In Focus @ GWA

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

• Deadline to order HOCO t-shirt: TOMORROW (see below)
• Volleyball Senior Night: Sept. 12
• Mandatory Junior & Parent Meeting: Sept. 14 @ 6:30 p.m.
• Walton Co. Probe College Fair: Sept. 15 (see below)
• Literary Info. Meeting: Sept. 16 @ 7:30 a.m., in the Commons.
• LS Curriculum Night: Sept 20 @ 5 p.m.
  
• MS/US Curriculum Night: Sept. 20 @ 6 p.m.
• Dawgs Unleashed Events: Oct. 15, 17 & 18 (see below)
• Yearbook Picture Make-up Day: Oct. 17

On Tuesday, September 20 we will be hosting curriculum night on campus for every grade level and division. Lower School will start at 5 p.m. and will last for approximately 45 minutes. Middle and Upper School will start at 6 p.m., and students will follow their child's schedule to spend 10 minutes in each class. This will be an opportunity for parents to come and hear more from teachers about the curriculum for their child’s grade level or classes, and see how they can be involved in their student’s education throughout the school year. By this point in the year, the students will be in the swing of their classes, and this is a good opportunity for parents to see and understand what we do in the classroom and to hear more from the teachers about the academic expectations laid out for each student. We hope to see everyone there!

Mrs. Gahan's ASL 1 class started off their unit on the family by becoming actors, putting on props and staging a wedding. By acting out the roles of two sweethearts who fall in love and get married they learned how to use all the signs for friends and family. This role-playing lesson made for a fun and memorable way to learn new signs.

During Community Time, Mrs. Beam's fourth-grade class met their new reading buddies in Mrs. Bellah's K5 class. Mrs. Beam's students each picked out two books to read to their new buddies. These students will continue to meet weekly throughout the year to build upon their skills and share the joy of reading.

As we continue our efforts to enhance and strengthen our campus security systems and procedures, we conducted a successful lockdown drill earlier today. Officer Holliday, Mr. Hobbs, and the division heads are evaluating all that they observed and the feedback that was received to ensure that any needed adjustments are made. Combined with our new security cameras, monitoring systems, and automatic door locks, these drills are an important component of our overall security strategy and help make GWA an even safer learning environment.

Get ready to saddle up, Bulldogs, for a rootin'-tootin' good time! Homecoming is scheduled for Friday, October 7. An online shop has been set up to take pre-orders for homecoming t-shirts (available in all sizes). The deadline to purchase a t-shirt is September 9. All orders will be ready for pickup in the shop starting September 26. Click HERE for the link or visit the Dawg Shop page on our website.

The Dawg Shop now has men's Under Armour polos available in all four school colors. Also in stock are red spirit wear t-shirts, available in youth and adult sizes.

Would you like to travel to Costa Rica for an adventure immersion trip? This trip promises to explore the beauty and culture of Costa Rica. The adventure will include visits to a volcano, and beaches, plus rafting, and zip lining while being engrossed in Costa Rican culture. There will be an informational meeting on Thursday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons for any middle and high school students that are interested in this once in a lifetime experience! Please contact Angie McElveen at amcelveen@gwa.com if you are unable to make the meeting or have preliminary questions.

On Thursday, September 15, GWA is hosting the Walton County Probe College Fair with nearly 80 colleges expected to attend. This event gives Walton County high school students an opportunity to visit with college admission reps from across the country. Probe is an annual program of college fairs and guidance counselor workshops that are held throughout the state of Georgia. The program is managed by the Georgia Education Articulation Committee (GEAC), whose sole mission is to disseminate information and stimulate interest in post-secondary education for students in Georgia. Hundreds of colleges from across the nation attend Probe each year to reach thousands of Georgia high school students. Probe is a resource to connect students with the right school to individual needs and career goals. For a list of attending schools, please click HERE. All GWA students in grades 9-12 will attend the college fair.

Upcoming College Counseling Rep Visits:

Friday, September 9 - University of North Georgia

Monday, September 12 - Auburn University

Wednesday, September 14 - Sewanee: The University of the South

Friday, September 16 - High Point University

Friday, September 16 - LaGrange College

Juniors & Parents,

Please mark your calendars. Mr. Terrell and Mrs. Nabors will be hosting a mandatory College Preparation Meeting in the cafeteria on Wednesday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will end no later than 7:30 p.m. We ask that every junior and at least one parent be in attendance. We will review college admission guidelines, timelines, testing, the application process, and much more to make sure your family is completely informed and prepared for the upcoming college application process.

If you have conflicts or questions, please email Mrs. Nabors at lnabors@gwa.com.

Dawgs Unleashed is an annual community event hosted by Dawgs 360 that’s open to the public. It consists of several smaller events that are typically spread out over the course of one week. Registration for the various components of Dawgs Unleashed is open! T-shirts are guaranteed to those who register by Wednesday, Sept. 28. Click HERE for event registration and details. For more information about our Dawgs Unleashed events, please contact Elizabeth McDonel at emcdonel@gwa.com.

Become a Sponsor for Dawgs Unleashed! We're seeking sponsors for our 2022 Dawgs Unleashed events! To sponsor or ask any questions, reach out to Mike Elmankabady at melmankabady@gwa.com. Click HERE for details.

Dawgs 360 is looking for never-ending smiles and encouraging cheers! Can you help us cheer on the Dawgs Unleashed runners and support our tournament golf teams? Contact Elizabeth McDonel at emcdonel@gwa.com to join the fun!

Today's In Focus is proudly sponsored by Athens Orthopedic Clinic (www.athensorthopedicclinic.com). Interested in advertising through our Corporate Partnership program? Contact Mike Elmankabady melmankabady@gwa.com or call 678-635-3812.