In this issue:
Communicate with our School via Rooms
2025-2026 Student Absences Policy and Procedures
2025-2026 Cell Phone Policy
Fall Testing Dates
AP Exam Registration
Seniors - Register for the DSF Financial Aid Workshop
Seniors - Colorado Free Application Days
Juniors and Seniors - Seal of Biliteracy
Hispanic Food Festival
Yearbooks
SAT Prep Course at DU (or Live Online)
School Store "Patriots' Snack'n Print" Now Open
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Fall Mixer and Fundraiser
BESS Survey
Healthy Choices, Bright Futures
Support the GWHS Food Pantry
GWHS Food Pantry Usage
Weekly Athletics Update
Click Here for This Week's Athletics Events
Click Here for GWHS's Bell Schedule
October 8 - 9
Family Conferences
October 13
No School
October 14
PSAT/NMSQT (grades 10 and 11; no school for grades 9 or 12)
October 15
PSAT 9 and Accuplacer (grades 9 and select grade 12 students; no school for grades 10 or 11)
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.
2025-2026 Cell Phone Policy
Please review the GWHS cell phone policy for the 2025-2026 school HERE. “BELL TO BELL, NO CELL.” This means cellular devices may NOT be used during instructional time, including in classrooms, hallways, and bathrooms. Devices must be in the classroom storage holder or put away, as determined by the teacher.
Fall Testing Dates
On Tuesday, October 14, all students in grades 10 and 11 will take the PSAT/NMSQT (which is the entrance assessment for the National Merit Scholar competition for students in grade 11). There will be no school for students in grades 9 or 12. On Wednesday, October 15, all students in grade 9 will take the PSAT 9, and students in grade 12 who need to demonstrate competency for graduation in math and/or English will take Accuplacer. There will be no school for students in grades 10 or 11, or students in grade 12 who have demonstrated competency for graduation. Grade 12 students, check with your counselor if you are unsure whether you have met competency for graduation. All students received an email to their @dpsk12.net email account on Monday, October 6 with their room assignments and testing details.
If you do not want your student to participate in PSAT 9 or PSAT/NMSQT, please follow these INSTRUCTIONS to complete an Assessment Opt-Out Form through Parent Portal.
AP Exam Registration
AP students, as a reminder, if you are taking an AP exam in May 2026 you must pay for your AP exam(s) HERE. Each exam is $103; a $10 per exam late fee begins Friday, October 24 and all AP exams must be paid for by Friday, November 7. After you have paid for your AP exam(s), you must also place your exam order by joining your AP Classroom for each AP exam you plan to take HERE. Unless you have completed both steps for each AP exam. you plan to take, your AP exam registration is incomplete. Questions? Click HERE for the AP exam registration process and some FAQs.
Seniors - Register for the DSF Financial Aid Workshop
All students graduating this year and planning to attend college in the 2026-2027 school year are strongly encouraged to complete a financial aid application. If you and/or your family would like support in this process, registration is now open for this year's DSF Financial Aid Workshop at GWHS. This event is put on by the Denver Scholarship Foundation and will take place in the GWHS Cafeteria TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 7 from 3:00 to 7:00pm, with four one-hour time slots available. We will have expertly trained staff and volunteers assigned to work with students and families one-on-one to complete their financial aid application. Please read the information on the sign-up page carefully and in its entirety. Questions? Come by the Future Center in room 113, or email Hannah at hminturn@denverscholarship.org. To pick your time and register for the workshop, click HERE.
Seniors - Colorado Free Application Days
To inspire more Coloradans to continue their education, all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado and several private institutions will allow students to apply for free from Tuesday, October 7 through Thursday, October 9 as part of Colorado Free Application Days. By waiving application fees — a common barrier to higher education — Colorado Free Application Days aims to improve access to further education and training. Visit the Colorado Free Application Days webpage for more information.
Juniors and Seniors - Seal of Biliteracy
The DPS Seal of Biliteracy is a prestigious award for students in grades 11 and 12, recognizing proficiency in two or more languages. It enhances college and job applications by showcasing biliteracy skills on transcripts, resumes, and in interviews. Bilingual graduates benefit from increased job opportunities, higher earning potential, and stronger community connections. Best of all, it’s FREE, and all DPS students, regardless of the language, are eligible to apply. You can earn the seal in the following languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Mandarin Chinese. Click HERE for more information.
DPS students can earn the Colorado Diploma Endorsement for Biliteracy, too!
Complete all graduation requirements
Demonstrate proficiency in English. Students must complete one of the following: SAT 470, AP English 3 or IB English 4
Earn an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in all High School English Language Arts courses
Demonstrate proficiency in additional language(s). Students must complete one of the options above.
Complete your APPLICATION by December 1! Questions? Email (khari_wallace@dpsk12.net) or visit Mr. Wallace in Success Center Room 112F.
Hispanic Food Festival
Share your Hispanic heritage through food! Sign up with the QR code in this FLYER to bring an authentic dish to share with students on Wednesday, October 8. Questions? Please ask Mr. Washington or Coach Finesilver.
Yearbooks
Yearbooks are now available through March 20, 2026. Senior portraits and baby dedications are due no later than January 3, 2026. Please click HERE for ordering information.
SAT Prep Course at DU (or Live Online)
There will be another high-quality SAT prep course this fall, hosted at the University of Denver and taught by a Harvard grad. There is also a live online version of the course. You will choose between the in-person and virtual courses. Both courses are open to juniors and seniors.
27-hour comprehensive course, including three proctored practice exams
Starts in October and runs for seven weeks
Taught live by a 99th percentile expert instructor
Costs $155-$175
Campus Prep has provided these popular courses at the University of Denver for the past seven years and has been the official SAT provider for the Boulder Valley School District. Students who complete the course often increase their score by over 200 points. Click HERE to see the schedules and to apply for the course. Questions? Email admin@campusprep.org or call (877) 805-2521.
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.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place Wednesday, October 8 and Thursday, October 9. We encourage all families to attend and take this opportunity to connect with your student's teachers, build relationships and strengthen the school-to-home partnership. Your presence makes a difference—see you there!
Fall Mixer and Fundraiser
Please join the GWHS PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization) for our annual fall mixer and fundraiser on Saturday, October 25 from 5:30 to 8:30pm at The Monclair Civic Building (The Molkery). It will be a fun event - get to know other GWHS families, learn more about how to support our amazing school, and enjoy some yummy drinks and snacks! Free to attend. Adults only, please. Click HERE for more information and to RSVP.
BESS Survey
This school year, all Denver Public School students will complete universal behavioral and emotional health screening using the Behavior and Emotional Screening System (BESS). This is an online tool that takes approximately five minutes to complete and consists of 28 questions for the student to answer. During school registration, parents and guardians had an opportunity to opt their child out of completing the Student Self-Report Form of the BESS.
GWHS will be facilitating students in completion of their Student Self-Report Form of the BESS Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24 (with make-ups the following week).
Parents/guardians have the right, upon request, to review the items on the BESS. This is completed through a phone call, video call, or in-person meeting with their child’s school. Due to copyright, school teams are not able to send a copy of the questions home prior to screening. If parents/guardians would like to confirm or revoke their opt-out decision, please do so by calling our Main Office.
Healthy Choices, Bright Futures
Healthy Choices, Bright Futures is coming to Bruce Randolph School on Tuesday, October 21 from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Families will hear a powerful story from a mom about fentanyl awareness, learn tools to talk about prevention at home, and connect with community resources. Dinner, childcare, and interpretation provided. Families may be eligible to receive gift cards. More information about the event and additional resources can be found on the FACE website or in this FLYER. Click HERE to RSVP.
Support the GWHS Food Pantry
In conjunction with our generous donors and in partnership with Food Bank of the Rockies, the GWHS Food Panty continues to provide weekly access to nutritious food for community members experiencing food insecurity. We are currently serving over 90 families each week.
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.
Weekly Athletics Update
Patriots excel in the classroom and on the field! Click HERE to read our Weekly Athletics Update.
