In Focus

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

• Senior Art Exhibition: Tonight @ 6 p.m.
• Happy Mother's Day: May 10
• Yearbook Presentation: May 11
• Senior Mentor Breakfast: May 13
• Senior Banquet: May 13
• Baccalaureate: May 15
• Graduation: May 16
• Exam Week: May 18-21 (see below)
• Rising Senior Parent Meeting: May 18
• K5 Graduation: May 19
• 5th Grade Graduation: May 20
• Last Day of School: May 21 (early dismissal)

CLICK HERE to access the GWA website calendar

*Please note* - As in previous years, 6th and 7th grade students will follow an adjusted class schedule during exam week while maintaining the same start and dismissal times as students in grades 8–12. See email from Mrs. Beam (dated 4/22/26) for details.

GWA is pleased to announce that current Middle School Dean Chelsia Beam will take on the role of Middle School Division Head. Head of School John Marshall commented, "This year Chelsia has grown tremendously as Middle School Dean. This expanded role puts her in charge of all areas of the middle school, including academics. Assistant Head of School Kellie Watts has admirably supervised both the middle and upper divisions for three years. It is time for GWA to resume having a key administrator dedicated fully to its MS students and families."

Chelsia has been happily married to her husband, Trey, for eight years. Together, they have a daughter, Lylia, who is in first grade at George Walton Academy. She is also blessed with two bonus daughters, Faelynn (12) and Bryelyn (10).

A lifelong resident of Walton County, Chelsia has dedicated more than a decade to education. This fall, she will begin her fifth year at George Walton Academy, where she has enjoyed building meaningful relationships with students, families and faculty. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and has earned endorsements in Gifted Education, Reading and ESOL.

"I am honored and excited to step into the role of Middle School Division Head," Chelsia shared. "I look forward to supporting our middle school students, families, and faculty while continuing to foster a positive and engaging learning environment for our school community."

George Walton Academy is pleased to announce our Class of 2026 valedictorian Madeline Jackson and salutatorian Anthony Pham. Madeline will attend Georgia Tech in the fall and Anthony will continue studies at Emory University.

Congratulations to Madeline and Anthony on their outstanding achievements!

GWA parent and local business owner Brittany Palazzo recently visited our middle school financial literacy class and delivered an engaging and insightful presentation. She shared her journey of starting her own business, building a brand as a social media influencer, and her experience appearing on Shark Tank. Brittany did a great job connecting real-world entrepreneurship to the concepts we are studying in class, and students especially appreciated her transparency about the challenges and opportunities that come with building a business. Her visit was both inspiring and highly relevant for our students as they begin thinking about their own financial futures.

Our fourth-grade students recently completed an engaging, week-long science project focused on owl pellet dissection. Throughout the week, they carefully observed and analyzed owl pellets to discover what animals their owls had eaten. Using focus and precision, students gently separated the contents and identified tiny bones, such as skulls and femurs, to determine the prey. After their discoveries, they reconstructed a replica of the small animal using the bones they uncovered, gaining a deeper understanding of food chains and predator-prey relationships. This hands-on experience not only strengthened their scientific observation skills, but they also practiced important lab skills.

Miss Patti and Mrs. Adair’s classroom was transformed into a “circus” last week as students stepped right into the magic of the big top. The classroom became a circus tent where students learned about the history of the circus and explored the many different jobs that make each performance possible. They discovered that every act requires hours of practice, training, and teamwork.

Students were especially excited to learn that the hometown of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is Sarasota — which also happens to be Mrs. Adair’s hometown. Mrs. Adair shared memories from her high school experience, where students had the unique opportunity to train with real circus performers through an after-school program and participate in performances each year.

The fun continued throughout the week with circus-themed reading and math centers. Students earned play money that they used on Friday during the class circus celebration. They paid to walk the tightrope, juggle, and play balloon pop games, and they could also purchase prizes and refreshments. It was a week full of creativity, learning, and fun for everyone involved!

Congratulations to GWA senior Gabby Rainford on being named The Walton Tribune’s 2026 Youth of the Year! She was recently recognized at the Visions 2026 Awards Reception with family, friends and teachers in attendance.

In a feature by Stephen Milligan in the Visions 2026 magazine, Gabby reflected on the honor, saying, "I wasn’t expecting this. I’m at a loss for words. I feel surprised and happy and grateful.”

Gabby’s leadership, service, and heart for her school and community have made her truly deserving of this recognition. From her many roles at GWA to her commitment to helping others, she represents the very best of George Walton Academy.

We are so proud of you, Gabby - and can’t wait to see all that you continue to accomplish!

What a fantastic week celebrating our amazing faculty and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week! Their dedication, encouragement, and care make George Walton Academy a place where students learn, grow, thrive, and feel truly loved every day. We are so grateful for the impact they make on our school community.

Our educators and staff have been celebrated in countless ways this week — from breakfast buffets and catered lunches to endless desserts, goodie bags, chair massages, dress-up days, and hand-painted banners filled with heartfelt messages. Every detail has made the week feel extra special.

A huge thank you to our families and corporate partners (and Amanda Jackson!) who went above and beyond to make this week unforgettable. We feel incredibly blessed and appreciated as we head into the final day of Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you, Bulldog family!

On National School Nurse Day (May 6), we celebrated the heart of our campus - our incredible GWA school nurses - Libba Ford, Emily Vannoy, Morgan Ooley, Jane Root (not pictured), and Rachel Choe (not pictured). We are especially grateful for the compassion, patience, and TLC they show our students each and every day. Whether it’s a quick fix or a moment of reassurance, they’re always there with a calm presence and a caring heart. Thank you to school nurses for the countless ways they support and uplift our students.

GWA fifth-grade students spent this past year participating in the Walton County CHAMPS program, gaining valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.

The CHAMPS program - short for Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety - pairs students with local law enforcement officers and community leaders to teach important skills related to decision-making, personal responsibility, and safety. Throughout the year, fifth graders participated in interactive sessions that encouraged open discussion and real-world problem-solving. They explored topics such as peer pressure, bullying prevention, internet safety, and the importance of making positive choices. The lessons were designed to be engaging and age-appropriate, helping students connect what they learned to situations they may encounter in their daily lives.

Students were required to create a poster at the end of the course – explaining what they learned about a specific CHAMPS topic. Congratulations to all of our winners!

¡Hola families! We are thrilled to announce our 2027 exchange program with St. Paul’s in Barcelona, Spain! If your middle school child wants to dive into Spanish culture during class trip in January, please fill out this Google Form to register interest. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions—Mrs. McElveen (amcelveen@gwa.com).

The 2027 Winter Term offers an incredible opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into meaningful, real-world learning - but these trips can only happen with your participation. With the South Africa experience already filled, spots are still available for three unique and inspiring journeys. Each trip requires a minimum of 10 students to move forward, so if something sparks your interest, don’t wait - commit by the May 15, 2026 deadline and be part of something unforgettable. CLICK HERE for sign ups links and trip details (under the 2027 Winter Term Trips tab). Contact Mrs. Suzy at squinlan@gwa.com with any questions.

Come out to support our Bulldog teams in the post-season! Varsity girls soccer will face Tattnall at home on Friday, May 8, the varsity baseball team goes on the road for round one and both lacrosse championship games will be held at GWA on Saturday. Please note the adjusted ticket prices - $15 Adults/$10 Students (per GIAA, no Champions Club, GoFan is available for all games).

Congrats to our GWA track and field athletes and coaches on a great season!

GIAA Track & Field State Meet Results:

- GWA boys team- 5th place

-State Champions

Roland Crutchfield - Shot Put

Jackson Wells - Triple Jump

-State Finalists

Jackson Wells - 2nd, 300 Hurdles

Morgan Davis - 3rd, 200

Morgan Davis - 4th, 100

Maverick Link - 4th, Shot Put

Jackson Wells - 5th, High Jump

Emma Konik - 6th, 3200

Gage Wasileski - 6th, 3200

Girls 4x800 - 8th (Maci Gray, Kendall Woodbury, Chloe Bettner, Emma Konik)

Boys 4x800 - 8th (Michael McGinn, Gage Wasileski, Phillip Akin, Jackson Wells)

Emma Konik - 8th, 1600

Maverick Link - 8th, Discus

Spring Football is HERE! High School & Middle School hit the field Monday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m.

At the Spring Band Concert, our band directors held an official banner signing for our seniors and alumni band members who are taking their musical talents to the next level this fall. These banners will hang in the band room as a permanent reminder of their incredible legacy here at GWA.

Join us in celebrating these future collegiate musicians:

• Kade Franklin & Wendy Menard: Both have earned music scholarships to the University of Georgia and will be performing with the legendary Redcoat Band. They were also accepted into the UGA School of Music.

• Kade officially signed with the University of Georgia’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music, where he will pursue a major in music under the guidance of Dr. Bynum - the trombone professor for the Trombone Studio at UGA. Kade will also pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
• Maddie Garrett: Heading to Georgia Tech, where she’ll be taking the field on trumpet for the Yellow Jacket Marching Band.
• Isaac Osei: Moving on to Mercer University on a Tuba music scholarship to study music and, eventually, medicine.
• Cale Fuller and Addie Hayes will be continuing their studies at the University of Georgia.

We are so proud of the dedication they have shown to the GWA music program. We can’t wait to see you shine on Saturdays this fall!

Congratulations to Mrs. Wiggins and her cast of lower school dancers on their fantastic performances of "Lights, Camera, Action" - a high-energy, movie-themed showcase full of excitement and stage magic!

Join us for the yearbook presentation on May 11 at 1 p.m. in the Nicholson Center.

Parents are welcome!

Get ready for a summer full of fun at GWA! Our June and July camps for ages 5–12 offer something for everyone — from Basketball, Soccer, Football, and Tennis to creative favorites like Camp Chaos, LEGO Camp, Cardboard Creations, Cooking Camp, Silly Science, Disney Camp, Barbie Camp, Minecraft Camp, and more.

Whether your child loves to stay active, get creative, or try something new, GWA Summer Camps are the perfect way to make summer unforgettable.

CLICK HERE to secure your spot! Our summer camps are open to all - campers do not need to be enrolled at GWA! Happy camping!