About Hancock Day School
Welcome to Hancock Day School – Where Tradition Meets Excellence! ✨
Since its founding in 1953 by the visionary Mrs. Emmie Ruth Bell Hancock, Hancock Day School has been a place where students thrive, grow, and soar! Rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, our school started with just kindergarten and first grade, growing into the dynamic, values-based learning community it is today.
As the school evolved, leadership passed to Mr. William Bell and Mrs. Doris Bell, who carried on its rich tradition. In 2004, facing the possibility of closure, Hancock’s dedicated parents took action—forming Parents and Friends of Hancock, Inc., a non-profit organization that purchased the school, ensuring its legacy would continue for generations to come. This commitment also led to the acquisition of Hancock’s current property, providing a beautiful, long-term home for our students to learn, lead, and excel.
A School with Heart & Purpose
We believe that every child is created in the image of God, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of honor, respect, and integrity. Though we are not a faith-based institution, we take immense pride in our founding principles and continue to nurture character, ethical responsibility, and strong moral values in all we do.
Academic Excellence & Character Development
We are dedicated to providing a challenging curriculum, an early emphasis on reading and phonics, and small class sizes that allow students to flourish in a supportive, engaging environment. In 2019, we were honored as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School, a distinction that highlights our commitment to academic excellence.
📖 Our Mission
Hancock Day School develops the whole student by instilling values, knowledge, and skills to become an independent, self-reliant, lifelong learner with the strength of character to make positive contributions in our ever-changing world.
🦅 Our Motto
Roots to grow. Wings to fly.
Join us and experience what makes Hancock Day School a one-of-a-kind learning community—where tradition meets innovation, and students are prepared for a bright future!
Walk through our halls, step into our classrooms, and feel the difference—that’s The Hancock Way in action! 💛💚 Our orderly classrooms and structured curricula create a dynamic learning environment that both nurtures and challenges our students. With high expectations guiding them, our students gain the confidence to tackle every lesson, project, and challenge that comes their way! 🚀
At Hancock, we believe that kindness, respect, and genuine connections make our school a home away from home. The warm and welcoming atmosphere you’ll find here is built on strong relationships among students, teachers, and families. And of course, we stay grounded in tradition—the legacy of Mrs. Hancock and Mr. & Mrs. Bell lives on, and if you listen closely, you’ll still hear Mrs. Bell’s famous words echoing through the halls: “Mind your manners!” 👏
Our mission and The Hancock Way serve as guiding lights, helping students develop positive attitudes toward people, learning, and the world around them. These attitudes shape their daily experiences, and we reinforce them every month by highlighting one of our core virtues through:
✨ Engaging assemblies
📚 Classroom activities
🤝 Service projects
Come experience The Hancock Way—where tradition fuels excellence and every student is encouraged to grow, lead, and shine! 🌟🦅
The Hancock Way
🌟 The Hancock Way – More Than 70 Years of Excellence! 🌟
For over seven decades, Hancock Day School has been dedicated to building bright futures by providing students with a solid educational foundation in a nurturing, values-driven environment. Our success is rooted in a positive school culture that shapes not only what we teach, but how we grow together. At Hancock, we live by a set of guiding virtues that define who we are—we call this “The Hancock Way.” 🦅✨
The Hancock Way – Our Core Virtues
| Virtue | Hancock Way |
|---|---|
| Kindness | 💛 Be kind |
| Respect & Responsibility | 🤝 Be trustworthy |
| Community | 🌍 Be helpful |
| Commitment | 💪 Be determined |
| Empathy | ❤️ Be understanding |
| Courage | 🦸 Be fearless |
| Curiosity | 🔍 Be inquisitive |
| Appreciation | 🙏 Be grateful |
These virtues aren’t just words—they shape our daily interactions, decisions, and aspirations. From the classroom to the playground, from academics to extracurriculars, The Hancock Way encourages students to lead with character, learn with passion, and contribute with heart. 💚💛
Join Us in Living The Hancock Way!
Come experience what makes Hancock Day School special—where virtues meet education and students become leaders. Ready to be part of something great? Let’s grow and soar together! 🦅
Accreditation
Hancock is the only non-sectarian, PK-8th grade independent school in Greater Savannah. We are proud of our school and long-standing membership as an accredited member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).
Hancock Day School is a proud member of:
The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Its mission is to strengthen member schools by providing high-quality accreditation processes, comprehensive professional growth opportunities, and visionary leadership development programs. SAIS is a membership organization of over 375 independent K-12 schools representing over 200,000 students.
Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) is a non-profit association of private, independent, and parochial schools throughout the state. The mission of GISA is to advance excellence and collaboration among Georgia’s independent schools by serving the professional growth, advocacy, and interscholastic needs of member schools.
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) has over 1,700 schools worldwide, and over 569,000 students attend NAIS member schools. NAIS provides a wealth of information to independent schools through well-documented research and professional development on best practices and cutting-edge instructional strategies.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in ensuring that Hancock Day School’s mission remains relevant, impactful, and aligned with the needs of our community. The Board is responsible for promoting our school’s vision and values, ensuring financial stability, and setting school policies and strategic direction.
We are grateful for the dedicated service and leadership of our Board members. Their focus on long-term sustainability ensures that Hancock continues to deliver excellence for future generations of Eagles! 🦅
📌 Executive Leadership
- John Manly – Chairman
- Travis Thomas – Vice Chairman
- Carolyn McIntosh – Treasurer
- Heather Lundy – Secretary
📌 Board Members
- Courtney Davidson
- Brent Goodman
- Rachel Hasselle
- Martina Kolovich
- Brent McCullough
- Mitul Patel
- Hunter Saussy
- Seth Speir
- Cody Tharpe
- Erica Timmons
- Timothy Walmsley
🔹 Thank you to our Board of Trustees for their unwavering dedication to Hancock Day School! 💛💚