In this issue:

Communicate with our School via Rooms

2025-2026 Student Absences Policy and Procedures

Why Attendance Matters

Activities Fee

Fall 2025 Final Exams Schedule

ACCESS Testing - Monday, January 12

Return Your Loaned Chromebook and Charger

Seniors - Purchase Your Panoramic Photo

What Did You Do Over Fall Break?

Restroom Etiquette

Yearbooks

School Store "Patriots' Snack'n Print" Now Open

COLORADO GIVES DAY

School Choice and Parent Portal Online Workshops

Doughnuts with Dr. Davis

Winter Arts Showcase

Shop With a Patriot

Match Goal Surpassed! Thank You for Supporting the GWHS Food Pantry

GWHS Food Pantry Usage

Support for Spanish-Speaking Families with Young Children

Community Resources

Spirit Wear

Weekly Athletics Update

Click Here for This Week's Athletics Events

Click Here for GWHS's Bell Schedule

December 15 - December 17

Fall 2025 Final Exams

December 18 - December 19

Course Competency (by invitation only)

December 22 - January 5

Winter Break

January 12

ACCESS Testing for MLLs - No School for Non-Testing Students

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.

 

Why Attendance Matters

It is imperative your student is in school, on time, every day, for every class. When students are not in class, they not only miss valuable learning and development opportunities, but they can experience long-term impacts that ultimately can hinder their on-time graduation. Please take a moment to read DPS's important information HERE regarding the multiple consequences of absences, chronic absence versus truancy, and how and when to handle keeping your student home for illness.

 

Activities Fee

To help support our Student Council in planning and hosting important school events such as Homecoming, Prom, and other class activities, we will be assessing a $15 class fee for each student starting in January. This contribution helps ensure we can continue providing memorable and well-organized events for all students. Thank you for your support and partnership in making these experiences possible and please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Fall 2025 Final Exams Schedule

Please find the Fall 2025 Final Exams Schedule HERE. Please note we not allow requests to modify final exam dates, except in extreme cases (student hospitalization, etc.). As a reminder, every day and every class is critical to every student learning. We ask that you plan your holiday travel so as not to interfere with instructional days around Thanksgiving or Winter Break. 

 

ACCESS Testing - Monday, January 12

On Monday, January 12, all MLL students will take ACCESS, a state-required test that progress monitors students' English language acquisition. Students will receive an email to their @dpsk12.net accounts the week of January 5 with their testing room assignment. Students should arrive at GWHS no later than 8:30am with their fully-charged DPS-issued Chromebook and their charger. We'll order pizza for all testing students! There will be no school for students who do not take ACCESS. Questions? Ask your ELD teacher.

Return Your Loaned Chromebook and Charger

Students, have you borrowed a loaner Chromebook or charger, besides the ones you checked out at the beginning of the year? If so, please return your loaner Chromebook or charger to Mr. Embleton in room 323 before Winter Break. Loaner Chromebooks that are not returned will be considered lost/missing/stolen and a $400 charge will be added to your MySchoolBucks account. Loaner chargers borrowed and not returned are $28, and will also be added to your MySchoolBucks account. Remember, this is only if you have borrowed a Chromebook and/or charger besides the ones you were issued at the beginning of the school year; please keep your regular Chromebook and charger until the end of the school year. Questions? Please see Mr. Embleton in room 323. 

 

Seniors - Purchase Your Panoramic Photo

GWHS hosted the Class of 2026 panoramic class photo last week, and they turned out great! To order your panoramic class pictures, click HERE. Remember when ordering:

** ALL laminated photos come with a 5-year money-back guarantee!
** Order the BOTH package with the formal and funny photos laminated and automatically SAVE 20%!
** HAPPY HOLIDAYS ~ 10% OFF PROMO CODE: HOLIDAY10

The order deadline to get the best price is Friday, December 12. After that, there will be a $10 late order fee. All orders will be online through the website. Pictures will be mailed to the address specified in the order form in about 4 weeks. Questions? Email the photographer, BestClassPicture@gmail.com.

 

What Did You Do Over Fall Break?

Yearbook wants to know about all the fun things you did over fall break! Scan the QR code in this FLYER to submit your photos!

 

Restroom Etiquette

Patriots, remember our restrooms are shared spaces, and how we treat them affects everyone. Please:

• Respect the space. Restrooms aren’t hangout spots (gross, actually). Use them for what they’re meant for — and then head back to class.

• Keep it clean. Flush, wash your hands, and throw paper towels in the trash, not on the floor or in the sinks. Leave it how you’d want to find it.

• Be mindful of others. Others may be waiting. Don’t crowd the stalls, take photos, or block the entrances.

• Take care of school property. Vandalism, graffiti, and damage to fixtures mean restrooms need to be closed for repairs — and take away from everyone’s access.

• Make smart choices. No vaping, smoking, or filming — these actions can lead to disciplinary consequences and loss of restroom privileges.
  

 

Yearbooks

Yearbooks are now available through March 20, 2026. Senior portraits and baby dedications are due no later than December 31, 2025. Please click HERE for ordering information.

 

School Store "Patriots' Snack'n Print" Now Open

The school store has a new name! We will soon post a sign for the "Patriots' Snack 'N Print." Hours are posted on the store door and are subject to change. We are happy when you come to our store, but please remember that it is also a class. Please treat the space and people in it with the same respect you would give if you were visiting someone else's class as an invited guest. Help us keep the store open and a welcoming place for everyone.

In addition to our normal snacks and coffee, we currently have earrings created by Leslie Acker of the GWHS faculty for cancer awareness. Proceeds will go to the Susan G Komen Foundation and other cancer research institutions. Earrings are $3 each. We also now offer custom print services including T-shirts, stickers, banners, signs and more. Please consider us for your custom printing jobs.

Colorado Gives Day

Let's gear up for Colorado Gives Day and make this one the best yet for GWHS! From now through Tuesday, December 9, every donation you make is boosted with a $1M+ Incentive Fund, thanks to Colorado Gives Foundation and FirstBank. The more we raise, the bigger our share. Plus, if you set up a new monthly recurring donation, Colorado Gives Foundation will match your first monthly gift up to $100! It’s an exciting opportunity for you to double the impact of your continued support.

You can choose to donate to a specific club/program or to the Be Inspired Annual Fund. Click HERE to donate today! Thank you for your support, and for helping to make this Colorado Gives Day the most successful yet!

 

School Choice and Parent Portal Online Workshops

Please join DPS's Multilingual Education team for online workshops designed to guide you through the School Choice process and Parent Portal resources. A workshop in English will be held Wednesday, December 3 from 11:00am to 12:00pm, and a workshop in Spanish will be held Wednesday, December 10 from 2:00 to 3:00pm. Click HERE for more information and Google Meets links.

 

Doughnuts with Dr. Davis

Join our Principal, Dr. Davis, for casual conversation and school updates during Doughnuts with Dr. Davis on Friday, December 5 from 8:00 to 8:30am in the GWHS Community Room. Dr. Davis would love to answer your questions and hear your thoughts about our GWHS community. Dr. Davis will host a Doughnuts with Dr. Davis event the last Friday morning of every month,* so be sure to watch the Weekly Roundup for reminders. *The November Doughnuts with Dr. Davis event has been moved a week later due to school closure over Thanksgiving break.

 

Winter Arts Showcase

Join us for the GWHS Winter Arts Showcase on Wednesday, December 10! Drop in for the Art Show open house reception between 5:30 and 6:30pm, followed by the Music Concert at 6:30pm in the Auditorium. Click HERE for more info.

 

Shop With a Patriot

GWHS is hosting its annual event, "Shop With a Patriot," to support local families in our community. We will be taking elementary students shopping for holiday gifts to give to their family, giving out holiday meal baskets, all while enjoying a magical winter wonderland experience. We need your help to make this experience as special as possible. Please click HERE for a QR code or other ways to donate towards our goal of $4,000. 

 

Match Goal Surpassed! Thank You for Supporting the GWHS Food Pantry

Thanks to your incredible generosity, we are thrilled to announce we have completely maximized the $10,000 matching gift! Your donations, combined with the match, have brought in approximately $22,000 in vital resources for our community! Your overwhelming support during this Thanksgiving season ensures that more families will have food on their tables.

While reaching this milestone is a tremendous victory, the need for our services does not stop here. Our work to ensure no family goes hungry is ongoing, and every single donation helps us sustain this critical support. Please consider continuing your generosity to help us through the winter months and beyond.

• Donate, and help us continue to nourish our community:

  • Via Colorado Gives

  • Via Zelle to GWHS.Food.Pantry@gmail.com

• Volunteer your time, which is just as valuable:

  • Sign up HERE.

Thank you again for your dedication and for helping us make our community stronger.

 

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.

 

Support for Spanish-Speaking Families with Young Children

The DPS Community Hub is hosting a weekly program for Spanish-speaking families with children from newborn to five years old who are not yet attending school. Sessions take place every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:30am, and is designed to support parents with activities promoting social interaction and motor skills development. Click HERE for more information.

 

Community Resources

Click HERE for a list of community resources, including food, shelter and mental health supports.

 

Spirit Wear

With holidays coming up far too quickly, don't forget to purchase your Patriots spirit wear! 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.