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

• Upper School Awards: May 19 @ 6:30 p.m. on football field
• Baccalaureate: May 20 @ 7 p.m on football field
• Graduation: May 21 @ 9 a.m. on football field
• Exams (grades 8-11): May 23 – May 26 (see below)
• Class of 2023 Parent Meeting: May 24 @ 6 p.m. in cafeteria
• K5 Graduation: May 25
• 5th Grade Graduation: May 26
• Last Day of School: Early Dismissal May 26 (see below)

Please be sure to check out next week's schedule and dismissal times for ALL grades. Click HERE for complete details.

We are counting down the days to the Class of 2022 baccalaureate and graduation. Please note that tickets are required for field seating for both events (tickets have been sent to seniors). Stadium seating is first come, first served. Don Williams Stadium will open at 6 p.m. for baccalaureate and 8 a.m. for graduation. DVD’s and digital videos will be available for purchase through South River Sound (Jonathan Swarner) at http://www.southriversound.com/gwa_catalog.html

• Lower School Summer Work
• Lower School Supply Lists & Order Forms (pre-pack order deadline is June 9)

• Sixth Grade Summer Work & Supply Lists
• Seventh Grade Summer Work & Supply Lists
• Eighth Grade Summer Work & Supply Lists

• High School Summer Work
• High School Supply Lists

By Mr. Griffin

Eighth-grade students concluded their “Griffinia” government lesson with different “special guests” from the GWA faculty! Each class had a “surprise” teacher or educator who came to the class to serve as our “Griffinia Governor” and “Griffinia Supreme Court.” The students, serving as legislators, had researched and written bills that would be approved to become laws in our fair state of Griffinia. Our “Guest Governors” asked questions about budget, enforcement, and the focus of each bill to help them decide whether or not to sign them into law. Then, our “Guest Supreme Court Justice” would decide if the law would be constitutional and equitable. It was a grand time to show how the three branches of our democracy work together!

Tuesday's Senior Mentor Breakfast marked the beginning of a new GWA tradition as our senior class members honored someone who has made a difference in their lives. The mentors include coaches, relatives, teachers, GWA alumni, and others who consistently provided encouragement and served as positive role models for our soon-to-be grads. Thank you to all who attended and for continuing to show our young people that they are important and valued.

GWA seniors received over $41,000 in community scholarships. A huge thank you to these organizations and congratulations to our scholarship recipients!

1. Monroe Junior Service League

2. Rotary Club of Monroe

3. Walton County Foundation

4. GWA Cure Dawgs

5. Mike Head Memorial Scholarship

6. Lavinia Wood Memorial Scholarship

7. Gary & Rita Kennedy Memorial Scholarship

8. Walton Electric Trust

9. Youth Leadership Walton

10. Hudson Family Foundation

11. American Red Cross Blood Services Scholarship

12. Barrelle Roofing

Mrs. Carver’s lower school art students love when lessons move outside! Second graders enjoyed drawing in the courtyard – they studied their subject, paid close attention to detail, and strengthened their drawing skills. Third-grade students had fun taking photos outdoors from a worm’s eye perspective.

Our middle school drama students had fun in Ms. Gerhardt’s class learning about the different jobs within a theater's wardrobe department. Actors explored how a character can be developed through their costume and why specific costume choices might be made due to the character's traits. Students created costumes with pre-made items and built their own costumes out of trash bags. With each activity, the actors were given the challenge of developing a character based on the costume.

Congratulations to our girls varsity tennis players and coaches on an outstanding season! They finished as the GHSA State Runner-up. Coach Chiara Di Salvo commented, “Today we came up short and didn’t get that win. The coaches are amazingly proud of each of these players and know of the hard work to make a 21-1 season record. Wesleyan was a better team and our girls did everything needed to represent GWA at the highest level. We will look forward to the next year and build from the good experience they all earned this season. Thank you to seniors Camille Malcom and Reagan Peppers for their hard work and commitment to GWA tennis. They have brought countless wins and led this team to the State final today. We are thankful for the legacy they leave to the future of the GWA tennis team. Thank you to everybody who came out to support this team today, it was an amazing crowd!”

Our boys golf team traveled to Dogwood Golf Club in Austell, GA earlier this week to compete in the 2022 GHSA State Championship. After two days, our boys came back with a 9th place finish overall. Will Herren led the bulldogs with a 74-75 and finished in 7th place individually.

Congrats to the golf team on a great season!

The Georgia Athletic Director’s Association has announced its standings for the 2021-2022 Director’s Cup. Our girls’ athletic teams finished on top in Region 8 and our athletic program as a whole finished in the top ten in the state (1A-Private)! Congratulations to our incredible GWA coaches and teams! Click HERE to view complete rankings.

The GWA varsity football team wrapped up spring football practice with their annual Spring Showcase. Go Bulldogs!

EF (Education First) High School Exchange Year is a non-profit organization that brings volunteer host families and students from 15 different countries together for a school year. EF was established in 1979 when the U.S. wanted to increase the diplomacy and global awareness between the United States and other countries of the world. They wanted a way for other people around the world to think more favorably of the U.S., make the world a little smaller, and a way to appreciate the various cultures. EF is regulated by the Department of State and is the largest exchange program in the U.S. Over the 40+ years, EF has brought more than 100,000 exchange students to host families around the nation. We currently have three exchange students (Lisa from Japan, Alice from Italy, and Ben from Germany) attending GWA this year. They love the school, their host families, the new friends they have made, and being a part of the community. READ MORE...

For more than two decades, Peggy Jordan, Jeanie Beach, and Brian Cole have devoted their time and talents to George Walton Academy. It’s impossible to describe the countless ways they have impacted the lives of our students, teachers and staff through the years. Although they’ve served in a variety of roles, their most recent include: School Registrar – Peggy Jordan, Associate Head of School for Advancement – Jeanie Beach, and Associate Head of School for Fine Arts – Brian Cole.

The faculty and staff gathered to appreciate the trio and wish them well as they either retire, make more time for family adventures, or move into a new role (Jeanie Beach is transitioning to a part-time position in Human Resources). “Thank you” is not enough to express our gratitude to these dedicated employees who have built a lasting legacy at GWA. We wish them well on the next chapter of their lives and look forward to seeing them at special school events in the future!

We are excited to welcome new fourth-grade teacher Chelsia Beam to our Bulldog family! She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Georgia Gwinnett College with endorsements in gifted, reading, and ESOL. Chelsia commented, “I want to work at GWA because GWA is a family. This is the place I want my own child to be educated in. I truly believe that GWA provides the best learning environment for all children and pushes students to be their very best!"

We are happy to announce the hiring of third-grade teacher Roger Lamadrid! He earned his bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University, holds a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Chico and a master’s degree in education from Brenau University. Roger is excited to join our GWA faculty, “I am so thrilled and blessed to become part of a wonderful community where each students' unique gifts and talents are uncovered and nurtured. I am thankful to be able to answer our Creator's call for me to teach and inspire our children."

We are thrilled to introduce third-grade teacher Katie Padgett. She attended the University of West Georgia and the University of Phoenix. Katie earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Katie can’t wait to join us, “I am excited to teach at George Walton where it is more than a school, it’s a community. I look forward to building strong relationships with my students, their families, and my colleagues.”

GWA activities don’t stop when the school year ends! Our camps begin May 31 and run through July 25. Check out the exciting camp offerings for Summer 2022!

Click HERE for complete details and registration. Please contact Ashley Kirkpatrick with any questions.

• 3D Design with Mr. Gasaway
• Basketball Skills Camp with Coach Lamonique and Coach Grace
• Basketball w/ Coach Reynolds
• Build the Future (3D city software) with Mr. Gasaway
• Christmas in July Camp with Mrs. Scott
• Cooking Camp with Mrs. Gervais
• Craft Camp with Mrs. Scott
• Crochet Camp with Mrs. Feinstein
• Dot and Dash Robots with Mr. Gasaway
• Draw, Paint, Create Art Hosted by The Sketch Pad
• English SAT Prep Rising 11th – 12th grades
• English SAT Prep Rising 9th – 10th grades
• Flight 2050 (Learn about aviation) with Mr. Gasaway
• Girl’s Youth Basketball with Coach Hines
• LEGO Camp with Mrs. Power
• Melty Bead Camp with Mrs. Scott
• Minecraft and Video Game Camp with Mrs. Bellah
• Mission to Mars with Mr. Gasaway
• New London Driving classes
• Outdoor Sports Camp with Ms. Shupe
• Princess Camp with Mrs. Bellah
• Reader’s Theater with Ms. Shupe
• Soccer Camp with GWA Soccer Coaches and Players
• Stay and Play with Ms. May (Offered all weeks camp is offered)
• SUMO Robot Camp with Mr. Gasaway
• Tennis Camp with Coach Chiara
• Theater Basics Camp with Ms. Gerhardt
• Wrestling Camp with Coach Sperin
• Youth Football Camp with Coach Beer
• Youth Cheer Camp

Today's In Focus is proudly sponsored by Bulldog Kia (www.bulldogkia.com). Interested in advertising through our Corporate Partnership program? Contact Jeanie Beach at jbeach@gwa.com or call 678-635-3812.