Future Grovetown High School 'Warriors' gather

Grovetown High School's latest developments were unveiled Tuesday as the school's future principal, Penny Jackson, held a meeting for students and parents.

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"The fact that you're here shows that you're eager to get involved and be a part of Grovetown High School," said Jackson, who will be serving as interim principal at Grovetown Middle School after the retirement last week of Carolyn Fries. "I know there's a lot of apprehension about a new high school. You're settled in where you are, and the thought of change is scary."

Jackson announced that Dr. Susy Roper, who has spent the past 12 years working in Columbia County schools, will become an assistant principal at Grovetown High.

The new high school, located off Chamblin Road in Grovetown, will officially open its doors in August 2009, but Jackson said construction is ahead of schedule, partly because of the dry weather. The administrative staff will move into the building in April, she said.

The school's Warrior logo, anchored by a blue and silver star, was revealed at the meeting. The letters, GT, also will symbolize Grovetown High, and the school's colors will be red, white, navy and silver.

A modern-day warrior was chosen to represent the school to pay tribute to soldiers, Jackson said.

"We're very thrilled about this because it kind of encompasses everything that was meant to be in the patriotic Warrior," she said. "I'm hoping that when you see Warrior, you're now going to think of this star."

Rising seniors will soon be asked to register either at Grovetown High or their current school, Jackson said.

"For some reason, I think it's going to be a larger senior class than what we're counting on," she said. "It's going to be new, they'll be able to start something, and they'll be a part of making history."

She said she hopes to have the same athletics that are available at other county high schools.

As of Tuesday, Advanced Placement courses in calculus and statistics; biology, chemistry, physics and environmental science; government, world history, U.S. history, European history and psychology; English language and English literature; art; French and Spanish; and computer science were offered.

Several vocational courses also will be available, including broadcasting, health occupations, foods and culinary arts, JROTC, welding, agriculture, automotive, cosmetology, business and drafting,

Students should sign up for any classes they might be interested in, Jackson said.

"The amount of teachers we're allotted is based on what students sign up for," she said.

About 50 students and parents attended the meeting.

"(We came) so she can get first-hand information and see who her principal is going to be," said Ruby Smith about her daughter, Jessica, a sophomore at Harlem High School.

Both Smith and Jessica agreed the meeting helped to ease some anxiety.

"I think we feel better," Smith said. "She's going to be familiar with things already at her school."

Grovetown High's next meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 at Patriots Park. The topic of booster organizations will be addressed, Jackson said, adding that she hopes to introduce an athletic director, football coach and band director at that time.

She said she's excited for the school's opening.

"It seems to me to be the perfect place to be," she said. "I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else. Hopefully, our students will feel that way as well."