In Focus @ GWA

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

• Christmas Tree Program: TOMORROW, 9 a.m.
• MS Drama Production: Nov. 30, Dec. 1 & 2 (see below)
• Gingerbread Christmas: Dec. 3, 4 - 6 p.m.
• GWA Preview Day: Dec. 7, 10 a.m.
• Christmas Band Concert; Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
• Exams/Early Release Days: see below for details
• Christmas Break: Dec.18 - Jan. 3

Our important dates (below) for the next school year have recently been approved by the Board of Trustees.

Merry Christmas! Tis the Season to celebrate our blessings and the many gifts bestowed by our Creator. I am humbled and grateful for our school, which is one of His gifts.

Tomorrow at 9 a.m. is the annual Christmas Tree Program in the Nicholson Center. You are invited! It is a GWA tradition not to be missed.

Blessings this holiday season on you and your family.

John D. Marshall

Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

*Please note: students should wear regular dress code attire tomorrow*

We will host Preview Day next Thursday for prospective families. Please share the news with friends and neighbors. Ask them to visit gwa.com and register. We can't wait to share everything that our school has to offer!

We are proud to announce GWA’s state nominees for the Governor’s Honors Program, which will be held this summer at Georgia Southern University. GHP is a program for gifted and talented students who have an area of specific academic interest. Students who are accepted into GHP enjoy experiential learning environments, exploration, and thematic learning. The state selection process is highly competitive and rigorous. As nominees, our students will be required to do an in-depth assignment pertaining to their area of nomination and participate in an interview, simulation, or audition. GHP finalists, those who will attend during the summer, are announced in late March. This year’s GWA nominees are the following students:

• Emerson Sheldon (Biology/Environmental Science)
• Ashton Grossman (Science/Chemistry)
• Quinn Taylor (Mathematics)
• Keira Campbell (Visual Arts)
• Zoe Ketterer (Visual Arts)
• Julia Tanase (World Language/French) – not pictured
• AddieBelle Hayes (World Language/French)
• Moneli Shekarbakht (World Language/Spanish)
• Wendy Menard (Music/Brass – French Horn)
• Kade Franklin (Music - Jazz Band Trombone)
• Matthew Shackelford (Music/Jazz Band Percussion)
• Aubrey Hicks (Drama Performance)

Congratulations nominees! We are rooting for you as you prepare to attend the next phase of the selection process!

Kendall Inman has been chosen as Rotary Student of the Month for October. She has selected Josh Jameson as Teacher of the Month. She has made both the Head of School list and Honor Roll. Kendall is a leader with active participation in numerous student clubs and organizations. She is a member of Beta Club (secretary), Interact Club (president), Junior Classical League (president), Gavel Club (officer), Student Council (executive president), and Youth Leadership Walton. Kendall is a four-year member of the GWA girls’ varsity lacrosse team, earning the defensive MVP award last season. She serves her community through her club affiliations and as a volunteer with Team Up Mentoring. Congratulations to Kendall and Mr. Jameson!

Sarah Digby has been chosen as Rotary Student of the Month for November. She has selected Jessie Croft as Teacher of the Month. Sarah has made the Head of School list and Honor Roll. She is active in GWA student clubs and organizations, including Beta Club, Gavel Club, Student Council (executive treasurer), Spanish Club (president), and Interact Club. Sarah has served as a GWA student ambassador throughout high school, and she volunteers in her community as a mentor with Team Up Mentoring. She is a four-year member of the girls’ varsity lacrosse team and varsity swim team (captain). Congratulations to Sarah and Mrs. Croft!

The GWA Dance Department performed their Christmas show, “Underneath the Tree,” this week. Dance students from kindergarten through middle school danced to holiday favorites, both classic and new, including Silent Night, Last Christmas, Jingle Bells and Candy Cane Lane. Teacher Genie Wiggins and her students choreographed the artistic dances in the genres of jazz, hip-hop, ballet and lyrical. Congratulations to all on a festive and fantastic show!

The middle school Intro to Drama Class has been working hard on their fall performance, "10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse," by Don Zolidis. Performances are Nov. 30, Dec. 1, and Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is free. Please contact drama teacher Bekah Wesley (rwesley@gwa.com) to reserve your ticket!

Join us for our annual Gingerbread Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 3. This is George Walton Academy’s sixth year hosting this event. Help us welcome Santa to campus, enjoy the holiday market, and music provided by our piano and band students. There will be lots of fun activities such as face painting, writing letters to Santa, crafts, games and pictures with Santa. The public is welcome to all events! JH Ranch will be presenting “Comedy & Carols” at 6:30 p.m.

LAST CHANCE! Enter the Gingerbread House Challenge! Click the link for details and to register your gingerbread creation. We have waived the entry fee and will award cash prizes to the top three entries, click HERE to sign up today.

GWA sixth grader Javi Hatcher was a patient at CHOA and they saved his life. He knows how expensive and stressful it can be to pay for meals while in the hospital. Javi plans to pay for patients' and families’ meals on Christmas Eve and you can help by attending his party. There will be a DJ, pizza, drinks, prizes, glow sticks and more. Join us for a fun night for a great cause!

Our Swim Dawgs had an excellent showing at the Nov. 17 meet at Georgia Tech (hosted by the Atlanta Girls' School). Highlights include:

• Overall combined scores-varsity finished 2nd, JV came in 4th
• Girls varsity took 1st in the Medley and Freestyle Relays. Congratulations to Nicole Chmielewski, Morgan Davis, Bella Weimer, and Maci Gray.
• Boys varsity Medley Relay placed 2nd. Congratulations to Baylor Lingner, Jake Stout, Anthony Pham and Blake Weimer
• The Davis siblings rocked the pool with 1st place finishes in the 50 Freestyle- Morgan in varsity girls and Jett in JV boys. Morgan also took 1st place in the girls 100 Freestyle AND the 100 yd Backstroke
• Anthony Pham took 1st place in the 500 yd Freestyle earning his team 20 points
• Jake Stout took first place in the varsity boys 100 yd Backstroke

• Bethany Pham, 1st in the JV girls 50 yd Backstroke
• Maci Gray took 1st in the JV girls 50 yd Freestyle

Good luck to the swim team as they head to the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarksville tomorrow starting at 4:30 p.m.!

Today's In Focus is proudly sponsored by Snellville Heating, Air and Plumbing. (www.snellair.com).