In Focus

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Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (678) 635-3800

• LS Book Fair: Sept. 20 - 27

• Picture Make-Up Day: Sept. 26

• Homecoming Week: Sept. 30 - Oct. 4

• Homecoming Dress Up Days: Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 (see below)

• Early Dismissal: Friday, Oct. 4 (LS 11 a.m., MS/HS 11:30 a.m.)

• No Aftercare: Friday, Oct. 4

• Buses Depart at 11:35 a.m.: Friday, Oct. 4

• Homecoming Dance: Saturday, Oct. 5

• Fall Break: Oct. 10 - 14

• LS Teacher Conferences: Oct. 15 (no school for LS ONLY)

GWA’s Library and Writing Center hosted a special event with best-selling author Allie Millington! Millington, celebrated for her captivating storytelling, shared her inspiring writing journey and process with our eighth-grade English classes and some lower-school students.

Millington introduced her latest book, Olivetti, a heartwarming tale praised by Tom Hanks in The New York Times. This beautiful story celebrates the strength of family, the power of friendship, and the magic of sharing our stories. Our students learned about the importance of persevering in the face of rejection and finding our unique voices – and a little about the art of typewriters!

Middle school Bible students have been focusing on stories this semester, including some that begin with betrayal and jealousy, but end with forgiveness and reconciliation. Recently, they learned about Joseph’s family and the coat of many colors given to Joseph by his father, Jacob. This coat (and Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph) makes his brothers angry, but in the end, Joseph forgave his brothers for their anger and mistreatment of him, and the family is reconciled.

Students divided into groups and created their own elaborate coats of many colors this week. As you enjoy looking at these coats, take a moment to vote for your favorite coat using the form below, and the group of students who wins best coat will receive a prize!

https://forms.gle/3LbbGfs9VNGgFmeA8

This week, students in Miss Patti and Miss Missy's K4 class are learning about community helpers. They had the opportunity to explore different community helpers in dramatic play by dressing up and using pretend tools for each helper. During learning center time, students are reviewing the weekly letter, number, color, and shapes as well as practicing their writing skills with the community helper theme.

This week counseling met with lower school faculty and staff to discuss conflict resolution. Conflict resolution circles have been created on both playgrounds in an effort to assist our teachers and students with common playground disputes. By practicing this skill, our students will not only learn how to identify conflict, but they will also develop communication skills to assist them in empathizing with their friends and in becoming leaders as they grow. These steps will assist our mission for them to learn to build and strengthen their relationships both in the classroom and in the community.

Step 1: State the other person’s feelings

Step 2: State your feelings

Step 3: State the problem

Step 4: Brainstorm ideas

Step 5: Choose the best outcome

Responsibility means the duty of having authority or control over something or someone. As we move into the 2nd month of school, we will be emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility in academics, in social situations, and in our community. Students will discuss the meaning of responsibility in all divisions through Building Bulldogs, Weekly Huddle, and in our Advisory Groups. At the end of the month, we will have a campus clean up day where students will work together to take responsibility for the cleanliness of the campus we all appreciate and love. This character trait emphasizes the goal in our Mission Statement to teach our students how to live lives of integrity.

You can decide how your tax dollars are spent! Redirecting a portion of your taxes to our school through GOAL allows us to provide tuition assistance for exceptional students. Take advantage of this win-win opportunity for 2025 at goalscholarship.org.

The Lady Dawgs stand undefeated in the Region after earning nine straight Region wins. They defeated ACS 12-5 last week, and played in a close contest (that ended with a 4-3 win) at home against BCA on Tuesday. The team will face the Lady Knights on the road tonight at 6 p.m. Go Lady Dawgs!

Travel to Athens this Friday and cheer on the Dawgs! Fans will have plenty of parking on the ACS campus (lots are marked on the map click here to view). Admission to the game is Adult $8 and K5-12 Students $5. They accept cash and GoFan. Let's go Bulldogs!

The Bulldogs had a great showing at the Walton County XC Championship on Saturday! Our middle school girls won the Championship and the middle school boys placed second.

Top 10 Finishers:

Azalea Snell - County Champion, Varsity Girls

Gage Wasileski - 2nd, MS Boys

Moneli Shekarbakht - 3rd, Varsity Girls

Emma Konick - 4th, MS Girls

Emma Drennen - 5th, MS Girls

Ashley Fields - 6th, MS Girls

Alex Gervais - 7th, MS Boys

Bryn Keyeck - 9th, MS Girls

Personal Best Times:

Emma Wasserman

Alex Gervais

Shane Howard

James Drennen

Daniel Islas

Carter Delp

Justin Gervais

Emma Konick

Emma Drennen

Ashley Fields

Bryn Keyeck

The team will take this weekend off before testing their fitness on the state course at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon the following Wednesday. Way to go, Bulldogs!

Are you interested in joining the Swim Dawgs this year? Plan to attend the upcoming informational meeting on Monday, Sept. 30 in the cafeteria with Coach Kinsey Snell. Swimmers must be able to swim 25 continuous yards, unassisted. Contact Coach Snell at ksnell@gwa.com with any questions.

GWA alumni - We are excited to welcome you back to campus! Join us for a Homecoming GWA Alumni Tailgate in conjunction with the GWA Champions Club Tailgate party in the Field House parking lot area. There will be bounce houses, giveaways, face painting and much more. Complimentary dinner tickets are available for GWA alumni and immediate family by RSVP'ing using the provided link below. Game tickets are available to purchase through the GoFan app or at the gate. We can't wait to see you on Friday, Oct. 4 beginning at 5:30 p.m.!

https://forms.gle/3Y9hMqE8prrt2JaE7