GWA Viewbook 2019

Most schools teach students to fit in

WE WANT YOU TO

STAND OUT

GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY

AT GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY

ONE SIZE

DOES NOT FIT ALL We have created an engaging environment that encourages students not only to discover their passions, but to thrive in the pursuit of them. We offer a flexible schedule that enables students to have a more customizable education. They can take an online class, register for dual enrollment, design their own independent study course, or experience traditional classrooms that offer much more than the “traditional� approach.

From Pre-K3 through 12th grade, teachers collaborate to establish solid foundations that enable students to successfully navigate different levels of curriculum and difficulty. Innovative tools and techniques are employed to enhance the learning experience. For example, several of our humanities courses are based around a Harkness table, where all members of the class learn through discussions and are encouraged to question, contribute, and contemplate in order to fully grasp and master the subject concepts. GWA also offers: Global study opportunities that enable students to develop a larger worldview and appreciation for other cultures.

Exciting curriculum enhancements, such as our signature Winter Term, exciting academic trips, and our partnerships with Johns Hopkins and Duke University.

Award-winning fine arts programs, including our nationallyacclaimed marching band, unique piano lab, dance, and sculpture studio.

More athletic teams than any other school of our size in the state, with coaches who develop leaders on and off the field.

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WHY WAS GWA VOTED THE

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL

IN WALTON COUNTY?

Commitment to Personal Attention — low student-faculty ratios Rich Tradition of Excellence — founded on Judeo-Christian values in 1969 Inclusive School Culture — fostered through community-building events Beyond the Classroom Experiences — engaging field trips, after school camps, clubs, international and domestic travel, interdisciplinary intensive studies and internships that foster skill development and career exploration Exemplary Performing and Fine Arts programs — nationally-recognized band and classes that offer photography, journalism and design, pottery, dance, and sculpture Wide Range of Athletic Teams — baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, football, golf, majorettes, equestrian, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, bass fishing, esports, and wrestling Character Development — that fosters a culture of respect, accountability, responsibility and collaboration 4 GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY

4.6 MILLION

$ NUMBER OF STUDENTS:

772

11:1

100%

14 AP

AP SCHOLARS 1 NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST

CAMPUS SIZE: ACRES

ACCEPTANCE TO FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE

26

STUDENT/ TEACHER RATIO

61

AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIPS* 88% QUALIFIED FOR HOPE OR ZELL MILLER

COURSES

1 APPOINTMENT TO UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY

CLUBS

CODES SERVED

ATHLETIC TEAMS

*CLASS OF 2019

30+ 44

*

12 COUNTIES/ 35 ZIP

GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY 5

HONESTY

INTEGRITY

COURTESY 6 GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY

HONOR CODE

KINDNESS

GRATITUDE

Students are expected to live by a code that embodies George Walton Academy core values.

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Track & Field & Lacrosse

OUR CAMPUS

Baseball Field

GWA is located on 61 wooded acres in the heart of Monroe, Georgia. Indoors and out, GWA’s campus hums with activity and the joy of learning. Our facilities are designed to support a rich curriculum while building a community for all students in Pre-K3 through 12th grade.

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 Our campus is located just 45 miles east of Atlanta, Georgia and serves students from twelve counties including Walton, Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale and Barrow counties and features:

Lower School & 6th grade

• State-of-the-art science and fine arts building for middle and upper school • Two learning centers • Two academic resource & media centers

Upper School & Front Office

Lower School & Cafeteria Lower School & Media Center

• Writing center • Three art studios • Graphic arts lab • 3D printing lab • Sculpture lab • Piano lab • Spacious courtyard • Three gymnasiums • Outdoor classroom space • Seven tennis courts • Football and soccer field • Softball field • Baseball field • Indoor batting cages/practice facility • Track & practice fields • 100-seat auditorium

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DID YOU KNOW? During the month of January, upper school students participate in a three-week Winter Term designed to spark passion and create space for students to take risks for the reward of learning.

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Medical field work in

Belize

a Interning as ion teacher usic educat

m

Violin making in one of many cool classes

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THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE George Walton Academy recognizes that success comes in many forms, and that’s why academic rigor is just the beginning. Teachers strive to develop thoughtful and empathetic leaders ready to contribute to a dynamic, global society. Today’s world needs graduates who are flexible, collaborative and entrepreneurial.

The GWA academic experience features intensive coursework that expands to fit our students’ ambitions, student-focused faculty, and spectacular opportunities on and off campus. We provide an inspiring, fully engaging, intellectual experience, designed for the people who will build the future.

Curriculum From the first day of Pre-K3 to the end of 12th grade, our college preparatory education is individualized and student-centered. Our curriculum is grounded in foundational work in the major disciplines (arts, English, history, language, math and science) – and then it takes off. Students in the lower school attend at least two specials each day, as well as playing at recess to keep their minds sharp. Starting in middle school, students can specialize in music or language, or try their hand at dance or drama for the first time while continuing their core academics. In upper school, students’ choices are further expanded with the addition of AP and dual-enrollment courses, electives like Sustainable Living and Sculpture, and a greater variety of core academic classes at multiple levels of difficulty.

For students who need more individualized attention, GWA offers our innovative Learning Center: THE PARC. Our staff of full-time educators and student volunteers are equipped to train, tutor, challenge and advocate for students of all abilities.

Global Perspectives GWA’s global studies program provides upper school students a chance to travel abroad through exchanges and cultural immersions. But did you know that global perspectives is part of a GWA student’s education from the beginning? Our school’s mission promises to provide “challenging instruction, engaging experiences, and global perspectives”, and what better way to meet our mission than to provide those things in one experience?

Our students travel throughout the nation and the world in order to engage with our curriculum in ways that allow them to increase their knowledge through direct experiences while allowing space for observation and reflection. Learning doesn’t just happen within the four walls of our classrooms. Rather, we want students to understand real-world connections to what they have learned in class and we believe in the incredible power of taking students off campus as a means to transform the learning process.

The goal of education is not to teach students what to think but how to think. To scaffold knowledge by building awareness, deepening understanding, and opening doors for engagement. To introduce and account for missing perspectives. To re-calibrate the natural tendency to accentuate difference and instead create safe spaces for students to engage with difference in responsible ways. That is why we do what we do – to train up young people who are prepared for college and the world beyond and to give them skills that will allow them to become successful in whatever they set their mind to, and we believe that global perspectives plays an integral role.

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DID YOU KNOW?

GWA has more GHSA-sanctioned athletic teams and activities than any other school of its size in the state.

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OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM George Walton Academy takes pride in offering a rich and vibrant student experience though the arts, athletics, enrichment programs, clubs and global studies. These opportunities provide a platform for students to practice important concepts that lie beyond the ordinary scope of our academic curriculum.

Enrichment Field trips give students an excellent opportunity to take what they have learned from the textbook and turn it into a tangible experience. From interacting with marine life at the aquarium, observing government at work firsthand in Washington D.C., to hosting a mock trial before a local judge at the courthouse, we know that some of the best lessons are learned beyond the classroom walls.

Find Your Niche With more than 30 student clubs and organizations that span all student ages, GWA has something for everyone who is looking to expand the student experience beyond the normal bell schedule.

ARTS & ATHLETICS Students have the opportunity to make the most of every moment at GWA through participation in exciting fine arts and athletics. The toughest decision to make is which activity to choose because there are so many options from theater, dance, chorus, marching band, and visual arts, to a wide range of youth, middle school, JV, and varsity sports. Ready for a challenge? Try out for the spring play, start piano lessons, dive into swimming, or take a swing at golf. Want to try something new? How about sculpture, bass fishing, lacrosse or fencing? Along with traditional award-winning sports and arts programs, GWA is constantly adding new and innovative offerings to meet the needs and interests of today’s students.

As an example, the new e-sports program that launched in 2019 helps students build communication, teamwork, leadership and strategic thinking skills.

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BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF CHARACTER GWA emphasizes Judeo-Christian values. Our students, guided by an exceptional faculty and staff, develop into young men and women who are foundationally equipped to engage as servant leaders. Upon graduating, GWA students are not only prepared to excel in higher education; they’re also ready to make meaningful and lasting contributions to their local, national and global communities.

GWA students are encouraged to challenge themselves through engagement, exploration, and by trying new endeavors. Such opportunities build students’ confidence, increase knowledge, enhance creativity, and impact their growth in immeasurable ways.

Community and excellence are two of the most cherished principles at George Walton Academy.

Academic excellence is central to the GWA experience, but our community, focused on high standards, encourages members to strive for their personal best in all areas of life.

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FROM PRE-K3 TO GRADUATION Not Your Typical Pre-K Program At George Walton Academy, our youngest students are active participants in a vibrant learning community that not only focuses on foundational skills but also lays the groundwork for exploration in every subject area. Each pre-K and kindergarten classroom has a teacher and an aide who are dedicated to the success of your child. In this warm and nurturing environment, learning is expanded beyond the classroom as they learn about the world around them through field trips, arts, music, Spanish and Bible. We believe these formative years are imperative for creating a strong foundation to build upon for a lifetime of learning.

GWA equipped me with a strong work ethic and a solid foundation in many academic areas which have made my college learning experiences exponentially more enjoyable and fulfilling. My teachers and classmates from GWA instilled in me a love for learning and the confidence to pursue new and exciting academic endeavors. Even now, many of my friends and teachers from GWA continue to be an important support system in my life as I navigate college.

– Amy Rees ’17 currently attending Clemson

Focusing on the Whole Child Nowhere is the development of the whole student more important than in the Lower School.

George Walton Academy’s lower school is designed so that every aspect of the school day is focused on encouraging a young person’s mental, physical, emotional and social growth. Although we rely on classroom experiences as the primary method of instruction, the lower school academic program is enhanced through field trips, guest speakers, games, and as much hands-on experience as possible.

“At GWA, I had outstanding teachers who taught me so much more than calculus, English, or United States history; they taught me how to have a strong work ethic, how to be a better person, and how to communicate with others.”

– Reese Howard ’17 currently attending Georgia Tech

A Smooth Transition A balance of freedom and responsibility Middle school students develop into thoughtful, responsible and self-aware adolescents as they prepare to meet the academic expectations of a college-preparatory curriculum at the upper school level.

Preparing Students for Success in College and Life Personal interest meets choice and self-awareness George Walton Academy’s upper school, which includes ninth through 12th grade, takes pride in balancing a challenging, college-preparatory approach to academics with a wide array of elective offerings, cocurricular activites and other enrichment opportunities.

Students, with an understanding of themselves as learners, may choose from several academic tracks or pursue intensive study in a specialized area of interest.

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YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE We’re so glad you are interested in George Walton Academy!

Here are some simple ‘next steps’ to take to experience GWA for yourself:

1. Visit campus. Whether you come for an Open House, Preview Day, private tour or to attend one of the many athletic, arts or community events, we believe that experiencing George Walton Academy in person is the best way to begin your journey.

2. Ready to Apply? Applicants for all grades should complete our Online Application which is accessible from the Admissions tab of gwa.com.

3. Print, sign and deliver the Release of Records Form to the student’s current school.

4. Print and deliver Teacher Evaluation Forms to your student’s current teachers. Students applying to Pre-K3 through first grade should submit one form, while students applying to second through 11th grade should submit two separate forms from current math and English teachers.

5. Provide GWA with copies of the student’s birth certificate and immunization records.

6. Schedule developmental screenings for students applying to Pre-K3 through first grade. Students in fifth grade through 11th grade should plan to attend a shadow day, interview, and admissions/placement testing.

Contact Cari Bailey at admissions@gwa.com or 678-635-3810.

George Walton Academy admits qualified students without regard to race, religion, national or ethnic origin.

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CHARACTER • COMMUNITY • OPPORTUNITY 678-635-3800 • www.gwa.com Find us on Facebook George Walton Academy Follow us on Twitter georgewalton Follow us on Instagram @georgewaltonbulldogs

One Bulldog Drive Monroe, GA 30655