In Focus @ GWA

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Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (678) 635-3800
Facebook: facebook.com/GeorgeWaltonAcademy/
Twitter: @georgewalton

• Summer Camps: through Aug. 5
  
• Dawgs 360 Gently Used Sale: Aug. 2
• Fall Sports/Band Picture Days: Aug. 2, 3, 9
• Open House and New Student Orientation: Aug. 16
• Senior Class BBQ: Aug. 17
• First Day of School for All Grades: Aug. 18
• Ice Cream Social: Aug. 26
• Curriculum Night: Sept. 21

GWA is pleased to welcome Gary Hobbs as our new Head of School. Mr. Hobbs is a man of faith and has been a pillar of our community for many years. He served as superintendent of the Walton County School District for eight years and he comes to us with stellar careers in both the military and education. He is committed to continuing the historic success of GWA as the premier educational institution in our region and to ensuring that our mission remains the focus of each student’s daily experience. We look forward to hosting some upcoming events where families have a chance to meet him.

Trustees have met with the GWA faculty and continue to meet regularly with the leadership team as we prepare for another exciting and enriching school year. Even though students are off for the summer, it’s business as usual at GWA as we are busy planning and preparing our campus, curriculum, and community events for 2021-22. GWA’s experienced and talented teachers, administrators, and staff are committed and determined to ensuring each student has an outstanding educational experience.

The admissions team is busy conducting tours and welcoming new families to GWA. Enrollment remains strong and is on track to remain steady or slightly higher compared to the fall of 2020. Our thanks to those of you serving as "Guide Dawgs". We appreciate you welcoming our new families and helping them connect and get plugged into GWA life!

We hope you and your family have a terrific summer and we will continue to provide regular updates as we prepare to welcome everyone back in August!

Roy Roberts, Jr

Board Chair

Throughout the summer, we will be introducing our newest faculty and staff and ask you to join us in welcoming them to our GWA family!

Rachel graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a Minor in English. She also earned a Masters of Arts in Teaching Secondary English Education from Young Harris College.

What attracted you to George Walton Academy?

I was initially interested in GWA because of the school's mission and belief statements as they aligned perfectly with my own teaching goals and philosophy. After visiting the school and meeting the faculty, I found that the GWA team loves their school and cares so deeply about their students. This is a team that I am so excited to become a part of!

What would you like for our families to know about you?

I can't wait for this coming school year and to meet them and their kids! My goal for this year is to encourage students to find joy in literature and writing. I am most excited to start teaching in smaller classrooms and work with other teachers who are passionate about what they do!

Tamara earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Spelman College and has a wealth of experience having taught at many schools throughout the country. She most recently served as Assistant Professor at Georgia Military College and Lanier Technical College, and as a teacher at Martin Luther King, Jr High School.

Why did you want to be part of the GWA team?

George Walton Academy's reputation for excellence and student readiness is what attracted me the most.

What are you most excited about with this new opportunity?

I am most excited about working with students to uphold the mission of GWA by providing rigorous relevant and engaging lessons and watching as students apply real world context to theory. It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I have the opportunity to teach at George Walton Academy. As a seasoned instructor with a passion for mathematics, I seek to leverage my academic credentials, and my abilities to both educate and inspire. I am strategic thinker with proven ability to apply real world context to theory. I promise my students daily rigorous, relevant, related, and engaging lessons. I promise my GWA family that I will equip every student with skills that lead to productive, caring, and contributing citizens ready to take on an ever changing global society. I am thrilled at becoming a GWA Bulldog and I can’t wait to help all of our students achieve their full potential.

The benefits of reading have been well-established. From improved focus, better grammar, enhanced writing skills and even stress relief, reading is crucial to a child's development. Beyond required reading assignments, we encourage all students to read recreationally during summer break. Please see the suggestions for optional reading below for both middle and upper school students. These lists can also be found at gwa.com on the respective academic pages. Happy reading!

Middle School Book Recommendations

Upper School Book Recommendations

We are pleased to announce that Flik Independent School Dining will be partnering with us to provide healthy and delicious meal options for our students, teachers, and staff this upcoming school year. Flik's trademarked, proprietary "Platinum Service" is inspired by the legendary Ritz-Carlton customer service model and has been Flik's standard of excellence for the past 12 years.

We will be providing details soon about the new food service program, but in the meantime. we invite you to learn more about Flik and their philosophy at their website: https://www.flikisd.com

Thank you to the parents, grandparents, alumni and friends who have made their contribution this year to the 2020-2021 Annual Loyalty Fund Campaign. If you haven’t made your gift yet, it isn’t too late! The deadline for the 2021-2022 Annual Loyalty Fund is June 30, 2021. Click HERE if you would like to make a gift online.

Your investment has helped make possible:

• Professional development
• Increased STEM offerings
• Exceptional fine and performing arts programs
• Robotics
• Technology support such as audio-visual equipment, Chrome Books, and iPads
• Academic coaching through The PARC, Writing Center, and Math Lab
• Strong counseling department
• Expanded curriculum
• Digital subscriptions such as See Saw, Razz Kids
• Athletic equipment and competition space
• Buses and drivers
• Attractive facilities and grounds
• Clinic staff and supplies
• Campus security

GWA summer camps are in full swing - offering summer enrichment for kids of all ages and all interests! Our summer camps are open to the community, so bring a friend and spread the word about summer fun at GWA.

Please see camp listings below and click HERE for complete camp descriptions and the registration links. Happy camping!

Don't miss the chance to save at landsend.com. Be sure to select George Walton Academy or enter school code 900043035 when shopping for school uniform items to be sure you are purchasing dress code approved items.

Get an early start on the school year and beat the Open House rush by shopping the Dawgs 360 gently used uniform sale for school apparel on Aug. 2, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the cafeteria. Families are invited to become 21-22 Dawgs 360 members and shop the Dawg Shop for new spirit wear and uniform items as well. This event coincides with Fall Picture Days.

If you would like to donate uniforms, please drop them off at the front office from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Questions? Email Director of Dawgs 360 Elizabeth McDonel at emcdonel@gwa.com.

Our summer front office hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.