In Focus @ GWA
A news bulletin for the families of George Walton Academy
March 24, 2022
Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (678) 635-3800
Facebook: facebook.com/GeorgeWaltonAcademy/
Twitter: @georgewalton
Key Deadlines & Dates
- College Panel: TONIGHT @ 6:30 p.m.
- GWA Open House: Sunday, March 27
- MS Improv Showcase: March 30
- Spring Break: April 4-8
- School Holiday: Good Friday, April 15
- Aladdin: April 21 & 22
Beyond the Classroom
Our eighth graders enjoyed a class trip adventure that covered points of interest and opportunities to engage in Tennessee and north Georgia. Starting in Chattanooga, students explored the Tennessee Aquarium, the Challenger Space Center, and the Chickamauga battlefield as they learned about important events in both science and history. They wrapped up day one with a fine dining experience on a moving train.
On day two, the group boarded the Incline Railway for a trip to Lookout Mountain. While conditions were foggy, students gained an understanding of the high vantage point for soldiers fighting a battle and learned about the movements of the Union and Confederate armies. Next, eighth graders traveled to Rock City and down an elevator to explore Ruby Falls. The day concluded with grade-level bonding by bowling and playing laser tag.
Students headed back to Georgia on their third day with stops at New Echota and the start of the Trail of Tears. They visited Etowah where they climbed mounds created by Native Americans and were able to relate them to the Native American myths studied during the first semester. The class made a final stop at the Tellus Museum to observe a planetarium show and a dinosaur exhibit, completing a three-day excursion into real-world experiences and learning beyond the classroom.
Monumental Learning Experience
As a culmination of their research and report writing unit on Washington, D.C., seventh-grade students visited our nation’s capital to synthesize their class-based learning with real-life experiences and exposure. Students visited the monuments, memorials, and museums they researched, thus providing further civic and historical perspectives. Highlights of the trip included a stop at Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the monuments, memorials, and museums surrounding the National Mall.
Sixth-Grade Space Campers
Last Chance!
Painted Signs
College Panel TONIGHT!
Taking the Podium
Once a month Gavel Club members and faculty and parent sponsors gather in the cafeteria for an evening of speeches. The club, a high school version of Toastmasters International, is open to students in grades 9-12 and gives them an opportunity to hone their public speaking and speech writing skills. Each meeting brings different topics, a variety of engaging speeches as well as peer and sponsor speech evaluations. Members completing a total of ten speeches earn the Competent Toastmaster title. Senior members will deliver their final speeches next month before a crowd of invited guests during the end of the year banquet.
Club president Noah Hicks said, “Gavel Club has really benefited me both socially and as a public speaker, making me more confident and comfortable in front of a large crowd of people.” He advises underclassmen to join Gavel Club, and to “truly take it seriously because they will gain one of the more useful skills (public speaking) for any profession.”
Helping Hands
By Amber Thomason
Last Friday, we had 14 ninth-grade students sign up to volunteer at the FISH Food Bank. When we arrived, they participated in a daily devotion led by one of the pastors who rotate at FISH. The pastor spoke about change and God’s plan for each person. Afterward, our students spent two hours sorting through donations, stocking shelves, and packaging hygiene items. At the end of the morning, the staff graciously allowed the students to raid the ice cream freezer. Staff at FISH complimented our students on their hard work and help and called them a “blessing.” I am so proud of all the students who came to help and look forward to holding more events like this in the future.
Action-Packed Evening
On to Nationals!
Something to Cheer About!
Youth Cheer registration is open! Please use the link below that pertains to your cheerleader to sign up. Please see additional information below about uniform fittings and registration fees.
1) Uniform fittings for K5-6th grade cheerleaders. You do not have to attend both fittings. Please choose one:
· Monday, March 28, 5-7 p.m. in the cafeteria.
· Wednesday, March 30, 3-5 p.m. in the Nicholson Center.
2) Registration will be due at the uniform fitting. Registration is $75 and checks will need to be made out to GWA. All of the gear below will be purchased through Varsity (vendor) at the fitting.
We will accept check, cash or credit card. Please be prepared to pay for:
K5-2nd grade prices:
· Uniform ($114)
· Skirt only ($73.95)
· Poms ($32.50)
· Cheer Shoes ($58.95)
3rd-6th grade prices:
· Uniform ($170.50)
· Poms ($32.50)
· Cheer Shoes ($58.95)
Please contact Grace Martin or Michele Bowen with any questions concerning youth cheer. The information above may also be found on our website.
Grace Martin- gmartin@gwa.com
Michele Bowen- michelebowen85@yahoo.com
We Are Ready for Football!
Youth football registration is open to students who attend GWA and also students who do not attend GWA. If you know someone who is interested in playing youth football at GWA and would be a good fit for our program, then please send them the links below. They must send a current report card and set up an interview with our coaches and athletic director. Please use the link below that pertains to your player to sign up.
Link for K5-2nd Grade Flag- click HERE.
Link for 3rd & 4th Grade Tackle- click HERE.
Link for 5th & 6th Grade Tackle- click HERE.
Sign Up Requirements:
1) Coaches will need to have a current physical form from your child's doctor on file by July 1, 2022.
2) Jersey fittings for Tackle will be after school on March 28 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
3) Please pay the registration fee ($50) by check. If you have a jersey from last year that can be used, you will only pay the registration fee. The school will order jerseys. See jersey prices below:
Flag jersey- $35 (Please make the check out to GWA for $85- jersey and reg. fee)
Tackle jersey- $70 (Please make the check out to GWA for $120- jersey and reg. fee)
4) Additional items for Flag:
Cleats, black athletic shorts, mouthpiece is optional.
5) Additional items for Tackle:
Matte black helmet (school provides decal), pads, black football pants, cleats, mouthpiece
Any parents who are interested in coaching a flag team or helping coach a team, please contact Grace Martin at gmartin@gwa.com. This information is also availbale on our website.
Join Us This Summer!
Still Available For Purchase
Two items from the gala did not sell. Surely it was because they were overlooked with all the fabulous items to view and bid on. It isn’t too late to make one of these items yours. Available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please text Jeanie Beach at 770-714-6238 to be first to claim one of these fabulous items:
- Aurora Princess Bridal Veil - Buy it now for $125 ($450 value)
- Nighthawk AX4 4-Stream Wifi 6 Router - Buy it now for $50 ($250 value)