In Focus @ GWA

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

• Great Kindness Challenge Week: Jan. 23 - 27
• Meet & Greet with Mr. Marshall: Jan. 26
• Red Cross Blood Drive: Jan. 27
• Deadline to buy a yearbook: Jan. 27 (details below)
• Swim, Equestrian, Wrestling Pictures: Jan. 31
• Spring Sports Photos: Feb. 15 & 22
• Winter Break: Feb. 17 - 20

Please help us welcome our future Head of School, John Marshall, to the GWA family! Everyone is invited to join us for a Meet and Greet reception on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Commons. This is a drop-in event, and an RSVP is not required.

Eleven GWA students and two faculty members traveled to London for an educational tour with a focus on STEM. Students visited Oxford University including Christ Church College, as well as the Bodleian Libraries including the Radcliff Camera, and the History of Science Museum. They went to Bletchley Park to observe where the code breakers were during WWII, as well as to Bath where they saw the Pulteney Bridge. They also visited the Roman Baths, the Bath Abbey, and the Royal Crescent. Finally, the group traveled to London for visits to Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, a Thames River Cruise, Tower Bridge with the Pump Room, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Faraday Museum and Royal Institute, Covent Garden, the Science Museum, and the Royal Observatory. Senior Sara Bryan stated, “I really enjoyed seeing the different types of architecture of the churches and Roman baths.”

Teacher Kellie Watts commented, “This trip was so valuable to our students as it brought so many aspects of the classroom to life. We experienced real-world applications of biology, physics, electrochemistry, history, coding, early civilizations, and culture. Students were also exposed to the opportunities of studying abroad at numerous college campuses. What an amazing adventure we had!” Teacher Suzy Quinlan agreed, “We went from sunup past sundown, traveling on airplanes, boats, buses, the tube (subway), and on foot. We grew as individuals, as a group, and as global citizens. We laughed until we cried and got way too little sleep, but we experienced a lot that England had to offer!"

Lily Jennings learned firsthand about the value of excellent customer service while interning in Naples, Florida with a luxury golf, tennis, and fashion boutique. She commented, “I learned how to get to know the customer and never let anyone leave without finding out their name.” Her knowledge of the merchandise gave her the confidence to close a sale and her personal attention was key to making sure her customers left happy.

Abagail Mack worked at Mazzawi Family Dentistry during Winter Term. She learned about the daily operations of the practice, assisted the dentist in different procedures, learned how to form molds and how to sterilize instruments. Abagail said, “I will never forget this experience and the connections that I made through this internship that has further solidified my desire to pursue dentistry.”

Junior Luke Kirk headed west for his internship in Wyoming. Working alongside his uncle, he served as an apprentice on a ranch. Luke spent his time managing the buffalo herd, and his duties included shoveling large amounts of snow to clear pathways for the buffalo, flagging the buffalo into pens and sorting them to sell. Luke said, “I really enjoyed my internship at the ranch although it was a lot of work and exhausting.”

By Katie Dickerson and Kellye Burkhart

This week in sixth grade, Mrs. Dickerson’s social studies classes and Ms. Burkhart’s English classes are collaborating as they explore Ancient Greece. In English, students are busy reading and learning about Odysseus as he navigates his long and eventful journey home in the epic poem, "The Odyssey." Additionally, each student is creating his or her own god/goddess based on their own personality - likes, dislikes, and hobbies. In Mrs. Dickerson's social studies class, students are continuing their study of Ancient Greece covering topics such as the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, the Dark Ages, Olympics, the Peloponnesian War, and Greek Mythology. For their project, students chose a Greek god or goddess to become an expert on. They are creating “body posters” and researching various traits about their chosen god. Some traits include special powers, virtues, vices, love interests, and what they like to control. Students are able to express their creativity and work on their research skills using the database, Galileo.

By Lisa McDaniel

K5 students love to read, and they love to learn facts. This week, Ms. McDaniel’s class began their study of nonfiction books. The students looked at nonfiction and fiction books and found the differences. "I learned about the table of contents and how it tells you what information is in the book," said Rhett Wilson. It was a fun lesson in which the children paired up to look at books that give information. Each child shared with the class what their book was about and the elements of it. “Snakes are my favorite. They shed their skin," said Hartley Norris. When the students finished, they wrote about their book and what they liked about it. “I love learning about books,“ said Joslyn Ooley.

Students in the Winter Term "Intro to Ceramics" class were introduced to the basics of ceramics and learned to use clay as a fine art medium. They learned coil and slab building techniques, surface development and glazing. Each student was able to create functional and sculptural pieces. Mrs. Stumpf commented, "I am so proud of the pieces they were able to produce in such a short amount of time."

"Intro to Printmaking" provided students with a beginner level experience of process. They focused on relief printing, a form of printmaking in which the image to be printed is raised from the surface. To create a template, pieces of material are carved away and removed from the surface which basically produces a giant stamp. Students had the opportunity to create three different sized linocut (carved linoleum) block prints. They had the freedom of choosing their design images and the opportunity to print on paper, clothing, and accessories.

Prospective parents for rising Pre-K3 through 11th-grade students are invited to join us for Open House on Sunday, Feb. 5 beginning at 2 p.m. Registration is required; the registration form may be found at gwa.com. We will begin with a general presentation followed by campus tours. We can’t wait to share all that George Walton Academy has to offer!

The deadline to reserve a yearbook is January 27. Not sure if you paid for a yearbook? Here is a LINK of ALL yearbook purchases. Please check it to make sure you have reserved a 2023 yearbook for your student! Go to Jostens.com to purchase your yearbook now!

For the first time ever, GWA swimming will have a trio of siblings competing at State, including our first fifth grader to compete at the State swim meet (middle school level)! Bethany Pham and her older brothers, Anthony and Timothy will swim at the GIAA State Swim Championships on Saturday, January 28 at Georgia Tech. Congratulations to the Pham Family and stay tuned for more details about the Swim Dawgs heading to State next weekend.

Dawgs 360 is excited to help with this year’s Monroe Rotary Club’s Daddy Daughter Dance. The event will be held February 11 on our campus, and it is open to the public. Tickets will be on sale Monday, January 23 in the Dawgs 360 office (cash or check accepted) and at three other locations listed above.

Today's In Focus is proudly sponsored Preston & Malcom Attorneys at Law (www.prestonmalcom.com). Interested in advertising through our Corporate Partnership program? Contact Mike Elmankabady melmankabady@gwa.com or call 678-635-3812.