In Focus

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

• Summer Camps: Register at https://www.gwa.com/campus-life/summer-camps.cfm

• No School: April 18, Good Friday

• No School: April 21, Easter Monday

• IOWA Testing (6th/7th): April 22 - 25

• LS Group Photos: April 24

• Field Day: April 25

• Champion's Dinner: April 26 (see below)

• College Panel: April 28 (see below)

• Faculty/Staff Appreciation Week: May 5 - 9

• AP Exams: May 5 - 16

• Semester Exams for Seniors: May 5 - 9

• Spring Band Concert: May 6

• Senior/Faculty Volleyball Game: May 7

• Yearbook Presentation: May 12

• Baccalaureate: May 16

• Class of 2025 Graduation: May 17

• Semester Exams for Grades 8-11: May 19 - 21
• K5 Graduation: May 21
• 5th Grade Graduation: May 22
• Exam Make Up Day: May 22
• Last Day of School: May 22

Dear GWA Family,

April and May are super busy months in the school world. This spring is no exception. Advanced Placement (AP) exams, spring sports playoffs, senior graduation activities, year-end class parties and summer camps will soon be upon us. To accelerate the pace of campus life even more, two teams of independent school educators from across the Southeast arrive later this month to review survey results and evaluate our school and the latest draft of the new strategic plan. We are ready for our special guests and eager to be re-accredited for a new five-year term.

The Easter holiday that begins tomorrow is an appropriate time to remind us of the core values that will be codified in this updated strategic plan.

Faith

Excellence

Respect

Engagement

Perseverance

Faith is at the top of the list because we are a school founded in 1969 on Judeo-Christian principles. I sometimes get the question: Is GWA a Christian school? The answer is not simply yes or no. Easter is a good time to remind us of who we are – and who we are not.

Who we are:

• We always strive to lead with love, mercy, and kindness in all our actions and words, as the life of Christ Jesus exemplifies. Our actions and behaviors are teachable examples, especially for children. As a longtime mentor once shared, people would rather see a sermon than be preached to.

• We unapologetically lead with prayer at assemblies, faculty meetings and school events.

• We have Bible classes in the Lower and Upper School and support optional student worship groups in the MS and US (Bible Bulldogs). We sometimes share bible verses and short prayers in our daily morning message over the Intercom.

• We are inclusive of all faiths, and encourage families of other faiths to share their experiences and traditions in our classrooms.

• We respect each and every student or family who does not wish to partake in school activities to celebrate the Christian faith. We respect their wishes and accept them.

Who we are not:

• We are not a covenant Christian school, one only for families who sign and profess a covenant of faith. We embrace all comers, regardless of their faith.

• We do not require faculty and staff to adhere to the Christian faith, although most of us do.

• We do not proselytize or force religious views on anyone. At GWA, it is as important to teach a child how to think as it is what to think.

Most importantly, at GWA, we deeply love our students and families and aspire to lead with love and acceptance in everything we do. Gratitude, humility, and grace are watchwords to guide and inspire us. Every day is a new day, offering us a chance to learn from our mistakes and to make a difference in the lives of others.

Blessings to you and your family for an uplifting Easter break!

On Wednesday, the K-5 classes celebrated spring with one of their favorite tasty treats with Peep Day! Students adopted their own peep and built houses for them out of jellybeans, and marshmallows. Everyone was able to taste test peeps to find out which one was their favorite. Students designed their own peep and some peeps even hatched from eggs. The kindergartners became mini scientists when they conducted two experiments to see if peeps sink or float and what types of liquid they will dissolve in. "I loved everything we did! The Dr. Pepper peep was my favorite," said Harper Mitchell. The classes had so much fun learning and creating on Peep Day!.

As part of their science unit on food chains and food webs, fourth graders dove into an exciting hands-on lab: dissecting owl pellets! This activity helps students explore an owl’s role in the ecosystem and see how energy moves through a food web.

Owls are predators that often swallow their prey whole. Since they can’t digest bones, fur, or feathers, these parts are formed into a pellet and coughed up. By dissecting the pellets, students can identify tiny bones—like skulls and leg bones—and discover what animals the owl has eaten, such as mice or shrews.

Using bone charts, students will try to match and reconstruct skeletons, learning more about predator-prey relationships and the owl’s diet. This lab makes the concept of food chains come alive and helps students build observation skills while exploring real evidence of nature in action.

Captain Webster of Monroe Fire Rescue shared his expertise by training students to be real “first responders,” equipping them with the skills needed to stop bleeding in an emergency. Students gained a deeper understanding of how real-life bleeding emergencies can happen every day—whether from falls, car accidents, hunting incidents, or athletic injuries.

During the training, students learned how to properly apply pressure, pack wounds, and use a tourniquet on others and themselves when necessary. They also received an in-depth review of the circulatory system and basic human anatomy, reinforcing the science behind lifesaving techniques.

This invaluable training not only enhanced their understanding of emergency response, but also empowered them with skills that could one day save a life.

The College Counseling Office will be hosting the College Admissions Panel on Monday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Nicholson Center. All sophomores and juniors are required to attend the event and all grades are welcome to attend.

Six college and university admissions representatives from large, small, private, public, in-state & out-of-state schools will be participating, including University of Georgia, Samford University, Valdosta State, Mississippi State, Mercer Univeristy and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). George Walton Academy students and families will not only learn about these respected institutions but also about the college admissions process in general. There will be time for Q & A as well.

Please email Mr. Terrell at jterrell@gwa.com with any questions.

Before spring break, several GWA high school students joined peers from surrounding schools to volunteer as buddies at the Newton County Special Olympics track and field events, held at Sharp Stadium. The athletes, ranging from middle school to high school and masters age, competed in events including the 200-yard dash, softball throw, and, for some, the long jump. In addition to the competitions, athletes enjoyed fun activities like face painting and a coloring station set up for relaxation and enjoyment after their events. Each GWA student was paired with two to three athletes, offering encouragement, support, and assistance throughout the day. Our students found the experience deeply rewarding and were honored to help others pursue their passions.

Our very first Taco Cook-Off was a huge success! Big thanks to everyone who joined us for an evening filled with delicious food, great music, tons of fun, and Bulldog fellowship!

Congrats to our cook-off champs:

1st Place: Alex & Jessica Friedman

2nd Place: Kelly Phillips & Joe Bredeson

Special shoutout to Amanda Jackson for organizing such an awesome event and to the band for keeping the energy high with some amazing tunes!

Join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, fundraising and fabulous desserts on Saturday, April 26! The Champion’s Dinner is an opportunity to support our GWA athletes by purchasing event sponsorships, individual tickets and participating in the silent auction and dessert auction. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. in the Lower Gym. Click the link below to be a part of this worthwhile event! Go Bulldogs!

https://gofan.co/event/3510195?schoolId=GA5020

GWA activities don’t stop when the school year ends! Our 2025 camps begin June 2 and run through July 31. Register at the link provided or visit gwa.com.

https://www.gwa.com/campus-life/summer-camps.cfm.

Camp offerings include:

• Tennis
• Draw, Paint, Create
• Girls Basketball
• New London Driving
• Barbie Camp
• Minecraft Camp
• Boys Basketball
• Friends Around the World
• Taylor Swift Camp
• Melty Bead
• Football
• Let's Go Camping
• Cheer
• And More!

GWA Summer Camps are open to all - campers do not need to be enrolled in the school. Please contact Ashley Kirkpatrick with any questions.

Please let your family, friends and neighbors know about our upcoming prospective parent mixer events! We can't wait to meet new families and introduce them to GWA! They can attend any mixer event, regardless of where they live. Interested parents can register HERE or contact Lamonique Pierre at lpierre@gwa.com.

On a Saturday morning last month, the skies at George Walton Academy were abuzz with drones, not actually outside but in the gym. Students competed for aerial dominance at the Spring Scrimmage for RECF Drone Competition. Wyatt Akin, Michael Dimmlich and Ishmael Rainford competed as teammates and individually. Our students also had to work with other students from other schools to build a coalition to complete obstacles and score points, learning to cooperate and collaborate with each other to successfully complete a mission.

This was the first such competition held at GWA, and it was the first appearance for the GWA Drone Dawgs, the after-school club for high school students. The team is coached by Mark Gasaway and Patti White. "This is the first year for this program, so I wasn't sure how things would go," Coach Gasaway shared. The team was also assisted by Lydia White, a GWA fourth grader, who acted as official timekeeper. Coach White is making plans to start an all-female team for next year.

The Aerial Drone Competition was sponsored by REC Foundation. Keicha Barnum was the RECF representative and is also the mother of a GWA alum, Darius Barnum (2019). Ms. Barnum also coached one of the teams attending the competition, the Dragon Fliers. This event was a first for drone competition, but it is only the beginning for Aerial Drone flying competition at GWA.

Come out to cheer on our Bulldog athletes and celebrate our track and field and soccer seniors! The track meet begins at 4 p.m. and soccer games against Lakeview Academy will be at 5 p.m. (boys) and 7 p.m. (girls) with senior recognition between games. Go Bulldogs!

The Lax Dawgs rewarded the seniors with a hard-fought victory against Oconee for the first time at the varsity level, avenging a 9-8 OT loss from last season.

Offensively, the Dawgs were led by Mason Kirkpatrick and AJ Dillard, who each scored three goals. Sam Elvington contributed one goal, and Tiedrell Ansley added two assists.

Defensively, Ayden Concepcion, David Boozer, Jet Hammond, Harrison McCarthy, and Kingston Guertin put Oconee under constant pressure all evening, allowing Marcus Porter to make big stops in goal.

Coach Scott Jackson commented, “To our seniors, Ayden Concepcion, Evan Conklin, David Eberly, Adam Denhardt, Hudson Geoffroy, Mason Kirkpatrick, and River Morrow, you have led the way, turning a one-win team into a championship-level program. Thank you for leaving it better than you found it.”

Huge congratulations to our varsity tennis team for an incredible season and a strong performance at the Region Tournament!

• Congrats to Phillip Akin for dominating the boys’ bracket—defeating the #1 seed with a 6-1, 6-3 win to claim the title of top player in the Region!
• Ellie Lang finished as Region Runner-Up
• Julia Tanase and Brooklyn Concepcion earned third place in Region doubles

MS and HS Spring Football sign-ups are now available in the weight room. All participating must sign up. Each practice will be held from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. on the lower track field. Please contact Coach Logan Beer at lbeer@gwa.com with any questions.

Fall 2025 football sign-ups are now open! The sign up links and information are provided below and on our website (https://www.gwa.com/athletics/youth-sports.cfm)

GWA offers flag football for students in K5 - 2nd. Practices and games will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6-7:30 p.m. The players will practice for 45 minutes, with the varsity players serving as coaches. They will then play a 45-minute game. If you would like to sign up your son for flag football, please fill out this form: Flag Football Registration.

10U Tackle is open to all GWA student, ages eight to 10. Youth teams will compete in the NGYFA, which plays on Saturdays. If you want your son to participate, please fill out this form: 10U Football Registration.

5th & 6th Tackle - If your son is interested in playing, please fill out this registration form: 5th & 6th Grade Football Registration

We are looking forward to a great season of youth football!

April 19 and 26 (HS ONLY, by appt. only) at Piedmont Physicians Primary Care

April 21 (Rising 6th-12th only) at AOC Breedlove office, 3 p.m,. first come, first serve basis.