In Focus

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

• Youth Cheer & Soccer Registration Now Open: see below

• Summer Camps Registration Opens: Mar. 1 (see below)

• Read Across America Week: Mar. 3 - 7

• Lower School Conferences: Mar. 5 (NO school for LS ONLY)

• Lucky Dawg Gala & Benefit Auction: Mar. 8

• Grandparents Day: Mar. 14

• Jr./Sr. Prom: Mar. 14

• No School for MS/HS students: Mar. 14

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE GWA WEBSITE CALENDAR

Prospective families are invited to an admissions meet and greet at the home of a current GWA family in the River Cove subdivision in the Social Circle/Covington area. If you know of a family looking for a new school home, please share this information with them. We look forward to meeting prospective families and sharing all aspects of the GWA student experience. Thank you for your support in welcoming new families into our community!

Special thanks to all the students who have shared our Black History spotlights on the morning announcements this month! Black History Month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse contributions of African Americans to our country and the world. This year’s national theme is ‘African Americans and Labor,’ focusing on the powerful and profound ways the work of Black individuals has shaped history. Throughout February, we have highlighted influential figures who have fought for fair labor practices, inspired social change, and shaped industries in countless ways, including:

• Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
• Ella Baker (1903-1986)
• C.L. Dellums (1913-1996)
• Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919)
• Stokely Carmichael (1941-1998)

Forensic Science students are exploring the fascinating world of fingerprinting, learning both how to take fingerprints and lift them from various surfaces. Students collected fingerprints using ink pads and FD-258 fingerprint cards, carefully rolling each finger to capture clear ridge patterns. With guidance from Detective Shea of the Monroe Police Department, they also practiced dusting for latent (invisible) prints on ceramic tiles. After lifting the prints, they compared them to their fingerprint cards for analysis. Detective Shea demonstrated various techniques for lifting prints, including different colored powders (some fluorescent), specialized brushes, cyanoacrylate fuming, and silicon casting, which can be used to lift prints from objects like golf balls. These hands-on techniques are essential skills in forensic investigations, helping students understand how fingerprints play a key role in solving crimes.

Lower school is celebrating Read Across America week along with Dr. Seuss's birthday during the week of March 3- March 7. This week will be packed with dress up days, a BINGO challenge, a bookmark challenge and a book swap event!

The BINGO Challenge: Students will have the month of March to complete the reading challenge for a bag of bookworms and have their picture taken on the Reading Hall of Fame. The deadline for submitting BINGO sheets is March 31.

The Bookmark Challenge: Students will design a bookmark and grade level winners will have their bookmarks printed/laminated for everyone to take. The theme of the bookmark must be books, reading, and/or favorite characters. Bookmarks need to be turned in at the library starting March 3 until March 31.

The Book Swap: Students may bring up to 5 gently read children’s books to swap. Students turn in books at the library on Thursday, March 6 and will receive a token per book. Students will come to the library on Friday, March 7 from 7:30-8 a.m. for the book swap.

Our varsity girls basketball team will face Athens Christian this evening in the GIAA State Championship Semifinals at Columbus State University. CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets on GoFan. Good luck, Lady Dawgs!

Our varsity tennis team defeated Lakeview Academy in their first region match of the season! The boys won 4-1 with Ayden Concepcion and Carson Rickard clinching the meet at 1 doubles and the girls won 5-0 with Ellie Lang clinching the match at 1 singles. Way to go, Bulldogs!

The Bulldogs opened the 2025 season with a 6-5 win on the road Tuesday at Brookwood. Down 4-2 at the half, the Bulldog defense responded by holding the Broncos to 1 score in the second half.

They were led offensively by AJ Dillard (2 goals), Tiedrell Ansley (1 goal, 1 assist), and River Morrow (1 goal, 1 assist). Evan Conklin and William Ferguson each contributed one goal.

The Dawgs had a quick turnaround to their home opening win Wednesday over Mountain View, 15-2. The defense responded again with a strong group effort, holding the Bears scoreless for the final 44 minutes of the game.

AJ Dillard again led the way with 2 goals and 3 assists. Mason Kirkpatrick topped the team in goals with 4. Other offensive contributions included Tiedrell Ansley (1 goal, 3 assists), Sam Elvington (3 goals), Evan Conklin (1 goal, 1 assist), Emmett Kirkpatrick (1 goal, 1 assist), William Ferguson (1 goal), Wyatt Akin (1 goal), and Carter Rivers (1 goal).

The Bulldogs have two home games next week, Tuesday vs Mount Paran, and Thursday night against Hebron.

The 2025 Cheer Season is right around the corner, and registration for cheerleading is now open! The GWA Youth Cheer Program is open to students in grades K5 - 5. They cheer at football games for Sideline and go to competitions for Jr Pro on Saturday mornings.

There will be a mandatory meeting for girls who plan to compete on our Jr Pro Competition Team on Sunday, March 30 at 5 p.m. in the Learning Center.

There will be a mandatory fitting for both Sideline and Jr Pro on Tuesday, April 15, in the cafeteria at the following times:

K5 – 2nd: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

3rd – 5th: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

There is a $25 registration fee, which will be billed through TeamSnap. Additional mandatory uniform items will be paid to Varsity Spirit Apparel Company at the fitting on April 15.

Pricing:

*NEW K5-2nd sideline will cost approximately $200 not including shoes

*NEW 3rd-5th sideline will cost approximately $250 not including shoes

*NEW 3rd-5th Jr. Pro will cost approximately $300.

Please reach out to Chelsia Beam at cbeam@gwa.com with any questions about Youth Sideline Cheer.

Please get in touch with Holly Atkinson at hatkinson@ymail.com with any questions about Jr Pro Competition Cheer.

Please register your child here:

Youth Sideline Cheer (K5 – 5th)

JR Pro Competition Cheer Registration

Youth Soccer registration is now open! Tanya Rainford and Cecile Gervais run the youth soccer program. They ran an amazing program last school year and plan to continue building a pipeline of talented soccer players to feed our Middle School and High School teams.

Practices will be held on Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the practice field behind the baseball field. Mrs. Rainford and Mrs. Gervais will escort players to the field and return them to the front office at 4:15 p.m. for pick up. Any child not picked up by 4:15 p.m. will be taken to Aftercare.

-Sessions will start Thursday, March 13 and continue through May 15.

-Cost is $120 for new players, $100 for returning players

-Your child must have their cleats, shin guards, and a water bottle.

Register Here: https://forms.gle/ECJvYsmnuDGARiG98

The countdown is on! The Lucky Dawg Gala Silent Auction opens Monday, March 3, 2025, at 9 a.m., giving you the chance to bid on incredible items and experiences—all while supporting GWA. Whether you're looking for exclusive getaways, one-of-a-kind memorabilia, or special treats for the whole family, there’s something for everyone!

There is still time to purchase tickets for this years Lucky Dawg Gala. If you are interested in attending, you can purchase tickets by clicking HERE. Remember, the best and most exciting items may be featured in our LIVE Auction on the night of the event. You do not want to miss out on the opportunity to win these awesome prizes. Let the bidding begin!

GWA activities don’t stop when the school year ends! Our 2025 camps begin June 2 and run through July 31. Check gwa.com for details on our exciting camp offerings for Summer 2025! Registration for all camps will be live ( https://www.gwa.com/campus-life/summer-camps.cfm) on Saturday, March 1.

Camp offerings include:

• Tennis
• Draw, Paint, Create
• Girls Basketball
• New London Driving
• Barbie Camp
• Minecraft Camp
• Boys Basketball
• Friends Around the World
• Taylor Swift Camp
• Melty Bead
• Football
• Let's Go Camping
• Cheer
• And More!

GWA Summer Camps are open to all - campers do not need to be enrolled in the school. Please contact Ashley Kirkpatrick with any questions.

Congratulations to our Literary Team on an OUTSTANDING performance at regionals, held on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Our team completed the competition as Region Runner Ups, and several of our students are advancing to State Competition March 19 at Gordon State College.

State competitors who are individual Region Champs are:

Lower Vocal Solo—Kade Franklin

Piano—Phillip Akin

Argumentative Essay—Maddie Garrett

Duo Interpretation—Emerson Sheldon and Aubrey Hicks

State competitors who placed second include:

Dramatic Interpretation—Hailey Wudtke

Spelling—Phillip Akin

Extemporaneous Speaking—Layli Gharavi

Also, congratulations to those students who competed and those who served as alternates, earning points for the entire team, and making our runner up status possible, including:

Wendy Menard, Constance Trinh, Lucie Pulliam, Emma Wasserman, Journey Allen, Jon Brooks, Nolan Gray, Matthew Shackelford, Gabby Rainford, Lauren Exline, Chloe Wall, and London Lewis. A special thanks as well to our literary coaches, Angel Grimsley, Bekah Wesley, and Corrie Beth Noll.

Members of the Junior Beta Club recently volunteered at the Walton County Humane Society. The students engaged in various tasks such as washing dishes, doing laundry, interacting with cats through cuddling and playtime, as well as walking and playing with dogs to help tire them out. Working alongside Ms. Amanda and Ms. Mandi at the Humane Society was a delightful experience, and the group is grateful for the opportunity to assist in this meaningful cause. We hope all the sweet animals find their FURever home!

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon! SAVE THE DATE for March 13 - March 21 and get ready to empower your reader with book choice. The Book Fair will be open on Grandparents Day for family shopping! CLICK HERE to start exploring together. Sign up to volunteer HERE.

Our Books for Bullpups meeting over "The Bookwanderers," by Anna James was a success! Please email mnewberry@gwa.com for more information on joining 4th and 5th grade book club! Up next, we are reading "Olivetti," by Allie Millington.