Patriot Post - Fall 2024

From the Desk of Dr. Davis

Dear GWHS Family,

Happy holidays! This time of year can feel like a whirlwind for many, with final exams, travel and holiday plans, and the break in routine. The holidays can bring a mixture of intense emotions for many as well; through it all, the joys and the struggles, know that we value our Patriot Family and we are here for you.

As a family, we do have much to celebrate: academic accomplishments, athletic successes, competition winners, building and program improvements, and much more! Our amazing school is nothing without your support, however, and we'd like to remind you one more time that today is THE day to give in Colorado. If you haven't yet made a contribution to your favorite club, activity or sport at GWHS, please consider doing so today, on Colorado Gives Day, by clicking HERE. If you have donated already, then please accept our heartfelt thanks!

Please enjoy our Patriot Post - Fall Edition, below. Consider it our holiday card greeting to you!

With Patriot Pride,

Dr. Dackri Davis

Principal | George Washington High School

IB Learner Profile Trait

With each issue of the Patriot Post, we highlight an attribute from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile. The Learner Profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. Each characteristic implies a commitment to help all members of the GWHS community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.

To be caring, we show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.  

Fall Sports Highlights

As the fall sports season comes to a close, we celebrate the remarkable achievements and dedication of our student-athletes across all programs. From individual accolades to team success, our athletes have exemplified hard work, perseverance, and team spirit. Here's a look back at their outstanding accomplishments:

Co-Ed Cheerleading

Our Co-Ed Cheerleading team had an extraordinary season! They hosted the DPL League Championship and secured second place in the highly competitive Co-Ed Sideline Division. Cheer plays an essential role in fostering school spirit, showing unwavering love and support for all our teams. Thank you, Cheer, for your incredible dedication and energy — we are so proud of you!

Boys Tennis

The Boys Tennis team continued its legacy of excellence, with every player qualifying for the state tournament, despite being placed in a new region. The team captured its fourth consecutive regional title. A special congratulations to Travis Nguyen, who earned DPL Player of the Year honors. Their resilience and skill on the court are a testament to the strength of the program.

Boys Soccer

The Boys Soccer program enjoyed another successful season, with the varsity team finishing above .500 for the fourth consecutive year. The JV team had their best season ever with a 13-2 record. The C team’s growth was evident, as the program had so many athletes that cuts had to be made. This expansion and interest highlight the continued success and growth of the program.

Boys Golf

The Boys Golf team had an exceptional season with two athletes, Max Resnik and Soren Goldberg-Butler, qualifying for the state championship. Resnik and Goldberg-Butler also earned Second Team All-League honors. The team finished fourth in the league and was the top 4A team in the 5A/4A combined standings. The team’s lowest scoring average since 2018 speaks volumes about their dedication and growth.

Cross Country

The Cross Country team saw impressive development this year, with a large freshman presence and excellent participation. Approximately 35-40 athletes completed the season, with an attendance rate of 80% at practices. Every athlete ran a personal best, and the team qualified for both the regional and state meets. Special congratulations to Violet Eleson, who qualified for state, showcasing her incredible talent and hard work.

Softball

Softball had a strong showing this season, finishing with a 10-4 league record and securing third place overall. Several athletes earned All-Conference honors: Avia Marusich and Maggie Duffy (First Team), Leilani Martin and Gracie Arellano (Second Team), and Natalie Mawson, Amelia Nelson, and Samantha Coffman (Honorable Mention). These individual accolades reflect the team’s collective success and effort.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics had an outstanding season with Caroline Wanebo qualifying for state in the Floor competition and Isabel Pexton qualifying on the Vault. Their impressive performances are a testament to their skill and dedication throughout the season.

Volleyball

The Volleyball team capped off their season with a Silver League Championship victory. With an overall record of 13-10 and a 4-2 record in league play, the team’s hard work and determination paid off with a well-deserved league title.

Unified Bowling

The Unified Bowling team had an impressive season, finishing 2nd in the league and securing 2nd place at regionals. The team’s success highlights the spirit of inclusion, teamwork, and sportsmanship that defines our athletics program.

Football

The Football team celebrated an outstanding season with multiple players earning All-League honors. Congratulations to Hayes Dwyer and Travis Kirk, who not only secured First Team All-League but also were named All-League Player of the Year. Other First Team All-League honorees include Isaiah Smith (WR), Luke Wiederholt (TE), Tristan Alamos (OL), Andre Johnson (Athlete), Semaje' Smith (DB), and Jorlando Sanders (DB). Earning Second Team All-League honors were Jalen Fleming (DB), Jerald Davis (DB), Yuki Nhaha (WR), Demetrius Wedgeworth (OL) and Macland Taylor (K). Their hard work and commitment made this season one to remember.

Girls Flag Football

Girls Flag Football demonstrated incredible resilience this season, especially in their first game against South, where they rallied from a 0-18 halftime deficit to finish strong at 20-25. Their grit and tenacity continued throughout the season, leading them to a first place finish in League 4A and second place in the combined 4A/5A league. They ranked sixth in the state and made it to the Final Four in the state playoffs. The team also produced three All-State players: Madisyn Honeycutt and Staia Yohe Savage (First Team), and Brooke Hunter (Honorable Mention).

National Merit Semi-Finalists and Commended Students

GWHS is extremely proud to announce its five National Merit Scholarship Program Semi-Finalists from the Class of 2025! GWHS boasts the second-most National Merit Semi-Finalists of any DPS high school. Our National Merit Semi-Finalists are (from left to right): Luca McMurray, Charles Camp, Kate Taylor, Caroline Mabey and Samuel Holland.

In addition to its five National Merit Scholarship Program Semi-Finalists from the Class of 2025, we have seven Commended National Merit Scholarship Program students! Each year, about 34,000 students who scored in the top 2-4% of students who took the PSAT/NMSQT the previous October are selected as Commended students. Our Commended students are: Matthew Abrams, Owen Craig, Brian McHughs, Isabelle Sabo, Lindsay Sieja, Oakley Thomas and Adam Wang.

Students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT in October of their junior year (for information regarding this year's administration, please see above). The 16,000 National Merit Semi-Finalists are the highest-scoring students in each state, representing less than one percent of each state's high school seniors. 

Patrick Surtain II Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

On Tuesday, September 3, we celebrated the $50,000 grant received from the Patrick Surtain II Foundation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony! His foundation has helped create an amazing space for our Speech and Debate, Robotics, Journalism, GNews, and Podcasting programs. A special thank you to our Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, Brendan Netherton, and our teachers Kristi Paukstis and Maryrose Kohan for making this possible, but most importan

Mostly, thank you to our students (current: Diego Holguin, graduates: Fred Scott, Halle Guber, Tay Smith, and Liliana Feeny)!

Ednium's Third Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament and Fall Fest

On October 5, Ednium hosted its third annual DPS Alumni Basketball Tournament at Abraham Lincoln High School. With twelve DPS alumni teams competing, in partnership with the DPS Foundation, Ednium proudly awarded a $10,000 donation to George Washington High School, which will go toward supporting our students. The Fall Fest was also a great success, with activities such as a pumpkin patch, face painting, and games that made the day special for everyone. As a nonprofit organization, Ednium is committed to mobilizing public school alumni to transform the way cities invest in and educate their local talent. The success of this event reflects the dedication and support Ednium gives to schools and alumni.

National Honor Society Updates

The GWHS Chapter of National Honor Society (NHS) has been busy bettering our community! Hosting and supporting everything from a Halloween blood drive to making toys for shelter animals, read what NHS students have been doing in the latest NHS newsletter HERE.

Visiting "Almost, Maine" - A Fabulous Fall Play

The Patriot Players presented "Almost, Maine" Thursday, November 14 through Saturday, November 16, with matinee and evening performances. Our fall play dove into the complexities of love and relationships in a magical town in the far northeast. We had amazing performances from sixteen actors, who were supported by a brilliant group of theatre techies. The Patriot Players are proud of the hard work and creativity that went into this production. Take a bow - the show was a great success! Next up: "Mean Girls, The Musical," on stage in March!

Speech and Debate Starts Season Strong

Speech and Debate started the 2024-2025 season with a strong showing at the New York City Invitational hosted by the Bronx High School of Science, where Adin Kobrin-Brody and Mateo Pacheco took First Place in Duo Interpretation and were both finalists in Humorous Interpretation, and Caroline Mabey and Cade Ramirez advanced to the elimination rounds in Policy Debate. The team has been competing locally since October when our new team members (aka "novices") began their competitive journeys. We quickly transitioned in November to the Varsity Season and are very proud to have had a number of finalists at all of the tournaments we have attended. The weekend of November 22 through 23, the team brought home the sweepstakes trophy from Denver East's Mile High Tournament. We are looking forward to a busy winter with upcoming adventures in Salt Lake City, Cheyenne and the Harvard Invitational in February.

JROTC Students Volunteer for the Hot Chocolate Marathon

JROTC provided support to the Denver metro community by volunteering at the Hot Chocolate Marathon on Saturday, October 5. The event was held at the National Western Complex in Denver. The JROTC students and instructors helped with a variety of tasks such as serving chocolate drinks and sweet treats, and separating and sorting all ribbons for race participants. The marathon staff greatly appreciated the help provided by JROTC and welcome the support each year.

JROTC Students Compete in the Academic and Leadership Bowls

Select JROTC students competed in the Level I testing for the Leadership and Academic Bowls on Wednesday, November 6. The main goal of the JROTC Academic Bowl is to prepare students for state exit/graduation exams as well as college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT. Questions cover language arts, math, science, and general knowledge in each level of the competition. The JROTC Leadership Bowl is a test for individual knowledge of the leadership-related information contained in the JROTC curriculum. The JROTC Academic Team scored an impressive 85% and advanced to Level II. They will test again in February 2025 with the chance to compete in the championships in Washington, D.C. Members of the Academic Team pictured from left to right are Franco Salazar, Sonja Hammond-Smith and Grace Gwah. Members of both the JROTC Leadership and Academic Teams pictured from left to right are Anthony Gonzalez-Angulo, A'Maiya Moses, Dillon Ledges, Rainy Woodard, Sonja Hammond-Smith, Grace Gwah and Franco Salazar. We are so very proud of both teams!

JROTC Color Guard Presents The Colors for a Tribute to Vietnam Veterans

Members of the JROTC Color Guard presented The Colors at the Wings Over the Rockies for a special tribute for Vietnam veterans on Thursday, November 7. The students had the opportunity to listen to several Vietnam veterans speak and share their experiences while serving in the military. The students also had the chance to see a variety of exhibits while visiting the Wings Over the Rockies. Members of the JROTC Color Guard from left to right are Kent Pelham, Kingston Goos, Gladys Salgado, Anthony Gonzalez-Angulo, and Taliha Moulayianis.

AVID Engages in Mindfulness

Over the summer, AVID received a small donation from DonorsChoose to help in the area of mindfulness. With this donation, the students were able to get small journals and yoga mats to support mindfulness and destressing as part of a continued focus on social and emotional well-being. We have been able to integrate journals for thoughtful reflection and had our very own GWHS AVID alumni and licensed yoga instructor, Coach T, lead us in a yoga session.

AVID Experiences Life as a CSU Ram

The AVID sophomore and junior classes headed up to Colorado State University to experience life as a Ram. We were greeted with AVID alumni, who showed us around and answered many curious questions. It was a great chance for the students to check out the campus and get to hear from real-life college students. We couldn’t have done it without Dr. Davis and her support, Mrs. Cordova for her guidance and organization, Mrs. Crawford, Coach Taryn and Ms. Tatum for being chaperones, and Ms. Reaves for being part of the adventure. A big thank you to all of you from AVID!