In Focus @ GWA
A news bulletin for the families of George Walton Academy
May 18, 2017
Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (770) 267-7578
Facebook: facebook.com/GeorgeWaltonAcademy/
Twitter: @georgewalton
Dear Bulldog Families and Friends,
As many of you know, GWA is one of the few independent schools in our part of the state that has a fully integrated, state-of-the-art 1:1 laptop program for students in sixth through 12th grade. GWA’s investment in this program is an extraordinary commitment to both the educational experience and the advancement of our mission. I’ve been genuinely impressed this year to see how teachers and students have transformed lessons, assignments, and daily tasks with the tools and resources provided by this technology.
Our 1:1 program also allows us to better prepare our students for a future beyond the GWA campus. At its best, technology brings the world to our students – and our students to the world. In fact, several of our students have already signed up to take classes online next year. Some of these classes will be provided by local universities while others originate in other places around the country – and the world! With these new educational methods and mediums, we’re afforded an opportunity not only to prepare students for success in college but also to model that experience like never before.
For example, more and more universities are moving towards a digital text model for their students. Whether through digital course packs, open access materials, or the “traditional” e-book approach, many instructors now require – or at least offer the (often cheaper) option of – the acquisition of digital course materials. Universities cite lower costs, easier accessibility, and helpful embedded tools and features as reasons for the move. Digital texts are not without their drawbacks, but they’re an exciting and powerful commitment to financial and environmental sustainability that I think our school can share.
In addition to the $700,000 we spend every year on technology at GWA, the school spends an additional $70,000-$100,000 annually on textbooks, not only for a classroom set but also for a textbook that students can keep at home. That’s both remarkable and, frankly, a little difficult to understand. Further, as a school we make about 200,000 copies per month. Per month! Why would a school with laptops for every student in sixth grade and above not set a goal of going paperless?
If we’re genuinely committed to maintaining our role as a leader in independent education and providing a world-class experience for your children, it’s time for us to “pick a lane,” so to speak. Next year the school will commit to making sure we have a complete classroom set for every subject. Students are welcome to use these textbooks during class and can even sign them out in the evening, and parents will have – and will always have – the option of purchasing a personal hardcover text for students if they’d like. Our teachers will also strive to provide digital materials and supplements in place of traditional textbooks when appropriate. I’m confident this shift will not only allow families to choose an option that’s best for their individual students, but it will also provide GWA with a more sustainable, flexible, and innovative approach to course materials going forward.
Finally, summer is right around the corner. Traditionally, GWA releases our Annual Loyalty Fund Report with the Bulldog magazine in early August. That tradition will continue, but what will be different this year is the level of detail regarding our stewardship of your tuition dollars and gifts received throughout the year. Please look for that report and feel free to ask questions – it is, after all, your school and your resources that fuel the GWA experience. In the meantime, have a happy and blessed summer.
Dan
Don't Miss Registration for Your Favorite Summer Camps
Summer is just beginning, but registration for some GWA summer camps is coming to an end! Don’t miss out on Kiddie Cheer Camp, Code Camp, Minecraft Camp and more, all of which will be starting in just a few short weeks. Please note registration for each camp closes the Friday of the week prior to the camp start date, and at that time, we’ll determine whether or not the camp has enough registrants to go forward. Registering as early as possible helps us make sure we can accommodate everyone!
Check out the full listing of GWA Summer Camps 2017 on the school website for more details and registration. Contact Jenni Cole with any questions. Happy camping!
Please Pay RenWeb Account Balances Before May 23
As we come to the end of another school year, please check your RenWeb account to make sure all balances are cleared before May 23. Accounts with existing balances for lunch, bus, tuition or technology charges will have no access to the parent or student RenWeb logins after that date.
For your convenience, payment can be made online with a check or credit card. Payments are also accepted in the business office at any time. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
Until Next Year... Keep In Touch!
Please mark your calendars for a few important summer dates. Fall sports picture day (July 28), campus cleanup day (Aug. 5), and Open House (Aug. 7 for upper school students and Aug. 8 for lower school students) will be here before you know it!
We hope you have a wonderful summer, and don't be a stranger! Follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for GWA campus happenings, camp snapshots, alumni news and student stories. Let Christina Russell know if you'd like to visit the Dawg Shop when you're in our neck of the woods, or give the front office a call during our summer hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday) with any questions.
Summer Reading Assignments and Summer Work
The Lowdown on Logos and Spirit Wear
Although the end of the school year is fast approaching, now is the time to clear up any confusion about logo requirements. Our uniform suppliers often run sales during the summer months, and families may be purchasing new shirts well before the first day of school.
We’re working to simplify our logo options and create a more cohesive appearance not only across campus but also in regards to student apparel. Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, GWA will only use two specific logos on dress code clothing. These include our collegiate block logo (always red with a black outline) and our athletic logo, which shows a “GW” with our bulldog mascot. Both are pictured above. We’ll retire all other logos in August 2018, but until then, all previous official GWA logos are acceptable.
Our GWA collegiate block logo is available on dress code items for purchase exclusively from the Dawg Shop, Lands’ End, Parker School Uniforms and S’cool Stuff. Shirts with the athletic logo will be available in the Dawg Shop or may be part of an athletic team’s player pack.
Spirit wear items worn to school on Fridays next year may include any shirt sold in the Dawg Shop as well as shirts offered by GWA as part of a player pack and through school events or special privileges (homecoming T-shirts, Prom T-shirts, senior class T-shirts, etc.). Basically, spirit wear must be provided by the school in some capacity.
Thank you for your cooperation as we work to make Bulldogs and their apparel more recognizable in the broader community!
Last Chance for Lost and Found
Summer is a great time for GWA staff to clean out our extensive lost and found collections, which contain everything from dress code shirts and spirit wear to shoes and lunch boxes. Think you might be missing something? Come take one last look through lost and found before we say goodbye to these items.
Lower school lost and found is located in the lower school administration building, and upper school lost and found is housed in the front office area. You’re welcome to stop by any time before the last day of school.
Rising Seniors: Schedule Your Senior Photo Session With Cady Studios This Summer
Class of 2018 Celebrates First Senior Tradition at Parking Lot Party
Rising seniors gathered in the student parking lot bright and early this Wednesday for GWA’s first ever Parking Lot Party. Current juniors “camped out” for the opportunity to lay claim to parking spaces for their senior year, with some arriving on campus as early at 4:30 a.m.! These rising seniors will paint their spots with a chosen design before school starts in the fall.
A big thank you to rising seniors and their parents for making this fun new GWA tradition a wonderful success. Looking forward to many more with the Class of 2018!
Three GWA Choirs Fly High at Six Flags Competition
Three GWA choirs participated in the Music in the Parks Competition at Six Flags this past weekend. All three choirs – the sixth-grade Choristers, seventh- and eighth-grade Meistersingers, and the High School Chorale – placed first in their divisions (middle school treble, middle school mixed and high school mixed, respectively) and received the highest rating of “superior.”
Congratulations to these students on this excellent accomplishment. What a way to end the year!
A Touch of the VIP Experience: Eighth Grade Visits College Football Hall of Fame
It was a VIP touchdown for GWA’s eighth-grade classes! Last Wednesday, May 10, GWA eighth-grade students visited the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta. These students were issued a VIP pass that allowed them to check in at various kiosks where they could make videos, take pictures, dance, host a webcast and much more. With this VIP pass, students were able to keep track of memories from the trip as the experiences were sent to their personal email accounts.
In preparation for this event, teachers incorporated elements of science, research skills and Georgia studies into daily classroom lessons. Students learned how speed, rate and time are used to evaluate athletic ability and precision, and students also used research skills in a cross-curricular lesson between English and Georgia studies. Throughout the field trip, students located many of Georgia’s “Super 64” notable individuals and found other interesting relationships between featured athletes and the state of Georgia for extra credit.
With team bonding, research of Georgia’s history and knowledge of the game of football, the field trip was a great success. Students finished their adventures with a delicious lunch at Atlantic Station.
Morgan Robertson Recognized As Positive High School Athlete
Positive Athlete is an organization that celebrates high school athletes and coaches who give back, are involved in their schools and communities, overcome difficult circumstances, and embody attributes of a positive athlete – attributes such as having an optimistic attitude, being a servant leader, always giving 100% and others.
Over 4,700 nominations for the award were submitted by coaches, teachers, parents and fans from across the state of Georgia this year. We're so proud of Morgan and her incredible spirit!
Five Bulldogs Earn Top Finishes at Track State Championships
These Bulldogs are burning up the track! Five members of the GWA track team completed a successful season last Saturday, May 13, at the GHSA Track and Field State Championship in Rome.
Relay team runners Lexi Coleman, Kendall Garrett, Spring Rawl and Caroline Hart placed seventh in the 4x100m with a season-best time of 50.88 seconds. Cedric Robertson finished third in the 100m hurdles, and Lexi Coleman placed sixth in the 400m. Congrats to these outstanding athletes!
Good Luck to GWA Golfers Heading to State
Good luck to our GWA golfers – Kendall Garrett, Lucy Walker, Ingrid Dolvin, Riley Schubert, Haynes Waldo, Jackson Cornelius, Charlie Hester, Bo Roberts and Adam Dombrowski – as they prepare to compete in the state tournament at the Green Island Country Club in Columbus on May 22-23. Go Bulldogs!
Saturday: Class of 2017 Graduation
May 24: Rising Senior Parent Meeting
May 25: K5 Graduation / May 26: Fifth Grade Graduation
Next Week: Exams and Early Dismissal
View a more detailed breakdown of next week's schedule for students in sixth and seventh grades, or view a detailed schedule for students in eighth grade and above.
June & July: SAT/ACT Prep Course
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!