
In Focus @ GWA
A news bulletin for the families of George Walton Academy

August 10, 2023
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Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (678) 635-3800
Key Deadlines & Dates
- JV/V Volleyball vs. ACS/Winder/Barrow (home): TODAY, 5 p.m.
- V Softball vs. Hebron (home): TODAY, 4:45 p.m.
- Spirit Wear Day: Friday, Aug. 11
- V Football Scrimmage at MPC: Friday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.
- Cross Country (all levels) at Commerce: Aug. 12, 7:30 a.m.
- Senior Retreat: Aug. 14 - 16
- Ice Cream Social: Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.
- V Football vs. LOA (home): Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m.
- Mandatory Sub Meeting: Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m. in The Commons
- Mandatory Senior College Meeting: Aug. 23, 6:30 p.m. in cafeteria
- Yearbook Portraits: Aug. 29
- Dawgs Unleashed: Sept. 18, 19, 30 (see below)
Dear GWA Family,
We are off and running, as In Focus brings to light. From playing kickball and volleyball with our seniors, to being Grand Marshall at the Middle School Mega Relay (thank you, Johnny Griffin), to observing the Lower School Pup Rally, this place is full of life! I agree with the accolade of my predecessor, Gary Hobbs -- this is one of the nicest, most courteous group of young people I have ever been around. This speaks to their people skills and gaining comfort and confidence with adults. Developing these soft skills as well as their intellect really matters.
There is a theme this year that captures what my leadership team and I want for our community: One Dawg – all in for George Walton Academy in 2023.
This year, let’s all pull together, supporting and encouraging each other and pouring ourselves into GWA to benefit students. We will grow more unified as a school, and perhaps more emphatic and forgiving. No one is perfect. We learn as much from missteps as from home runs. As poet Oscar Wilde reminds us, every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. Thank the Lord.
The annual Ice Cream Social is next Thursday evening – see you there!
Go Bulldogs!
Godspeed,
John D. Marshall
Head of School
Philippians 2:2 (NIV) Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same great love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Mega Fun!
The GWA middle school year kicked off with a blazing start, as sixth, seventh, and eighth graders all participated in the 14 events of the Mega Relay! Every team participated in physical and brain-teaser activities. Before the field events, students learned about the events and how to strategize for each Mega Relay game. They also learned some facts about their classmates through a “human bingo" activity. By the end of the day, each grade came together as a team!
Celebrating "Pawsitivity"
Lower School held its first-ever Pup Rally on Wednesday. K3 - fifth grade will continue to meet monthly to come come together as a Lower School student body to celebrate being learners, thinkers and "pawsitive" members of the GWA community.
Aftercare at GWA
George Walton Academy offers aftercare for kindergarten – fifth-grade students. It begins at 3 p.m. and is over at 6 p.m. There is an extra fee for these hours and a registration fee as well. Please click HERE to go to the website for more detailed information about aftercare.
This year the Beyond the Bell after-school camps will offer ballet and jazz for K-first grade, hip hop and jazz for second – fifth grade and a new musical theatre class for second – fifth grade. We will also have Taekwondo offered on Wednesday and Thursday for ages K- sixth grade. After-school camps will begin in September. We will share more information on all upcoming after-school camps as it becomes available.
Mandatory Senior Class Meeting
This year, the College Counseling office is hosting our mandatory Senior College Meeting on Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 p.m. We will keep it to one hour and cover any and all college related aspects. If you have a conflict, please let Mr. Terrell & Mrs. Nabors know ASAP.
We ask every senior (and at least one parent) to attend. Our meeting will be in the cafeteria. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Athletics Update
Welcome to the new school year. We are excited to get going with our second year in our new association, the GIAA - Georgia Independent Athletic Association. As we begin, I always challenge our coaches with a theme for the year. This year our theme is "Change Your Mindset." What does that mean you might ask. Well, I have challenged our coaches to challenge our athletes to support our theme and remember the following:
- If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means First Attempt In Learning
- End is not the End. In fact, E.N.D. means Effort Never Dies
- And if you get “No” as an answer, remember N.O. means Next Opportunity!
- Change Your Mindset
With that being said, I am going to ask all the parents of our student athletes to roll up their sleeves and be ready and willing to volunteer in making GWA a place with the best athletic venues possible. We need help working gates at ballgames, working in the concession stand, and cooking. Also, we need volunteers to serve as game managers. We have all kinds of ways for you to be involved, and enjoy getting to know our GWA community. Expect your student's head coach to ask you to volunteer in all these areas. This includes the non-varsity games as well. Every sport has three levels: varsity, JV/MS, and youth. We need help to make things run smoothly. Please say “yes” when you're asked.
We are already in the thick of the fall sports season. Volleyball is undefeated and plays again at home today. Softball plays at home today as well. The varsity football team travels on Friday to Mount Paran for a scrimmage and will be home next week for our opener against Lake Oconee Academy. Cross country runs at Commerce on Saturday. There will never be a dull moment when it comes to athletics at GWA. I encourage you to get out there and watch our kids. You won't regret it.
Coach Whitley
Sign up for our 2023 Dawgs Unleashed events today! We are excited to offer our first ever Dawgs Unleashed Pickleball Tournament. Be sure to register for your running event t-shirt by Friday, Aug. 25. We hope to see you on the course and the court! Click HERE for sign up forms and further details. Please contact Jenna Johnson regarding sponsorship opportunities and contact Elizabeth McDonel with any questions.
Sharing Our Cultures
In partnership with the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the UGA Fanning Institute for Leadership hosted a group of Africa’s accomplished innovators and emerging leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa for a six-week leadership program. Highlights of the program include cultural exchange and the opportunities to engage with local families and communities. Three GWA families – the McElveen family, the Fields family and the Thompson family were thrilled to spend the day with several of the visiting Fellows. They welcomed them to their homes, shared a meal together and gave their guests a glimpse of their daily lives. Casey Thompson commented, "This was such a wonderful experience for our family. We're grateful GWA and Angie McElveen gave us the opportunity to host Nantenaina, Joseph and Tavares. We'll remain in contact for years to come."
Today's In Focus is proudly sponsored by Brysan Utility Contractors, Inc. (brysanutility.com).