We are excited to announce that Kerry Jones has been hired as the Volunteer Coordinator now that volunteers are being welcomed back to school. 

She served as the Head Teacher at a prep preschool in New Jersey for nine years.  During this time, she taught basic education principles, exceeded the licensing requirement for continued education, received the highest evaluation possible three years in a row, and developed family relationships that built the program to become one of the most demanded in the area, with a three-year waiting list. 

She also served her community for over ten years as the Open Space Advisory Committee Secretary. 

She and her husband are building a home on St. Helena Island.  She is already becoming involved in the community by serving as a substitute teacher in Beaufort County.  She explains that taking teaching assignments in the county is a perfect way to learn about the school system, and she loves working with children. 

She has hit the ground running by getting updated Volunteer Applications and Volunteer Requests Forms to the school, creating a Volunteer Packet of essential information to assist volunteers, representing Adopt-A-School at the Dataw Island Carnival of Clubs to recruit volunteers, and making contact with teachers to encourage them to use a volunteer. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kerry at [email protected]. 

Adopt-A-School sent three students to summer camp during the summer of 2021. Students applied through the St. Helena Elementary School guidance office and were chosen on a basis of financial need and the ability of their parents to transport participants to and from the YMCA in Port Royal, SC. Jamie Simmons, Aaliyah Thomas, and Ah’niyah Thomas attended camp for eight weeks from June 21 through August 13, 2021.

Camp activities included swimming, nature activities, gym games, field games, dance, yoga and more. The final week of camp included a trip to the skating rink in Savanah, GA. From a note from one of the girls, “Thank you for allowing me to participate in camp. I had so much fun and make lots of new friends.”

Dataw and Fripp Island owners felt the holiday spirit this year as they joined together to support St. Helena Elementary School’s Angel Tree.  The Angel Tree Project supports over 130 children in need of a brighter Christmas.  The Angel Tree Project provides uniforms, casual clothing and educational games, books, and toys, for St. Helena Elementary children that are in need plus a Holiday Meal gift card.  Students are identified by guidelines established by the St. Helena School Coordinators.  Sponsors may choose to donate a monetary amount for the purchase of a uniform set, casual clothing and an educational game or book—around $40.00 per Angel. 

Dataw and Fripp collected over $8,000 in monetary donations and 67 educational toys, games, and books from over 75 donors!  A special thank you goes to the Dataw Island Women’s golf Association whose members donated $500 at their luncheon which was matched by the association itself to reach $1,000.  A big thank you also goes to the Fripp Island Santa Golf Scramble whose proceeds of approximately $800 were also donated!  Our own Adopt-A-School of Beaufort County, Inc. donated $1,000 to help.  

Many thanks to Sara Reynolds Green, Parent Liaison; Monique Shaw, School Counselor; and Andrea Murray, Social Worker for coordinating the program at St. Helena School.  Monique Shaw is the newest member of the Adopt-A-School Board.  Thanks also to Betty Huntley, Board President and Jan Manning, Board Vice President for coordinating the donations on Dataw and Fripp Islands respectively.