Established in 1862 on Hilton Head Is. SC, Mitchelville is the first place in the United States where African Americans, out of slavery but not yet citizens, self-governed. This first self-governed town of freed slaves is commemorated in the historic site of Mitchelville Freedom Park on Beach City Road.

On your next visit to Hilton Head, visit this quiet, historically significant ocean-side site.

Mitchellville
*First town where enslaved people were freed following the Emancipation Proclamation
*Located just across the river from Savannah.
*The town was an important stop on the Underground Railroad and the first place to be governed by African Americans.

The park was created by the nonprofit Mitchelville Preservation Project to educate the public about the resilience of the freed people of Mitchelville. This 19th-century town of freed slaves was around before the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, when most of the African-American population in the South was still enslaved. Residents built homes, a one-room schoolhouse, stores, praise houses and created a new, self-governed culture.

Overlooking the marsh is a Bench by the Road, one of 20 memorial bench sites worldwide created by the Toni Morrison Society. The black steel benches are placed in areas to remember once-forgotten moments in African-American history. Learn more about the other Freedom Park exhibits here. 

SouthCoast Health Pediatrician Blaine Crossland

Does hand sanitizer work as well as hand-washing?

SouthCoast Health Pediatrician Blaine Crossland answers that question and shares some facts to consider when deciding whether to reach for hand sanitizer or if you should wash your hands with warm water and soap.

“People love hand sanitizer, because it’s a convenient option to keep in a purse, backpack, or car when you do not have access to soap and water,” said SouthCoast Health Pediatrician Blaine Crossland in Richmond Hill. “It’s great for kids too, because sometimes it’s hard to wrangle them to hold still long enough to wash their hands properly.”

Which is better? Hand-washing. Learn why here. 

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

6 Family Spring Break Ideas In 2021

While it may be winter outside, now is the time to make your spring break travel plans.

If you’re feeling ready to explore, adventure or simply just need to getaway, travel is slowly resuming. Many popular domestic destinations are welcoming guests again and several international borders have re-opened to US passport holders.

So, what’s open and where to take your family for Spring Break 2021, Two Sisters Travel is sharing top destination picks!

All Inclusive Resorts

Kickback and relax on island time by sipping frozen drinks on white sand beaches. All inclusive resorts combine relaxation and adventure blending together the perfect family vacation experience. Kids will enjoy water sports & age-focused activities while parents relax in the spa, there’s truly something for everyone at an all inclusive resort.

These resorts offer a great value by including accommodations, dining, drinks, activities and entertainment in one package price. Makes for an overall stress-free vacation.

Ready to start planning? Contact Two Sisters Travel.

Theme Parks

Celebrating spring break at Walt Disney World Resort or Universal Orlando Resort can be the perfect escape from reality. Slip into themed lands of fantasy, adventure, nature and science making memories with your family.

Experience new attractions & experiences at both parks, and for a limited time take advantage of special discounts.

Ready to start planning? Contact Two Sisters Travel.

National Parks

Highlighting some of America’s most breathtaking landscapes and landmarks our National Parks are true treasure to explore. A few of our favorites to visit during the spring are Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Zion and Grand Canyon.

Each offers an entirely different appeal and experience! Two Sisters Travel will help you narrow down the overwhelming number of options to curate the right itinerary to fit your national parks vacation vision!

Ready to start planning? Contact Two Sisters Travel.

Florida Keys

Experience the feel of the Caribbean without a passport. The Florida Keys are a 110-mile island chain surrounded by crystal-blue waters that are famed for stunning sunsets and a relaxed atmosphere.

Nature lovers flock to the Lower Keys with it’s state parks and protected areas, divers & snorkelers enjoy Marathon (access to America’s only living coral barrier reef), and for the more vibrant activities visit Key West, the southernmost point in the continental United States.

Ready to start planning? Contact Two Sisters Travel.

Costa Rica

An eco-travelers dream, Costa Rica represents what an unspoiled tropical paradise should be. Blessed with beaches and biodiversity, this verdant land of misty volcanoes, roaring rivers, and lush jungles teeming with exotic fauna this country is the perfect place for adventure and relaxation.

Spend your days exploring cloud rainforests, zip lining through the jungle or surfing along the coast. It’s easy to see why they say Costa Rica is Pura Vida – “pure life.”

Ready to start planning? Contact Two Sisters Travel.

Hawaii

Situated in the Pacific Ocean and over 2,100 miles from the mainland sits the small island chain of Hawaii. These gorgeous volcanic islands formed millions of years ago are still intriguing visitors today.

Steeped in breathtaking natural beauty, warm Polynesian culture, and a near perfect year round climate, Hawaii makes an ideal tropical destination to celebrate the holiday season. Experience it all from history & culture, to relaxation & adventure.

Ready to start planning? Contact Two Sisters Travel.

Don’t let the stress of planning your family spring break vacation overwhelm you. Two Sisters Travel can custom curate the perfect itinerary to fit your vacation style, preferences and budget. Two Sisters Travel will make the entire travel experience easy and stress-free from start to finish.

Contact Two Sisters Travel today online here  or call 843-284-3241, and let’s get started.

Two Sisters Travel is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Giveaway: Baby Magic Oh Baby! Essentials Gift Set 

This week, we’re giving away on Baby Magic Oh Baby! Essentials Gift Set to one lucky SouthernMamas.com readers.

The gift set features all the bath and skincare essentials that your baby or toddler needs. Perfect for gifting at baby showers or for your own little one.

Includes one each 9oz Gentle Hair & Body Wash, 9oz Calming Baby Bath, 9oz Gentle Baby Lotion, 80ct Unscented Wipes and Bonus Bunny Lovie. Tear-free, free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates and dyes.

To enter to win, go to the giveaway announcement post on our SouthernMamas.com Facebook page by clicking here & comment on it telling us the favorite part of your child’s bedtime routine – maybe bathtime, storytime, picking out jammies, lights out, lullaby or a special bedtime ritual in your home? THEN SHARE THE POST.

Deadline to enter to win is 9PM Mon. Feb 1 2021. We’ll pick a winner at random & announce it here & on our Facebook page.

Kindermusik Savannah with 88 Keys Piano is offering their playdate from January as a virtual option, due to requests from local and out of town families.

This virtual play date will be held only once, on Thursday, Feb. 4 2021 at 11AM. Open to ages 0-7, each child will receive a 22-page storybook, and ten Kindermusik songs mailed to them after the class. To enroll, visit kindermusikwith88keys.com.

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Weekly Classes Free for Newborns

Newborns to age 10 weeks attend our weekly classes completely free. If you have a newborn, join us! Text NEWBORN to 912-432-5885 for more info.

Kindermusik…A Good Beginning Never Ends.

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Kindermusik Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Susie King Taylor Community School, Savannah 

Susie King Taylor Community School’s lottery is officially open for the 2021-2022 school year. Lottery will be held March 12, 2021.

SKTCS is a tuition-free, public K-8 Charter School in Savannah focused on place-based education, social-emotional learning with an emphasis on community through the middle school academy for social justice.

Learn more here.

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Susie King Taylor Community School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Telfair Museums’ PULSE festival returns in hybrid form for pandemic times Jan. 27-31 2021 with exhibitions at the Jepson Center in Savannah, virtual lectures by featured artists, a curator’s tour, workshop, and a free admission weekend.

Find the PULSE festival 2021 schedule and registration links here. 

Kid-friendly PULSE events include:

Jan. 28 2021

11AM | PULSE Virtual Artists Tech Talks for Students with David Gumbs
David Gumbs will present an informal talk for students focusing on his journey and development as an artist. Open to students grades 4 through college by registration.

6PM | PULSE Virtual STEM Chat with Diana Eng and Natalie Zee Drieu
Get inspired and ready to jump start STEM at home with a presentation by two amazing designers, parents and hosts of the web video series STEM Chat. Natalie Zee Drieu is former editor in chief of CRAFT magazine, blogger at coquette.blogs.com and Adafruit Industries, with an extensive background in design and technology. Diana Eng is founding member of maker group NYC Resistor, a fashion designer who rose to national attention on Season 2 of Project Runway, author of Fashion Geek and a previous lecturer at PULSE. Join these two creative moms for great tips on exploring STEM content with young people at home!

Jan. 29 – 31 2021

10AM-5PM | PULSE Free Family Weekend at the Jepson Center
Enjoy a three-day weekend of free admission to the Jepson Center to explore all of the new interactive art for PULSE and other current exhibitions. Hands-on art making kits will be available for families to pick up in the Jepson Center atrium.

Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center will be open free to everyone, locals and tourists alike, the weekend of Jan. 29-31.

In partnership with the City of Savannah, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Friday through Sunday, the museum will offer free admission to its large contemporary art space on the southwest corner of Telfair Square. Face masks are required, and occupancy limits will be enforced for social distancing. For more on Telfair’s safety procedures, visit telfair.org/hours-admission.

Visitors to the Free Family Weekend are invited to tour current exhibitions and explore art activities created by Telfair’s education team, including a limited number of free take-home art kits for children.

Exhibitions currently on view include Collecting Impressionism: Telfair’s Modern Vision, which closes after Sunday; Youthful Adventures: Growing Up in Photography; Complex Uncertainties: Artists in Postwar America; and other highlights from the museum’s permanent collection.

Also on view at the Jepson will be Telfair’s annual PULSE Art + Technology Festival, which kicks off Wed. Jan. 27 2021.

Caribbean artist David Gumbs is this year’s lead artist, with PULSE his debut solo show in the United States. His interactive pieces translate features of the Caribbean environment, impacts of global warming, and the legacy of colonialism into colorful digital landscapes that transform and respond to visitors’ movements.

Other PULSE highlights include works by Savannah-based artists Guanzhi Kou and Greg Finger, a virtual discussion about producing STEM projects at home with kids by prominent makers Diana Eng and Natalie Zee Drieu, and a series of virtual student workshops.

At 6 PM Wed. Jan. 27, Telfair will celebrate the PULSE kickoff with a free virtual lecture by Gumbs, live from Martinique and presented on Zoom. Gumbs also will present a virtual tech talk for students on Zoom at 11 AM Thurs. Jan. 28 2021.

Jan. 29 2021

2PM | PULSE Virtual Curator’s Tour
Join PULSE curator Harry DeLorme for a live virtual walk through of current PULSE projects at the Jepson Center.

Jan. 30 2021

9:30AM | PULSE Youth Workshop: Make a Solar Oven!
(Grades 4-8) Presented by the Society of Women Engineers- Savannah Coastal Empire Chapter
Turn a pizza box into a solar oven to heat a slice or make a snack. Parental supervision is required. Limit 20 participants. A supply list will be sent in advance to all participants. Most are simple supplies you can find at home. Register online here. 

9:30AM | PULSE Virtual STEM Youth Workshop: Making Ice Cream with Science!
(Grades 3-12) Presented by Society of Women Engineers – Savannah Coastal Empire Chapter
Learn how to use science to make ice cream in 10 minutes. Limit 20 participants. A supply list of simple supplies that can be found at home will be sent in advance. Register online here. 

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Find the PULSE festival 2021 schedule and registration links here. 

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Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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

Your child is invited to a Children’s Virtual Storytime, Mon. Feb 1 at 1:30PM featuring a new piece from the Alliance Theatre called. “Sit-In.”

Register online here. 

Created by Atlanta’s bestselling author, playwright, and Civil Rights Activist Pearl Cleage, “Sit-In” follows three friends as they learn about the sit-ins of the Civil Rights era, and powerfully apply those lessons to issues they–and we all–face today. This program was brought to you in part by PNC, the presenting sponsor for Black History Month programming at The Center.

At the completion of the story experience, you will be joined by Alliance Theatre Artist Maya Lawrence who will walk students through an art project themed to compliment the video.

An accompanying video will feature a pre-recorded conversation with the playwright Pearl Cleage and others to discuss thoughts and ideas for continuing the conversation with your children after they’ve seen the piece. Run time of the video is 30 minutes.

Register online here. 

The program is online and hosted by the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.

Winners announced during a virtual ceremony for the 2021 Youth Media Awards.

We Are Water Protectors, illustrated by Michaela Goade, won The Caldecott Medal, awarded annually to the most distinguished American picture book for children. Goade made history becoming the first BIPOC woman and first Indigenous illustrator to win the prestigious award.

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller won the Newbery Medal, awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri, which won the Printz Award, which annually honors the best book written for teens,

Virtual​ Open House for STEM Academy (middle school) in Savannah via ZOOM on January 27, 2021 at 5:30 PM.

To Join: See Zoom Meeting information above.

Learn more about Savannah-Chatham public school choice program application deadlines here. 

St. Andrew’s Assistant Head of School Ryan Martin

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

St. Andrew’s Assistant Head of School Ryan Martin recently wrote an article on the International Baccalaureate diploma program. St. Andrew’s is one of two independent schools in the state of Georgia to offer the IB Diploma Program. Read it here. 

St. Andrew’s –  a private independent school (age 3 to grade) -is accepting applications for Pre-K 3 through Grade 4 for the 2021-22 school year. The application deadline is 2.19.21. Details here. 

St. Andrew’s School, 601 Penn Waller Rd, Savannah, 31410. 912.897.4941 ext 452, www.saintschool.com , email hellew@saintschool.com On Facebook here.   On Twitter here. St. Andrew’s is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Trinity Lutheran Church Hearts of Compassion Helping Hands Ministry in Savannah invites the public to participate in their year-long 2021 drive to help the homeless and families in need.

“Year of Giving Hope.”
Each month during the year, a new needed item will be listed. All you have to do is drop off your item in the bin outside the church’s Clothes Closet @ 12391 Mercy Boulevard, Savannah, GA 31419.

The item for the month of February 2021 is hand wipes. (Please see below list for each month.)
If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Wolfe at (912) 507-4990.

January – Hand lotion or sanitizer
February – Hand wipes
March – Toothpaste and toothbrushes
April – Bar soap and deodorant
May – Sunscreen
June – Shampoo and conditioner
July – Nail clippers and files
August – Band aids, Neosporin, insect repellant
September – Underwear
October – Blankets
November – Backpacks
December – Hats, scarves and gloves

Smart Start Academic Summer Camp 2021 @ Advanced Academics, Pooler

Elementary students will have daily activities in Writing, Phonics, Language Arts, Guided Reading, and Guided Math.
Middle school students will have hands-on STEM based activities as we merge core content areas of English, Math, Science and History.

Mon.- Thurs.
For elementary students: 9AM-Noon
For middle school students: 1-4PM

​Enroll online here.

Cost: $360/session

June 7-24 2021
or
July 5-22 2021

Register online here. 

Advanced Academics
email: adv.aca.mail@gmail.com
912-348-2017
405 Hwy 80, Suite 104
Pooler, GA 31322

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Advanced Academics is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

High Cotton Kids 2021 Spring Sale, Savannah, Feb. 23-27

Dates are set for High Cotton Kids Spring 2021 Sale: Feb. 23-27. High Cotton Kids is Savannah’s biggest consignment event. HCK  specializes 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!

High Cotton Kids is in the same great location:

2134 E. Victory Drive
Savannah, GA 31404
Crossroads Shopping Center
(Directly behind Starbucks)

Wednesday 2/24 5-7PM
Thursday 2/25 10AM-7PM
Friday 2/26 10AM-7PM
*Saturday 2/27 10AM-4PM
(*select items 40% off on Saturday)

Shop Early for a Cause on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, 5:30-8PM
$5 donation to benefit P.A.C.K. (People of Action Caring for Kids) is a 501 c-3 non-profit committed to meeting the basic needs of children in our local community and inspiring the next generation of volunteers.

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Sell Your Stuff

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!

Why should you consign with High Cotton Kids?

-Locally owned, well known and trusted since 2009.
-Consignors can earn up to 75% of their total sales!
-Shop early, before the sale opens to the public!
-HCK online tagging system makes it easy and you can track your sales!
-Your items are always guaranteed and safe!
-HCK high foot traffic and advertising means mores sales for you!

Visit www.highcottonkids.com for more info or click here to register.

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High Cotton Kids is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Low Country Counseling in Savannah

Struggles with eating can lead to confusion on whether or not a person feels hungry.

One of the most common questions asked in therapy for over-eating patterns is how to understand when to eat (and when to stop).

Therapists @ Low Country Counseling in Savannah offer three hunger cues to know if your body is in need of fuel and four tips to address hunger here.

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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 

Girls Who Code Savannah is back! The free youth program will return with eight free virtual workshops starting Feb. 13 2021. Register online here.

Girls Who Code Clubs are meant for girls to join a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models, and use Computer Science to change the world. Volunteer instructors provide a learning environment where young women are introduced to fundamental principles, technologies, and skills associated with computer programming and Internet technologies.

When young women join a Club, they are able to learn from fun and simple online coding tutorials, build community through interactive activities and learn about inspiring role models. They then work in teams and use code to design and build a Girls Who Code Project that solves real-world problems.

Clubs are for young women attending public middle school (grades 6-8) in Chatham County. Whether your child is a beginner or a computer master, she is invited to join the movement. In order to participate, youth must have parent/guardian permission, a computer with internet connectivity, and access to Wi-fi.

When: The Club involves eight virtual sessions, which will meet every two weeks on Saturdays at 2:30PM.
Feb. 13, Feb, 27, March 13, March 27, April 10, April 24, May 8, May 22 2021.

Space for this program is limited. Therefore, Girls Who Code Savannah asks that those interested in participating make a commitment to attending all eight sessions. If an interested party cannot be present for all sessions due to other commitments or conflicts, the program volunteers ask that you please wait until the next round of sessions is offered and allow someone who can fully participate in the program an opportunity for acceptance in this round of sessions.

Where: Workshops will be held virtually via Google Classroom. Information regarding the Google Classroom and specific sessions will be sent after registration.

Registration: Visit The Creative Coast’s Girls Who Code page here and fill out a quick registration form.

Due to COVID-19 and based on guidance from Emory University, Emory Math Circle for middle and high school students will be held virtually for Spring 2021 – which means students in Chatham County & the Lowcountry can take part.

Lessons will be forty minutes long and held over Zoom.

Emory Math Circle is a free math enrichment program for middle and high school students (grades 6 – 12). The goal is to teach students how to think both logically and creatively while sparking and developing in them a passion for mathematics. Different levels of classes are offered, each of which meets six times per semester. Instructors are all PhD students and faculty at Emory and Georgia Tech.

Register online & learn more here.

There’s a new outdoor kid-friendly spot on Hilton Head Is: Adventure Playground @ Lowcountry Celebration Park.

Lowcountry Celebration Park – which opened in December 2020 – includes Adventure Playground for kids, a discovery trail, pavilion and lawn for festivals, exercise stations, Wi-Fi, restrooms. The Sandbox Children’s Museum is set to move there, too, from its current location later this year.

Lowcountry Celebration Park is located off Pope Avenue near the Coligny Beach parking lot.

The spacious Adventure Playground features a giant ship complete with mist cannons.

Adventure Playground is open from sunrise to sunset. Restroom facilities at the Park close at 10PM.

Parking is available in the Coligny Beach Parking Lot, the parking lot off Nassau Street or onstreet parking on Nassau Street.

Playground Water Feature: The Adventure Playground has a water feature. This feature will become operational once after requirements for permits are completed.

Find more things do with kids while on Hilton Head Is. here. 

Hilton Head Snow Day 2021

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021
11AM-4PM
SHELTER COVE COMMUNITY PARK
39 SHELTER COVE LANEHILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC, 29928UNITED STATES (MAP)
$5 ages 2-17, adults free

This is a family event that will have inflatable rides, a snowfield, and entertainment. For the kids who have never seen snow, this is the perfect event. The price of admission includes snow field. Additional rides and games sold separately.

Learn more here.

Kindermusik Savannah January play date

Join Kindermusik THIS Saturday, Jan. 23 2021 at 10AM and 11AM for Kindermusik’s monthly musical playdates in Savannah.

Open to children ages newborn to 7 and their caregivers.

Celebrate the excitement of learning through a small group movement and music class. Each child receives a Kindermusik instrument or prop, 10 Kindermusik songs, and a $5 coupon which can be applied towards weekly studio classes.

Spaces are limited – secure your child’s spot at kindermusikwith88keys.com.

Kindermusik…Music Now, Skills for Life.

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Kindermusik Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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. 

The Sandbox Children’s Museum on Hilton Head and The Sandbox @ Tanger 2 in Bluffton will open again Fri. Jan. 15 through Mon. Jan. 18 2021.

The museums will then be open Thursdays-Sundays.

Make reservations to visit online here. 

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The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

School searching in Savannah?

Join Savannah Christian Preparatory School at an upcoming open houses, school tours.

Open houses @ Savannah Christian Preparatory School 

Wednesdays Jan. 27, Feb. 10 & Feb. 24 2021, 9:30-10:30AM @ Eckburg Auditorium.

Find more information here. 

Reservations are required. For more information on this event or admissions at Savannah Christian Preparatory School, please email Kathi Strickland, Director of Family Relations, at kstrickland@savcps.com or call the admissions office at 912.629.5544.

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More about SCPS

Savannah Christian Preparatory School (SCPS) is an independent, non-denominational PK-12 college prep Christian school.

Savannah Christian Preparatory School,  (912) 234-1653, www.savcps.com, On Facebook here. On Twitter here.  Follow SCPS on Instagram at savannahchristianprep   Savannah Christian Preparatory School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser