George Washington High School

Weekly Roundup March 18, 2025

Weekly Updates from George Washington High School

In this issue:

Set Your Student's Communication Preferences

Mandatory April Testing Schedule, Attendance Requirement for Prom, and Prizes!

Mandatory April Testing Days/Room Assignments and Details

Student Guides and Student Data Consent Forms

2025 AP and IB Exam Schedule

Building Entrances for Students

Spirit Week!

Complete the Your Voice/Tu Voz Survey

GWHS to Host DPS Pridefest and LGBTQ+ Pride Dance

Seniors - Graduation Speech Tryouts

Join the GWHS PSAT and SAT Bootcamps!

Free Summer Concurrent Enrollment Courses

Yearbook Orders

School Store and Coffee Bar Now Open

Monday and Friday Dress Days

Patriot Players Fundraiser

Support GWHS Girls Soccer by Eating at Chipotle

Proctor an AP or IB Exam

P/SAT Donations

Donation Match for Teacher Appreciation

Support GWHS While You Shop at King Soopers/Kroger

"Counted Out" Movie Night

GWHS Landscaping Committee Updates

Student Opportunities List

Weekly Athletics Update

Featured Highlight!

Click Here for This Week's Athletics Events

Click Here for GWHS's Bell Schedule

Coming Up

March 24 - 28

Spring Break

March 31

Cesar Chavez Day/No School

April 2

CMAS Science/All Grade 11 Students (Odd-Day Block Schedule for Grades 9, 10 and 12)

April 14

SAT/All Grade 11 Students (No School for Grades 9, 10 or 12)

April 15

PSAT 9/All Grade 9 Students and PSAT 10/All Grade 10 Students (No School for Grades 11 or 12)

Housekeeping

Set Your Student's Communication Preferences

Denver Public Schools has transitioned to a new communications platform for all its external communications. In order to ensure your student is receiving important school-based communications (including the Weekly Roundup), be sure your student has opted-in through Student Portal. Instructions are HERE.

ASSESSMENT – MANDATORY APRIL TESTING SCHEDULE, ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT FOR PROM, AND PRIZES!

All students in grades 9 through 11 are required by Colorado Department of Education to complete annual assessments for state and federal accountability. Our testing schedule is as follows:

  • On Wednesday, April 2, all grade 11 students are required to take CMAS Science. There will be a regular Wednesday odd-block day schedule for students in grades 9, 10 and 12.

  • On Monday, April 14, all grade 11 students are required to take the SAT. There will be no school for grades 9, 10 or 12.

  • On Tuesday, April 15, all grade 9 students are required to take PSAT 9, and all grade 10 students are required to take PSAT 10. There will be no school for grades 11 or 12.

Starting Tuesday, February 18, please note the following attendance and assessment participation requirements to attend Prom:

  • All grade 10 students who are invited by a grade 11 or 12 student to attend Prom must not have more than four (4) unexcused classes, and must attend the PSAT 10.

  • All grade 11 students must have no more than four (4) unexcused classes, and must attend CMAS Science and the SAT.

  • All grade 12 student must have no more than four (4) unexcused classes.

If you do not want your student to participate in these assessments, you must complete an opt-out form and return it to the Main Office no later than Friday, March 21. Forms are here in ENGLISH, SPANISH and ARABIC, and also available in the Main Office.

Because we are proud of the hard work our students put in to these assessments, we want to celebrate them with giveaways and food! On April 14 and 15, students who are testing should arrive early to enjoy a catered breakfast. Each testing room will have prizes to give away (gift cards, small toys and more!), and there will be prizes raffled off each day – attending your mandatory testing day is your automatic entry!
Grand prizes include a Nintendo Switch Lite (one per grade level!), AirPods Pro 2 (one pair per grade level!), a Microsoft XBox Series S gaming system, a Lego Super Mario Bros. Nintendo building set and a $250 G.O.A.T. gift certificate! Mark your calendars now, and be sure not to miss your testing day!

ASSESSMENT - Mandatory April Testing Days/Room Assignments and Details

Both CMAS Science and P/SAT assessments are digital. Students are required to bring their fully-charged DPS-issued Chromebook for every testing day in which they must participate. Students will be notified of their testing room assignment, approximate end time and other testing details on the following schedule:

  • CMAS Science/Wednesday, April 2: All grade 11 students will receive an email to their @dpsk12.net account on Wednesday, March 19. Grade 11 students should arrive at 8:30am. Once grade 11 students have completed their SAT Digital Readiness Check (immediately following CMAS Science), they will be dismissed for the remainder of the school day. 

  • SAT/Monday, April 14: All grade 11 students will receive an email to their @dpsk12.net account the week of Monday, April 7. Grade 11 students should arrive at 8:30am. There will be no school for grades 9, 10 or 12.

  • PSAT 9 and PSAT 10/Tuesday, April 15: All grade 9 and 10 students will receive an email to their @dpsk12.net account the week of Monday, April 7. Grade 9 and 10 students should arrive at 8:30am. There will be no school for grades 11 or 12.

Assessment - Student Guides and Student Data Consent Forms

Please find here Student Guides for the SAT, PSAT 10 and PSAT 9. Additionally, College Board, the provider of the SAT Suite of Assessments, provides a number of structures to support students' and their families' ability to connect to key opportunities available to them. As such, College Board gives students and families complete discretion regarding the additional, voluntary information they disclose beyond the minimum needed to register and score these assessments. During testing, students may choose to provide some additional, voluntary information. All questions are optional. Students will sign this Student Data Consent Form if they consent to having the options to access their scores and more in the BigFutureSchool(TM) mobile app using a personal phone number (only available for the PSAT 10 and the SAT), opt-in to Connections, and provide personal information as described in the form.

Assessment - 2025 AP and IB Exam Schedule

Please review the 2025 AP and IB exam schedule HERE. Students who have a direct conflict between an AP and IB exam need to contact our AP Coordinator, Mrs. Hunter, in room 214, and our IB Coordinator, Mr. Hildner, in room 112 as soon as possible.

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. Students who are not testing must attend all their classes that day.  

Building Entrances for Students

As a reminder, student entrance into the GWHS building will be allowed only through the Main Lobby (off of Monaco Parkway) or the South Courtyard doors 3 (East) or 8 (West). This allows us to fully monitor entrances to improve safety.

Students

Spirit Week!

Join in the fun of Spring Spirit Week!

  • Tuesday, March 18: Jersey Day! Wear your favorite team's jersey.

  • Wednesday, March 19: Twin Day! Dress exactly like your friend.

  • Thursday, March 20: Plaid Day! Add as much plaid as you can.

  • Friday, March 21: Spring Day! Sport your finest pastels and florals.

Complete the Your Voice/Tu Voz Survey

Students, be sure to complete the Your Voice/Tu Voz Survey! This is your opportunity to use your voice to help Denver Public Schools improve. Students who have not completed their Survey received a reminder email to their @dpsk12.net email accounts on Monday, March 17. Click on that link to complete your Survey today!

GWHS to Host DPS Pridefest and LGBTQ+ Pride Dance

GWHS’s Gender and Sexuality alliance will be hosting a DPS-wide Pride Festival on Saturday, April 5 here in our South Courtyard from 1:00 to 5:00pm. This festival celebrates LGBTQ+ pride in our community. LGBTQ+ students, staff, family and their allies are encouraged to come and enjoy food trucks, DPS resources, performances, activities, crafts and more! This event is free to attend, but requires registration through the QR code in this FLYER, or at the door. Please enter this event through the North lobby.

Additionally, GWHS is hosting a free LGBTQ+ Pride Dance on Saturday, April 5 from 6:00 to 9:30pm, open to all DPS high school students! An optional $10 can be given at the door; funds will go to Urban Peak Homeless Shelter. The dance is space-themed and features catered dinner, free haircuts, dancing, a sensory-friendly room, card games and more! Click HERE for details.

Seniors - Graduation Speech Tryouts

Seniors, graduation speech Tryouts will be held Wednesday, March 19 in Room 22 during Student Enrichment. Please come prepared and on time. Questions? Contact Ms. Kohan or Ms. Jaramillo.

Join the GWHS PSAT and SAT Bootcamps!

Are you preparing for the P/SAT? Looking for strategies, test-taking tips, and hands-on practice? Join GW’s P/SAT Bootcamps to boost your confidence and improve your scores! Bootcamps run Wednesday, February 5 through Saturday, April 5; click HERE for the bootcamp schedule. Questions? Contact Ms. McFarland.

Free Summer Concurrent Enrollment Courses

Summer Concurrent Enrollment courses are being offered through DPS. This is a great opportunity to earn college and high school credit. Courses are also available to support the new Seal of Climate Literacy. Click HERE for information on courses. Reach out to your COUNSELOR to register!

Yearbook Orders

Be sure to purchase your yearbook early by clicking HERE. Order now before prices go up! All yearbooks must be ordered online; there will not be extras for sale in person.

School Store and Coffee Bar Now Open

The School Store and Coffee Bar items are available for delivery during our open hours, which are Mondays (period 3 from 10:40 to 11:00am, and period 6 from 2:10 to 2:30pm), Tuesdays (period 2 from 9:40 to 10:00am), Wednesdays (period 3 from 10:30 to 11:00am), Thursdays (period 2 from 10:30 to 11:00am, and period 6 from 2:30 to 3:00pm) and Fridays (period 2 from 9:40 to 10:00am, period 3 from 10:40 to 11:00am, and period 6 from 2:10 to 2:30pm,). Scan the QR code, fill out your items in the form with your name and room number, and your items will be delivered to your classroom during the period of your choice! Please be prepared to pay with credit card or ApplePay when your delivery arrives, and confirm before you order that your teacher allows deliveries. Click HERE for the form and QR code.

Monday and Friday Dress Days

Every Monday this school year, wear your gear that represents your post-high school plans! This can be anything from a college hoodie to a mechanic's worksuit - just be creative and represent your goals! Every Friday this school year, wear your greenest GWHS gear to show your Patriot pride!

Parents

Patriot Players Fundraiser

Our GWHS Patriot Players are holding a fundraiser through Friday, March 28 to support a high-quality experience for our young artists and technicians. Click HERE to donate.

Support GWHS Girls Soccer by Eating at Chipotle

On Tuesday, March 18 from 4:00 to 8:00pm, treat yourself to some delicious Chipotle (the location at 820 South Monaco Parkway), and 25% of event sales will be donated to the team. Order online with code Q6ZDHED or mention GWHS Girls Soccer when ordering in person. Every burrito, bowl, and taco counts!

Proctor an AP or IB Exam

GWHS has over 600 students taking an AP or IB exam from Tuesday, April 29 through Wednesday, May 21, and we need your help with proctoring! Please click HERE to sign up today! You may proctor any exam your student is NOT taking. Proctor training is easy, and your support is greatly appreciated by our hardworking students!

P/SAT Donations

Each April, grade 9, 10 and 11 students are required to take the P/SAT (see above for more details). To support our students on their test day, we like to provide them with snacks and prizes! Click HERE if you would like to donate snacks, prizes, gift cards or make a cash donation. Donations can be dropped in the Main Office (with a note "Attention: Dr. Bolz") no later than Wednesday, April 9. Thank you for helping to make our testing days great experiences for our students!

Donation Match for Teacher Appreciation

Show your GWHS staff some love! The PTSO (Parent/Teacher/Student Organization) is raising money for end-of-year gifts for all staff—teachers, counselors, admin, and support—who make a difference in our students' lives. Plus, every $1 you donate gets DOUBLED thanks to a generous matching program! That means your $20 gift becomes $40, or your $100 becomes $200! All donations are tax-deductible and receipts can be obtained by emailing gwhs.patriotscare@gmail.com. Send your donation via Venmo @GWPC-Be-Inspired or Zelle using gwhs.patriotscare@gmail.com and note that it is for teacher appreciation. Let's show our gratitude to our amazing staff!

Support GWHS While You Shop at King Soopers/Kroger

Did you know you can support GWHS Patriots Care just by doing your regular grocery shopping? It's easy with the Kroger Community Rewards program! No cost to you, but lots of benefit to our school. Here's how to link your King Soopers/Kroger card to GWHS:

  • Create or sign in to your digital account: Visit www.kroger.com and create an account or sign in to your existing one.

  • Link your card:

    • Sign in to your digital account.

    • Search for JR498 (our organization code)

    • Select GWHS from the list and click "Save".

  • Shop and earn: Every time you shop at King Soopers/Kroger and use your linked card, you'll be helping our school earn a portion of Kroger's donation pool.

It's that simple! Support the Patriots with every swipe of your card. Thank you for your support.

"Counted Out" Movie Night

Come for a free community movie night featuring "Counted Out," a powerful film that highlights the importance of math in education and beyond. Engage in an inspiring discussion with guest speakers, curriculum experts, and local leaders. Plus, enjoy free popcorn and drinks, interactive booths, and opportunities to connect with local resources.

Dates and locations: Thursday, March 20: George Washington High School at 6:00pm

This event is free! Scan the QR code on the FLYER to RSVP and secure your spot.

GWHS Landscaping Committee Updates

** Student and Community Volunteer Days: Help beautify our campus! Mark your calendars to help on our next workdays on Saturday, April 5 (from 10:00am to 12:00pm). Meet in the GWHS Community Garden up the hill from the South Parking Lot. In case of inclement weather, check our WEBSITE for cancellations.

**Next Committee Meeting: Join us Tuesday, April 1 at 5:30pm at Tessa's Delicatessen on Colfax and Ivy. All parents, students, teachers/staff and GWHS friends are welcome! Help plan Go Green Day 2025!

**Go Green Day 2025: ...is Saturday, April 19, rain or shine, from 8:00am to 1:00pm! Plan to join us for this fun-filled annual event, where you'll plant trees, landscape and enjoy FREE LUNCH! We will meet in the Community Garden. Please plan to volunteer - we need YOUR help!

** Buy a Brick: Dedicate a lasting gift to your 2025 graduate or loved one with a customized, engraved brick that will be installed at the north GWHS archway entrance path. Tree dedication plaques are available, too! All contributions benefit the GWHS campus through the GWHS Landscape Committee. Order yours today by clicking HERE!

**Questions? Email Barb DeSarro (bwdesarro@hotmail.com).

Student Opportunities List

Students and families, please click HERE to access different opportunities to get your students involved and ready for the next steps after high school. This document will include summer program, scholarships, jobs, internship/apprenticeships. It is updated weekly so be sure to bookmark it!

Weekly Athletics Update

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

Featured Highlight!

The student-led Greenhouse Committee has made great strides in their efforts to restore the historic 1960s-era GWHS Greenhouse, which has fallen into disrepair. The committee has been working to raise money and successfully won the DPS Climate Champions Grant for $25,000. In addition, they worked through DPS to secure insurance funds to replace the roof. Students have also raised an additional $10,000 through plant and veggie sales. The grant and sales funds are intended to cover new cooling and wall repairs. The committee is hoping to raise an additional $8,500 to $15,000 to cover the complete budget. For additional information and to follow our greenhouse restoration journey, follow us on Instagram and our blog. To contribute, please click HERE. Thank you!