In Focus @ GWA

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

• Hill Admissions Testing: Jan. 12 (No School for K3-K5 ONLY)
• Last Day of Upper School Winter Term: Jan. 12
• School Holiday: Monday, Jan. 15 (MLK Day)
• Deadline for Middle School Italy Trip: Jan. 19 (details below)
• New Gym Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Jan. 31 (see below)
• Admissions Open House: Feb. 4 @ 2 p.m.

Dear Bulldog Family,

As I look forward to 2024, I am grateful for and humbled by the long-held tenets of a George Walton education. A lifelong educator, I understand the immense value of small classes, close relationships between competent teachers and highly motivated students, high academic and behavioral standards, a safe campus, thriving extracurricular programs, and a school mission with a Judeo-Christian foundation to develop the whole child.

At GWA, academic excellence and character development are not mutually exclusive. Strong academics and abundant extracurriculars are not mutually exclusive. Athletics and the Arts are not mutually exclusive. We are a “both-and” school, devoted to preparing young people in every way: academically, aesthetically, morally, socially, and physically.

We also believe that students at every age – across a range of abilities and with learning differences – respond to being challenged in the classroom. GWA endures as a rigorous school committed to excellence. 100% of graduates each year are accepted into a four-year college or university. We have a record of getting a significant percentage of seniors accepted each year into UGA and Georgia Tech, often as high as 25% of the entire class.

Thanks for tolerating my growing bravado for GWA. Yes, I am drinking the Kool-Aid! I am proud of our teachers and students who work very hard and place a premium on the life of the mind and pursuing scholastic excellence. As we enter the heart of the Admissions season, please spread the word that George Walton is a special place for young people and their families!

Go Bulldogs!

John D. Marshall

Head of School

Students rotated through the Community Service CLE and spent time volunteering in our community. The day consisted of a trip to Overlook Senior Living Facility, a visit from Katie Butler of United Way, and time serving at F.I.S.H. in Monroe and Loganville. Our students engaged in games and conversations with senior residents and helped to stock shelves at the local thrift stores and food pantry. Mrs. Butler spoke with the students about the various needs in the community and how they can continue to be involved. Our Bulldogs really showed up this week and made a positive impact in serving.

Upper school students in the Human and Civil Rights CLE gained valuable insight, and information through lecture, discussions, and small group activities. The topics covered included human rights in both an American and global context as well as civil rights and economic rights.

With daily visits from guest speakers, students were provided with first-hand knowledge from experts in the legal profession and government. Immigration and criminal defense attorney Liz Gomez shared thought-provoking examples of the inner workings of the court and government procedures regarding undocumented immigrants. Walton Co. District Attorney Randy McGinley and attorney Kalki Yalamanchili (running for ADA in Clarke Co.) explained criminal court procedures and stressed the importance of following the laws that protect everyone’s human rights. Business law and corporate violations lawyer Lynette Jimenez, spoke about violations within companies and recent lawsuits at Apple and Twitter. Students also heard from Dr. Joy Hatcher, GA Board of Education, on Georgia history and our state’s history within a human rights context.

The Life Skills for College and Beyond! CLE has given students a chance to learn through hands on experiences. Students learned the basics of crockpot cooking by making easy, five ingredient recipes, and in Mrs. Steele's afternoon session they worked on crafting healthy meal plans and cost effective grocery lists. Mrs. Gahan introduced them to the rules of etiquette, and students learned to set a formal table complete with centerpieces they arranged. Ms. Pickens taught students a handful of sewing skills necessary for mending a torn garment or replacing a lost button. Coach Whitley shared the important basics of car maintenance.

Mr. Terrell led students in a role-playing game in which students stepped into the role of admissions directors and worked together with their teammates to make the tough decision to admit, defer and deny a stack of college applicants. Senior Michael Mealor summed up the experience, "I found it really difficult to put myself in the shoes of a college administrator, and it helped me understand the importance of applying yourself while you can."

During our 2024 Winter Term, 92 GWA juniors and seniors are participating in internships – gaining real-world experiences in a wide variety of professions, including broadcasting, medicine, education, law, fashion, finance, law enforcement and more. They are serving in the Atlanta area and out of state (NC, NY, NJ, FL, NH and WY). Senior Alina Aponte is working at sports radio station 680 The Fan. Alina is thrilled to have this opportunity to explore a potential future career, “I really enjoy interning at 680 The Fan and I am really so grateful.”

After studying the structure and function of DNA, students in Mrs. Garbach’s class used everyday household materials (including a coffee filter, dish soap, and rubbing alcohol) to extract DNA from strawberries. Strawberries have a lot of DNA compared to the cells of other organisms so they make the perfect specimen. Students were able to isolate and examine the DNA after extracting it from the cells.

Students in Mr. Gasaway's middle school Robotics 101 class are using their math skills to measure various wheels to determine the circumference. They used measuring devices, including a vernier caliper and a meterstick for this assignment. Students recorded their work and will use the video/photos for future reference. The metric data they gathered will be used to determine how far the robots they create will travel.

We are excited to welcome more great prospective families to campus on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. We will begin with a general presentation/information session followed by campus tours. Please help us spread the word!

Happy New Year, Bulldogs! The 2024 spring lacrosse season is right around the corner, and registration is now open!

The GWA Lacrosse Program is open to boys and girls in grades K5 – 7. Practices will be held 2-3 times a week, with games being played on Saturdays. The season will start the week of Jan. 22, with games starting on Feb. 10.

We have a limited amount of equipment to loan out. Boys will need a helmet, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, and a stick. Girls will need goggles and a stick.

Cost will be $150, which includes league fees and uniforms. Registration will close on Jan. 19

Girls Registration

Boys Registration

Please reach out to Coach Jackson (sjackson@gwa.com) with any questions.

Fifth graders in Art are exploring 3D sculpture and fiber arts by creating mini pillows out of felt. Students could create any design using their felt pieces, add details with felt, and some students even used needles and thread to sew their pillows! The final step was to stuff them with some fluffy stuffing and close them up! To see some of these felt pillows and more amazing work in person, keep an eye out for details about our art show that will start at the end of February!

Ian Cornelius is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia. He grew up in the small town of Perry, Georgia and loves the community possible in small towns. He is no stranger to George Walton Academy. In 2021, he worked with marching band during their summer band camp. In his four years in college, Ian has worked with numerous band programs and has taught private piano, guitar, horn, and trumpet lessons. Also, Ian served in several ministry leadership and worship roles. These include an internship with SWAT Ministries, Beech Haven Church’s student ministry and college ministry, and on campus and abroad with UGA’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM). Currently he serves as the worship leader at Graystone Church in Oconee for their student ministry.

“I am overjoyed with the opportunity to serve alongside director Christian Smith in cultivating young leaders through intentional music making. I have been blessed by many phenomenal music educators and am excited to give back to a field that has afforded me so many rich experiences. The calling on my life to invest in the next generation through education is clear. I am thankful for the opportunity to begin this journey at George Walton Academy and hope to make a positive impact on students, fellow faculty, and the community for as long as I am graced to be here.”

Today's In Focus is proudly sponsored by Brown Oil Company (https://www.brownoilcompany.com).