Welcome!
Welcome to the third edition of Foxfire Today, the first digital
publication endorsed by Foxfire, Inc. We are proud to be such
an intricate part of such a prestigious organization, written
and produced by 6th grade SWIS (School Within a School)
students, with a preview article by our 5th grade SWIS stu-
dents. The students conduct interviews, transcribe, and write
articles in first person format about life in the Appalachian
Mountains. What makes our magazine different is that we
are recording life in Appalachia in the present, whereas the
Foxfire Magazine focuses on the past. It is with great pleasure
that we can share aspects of our beautiful community with
others through these publications.
When speaking of Foxfire, there are common words that are
always heard – heritage, community, preservation, pride,
family, hard work, etc. Reflecting on these, it is evident that
this group of students are part of that same Foxfire legacy.
They accept challenges with optimism and meet goals with
pride. They show respect and appreciation for their pasts, yet
desire to make their marks on the world through change - the
change that can make a positive difference. They have already
made a tremendous impact on our community of which they
are proud to belong.
Within this classroom, we are a family. Of course, we’re not
the traditional family- we don’t share the same blood line
or genetics, but we care about each other. We support one
another in times of crisis, and we pick each other up when one
falls. We encourage one another and celebrate the successes
together. We miss those who aren’t with us and sometimes
argue with them when they are. It’s alright for us to disagree
with each other, but no one else can. We eat together. We play
together, and we work together (sometimes more produc-
tively than others). That’s what families do. This same bond is
found within all Foxfire families. It’s developed and nurtured
until it grows into something more than we ever expected.
It expands until it spills over into our community. We bond
with others and our family continues to grow.
It is our hope that you enjoy learning more about our “family”
through the articles featured in this edition of our magazine.
This family is precious to us and we are honored to preserve
their stories.
~ Joy Phillips, Instructor
It is with heartfelt appreciation that we would like to thank the following individuals and groups
for their support and assistance with the publication of this magazine:
The staff of Foxfire
Members, Foxfire Community Board and National Board of Directors
Mrs. Melissa Williams, Rabun County Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Joi Woods, Rabun County Assistant Superintendent of School
Members, Rabun County Board of Education
Mrs. Lisa Patterson, Rabun County Elementary School (RCES) Principal
Mr. Mark Beck and Mrs. Colette Lovell, RCES Assistant Principals
Parents/Guardians of the SWIS students
We would also like to extend a special thanks to all the interviewees who gave their time,
cooperation, and patience to our students. Without you, this magazine would not have been possible.
Lastly, a very special thanks goes to CJ Thompson for the hours of work contributed
to the graphic design and layout of this product, and to Ethan Phillips for designing the covers for the magazine.
Contact us at:
Rabun County Elementary School • 1115 East Boggs Mountain Road • Tiger, Georgia 30576 • (706) 782-3116
Joy Phillips - [email protected]
Copyright 2018, The Foxfire Fund, Inc.