Santa visits during 2020 Holiday Season in Savannah & the Lowcountry

Some Santa visits/photos will be outside with masked Santas. Others at indoor malls will be through Plexiglass Santa shields. Kids can even zoom with Santa from home. Here’s a look at how your child can visit with Santa in Savannah during the pandemic.

(Outside) Morning with Santa @ Children’s School at St. John’s, downtown Savannah, Dec. 12
Sat. Dec. 12 2020, 10AM-1PM COST: $40 per family.
Celebrate the season with a festive fundraiser for the Children’s School at St. John’s, outside in the mall between St. John’s and the Green-Meldrim House. One ticket per family will include a photo with Santa (by a professional photographer with digital copy), an oyster shell craft activity, 4 Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits, a bag of chocolate chip cookies, cider (served on-site), and hot chocolate (served on-site).
Please pay online here. Extra Chick-fil-A biscuits will be available day of the event for $5 (cash/check). COVID protocols: This is an entirely outdoor event. Social distancing and masks are encouraged.

Details here.

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(Outide) Santa & Mrs. Claus @ Brendlen’s Christmas Light Display, Ridgeland, SC Dec. 12
1570 Drigger’s Lane
Ridgeland SC 29936
Nightly lights display, plus Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there Sat. Dec. 12, 6-8PM

Details here. 

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(Outside) Plant Riverside District Santa Meet & Greets, Photos

Santa visits, photos will take place outdoors during the holidays @ Savannah’s Plant Riverside District @ 400 W. River Street in downtown Savannah. Children will not sit on Santa’s lap but be positioned next to Santa. Two elves will help direct. Santa will have a white mask and children are encouraged to wear their mask. Parents or caregivers can take photos of children in the Santa setting. Visits start Fri. Nov. 28-Sat. Nov. 29, then resume Dec. 5-24.

Details here.
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Santa @ Children’s Museum of Pooler, Dec.21 

Children and families are invited to deck the halls of CMOP Mon. Dec. 21 2020, 9AM-2PM. Santa will there 10-11AM
A reading of The Night Before Christmas, photos with Santa, Christmas crafts, “snowballs”
This event requires a special event ticket for both members and nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event.
Cost: Members: $8; NonMembers $10

Details here.

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Santa shield @ Bass Pro Shops, Savannah Mall 

Already under way @ Bass Pro Shops Savannah Mall are in-person Santa Claus visits, photos for kids using a “magic Santa shield” at the store’s FREE Santa’s Wonderland experience.

Details here . 

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Find more kids’ holiday happenings in Savannah & the Lowcountry here. 

First Day Fitness Hikes
Wormsloe State Historic Site, Savannah
New Year’s Day, Fri. Jan. 1, 2021

Start the year off with Wormsloe State Historic Site in Savannah with a healthy 2.5 mile hike though the coastal maritime forest.

A Wormsloe Ranger will lead the way and answer any questions that might arise. Pets welcome on 6 ft. leash. Pre-registration is required, space is limited. Please call (912)353-3023 to make reservations.

Your choice of 4 hikes during the day. Hikes start at 9:30AM, 11AM, 1:30PM, and 3PM.

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Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah will also host first day hikes on New Year’s Day 2021.

First Day Hike
Friday, Jan 1, 2021 1-3PM
Skidaway Island State Park – Savannah, GA
Kick off 2021 with a 3-mile hike on the Big Ferry Trail. Please make sure to bring appropriate footwear, water bottles, and bug spray. The terrain for this trail is flat with occasional roots. $5 parking. 912-598-2300. Details here. 

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First Day Hike @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill, Ga
Friday, Jan 1, 2021 10-11AM
Join @ 10AM for a 3 mile nature hike with Ranger Autumn on the Magnolia Trail. This hike is medium difficulty and requires sturdy shoes and water. At 2PM there will be a History Hike in and around the fort. Ranger Mike will walk you through the past and tell you about the history of Fort McAllister during during the American Civil War. $5 parking. 912-727-2339. Details here. 

Due to the pandemic, The Savannah Ballet Theatre’s traditional performance of The Nutcracker has been changed into an on-air broadcast in partnership with local NBC affiliate, WSAV-TV.

A 90-minute Savannah Ballet performance of The Nutcracker will be broadcast twice on Christmas Day 2020 5:30-7AM and 5-6:30PM.

The performance will also be available for streaming on WSAV’s and SBT’s websites as well as via their social media channels.

Some of the performance is filmed in Savannah locations.

Low Country Counseling: 5 Bonding Experiences for Couples 

Not everyone feels completely in love constantly over the span of a lifetime.

Couples can be out of sync, where one may feel more deeply connected than the other. And then it flip-flops.

Low Country Counseling in Savannah shares tips on how to strengthen the bond between you and your partner 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, and teens. Contact Low Country Counseling for any questions or to schedule an appointment. Help is available.

Low Country Counseling is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Dr Misal Patel

Proper handwashing is important now more than ever.

Physicians at SouthCoast Health in Savannah say to avoid buying hand sanitizer with less than 60 percent alcohol content. Studies show that antibacterial gel with any less alcohol doesn’t consistently kill germs.

“You touch your mouth, your eyes, your nose throughout the day many many times without realizing it,” Dr. Misal Patel of SouthCoast Health said. “You touch doorknobs, desks, phones, keyboards, so many things that other people come into contact with as well so the best thing to do is to keep your hands clean and be mindful of what you’re touching.”

Learn more here. 

Dr. Patel is now seeing patients at the newly-expanded Pooler location (Godley Station Professional Park, 1000 Towne Center Blvd., Building 1200, Pooler). A Savannah native, Dr. Patel specializes in a variety of primary care services, and specializes in preventive care and management of chronic diseases.

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

This is the week!

Join  Kindermusik Savannah with your 0-7 year old on Saturday, December 12 for monthly musical Kindermusik playdate!

Celebrate the beauty of winter through music, movement, instruments, stories and more!

Each child will take home an instrument and 10 Kindermusik songs from this musical playdate. Class held in studio at 10AM and virtually over Zoom at 11AM. Enrollment is limited for the in studio class, so reserve your child’s spot today: kindermusikwith88keys.com.

Also, new December themes for weekly studio classes start this week. First weekly studio trial class is free! Text 912-432-5885 for more info.

Enroll at kindermusikwith88keys.com.

Kindermusik…A Good Beginning Never Ends.

Kindermusik Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Find fun family Holiday happenings in Savannah & the Lowcountry in SouthernMamas.com Holiday Events 2020.

Santa fire truck tours; outdoor holiday happenings; drive-thru holiday lights @ Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah; Santa visits; Christmas tree lighting & more.

See the holiday family-things-to-do list here.

Want to advertise your organization or business in this list? Email us at anne@southernmamas.com

School searching in Savannah?

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

Open houses @ Savannah Christian Preparatory School 

Wednesdays Jan. 13, Jan. 27, Feb. 10 & Feb. 24 2020, 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 

Telfair Museums in Savannah is excited to offer local Chatham County artists an opportunity to feature their art in the Jepson Center.

The call to artists seeks entries for Boxed In/Break Out, a museum-sponsored public art installation that involves activating six windows at the Jepson Center facing Barnard Street in Savannah. The artist chosen should have a detailed plan for how to utilize all six windows in a cohesive manner through self-created art that fulfills the following criteria: creativity, originality, feasibility, visual appeal, as well as resourcefulness and suitability in the space.

The project will be displayed from May 14, 2021-April 29, 2022.

Find details here.

Deadline: Friday, Jan, 15, 2021
Application fee: None
Window dimensions: 95” high x 63 ½”wide x 13” deep.
Email proposals to: Erin Dunn, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, at dunne@telfair.org with the subject line Boxed In/Break Out
Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years old and be an artist living or working in Chatham County
Honorarium: $1,000

Contact:
Erin Dunn
912.790.8800
dunne@telfair.org

Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Bring your kids for fun winter STEM, art, and other activities throughout The Sandbox Museum @ Tanger 2 Outlets in Bluffton, SC.

Reserve your spot and purchase your tickets online here or call Bluffton’s Tanger 2 location at 843-705-6235.

Winter Celebration
Wed. Dec. 30, 2020 @ 10AM-5PM
@ The Sandbox at Tanger 2

The Sandbox is an interactive hands-on children’s museum for children up through age 12 years.

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

The Chanukah Menorah Parade and Livestream Menorah Lighting on Hilton Head Is. is Sun. Dec. 13 2020.

The parade, sponsored by Chabad of Greater Hilton Head, will start at Tanger Outlets 2 at 4:30PM Sun. Dec. 13 and end at Shelter Cove Towne Centre for the Menorah lighting at 5PM.

Learn more here. 

Best home holiday light displays, decorations 2020 in Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill

Driving around Savannah, Pooler & Richmond Hill looking at home holiday light displays and decorations is a favorite family tradition.

From colossal Santa snow globes to computerized Christmas lights animated with music, SouthernMamas.com has your guide to local home holiday light displays.

Kids especially love those computerized “dancing” lights display animated with music. Lights choreographed to blink, twink and fade in red, blue, green and white, in sync with a custom-mixed soundtrack of holiday tunes.

Want to add a home lights display to this list or let us know if one of the past favorites isn’t up this year? Please email us the info at anne@southernmamas.com

*476 Copper Creek Circle (NEW LOCATION, pictured above)
Pooler GA 31322
5:30-10:30PM
(this is the lights-loving owner previously @ 24 Greatwood Way Savannah in Godley Park in the Highlands Subdivisions)

*253 Cypress Creek Lane
Guyton GA 31312
Nightly 5:30-10PM
Animated to 99.3 F.M.

*Neighborhood community light display
Singing Christmas trees connected to radio frequency & lots of lights
Pennington Estates off Midland Road on Penny Lane
Guyton, Ga.

*154 Lake Dr
Midway Ga 31320

*156 Oakview Rd.
Rincon, GA 31326 (near Hwy. 21 @ Rahn Station Rd)
weeknights dusk till 9PM; weekend nights till 10:30PM extended hours later closer to CHRISTMAS

439 Egypt Ardmore Rd
Springfield, GA 31329

*165 Bald Cypress Lane
Bloomingdale, Ga.31302
Animated to 99.9 F.M. in front and large static display on side.
Lights on from dark til 9:30PM, unless raining.

*110 Sunbury Dr.
Richmond Hill, Ga

*116 Austin Way
Savannah

*701 Stuart St.
Savannah, Ga. 31405
Lots of inflatables including inflatable helicopter

*5610 Lafitte Dr,
Savannah, GA
Model train that encircles top of porch

*202 Blue Marlin Dr.
Seagate subdivision, Whitemarsh Is. (Lights on from at least 6-10PM nightly until New Years Eve, unless there is heavy rain. 100% of the money collected in donation box goes to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

*1 Old Mill Court
Windsor Forest neighborhood
Savannah, 31419

*116 N. Sheftall Circle
Wilmington Island, Savannah

*Wilmington Island house: Take Penn Waller to Deerwood and turn right onto St Andrews Way.

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South Carolina

Brendlen’s Christmas Light Display
1570 Drigger’s Lane
Ridgeland SC 29936
Nightly lights display, plus Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there Sat. Dec. 12, 6-8PM

Arborwood Lights display
9 Arbormeade Circle in Bluffton (Look for “Arborwood Lights” in Google Maps.)
6-9PM nightly
Decorated homes & yards off Buckwalter Parkway in sync to Christmas music.
Donations benefit three families
Santa and his elf helpers there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, weather permitting.

43 Neligh Lane in Cypress Ridge off SC 170
Bluffton SC
8,500 lights in sync with music on 99.3 FM.
5:30-8PM Sunday-Thursday and until 10PM Friday & Saturday
Another home lights display @ nearby 211 Argo Circle.

Hilton Head Firefighters Christmas Lights
Fire Station 3
534 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Donations of non-perishable food items are accepted

ALSO DECORATED IN LIGHTS: shopping centers Coligny Plaza @ 1 North Forest Beach Drive & Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina (w/ Neptune statue wearing his Santa hat) @ 1 Shelter Cove Lane, both on Hilton Head Island

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FREE lights displays @ businesses, organizations

TMT Farms Christmas Lights Drive-Thru in Statesboro
16710 Old River Rd N
Statesboro, GA 30461
Open now until Dec. 27 2020, 6PM-1AM nightly.
Drive-thru only.
Admission is free, however, please bring non-perishable food items to donate. Cash donations are also accepted. Donated food will be distributed to needy families throughout Bulloch County and surrounding counties. Monetary contributions are used to purchase gift cards for needy families.
Details here.

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Not yet confirmed for 2020

*290 Watts Road
Guyton GA 31312

*1429 Dean Forest Road
Savannah, Georgia 31405!

*Corner of Timber Trail and Boyd Drive
Richmond Hiil, Ga.

*152 Crossing Circle
Rincon Ga.
Tune radio to 88.5 in your vehicle.

*948 Zeigler Rd.
Bloomingdale GA. (Tune to 99.5 FM)

*9 Yorkshire Place
Kingswood subdivision
Savannah, 31406

*40 Long Creek Lane
Richmond Hill GA 31324

Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia will host a food distribution drive thru THIS FRIDAY Dec. 18 2020, 8-10AM at Memorial Stadium in Savannah.

Put Magic In Your Calendar For 2021

Ready to escape these unprecedented times and have fun with your family? Walt Disney World Resort is open, and the magic is alive.

For a limited time you can save up to 35% off your stay at Walt Disney World Resort hotels January 3 – April 17, 2021.

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.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has opened 2 brand new lands, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. Both offering exciting new attractions, entertainment and dining venues!

Not sure what visiting a theme park is like right now? Two Sisters Travel has 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 @ Two Sisters Travel
843.284.3241
Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/twosisterstravel

Two Sisters Travel is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Feed the Hungry Christmas Drive-Thru 2020, Savannah

The 11th Annual Feed the Hungry Christmas Dinner to feed to working poor will be 4PM Dec. 23 2020 @ Windsor Forest Community Center, 308 Briarcliff Circle in Savannah.

Hot meals, signature farmers market and live entertainment.

Feed the hungry 2020 Christmas holiday dinner registration form this must be completed in order for you to benefit from the toys at the December 23 2020 event. Please visit www.savannahfeedthehungry.net and register today.

Learn more here.

We love this: an 8-week Art Boot Camp for Teens @ the beloved Studio School in Savannah.

This class – which will be Dec. 29 2020-Feb. 15 2021 – is intended to help teens up level their art audition portfolios; however, non portfolio seeking students may join in. Register online here. 

Each week, students will have an assignment that can be either begun and/or refined in class as students will have access to a password protected page created just for them where assignments will be posted before we meet in the virtual classroom.

Students will need to begin some assignments on their own and use class time to refine their art with instructor guidance while other assignments will be started in class and students will refine them on their own time. The instructor will be available for assistance through email contact. If students complete all assignments, they should end up with 8 total art pieces for the full course.

Learn more here.

8-week Art Boot Camp for Teens – let’s prep for portfolios!
Dec. 29 2020 – Feb 15, 2021
Tuesdays 5:30-6:30PM
two 4-week sessions available/ $99 per 4-weeks
includes real-time instruction & critiques, password protected page with all art resources, extra practice assignments, select demo videos
​Instructor: Linda Hollingsworth / info@thestudioschoolsavannah.com

The Studio School
1319 Bull St.
Savannah, GA 31401,
912-596-3873
info@thestudioschoolsavannah.com

The Studio School, www.thestudioschoolsavannah.com , email info@thestudioschoolsavannah.com, 912-596-3873, The Studio School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Bring the kids to this free, live drive-thru Nativity @ Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, 5:30-7:30PM Sun. Dec. 20 2020.

The narrated loop will include live actors, animals and a luminary path all leading toward the final nativity scene.

Cars and golf carts are both welcome.

This event is free and open to the public.

Live Drive-Thru Nativity
Skidaway Island United Methodist Church
54 Diamond Causeway, Savannah
Sun. Dec. 20, 2020, 5:30-7:30PM

Low Country Counseling in Savannah: ADHD Tips for Parents 

Did you know that Justin Timberlake has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? And Michael Phelps? There are ways to channel the extra energy into SUCCESS!

Low Country Counseling therapists in Savannah share five signs of ADHD in kids and five ADHD tips for parents 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, and teens. Contact Low Country Counseling for any questions or to schedule an appointment. Help is available.

Low Country Counseling is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Feed the Hungry will hold their annual toy drive registration starting Mon. Dec. 7 2020 .

That registration will continue through Thurs. Dec. 10 2020 from 9AM-noon each day at the Empowerment Center, 4704 Augusta Rd. in Garden City.

Parents, in order to register you must bring a legal ID, your child’s social security card or their birth certificate. Your child must also be present at the registration.

The Feed The Hungry Christmas Drive Through Dinner on Dec. 23 2020 at the Windsor Forest Community Center.

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

For the first time ever, St. Andrew’s School on Wilmington Is. in Savannah is participating in eSports,multiplayer video game competitions. The team is currently ranked 9th out of 438 teams. Their record is 15-2 and play continues this Thursday against Odyssey Charter School of Palm Beach, Fla.

The team is coached by math teacher Nick Broom and competes against teams along the Eastern Seaboard through PlayVS, the official scholastic high school and college esports league.

“ESports is similar to any traditional sport at school,” said Nick Broom. “We work as a team, develop strategies, and compete against other schools with the added benefit of no travel time.”

The St. Andrew’s team competes in Rocket League, a vehicular soccer video game. The game is designed for play in teams of three. Team members include Maclean Babcock ’23, Cameron Beke ’23, William Garguilo ’23, Joe Kinsey ’23, and Richard Witbeck ’23.

Esports is a fast-growing competitive outlet for high schools and colleges nationwide. According to the National Association of Collegiate Esports, more than 170 U.S. colleges have varsity esports programs and are offering around $16 million per year in scholarships.

St. Andrew’s is an independent, International Baccalaureate World School offering the Diploma Program. The school inspires young people age three through grade 12 with a hands-on, experiential approach to learning. For more info, visit www.saslions.com.

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.

Join  Kindermusik Savannah with your 0-7 year old on Saturday, December 12 for monthly musical Kindermusik playdate!

Celebrate the beauty of winter through music, movement, instruments, stories and more!

Each child will take home an instrument and 10 Kindermusik songs from this musical playdate. Class held in studio at 10AM and virtually over Zoom at 11AM. Enrollment is limited for the in studio class, so reserve your child’s spot today: kindermusikwith88keys.com.

Also, new December themes for weekly studio classes start this week. First weekly studio trial class is free! Text 912-432-5885 for more info.

Enroll at kindermusikwith88keys.com.

Kindermusik…A Good Beginning Never Ends.

Kindermusik Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

New middle grade graphic novel by Pooler comic book artist Jey Odin.

Odin one half of the creative team behind the upcoming debut middle grade graphic novel “Lemonade Code, ” which will be published January 2021 by The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group.

“Lemonade Code” is about a middle-school super genius – Robbie Reynolds – who starts a lemonade stand to fund his top-secret project, then gets some competition when the new kid starts a rival stand across the street.

Details here.

SouthCoast Health’s primary care locations listed below are offering flu vaccination clinics  in Savannah, Pooler and Richmond Hill available at the times posted.

Save time and book your vaccination by clicking on the link provided at your desired location.

Due to size of demand, flu shots will only be offered for existing SouthCoast Health patients.

Adult Flu Vaccination Clinics
Pooler (Ages 14+)
Godley Professional Park, 1000 Towne Center Blvd, Bldg 1200
Mon-Fri., 9AM to 4PM
Schedule flu shot here.

Savannah (Ages 14+)
1326 Eisenhower Drive, Bldg 1
Mon. – Fri., 8AM to 2PM
Schedule flu shot here.

Savannah (Ages 14+)
Chatham Center, 9 Chatham Center South, Ste C
Mon. – Fri., 8AM to 4PM
Schedule flu shot here.

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Pediatrics Flu Vaccination Clinics
Savannah (Pediatrics)
Eisenhower Drive Medical Center, 310 Eisenhower Dr, Bldg 16
Tues & Thurs, 8AM to 4PM
Schedule flu shot here.

Richmond Hill (Pediatrics)
St. Joseph’s/Candler Medical Office Park, 10055 Ford Ave, Ste 4A
Tues & Thurs, 8AM to 4PM
Wednesday, 8AM to 7PM
Schedule flu shot here.

Rincon (Pediatrics)
814 Towne Park Dr East
Tues – Thurs, 8AM to 5PM
Schedule flu shot here.

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SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Advanced Academics in Pooler

Advanced Academics in Pooler five-days a week Early Learning Program PreK & Kindergarten for ages 4 and 5 is $250 a month. Choose from English or Bilingual/Spanish. Learn more here.

Advanced Academics in Pooler microschool offers full-day sessions for homeschoolers and early learners on a small campus in Pooler, as well as enrichment classes. Enrichment classes are open to the public.

Advanced Academics can customize education for each child.

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