In Focus

Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and X

or visit us online.

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

• Yearbook Pictures: Aug. 28

• 9th Grade Retreat: Aug. 28-29

• ACT & SAT Payment Deadline: Aug. 30 (see below)

• School Holiday: Monday, Sept. 2, Labor Day

• MS/US Club Expos: Sept. 4

• LS Curriculum Night: Sept. 4

• Red Cross Blood Drive: Sept. 11

• Homecoming Week: Sept. 30 - Oct. 4

• Homecoming Dance: Saturday, Oct. 5

We are excited to introduce our new Learning Center! Over the summer, we transformed the Commons from a student lounge into a dedicated, quiet space for academic support. This area will serve as a hub for meeting with Peer Tutors, studying, working on projects, or receiving assistance in the Writing Center with Mrs. Page. Additionally, it will function as the AP English Literature classroom during sixth and seventh periods.

Students can access the Learning Center before school from 7:30 to 8 a.m., during study halls in first through fifth periods, and after school from 3 to 3:30 p.m. For those needing tutoring during sixth and seventh periods, Peer Tutors will be available in the math hallway directly across from the Learning Center.

QR codes on campus flyers allow students to schedule Writing Center appointments, but walk-ins are also welcome. Peer Tutor sessions are available on a drop-in basis, with no appointment necessary.

For questions about Peer Tutoring, please contact Ms. Greene at jgreene@gwa.com., for Writing Center information, reach out to Ms. Page at mpage@gwa.com and click HERE for the web page.

Third graders worked together to handle “wild” situations in their classrooms. They discovered lost jungle animals had wandered into the room, and they needed to work through challenges, collaborate and problem-solve to help the animals find their backpacks, board the train and get back to the jungle.

In the process, the students had to use clues to unlock multiple locks that were scattered around the room. Each lock led to a new clue, and the excitement built as they worked through the challenges one by one and successfully guided the animals back to the train and restored order to the classroom. It was an adventure filled with learning and teamwork, and our students demonstrated incredible ingenuity, creativity and cooperation. Way to go, third grade!

To kick off the quarter, sixth graders in our Exploratory Latin class are learning about how Roman children were named. Each student will choose their own Latin name and make either a bulla or a lunula to wear around their neck as protection from evil, just as the Romans did.

Middle and high school students kicked off the week with an introduction to their Monday “huddles.” GWA admin shared information about upcoming events for the week, what’s new for this school year, including professional dress days, a handful of students were recognized during each assembly for their exemplary conduct and middle schoolers competed to earn points for their advisory groups.

All high school students are invited to join Ms. Benfield and Dr. Dibble on the Winter Term trip to Peru. They have three spots available and the deadline to sign up is Sept. 18.

Peru Trip Summary:

• LOCATION: Peru, South America
• DATES: 9 days, approximately January 7-15, 2025
• CHAPERONES: Ms. Cara Benfield cbenfield@gwa.com & Dr. Collin Dibble
• COST: $4349
• HIGHLIGHTS: service learning projects and leadership development, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Machu Picchu, explore traditional arts and culture
• LINK: Click here

Next Wednesday, Aug. 28 is fall picture day! Watermark Photography will be here to take your students' pictures for the yearbook. Be sure they are dressed in uniform. Sweatshirts and jackets will need to be removed for yearbook pictures, so they will need to have a polo shirt on underneath any outerwear.

Thank you for your support and patience as we continue to transition to Magnus Health for all of our health and confidential records. If you have not completed your to-do list, please do so ASAP so our clinic can treat your child if they need it during the school day. Here are a few things to note:

• Parents do not need to upload immunizations unless they received specific communication from the clinic.

• Athletes third grade and up require the sports physical if they are participating in sports. If your child K5 - second, you will not need to complete this requirement.

Please reach out to Amber Thomason (athomason@gwa.com) with any questions regarding Magnus Health.

Our Beyond the Bell afterschool classes begin in September. Click the link above for details and registration. Contact Lisa McDaniel at lmcdaniel@gwa.com with any questions.

This year, we are going to celebrate and learn about a new character trait each month. This will take place throughout the school from K3 to twelfth grade. Our first trait is courage and we will be focusing on daily acts of courage in school and among friends as we start a new school year. Please join us in having these conversations at home and talking with your students about how you have seen and used courage in your life experiences. Building character and focusing on strengths helps improve student achievement, resilience, and overall life satisfaction. We look forward to celebrating and building these traits among our Bulldogs!

Our cross country Bulldogs opened the season at Apalacheee High School with three Top 10 finishes, 6 personal best times, 7 meet best times, and a meet record. The team also had quite a few athletes racing for the first time and everyone looked strong!

Top 10 Finishers:

Gage Waseleski - 1st, MS boys (meet record)

Azalea Snell - 7th, Varsity girls

Moneli Shekarbakht- 10th, Varsity girls

Personal Best Times:

Hank Snell

Azalea Snell

Moneli Shekarbakht

Andy Harkins

Carter Delp

Emma Drennen

Meet Best Times:

Cohen Powers

Alex Gervais

Shane Howard

Makayla Islas

Bryn Keyeck

Ashley Fields

Isabel Choe

First-timer Phillip Akin was the first varsity boy to cross for the Bulldogs with an impressive 20:33.

The varsity Bulldogs will race again on Saturday at Bob Blastow in Whitesburg, GA. Go Bulldogs!

Moms in Prayer is an international organization that will be starting a circle/group at GWA this year. The circle had its initial meeting on Friday, Aug. 16, at 7:45 -8:45 a.m. in the George. They will meet the first and third Friday of each month. Click HERE to learn more or contact Holly Atkinson.