Charter Schools                   Learning Centers

Sign up your child for Scribble Art Studio in Savannah’s popular after school art classes for ages 5 and older as well as their Portfolio Builders’ Class for older children.

Classes run on:
Mondays: 4:30-5:30PM & 5:15-6:15PM
Tuesdays: 4:30-5:30PM & 5:15-6:15PM
Thursdays: 4:30-5:30PM & 5:15-6:15PM

Both the General Art classes and Portfolio Builders class run each day at both times for your convenience. You pick the day and time that works best for you. OPEN ENROLLMENT!

Classes run in 5 week sessions for $200. All supplies included.

Check out Scribble Art Studio’s updated website here.

Open enrollment. Register today at www.scribbleartstudio.com

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Birthday Parties & New Adult Workshops, too

Birthday Parties

Celebrate your child’s next birthday party at Scribble Art Studio where you’ll enjoy your choice of guided art project and then leave the mess for Scribble to clean up.

Adult Workshops

Host a creative escape for your crew at the studio. Scribble is now booking parties for you and your friends to try your hand at printmaking, or acrylic or watercolor painting.

Questions? Call Geoff at 202-379-5643

Scribble Art Studio
212 E. 37th St.
Savannah, GA 31401

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Start cleaning out your kids’ closets to sell their gently used items.

High Cotton Kids 2021 Spring Sale in Savannah will be in February 2021. Dates will be announced soon.

High Cotton Kids is Savannah’s only children’s consignment sale specializing in boutique, quality brand children’s clothing. You will find brands such as Vineyard Vines, Kissy Kissy, Ralph Lauren, Crewcuts, Cecil & Lou, Bella Bliss, Adidas and Nike, as well as everyday brands such as UnderArmour, Gap, & H&M.

Sizes range from newborn up to Junior clothing and we have maternity wear, too. Looking for gently used toys, books or baby gear? Need a outfit for an upcoming event holiday? High Cotton Kids has you covered! You will find anything and everything to keep you children well dressed and entertained!

Interested in consigning in the upcoming Spring Sale? It’s a fun and easy way to clean out your closets and playrooms while earning extra money for your Spring Break or summer events! Learn more here. 

Savannah-Chatham County public school students who registered for the hybrid learning model will not return to in-person learning on Jan. 11 as initially planned because of increase in COVID-19 spread, school district officials announced today Jan. 6.

Teachers will continue to teach from their classrooms while students are learning virtually from home.

District officials will continue to monitor key metrics daily and will make an announcement regarding a return to in-person instruction through established communication channels, the District website, and social media channels.

Find more details here.

This message does not apply to Charter Schools. If your child attends one of the five Charter schools operating in Savannah-Chatham, please consult your Charter school for applicable schedules

The City of Savannah is inviting houses of worship, businesses and individuals to join in a national memorial for the lives lost to COVID-19 on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 5:30 p.m.

The City Hall bells will ring once for every 10 deaths in Chatham County at 5:30 p.m., and the building will be illuminated in red. Anyone wishing to participate is invited to ring bells, illuminate homes or businesses, hold a socially distant candlelight vigil and document their remembrance on social media using #SavannahRemembers and #SavannahStrong.

Savannah’s memorial will coincide with ceremonies in Washington, D.C., that will include a lighting ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. To date, more than 10,000 Georgians, including more than 240 Chatham County residents, have died from COVID-19.

Cabin Fever presents the traveling Drive-in Laser Light Show, January 14-17 2021 @ new South Georgia Fairgrounds in Savannah.
2 shows per night. Choose from either the 7PM or 9PM shows.

A dedicated “Tail-Gate” seating area for every vehicle. Bring your own chairs, blankets and refreshments.
Cost: $25 per vehicle.

The South Georgia Fairgrounds, Savannah
105 Ft. Argyle Rd.
Savannah, GA 31419

Details here.

Risen Savior Christian Academy 

Come and see all that Risen Savior Christian Academy in Pooler has to offer. Tour this school’s growing campus and meet staff members.

OPEN HOUSE:  Sat. Jan 23 2021, 10AM-Noon

NOW ENROLLING
Preschool – ages 2-4
Elementary – K-8th grade

Risen Savior Christian Academy
1755 Quacco Road
Pooler Ga. 313122
912.925.9431

Learn more: www.risensaviorgeorgia.com

Risen Savior Christian Academy offers preschool for ages 2, 3 and 4 year olds, Kindergarten and Grade 1-8.

Stay connected to Risen Savior Christian Academy by liking their Facebook page here. 

For more information, please call 912.925.9431.

Risen Savior Christian Academy, 1755 Quacco Road, Pooler, Ga. 313122, 912.925.9431 Risen Savior Christian Academy is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser. 

Two Sisters Travel: Get 2 Free Days at Walt Disney World Resort

Put some magic on your 2021 calendar with a Walt Disney World vacation, and for a limited time get 2 free theme park days with select 4-night/3-day room-and-ticket resort packages.

With limited capacity inside the theme parks, now is the perfect time to visit. Take advantage of the low crowds and incredible deals to experience new attractions or the classics.

And 2021 promises plenty of fun at Walt Disney World theme parks with:

*Disney’s Hollywood Studios brings guests inside the cartoon world in Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and offers the chance to play with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their pals in Toy Story Land.

*Cinderella Castle features a royal new look at Magic Kingdom Park, welcoming guests for the perfect portrait as they seek out classic attractions.

*At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can explore Pandora – The World of Avatar, an immersive land featuring massive floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and unbelievable experiences including Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.

*Guests will also discover new character encounters throughout The Most Magical Place on Earth, as favorite Disney friends explore all four theme parks and Disney Resort hotels

Not sure what visiting a theme park is like right now?  Two Sisters Travel visited them and can give you all of the insider details to make your getaway stress-free!

Contact your Authorized Disney Vacation Planner at Two Sisters Travel now and let’s plan your magical getaway. And remember, Two Sisters Travel concierge travel planning services are always FREE.

Tara McCoy
Travel Advisor at  Two Sisters Travel
843.284.3241
Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

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Summertime biking @ Sea Pines Nature Preserve

Hilton Head Island offers over 50 scenic miles of public bicycle pathways and nature trails.

The hard-packed beaches are also popular for bicycling at low tide.

Which is why we’re often perplexed that more Savannah families don’t take advantage of this daytrip option (about one hour drive from Savannah). There are so many family-friendly activities do on Hilton Head.

Find the complete list of our favorite places to visit on Hilton Head Is. here. 

Below is a sample:

Sea Pines Forest Preserve

The 605-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve includes easy trails to various points of interest including the 4,000-year-old Indian Shell Ring, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a wildflower garden that’s amazing when in bloom (pictured above in summer).

The walks range from 25 minutes to one hour. Bicycles are not permitted on the nature trails, so please park your bicycles at the locations provided. Open from sunrise to sunset. The Forest Preserve is free; there’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto. More info here.

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Lawton Stables in Sea Pines Resort 

One of our favorite Sea Pines spots to visit with young kids is Lawton Stables, which offers horse trail rides, $15/pony rides and a small animal farm.

Their free animal farm includes goats, sheep, chickens, turtles, cows and alpacas.  Kids can also pet a friendly retired Clydesdale, Harley, at the stables. Pony rides and horseback riding available for a fee. Pony rides available for a fee for children between the ages of 2-7 years old and weighing less than 55 lbs.

All trail riders must be a minimum of 8 years old. Lawton Stables does not allow ‘double-riding’ with two people sharing a horse.

You MUST make a reservation for all trail rides – please BOOK ONLINE.

The animal farm is free; there’s a $9 Sea Pines gate fee per auto. More info here. 190 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island, 29928

Open Tuesday through Sunday: 8AM to 5PM. Call for pony ride hours: (843) 671-2586.

Learn more here. 

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Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bluffton SC

A mere hour drive from Savannah, Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is an easy getaway from Savannah to bike amid nature on 14 miles of hiking and biking trails. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset daily. (Not located on Hilton Head Is. but between HHI and Bluffton)

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Find the complete list of our favorite places to visit on Hilton Head Is. here. 

Free entrance to National Parks & Monuments on MLK Jr. Day 2021.

In honor of the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Park Service sites will have free admission for everyone on Monday, January 18, 2021, as the first fee free day of the year.

Parks around the Savannah-area include:

Cumberland Island National Seashore
Fort Frederica National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Fort Sumter National Monument

Details here. 

Savannah St. Patrick’s Day festivities are cancelled for second year in a row, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson announced on Jan. 5 2021.

Here’s the statement from John Fogarty, General Chairman, Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

We understand that the City of Savannah is not issuing any special event permits through March 2021. As a result, we will not have the 2021 Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade. While this is disappointing, we are confident in the City’s decision. Our top priority has always been to ensure the health, safety and welfare of parade participants and attendees.

After the 2020 parade cancellation, we were hopeful for 2021 and we had applied for the special event permit. Over the past several months we have continued to work with the City of Savannah during the permitting process and now we need to be united in doing what is best for our community. Since the first Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1824, there have been extraordinary times when we had to cancel the parade, and this is unfortunately one of those times. Going forward, we commit to keep you aware of our future plans and we appreciate the community’s understanding and support.

-John Fogarty, General Chairman, Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

Registration for February 2021 Swim Lessons (group and private) @ Chatham Aquatic Center in Savannah will begin Wed. Jan. 13, 2021 at noon.

Please visit https://aquatic.chathamcountyga.gov/ to register or call (912) 652-6793 for more information.

You & your family are invited to get a first-hand glimpse of all the amazing opportunities available for students in Pre-K through 12th grade through private tours of Calvary Day School in Savannah 

Calvary Day School private tours are the perfect chance to see what today’s learners are doing to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Learn more here

Calvary Day School, 4625 Waters Ave, Savannah

Private Tours

Campus Tours are by appointment and are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the school year. Please call the admissions department at (912) 351-0700 or email admissions@calvarydayschool.com to schedule your tour.

To learn more about Calvary Day School, visit their website at www.calvarydayschool.com.

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Kindermusik Savannah January play dates are now enrolling.

Join Kindermusik with your 0-7 year-olds on Sat. Jan. 23 2021 at 10AM or 11AM. Each child gets an instrument/prop, 10 Kindermusik songs and a $5 coupon to apply towards a future studio class. Spaces are limited- enroll today!

Also: January weekly classes are underway. Kindermusik offers classes in person and via Zoom on Mondays and Tuesdays. First trial is free.

Newborns to ten weeks old attend weekly classes free.

Register online @ kindermusikwith88keys.com or text: 912-432-5885

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Kindermusik Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Low Country Counseling therapists offer four ways here on how to deal with this complicated time.

Be gentle with yourself. Being a human during the holidays and post holidays is hard, but it doesn’t have to be hopeless.

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If you or a loved one is in need of support, Low Country Counseling offers specialized therapy for Individuals, Moms, Couples, Families, Children, and Teens. Contact Low Country Counseling for any questions you need answered or to schedule an appointment. Help is available. You’re not alone.

Low Country Counseling is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Outdoor weekend kid-friendly events @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill

Hikes, soldier Saturdays, blacksmithing programs, survival shelter building workshops & more.

See the events schedule here. 

Admissions season has begun! Visit Savannah’s schools @ these open houses or ongoing school tours to get to know the schools yourself.

Upcoming Savannah school Winter 2021 open houses & ongoing school tours for prospective families include:

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Advanced Academics, Pooler

Advanced Academics in Pooler PreK & Kindergarten: $75/week half days. K-5th grade:$150/wk full days. Set up a tour. Call 912.348.2017. Details here. 

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Savannah Christian Preparatory School, Savannah

Open Houses: Wednesdays Jan. 13, Jan. 27, Feb. 10 & Feb. 24 2021 9:30-10:30AM @ Eckburg Auditorium.Reservations required. Details here.

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Savannah Classical Academy, Savannah

The annual lottery is now open for Savannah Classical Academy , free, public K-12 charter school, for all students from kindergarten to twelfth grade for the 2021-2022 school year. Don’t miss the deadline for your family to enroll in this free public charter Savannah school as part of the local school system. Apply for the lottery here.

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St. Andrew’s School, Wilmington Is., Savannah

Now accepting applications for Pre-K 3 through Grade 4. The application deadline is 2.19.21. Details here. 

Tour this private independent school (age 3 to grade). Call 897.4941 or email Windee Helle in the Admissions Office at hellew@saslions.com to schedule your private tour. Details here.

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Susie King Taylor Community School, Savannah

Application for the lottery for 2021-22 school year is open. Susie King Taylor Community School is a tuition-free, public K-8 Savannah charter school. Details here. 

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Risen Savior Christian Academy, Pooler

Open House, Sat. Jan. 23, 10AM-Noon.
Tour this private school’s recently expanded campus & meet staff members.
NOW ENROLLING: Preschool – ages 2-4
Elementary – K-8th grade
Details here. 

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Calvary Day School, Savannah

Campus Tours are by appointment and are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the school year. Please call admissions department at (912) 351-0700 or email admissions@calvarydayschool.com to schedule your tour.
Details here.

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Augusta Canal Bike Trail

Augusta Canal Bike Trail

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If the newest portion of Savannah’s Truman Linear Park Trail has sparked your family’s biking interest, here are some trails to check out next time you visit Atlanta, Augusta, Ga., Columbia SC or Bluffton SC. We hit each of these over winter break 2020 and look forward to returning again in spring. Pack a lunch, bring plenty of water and enjoy the ride.

Augusta Canal Trail

Augusta Canal’s wide, level towpath, once used by mules to pull canal boats to the Canal headgates, runs between the canal and the Savannah River. This roughly 7.5 mile packed-dirt trail is a must-do bike ride on your next Augusta visit. There are also kayaking and mountain bike trail options. We parked at the north end of the trail, where there’s free parking, restrooms, and drinking fountain in Savannah Rapids Park (3300 Evans to Locks Rd., Martinez) as well as bike rental.

Other ways to access this trail include:

*Near the southern end of the trail, take Broad Street from downtown Augusta west to Goodrich Street and turn right. Continue about a mile to a parking lot at the pumping station adjacent to the King and Sibley mills.

*Lake Olmstead Trailhead (1 Milledge Road) has parking, restrooms, drinking fountains, and a picnic area.

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Three Rivers Greenway

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Three Rivers Greenway, Columbia SC

Three Rivers Greenway consists of 12.5 miles of scenic lighted and paved trails and boardwalks that run along the riverbanks where the Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers meet.

Two of these multi-use trails connect – the West Columbia Riverwalk and the Cayce Riverwalk – and run along the Congaree River. Think covered boardwalks, winding tree-lined trails, wayside exhibits as well as picnic tables along the water. Find free parking options for this section here.

A third trail – Granby and Riverfront parks- is on the opposite side of the Congaree River, the City of Columbia side. Free parking for this section and public restrooms are available at Riverfront Park (312 Laurel St. Columbia), where there’s a popular, scenic 2.5 miles section of the Three Rivers Greenway that runs from the park between the Congaree River and Historic Columbia Canal.

(While perhaps not officially part of the trail, the Gervais Street Bridge could be used by riders who want to ride both the West Columbia/Cayce Riverwalks and the Riverfront-Granby park trails)

Also part of Three Rivers Greenway is Saluda Riverwalk (650 Candi Lane, Columbia), a 3-mile stretch along the Lower Saluda River near Riverbanks Zoo, from I-26 to the Broad River. It’s unclear whether this section is officially open. This section is not yet connected to Three Rivers Greenway.

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Big Creek Greenway, near Atlanta

Our favorite bike trail near Atlanta due to the natural, peaceful setting, Big Creek Greenway  is a roughly 8-mile multi-use concrete trail in the Alpharetta and Roswell areas. There’s a wetland area, bridges, plenty of fallen trees that provide a place to rest and eat lunch. There’s also a mountain bike option.

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Silver Comet Trail, near Atlanta

The Silver Comet Trail is in Smyrna, about 13 miles northwest of Atlanta. It is one of Atlanta’s most popular bike trails and also the most crowded. You could take this ride from Atlanta suburbs to Alabama. (We did not!) It connects to the 33-mile long Chief Ladiga Trail. The combined Silver Comet and Chief Ladgita trails are more than 90 miles long from Smyrna to Alabama.

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Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bluffton SC

A mere hour drive from Savannah, Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is an easy getaway from Savannah to bike amid nature on 14 miles of hiking and biking trails. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset daily.

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Three Rivers Greenway

The Mountainfilm on Tour – Savannah 2021 Virtual Film Festival – a nonprofit organization working in partnership with Mountainfilm in Telluride, Colo.- is January 22-25 2021.

The 2021 event will feature a virtual screening of a feature film as well as a documentary short films program and a special family program, which consists of 8 inspiring short, kid-friendly films.  Find the film descriptions here.

Family Program tickets as well as tickets for the feature film Public Trust and the Adventure Shorts Program are currently on sale at mountainfilmsav.org. The virtual family program is available beginning at noon on Fri. Jan. 22 and will be available until noon on Mon. Jan. 25 2021.

Public Trust/Adventure Shorts Program tickets are $20 per individual and $35 per family. Family Program tickets are $10 per individual and $15 per family. This event is a fundraiser for Mountainfilm on Tour – Savannah. 

All Mountainfilm on Tour – Savannah 2021 virtual film programs will be available on-demand from January 22-25, 2021.

Learn more here. 

Savannah Classical Academy is free, public K-12 charter school with an entirely open enrollment.

Savannah Classical Academy’s annual lottery is now open for all students from kindergarten to twelfth grade for the 2021-2022 school year.

Don’t miss the deadline for your family to enroll in this free public charter Savannah school as part of the local school system!

Apply for the lottery now here.

The mission of Savannah Classical Academy is to provide every child with a classical and academically rigorous education while instilling a commitment to civic virtue and moral character.

Savannah Classical Academy is the only public school in Savannah that has been opened since August 2020 to in-person classes during the 2020-21 school year. SCA has discontinued its dual-learning model (online and in-person) and all SCA students returned to campus Nov. 2. The last day of SCA’s virtual learning model was Oct. 30.

SCA says the school has remained free of any COVID-19 cases since the start of the 2020-21 school year.

SCA has taken many steps to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the risk to students and staff

SCA upgrades to keep students and staff safe include:
*Entryway equipped with a germicidal UV-C light.
*Specialized mats designed to sanitize footwear.
*Social distancing markings at entrances/exits throughout campus.
*Installation of ionization systems HVAC to purify circulating air and disinfect surfaces.
*Over 100 strategically placed automated hand sanitizing stations.
*Touchless thermometers and thermal imaging cameras.
*Isolation lounge space.
*Installation of cameras in all classrooms.
*Contracted with custodial vendor with trained staff using appropriate virucide, sanitation chemicals, and foggers, with increased staff for whole school sanitation each day.
*Personal protective equipment provided to all students and staff including face masks, face shields, and gloves.
*Individualized furniture purchased and arranged to maximize classroom square footage.
*Clear desktop barriers for all students.
*Alteration to student and staff traffic and meal schedules to reduce interactions to smaller groups.
*Posting signage for reinforcement of proper personal hygiene and social distancing.
*Installation of additional water bottle refilling stations for upper school students.
*Bottled water provided for lower school students.

Savannah Classical Academy
705 East Anderson Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 395-4040

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