In Focus

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

• Summer Camps Registration: Open now (see below)
• Marching Band Interest Meeting: April 20 (details below)
• Middle School Class Trip Interest Meeting: April 21 (see below)
• Winter Term Trips Meeting: April 22 (details below)
• Athletic Signing Day: April 22
• Field Day : April 24 (early dismissal-LS/SENIORS ONLY)
• Free Sports Physicals: April 27 (see below)
• Senior/Faculty Volleyball Game: May 6
• Yearbook Presentation: May 11
• Senior Mentor Breakfast: May 13
• Senior Banquet: May 13
• Baccalaureate: May 15
• Graduation: May 16
• 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

The well-known author and Georgian Flannery O’Connor once wrote, “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.”

As an educator, I love this quote. It captures writing as a tool to develop critical thinking. Writing is not merely a method of recording ideas; it is a process of learning and discovery. When we put thoughts into words, we are forced to think, to organize, and to refine. What often begins as mere intuition becomes clearer as phrases and sentences take shape, revealing connections and a depth of meaning we may not have initially understood.

The writing process strengthens our thinking because it requires deliberate engagement, focus, and loads of practice. No one writes well that hasn’t learned how to rewrite. It can be a painstaking process. The best writing is often the simplest. Read the prose of the American novelist Ernest Hemingway to understand the impact of a short sentence.

Writing exposes gaps in our logic that might remain hidden without putting pen to paper or tapping on a keyboard. Given the explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the educators at GWA are now grappling with how to utilize it as a tool to enhance writing and critical thinking. We do not want our students to use AI as a crutch to get an assignment done quickly or superficially. This has little value in education.

GWA families, today Artificial Intelligence is a fact of life. The human brain drives technological advancement ever forward. Similar to the advent of the calculator, computer, and Internet, AI is inescapable. We must help our young people grow comfortable with its pros and cons and to use it wisely.

In a nutshell, O’Connor’s quote reminds us that clarity is often a product of expression, not a prerequisite for it. By writing, reflecting and rewriting, we engage in a running dialogue with ourselves, seeking to boost meaning and our understanding. AI can help us in this process. Because good writing is much more than mere communication — it is a disciplined mental habit to make us smarter and wiser.

(Yes, AI was used to edit this article.)

The Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest invites students to choose their own Law of Life and write from the heart about how it shapes their lives. According to the Georgia Laws of Life website, a Law of Life is a short, meaningful saying or quote that reflects a core personal value or guiding principle and serves as a moral compass throughout life’s journey. Through thoughtful reflection and personal storytelling, students share what matters most to them in ways that are often both powerful and inspiring.

We are proud to celebrate our George Walton Academy winners, whose essays beautifully captured the values and ideals that guide them each day.

Congratulations to these outstanding students on this well-deserved recognition! Special congratulations to Sydnie as she continues in the competition.

12th grade AND the school-wide winner: Sydnie Dimmlich

11th grade winner: Mary Kate Kavanaugh

10th grade winner: Mac Ferguson

9th grade winner: Will Watts

Honorable Mentions:

12th grade: Tyler Jackson, Addie Hayes, Wendy Menard, and Claudia Bates

11th grade: Emma Wasserman, Hudson Pittman, Jonathan Brooks, and Peyton Wilson

10th grade: Kelsey Johnson, Landry Atkinson, Jayci Nelms, and Landon Shannahan

9th grade: Christian Callihan, Maddie Carter, Bella Rustom, and Liam Ordway

Our third-grade students have been studying the regions of Georgia, with a focus on the animals found in each region, their habitats, and the adaptations that help them survive. As part of this unit, students were challenged to apply their understanding of camouflage by designing a butterfly that could blend into the classroom environment.

Using concepts from both science and art, students carefully selected colors, patterns, and placement to make their butterflies less visible to the eye. This activity reinforced how an animal’s physical traits and environment work together to support survival, while also encouraging observation, creativity, and critical thinking.

We are so excited to welcome our exchange students from Mexico City - Camila, Fernanda, Paula, Valentina, and Santi - along with CEAM school principal Jorge! Over the next several days, they will be living with their host families, attending classes on campus, and exploring Georgia and nearby points of interest. We are grateful for all of the host families and CEAM for making this important partnership possible!

GWA is excited to introduce the 2026–2027 Winter Term travel opportunities for GWA Upper School students! This year, we are offering four extraordinary trips open to all rising 9th–12th graders, each designed to provide meaningful, immersive experiences beyond the classroom during Winter Term.

We will have a Winter Term Trip Parent meeting to detail the trips, answer questions, and start signing up! Please contact Suzy Quinlan at squinlan@gwa.com with any questions.

SNEAK PEEK:

Service Trip: Thailand

Students will engage in impactful service work at an elephant rehabilitation center and a local school. Alongside service, the group will experience Thailand’s rich culture and history through visits to iconic sites such as Wat Traimit, the Grand Palace, Temple of Dawn, and the Emerald Buddha. Additional highlights include an excursion to Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Phra Pathom Chedi, and a visit to Patom Organic Village. Students will also enjoy a traditional music lesson, cooking class, rafting adventure, a visit to Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, and even a Muay Thai class.

Cultural Exploration Trip: South Africa

This trip will provide an unforgettable cultural and historical experience. In Cape Town, students will explore Hout Bay (including a Seal Island cruise), Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, the Cape of Good Hope, Kalk Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Camps Bay, Table Mountain, the Malay Quarter, Robben Island, and the Two Oceans Aquarium. The trip continues in Johannesburg with visits to Soweto, the Hector Pieterson Museum, and Lesedi Cultural Village. The experience concludes with a two-day stay at a safari lodge, featuring guided game drives.

STEM Trip: United Kingdom

This STEM journey begins in Belfast with visits to Carrickfergus Castle, Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, and Dunluce Castle along the Antrim Coast. Students will also explore the Titanic Museum and Titanic Quarter, along with a historical tour focused on the Troubles. The group will then travel to Edinburgh to see Stirling Castle, the Kelpies, the Falkirk Wheel, the Scottish National Museum, and participate in a Scottish dance class, along with visits to the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, St. Giles’ Cathedral, and Edinburgh Castle. The final leg in London includes Stonehenge, the National Radio Centre, Bletchley Park, the British Museum, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, and the Churchill War Rooms.

Domestic Adventure: National Parks of the Southwest

This trip showcases the natural beauty of the American Southwest through unforgettable outdoor experiences. Highlights include kayaking on Lake Mead, a sunset Jeep safari, campfires with s’mores, hiking Observation Point, horseback riding, an e-bike ride through Zion National Park, a cowboy cookout, and stargazing. Students will also explore Bryce Canyon, go sand sledding at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, tour Antelope Canyon, raft at Horseshoe Bend, and visit the Grand Canyon, including Desert View Watchtower and Montezuma Castle National Monument.

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!

Congrats to our tennis players on a great showing at Region! Kelsey Johnson, Ella Minicozzi, Parker Wilson, Madison Sieg and Brooklyn Concepcion made it to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Delia Gill ended as a runner up losing 6-2 6-3 against the number one player of the region. Phillip Akin won the region tournament with a 6-16-4 score against the number one player from Tallulah Falls, and collects his fourth consecutive Region title!

Congratulations to Tripp Cornelius and Cade Williams on making All-Region at the Region tournament hosted by GWA at the Monroe Golf & Country Club. The boys team qualified for State and will play at Brickyard Golf Club in Macon on April 27.

The GWA girls golf team wrapped up its season at the Region tournament, closing out a year defined by growth, grit, and determination. This young team embraced a season of transition, gained valuable experience, and continued to improve with every match. While their season ended at Region, we are proud of the hard work they showed all season long.

The Champions Club is excited to host the First Annual Clay Shooting Tournament. Join us for a great day of competition, fellowship, and supporting GWA.

Date: June 14
Time: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Burnt Pine Farm

Cost:
• $250 per shooter
• $1,000 per 4-person team

Registration includes lunch and a tournament t-shirt.

Proceeds from the tournament will support The Champions Club and the GWA Clay Target Team. Registration opens next week, so gather your team! Email Logan Beer with any questions.

• Hear from students and parents alike about what it looks like to be a part of the GWA Marching Bulldog Band!

• If you cannot make it, please stop by the band room the following day any time after school (3:15 p.m.) with any questions you might have and to receive an information sheet!

Never hesitate to reach out! Email Ian Cornelius at icornelius @gwa.com.