In this issue:
Back to School Night
Assessment - PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 9 and Accuplacer
Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up
Lifetouch School Photo Ordering
RTD Zero Fare for Youth Initiative
Activities Fair
Homecoming Week
Fall Play Auditions This Week!
Monday and Friday Dress Days
Climate Champions Grant Program
Denver Parks & Recreation Fall Programs
Mini Cheer Camp
GWHS Grow Club Veggie Harvest
The GWHS Food Pantry Needs Your Support
American Furniture Warehouse Store Rally for GWHS
Weekly Athletics Update
Featured Highlight!
Back to School Night
We invite you to Back to School Night tonight, September 10, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the GWHS South Courtyard. Come let our ambassadors lead you on a tour of our building. Talk with coaches about our sports. connect with other parents who are already involved, and meet our teachers or staff (some of whom are GWHS alumni). All family members are welcome. Food will be provided. Kona ice will be available for purchase! Click HERE for more info.
Assessment - PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 9 and Accuplacer
On Tuesday, October 15, all students in grades 10 and 11 will take the PSAT/NMSQT. There will be no school for students in grade 9 or grade 12. See the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide HERE.
On Wednesday, October 16, all students in grade 9 will take the PSAT 9. Additionally, all grade 12 students who need to demonstrate competency for graduation in English and/or math 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, watch your DPS email for information, or speak with your counselor regarding competency. See the PSAT 9 Student Guide HERE.
All students will need to bring their DPS-issued Chromebook on their test day. Students, be sure your Chromebook charged before test day. If you do not have a DPS-issued Chromebook, visit Mr. Embleton in room 323.
If you do not want your student to participate in assessments for the 2024-2025 school year, parents/guardians must complete an Assessment Participation Exemption Request through Parent Portal. Click HERE for more information about assessments and the opt-out process. Guides in ENGLISH and SPANISH are available.
Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up
Student drop-off and pick-up will be in front of the school (off of Monaco Parkway) or in the Lower South Lot (off of Leetsdale Avenue). The Lower South Lot (off of Leetsdale Avenue) is the recommended lot for drop-off/pick-up to alleviate traffic along Monaco Parkway. If the North Lot is used for drop-off, students will need to enter through door 1 (off of Monaco Parkway), and will not be admitted through the North Lobby. The gate into the North Lot to/from Monaco Parkway will be closed, and Virginia Avenue will be the only access point for the North Lot.
Student entrance 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.
Lifetouch School Photo Ordering
School photos, taken Monday, August 26, are available to order! To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's school ID number. All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the SmileSafe program here.
RTD Zero Fare for Youth Initiative
RTD is excited to announce that the Zero Fare for Youth initiative, which allows anyone 19 years or younger to ride RTD services at no cost, has been permanently extended! This initiative not only fosters independence among young people but also helps to reduce traffic congestion, lower pollution levels, and contribute to healthier, cleaner communities. Qualifying individuals don’t need to sign-up for anything; they just need to show their student or government-issued ID to the bus operator or train crew member to verify they are eligible. Click HERE for more information on the initiative.
Activities Fair
Join us for the annual Activities Fair on Tuesday, September 10 from 2:30 to 3:30pm in the South Courtyard! Discover all the clubs, activities, and extracurriculars at GWHS! We'll be following a Pep Rally bell schedule. For more details, click HERE.
Homecoming Week
Next week is Homecoming Week! Join in our Spirit Days and show your Patriot pride:
Monday, September 16: Adam Sandler Day (dress like Adam Sandler or a character he played!)
Tuesday, September 17: Duo Day (twin your fit with a friend!)
Wednesday, September 18: Western Day (wear your cowboy hat, boots, and anything western!)
Thursday, September 19: Anything But a Backpack Day (bring your belongings in anything except a backpack for the day!)
Friday, September 20: Clash of the Classes Neon Edition (freshman wear yellow, sophomores wear pink, juniors wear green, and seniors wear their overalls with a touch of any neon color!)
And don't forget to enjoy our amazing week of activities!
Monday, September 16: Senior Sunrise at 6:00am on the softball field.
Tuesday, September 17: Movie Night on the turf field at 7:00pm. The movie is "Tangled."
Wednesday, September 18: School Bake Sale after school in Pikes Peak Lobby. Mandatory lunch meeting in room 26 for anyone playing in the Junior vs. Senior Patriot Puff game (pizza will be provided).
Thursday, September 19: Junior vs. Senior Patriot Puff game at 3:45pm on the turf field.
Friday, September 20: Morning Pep Rally (we will be on an assembly bell schedule). Tailgate after school in the South Courtyard (food and games will be provided). Homecoming football game is at 7:00pm at All-City Stadium.
Saturday, September 21: Homecoming Dance at GWHS from 7:00 to 11:00pm. Live DJ and light show! Tickets are $25 on MySchoolBucks, and must be purchased no later than Friday, September 20. To enter the Homecoming Dance, students must bring a proof of purchase (e.g., a screenshot from MySchoolBucks of their paid ticket, or a printed copy of their receipt) and their student ID.
Fall Play Auditions This Week!
Calling all actors and performers! We will be holding auditions for the fall play, "Almost, Maine," this Thursday, September 12, beginning at 4:00pm. Any interest and any level of experience welcome! Click HERE to fill out an audition form and sign up for an audition slot. . Please prepare a short (one minute or less) monologue. Join the Patriot Players on the stage! Those interested in getting involved with technical theatre, please click HERE. All students and parents/guardians of students interested in getting involved with the GWHS theatre program or joining the Thespian Society, please click HERE. This will get you onto our mailing list, so you will be updated on everything happening as we kick things off, and throughout the entire school year.
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!
Climate Champions Grant Program
The DPS Sustainability Team is excited to encourage applications to the Climate Champions Grant Program! This program provides funding for student-led climate action projects at the school level. This program also provides students the opportunity to solve real-world challenges within their community, develop leadership skills, and engage in project-based learning that will foster innovative and creative solutions to climate change. This is the second year of the Climate Champions Grant Program. Review the application packet and note that pre-application is due Tuesday, October 22 and the application is due Tuesday, December 3.
Projects must be student-led and based at a DPS school.
All grade levels can apply.
Project teams can request up to $25K in funding.
Questions? Email the DPS Sustainability Team at dept_sustainability@dpsk12.net. Looking for Inspiration? Here are climate action projects that were funded last year.
Denver Parks & Recreation Fall Programs
With the new school year underway, now is the perfect time to check out fall programs at Denver Recreation Centers. From sports and fitness to arts and culture, there is something for everyone. Don’t miss out—register today to secure your spot! Visit Denvergov.org/Recreation or any Denver Recreation Center to enroll.
Mini Cheer Camp
Future Patriots, come join our GWHS Patriot Cheerleaders for mini cheer camp and help them cheer on our team to a homecoming victory! Mini cheer camp runs Monday, September 16, Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18 from 5:30 to 7:00pm, with a halftime performance at the homecoming game at All-City Field on Friday, September 20! Mini cheerleaders get a cheer bow, t-shirt and one game day ticket. For more information and to register, click HERE.
GWHS Grow Club Veggie Harvest
The GWHS Grow Club invites you to help harvest veggies for the school cafeteria from the school garden. We will be picking tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, beans, raspberries, etc. Please join us in the community garden weekly on Tuesdays at 7:30am and Thursdays at 8:45am; come even if you only have a few minutes before school. Mark your calendars; we will be harvesting starting this week then every week after, as weather allows or the harvest ends.
The GWHS Food Pantry Needs Your Support
Our GWHS Food Pantry relies on the generosity of volunteers like you to keep shelves stocked and bellies full. From sorting donations to helping with distribution, every bit of help makes a difference. Give back to your community and sign up to volunteer today! Click HERE to sign up for a time that works for you - there are multiple roles and time slots that need filling, as well as support roles (are you a grant writer?). Together, we can ensure no GWHS family goes hungry!
American Furniture Warehouse Store Rally for GWHS
Visit any American Furniture Warehouse location from Friday, September 13 through Sunday, September 22 and mention code GWHSDPS; 2 to 4% of your purchase price will be donated to GWHS! Click HERE for more information.
Weekly Athletics Update
Patriots excel in the classroom and on the field! Click HERE to read our weekly Athletics Update.
Featured Highlight!
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 & 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 importantly, thank you to our students (current: Diego Holguin, graduates: Fred Scott, Halle Guber, Tay Smith, and Liliana Feeny)!
September 10
Activities Fair - Pep Rally Schedule
September 10
Back to School Night
September 20
Homecoming Game - All-City Field
September 21
Homecoming Dance
