In Focus

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

• Magnus Health Updates Due: Aug. 1 (details here)

• Senior Parking Spot Party: Aug. 1

• New Student Orientation/Cookout: Aug. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

• Gently Used Sale: Aug. 3 & 12

• Mandatory Senior College Meeting: Aug. 11

• Open House: Aug. 12 (all grades)

• Senior Retreat: Aug. 13-15

• First Day of School: Aug. 14

• Early Dawgs Begins: Aug. 14

• Fall Sports Photo Day: Aug. 19 (Youth)

• Sub Meeting: Aug. 19

• Ice Cream Social: Aug. 21

• Champions Club Dinner: Aug. 23 (see below)

• Freshmen Retreat: Aug. 27-28

CLICK HERE for the list of 25-26 Important Dates

CLICK HERE to access GWA website calendar

IN FOCUS - JULY 17 EDITION - Back to School Edition I

- All divisions are a drop-in and there is no bell schedule.

- Meet teachers and find your classrooms

- Lower School parents will receive an email from their child's teacher before August 12.

- Families will receive carpool hang tags from the oldest Lower School child's teacher. Each family receives two. Contact Tracey Propes with any questions.

- Windshield decals may be picked up in the cafeteria and student windshield decals should be picked in the front office during Open House or at the start of school.

- All ninth-grade students should bring their current Chromebooks to the Tech Hub during Open House to receive a new Chromebook.

- Schedules for MS and US are currently available for all students in FACTS. Please come with your schedule (printed or available on the FACTS app) prior to arrival at Open House.

We are thrilled to announce a new enrichment program at GWA for selected students in grades 3, 4 and 5. The BARK program (Building Academic Reasoning & Knowledge) at George Walton Academy is crafted to challenge and inspire highly-motivated students in grades 3, 4, and 5 through academic enrichment, cognitive enhancement, and advanced problem-solving experiences. Designed for highly curious, motivated learners, the program goes beyond standard curricula to cultivate critical thinking, academic reasoning, problem solving, and analytical skills. Whether through rigorous STEM projects, literary analysis, field trips, logic-based challenges, or interdisciplinary explorations, students will engage deeply with content while developing the skills to think critically, collaboratively and innovatively. This program reflects our mission to provide challenging instruction and engaging experiences for young people.

The goal of the BARK program is to extend and enrich the learning taking place in the classroom each week through project, community, and real-world experiences. Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will expand upon their knowledge of government, economics, geography, and coding to work through meaningful academic and community-based projects that require critical thinking, academic reasoning, problem solving, and analytical skills. While those overarching ideas will be ever present in the BARK curriculum, students in each grade will also get opportunities to expand upon their research, science, and math skills through multiple cross-curricular units.

To qualify for placement in this fee-based program during the school day, a student must meet eligibility requirements in three of the four categories below. These requirements are both quantitative and qualitative in nature.

1. Cognitive Ability (as determined by performance on the COGAT, a nationally-normed examination)

2. Academic Achievement

3. Classroom Grades

4. Teacher Recommendations based on Motivation, Creativity, and Problem-Solving Skills

The BARK program will be led by Director of Academic Support Jordan Greene and Lower School teachers Denise Schnieders and Kim Fulmer. Please feel free to reach out to Jordan to learn more about this exciting program for third, fourth and fifth graders!

We’re kicking off the new school year in the most exciting way — with our Middle School Mega Relay! This event is all about fun, teamwork, and building new friendships.

Event Details:

• What to Expect: A full day of team-building games and relay challenges!
• Supplies: No school supplies needed on this day.
• Where to Report: Parents and students will receive an email prior to the first day of school with instructions on where to report.

To stay comfortable during activities, students should wear fingertip-length athletic shorts and a t-shirt in their grade’s assigned color:

• 6th Grade – Gray
• 7th Grade – Red
• 8th Grade – Black

Don’t Forget: Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.

We’ve got lunch covered — hot dogs, chips, and a drink will be served! If your student has dietary restrictions or would prefer to bring lunch from home, they’re welcome to do so.

Please complete the form linked below to indicate your child’s lunch preference and help us with planning.

Mega Relay Lunch Choice

We can’t wait to celebrate the start of a fantastic year with our amazing middle schoolers!

We are excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a favorite GWA tradition on August 21! Join us for the annual Ice Cream Social event at 6-8 p.m. and kick off the school year with something sweet! It’s always a great time to reconnect, meet new families, and get involved with our Bulldog community. Use the QR code or the link below to become a volunteer. While ice cream is still the main event, we’re celebrating big and welcoming all kinds of sweets. Cookies, cupcakes, brownies—bring your favorites to share! Also, we will be offering a fun commemorative t-shirt (sizes 3T - 3XL) for purchase - SEE BELOW!

Festivities begin in the breezeway, followed by games and a pep rally on the football. Feel free to bring your friends, family, neighbors — anyone who would enjoy it! The more, the merrier! Go Bulldogs!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrbxwmUlP6Ww4IrI5uI6rsS_P4LHACspUgt8drJpuAjABawg/viewform

The Dawg Shop is open for back-to-school shopping. The hours will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Be sure to stop by to see new apparel items available and to beat the Open House rush. Student planners are now in stock for middle schoolers, as well as recorders for 3rd graders. Kinder rest mats are available for purchase for any Kindergartener in need of one.

Hours during the school week will be Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

This year, the College Counseling office is hosting our mandatory Senior College Meeting on Monday, August 11 at 6 p.m. We will keep it to one hour and cover any and all college related aspects.

We ask every senior (and at least one parent) to attend. Our meeting will be in the cafeteria. If you have a conflict, contact Mr. Terrell. We look forward to seeing everyone there!

By Christian Smith & Ian Cornelius

On July 19, our GWA band leadership team kicked off the year ahead! We took our top section leader team to the Mountains in Clayton and Helen to have a fun-filled adventure with their friends and to prepare themselves with excellent team building and individual focusing games. Our Top Dawgs team, or Top five leaders in the band put together team building games and lessons they shared with their fellow section leaders to be ready to take on this year's band. This year's section leader team consists of: Wendy Menard, Kade Franklin, Maddie Garrett, Nolan Gray, Jon Terpstra as the Top Dawgs! Addie Hayes, Carrie Ann Plyler, Nick Schultz, Lucie Pulliam, Alaska Atkins, Anna Fuller, Isaac Osei, Cole Woodson, Cale Fuller, Layli Gharavi and Harrison McClellan as the remainder of the section leader team.

During our three-day retreat adventure, we had great food, an amazing trip down the river, leadership lessons, etc. and emerged with fresh excitement to take on the new Competitive Marching Season!

A huge thank you to Kaye Pickens, our Drum Major's Grandmother, who helped out so much! Also a big thank you to Michael Mealor and his family for housing us again this year in their cabin in Sky Valley! We couldn't have done it without them!

It's going to be a great season as we bring the Music of "Latin Dances" to the field!

Support GWA athletics and enjoy exclusive benefits with your Champions Club annual membership. Choose the level that’s right for you:

Young Alumni (under age 24) & Grandparents – $100

-Admission for two to all regular season home athletic events

-Champions Club car decals (2)

-GWA Athletics swag

Bulldog Level – $300

-Admission for immediate family (parents and children) to all regular season home athletic events

-Champions Club car decals (2)

-GWA Athletics swag

Golden Bulldog – $1,000

-Admission for immediate family (parents and children) to all regular season home athletic events

-Exclusive Golden Bulldog stadium seats

-Reserved parking at Don Williams Stadium (football only)

-Exclusive GWA Athletics stadium blanket

-Golden Bulldog car decals (2)

-GWA Athletics swag

Be a champion for our student-athletes!

For membership details and sign up - CLICK HERE.

To Learn more about The Champions Club - CLICK HERE.

Fall sports photo days are on July 31 and Aug. 19 (except varsity football will go on Aug. 1).

CLICK HERE for the picture schedule (subject to change). Please refer to your email from Elizabeth Jones that was sent on July 14 for more details.

K5 Assistant Teacher

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Lisa and her family moved to Monroe four years ago following the pandemic to rebuild their lives. They quickly put down roots and are proud to call Monroe their home. Her daughter is a GWA grad (2024) and her son is a rising GWA fourth grader.

With more than 15 years of experience working with children, Lisa will complete her undergraduate degree in education this year and plans to begin graduate studies at the University of Georgia. She has served at George Walton Academy as a volunteer and substitute teacher, building strong relationships with students and staff.

Lisa is grateful for the opportunity to impact students both academically and personally and is excited to work alongside colleagues she deeply respects. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, community and church service, time with family, working out, gardening, and interior design.

Campus Security/Guard Shack

We’re excited to officially welcome Kent Roberts to the GWA staff! Kent brings a wealth of experience from his time in Gwinnett County Public Schools, where he played a key role in maintaining a safe and secure high school campus environment. While he may be new to the staff roster, Kent is already part of the GWA family—he’s been coaching both varsity and middle school football here for the past three years.

Kent and his wife, Lori, have three children. Their oldest, Caitlyn (16), is a proud GWA junior, and their younger two attend Youth Elementary, Carleigh, age six and JD, age four.

We’re thrilled to have Kent join the team in a new capacity and look forward to the impact he’ll continue making on campus.

LS STEM Teacher

Anna Williams is thrilled to join George Walton Academy as the Lower School STEM teacher. She came into teaching as a second career after working in the nonprofit and government sectors, driven by a desire to make science fun and engaging for students. For the past 18 years, Anna has taught math and science at the middle school level in Barrow, Oconee and Peach counties. Her passion for STEM education has led her to this new role, where she hopes to spark curiosity and a love for learning in younger students.

A Georgia native, Anna, has lived in the state most of her life. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Oglethorpe University and a Master of Science in public policy from Georgia Tech. She settled in Bogart eight years ago to be near her family.

Outside the classroom, Anna enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling and cooking — especially when she can share those experiences with her large extended family, including many nieces and nephews.

LS Bible Teacher

Patti Wilson has been happily married to her husband, John, for 47 years. They have called Walton County home for 44 of those years and raised their family there. Mrs. Wilson holds a master’s degree in elementary and early childhood education and brings more than 40 years of teaching experience.

In her spare time, Patti enjoys reading, crafting and traveling, but most of all, she loves spending time with her grandsons and her Yorkie, Jackson. She is grateful for the opportunity to begin this new chapter teaching Bible to lower school students at GWA.

The window to sign up for the few remaining spots (New Zealand, Quito, Galápagos) closes at the end of August. Our Winter Term 2026 travel adventures offer engaging learning opportunities for GWA upper school students and provide a chance to delve into culture, cuisine, arts, architecture, history, nature, science, technology and more.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Suzy at squinlan@gwa.com.

For International trips register at https://www.educationaltravel.com/register

*See trip ID info. above