In Focus @ GWA
A news bulletin for the families of George Walton Academy
May 11, 2017
Email: info@gwa.com
Website: www.gwa.com
Phone: (770) 267-7578
Facebook: facebook.com/GeorgeWaltonAcademy/
Twitter: @georgewalton
Lower School Principal Kevin Cloud Prepares for K5 and Fifth Grade Graduation Ceremonies
Friends,
May is always a busy time in the life of students, parents and faculty at GWA, and that’s certainly true for our lower school. With Field Day behind us and May in full swing, we begin to look forward to two significant events at the end of the month: Kindergarten Graduation and Fifth Grade Graduation will take place on May 25 and 26, respectively. These celebrations serve as bookends, if you will, to the lower school experience and mark pivotal times in the educational lives of our students. But beyond the educational implications, it’s also an important time of remembrance and looking toward a hopeful future for our children.
The poet escapes me, but one of my favorite quotes is that “A child’s mind is like an empty book upon whose pages anything may be written.” My sincere prayer is that at GWA we have partnered with you, our parents, to write – not only upon the children’s minds but also in their hearts – those things which are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable.
Wishing everyone a fun-filled and safe summer!
Kevin
You're Invited: Meet GWA's New Athletic Director
Interested in Next Year's Class Trips? Let Us Know!
As we set our sights on next year, GWA hopes to provide more access to travel opportunities during Class Trips Week, which will fall on March 5-9, 2018. We’re exploring several options and have put together a summary that includes a brief statement about the trips as well as an approximate cost per student (prices are subject to change based upon the number of students attending). Please take a look at our options for next year.
Middle school trips will not cross grade levels; however, most high school trips may include students from 10th, 11th or 12th grade. Students in ninth grade will have the opportunity to tour a variety of college campuses.
We would love to know if students have an interest in any of these trip options. Please indicate the trip your children may be interested in as well as their grade level for the 2017-2018 school year by emailing Wrynn Carson by May 22. Questions are welcome, too!
Sarah Hanson Named GWA's Rotary Student of the Year
No Small Task: AP Art Students Impress at Year-End Exhibit
Last Friday nine GWA Advanced Placement Art students were ready to wow teachers, parents and friends at the AP Art Exhibit. Held in the fine arts building, the exhibit gives students an opportunity to show off the hard work that has gone into countless hours of preparing art pieces throughout the year, curating a themed collection and setting up exhibit installations for the show.
"It was amazing to see the students take ownership of the show and create their own unique space,” said teacher Steve Reagan of the exhibit. “It was also exciting to meet many of the subjects the students used as their models.”
From photography and drawing to painting and mixed media pieces, a wide range of art mediums were represented in students’ work this year. Congratulations to these very talented artists!
GWA Students Earn High Scores on National Spanish Exam
¡Que impresionante! Every year the National Spanish Exam is given to all Spanish 1 students at GWA as well as honors students in Spanish 2, 3 and 4 classes. High school students who score well on this very tough exam can win scholarships and even travel opportunities – not to mention bragging rights!
Students who score 75-84 receive a bronze medal while a score of 85-94 qualifies for a silver medal and 95-100 gets the gold medal. Even a score of 50-74 will earn a student an honorable mention, so to get a 75 or higher is quite an accomplishment! This year GWA had 11 students earn recognition for their National Spanish Exam scores. Way to go, Spanish speakers!
- Bronze: Matthew McMain, Walker May, Ben Howard, Catherine Lazenby, Sophie Chapar (not pictured) and Lydia Akin
- Silver: Grayson Eady, Aubrey Mathewson, Sydney Senical and Jaime Jacoby (not pictured)
- Gold: Maisam Goreish (not pictured)
GWA Community Recognizes National Day of Prayer
Last Thursday students, faculty, staff and parents gathered at the Alumni Commons to participate in the National Day of Prayer. Fourth-grade students McNair Shannahan and Julia Tanase, pictured above, led attendees in the Lord’s Prayer, while teachers Ellen Hester, Kristen Donaldson, Angie McElveen and Amy Pulliam as well as sophomore Jenni Anderson also helped lead the service. Thanks to all who came out and made this event special for the GWA community.
GWA Band Rock-A-Thon Celebrates the Year With Fun and Games
No sleep? No problem! Last weekend the GWA band program held its 14th annual Rock-A-Thon. Over 100 band students participated this year, with attendees in fifth through 12th grade.
A fundraiser for the GWA band, Rock-A-Thon helps with program expenses such as instrument repair and color guard flags. The fundraiser concludes with an epic end-of-the-year party during which students stay up all night long to play water games, ball games, tug of war, capture the flag, man hunt, ultimate Frisbee and more. It’s a celebrated tradition and the most exciting party of the year for band students.
Junior Tech Dawgs Tackle First 3D Printing and Design Session
As the Junior Tech Dawgs started to wrap up the school year, club adviser Rebecca Kitchens worked with high school technology teacher Philip Peavy to schedule a 3D printing session for middle school members. Five Junior Tech Dawgs members attended a 3D session with Mr. Peavy last Thursday to try their hand at the design and printing process.
Students had a great time looking for and designing an item to 3D print. “I liked searching for stuff that I could print,” said sixth grader Sara Bryan, who hadn’t realized the wide range of items available for 3D printing. Her classmate Zelig Miller also enjoyed scrolling through Thingiverse to look at designs. Brittan McGinn and Rylee Gilreath cited their favorite part of the session as being with their friends while designing their 3D object, while seventh-grade student Dominic Williams liked “experimenting with new and relevant technology.”
Student George Zupko, who was home sick, also joined in via FaceTime. Thanks to this technology, he was able to follow along from home and design his item. George’s favorite thing about tuning in was “learning about 3D printing.”
Lower School Students Spread the Joy of May Day
It’s May – let’s celebrate! Last week students in Debbie Dyer’s lower school music classes enjoyed May Day festivities, which traditionally fall on May 1. Students have been learning about this celebration in their classes, and while the meaning of May Day has changed throughout history, today it’s a symbol of spring.
In 19th-century England, villagers created their own song, or their own version of a popular folk song, and went singing from house to house on May Day. They also delivered a “branch of May” (flowers and greenery) to each home. The caroling would end in the center of town with a dance around the May pole – a tall pole decorated with long, brightly colored ribbons and with flowers on top – which is central to the celebration.
First and second graders at GWA recreated this festive tradition by taking flowers to different people around campus, singing a May Day carol, and wishing them “a joyful May.” Mrs. Pulliam’s first-grade class took flowers and sang to Rebecca Ratliff and Carolyn Phillips in the lower school media center and also visited sixth-grade teacher Lori White, third-grade teacher Courtney Croker, and Will Angel and his cafeteria staff. Mrs. Franklin’s third-grade class celebrated May Day by dancing around the May pole in their music class.
Putting a Place to a Name: Fourth Grade Visits George Walton's Historic Home
GWA fourth graders had the opportunity to travel to Augusta last Friday to visit Meadow Garden, the historic home of George Walton. Besides being the namesake of our school, George Walton was one of the youngest signers of the Declaration of Independence – not to mention a delegate for Georgia to the Continental Congress, a senator a chief justice, and governor of Georgia (twice!).
The tour guides filled in details about George Walton and life in the 18th century that added to topics students had been learning about in social studies. “I found it interesting how differently they lived back then compared to how we live now,” said student Foster Keebaugh. “They worried a lot about keeping their house from burning down, and they were always thinking about food.”
Bulldog Baseball Closes Out Season in Sweet Sixteen
Tomorrow: Yearbook Presentation and Dedication
May 20: Class of 2017 Graduation
May 24: Rising Senior Parent Meeting
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!