In Focus @ GWA
A news bulletin for the families of George Walton Academy
September 5, 2019
Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (678) 635-3800
Facebook: facebook.com/GeorgeWaltonAcademy/
Twitter: @georgewalton
Key Deadlines & Dates
- Portugal/Spain Meeting: Sept. 5 @ 6:30 p.m.
- V Softball at Home: Sept. 6 @ 4:30 p.m.
- V Football/Youth Night/Pink Out: Sept. 6
- Parent Socials: Sept. 8
- PARC Speaker: Sept. 11
- Club Expo: Sept. 11
- Blood Drive: Sept. 13
“Young writers learn even more when they are part of a ‘community’ of others – sharing ideas, asking questions, and revising their writing” -National Council of Teachers of English
George Walton Academy opened its doors this school year with a new addition: The GWA Writing Center. Currently located across from the Commons, students now have a space to think about and reflect on their writing while working alongside a trained writing consultant. Any Upper School student can receive help on their college/scholarship/application essays, personal creative writing, and/or assigned writing. Each consultation is student-centered, focusing on the student writer’s questions, concerns, and writing process.
Students may make appointments through the GWApp Student Services button, the daily white board in the front window, or by simply poking your head in and asking if someone is available. Appointments start at twenty minutes, but you may select additional time for more in-depth help.
On another note, the Writing Center space will gain some aesthetic improvements soon- thanks to Steve Reagan and his art students. We expect to have a grand opening, showcasing the new Writing Center at the end of October. Please look for more details to come.
Until then, we hope you stop by and see us! Friendly, helpful faces are eager to assist you in all of your writing needs.
Tricia Fisette
Writing Center Director
Parent Socials This Sunday
We invite all parents with students in second grade and higher to join us Sunday in the cafeteria for an opportunity to meet new families, reconnect with parents and learn about the exciting events we have planned for the new school year!
Sunday, September 8
· Second - Fifth Grade - 2 - 2:45 p.m.
· Middle School - 3 – 3:45 p.m.
· Upper School - 4 - 4:45 p.m.
Sign Up for Dawgs Unleashed Now!
Our Dawgs Unleashed events are just around the corner and it's time to sign up. The Fun Run begins at 1:30 p.m. and the 5K begins at 2 p.m. with a new route from our campus to downtown Monroe. Click HERE to register for the 5K and Fun Run, click HERE for the golf tournament and HERE to play in the tennis tournament. The deadline for a guaranteed t-shirt is Sept. 10!
If you are interested in helping out with the golf and/or tennis events- please contact Elizabeth McDonel at emcdonel@gwa.com.
Dawgs Unleashed Deals!
Portugal/Spain Meeting Tonight!
GWA invites all high school students and their families to travel on an international educational opportunity to Portugal and Spain in Summer 2020!
We will be hosting an informational meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. to provide more details about this opportunity and answer any questions you may have. There is limited space on the trip and enrollment will open at the end of the meeting.
Meeting details are here. Please RSVP if you are interested in learning more - even if you cannot make it!
Student Trip of a Lifetime to Croatia
Costa Rica 2020
Are you ready for a Costa Rican adventure in Summer 2020? An adventure immersion trip has been organized for June 13-20, 2020. The trip includes a tarzan swing, whitewater rafting, zip lining, snorkeling, a cacao plantation, an active volcano, a fiesta, and many birds and animals native to Costa Rica. The trip will include staying in hotels, a rainforest lodge, and ocean bungalows!
This trip is open to middle school (rising 6th grade in 2020 also!) and high school students. Parents are also welcome, but not required to attend.
There will be an informational meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in Señora McElveen’s room (Science building room 904). Please attend if you are interested in the trip. If you are unable to come to the meeting, but would like information, please email amcelveen@gwa.com.
Making the Most of Charitable Efforts
Each year, the school is approached by a dozen or more deserving charities requesting we support their efforts. As much as we would like to partner with each one, we just don’t have the bandwidth to do so effectively. Instead, we will combine efforts to back a common cause.
In keeping with George Walton's stated mission:
· Caring for others is fundamental to an organization such as ours that is founded on Christian values.
· We believe it's important for our students to understand their efforts can impact our local community and even change the world.
· Championing a cause provides tremendous leadership opportunities and enables us to live our mission by providing "engaging experiences" and "inspiring lives of purpose."
It is important that these partnerships are both meaningful to and led by our students and families. Accordingly, we are launching a new procedure for identifying causes the Academy will support:
· Any student (or team of students) is invited to present a cause that is important to him or her (no age restriction).
· The target audience will be faculty and staff with presentations held in early September.
· Presentations should last no longer than 10 minutes.
· To schedule a presentation, contact Ashley Short at ashort@gwa.com by Monday, Sept. 9.
· The target must be a 501(c)(3) charity.
· Faculty and staff will recommend one or two charities that the school will support for the upcoming year.
The Academy's support may include:
· providing needed volunteers.
· a limited number of mailings and/or communications to GWA families.
· guidance/oversight of the student efforts to support the cause.
· use of our facilities to support an event or host meetings.
50 on the 50
In honor of our 50th year, we are throwing it back to the school's first fundraiser in the spring of 1969 and hosting a BBQ on the 50-yard line of Keith Henderson Field at Don Williams Stadium. Back when the idea of GWA was still fresh on the minds of our original Board of Trustees, and the cost of opening a brand-new school was too much for them to generate, they hosted an old-fashioned southern BBQ with homemade sides to raise the funds needed to open GWA’s doors. In honor of that event, George Walton, in partnership with Dawgs 360, is hosting a BBQ celebration on Tuesday, October 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. to commemorate our first 50 years, and to look ahead to the next 50. Tickets will be priced at $15/person, and will include a meal from Lane’s BBQ, live music, lawn games, and entry into a raffle. Interested parties can reserve a table for 8 people for $200. Ticket sales opened today, but hurry since we are capping this event at 250 tickets!
Red Cross Blood Drive Sept. 13
Online Store Closes Tomorrow!
Don’t have time to visit the Dawg Shop? Shop online for a variety of GWA gear: polos, hoodies, spirit wear and more! This is a great option for busy parents and out of town relatives to still represent and support GWA. The store will be initially open for a two week period and close on Sept. 6 to process orders. Visit the Dawg Shop page on our website under Campus Life or click to link below to shop!
The PARC to Host Speaker from UGA
Please join us in the auditorium for Dr. Gerri Wolfe’s presentation on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 3:30 p.m. She will discuss "Student Accomodations: Transitioning from High School to College." The session will run approximately one hour, culminating with a Q&A session.
Discussion includes:
· What it takes to make the transition from High School to College seamless
· What documentation is needed
· What services are available at the college level
Students Expand Their Literary Palates
Mrs. Byrd's eighth-grade classes recently participated in a book tasting. No, the students didn’t eat or even lick the books. It is a way of previewing a book. Students look at the front cover, read the back cover or inside jacket, and then read the first three to five pages. Students can quickly learn which authors and genres they enjoy. It is a fun way to sit with friends and discuss books they may not have normally chosen.
How Was Your Day?
By Lindsey Bailey, Lower School Couselor
Now that we are back in the school routine, you likely want to stay up to date on your child’s school day. With all of the apps and technology available these days, you may well know more about your child’s daily activities and assignments than they do. However, there is no replacement for a personal conversation with your child. This simple question can go a long way to showing how much you care - not just about their homework and “to do” lists but also about all the little things that make up their world. It’s really about connecting with each other.
Homecoming Tickets for Sale
Homecoming dance tickets will be sold during break and lunch. The homecoming dance is only for students in grades 9-12. Each ticket is $10. The last day to purchase a ticket is Friday, Sept. 20. After Sept. 20, tickets will be sold at the door for $15.
Pink Out Tomorrow!
Club Expo on Sept. 11
Student Life will host its annual Club Expo on Sept. 11 during flex block. Check out the many clubs and organizations GWA has to offer. From Socratic Circle to the Recycling Club- there is something for everyone. What a great way to get involved and make friends!
Have a Seat!
In Mr. Cole’s Sustainable Living class, students Elle Pugh, Madison Smith, and Abby Stone problem solve as they design a chair without the use of adhesives for their Cardboard Chair project. Students are tasked with engineering a usable chair that will hold a minimum of 200 pounds without the use of glue or tape. This is a lesson that introduces the students to materials and design techniques that they will need as they prepare to begin designing temporary housing for disaster relief and homeless individuals.
Welcome to Fifth Grade, Mrs. Dyer!
Fifth graders are given the option of joining chorus or band each year. Mrs. Debbie Dyer welcomed some of this year’s chorus students to her very first fifth-grade chorus class at GWA with a special goody bag! The fifth-grade teachers are so excited to have Mrs. Dyer on their team this year!
Get Your Tickets (or Your Membership)!
Tickets for home varsity football games are $7. We encourage all families to join Dawgs 360. The $100 membership fee provides free admission for the entire family (plus many other benefits).
All students will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for $3 during lunch on Friday’s for varsity football home games. These discounted tickets are for GWA students only.
Come out to support our teams and go Bulldogs!
Swim Meeting on Sept. 16
The GWA swim team will hold a meeting for middle and high school students interested in swimming in The Commons on Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is for parents and students. Please contact Doretta Power at dpower@gwa.com with any questions.
Be in the Know!
GWA fall sports are off to a great start! Click the calendar link above to check out upcoming sporting events. Go BULLDOGS!
Alumni Weekend Tickets on Sale Now!
Please share the news! All GWA alumni are invited to our first-ever GWA Alumni Weekend! The fun begins Friday, Sept. 27 with a pre-game tailgate in the newly renovated cafeteria- complete with catering by The Varsity, a DJ, campus tours and displays of GWA memorabilia. We will host a party on Saturday night at The Wayfarer in downtown Monroe. READ MORE...