In Focus

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

• Sign Up for Champions Club: see below for sign up link
• 6th (and new 7th/8th) Grade Orientation: Aug. 9
• 9th (and new 10th-12th) Grade Orientation: Aug. 9
• Open House: Aug. 11 (see below)
• Middle School Mega Relay: Aug. 13
• First Day of School: Aug. 13
• Spirit Wear Day: Friday, Aug. 14
• Fall Sports Photo Day (LS): Aug. 17
• Senior Retreat: Aug. 18 - 20
• Freshman Retreat: Aug. 20 - 21
• Ice Cream Social: Aug. 27

CLICK HERE for 26-27 Important Dates

*Please note: All ATHLETIC EVENTS will be listed on our website calendar but not in the FACTS calendar.*

· Open House will be a drop in event for all grades

· Meet teachers and find your classrooms

· Schedules for middle and upper school will be available on FACTS prior to Open House.

· Lower school class lists will be posted in the hallway at Open House

· Assigned carpool tags will be distributed to lower school classrooms at Open House.

· MS Mega Relay will be held on the first day of school.

· US will have a 7-period day on the first day of school.

- Late start Wednesdays for MS & US starting the second week of school.

Dear Bulldog Family,

As an exciting new academic year approaches, the campus is once again abuzz with the sounds of band campers, student-athletes preparing for the fall season, and teachers hard at work in classrooms getting ready for the arrival of smiling young faces. All of us on the faculty and staff are eager to welcome and embrace you and your children as part of our Bulldog Family.

One Dawg: Leading with Excellence

This is our unifying theme for the school year. All of us (faculty, parents, and students) are leaders in our spheres. Drawn from the language of our mission, this theme reminds us that everyone pulling together is essential to flourish as a community. Our school is grounded in Christian principles that inspire loyalty, service and purpose. Our mission calls us to build in young people leadership, character and curiosity.

This year we will be even more intentional across all three divisions to develop foundational qualities of student leadership.

• Middle and Upper School: Utilizing Huddle time and what was previously known as Advisory, students will participate in LeadWell, an initiative pairing leadership development with wellness to foster balanced personal growth. Students will learn from peer leaders as well as faculty mentors in this new leadership development program put together by our counseling office.
• Lower School: Leadership lessons will also be integrated into daily instruction and highlighted, as in the past, during monthly Pup Rallies.

We are excited to tell you more about the LeadWell Program in the weeks ahead.

In addition, there are a couple of other exciting new initiatives:

1. After a several year hiatus, Chef Will Angel in Culinary Services has returned to GWA and will be offering a hot breakfast for all interested beginning at 7 a.m. every weekday morning. What a tremendously healthy way to start the day!
2. GWA will partner this year with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) to train selected staff and upper school peer student leaders on mental health topics. Special thanks to GWA grandparent Dr. Jean Sumner (Dean of the Mercer University School of Medicine) for bringing this incredible opportunity to us from CHOA. I will have more to share on this initiative later this semester.
3. There is a new GagaBall pit located behind the Field House, and later next month new age-appropriate playground equipment will be installed for the pre-school. We are grateful for all the donors last spring who made this possible.

Thank you for your continuing commitment to our school’s founding mission. Our mission is clear and compelling, and our vision remains unchanged: to be the leading independent school of excellence across the region. Working together, fully embracing the “One Dawg” theme, we will prepare our young people to be leaders in our school and in their future communities.

I look forward to an outstanding school year.

Godspeed, and go Bulldogs!

Our Ice Cream Social is just around the corner, and we need your help! We have volunteer opportunities for just about everything, and we'd love for you to sign up if you're able.

Please CLICK HERE to view the sign-ups below and see where you can help.

Ice Cream Social tees are on sale now! CLICK HERE to order yours today!

Thanks to the incredible support of our families through this spring's Boosterthon, we're excited to share that new playground improvements are on the way!

Our Stadium Playground will feature a newly installed Gaga Ball pit, giving students another fun and active way to play during recess and home athletic events. In addition, our Hill Playground will be receiving new playground equipment designed specifically for our younger students, creating a more engaging and age-appropriate play experience. Installation of the new Hill Playground equipment is scheduled for September.

We are so grateful to our school community for making these enhancements possible. Thank you again to everyone who participated in Boosterthon - your generosity is directly benefiting our students and helping create even more opportunities for fun, play, and connection!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS SIGN!

Lower School Carpool:

· Morning Carpool 7:30 - 7:55 a.m.

· Afternoon Carpool 2:30 - 3 p.m.

· Windshield decals will not be necessary this year.

· Anyone arriving at the carpool line after 7:55 a.m. will be asked to drive around to the front office to check their child in.

· You are not permitted to let your child out at the carpool line if there is not a school employee present.

· Any children not picked up by 3 p.m. will be taken to aftercare.

Lower School Carpool Dismissal - PIK MY KID

The safety of our students is always our highest priority. To enhance the security and efficiency of our afternoon dismissal process, Lower School will be implementing a new carpool dismissal system called PIKMYKID for the upcoming school year. Parents are required to download the app, create an account, and register their child. If your location services are on for the app, you simply need to come through carpool and it will announce your arrival. If your location services are off, you will need to log into the app and announce your arrival.

LS Carpool Etiquette

• Enter the parking lot from Michael Etchison and take an immediate right following the parking lot around to get into the carpool line.
• Refrain from using your cell phone in the carpool lane.
• Have your child unbuckled and ready to hop out of the car.
• Car doors will be opened for our youngest students. Students in grades 4-5 can get out of the car without an adult opening the door.

Middle/Upper School

· Morning Carpool:: 7:30 - 8 a.m.

· Afternoon Carpool: 3:05 - 3:25 p.m.

· Windshield decals will not be necessary this year.

• All Middle and Upper School students should be dropped off and picked up in front of the main building.
• All cars should enter through the Spring Street entrance to campus.
• Any students who drive to school should enter through the gate on Michael Etchison and park in the designated student parking lot.
• Any students arriving after 8 a.m. should report directly to the front office to check in.

Look your Bulldog best and shop the Dawg Shop! From dress code shirts, to plaid skorts and spirit wear to GWA accessories, the Dawg Shop has got you covered! New merchandise is arriving daily!

Next week, the shop will be open Sunday from 2 - 5 p.m., Monday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Wednesday, 7:30 - 12:30 p.m.

During the school year - the Dawg Shop will be open Monday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE for 26-27 dress code details/updates.

We’re kicking off the new school year in the most exciting way — with our Middle School Mega Relay! This event is all about fun, teamwork, and building new friendships.

Event Details:

What to Expect: A full day of team-building games and relay challenges!

Supplies: No school supplies needed on this day.

Where to Report: Students should go directly to their study hall classroom unless told otherwise.

Dress Code:

To stay comfortable during activities, students should wear fingertip-length athletic shorts and a t-shirt in their grade’s assigned color:

6th Grade – Gray

7th Grade – Red

8th Grade – Black

Don’t Forget: Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Lunch Plans:

We’ve got lunch covered — hotdogs, chips, and a drink will be served!

If your student has dietary restrictions or would prefer to bring lunch from home, they’re welcome to do so. Action Needed: please complete the form linked below to indicate your child’s lunch preference and help us with planning.

Mega Relay Lunch Choice

Registration is now open for the upcoming school year! Visit the GWA Afterschool Program page to learn more and register.

Who: Students in K4–8th grade

When: Monday–Friday, 3–6 p.m.
Please note: Aftercare is closed on early dismissal days and school holidays.

Flexible Care Options: Families can choose regular daily care or use Aftercare on an as-needed basis.

Daily Activities: Students receive a snack and have time to play outside, work on homework, read or draw.

Location: Students meet daily at the Hill Playground. Pickup is at the Music Box.

Cost: There is a one-time $25 family registration fee, plus $10 per hour, per student.

Beyond-the-Bell Classes Are Returning!

Fun and engaging Beyond-the-Bell classes will be returning this school year. The GWA team is putting the finishing touches on the offerings and will share more details soon. Stay tuned!

Middle School PARC Coach

Cassidy Shearon will be starting her ninth year teaching and her first year at GWA as a middle school PARC coach! She graduated from Georgia College & State University with a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Cassidy has previously taught both middle school and high school, and also coached five seasons of girls varsity lacrosse. Cassidy, her husband (Chandler), and her two children (Mac and Stella), currently live on a cow farm with their two dogs (Duke and Dobby). For fun, she loves to be outside, run, read, shop, and listen to podcasts/music! You can find her family cheering on the Dawgs every Saturday in the fall! Cassidy is SO excited to be part of another Dawg family at George Walton Academy!

IT Help Desk

Jacob "Jake" Gilson is an operations professional, U.S. Air Force veteran, and former broadcast meteorologist whose career spans technical infrastructure, media, and business ownership. Following eight years of service in the Air Force and a decade in the technology sector, Jake served as a local TV meteorologist and went on to own and operate The Grind Coffee & Cafe in San Angelo, Texas.

Jake brings a grounded, practical approach to problem-solving and community engagement - whether delivering live broadcasts, managing commercial operations, or building technical systems. Following the successful sale of his business, he relocated to Georgia to bring his broad operational expertise and leadership background to George Walton Academy.

An active competitor and outdoorsman, Jake enjoys golf, soccer, and camping. He lives in the area with his wife, Kayla, their two children, and another on the way.

Congratulations to senior football players AJ Dillard and Brody Hamman on being named to The Walton Tribune Elite 11! We can't wait to see AJ, Brody and the varsity Dawgs under the Friday night lights! Go Bulldogs!

Support GWA athletics and enjoy exclusive benefits with your Champions Club annual membership. Choose the level that’s right for you:

Young Alumni (under age 24) & Grandparents – $100

-Admission for two to all regular season home athletic events

-Champions Club car decals (2)

Bulldog Level – $300

-Admission for immediate family (parents and children) to all regular season home athletic events

Golden Bulldog – $1,000

-Admission for immediate family (parents and children) to all regular season home athletic events

-Exclusive Golden Bulldog stadium seats

-Reserved parking at Don Williams Stadium (football only)

Be a champion for our student-athletes!

For membership details and sign up - https://gofan.co/event/6497286?schoolId=GA5020

To learn more about The Champions Club - https://www.gwa.com/athletics/the-champions-club

Get ready to cheer on the Dawgs as they hit the road. It’s Bulldogs vs. Eagles as GWA heads to Sandersville to scrimmage Brentwood.