In Focus

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

• Veterans Shirt Deadline: Tonight at midnight (see below)

• Happy Halloween: Oct. 31

• Walton Co. Probe Fair: Nov. 7 (students only)

• Football State Playoffs: Nov. 7 (see below)

• Middle School Movie Night: Nov. 8 (8-10 p.m.)
• Veterans Day Program: Nov. 11
• Professional Dress Day (MS/US): Nov. 11
• Winter Sports Photos: Nov. 12
• Admissions Open House: Nov. 16

CLICK HERE to access the GWA website calendar

GWA K5 classes enjoyed an exciting visit from Kingdom Kritters! Students had the opportunity to learn about and touch a variety of amazing animals, including geckos, chameleons, a milk snake, a sand boa, and a ball python. They also had the chance to feed and pet a tortoise and a rabbit, which was a favorite moment for many.

After meeting the animals, students created a milk snake craft while learning how milk snakes mimic the patterns of coral snakes for protection. To wrap up the day, everyone made tasty turtle cookies, enjoyed fruit roll-up snakes, and had fun dancing like animals!

It was a day full of learning, creativity, and hands-on fun with the Kingdom Kritters crew!

This week, we inducted our third group of new Junior Beta Club students. These middle school students must earn a 90th percentile average in their core classes to be invited to join this national honor society.

GWA inducted 27 new members who will serve GWA and our local community over the coming academic year. Last year, our members put in more than 500 hours total and maintained their grades, and we were chosen as a National Beta School of Merit, honoring our chapter's dedication to achievement, character, leadership, and academics.

Fifth-grade students had a sweet time exploring science by making ice cream in a bag! As part of their unit on states of matter and physical changes, students observed how a liquid mixture of cream, sugar, and vanilla transformed into a solid as it cooled and froze. By shaking the bags filled with ice and salt, they learned how lowering the freezing point helps the liquid turn into delicious ice cream—an exciting and tasty way to see science in action!

In ninth-grade Biology, students have been exploring what characteristics are important to a living organism. To bring this full circle, the class conducted a biology lab where students explored the question, “Is yeast alive?” - by observing how yeast behaves under different conditions. By combining yeast with warm water and sugar, students observed evidence of life through gas production and bubbling, demonstrating that yeast carries out cellular respiration. Through this investigation, students learned that yeast is a living organism that respires and produces carbon dioxide, helping them connect biology concepts to real-world examples like baking bread.

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, we will recognize, honor and celebrate our brave U.S. military veterans. The public is invited to join us for this special annual event. All veterans are invited to enjoy refreshments in the Nicholson Center concessions area starting at 8 a.m.

We love our GWA family, and we know you do too! Spread the word and help us welcome new families to our Open House on Sunday, Nov. 16. Your recommendation makes a difference—invite friends, neighbors, and future Bulldogs to see what makes GWA so special!

GWA One Act placed 2nd overall in the GISA region competition. Additionally, students received individual awards:

- Peyton Wilson and Colton Wudtke received Outstanding Performance awards

- Madi Hill and Harper O’Lenick received All-Star Cast

They are headed to the state competition in Gainesville, GA on Nov. 12. Congrats to all!

The GWA Marching Bulldog Band had an excellent showing at last Saturday's Greater Atlanta Marching Festival at Rockdale County High School! Congrats to all!

1) Band- 2nd place

2) Section Awards:

Color Guard- 2nd place

Percussion- 3rd place

Drum Major- 1st place

The Band has its last competition performance on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7:40 p.m. at the Wolverine Classic (West Forsyth HS). Go Band Dawgs!

The 10-0 Bulldogs head to Statesboro next Friday and will be hosted by the Bulloch Academy Gators for the GIAA State Playoffs! Ticket prices are as follows:

Gate Fees: GIAA Playoff

Adult - $15 (Cash or GoFan)

Student - $10 (1st Grade & up)

Click HERE for further details if you are planning to attend. Click HERE for the parking map.

Our varsity cross country teams finished the season strong at the GIAA State meet in Macon. The boys placed 8th and the girls placed 10th.

The young girls team ran really well with Makayla Islas running a personal best. Emma Konik and Emma Wasserman were both within :05 of their personal best time.

The boys had four personal best times today: Gage Wasileski, Phillip Akin, Nolan Dibble, and Cash Sorrow. Gage was our top finisher, placing 11th as an 8th grader!

“There were a lot of hot summer days, early mornings, and hill repeats that went in to making this season a success,” said Coach Kinsey Snell, “but the biggest contributing factor was the team chemistry and camaraderie.”

Congratulations at all on a great season!

Winter Sports Photo Day is on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Photo schedule TBD - look for the schedule in next week’s In Focus. Contact coaches with any questions about uniforms.

The GWA Interact Club has officially kicked off its year of service with the annual Operation Christmas Child project. The donation drive runs until Nov. 14, with a goal of collecting items for 200 Christmas Boxes to be sent to children around the world through Samaritan's Purse. Rotary sponsor, Dr. Tony Denmark, recently met with our Interact students and congratulated them on the club's growth and commitment to service this year. How You Can Help: Donate by Grade Level! We need the entire school community to pitch in! Please see the donation needs listed below by grade level. Drop-off locations and full details will be posted on flyers around campus. Click HERE for easy donation suggestions.

Grade Levels & Items Needed:

1) The Hill, 4th, 8th

• Toiletries/Personal Care (washcloths, comb, brush, nail clippers, files, water bottle, flashlight, etc. Please, no toothbrushes!)

2) 1st, 5th, 9th

• School Supplies (pencils, sharpeners, index cards, glue sticks, markers, etc.)

• Small Toys (small toys and stuffed animals that will fit in a shoebox)

• Accessories (flip flops, sunglasses, hats, winter caps, mittens, hair accessories, unopened undergarments).

Please help us make Christmas special for kids in need!

Join us at the Everglow Forest Book Fair in the library Nov. 3 - 7! Middle School day will be on Friday, Nov. 7! If you prefer your children to not handle cash, you can buy a digital gift card! These gift cards ring up at the register with a ready list for Ms. Newberry to scan once you've bought the digital gift card.

Literati also has a monthly book club box that tailors the book choices to your child's reading preferences! This would be a GREAT Christmas gift!

See you soon at the Literati book fair! Happy reading!

We’re so excited to announce that Middle School Movie Night is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 8, right here on campus in the courtyard, from 8 - 10 p.m.! This is always such a fun evening for our students to relax, hang out with friends, and enjoy a movie under the stars. Our amazing grade moms will be sending out a Sign-Up Genius soon to help gather snacks and drinks so our students can have the full (and fun!) movie night experience. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

Georgia's "Apply to College Month" starts this Saturday, November 1! Many schools in Georgia allow students to submit their applications for FREE! Please note that that some schools like GCSU, UGA, and GA Tech do not participate. A full list of free codes can be found HERE.