In Focus

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

• Deadline to Sign Up for WT Trips: Aug. 31 (see below)

• Yearbook Sale Deadline: Aug. 31 (see below)

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

• Beyond the Bell Classes Begin: Sept. 2

• 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

• Early Dismissal for All: Friday, Sept. 19

• Champions Club Golf Tournament: Sept. 22 (see below)

CLICK HERE to access GWA website calendar

After reading Murder on the Orient Express, Mr. Odom's Honors Composition and Literature students created their own detective characters. With their new sleuth personas in hand, they had to work together to solve a murder mystery: the murder of Mr. Odom! The senior gumshoes were on the case!

Mr. Odom's Academic Senior Writing students brought mystery to their classroom stage this week. Having read Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles for class, students used props, and costumes to bring to life the classic gothic mystery of cursed dogs and murder. Natural actors, they turned in a thrilling performance!

Students in the Honors Latin III class are exploring the world of Roman gaming, focusing on the dice game knucklebones. In ancient Rome, this game was often played at post-banquet dinner parties to select the arbiter bibendi—the guest responsible for deciding how much water would be mixed into the undiluted wine. The mixing took place in large Greek pots called kraters.

As part of the lesson, students designed their own paper kraters. They sculpted knucklebone dice and, once the pieces have dried, they will play the game just as the Romans did.

Middle and upper school students will have the opportunity to check out the wide range of student-led clubs and organizations at the upcoming Club Expo event. Our clubs offer something for every student and are the perfect way to get involved at GWA and in the community.

Dear Aftercare Families, We hope you're having a great start to the school year. We want to let you know about a small but important change to our aftercare pickup procedure.

Starting Monday, September 15, aftercare pickup will be moved to the Upper School. Please enter the campus from Spring Street and turn left onto Kawonka Lane. Pick-up will be in front of the Upper School Building. This change is being made to improve safety and traffic flow. The school is working to reduce traffic congestion between The George and the cafeteria in the afternoons. With so many activities happening on campus after school, moving the pickup area will help reduce congestion and make the end of the day smoother for all families.

Please note that all other aftercare procedures will remain the same. A quick reminder: If your child is or will be attending aftercare, please be sure to register them using this form:

Aftercare Registration Form

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to make our campus as safe and efficient as possible.

Warmly,

Lisa McDaniel and Chelsea Byrd

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.

Yearbook portrait day is next Thursday, September 4. This portrait day is for students in grades K3 through 11. Students need to come to school in their school uniform, which includes polo shirts and other school-approved dress code items. Please be sure they are not wearing hoodies.

Our photographer is Watermark Photography. They are your contact for all purchasing and pricing, photo gallery information, and photo-related questions - support@photographybywatermark.com.

Reserve your 2026 before the price goes up! Yearbooks are $10 off until midnight on August 31.

CLICK HERE to order your book today!

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

Cheer on the varsity softball team as they get ready for a battle of the bats with the Tattnall Square Trojans! Let's go, GWA!

Our 2-0 varsity Bulldogs head to Macon tomorrow to face Tattnall Square. Go Bulldogs!

We were thrilled to host the first cross country home meet on GWA’s campus on Saturday. It was a fun morning of middle school and high school racing - with 12 schools in attendance.

GWA had 6 Top 10 finishers (plus 5 more who were Top 20). Gage Wasileski won the MS boy’s race. All teams continue to improve in both fitness and race execution. Way to go, Bulldogs!

Top 10 Finishers:

Emma Konik - 3rd, VG

Makayla Islas - 5th, VG

Gage Wasileski - 1st, MSB

Shane Howard - 7th, MSB

Ashley Fields - 3rd, MSG

Elsie Dibble - 5th, MSG

It was a night of fun, fellowship and fundraising as families gathered in the lower gym for the 2025 Champions Club Dinner! The celebration helped raise money for the Champions Club, which directly supports our Bulldog athletes. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night a huge success!

Special thanks to Striplings for the wonderful meal, Athletic Director Coach Whitley for emceeing the dessert auction and raffle, and our amazing student-athletes who helped serve.

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

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.