In Focus

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

• One Act Play: Oct. 30 & 31 (see below)
• Halloween Parties: Oct. 30
• US Dawg Talks: Oct. 30
• Junior Family College Night: Nov. 3
• Professional Dress Day (MS/US): Nov. 11
• Veterans Day: Nov. 11
• Winter Sports Photos: Nov. 12
• Admissions Open House: Nov. 15
• 4th Grade Musical Performance: Nov. 18
• Bulldogs Over Broadway Thanksgiving Parade: Nov. 19
• Early Dismissal: Nov. 20
• Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 23-27

CLICK HERE for 26-27 Important Dates

Students in Mr. Gasaway’s middle school Robotics class are putting their engineering and programming skills to the test through a hands-on robotics challenge! Students have been building and programming robots that can be controlled remotely and use a specialized gripper to pick up and move objects.

Their mission? Rescue stuffed animals and return them safely to their designated shelters! To complete the challenge, students must design and refine their robots, troubleshoot programming issues, and develop strategies to maneuver their creations successfully. Along the way, they are strengthening their problem-solving, critical-thinking, and collaboration skills while learning how engineering concepts translate into real-world applications.

Students in high school and middle school Bible have spent the past couple of weeks studying Moses and the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. During their studies, students learned about the Passover meal, and the significance of each aspect of the Passover (or Seder) meal. This week, students prepared their own Seder plates, including Charoset (an apple mixture to represent mortar and bricks), horseradish (to represent the bitterness of slavery), and Matzah (to remember how quickly the Israelites had to flee Egypt).

Last Halloween, Mrs. Fulmer's fourth-grade BARK students carved a small pumpkin, gave him a name, and buried him in soil inside a sealed container. While studying producers, consumers, and decomposers, students observed the pumpkin’s decomposition, including mold growth, and watched as seeds eventually sprouted. The sprout was transplanted into the ground and grew into a new pumpkin!

Now, as fifth-grade BARK students, they have witnessed nature come full circle! This one-year experiment demonstrated how decomposition returns nutrients to the soil and how seeds can grow into new plants, helping students understand the interconnectedness of living things and the important role decomposers play in an ecosystem.

Ms. Rita and Ms. Riley’s K4 friends had a spooktacular week full of crafting, creativity, and Halloween fun! The class explored process art, let their imaginations shine, and continued sharpening their cutting skills along the way. They wrapped up our Halloween week with a fun little photoshoot to capture all the cuteness!

Welcome to GWA and the USA, Julia, Manuela, Alex, Alejandra, Sofía, and Greta (not pictured)!

We’re excited to welcome these exchange students from St. Paul's Barcelona for two weeks of learning, adventure, and new friendships! During their stay, they’ll attend classes at GWA, experience life as an American teenager, and explore Georgia and surrounding points of interest alongside their GWA host families.

We’re thrilled to share our school, our community, and a little taste of American life with our new friends from Spain! Here’s to making memories, building connections, and discovering that the world feels a little smaller when we learn from one another.

GWA is excited to welcome guest speaker Dean Sikes with You Matter to our Middle School and Upper School Huddles on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Since January 1993, Dean Sikes has traveled across the country sharing powerful words of hope with students. His You Matter assembly focuses on helping young people find hope, meaning, and purpose in everyday life.

In a culture where anxiety, depression, and loneliness continue to rise, students face a real struggle to feel seen, heard, and valued. Through his personal testimony, honest reflections, and empowering insights, Dean gently reminds students that their lives have purpose - right now, just as they are - rooted in their God-given value.

During the assembly, Dean will encourage students to:

• Break free from hopelessness

• Recognize their true value and build a firm foundation of self-worth and confidence

• Find meaning and purpose in daily life

No matter what single challenges or self-doubt our students may be navigating, this assembly offers a timely message of encouragement, belonging, and perspective.

At the conclusion of the event, each student will receive a complimentary copy of Dean’s book, You Matter.

To learn more about the ministry and its mission, please visit the You Matter Website.

Did you know you can support GWA students while receiving a Georgia state income tax credit? Through the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, eligible Georgia taxpayers can redirect a portion of their state income taxes to provide tuition assistance for GWA families. It’s a simple way to make a meaningful difference in a student’s educational journey at no additional cost to you, subject to program rules and individual tax circumstances. To secure your 2027 GOAL tax credit, apply before the end of 2026. Georgia GOAL will handle the rest.

Visit goalscholarship.org to learn more and help make a GWA education possible for more families!

As Veterans Day approaches, our 6th grade BARK students have been working hard to find a meaningful way to support veterans in our local community.

After learning about Moina Belle Michael, known as the “Poppy Lady,” who was born in the Athens area, students developed a plan to create and sell handmade poppies in honor and remembrance of those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

This year, our students are partnering with Operation Rally Point, a Monroe-based organization dedicated to helping veterans find support, stability, and hope. Since its founding in 2015, Operation Rally Point has worked to assist veterans facing challenges such as homelessness, mental health struggles, and the transition to life after military service. The organization provides a variety of services, including peer support groups, mental health resources, transitional housing, and assistance with basic needs. Through this partnership, our BARK students hope to raise funds that will directly support veterans and remind them that their service and sacrifices are not forgotten.

Handmade poppies will be available for $1 each from Tuesday, Nov. 3, through Tuesday, Nov. 10. They may be purchased before school, during Middle School and Upper School breaks, and during Middle School and Upper School lunch outside the Learning Center. Cash and card payments will be accepted at the sales location. Lower School students who wish to purchase a poppy may bring $1 in cash to their classroom teachers. Our BARK students will deliver the poppies directly to them.

Families are encouraged to wear their purchased poppies to our upcoming Veterans Day presentation as a way to honor and remember those who have served our country.

We are incredibly proud of our BARK students for taking the initiative to learn about our nation’s history, connect with a local organization, and turn their learning into meaningful action. Through this project, they are discovering that even a small act of kindness can make a difference in the lives of others.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping us honor the veterans who have given so much for our country!

Parents and caregivers are invited to Parenting with Purpose: Parenting in a mental health crisis with truth and hope, on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 6–8 PM at Grace Monroe (Main Auditorium, 315 N. Madison Ave., Monroe). Sam Cutler, LPC, a school counselor with nearly 20 years of experience working with adolescents, will talk about the mental health challenges families face, how to spot concerning behaviors, and how to respond. A Q&A panel with local school and counseling professionals will follow.

The event is free, and childcare for ages 10 and under is available for $5 per child (registration required for childcare). More info can be found at:

graceformonroe.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3947506.

All are invited to join us on November 11 for our annual Veterans Day program. We look forward to honoring the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation. Veterans are welcome to arrive early for coffee and donuts in the Nicholson Center concession area. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Shirts will be available for pick up in the Dawg Shop. Lower school students' orders will be delivered to their classrooms.

We are excited to invite all lower school parents to our upcoming Lower School Dawg Talks! This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our administration team, ask questions, share your thoughts, and provide valuable feedback.

Event: LS Dawg Talks

Date: Friday, Nov. 6

Time: 8 - 8:45 a.m.

Location: The Learning Center

Please use the form linked below to RSVP and submit any questions you would like us to address during our time together.

DAWG TALKS RSVP

We look forward to connecting with you and hearing your input!

Help us spread the word about George Walton Academy! Our Open House is coming up on November 15 from 2-4 p.m., and we’d love to welcome families who are searching for the right school for their children. If you have friends, neighbors, or coworkers who may be looking for a school that offers strong academics and a close-knit community, please share our Open House information with them. With 2027–2028 applications now open, it’s a great time for prospective families to discover what makes GWA More Than a School!

The GWA One Act Play team competed yesterday in Vidalia and placed first! Peyton Wilson, Madi Hill, and Joan Guzman all received outstanding performance awards. The team will travel to Gainesville, GA for the state competition on Nov. 9. Congrats to all!

Olivia Boyle

Joan Guzman

Madi Hill

Harrison McClellan

Jared Turner

Peyton Wilson

Colton Wudtke

Jon Brooks

Drama teacher Bekah Wesley

The GWA Theatre Company proudly presents their One Act production of Charlotte's Web on Oct. 30 and 31 at 5 p.m. Admission is free - but you must reserve your seat. CLICK HERE to reserve.

This past weekend (at South Forsyth HS) GWA Marching Bulldog Band gave outstanding performances and placed in several categories:

• 1st place in Class 4A
• 1st place in Music
• Nolan Gray took 1st place Drum Major
• 2nd place Percussion in Class 4A

The Marching Bulldogs made it to the top block of bands in finals and finished 5th out of the 14 competitive bands. It was a great day of competition!

Ms. Sims’ Hobby Arts class had a thrilling time this week planning their Monster Mash! Students planned a party complete with theme, guest list, invitations, shopping needs, budget, food, and handmade decorations. Their festivities included personal-sized cakes made in spooky molds, food trays made of skeletons, ghosts made of Mod Podged fabric, and games like eyeball toss! The unit culminated today with a spooky Halloween-themed lunch celebration.

The GWA cross country team had a great showing at the State Meet. The boys finished Top 5 as a team and the girls placed 8th.

Gage Wasileski and Emma Konik each placed second and finished the season as AAAA GIAA state runners-up. Ashley Fields finished in the Top 20 as an 8th grader.

Personal Best Times:

Alex Gervais

Daniel Islas

Mac Ferguson

Libby Root

Ashley Fields

Course Best Times:

Gage Wasileski

Phillip Akin

Shane Howard

Emma Konik

Congrats to Coach Kinsey Snell and the team on a great season! Congratulations to our All-State and All-Region runners!

The Bulldogs celebrated Senior Night with a 41-14 victory over Lakeview Academy! London Fluellen was named Player of the Game with two receiving touchdowns and an interception. AJ Dillard accounted for three touchdowns, throwing for 88 yards and two scores while adding 46 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Chase Williams led the Dawgs on the ground with 93 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Baylor Lowe and Brody Hamman also found the end zone. Defensively, Hudson Pittman and Brody Hamman led the team in tackles, and Jett Wells added an interception. The Dawgs are back on the road this Friday to take on Loganville Christian in the final game of the regular season. Go Dawgs!

Our GWA Shotgun Team is headed to the GIAA Clay Target State Meet this weekend at the Forest City Gun Club (Savannah). Best of luck, Bulldogs!

Save the date for Winter Sports Photo day on Nov. 12. Please contact your coach for details about what to wear or bring.