BULLDOG BACKPACK 2020 – 2021
YOUR GUIDE TO THE YEAR AT GWA
NEW FAMILY SUMMER CHECKLIST PRIOR TO OPEN HOUSE n
Schedule placement testing for students entering second grade and above.
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Request final transcripts from your child’s current school to be sent to GWA’s counseling office.
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Purchase school uniforms from GWA’s Dawg Shop or other approved vendor(s).
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Order lower school supplies through the Dawg Shop or purchase items on the supply lists.
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Purchase school supplies on middle and upper school supply lists.
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Help your student obtain necessary books for summer reading and encourage timely completion of
any other summer assignments.
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Schedule a sports physical for any student participating in GWA fall athletics.
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Become familiar with Parents Web and the content available through the Parents Web website and app.
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Bookmark the GWA calendar on gwa.com for quick reference to holiday schedules, campus events and more.
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Sign up for GWA Summer Camps 2020 through the school website.
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Communicate with your GWA Guide Dawg family or contact the admissions office with any questions throughout the summer.
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Download the GWApp.
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Middle/Upper School - meet with counseling office to discusss classes.
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Mark your calendar for Open House and the first day of school.
DURING OPEN HOUSE n
For lower school students, find out who your child’s homeroom teacher is and visit classrooms for more information.
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For upper school students, walk through your schedule and visit each teacher’s classroom.
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Visit the clinic if your student needs medication during the school day.
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Join Dawgs 360. Contact Elizabeth McDonel, emcdonel@gwa.com or 678-635-3818 for more information.
2 | CHECKLIST
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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEW FAMILY SUMMER CHECKLIST 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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GWA IMPORTANT DATES
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COMMUNICATION Guide Dawgs Parents Web Student Handbook Office 365 Accounts for Students Website & Activities Calendar Newsletter: In Focus Social Media Email Bulldog Magazine
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Campus Cleanup Day 13 Open House 13 First Day of School 13 Ice Cream Social 13 Homecoming 14 Veterans Day Program 14 Gingerbread Christmas 14 Christmas Tree Presentation 14 Winter Term 15 Grandparents Day 15 Prom 15 Field Day 15 Graduation 15
CAMPUS MAP
GET INVOLVED & GIVE BACK Dawgs 360 Dawgs Unleashed Annual Loyalty Fund Gala & Benefit Auction Corporate Partnerships
YEAR AT A GLANCE
BACK COVER
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DAILY LIFE @ GWA Daily Schedule Arrival and Departure from School Attendance Bus Routes Afterschool Program Piano Studio Beyond the Bell Student Parking Dress Code Cell Phones Lunch Health Clinic Dawg Shop
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TABLE OF CONTENTS | 3
4 | COMMUNICATION
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COMMUNICATION GWA GUIDE DAWGS
WEBSITE & ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
Consider them the official GWA welcome committee. These families reach out to new Bulldogs and will be your goto 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.
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 Parents Web 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 Parents Web calendar and may assist families looking for quick clarifications of event dates, times and locations.
PARENTS WEB
NEWSLETTER: IN FOCUS
Our internal site for parents, students and faculty, Parents Web permits 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 Parents Web.
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. Each issue of In Focus begins with Bulldog Briefs, an introductory letter written by a member of school leadership. If something exciting is brewing on campus, expect to read about it in In Focus.
New families set up their Parents Web 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 Parents Web is current, including email address, mailing address and phone number. You can make changes to your contact information in Parents Web at any time.
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.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
SOCIAL MEDIA
The GWA student handbook can be found on Parents Web 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.
Follow us on Facebook, and Instagram! 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-to-the-minute updates on campus news.
OFFICE 365 ACCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS Microsoft Office 365 is a suite of web-based programs that students will find helpful for saving and organizing digital files, completing and submitting assignments, and staying in touch with school personnel. GWA students receive personalized, individual Office 365 accounts as fourth graders to assist with in-class lessons and digital literacy skills. As students’ skills progress with Office 365 programs, teachers incorporate these platforms into more aspects of daily classroom life. Office 365 email in particular 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. www.gwa.com
We encourage you to read, enjoy and share In Focus. It’s a great way to get to know your fellow Bulldogs!
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. COMMUNICATION | 5
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 grade-level 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. To learn more about Dawgs 360 and how to get involved at GWA, contact Elizabeth McDonel at emcdonel@gwa.com.
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 intellectually- curious thinkers who embrace lifelong learning. There’s almost no limit to what we can make possible together!
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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 a sponsors’ reception, 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 listed above. With several different levels of participation, our corporate partners have access to a variety of packages that fit their business needs. If you think the corporate partnership program might be a good fit for your business, please contact Jeanie Beach at jbeach@gwa.com.
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8 | WELCOME 8 | DAILY LIFE @ GWA
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GWA DAILY LIFE DAILY SCHEDULE GWA’s first bell rings at 7:55 a.m., and the tardy bell for all students rings at 8:00 a.m. Students in PreK3 and K4 are dismissed from classes at noon, students in K5 through fifth grade are dismissed at 2:45 p.m., and students in sixth grade and above are dismissed at 3:15 p.m. Students in sixth through 12th grade follow a seven-period schedule throughout the day with a designated morning break. Detailed class schedules (including the bell schedule for class rotations) for middle and upper school students will be posted in Parents Web by the end of July.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE FROM SCHOOL Morning carpool for drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m. for all students. Our PreK3 through first-grade students wait in the cafeteria for the 7:55 a.m. bell, while students in second through sixth grade head directly for their teachers’ classrooms. Students in seventh grade and above are free to spend their morning time as they see fit prior to the tardy bell. Carpool pick-up for PreK3 and K4 students departing at noon begins immediately following dismissal. For all other lower school students, carpool for afternoon pick-up begins at 2:45 p.m. After 3:15 p.m., lower school students still awaiting pick-up will be sent to GWA’s afterschool program until their ride arrives and checks them out. Afternoon carpool for middle and upper school students begins immediately following 3:15 p.m. dismissal. Please note that the school’s back gates on Michael Etchison Road will be closed daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. If you’re visiting campus during these hours, please use our main Spring Street entrance and check in at the front office.
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 Parents Web. 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. www.gwa.com
Please refer to the student handbook for a full description of what is considered an excused absence. GWA’s school day begins at 8:00 a.m. If students arrive after that time for any reason, they are considered tardy and must request a note for admittance to class. Notes of admittance can only be obtained in the front office.
BUS ROUTES GWA offers bus service to and from school each day from Conyers, Covington/Oxford 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. Questions regarding bus service can be directed to Heather Dokes at hdokes@gwa.com.
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM GWA offers a quality afterschool program for students in K4 through sixth grade. This program is housed in the kindergarten building and offers a safe and fun environment for students after the normal school day ends. Beginning at 3:15 p.m. and ending at 6 p.m. on every full school day, our afterschool program provides students with snacks, time to complete homework, crafts, fun learning activities and supervised play time. K4 students can remain on campus after their noon dismissal time to join this program as well. Charges for the afterschool program are billed monthly. Contact Stacy May for information, smay@gwa.com.
PIANO STUDIO George Walton Academy enhanced the thriving piano program. Our state-of-the-art Piano Studio now serves over 100 students from first – 12th grade offering both private and group lessons. For further information, please contact Corrie Beth Noll at cnoll@gwa.com.
BEYOND THE BELL The Beyond the Bell program offers after school “camps” throughout the school year encompassing a variety of interests including sewing, Minecraft camp, knitting, guitar (through 12th grade), tennis, and Lego engineering. The camps vary in length, schedule and cost. A list of first semester camps will be available in late August. Contact Stacy May at smay@gwa.com for additional information.
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.
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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 well-groomed 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 may use cell phones during noninstructional time outside the classroom in ways that are limited to responsible use of texting and other non-verbal functions. 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
Lunch is available for purchase by all students, and breakfast selections are also offered for students in sixth through 12th grade during their scheduled break period.
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 request 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 Parents Web 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. Contact Jen Evans at jevans@gwa.com for more information.
Hot, nutritious meals are served each day in the cafeteria. Meals are cooked from scratch, using fresh, sustainable, local and wholesome ingredients, free from peanuts, tree nuts or nut oils during any of its cooking processes for school-age children.
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EVENTS & PROGRAMS CAMPUS CLEANUP DAY Show your school pride and join your fellow Bulldogs for a few hours of GWA community service by participating in our annual campus cleanup day. Bring your rakes, tool belts, work gloves and trash bags to help us spruce up the campus for back-to-school activities. We’ll start working around 7:30 a.m. and wrap up before lunch. Snacks and water will be provided.
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, set up lunch accounts in the cafeteria, 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 Parents Web 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
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 Keith Henderson Field 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 and choirs, 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
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.
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, sip on a cup of hot cocoa. The evening concludes with carols and a devotional to bring the true meaning of Christmas into focus.
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. 12 | EVENTS & PROGRAMS
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PROM Students in 11th and 12th grade as well as younger students invited by upperclassmen are welcome to attend Prom. All students in 9th through 12th grade are excused from school on the day of the event in order to prepare for their big night out. Hosted off campus at a local venue, Prom also includes the Senior Walk, which is a light-hearted announcement of senior superlatives and college destinations for our upcoming graduates.
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.”
WINTER TERM Winter Term is a three-week program between first and second semester in January. Upper school students take a break from their traditional curriculum and classes to participate in one of three options: Students have the opportunity to travel (10-12 grades), participate in an internship (11-12 grades), or take “cool courses” (nine-12 grades) on campus. These courses are interdisciplinary and are meant to allow for collaboration between faculty and students through experiential and project-based learning.
GRAND DAY
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 seniors and their families have been waiting for all year! GWA’s commencement exercises take place on campus as we officially congratulate the Class of 2021.
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 include classroom visits, refreshments and activities in various locations across campus. Grandparents 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. www.gwa.com
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Track & Field
Baseball Field
Field House
Middle School & Lower Gym
Football & Soccer Field
Softball Field
Fine Arts & Science
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Tennis Courts
Nicholson Center (Main Gym)
Kindergarten “the Hill ” & After Care
Tennis Courts Middle Gym & Band Lower School & 6th grade
Upper School & Front Office
Lower School & Cafeteria Lower School & Media Center
GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY
ONE BULLDOG DRIVE • MONROE, GA 30655 • 678.635.3800
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GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY
ONE BULLDOG DRIVE • MONROE, GA 30655 • 678.635.3800
www.gwa.com
Front Office Hours 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Summer Office Hours 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday – Thursday Closed Fourth of July Holiday Week
Find us on Facebook George Walton Academy Follow us on Instagram @georgewaltonbulldogs
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