In this issue:

2026-2027 Early Bird Registration

Assessment - 2026 AP and IB Exam Schedule and Final Exams Schedule

Communicate with our School via Rooms

2025-2026 Student Absences Policy and Procedures

Prom Requirements and Updates

GWHS Boys Summer Basketball

Seniors: DSF Scholarship Application Now Open

Summer School Registration

Student Opportunities List

Proctor an AP or IB Exam

Spring Dance Concert

Spring Arts Showcase

Annual GWHS Grow Club Plant Sale

Thank You for Showing Your GWHS Staff Some Love!

Volunteers Needed for Prom Setup

Volunteers Needed for After Prom

After Prom Donations: Help Make "Midnight Rodeo" a Success

GWHS Landscape Committee Update

GWHS Food Pantry Usage

Spirit Wear

Weekly Athletics Update

Click Here for This Week's Athletics Events

Click Here for GWHS's Bell Schedule

May 1

Professional Learning Day/No School for Students

May 9

Prom

May 19

Last Day of Classes for Seniors (Required)

May 20 - 22

Spring 2026 Final Exams

May 21

Senior Checkout

May 25

Memorial Day/No School

May 26

Class of 2026 Graduation Exercises

May 27 - 28

Course Competency (by invitation only)

 

2026-2027 Early Bird Registration

Current GWHS families, get ready for online registration – save time by updating your student’s information for the 2026-2027 school year! By completing this process using your Parent Portal account, you can avoid paper forms and save time at the school during the fall return. To register online, primary legal guardians of current DPS students must have an active DPS Parent Portal account. Visit myportal.dpsk12.org to sign up, or to check that your account is active and ready before the window opens.

The “Early Bird” window is Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 22.

For more information on how to complete online registration, contact the Main Office or visit SchoolChoice for online registration guides. All SchoolChoice applicants must have an accepted seat before registering their student.  

 

Assessment - 2026 AP and IB Exam Schedule and Final Exams Schedule

Please review the 2026 AP and IB exam schedule HERE, and the final exams schedule HERE. There is a late start for period 4 and 5 final exams on Thursday, May 21; please note this change was made to accommodate Senior Checkout, and is different than previously announced. Please note we not allow requests to modify final exam dates, except in extreme cases (student hospitalization, etc.).

* Exam Conflicts: Students who have a direct conflict between an AP and IB exam need to contact our AP Coordinator, Najah McFarland, and our IB Coordinator, Mr. Hildner, in room 112 as soon as possible.

* Exam Attendance Policy: After a student in grade 11 or grade 12 takes an AP or IB exam, they are no longer required to attend any remaining scheduled classes for the course in which they tested. Grade 11 and grade 12 students who do not take the AP or IB exam in their course must continue to attend scheduled classes and take a course final exam. Grade 9 and grade 10 students, regardless of whether they take their AP or IB exam, must continue to attend scheduled classes for every course. Earning honors-weight credit for that course is contingent on completion of a final exam. All students who are taking an AP or IB exam will be excused from all of their classes on the day of their exam (attendance is at students' discretion, should they choose to use the excused time to attend class for academic reasons). Students who are not testing must attend all their classes that day. 

* AP Students - Required Exam Materials: you MUST bring your fully-charged DPS-issued Chromebook with you on your AP exam day(s). Additionally, you MUST bring a sticky note with your College Board username and password on test day to access your exam through the Bluebook testing app. Be sure to practice logging in to your College Board account before test day to resolve any potential issues beforehand. Students without a Chromebook and/or a working College Board username and password may not be able to test.

 

Communicate with our School via Rooms

Denver Public Schools has transitioned to a communications platform called Thrillshare for all its communications, which works with the NEW, free DPS app! This means teachers, staff and coaches are now able to message (SMS or email) families directly, or through the DPS app! To facilitate the smoothest communication possible with our school and your student's teachers, be sure to follow these easy steps:

• Download the FREE Denver Public Schools (DPS) app (available from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store).

• Click "Rooms" at the center bottom of your screen.

• Enter your email or phone number that you provided when you registered your student for school in Parent Portal, and choose to sign in with a one-time access code.

• You will receive a one-time access code to the email or phone number you just entered.

You should now be connected with all Rooms to which your student has been added!

 

2025-2026 Student Absences Policy and Procedures

New for the 2025-2026 school year, all student absences will be reported using the online attendance tool in your Parent Portal. Instructions for how to enter a student absence notification through Parent Portal can be found here in ENGLISH, SPANISH and ARABIC. Please review the entire GWHS Attendance Policy HERE. The GWHS Attendance Policy contains important information regarding attendance requirements, interventions for chronic absenteeism, and more. Please note, any request for an early student dismissal after 3:00pm but before the end of the school day cannot be processed.

Prom Requirements and Updates

If you are attending Prom, there is a Prom Attendance Form that must be completed in order to receive your ticket. Students will not be permitted into Prom without a physical ticket, and tickets will not be permitted without this form being completed showing you have met ALL of the requirements to attend. This form will be available after Spring Break. Copies can be found in the main office, Schoology, and HERE. 

Requirements to attend Prom:

** Attended mandatory class meeting

** Attend your primary test day for CMAS Science (grade 11 on Wednesday, April 8) and SAT (grade 11 on Monday, April 13), or PSAT 10 (grade 10 students invited to Prom on Tuesday, April 14)

** Meeting the 90% attendance rate beginning March 3

** Completed all years of ICAP in Student Portal

** Completed credit recovery courses (if applicable)

** Passing all spring semester courses as of May 4 (no exceptions or refunds on tickets)

** Fees have been paid in full

** Students must provide Prom ticket proof of purchase voucher from MySchoolBucks

Prom will be at the Denver Aquarium inside the ballroom near the lounge from 7:00 to 11:00pm (doors close at 9:00pm and there is no re-entry). Students will have access to the entire aquarium until 10:00pm. Prom attendees will be given a specific wristband upon entry; only those with that wristband will be admitted into the ballroom or allowed in the building after hours. Violation of this may result in a trespassing ticket. Parking is free with the parking code located on your ticket. Guest forms for GWHS students in grade 10 or guests outside of GWHS will be available after Spring Break and are due no later than Wednesday, May 6 by 2:30pm. Copies can be found in the main office, Schoology, and HERE. 

Denver Aquarium is offering a special discounted meal for Prom attendees, see the menu HERE. 

GHWS understands some students may have faced challenges that impact their ability to meet the established Prom eligibility requirements. While these expectations are in place to support student accountability and success, GHWS offers an appeal process for students with extenuating circumstances. Please carefully read and complete this FORM (also available on the GWHS website) if you need to appeal your Prom eligibility.

 

GWHS Boys Summer Basketball

Come experience what it means to be a Patriot boys basketball player, and participate in summer practices and tournaments. Register by Thursday, April 30. Click HERE for full program and registration information. 

 

Seniors - DSF Scholarship Application Now Open

The DSF scholarship application is now open for graduating seniors! Don't wait - click HERE to create an account and submit your application. 

Annual award amounts based on full-time enrollment:

** 4-year college or university: $3,600 per year
** Community college: $1,700 per year
** Technical college: $1,700 per year

Eligibility requirements: 

DPS: Students must have attended a DPS high school for all four consecutive years unless they transferred from out of state or out of the country while still in high school.

GPA: Final cumulative GPA (weighted or unweighted, whichever is higher) requirements: 
** 4-year college or university -- 2.75 GPA
** Community college -- 2.5 GPA
** Technical college -- 2.0 GPA

ENROLL: Full-time enrollment at one of our 30 college partners in Colorado 

FINANCIAL NEED: Students must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $16,640 or less on the FAFSA or CASFA. Please note that $16,640 is 2.5x higher than the SAI cutoff to qualify for a federal Pell Grant! So be sure to check your SAI as the DSF scholarship does NOT require Pell eligibility 

COMPLETE: Submit a completed application no later than Friday, May 1 and complete all financial aid requirements at your college of choice before July 15.

RESIDENCY: Students must also meet their college's Colorado residency requirements for in-state tuition and state aid

Please note that the DSF scholarship does NOT require an essay! However, students must demonstrate that they have submitted at least two other scholarship applications. On the Future Center Schoology course, we maintain a very thorough scholarship database that is updated weekly (open the folder called "Scholarships" and then search through the "Weekly Scholarship Highlight" folder organized by week. 

Don't wait! Apply today! Click HERE for more information.

 

Summer School Registration

Sign up for summer school to get back on track to graduate. Click HERE for more info.

 

Student Opportunities List

Students, be sure to check this LIST regularly to discover some of the great opportunities available to you! These opportunities may include summer programs, scholarships, internships and much more. Participating in programs like these can help you build skills, explore careers, strengthen your college applications, and earn money or scholarships. Check back often as new opportunities are added throughout the year!

Proctor an AP or IB Exam

GWHS has over 600 students taking AP and IB exams from Tuesday, April 28 through Friday, May 22, and we need your help with proctoring! Sign up HERE to proctor an AP or IB exam. You may select any exam your student is NOT taking. Proctor training is easy, and your support is deeply appreciated! 

 

Spring Dance Concert

The GWHS Dance Department, under the direction of Ms. J. presents their Spring Dance Concert "Dance With Me!" on Friday, May 1 at 7:00pm and Saturday, May 2 at 1:00pm in the GWHS Auditorium. This year's concert will include GWHS alumni dancers from graduating classes 2025, 2019 and 2013. Tickets are $15/adults and $10/students 5-18 and may be purchased at the door. Half-priced student tickets may be purchased from dance students or Ms. J. until Thursday, April 30. Cash only, please! Click HERE for more information.

 

Spring Arts Showcase

Join us for the GWHS Spring Arts Showcase to celebrate learning and excellence in arts classes this semester! This year's Showcase will be held Tuesday, May 12, starting with the Art Show in Pikes Peak Lobby at 6:00pm, followed by the Spring Music Concert at 6:30pm. Click HERE for more information.

 

Annual GWHS Grow Club Plant Sale

GWHS Grow Club students have been growing gorgeous veggie seedlings in the newly refurbished GWHS greenhouse, and they are now available for pre-sale. Please use this FORM to order your plants, and order quickly before items sell out! Plant pick-up will begin Monday, May 4 after school in the GWHS Greenhouse. Questions? Contact Lisa at lemerson8@msn.com.

 

Thank You for Showing Your GWHS Staff Some Love!

Thank you for your thoughtful donations for teacher/staff appreciation week! Through your generosity, we raised $2,430. With our matching gift, this became just under $5,000. This money will have a massive impact on making our GWHS teachers and staff feel valued and celebrated for the incredible work they do, every day. We also received a lunch donation and that will also have a large impact. Because of your kindness, we are able to recognize and uplift the educators who dedicate their time, energy and passion to shaping our children. We are sincerely grateful for your thoughtfulness and generosity. 

 

Volunteers Needed for Prom Setup

Please volunteer to help set up for Prom on Saturday, May 9 at the Denver Aquarium beginning at 5:00pm. If you are interested in helping, please email Ms. Kristi at kristi_paukstis@dpsk12.net. 

 

Volunteers Needed for After Prom

Saddle up, GWHS! The After Prom "Midnight Rodeo" is coming to town Saturday, May 9, and we need your help to make it a legendary ride. This party is a FREE ticket to an unforgettable night for our students, but we can’t pull it off without our volunteer crew.

We’re looking for help during the day and night on Saturday, May 9, and for clean-up on the morning of Sunday, May 10. No experience? No problem! Underclassmen parents: This is the perfect "sneak peek" at the fun your kids will have as juniors and seniors. Double the fun: Sign up for one shift or multiple - and bring a friend! Sign up HERE - your help is greatly appreciated!

 

After Prom Donations: Help Make "Midnight Rodeo" a Success

To make this year's After Prom an unforgettable night for our students, we need your help! We are currently collecting donations for our "Midnight Rodeo" event on Saturday, May 9 and are looking for the following:

** Gift Cards: We are seeking $5–$15 gift cards to local favorites (coffee shops, fast food, etc.) to use as prizes throughout the night.

** Snacks: We need a variety of refreshments to keep the energy high.

** "Buy a Share" Items: Check the sign-up for opportunities to contribute toward larger event essentials.

Whether you can drop off a gift card, a box of snacks, or "buy a share" of a larger item, every contribution helps create a fantastic experience for the kids. Sign up to donate HERE. 

 

GWHS Landscape Committee Update

Get ready to get your hands dirty — GO GREEN DAY is here!
** THIS Saturday, May 2 • 8:00am to 1:00pm
** GWHS Community Garden (up the hill from the South Parking Lot)
What’s happening:
** Dig, plant, and mulch — make the grounds glow!
** Meet friends, swap laughs, and build something awesome together
** Pizza lunch to reward your hard work
** Rain, snow, or shine — dress for the weather and comfy shoes. Bring gloves if you have them. Can’t wait to dig in!

Act today and become a part of GWHS's future! Leave a lasting legacy by purchasing a personalized tree plaque or brick dedication HERE! Your contribution not only honors your connection to GWHS but also supports the Landscape Committee in enhancing the beauty of our school's grounds.

Questions? Want to join or simply help? Contact Barb DeSarro at bwdesarro@hotmail.com.

 

GWHS Food Pantry Usage

The GWHS Food Pantry provides FREE food and hygiene items for students, faculty, and staff.

• When: Every Wednesday, 3:30pm

• Where: GWHS Sub Basement Room 003

• Bring: Your own reusable bags, if you have them

You will not be required to pay, put in volunteer hours, attend service, or participate in any type of program to receive food. The GWHS Food Pantry does not to engage in discrimination, in the provision of service against a person because of race, color, citizenship, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a protected veteran. All clients will be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. Questions? Contact gwhs.food.pantry@gmail.com.

 

Spirit Wear

Don't forget to purchase your Patriots spirit wear for the spring sports season! Click HERE to see all the amazing clothing and gear on offer. Show off your school pride!

 

Weekly Athletics Update

Patriots excel in the classroom and on the field! Click HERE to read our Weekly Athletics Update.