In Focus

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

• Champions Club Dinner: Aug. 23

• MS Trip Interest Meeting: Aug. 25 (see below)

• Freshmen Retreat: Aug. 27-28

• School Holiday: Monday, Sept. 1 (Labor Day)

• Beyond the Bell Classes Begin: Sept. 2 (see below)

• MS/US Honor Code Signing: Sept. 3

• MS/US Professional Dress Day: Sept. 3

• LS Curriculum Night: Sept. 3

• Yearbook Portraits: Sept. 4

• HOCO Week: Sept. 15-20

CLICK HERE to access GWA website calendar

Dear GWA Families,

Thanks to everyone for helping us to have a great start to the school year!

A few highlights ...

• Opening of school enrollment is higher than last year and the Hill (K3, K4 and K5) is at an all-time high!

• A special thanks to Tracey Propes and Anna Williams for guiding our new Early Dawgs Program. Remember, you can drop off your children in the cafeteria as early as 7 a.m. each day.

• We are still refining the collections and return process, but overall, our new electronic device prohibition is going smoothly. Thank you very much, parents, for helping us and recognizing the benefits of removing phones from the learning environment. We hear from students that it is freeing to hand over their device for the day!

• I also had numerous MS and US students tell me how much they enjoyed some extra sleep early Wednesday morning. That same morning our teachers received mandatory reporter training led by new all-school counselor Lisa Leonard. This training is vital for our staff to learn the telltale signs of different forms of possible neglect or worse.

• Our varsity football team is undefeated and goes into battle again this Friday night at home against Lake Oconee Academy. The theme is Go America! So, don your red, white and blue and come out to support the team, the cheerleaders, and the heralded Bulldog Marching Band!

I hope to see you at the Ice Cream Social tonight! New families, this is an event not to be missed.

Go Bulldogs!

John Marshall

Head of School

We were so excited to welcome students back to the AP Physics classroom! They started their first class together with a brief discussion about the importance of thinking but not overthinking! Students worked in various teams to practice thinking and communication tasks. With little to no initial prompting, students worked together to discover strategies, communicate steps, and plan. They were challenged to move cups into a pyramid formation while only using a rubber band with strings attached. It was so awesome to see their brains firing!

To begin the year in seventh-grade English, students participated in a challenging but fun activity where many lessons were learned. Each group was given a 48 piece puzzle to put together. However, only one person could actually put the pieces together AND that person was blindfolded! The other group members had the task of giving their teammate specific and detailed instructions as to how to accomplish the task at hand. They were given ten minutes to see how many pieces of the puzzle they could successfully assemble. After the first round, the class discussion revealed many things they learned and ways they would go about things differently in the second round. After improving their score in the second round, the class discussed how they could apply these lessons to their writing this year. Mrs. Gunnin is looking for some very detailed and descriptive writing in the months to come!

The Class of 2026 returned from their senior retreat after three days filled with reflection, growth, and plenty of competition. The retreat focused on the themes of Mentorship, Leadership, and Legacy, explored through both large group discussions and smaller breakout sessions. Students were challenged to think deeply about the kind of impact they want to leave behind, not only during their senior year but beyond their time at GWA.

Of course, no retreat would be complete without a little fun. From spirited Survivor-style games to recreational activities, this group’s competitive streak was on full display. Even those who might usually be considered “too cool” dove in and engaged wholeheartedly, making the experience meaningful for everyone.

The senior class represented the school with excellence while away. As the year unfolds, students will be encouraged to put into practice the lessons learned on the retreat, making their senior year one to remember.

When you see a senior in the coming days, don’t let them brush off the experience with a simple “It was fine.” Ask them about the retreat—they have stories, insights, and lessons worth sharing.

Beyond the Bell Presents Fall 2025 After-School Classes:

Dance

Get ready to leap, spin, and perform! Join us for exciting dance classes that build skills, confidence, and creativity — all in a fun, supportive environment. Students will also have the opportunity to perform in our winter and spring performances!

Class Schedule:

Mondays
Ballet/Jazz | 2:30–3:30 p.m. | K5–1st Grade

Tuesdays
Hip-Hop | 2:30–3:30 p.m. | K5–1st Grade
Hip-Hop | 3:30–4:30 p.m. | 2nd–5th Grades

Wednesdays
Competition Dance Team | 2:30–4:30 p.m. | 1st–5th Grades
(By audition/invitation only – see Mrs. Wiggins for details)

Thursdays
Ballet/Jazz | 2:30–3:30 p.m. | 2nd–5th Grades

Taekwondo

Students of all ages are invited to join Mr. Benji Lalaian, a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, to learn about one of the most popular martial arts in the world! Learn how to kick, punch, strike, and block among many other things that will help you improve your ability to defend yourself! You’ll learn how to improve your endurance, flexibility, focus, and respect level all while getting an excellent workout! The classes will include many different exercises, games, situational defense lessons, foam swords, and an opportunity for a belt promotion at the end of each semester! Mr. Benji can’t wait to see you in class!”

Classes are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, both at 3:30 p.m. Ages 5 and up are welcome.

CLICK HERE for complete details listed on our website.

Please email lmcdaniel@gwa.com to sign up for Beyond the Bell classes. Spaces are limited — sign up today! Classes begin on Sept. 2, 2025. Students must be registered before Sept. 12 to participate.

Buy your yearbook early before the September price increase! CLICK HERE to purchase.

Show up early for tonight’s Ice Cream Social and head to the softball field to cheer on the Lady Dawgs!

Our cross country runners will compete on their home turf for the first time in many years thanks to the hard work of those who cleared and created our new trail at GWA! Come out to cheer the runners on as they traverse the campus during Saturday's meet. Good luck, Bulldogs!

CLICK HERE to sign up for the Champions Club Golf Tournament!

On their first day of art, students in K5 through 5th grade read the story Only One You, and discussed what makes each of us unique! Every student decorated their own fish in a way that was unique and one of a kind. All 250+ of these fish are now on display swimming down the hallway outside the art room, as a visual display of how we are each unique and so beautiful when we all come together!

Our admissions team is excited to relaunch Tuesday Tours at Ten! Prospective families are warmly invited to visit our beautiful campus each Tuesday at 10 a.m. for a guided tour.

This is a great opportunity to explore our facilities, meet members of our school community, and discover what makes GWA More Than a School.

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