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

• One Act Play: Oct. 17, 18 & 20 (see below)

• MS Movie Night: Friday, Oct. 18, 7-9 p.m.

• V Football at Riverside: Friday, Oct. 18

• SAT Testing: Tuesday, Oct. 22

• Furman Univ. Rep. Visit: Thursday, Oct. 24
• Fall Sports/Band Senior Night: Friday, Oct. 25
• PSAT Testing: Wednesday, Oct. 30
• Senior Stone Mountain Trip: Wednesday, Oct. 30

• Halloween Festivities: Thursday, Oct. 31 (details below)

• Hill Preview Day: Wednesday, Nov. 6

• Veterans Day Program: Monday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m.

• Winter Sports Photo Day: Tuesday, Nov. 12

We are thrilled to announce that the applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open! If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please email us at admissions@gwa.com. We have already begun giving tours to prospective families for next year and we have some exciting admissions events coming up. Interested families can register for our events at gwa.com.

Hill Preview Day: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
All Grade Preview Day: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Open House: Sunday, February 2, 2025
Open House: Sunday, March 30, 2025

Our GWA athletes continue to excel as our fall sports head into the post-season. Every sport, every season and every game give these student athletes an opportunity to improve their skills, demonstrate character and build confidence.

Our Lady Dawgs earned the Region Championship title and are currently playing at the GIAA State Softball Championship in Columbus. They are ranked number two in the state. The Lady Dawgs defeated Stratford Academy 10-1 today and face Strong Rock at 4 p.m. in their quest for the state championship.

Volleyball finished their season last week at the Region Championship. They did not advance this year to the state tournament. This was a rebuilding year for our girls as they are very young. We had great numbers in the program all year with a full JV and two middle school squads. The future is bright for GWA volleyball.

Bulldog football is still rolling and finishing up the regular season with a game at Riverside on Friday and then a showdown for the Region Championship next week against BCA. It’s a must win situation to be in the hunt and for a good seeding in the state tournament. Middle school football had a great year, winning the middle school League Championship last week against BCA. We are looking forward to many of these talented players joining the varsity squad next season.

The varsity girls’ cross country team won the 4AAA Region Championship in a big upset win, beating Athens Christian by one point and Tallulah Falls by two points in a 49-50-51 match up! The varsity boys ran strong in a race for the 4th state qualifying spot against Lakeview Academy, falling short by just eight points.

Competition cheer hosted its invitational a few weeks ago. All squads (varsity, middle school and jr. pro) scored the highest but because we hosted, we're not allowed to win. Varsity and middle school compete this weekend at FPD. They are gearing up for State in hopes to win it all this year. Last year’s 2nd place finish, while good, did not reach the standard of excellence our girls worked hard for. Stay tuned.

The Champions Club has been busy enhancing our athletic facilities around campus. Some noted improvement projects are the new film room in The George, and ongoing branding, new equipment and turf at the softball complex. Stay tuned for more exciting improvements in and around our athletic facilities.

Be sure to support our Bulldog athletes as they wrap up the fall season and head into winter sports. We are proud of the commitment from our coaches and the individual and team successes we have celebrated this year.

Go Bulldogs!

Mark Whitley

Athletic Director

As part of their study of the American Civil War, fifth graders gave presentations on either a prominent figure or a specific battle in the war. They did research, wrote a research paper and created informational trifold boards. Dressed in full costume, each student shared their knowledge with peers, parents and teachers. Great job, fifth grade!

The sixth grade hosted Diamond Del’s Gem Mining Adventure as an extension of the rocks and minerals unit being covered in science class. This is an opportunity for students to gain experience with the process of identifying and classifying fifteen different rocks and minerals - including quartz, pyrite, pumice, garnet, petrified wood and more. Students got hands on practice panning, one of the many ways used to separate minerals from the less desirable mining ore, without leaving campus.

GWA Forensics students have been studying the steps of crime scene investigation. During this challenging activity, students observed a staged crime scene and were assigned the task of sketching it to scale. The finished product includes a detailed visual representation of the scene's layout and relative positions of evidence triangulated to two fixed points. Crime scene sketches are valuable since they include details that can't be fully captured by photographs alone. The sketch allows investigators to better understand the spatial relationships between objects aiding in analysis, reconstruction, and ultimately, the pursuit of justice.

The GWA Interact Club is kicking off their 2024 Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project and will be placing marked donation boxes on campus (in grade-level hallways). Please send in your donations by Friday, Nov. 15 and help the Interact Club make a difference for children in need.

They are asking the following grade levels to participate by contributing the following items.

• Toys: The Hill, 4th, 8th

• School supplies: 1st, 5th, 9th

• Accessories: 2nd, 6th, 10th

• Toiletries: 3rd, 7th, 11th, 12th

Link to Gift Suggestions

https://samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/

Operation Christmas Child Amazon Storefront link:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/operationchristmaschild

Members of the GWA Spanish Club recently gathered for snacks and conversation during their afterschool meeting. While enjoying pineapple soda from Cuba and chips and salsa, students from Spanish 1 through AP Spanish mingled and spoke (in Spanish!) throughout the meeting.

Mark your calendars for Nov. 9 and join us at Southern Ox Axe Throwing for The Champions Club's inaugural Cornhole Tournament! This fun-filled event is open to everyone ages 12 and up, offering a fantastic opportunity for friendly competition, community connection, and support of George Walton Academy athletics.

• Team Registration: $50 per team
• Ages: 12 and up
• CLICK HERE to sign up

All proceeds will go toward supporting our student-athletes by funding essential resources and enhancing our athletic programs. Don’t miss out on being part of this exciting new tradition! Sign up today, grab your bags, and get ready to toss for a cause!

Our upper school One Act Competition students have been busy rehearsing for their upcoming performances and region competition in Winterville, GA on October 29.

A Night Under the Stars places an emphasis on human connection and interaction. In our technology-based world, it has become even more important to unplug occasionally. There’s something special about being in nature. It is something you just can’t replicate inside. If you turn off your phone and go for a walk, you may be surprised at what you see.

Be sure to reserve your free ticket via the Go Fan app and use the code: gwaoneact.

The girls cross country team won the 4AAA Region Championship in a big upset win, beating Athens Christian by 1 point and Tallulah Falls by 2 points in a 49-50-51 match up!

Azalea Snell was Region champ, followed by teammate Moneli Shekarbakht as Region runner up. Eighth graders Makayla Islas and Emma Konik placed 15 and 16 in their 5K debut. Isabel Choe, Bryn Keyeck, and Emma Wasserman ran personal best times to seal the deal for the Bulldogs!

The varsity boys ran strong in a race for the 4th state qualifying spot against Lakeview Academy, falling short by just 8 points. Phillip Akin led the Bulldogs with a top 15 finish. Nolan Dibble and Alex Gervais ran big PRs.

Our Lady Dawgs are playing for the State title! GWA defeated Stratford Academy 10-1 earlier today, and will play Strong Rock at 4 p.m. Let's GO LADY DAWGS!

Check out the bracket and livestream info. to see our girls in action! Go to GIAA TV (subscription required to stream at https://giaa.tv/ ) or follow play-by-play on the (green) GameChanger app for FREE.

1.) Download the app and create a free account.

2.) Click “Find your team.”

3.) Type “George Walton Academy Varsity Lady Dawgs.”

4.) It should be the first one on the list.

5.) Click on the “LIVE” game. You can follow for free or choose the 7-day trial.

The middle school football team wrapped up their season on October 8, defeating BCA 15–7 to win the Middle School Region Championship! The team finished the season with a 5–2 record with the win.

The offensive line, which included Ethan Knapp, Bennett Baker, Samuel Nwaizuzu, Isaiah Slatten, Asher Aldridge, and Jett Davis, did a tremendous job all season, creating opportunities for quarterback Max Adkins and skill players led by Will Bower and Maverick Link to find the end zone.

The young group of linemen also dominated on the defensive side of the ball, freeing up linebackers Asher Aldridge, Diesel Hutchinson, Will Bower, and Brayden Pagett to make plays all over the field. Liam Ordway made tremendous strides as a kicker for the special teams group.

A huge thank you to our coaches - Scott Jackson, Ben Yeater, Austin Hamman, Justin Sperin, and Kent Roberts who did a phenomenal job coaching the boys this fall. Thank you to our middle school cheerleaders for their contribution to a great season. Lastly, thank you to all our eighth-grade boys for their dedication to the middle school team. We can’t wait to watch you next year on Friday nights.