Each year in AP Psychology at Darlington, students complete a creative project where they rewrite a familiar fairy tale and give one of the characters a psychological disorder. The goal is to combine accurate psychological understanding with creative storytelling. Students are free to present their work in any medium, including short films, children’s books, plays, podcasts, or music. This year’s standout projects included a handmade Hadestown-inspired picture book exploring PTSD, a short film about Lightning McQueen and narcissistic personality disorder, and an elaborate pop-up retelling of the myth of Herakles and the Hydra. The project highlights student creativity while encouraging thoughtful engagement with mental health concepts.
As we head into spring break and our students scatter across the globe — returning to their home countries, cities, and vacation spots around the world — it feels fitting to celebrate one of this year's standout experiences. In February, Darlington sent a delegation to the Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Chicago, Ill.
“When is the game? What was the score? Who are we playing against?” These are questions I hear constantly during athletic seasons. Too often, the answers are scattered, unclear, and unanswered. As someone involved in both athletics and graphic design, Leveling Up Darlington Athletics, my Senior Ventures project, is my effort to improve the quality, consistency, and branding of our athletic programs through social media, specifically Instagram.
When Mitchell Kelly Thurston (’14) first arrived on Darlington’s campus on the evening of Jan. 4, 2012, he had never seen the school in person. By 8:30 p.m., he was settling into a dorm room in Georgia, far from his home in Nassau, Bahamas. By the next morning, he was officially a Tiger.
Darlington would like to congratulate two of our band musicians for being selected for and performing in the District VII Honors Band. Girmante Zolubaite, a junior boarding student, made the flute section of the Grades 9-10 Band; and Xander Bickers, a member of our eighth-grade class, was chosen to play trumpet in the top Middle School Band at the festival.
Today, we feature Young Alumni Council member Elijah McKoy ('17), an orthopedic sales representative who graduated from Furman University in 2021. We hope you enjoy getting to know these young alums who have chosen to "learn with passion, act with integrity, and serve with respect."
I am often reminded of Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” a book that first appeared in the mid-1980s. I remember being struck by it at the time, by how something so profound could also be so uncomplicated. The lessons were simple, yet deeply powerful. I was genuinely impressed that the most important truths about life could be pared down to a short list of ideas that anyone could understand and live by.
February is an exciting and busy month, and I am grateful for the energy and the commitment from our students and faculty across campus. During this time of high demands in and out of the classroom, maintaining balance is important.
Through our Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Matthew McConnell ('17), a digital content creator for Florida State University's communications team.
With our exciting theme for the year, "Blast Off to a Great Year," our 3-5 team took advantage of an opportunity that was provided to us by a Darlington grant with a visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Happy New Year! As we begin the second semester and step into 2026, this feels like a natural moment to pause, reflect, and set a positive path forward. A new year often brings renewed energy and fresh routines, and for many of our students, the holiday season also brought exciting new gifts, including devices and new ways to connect.
As the first semester comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the strength of the Darlington Community and the great students we have. The first half of the year has been full of strong academic achievement and meaningful growth among our students. Semester grades are now available and can be seen on the parent portal under the “Classes & Reports” link. This break is a great time to reflect on progress, reinforce positive habits, and set goals for the second semester.
This past July, I had the opportunity to take part in the College Board's AP Summer Institute at Auburn University for the AP English Language and Composition course. AP Summer Institutes provide insights into the AP curriculum, AP exams and also aim to provide materials for teachers. As I am teaching AP Lang this year, this program was ideal in providing a solid foundation from which I can design and teach the course.
This fall, Darlington’s Young Alumni Council thoughtfully organized a virtual three-part Senior Transition Panel series designed to equip the Class of 2026 with insight, perspective, and confidence as they prepare for life beyond the Lakeside.
Through our Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Alumni Council member Emily Hendrickson (’06, LD ’25).
The Upper School Band proudly congratulates trumpet player Will Bowerman for being selected to the District Honors Jazz Band for the second year in a row. Will successfully made it through the auditions for this event in early October and was able to represent Darlington at the District Honors Jazz Band Festival Nov. 17-18 at Heritage High School in Ringgold, Ga.
This blog serves as a guide for parents navigating the college admissions process, helping you manage your own anxiety around the process and understand the crucial balance between supporting your child and allowing your student to own the application process and final college choice.
This summer, I had the privilege of earning my Level 1 certification in Orff Schulwerk instruction through the Cobb County chapter of the American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA). Orff Schulwerk nurtures children’s innate love of play and fosters musical development through singing, instrument play, speech, and movement. It encourages students to become active learners, exploring musical concepts in a hands-on, immersive way.
Each year in AP Psychology at Darlington, students complete a creative project where they rewrite a familiar fairy tale and give one of the characters a psychological disorder. The goal is to combine accurate psychological understanding with creative storytelling. Students are free to present their work in any medium, including short films, children’s books, plays, podcasts, or music. This year’s standout projects included a handmade Hadestown-inspired picture book exploring PTSD, a short film about Lightning McQueen and narcissistic personality disorder, and an elaborate pop-up retelling of the myth of Herakles and the Hydra. The project highlights student creativity while encouraging thoughtful engagement with mental health concepts.
As we head into spring break and our students scatter across the globe — returning to their home countries, cities, and vacation spots around the world — it feels fitting to celebrate one of this year's standout experiences. In February, Darlington sent a delegation to the Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Chicago, Ill.
“When is the game? What was the score? Who are we playing against?” These are questions I hear constantly during athletic seasons. Too often, the answers are scattered, unclear, and unanswered. As someone involved in both athletics and graphic design, Leveling Up Darlington Athletics, my Senior Ventures project, is my effort to improve the quality, consistency, and branding of our athletic programs through social media, specifically Instagram.
When Mitchell Kelly Thurston (’14) first arrived on Darlington’s campus on the evening of Jan. 4, 2012, he had never seen the school in person. By 8:30 p.m., he was settling into a dorm room in Georgia, far from his home in Nassau, Bahamas. By the next morning, he was officially a Tiger.
Darlington would like to congratulate two of our band musicians for being selected for and performing in the District VII Honors Band. Girmante Zolubaite, a junior boarding student, made the flute section of the Grades 9-10 Band; and Xander Bickers, a member of our eighth-grade class, was chosen to play trumpet in the top Middle School Band at the festival.
Today, we feature Young Alumni Council member Elijah McKoy ('17), an orthopedic sales representative who graduated from Furman University in 2021. We hope you enjoy getting to know these young alums who have chosen to "learn with passion, act with integrity, and serve with respect."
I am often reminded of Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” a book that first appeared in the mid-1980s. I remember being struck by it at the time, by how something so profound could also be so uncomplicated. The lessons were simple, yet deeply powerful. I was genuinely impressed that the most important truths about life could be pared down to a short list of ideas that anyone could understand and live by.
February is an exciting and busy month, and I am grateful for the energy and the commitment from our students and faculty across campus. During this time of high demands in and out of the classroom, maintaining balance is important.
Through our Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Matthew McConnell ('17), a digital content creator for Florida State University's communications team.
With our exciting theme for the year, "Blast Off to a Great Year," our 3-5 team took advantage of an opportunity that was provided to us by a Darlington grant with a visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Happy New Year! As we begin the second semester and step into 2026, this feels like a natural moment to pause, reflect, and set a positive path forward. A new year often brings renewed energy and fresh routines, and for many of our students, the holiday season also brought exciting new gifts, including devices and new ways to connect.
As the first semester comes to a close, I have been reflecting on the strength of the Darlington Community and the great students we have. The first half of the year has been full of strong academic achievement and meaningful growth among our students. Semester grades are now available and can be seen on the parent portal under the “Classes & Reports” link. This break is a great time to reflect on progress, reinforce positive habits, and set goals for the second semester.
This past July, I had the opportunity to take part in the College Board's AP Summer Institute at Auburn University for the AP English Language and Composition course. AP Summer Institutes provide insights into the AP curriculum, AP exams and also aim to provide materials for teachers. As I am teaching AP Lang this year, this program was ideal in providing a solid foundation from which I can design and teach the course.
This fall, Darlington’s Young Alumni Council thoughtfully organized a virtual three-part Senior Transition Panel series designed to equip the Class of 2026 with insight, perspective, and confidence as they prepare for life beyond the Lakeside.
Through our Darlington Connects blog series, we are proud to showcase the stories, connections, and lasting impact of a community that continues to embody Darlington’s mission and values long after graduation. Today, we hear from Alumni Council member Emily Hendrickson (’06, LD ’25).
The Upper School Band proudly congratulates trumpet player Will Bowerman for being selected to the District Honors Jazz Band for the second year in a row. Will successfully made it through the auditions for this event in early October and was able to represent Darlington at the District Honors Jazz Band Festival Nov. 17-18 at Heritage High School in Ringgold, Ga.
This blog serves as a guide for parents navigating the college admissions process, helping you manage your own anxiety around the process and understand the crucial balance between supporting your child and allowing your student to own the application process and final college choice.
This summer, I had the privilege of earning my Level 1 certification in Orff Schulwerk instruction through the Cobb County chapter of the American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA). Orff Schulwerk nurtures children’s innate love of play and fosters musical development through singing, instrument play, speech, and movement. It encourages students to become active learners, exploring musical concepts in a hands-on, immersive way.
