In Focus @ GWA

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

• Dance Performance: May 4 & 5, 6:30 p.m.
• Third Grade Musical: May 11, 8:30 a.m.
• Fourth Grade Musical: May 11, 9:30 a.m.
• Senior Art Exhibit: May 11, 6 p.m.
• Seniors' Last Day: May 12
• Baccalaureate: May 15, 7 p.m.
• Senior Mentor Breakfast: May 16, 9:15 a.m.
• Senior Banquet: May 16, 6 p.m.
• Yearbook Presentation: May 17, 1:30 p.m.
• Middle School Awards: May 17, 6:30 p.m.
• Upper School Awards: May 18, 6:30 p.m.
• Graduation: May 20, 9 a.m.
• Rising Senior Parent Meeting: May 24, 6 p.m.
• K5 Graduation: May 24, 7 p.m.
• Fifth Grade Graduation: May 25, 9 a.m.
• Last Day of School: May 25 (early dismissal for all grades)
• Order Lower School Supplies by June 8 (see below)

By Denise Schnieders

In a recent science experiment, third-grade students explored the question of which liquid best grows gummy bears. With a sense of curiosity and wonder, the students set out to conduct their own experiments and find out the answer to this question.

To start, the students gathered all the necessary materials, including gummy bears, water, vinegar, and soda. They then created a hypothesis, predicting which liquid they believed would make the gummy bears grow the largest.

They measured and placed a gummy bear in each of the liquids and observed them over a period of several days. The students measured the gummy bears each day to determine which liquid was causing them to grow the most.

After a few days of observation, the students discovered that the gummy bears in the soda grew the largest, followed by those in the vinegar and then the water. They also noticed that the gummy bears in the soda had a slightly different texture than those in the other liquids.

The students were excited to share their findings with their classmates and even created graphs to visually represent their data. They also reflected on the experiment and discussed what they had learned, including the importance of making accurate predictions and the value of conducting experiments to test hypotheses.

Overall, this experiment was a great way for the students to engage in hands-on learning and explore scientific concepts. They were able to practice skills such as observation, data collection, and analysis while also developing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Lower school supply lists are available now. Go to gwa.com (Lower School page) or click HERE for the links to grade level supply lists/order forms. Supplies may be purchased through the Dawg Shop (using the form) through June 8 or you may use the list to purchase on your own.

Walton County Chamber of Commerce President Teri Smiley spoke with our Head of School Gary Hobbs on Tuesday as part of their Walton Proud Chat series on Facebook Live. Please click the image below to view.

Special thanks to Willco Electric Company for their generous donation to Kids Boost on behalf of Walton Tribune Player of the Year Leila Mathis. Kids Boost provides a means for young people to help other young people in need.

The Dance Department will be performing their spring showcase, Footloose, tonight and tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in the lower school gym.

The show is a celebration of some of our favorite movie musicals including (but not limited to) High School Musical, Teen Beach Movie and, of course, Footloose! The show features jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and musical theatre dance and is mostly student choreographed. Our competition team will also be performing their competition pieces and our Beyond the Bell dancers will be showing their stuff as well! Admission is FREE. Hope to see you there!

The Senior Art Exhibition exit show will be next Thursday, May 11 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts building! It is showcasing the works of 13 seniors of the 2023 class, displaying a retrospective of their best works from high school and is open to all students, staff, and families. A wide variety of styles and mediums of work including photography, paintings, illustrations, and sculptures from our brilliantly talented seniors-please join us to appreciate the works of:

Rosalyn Chapman

Aryn Gravitt

Zoe Lifsey

George Zupko

Belle Rabe

EllieGrace Quinlan

Leslie Lanthier

Iyanah Marshall

Luke Lewis

Reese Baker

Lillie Barrientos

Avery Collin

Zelig Miller

All are invited to the Annual MWCA High School Student Art Show at the Monroe Walton Center for the Arts in downtown Monroe! Upper-school art teachers Mr. Jameson and Mrs. Stumpf are very proud to present student work from independent study, honors art, and foundations classes.

This show will be on display until May 18. The closing reception is on May 18, 6 -7:30 p.m. Representatives from SCAD will judge the show and give out awards and scholarships to winners at the reception. Please come by and admire the hard work and creativity of our GWA students. We hope to see you there!

Monroe-Walton Center for the Arts

Gallery and Gift Shop hours: Monday 11 - 4; Tuesday - Thursday 11 - 5; Friday & Saturday 10 - 5, Sunday 1 - 5

Congratulations to Band Director Christian Smith and his talented sixth- through twelfth-grade students on an outstanding performance in this week's Spring Band Concert.

Our lower school group piano classes presented their end of the year programs to family and friends this week. Students performed selections as a group, and performed their own original compositions as well. Great job to all our piano students and their hard work this year!

Congratulations to our advancing girls' and boys' lacrosse teams! The girls will play Pinecrest Academy at Strong Rock Christian School (Locust Grove) in the State Championship on Friday, May 5, followed by the boys against Strong Rock.

Visit https://giaasports.org/tickets/ for tickets. $12 for adults & $10 for students (grades 1-12). A general admission ticket will be good for either or both (boys and girls) games. Cash or credit card payments will also be accepted at the gate.

Let's GO BULLDOGS!

Our girls varsity soccer team advanced to the second round of the GIAA State Tournament following their 8-0 win over Atlanta Girls' School. They head to Columbus tomorrow to face St. Anne-Pacelli. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $8 for students. The address is 2020 Kay Circle Columbus, GA 31907. For parking, the last entrance on Box Road is the best for parking close to the field.

Good luck, Lady Dawgs!

A big congratulations to GWA tenth grader Taylor Jesel! She is the Reserve National Champion after her win at the 2023 IEA National Finals at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in NC. Way to go, Taylor!

Senior Gavel Club members gave their final speeches at Sunday night’s Senior Banquet before an audience of fellow members, parents, faculty, and staff. With the completion of ten speeches during their membership with the public speaking club, they achieved Competent Toastmaster status. Seniors spoke from the heart as they reflected on their time at GWA and looked ahead with optimism toward the future.

Congratulations and best wishes to our Competent Toastmasters:

Sara Bryan, Rosalyn Chapman, Ben Ellerbee, Morgan Green (not pictured), Ren Grimsley, Jackson Harrison (not pictured), Matthew Herren, Graham Hill, Reed Lawrence, Philip Mashburn, Keith Mims, Colt Ratliff, Mia Smith, Jaden Wood, Alex Zahradnik, and George Zupko.

For two Saturdays in the spring, GWA students who are attending the summer Costa Rica trip collected metal for a fundraiser. One container was placed in the GWA parking lot and another at an off campus location which collected scrap metal. Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. sponsored the event which gave back more than $2,000 to trip participants.

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