In Focus

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

• Pre-Game Tailgate: Friday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m.

• Hill Preview Day: Wednesday, Nov. 6

• Senior/First Grade Breakfast: Wednesday, Nov. 6

• Cornhole Tournament: Nov. 9 (see below)

• Professional Dress Day (MS/HS): Monday, Nov.11

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

• Winter Sports Photo Day: Tuesday, Nov. 12

• Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 25 - 29

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE GWA WEBSITE CALENDAR

Dear GWA Families,

Thank you to all who completed our recent communications survey. The information gathered from the survey results and your comments are invaluable and will be used to enhance the methods and effectiveness of our school communications.

We have summarized some of the key points from the results (see below) and we are happy to share the data from each survey question HERE. Our In Focus newsletter received high marks for content and readership. We will continue using In Focus as our primary means of communicating GWA news as we explore other options to make school information more easily accessible and efficient.

We are grateful for family feedback and are processing and brainstorming ways to improve communication about classroom progress. In the meantime, Renweb/Facts will continue to be the best resource to track student progress. We will encourage faculty to continue to be proactive with communication. We understand that an open partnership between teachers and families is critical for student success!

Our GWA website is due for a major update. We are currently meeting with website vendors to find the best option for a new design that reflects the vibrancy of GWA and will well serve both current and prospective families.

Thank you for partnering with us as we explore and implement meaningful changes in our school communications.

John D. Marshall

Head of School

Christina Russell

Director of Social Media and Communications

Mrs. Johnson's World Geography class recently visited the Georgia Safari Conservation Park for an exciting hands-on experience that directly connected to their studies, especially their unit on African wildlife and ecosystems. Students observed many animals native to Africa—including ostriches, zebras, and antelope—and learned about their unique habitats, behaviors, and conservation needs. This immersive experience brought classroom discussions to life, helping students to better understand Africa's diverse ecosystems and the importance of global conservation efforts.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 13, middle school students will be invited to attend a study group during lunch. This is an opportunity to learn study skills, have extra time to work, and get ready for finals at the end of the semester. If you would like your student to be included in this group, please add their name HERE or email athomason@gwa.com.

Mr. Jameson's Scene Shop class worked at a fast pace to fabricate mobile set pieces and an in-house home set for the GWA theatre department's one-act show, “A Night Under the Stars.”

The shop has been busy framing supports, fabricating logs and rocks from styrofoam, and turning the inside into the outside by installing real trees and a flickering campfire in the theatre space! Every class block has been non-stop movement, and teams were constantly building. With the completion of this set, the Scene Shop will turn their attention to the holiday half of the semester with some special Christmas-themed projects for the school’s many events. Keep an eye out for the shop’s teams constructing all around campus!

The GWA Marching Bulldogs will be traveling to Claxton, GA this Saturday, Nov. 2, to compete in their 2nd competition of the season. They will be going head to head with 13 groups in a preliminary and based on their score they will find out their position for the finals competition. Their preliminary performance time is 2 p.m. They'll be performing at Claxton High School at their new state-of-the-art football stadium that just opened this year. Go Band Dawgs!

Artists in K5 are strengthening their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination by exploring paper weaving. They have previously practiced painting procedures to make lots of green painted papers, and will be using these papers to create weavings that we will turn into adorable alligators! Artists will use bubble wrap print making techniques to add texture to their head and tail and attach all the parts together to complete their alligators. This is a very in-depth project that really tests all their skills, but these artists are fully capable of making masterpieces!

The counseling department will be launching a Therapy Dog Pilot Program in partnership with GWA parent Ashley Tamasi. Marley is a registered emotional support Goldendoodle and we are excited to have her available for students who would benefit from working with her. Marley will be available 1-2 mornings a week through the counseling department with the option to expand based on interest. If you do not want your child to be introduced to or work with Marley, please use this form to opt them out so we can respect the needs of all of our students. You may reach out to athomason@gwa.com with any questions regarding this new pilot program.

This week in Building Bulldogs with Mrs. Sheonta Bailey, students learned about determination and how it helps us reach our goals. Their friend Narwhal taught them how determination and a little team work can keep the things we love safe and clean. They also used breakout boxes to illustrate how determination and hard work can sometimes lead to a sweet treat. Our Bulldog friends now see how setting a goal and sticking to it can lead to success!

We are thrilled to announce that the applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are 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

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
• Cash prize of $1500

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!

Last Saturday morning, GWA kicked off their first Inter-club pickleball meet as the group competed well against LCA. Ayden Concepcion and Mason Kirkpatrick proved to be the team to beat and were undefeated. Strong showings from Ashley Hill, Rosemary Ferguson, Emmett Kirkpatrick and Tyler Mendenhall made for a fun, competitive morning.

If you are a high school student and are interested in playing pickleball on Saturday mornings against other private schools, please contact Ms. Carolyn Phillips for more information.

CLUB SCHEDULE:

10/26: 9 – 11 a.m.

11/2: 9 – 11 a.m.

11/9: 9 – 11 a.m.

11/16: 9 - 11 a.m.

11/30: 9 - 11 a.m.

12/6: 4 – 6 p.m.

12/14: 9 – 11 a.m.

Senior Keira Campbell, Ms. Marier and Ms. Pickens attended the Georgia Junior Classical League Fall Forum on Saturday, October 26 at Parkview High School. Ms. Pickens spent the day hosting the Creative Arts contests, and Ms. Marier served as a contest judge. Keira participated in several workshops including the GJCL Service Project where students made cat toys to donate to the Atlanta Humane Society and another where she learned about bas relief carving and carved a bar of soap into an impressive lion. At the second General Assembly, George Walton Academy was recognized as the Prima Avis - the first school in the state to register their JCL chapter for the year.

Our Bulldogs will play Strong Rock at home this Friday in round 1 of the playoffs! Join us at 6 p.m. for the pre-game tailgate and get ready to cheer on the Dawgs!

Admission is $15/adults and $10/students. GWA Champions Club memberships do not apply.

Our varsity and middle school competition cheer teams remain undefeated with recent first place wins at JMA and BCA! Our jr. pro team has placed as well – earning second and third place at the last two competitions. Congratulations to our cheerleaders and coaches!

The George Walton Academy softball team recently wrapped up an incredible season, going 25 and 6 on the season. The Lady Dawgs were undefeated in region play and finished the season as Region Champions and State Runner Up.

The Lady Dawgs were solid up and down the lineup and played great defense all year. Offensively, the team was led by a strong senior core, including Leila Mathis (.577 avg, 12 home runs - a single season school record, and 56 runs batted in), Demere Gray (.484 avg, 3 home runs, and 28 stolen bases), and Erin Harrelson (.517 avg, 9 home runs, 52 runs batted in, and a 1.53 earned run average pitching). Sophomores Kyler Hannay (.452 avg, 3 home runs, 35 runs batted in, and 14 stolen bases), Gisele Sorrow (.477 avg, 3 home runs, and 23 runs batted in) and Kendall Woodbury (.354 avg, 20 runs batted in, and 10 wins pitching) also played key roles on both offense and defense. In the circle, it was a true rotation with key contributions throughout the year from all three pitchers (Maddie Carter, Kendall Woodbury, and Erin Harrelson). Erin also recorded her 500th career strikeout this season.

The team was well-represented in both All-Region and All-State voting, with Leila Mathis being named Region Player of the Year and Erin Harrelson being named Co-Pitcher of the Year for the state.

All-Region:

Khyler Hannay

Erin Harrelson

Demere Gray

Leila Mathis (Player of the Year)

Gisele Sorrow

Kendall Woodbury

All-State:

Khyler Hannay

Erin Harrelson (Co-Pitcher of the Year)

Demere Gray

Leila Mathis

Gisele Sorrow

Coach Todd Shelnutt and the rest of the coaching staff did a tremendous job filling in while Coach Meeks was on maternity leave. Congrats Todd Shelnutt on being recognized as the Region Coach of the Year.