BulldogBackpack2023

BULLDOG BACKPACK

YOUR GUIDE TO GWA

NEW FAMILY SUMMER CHECKLIST

We’ve created a new family page on the school website where you can find the information listed below and links to any forms.

Please visit www.gwanewfamilies.com

PRIOR TO OPEN HOUSE

n Request final transcripts from your child’s current school to be sent to GWA’s counseling office.

n Purchase school uniforms from GWA’s Dawg Shop or other approved vendor(s).

n Order lower school supplies through the Dawg Shop or purchase items on the supply lists.

n Purchase school supplies on middle and upper school supply lists.

n Help your student obtain necessary books for summer reading and encourage timely completion of any other summer assignments.

n Schedule a sports physical for any student participating in GWA fall athletics.

n Become familiar with ParentsWeb and the content available through the ParentsWeb website and app.

n Bookmark the GWA calendar on gwa.com for quick reference to holiday schedules, campus events and more.

n Sign up for GWA Summer Camps through the school website.

n Mark your calendar for Open House (see school calendar for dates).

DURING OPEN HOUSE

n For lower school students, find out who your child’s homeroom teacher is and visit classrooms for more information.

n For upper school students, walk through your schedule and visit each teacher’s classroom.

n Visit the Clinic if your student needs medication administered during the school day.

n Join Dawgs 360.

BULLDOG BACKPACK | YOUR GUIDE TO GWA

COMMUNICATION

GWA GUIDE DAWGS

Consider them the official GWA welcome committee. These families reach out to new Bulldogs and will be your go-to source for all of the who, what, when, where, why and how as your family transitions into our school community. From questions regarding school electives to where to buy uniforms, Guide Dawgs are here to make sure you’re able to find the answers and information you need.

PARENTSWEB

Our internal site for parents, students and faculty, ParentsWeb provides access via login to information ranging from a student’s grades and scheduled classes to attendance records, announcements and athletic forms. Here you’ll also find the course catalog as well as the school activities calendar and student directory. If you’re looking for something specific to your student or current Bulldog families, chances are you’ll find it on ParentsWeb.

New families set up their ParentsWeb account upon initial enrollment at GWA. These accounts are accessible using a web browser or on the smartphone app. Please make sure your contact information in ParentsWeb is current, including email address, mailing address and phone number. You can make changes to your contact information in ParentsWeb at any time.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

The GWA student handbook can be found on ParentsWeb and is your comprehensive guide to academic requirements, school policies and student expectations. We encourage all parents and students to become familiar with its contents.

EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR STUDENTS

Students will receive school email addresses starting in the fifth grade. Email becomes increasingly important for teacher/ student communication as students advance in their studies, and when students reach the sixth grade, they are expected to check these school email accounts at least once daily.

WEBSITE & ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

The George Walton Academy website presents a professional snapshot of our policies, programs and school profile to the outside world. Although families will likely rely on ParentsWeb for general, internal announcements as well as student-specific information, gwa.com provides a helpful overview of life at the school. Also, the activities calendar on gwa.com mirrors the ParentsWeb calendar and may assist families looking for quick clarifications of event dates, times and locations.

NEWSLETTER: IN FOCUS

In Focus is a weekly school newsletter that comes to families via direct email every Thursday afternoon, with the exception of school holidays and extended breaks. This digital publication reports on the GWA community, announces school and athletic news, and highlights upcoming events on campus. Important upcoming schoolwide events and dates are listed right at the top of each newsletter (At A Glance). If something exciting is brewing on campus, expect to read about it in In Focus

In Focus covers all grade levels, programs, academic subjects and co-curricular activities. Although the majority of our athletic updates pertain to varsity athletics, families can expect to see standout lower school, middle school and junior varsity teams showcased as well.

We encourage you to read, enjoy and share In Focus. It’s a great way to get to know your fellow Bulldogs!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow us on Facebook (George Walton Academy), and Instagram (@georgewaltonbulldogs)! Take one look at our social media feeds and you’ll see why the GWA experience is unique, friendly and fun. These accounts also provide up-tothe-minute updates on campus news.

EMAIL

Direct email is used for a variety of school communications, including In Focus, school closures and emergency notifications, and administrator/teacher/parent communication. Families are encouraged to use email (or phone calls) as the official mode of communication when they wish to discuss school or student matters with GWA faculty, staff and administration.

BULLDOG MAGAZINE

The Bulldog magazine is an annual publication that’s directly mailed to all enrolled families during the fall. Think of the Bulldog as a yearbook for the school community as a whole –it includes program and curricular highlights, human interest stories, alumni news, and the Annual Loyalty Fund Report. This magazine also celebrates GWA culture and outlines exciting initiatives on the school’s horizon.

GET INVOLVED & GIVE BACK

DAWGS 360

It may be helpful to think of Dawgs 360 as a type of booster club that supports the full circle of student life activities while also helping families find ways to get plugged in on campus. Like a booster club, Dawgs 360 has both a cost to join and benefits associated with membership. This organization exists primarily to build community, make sure every student’s interests are equally valued and supported, and find meaningful ways to involve parents in the life and mission of the school.

Parents are always invited to celebrate special school programs with us – such as the Christmas Tree Presentation and Field Day – and are encouraged to attend athletic events, fine arts performances and gradelevel functions. We urge our parents to find their own niches, whether through volunteering at fundraisers or showing team spirit at athletic events, in order to stay connected and to fully enjoy our unique community experience.

Families are always welcome on campus, and you need not join Dawgs 360 to be a volunteer. However, coordinating, training and matching opportunities with interested volunteers is central to the mission of this group.

DAWGS UNLEASHED

Dawgs Unleashed is a perennial family favorite and brings the Bulldog community together. Adults are encouraged to let their competitive side take over at the golf and tennis tournaments, while the entire family can log a few miles at the road race.

ANNUAL LOYALTY FUND

The Annual Loyalty Fund is George Walton Academy’s most essential, far-reaching giving campaign. Every gift matters and has an immediate impact on current GWA students. Helping to bridge the gap between tuition dollars and school expenses, Annual Loyalty Fund gifts made each and every year by parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff and friends of the school, help fund immediate operational needs and essential programs. Think of your gift as a vote of confidence in our mission to inspire confident, compassionate and intellectuallycurious thinkers who embrace lifelong learning. There’s almost no limit to what we can make possible together!

GWA GALA & BENEFIT AUCTION

The Lucky Dawg Gala and Benefit Auction happens every year in early spring. It’s a fun and social night for adults with great food, entertainment and good-natured competition – all in the spirit of supporting George Walton Academy. Events of the evening include dinner, music and dancing, and live as well as silent auction bidding. Tickets for the Gala go on sale in January, and online bidding for silent auction items typically opens about two weeks prior to the event.

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

Corporate partnerships are a way to engage our business community in lasting relationships that better connect people to their interests, build a stronger community and help us plan for success together. In addition to investing in programs and initiatives that directly impact GWA’s mission, our corporate partners enjoy advertising benefits on campus, in select GWA publications and through sponsorship of the community events. With several different levels of participation, our corporate partners have access to a variety of packages that fit their business needs.

GWA DAILY LIFE

ATTENDANCE

If your child will be absent from school for any reason, please notify the front office by phone or email no later than 8:30 a.m. If a student does not check in by 11:30 a.m. and the front office hasn’t received notification regarding his or her absence, parents will receive an email via ParentsWeb.

Upon returning to school after an absence, students in all grades should bring a signed note from the parent or doctor to the office. Class work missed during excused absences may be made up under the direction of the teacher, and a student has the same number of days he or she was absent for an excused absence to make up work.

Please refer to the student handbook for a full description of what is considered an excused absence.

Tardy students must check-in through the front office.

BUS ROUTES

GWA offers bus service to and from school each day from Conyers, Covington and the Snellville/Loganville areas. Bus fees are paid monthly, September through May. The updated bus schedule will be posted to the school website in July.

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

GWA offers a quality afterschool program for students in K4 through fifth grade. This program is housed in the kindergarten

building and offers a safe and fun environment for students after the normal school day ends. Our afterschool program provides students with snacks, time to complete homework, crafts, fun learning activities and supervised play time. Students who are four years old or older may remain on campus after their noon dismissal time and may join this program as well. Charges for the afterschool program are billed monthly.

PIANO STUDIO

Since 2014, our piano studio has grown from 30 students to over 100 students. The state-of-the-art piano lab offers group classes and private lessons for first-12th grade students. Middle and high schoolers can also take piano class as a fine arts elective.

BEYOND THE BELL

The Beyond the Bell program offers after-school “camps” throughout the school year encompassing a variety of interests including Dance, Taekwondo and Theater. The camps vary in length, schedule and cost. A list of first semester camps will be available in late August.

STUDENT PARKING

Student parking is available in the student parking lot located on the south side of campus between the Nicholson Center and the baseball field. Student parking is free of charge. Parking spaces near the Nicholson Center are reserved for GWA seniors, but all other spaces are unreserved.

DRESS CODE

GWA believes the dress code is an important component in promoting and teaching many characteristics we feel are essential; among them are responsibility, accountability, attention to detail, and the importance of a neat and wellgroomed appearance. Please refer to the student handbook for detailed information about dress code requirements. Most Fridays are “spirit wear days,” meaning students are allowed to wear blue jeans with a GWA spirit wear t-shirt purchased through the Dawg Shop, team sports pack, or from a GWA sponsored event.

Approved dress code attire can be purchased on campus at the Dawg Shop. Other approved vendors include Land’s End, S’Cool Stuff, and Scotteez (embroidery only).

CELL PHONES

While cell phones are allowed on the GWA campus, appropriate classroom use is limited to teacher discretion for all students.

Students will not be permitted to take or make calls during their regularly scheduled classes but may use cell phones outside the school buildings before the morning bell, during break and lunch, and after the dismissal bell.

LUNCH

Hot, nutritious meals are served each day in the cafeteria. Meals are cooked from scratch, using fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Lunch is available for purchase by all students, and is billed monthly through your FACTS account.

HEALTH CLINIC

The Health Clinic is located adjacent to the cafeteria’s main entrance and is staffed with a registered nurse during normal school hours. A student feeling ill during the school day may ask to visit the Clinic for assessment and possible treatment. If your student will be taking medication during the school day, please stop by the Clinic during Open House to make these arrangements with our nurses. Required health forms for students can be found on ParentsWeb along with athletic release and physical forms. * Immunizations are required and forms must be up to date.

DAWG SHOP

Located in the cafeteria building at the end of the breezeway, the Dawg Shop is your one-stop shop for Bulldog merchandise and school supplies. From dress code shirts and spirit wear to notecards and technology accessories, the Dawg Shop has got you covered!

The Dawg Shop is open daily during the school year. Summer hours are more limited, but you can always make an appointment to stop by if you’re on campus.

EVENTS & PROGRAMS

OPEN HOUSE

Get ready to head back to school! Open House gives students and their families an opportunity to meet their teachers, locate their lockers, purchase items from the Dawg Shop and the gently-loved uniform sale, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and join Dawgs 360. We’ll hold morning and evening sessions for lower, middle and upper school students and parents. More details, including specific times, will be posted on ParentsWeb this summer.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Grab a spoon – and your sweet tooth! – It’s GWA’s annual Ice Cream Social. At this “welcome back” meet-and-greet, held in the evening after school, our Bulldog families bring their favorite frozen desserts to share with friends, neighbors and new acquaintances. The Ice Cream Social is directly followed by our first pep rally of the year, featuring fall sports and GWA’s marching band.

As a new family, simply come and enjoy; there’s no need to bring ice cream this first time. The Ice Cream Social is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow Bulldogs and gives others a chance to welcome you to our community.

HOMECOMING

Homecoming is much more than a football game at GWA! This special Friday is preceded by a full week of campus fun that culminates in a homecoming pep rally you won’t want to miss. Students in all grades prepare banners, floats and even skits to perform for a packed Don Williams stadium as we pump up the Bulldogs for their face-off underneath the Friday night lights. Festivities culminate with the homecoming dance for the upper school students.

VETERANS DAY PROGRAM

The Veterans Day Program is an all-school assembly that honors men and women in the community who have sacrificed so much for our country. In recognition of all branches of the armed forces, this program offers musical performances from our bands, a guest speaker, and a video presentation from the George Walton Academy Student Council. All veterans in the surrounding community are invited to attend.

GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS

Gingerbread Christmas is a community event where we deck the halls and welcome Santa to our campus. It is a fun-filled evening of arts and crafts, live music, and reindeer games. All ages are welcome to enjoy toasting s’mores by the campfire while sipping on a cup of hot cocoa. The evening concludes with carols and a devotional to bring the true meaning of Christmas into focus

EVENTS & PROGRAMS

CHRISTMAS TREE PRESENTATION

A significant part of the senior/first grade program and a time-honored GWA tradition, the Christmas Tree Presentation is held the first Friday of December each year. During this festive event, the entire GWA community gathers to kick off the holiday season with musical performances, and seniors present their first graders with a small Christmas tree decorated with the younger students’ favorite things. This highly-anticipated occasion concludes with a student body singalong of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

GRAND DAY

Hosted annually, this event is open to all grandparents and special friends of GWA students in PreK3 through fifth grade. These lower school students show off their talents in grade-level performances that celebrate their love and appreciation of their special family members in attendance. Following the performances, additional festivities may include classroom visits, refreshments and activities in various locations across campus.

Grand Day is one of the most well-attended events GWA hosts every year, and all lower school students are

encouraged to invite a special visitor to participate in the celebration. Lower school students are dismissed for the day following the festivities.

FIELD DAY

Lower school students join our seniors for a morning of water games and relays in this enthusiastic show of sportsmanship and school spirit. Bulldogs big and small are sure to give out plenty of high fives and cheerful encouragement in this student favorite. All lower school students are dismissed for the day at the conclusion of the festivities.

GRADUATION

This is the day our students and their families have been waiting for all year! There are three commencement exercises that take place on campus as we congratulate the new graduates. In addition to the official GWA commencement, there is also a special graduation ceremony as our kindergartners graduate from “the Hill” and a more fun and casual event where our fifth graders graduate from lower school. Each of these ceremonies have one or more special twists that make them uniquely GWA events.