In Focus @ GWA
A news bulletin for the families of George Walton Academy
April 13, 2017
Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (770) 267-7578
Facebook: facebook.com/GeorgeWaltonAcademy/
Twitter: @georgewalton
From Director of Development Jeanie Beach: The Power of One, the Impact of Many
Every day at George Walton Academy, we witness the impact a single action can have on our entire school community: One gesture of kindness that inspires the spirit of generosity in many. One question during class that engages a lively and meaningful conversation. One experience that sparks a lifetime passion. One teacher that imprints on your heart and mind forever. Indeed, the power of one can impact many.
The same holds true for the Annual Loyalty Fund. It is the cornerstone of GWA’s fundraising efforts that allows us to invest in resources and provide new opportunities for our students. Your single contribution has the power to impact the educational experience of all GWA students as well as the remarkable work of all GWA teachers. It signals your confidence in our mission to inspire confident, compassionate, independent and creative thinkers who embrace lifelong learning.
Why do we ask for your donation in addition to tuition? Tuition dollars alone do not cover the cost to educate each child at GWA. Your contribution to the Annual Loyalty Fund helps cover the cost for items such as classroom materials, technology, art supplies and science consumables – just to name a few. If you have made your tax-deductible gift to GWA for the year, we thank you. If you have not, please consider supporting our 2016-2017 campaign. Your gift shows you believe in the work of our school, the dedication of our teachers and the impact a GWA education will have on a child’s future. Whether your gift is large or small, it's an affirmative statement of your belief and pride in your family’s GWA experience.
Your support allows GWA to enhance and expand the student experience, which will have a lasting impact on the future of your child and every other student on campus. Please donate today.
Jeanie
Don't Miss the Annual Loyalty Fund This Year
GWA Welcomes New Board of Trustee Members
Katie Downey is departing after nine years of service, having joined in 2008, and William (Billy) Fortson, a board member since 1986, leaves us after 31 years. We thank these two individuals for their invaluable contributions to the school and wish them well in their future endeavors.
We'd also like to introduce our newest members: Melissa Machen Shannahan, Scott Briscoe and Wes Bond.
Melissa Machen Shannahan is a GWA alumna and attended GWA from kindergarten up through her graduation in 1993. She belongs to a legacy of board leadership, as her mother Faye Machen served on the board of trustees from 1987 to 2016 and her grandmother Mae Henderson served on the board from 1978 to 1987.
Melissa has served as a part-time magistrate judge for two years and has also represented DFACS in four counties. She’s now in private practice as an attorney with the Shannhan Law Firm and is a board of directors member for the Walton County Chamber of Commerce.
Melissa currently serves on the budget committee for GWA. She resides in Monroe and has two children attending GWA: son Landon in first grade and daughter McNair in fourth grade. She is pictured above with her family. Left to right are Morgan Machen Smith (’00), Faye Henderson Machen, Harold Machen, Meredith Machen Adams (’95) and Melissa Machen Shannahan (’93).
Wes Bond is the Director of Domestic Tax and Assistant Treasurer for Halyard Health, Inc. He has practiced as a CPA in a number of states, including Georgia, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia, and he has also worked in KPMG LLP’s Baltimore and Northern Virginia offices as part of their National Energy Tax Services practice. He moved to Atlanta in 1998 to work in Deloitte Tax LLP’s National Strategic Tax Resources group.
Wes has previously served on KPMG’s Board of Advisors to the Energy Sector and was also treasurer and chair of First United Methodist Church of Monroe's Finance Committee. He’s also a current board member for the Safari Club International’s Georgia chapter.
Wes currently serves on the budget committee for GWA. He lives in Monroe with his wife Mandy and their two daughters: 2010 graduate Sara Smith and fourth grader Lexi.
Scott Briscoe is the President of E.R. Snell Contractors, Inc., in Snellville and has been involved in the family business since 1993.
He is a past member of the Snellville Jaycees and was a previous board member of the Georgia Asphalt Pavement Association. He currently serves on the board of the Georgia Highway Contractors Association and on the First United Methodist Church of Monroe’s Pastor Staff Parish Relations Committee and Board of Trustees.
Scott and his wife Christie live in Good Hope. They have two children attending GWA: daughter Balie in first grade and son Landen in fourth grade.
Senior Alexa Jacquitte Recognized for U.S. Naval Academy Appointment
Congressman Jody Hice visited campus on Wednesday, April 12, to recognize senior Alexa Jacquitte’s acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. Surrounded by family, friends and faculty, Alexa signed her official congressional appointment to the Academy as well as her commitment to service.
Following a presentation in which Congressman Hice spoke to both the strenuous and highly competitive nature of the Naval Academy’s application process, several of her teachers and friends along with her father Morrison and sister Morasha ’11 congratulated Alexa on her accomplishments and character.
“Alexa is about to begin the most difficult and most rewarding chapter of her life,” Hice said. “We know she’ll do well.”
Calling All Alumni: Take the 2017 Alumni Survey
GWA Welcomes German Exchange Students: Meet Fenn and Celia
Our four visiting students from Germany have reached their last week at GWA. Before they go, get to know Fenn and Celia!
Like all of GWA's visiting students, Fenn Rengelshausen (pictured above in blue) is a ninth grader from Weisbaden and has known his fellow exchange students since they were all small children. He has traveled to the United States seven times before on family holidays to Florida, and he's staying with the Morris family during his first to visit Georgia.
Fenn hopes to go to university after he completes the 13th grade. He plays soccer in Germany and has an older brother who plays American football. He recently had the opportunity to attend a 4-H shotgun team meet with his host Patrick Morris, where he enjoyed getting to shoot a gun for the first time.
Fenn loves the food in the U.S. and especially looks forward to Chick-fil-A Mondays at GWA.
Celia Comprix, pictured above on the right, is staying with the McElveen family. She had previously traveled to California and Florida while on holiday with her family, but this exchange is her first extended stay in the U.S.
During her visit, the McElveens took Celia to North Point Mall in Alpharetta. “We don’t have malls like that in Germany and it was a fun and different experience for me,” Celia said. She also got to practice with Lauren McElveen's soccer team; she'd never had the opportunity to play soccer before.
Celia's favorite part of her exchange has been getting to know all the students and people here.
Fifth Grade Embraces the Jewels of Camp Jekyll
For two nights and three days earlier this week, GWA’s fifth graders experienced a trip to the beach like no other.
The 4-H Center on Jekyll Island offered these students an opportunity to dissect sharks and interact with different types of reptiles and amphibians in a herpetology class. Students also enjoyed seining in the ocean, which allowed them to view various species found in the state’s coastal waters. One of the highlights of the trip was an eco-boat tour during which students learned about Georgia shrimp, sting rays, manatees and other sea creatures hauled in from the captain's net. They were even able to catch glimpses of several pods of dolphins.
While visiting the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, students were amazed at being able to view so many sea turtles and enlightened by the rehabilitation plan for each injured or sick patient. Students also viewed the results of erosive beach practices and learned the importance of sand dunes, the maritime forest and the saltwater marsh to the health of Georgia's barrier islands.
The fifth graders were definitely excited to be hands-on learners throughout their stay at Camp Jekyll!
Sophomores Make Much of 'Much Ado About Nothing'
It’s a romantic comedy for the ages! In correlation with the curriculum requirement of studying a Shakespearean play, the GWA sophomores loaded the charter busses and traveled to the Shakespeare Tavern to see Much Ado About Nothing in downtown Atlanta on March 22.
After reading this 16th-century comedy, the students appreciated watching their favorite actors and actresses performing the many humorous scenes set in Messina, Italy. The dramatization brought the language to life.
Certainly a favorite play for many, the teens enjoyed the frequently entangled love relationships among the primary characters Beatrice and Benedick as well as Hero and Claudio. Despite the attempts to destroy Leonato’s family, love prevails. The audience cheers in the final scene as the evil Don John is captured while everyone awaits two much-anticipated marriages.
“The actors were extremely devoted. Everyone showed realistic passion on stage. I especially liked how Hero and Ursula deceived Beatrice,” said student Sarah Sykes. Another attendee, Cooper Moore, said he couldn’t believe “that despite the bad circumstances, the characters always made the best of the situation. And, of course, it’s a classic tale of love.”
A New Face in Aftercare
Notice anyone new on campus lately? GWA is happy to welcome Robyn Cain to its aftercare program ranks!
Robyn resides in Gratis with her husband of 22 years and is the mother of two boys, a 20-year-old and 17-year-old. She has been a preschool teacher for 13 years. She really enjoys working with GWA children – and it shows!
SAT/ACT Prep Course Signups Now Available
This summer GWA will host several SAT/ACT combined prep courses for interested students. The 35-hour class will be offered twice, June 5-9 and July 17-21, for the convenience of our families. The cost for each student will be $1,000 (not including the course book), due on the first day of instruction.
Classes will be taught by Andrew Moore, lead instructor and owner of Top Score Test Prep in Atlanta. Andrew has worked with many GWA students on SAT/ACT test prep in the past and comes highly recommended.
Space is limited. Contact Chris Stancil to sign up!
Berkeley Hawks Signs With Berry for Swimming
Congratulations to senior Berkeley Hawks, who committed to swim for Berry College on Thursday, April 13!
Berkeley began competitive swimming when she was five years old as part of a summer neighborhood swim team and has been a student at GWA since the first grade. She has qualified for the state swimming meet all four years of her high school career and was the first swimmer from the GWA girls team to make it to the state meet finals. Her best events are the 500 yard freestyle and the 200 yard freestyle. Berkeley says the best part about swimming at GWA has been developing friendships with her teammates of all ages.
Berkeley will join her sister Cedar ’14 at Berry, who is also on the Vikings swim team. She plans to study biostatistics in sports.
Bulldog Baseball Rounds the Bases
Bulldog baseball is in the home stretch! The middle school boys completed their season on Saturday, April 1, with a second-place finish in the Athens Area Middle School Tournament and a 10-5 overall record. The JV boys wrapped up on Monday night with a 5-2 win over Strong Rock Christian School, finishing the season with a 9-7 record. Congratulations to these two teams on their winning seasons!
The varsity boys will celebrate Senior Night tonight at 5 p.m. prior to their home game against Lakeview Academy at 5:30. Come on out and cheer on the Bulldogs!
Bulldog Tennis Takes on Social Circle in Last Match of the Season
The GWA varsity tennis players had their last match of the season on Monday, April 10, against Social Circle. The girls won 4-1 and the boys won 3-2. Congratulations to these Bulldog athletes!
School Holiday Tomorrow
Lower School Book Fair Begins Next Week
The lower school book fair will take place April 17–21 in the lower school media center. Pick up some new reading material and support GWA in the process. Also, organizers are still looking for a few volunteers. Come and help our kids develop a love for reading! Access the volunteer signup form to lend a hand.
Piano Recital Scheduled for April 23
All are invited to attend the end-of-semester piano recital on Sunday, April 23, in the auditorium. We'll have two recitals, one at 1:30 p.m. and and the other at 3 p.m. Please plan to join us and see all the hard work your students have been doing this year! Contact Corrie Beth Noll with any questions.