In Focus @ GWA
A news bulletin for the families of George Walton Academy
December 15, 2022
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Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (678) 635-3800
Key Deadlines & Dates
- LS Early Dismissal : Dec. 16, 11 a.m. (no aftercare)
- MS/US Early Dismissal: Dec. 16, after make-up exams, 10 a.m.
- Buses Depart at 11:05 a.m. on Friday
- Christmas Break: Dec. 19 - Jan. 2
- Teacher Workday/No school: Jan. 2
- Upper School Winter Term Begins: Jan. 3
- School Holiday/MLK Jr. Day: Jan. 16
The GWA Board of Trustees has approved the important dates listed above for the 2023-2024 school year. Additional dates for the upcoming school year will be shared at a later date.
Lily Jennings is Student of the Month
Lily Jennings has been chosen as the Rotary Student of the Month for November. She has selected Kellie Watts as Teacher of the Month. Lily is a recipient of the Georgia Certificate of Merit and the College Board Rural and Small Town National Recognition Award. She is a member of National Honor Society (vice president), Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Interact Club and Spanish Club and serves as a GWA Student Ambassador. Lily participates in cheerleading (captain) and golf (captain) and received All-American and All-Star recognition in cheerleading. She serves her community through her student clubs, with the Youth Advocacy Board and her church (FBC Monroe). Lily will attend the University of Alabama in the fall. Congratulations to Lily and Mrs. Watts!
Graham Hill is Student of the Month
Graham Hill has been chosen as the Rotary Student of the Month for December. He has selected Jared Wilson as Teacher of the Month. Graham has earned the College Board AP National Scholar Award, and the GWA Best of the Best award throughout high school. He is a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Latin Club, Gavel Club, Student Council, and Bible Bulldogs, serves as a GWA Student Ambassador and participates in varsity golf and basketball. Graham volunteers with JH Ranch and serves in a youth leadership role with the organization. Congratulations to Graham and Mr. Wilson!
Mousetrap Turbo Power!
Mrs. Watts' students have been diligently designing, building and testing mousetrap powered vehicles as a culminating project for their motion unit. They were given the challenge of researching and constructing a vehicle that could travel exactly six meters in a straight path. Students created various prototypes and learned much about the engineering design process of research, imagine, create, test, and improve! Their vehicles have greatly improved over the last week with many students hitting the mark! Students are now continuing the engineering process by attempting to hit the mark with the greatest speed!
Essay Contest Winners
The Monroe Museum’s Second Annual Local History Contest was a great success again for middle school students at GWA. The contest is for eighth-grade students who select a topic on the history of Monroe citizens, research the topic, and collect photos and facts for writing a one-page essay. The students then designed a “baseball card” display for their topic information. We are proud of all the students who participated in this project! GWA winners are:
Tied for first place: Jonathan Brooks & Stevie Felton
Third place: Trace Wilson
Pictured above (left to right): Teacher Johnny Griffin, Stevie Felton, Jonathan Brooks, Monroe Museum President Dawn Griffin, Trace Wilson, Head of School Gary Hobbs.
It's in the Bag!
After studying the five U.S. regions, fourth-grade students participated in a taste testing of different foods from each region. While testing the foods students, presented their "State in a Bag" projects. Students were assigned a state and had to research the history, resources, tourist attractions, geography, economy, and sports. Each student had to bring in items to represent each of those categories as it pertains to their state. Great job, fourth grade!
Please click the image below to view the video.
"Dorothy Meets Alice"
Our middle and high school theatre classes' performance of "Dorothy Meets Alice," a comedy/adventure by Joseph Robinette, was a true sensation! Director Kristie McDevitt praised the students for their amazing show, stating, "I am extremely proud of these actors, several new to the stage, for their excellent work! They put in a great deal of time memorizing lines, blocking scenes, developing each individual character, and collaborating together as a cast, to pull off an extraordinary play which delighted the audiences." The play featured two of literature's most famous young ladies meeting in the Tulgey Wood, a strange location between Oz and Wonderland. It was filled with silly rhymes, surprises, and a cautionary tale.
Success on the Mat
Our GWA varsity wrestlers competed well at last week’s match at Loganville High School. Congrats to Adam Denhardt, Nate Sharp and Evan Newsom on their wins. Good luck to Adam, Nate, Evan and Logan and Belle Rabe as they prepare for their upcoming matches:
Dec. 16 & 17 – Berkmar High School
Dec. 21 & 22 – Monroe Area High School
Bulldogs Sweep!
Congratulations to our middle school and varsity basketball teams on their wins this week at home! Middle school girls won over Athens Christian School with a final of 23-14 and the boys defeated ACS 40-36 in triple overtime. Our varsity girls handily won over Prince Avenue - finishing 50-29, while the boys came out on top with a 50-49 win in overtime against PACS. Both varsity teams stand at 6-1 on the season. Go Bulldogs!
Taking a Breather
Students in grades eight through 12 were offered daily de-stress activities on campus this week to take a “small brain break” from finals. From spending time with a certified therapy dog to games, coloring and making stress balls, students had a chance to participate in fun activities with friends in between tests.
Today's In Focus is proudly sponsored by Meadows Funeral Home and Crematory (www.meadowsfuneralhomeinc.com/currentServices). Services. Interested in advertising through our Corporate Partnership program? Contact Mike Elmankabady melmankabady@gwa.com or call 678-635-3812.