The American Shakespeare Center Marathon

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GWCS’s 6th annual fall trip to Staunton, VA was a rip-roaring success! Students saw not one, not two, but four plays performed by the actors with the American Shakespeare Center at the stunning, and historically accurate, Blackfriars Playhouse. Three Shakespeare plays (The Fall of King Henry, Love’s Labour Lost, and Much Ado About Nothing) and one musical (Peter and the Starcatcher) were separated by shopping sprees in downtown Staunton, delicious meals from local restaurants, a tour of the Blackfriars Playhouse, an acting workshop with the students, and restful nights at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel.

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But wonderful as Staunton was for a backdrop, most impressive of all was the ASC’s remarkable marathon of plays. And as if masterpieces of theater performed virtuosically in an intimate setting was not enough, the actors also played acoustic covers of modern pop songs prior to each show and during intermissions.

In all, the weekend was rich, educational, and thoroughly entertaining for fifteen GWCS students and six teachers.  

GW Community School
Annual Shakespeare Trip to Staunton
November 3-5, 2017

Coyote Howl-O-Ween

Coyotes came out in full force to show their spirit on Halloween. Creative, crafty, and sometimes cryptic costumes were worn by students and teachers alike. As has been the case for many years now, Ms. Warden’s costume perplexed; but Kian, Nick, Delia and Olivia confounded us too with their witty and unique costumes. Mattie, Noah, and Zach were easily identified as a very true to life Daphne, Fred, and Shaggy; and Ethan and Evelyn were both very well turned out as the chef from Ratatouille and a minion. Too many great costumes to name!

A new tradition was set with our 68 minutes of fun schedule, and of course it wouldn’t be a Coyote Halloween without the always awkward and sometimes downright disturbing donut eating contest. Delia can now add Donut Eating Winner to her title of Lettuce Lord.

We regrouped the party after school and screened It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and Mr. Goldie’s favorite The Mothman Prophecies. Yup, one heck of a Howl-O-Ween.

GW Community School
Halloween Party
October 31, 2017

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Yes, every fall at GWCS, the freshmen and sophomores get to go camping.  Yes, the seniors get to sleep in cabins on the writing retreat.  But nobody lives higher-on-the-hog than the juniors during the Gettysburg Trip.

Every fall, since 2009, the junior class heads north to Gettysburg.  It is not truly analogous to General Lee’s March on Gettysburg in 1863, but we mention it.  Of course we ride on highways through rolling hills and arrive in good condition and good spirits in less than three hours, and Lee’s troops arrived after a forty day March, but still, the similarities are undeniable.  

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The Battle of Gettysburg is a seminal moment in the history of the Unite States.  Some argue that there might not even be a United States today had the outcome of this battle gone differently.  Many soldiers from many states arrived and participated in the three day battle.  From a safe distance (like the twenty-first century) it is a spectacle to behold.  From Culps Hill to the North to Little Round Top in the south, the Union and Confederate sides fought in the largest, bloodiest battle on North American soil.

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Together we spend the first day visiting the Memorial Graveyard, where Abraham Lincoln deliver the Gettysburg Address.  Then we spend several hours investigating the battlefield museum followed by the awe-inspiring Cyclorama of the Battle of Gettysburg painted by Paul Phillipoteaux.  In the evening we usually gather together at a conference room of the luxury hotel (Motel 6) and watched the movie, “Gettysburg,” which lasts about four and a half hours (contrary to the kid’s assertions that the movie is longer than the battle).  With the basics covered, we are ready for day two.

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Although the soldiers at the battle of Gettysburg fought on July 1-3 in hundred degree heat, we go out to the battlefield at dawn, with frost on the ground.  We start at McPherson’s Ridge, go to the Eternal Flame, walked along Seminary Ridge, Pickett’s Charge, The Wheat Field, Little Round Top, and more.  We stand where they stood.  We look out where they looked out, and we charged where they charged (albeit without guns, backpacks, heavy jackets, ammunition, and in the absence of hostile fire continuously raining-down on us) and wonder what it must have been like to have been there.

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Morality?  Philosophy?  Loyalty?  Duty?  There are so many ways to consider a soldier’s life, and a soldier’s role in the grand scheme of things.  More than 50,000 men (and one woman) were killed, wounded, or captured during this battle.  The Tide of the war was turned in the favor of the union, once and for all.  As Lincoln so aptly said, “The world…can never forget what they did here,” the results of their efforts so permanently ingrained in the DNA of the country that stands today. 

~Richard Goldie

GW Community School
Junior Gettysburg Trip
October 21, 2017

Scrambling at Sportrock

It's raining out so the planned outdoor community service event is awash.  What to do?  After scrambling to explore a number of different options it was decided... indoor rock climbing!  Ms. Kohler and Senor Torres took five GWCS underclassman to Sportrock Climbing Center in Alexandria, VA for a morning of indoor active thrills!  Why Sportrock?  If we can't do something to improve our community we will do something to improve ourselves!  Indoor rock climbing allows us to move outside of our comfort zone in a safe and controlled environment and helps to build confidence, promote self esteem, and teach us that overcoming fear is a healthy part of life. 

Students and teachers challenged their bodies to go the limit. We practiced climbing techniques as instructed by the faculty on site on a variety of boulder rock designs. Marius and Elizabeth were natural climbers, who surely out shined the adults! We also embraced the gym that was on site. Emily showed off her jump-roping skills, while Justin and Charlie pumped some iron. Everybody had an awesome time, got a great workout and left feeling challenged and successful!

~Ms. Kohler & Senor Torres

GW Community School
Sportrock Climbing Center
October 11, 2017

Senior College Essay Writing Retreat

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The more things stay the same, the more they change; for the past 12 years, GWCS seniors and teachers have traveled to Lake Anna to clear their heads, disconnect from their devices, and write their college essays. But even though we're always in the same place, no two retreats are the same; the unique strengths and experiences that each student brings to the retreat, and the ways they support, encourage, and sometimes challenge each other make every essay writing retreat special. This year for the first time we stayed in brand new lodges that had just been constructed with magnificent views and large, luxurious common areas for hardworking writers to put their feet up on the furniture and get their thoughts down on paper. Highlights included a ghost story, Frisbee, the most delicious salad of all time and most importantly, thirteen fully finished, polished, brilliant essays. Special thanks to Carol Hearle for helping us out with the supplies!

~ Mr. Pereira

GW Community School Class of 2018
Lake Anna State Park
October 4-6, 2017

We Walked for a Cause Called BULLY PAWS!

On Saturday, September 30th, 40 GWCS students, teachers, parents, siblings and dogs gathered at Burke Lake Park for the 6th annual Bully Paws  5K Fundraiser.  Bully Paws is a non-profit organization that works with shelters in the MD/DC/VA area, placing pit bull type dogs in foster homes. There, they are cared for by dedicated volunteers until they are adopted.  Everything was perfect for this year's 5K - the sun was bright, the air was crisp and the dozens of dogs mingled peacefully demonstrating unconditional kindness, joy and curiosity.  They were an example to us all. 

Thanks to all the GWCS Coyotes who got up early on this Saturday morning to support a good cause.  

~ Mr. Connelly

Bully Paws Rescue 6th Annual Walk for Paws September 30, 2017

Photos/You Tube Video by Gwen Jennifer

Erase the Trace - Accotink Creek Trail

We, here at GWCS, are so dedicated to the "leave no trace" ethic that we go out of our way to erase the trace left behind by other, less considerate, park users.  On Wednesday, September 27, 2017, we had our first community service clean-up event of the year! This is a ritual that will happen once a month or so in order to help preserve our local  forests. Eight students joined the fun and hard work to help clean the Accotink Creek Trail. All students received one hour of community service! Many hands make for light work and a better/cleaner tomorrow. 

Dr. Garon

A Hot and Hilly Hike in Harpers Ferry

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It was a little warm (it was the last day of summer, after all) and a bit steep (we were hiking uphill to an overlook, after all).  Nevertheless, seven students, Senor Torres and Dr. G completed (and enjoyed...mostly) a five mile hike from Harpers Ferry, WV, to the top of Maryland Heights that combined a bit of history, river play, and an uphill challenge.  All were rewarded with an excellent view, a great shared experience, the satisfaction of persistence, and some ice cream.   ~Dr. Garon

2017 Spring Break - ITALY!

 

Vacanze di Primavera:  April 8-15, 2017

Sforza Castle, Milan, Italy

Each year, GWCS organizes an optional international educational tour to visit places we’ve learned about in school. Immersing our students in new cultures – surrounded by the people, the language, the food, and the way of life - creates inspirational moments that can’t be listed in an itinerary, they can only be experienced.  GWCS students embrace these incredible opportunities and they come back changed; more worldly.

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is critical for our students to become more culturally aware and globally-minded.  To be able to experience the global classroom first-hand and see subjects they have been studying in their classes come alive is life-changing. These trips offer students new perspectives, not only of themselves, but also of the world around them. 

Spring Break in Italy was an absolute blast. We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon in Milan before heading out to our first official stop, Venice. In Milan, we visited the Castello Sforzesco built by the Visconti family (which was “huuuge” according to the students.) We wandered the streets of this cosmopolitan and stylish city and ended up taking pictures in front of the Gothic Duomo, Milan’s Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic churches in the world. One of this building’s most interesting features is its extraordinary roof, with 135 spires and innumerable statues and gargoyles. We learned a lot about Milan, and its history as the center of fashion, business, and finance in Italy.

Venice

Venice, Italy

Venice provided ample educational rewards for us.  Being able to see the canals in person was quite something. Visiting the “Piazza San Marco”, The Campanile, and the Basilica de San Marco was amazing. We toured Palazzo Ducale where we let ourselves get lost in its beautiful architecture and art. To look out at the city from high atop the Palazzo was one of the best experiences. This vantage point allowed us to see just how fragile the whole city was: just a collection of tiny islands with thousands of people in buildings that were nearly a thousand years old. Seeing it this way made the whole place feel more special and vulnerable, and we realized what a priceless treasure it was to be there in person.   

In Venice, we also saw a glassblowing demonstration. It was magical to see an artist make beautiful shapes in just a few seconds with the hot glass. An added benefit from this stop was the opportunity to take home some beautiful souvenirs made with the famous Murano glass.

Florence

Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy

In Florence, GWCS students learned that this remarkable city was the birthplace of the Italian language, opera, and the Renaissance; a place where famous works of art like Michelangelo’s statue of David still reside today.

Florence gave the impression of being like a puzzle composed of thousands of pieces: so many streets, alleys, nooks and crannies to explore! We saw the huge Duomo, which was bigger in person than anyone expected.  We walked across the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge where many of Florence’s famed leather and gold artisans keep shop. We saw a leather-making demonstration and we realized how soft leather could be. Also, we learned how to tell the difference between real leather versus synthetic leather.

Pisa

The Piazza dei Miracoli  in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

In Pisa, we toured the leaning tower, cathedral and Baptistery. Luke and Max decided to take a glimpse from the top of the Pisa Tower. Seeing somebody sing inside the Baptistery in order to showcase its powerful echo was one of the most moving experiences we had in this city. The look on Luke’s face after witnessing this demonstration summed up nicely how impressed we all were.

Rome

In Rome, we were accompanied by excellent tour guides to take us through the ancient sites at the Forum, and the Vatican, both to understand everything we were seeing, as well as to allow us to skip long tourist lines. The ancient sites were pretty spectacular and it was impressive to contemplate the various historical time periods they had been through, in comparison to our own short lifespans. It was hard to wrap our heads around the idea of how a building that was completed 1900 years ago had managed to survive massive political, social, cultural, and even atmospheric changes. Pantheon and Piazza Navona were big hits for us. We loved their architecture and art.

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

We walked through the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel and we saw St. Peter’s Basilica. The art was amazing and the massive cathedral was extraordinarily impressive.

In Rome, we also visited the Colosseum. Listening to our tour guide, we could picture ourselves among 70,000 yelling spectators watching exotic animal fights or gladiators struggling for their lives.  We also had an extra tour of Rome at night, where the world-famous Trevi Fountain and other buildings were even more mesmerizing lit up with lights.

On the long and exhausting flight back home, I overheard Charlie say that he was already missing Italy. I think we were all sharing that same feeling. This experience, all that we learned, and the memories of the people we met will stay with us forever, and hopefully, soon, we’ll have the opportunity for a new adventure.   

Come expand your horizons with us and join us for next spring’s trip, destination TBD! 

Ciao,
Alejandro Torres
GWCS Spanish Teacher

Honey Tasting is the Bee's Knees!

GWCS Science Teacher, Entomologist and Apiarist, Ms. Amanda Rose Newton, hosted a honey tasting event for the fortunate GWCS PAC Auction winners on Sunday, March 19, 2017.  Ms. Newton mixed in some teaching with the tasting, so the group learned about bee keeping, honey extraction techniques and hive culture.   It was an amazing event and definitely a (bee) keeper for next year's auction!  

a Honey Tasting Attendee's ACCOUNT on the Event:

As participants arrived, the honey tasting event actually began with a mead tasting . Mead is an alcoholic beverage made with fermented honey.  Ms. Newton had brewed this particular batch of mead in an old whiskey barrel that left a nice burn on the palette at the finish. It can take two to three years to age for mead to be at its best. You end up with a clear honey wine (similar color to Chardonnay). Clover honey is typically used in producing mead.

Ms. Newton provided an introductory lesson on bee anatomy and hive culture.  She explained how bees identify nectar plants and organize the hive, and to which plants bees gravitate. She discussed the effects of honey bees on agriculture and how the effect bees have on farming, the environment and society.  Participants were surprised to learn that bees are trucked (non-stop) to California from the mid-United States, in order to pollinate the almond orchards.

Ms. Newton also presented what is involved in beekeeping and connections in the Northern Virginia area for having backyard hives. She discussed the construction of wooden hive boxes; extraction techniques; differences in raw and pasteurized honey; and how to determine from which plants the bees collect the nectar.

Ms. Newton explained that you have to approach tasting honey to tasting beer or wine -- with a clear understanding that most honey on the market isn't actually honey. She urged everyone to read the label before purchasing honey. Some honey-labeled products are mostly corn syrup with honey added.

Ms. Newton provided attendees with a Honey Connoisseur Color Guide and the Aroma & Tasting Wheel to try their hand - er, taste buds - at honey identification.

Honey identification was followed by a sampling of snacks paired with a number of different honey varieties from Ms. Newton's own bee hives.  Cheese, fruits, nuts, crackers and chocolate to name a few of the tasty morsels provided for honey sampling. As if an afternoon of honey tasting and education weren't enough, each attendee received a Newton honey bear sample to take home.

Mrs. Linda Campbell
GWCS Parent & Honey Tasting Participant

bee Resource Recommendations:  

The Little Robots That Could

GWCS Coyote Robotics compete at the 2017 FTC Virginia State Championships!

Teams 965 and 3749

First Tech Challenge (FTC) Velocity Vortex

It has been a long, long road to get here.  It started in late September 2016 when FTC revealed its new challenge for the First Tech Robotics 2016/2017 competition. This may be the longest sporting season ever—starting in September with the “big reveal” and ending in April 2017 with the FTC World Championships.

Coach Gary Lindner

Since its inception in 2005, Coyote Robotics, headed by Mr. Gary Lindner, has never failed to qualify for the Virginia State Championships. These amazing performances are accomplished by a handful of dedicated students who devote many of their weekends and evenings to designing, building, programming, repairing and operating the robots.   Assisting the students are Mr. Lindner and parents, who coach, mentor, scout out the competition, provide transportation and support and resources to the Coyote Robotics program.

Team 3749 - The Bionic Penguins

Team 3749—The Bionic Penguins has had an impressive season—coached by Mr. Lindner and captained by Andra, a 9th grade Robinson High School student, The Bionic Penguins reached the final or semi-final matches in all four FTC competitions that the team attended. The team also includes Michael, Nick, Aspen, Danny, and DJ.  On February 25, 2017, The Bionic Penguins reached the Division Semi-Finals at the Virginia State Competition in Lynchburg, Virginia but sadly did not qualify for the Super-Regional Competition to be held Scranton, Pennsylvania on March 17-19, 2017.

Team 965 - The League of Incompetent Gentlemen

Team 965 - The League of Incompetent Gentlemen has been anything but “Incompetent”.  The League is coached by Robert Carlisle and is captained by Kelley, an 11th grade GWCS student.  The League has also qualified for the final or semi-final matches in all of its four FTC competitions. The team also includes: newcomer, Christian, Michael, Danny, Preston and mentors: Douglas Fuller and Isaac Weeks.

Rockwell-Collins Innovate Award

At the 2017 Virginia State Championships, The League qualified for the Super-Regional Championships in Scranton, PA by winning the prestigious Rockwell-Collins Innovate Award for the most innovative robot design of the 52 teams that competed in the event.

Teams at the FTC events come from all sizes of school and the team sizes vary from just one or two students, to teams of dozens of students.  The two Coyote Robotics teams have so far represented GWCS at five events this year, in front of hundreds of Virginians, and they have handily shown that a small team from a small school can hold their own against some of the biggest, most tech savvy high schools in the state.  Team 965 will go on to show the same against teams from Virginia-to-Maine.  FTC competitions are a great way to meet like-minded individuals, make friends, learn new skills, practice “Gracious Professionalism”, and basically have an amazing time. In 2017, FTC will offer more than $50 million in scholarships from 200 providers, making it a worthwhile venture for those interested in a career in engineering, robotics and science.

For those interested in learning more about FTC and its positive impact on students, please visit:  http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/start-a-team

Cristie Carlisle
Proud Coyote Robotics Parent

Worth Quoting - Event Night 2017

Words say it better than photos!

Once a year, most of the GWCS student body stays overnight for fifteen hours of movies, video games, music, junk food, trivia, conversations and sleep deprivation. It's the most anticipated event of the year. 

EVENT NIGHT 2017

"I liked watching internet videos with a bunch of kids in Mr. F's room", says Megan. 

"I liked staying up late with friends and having fun", says Zach. 

"I liked how everyone was on their screens, but yet talking to each other the whole time", says Anthony. "It's a nice mix." 

"EVERYONE WAS THERE!" says Scotty. 

"It's when I catch up on all my movies", says Ms. Shumard, "because I have every confidence in Goldie's movie selections." 

"Um, I watched four hours of Stranger Things and I haven't been to sleep ever since," says Goldie. "And there's a second season coming..." 

Josh, a senior who has been to Event Night four times, likes "its unpredictability. One night you can spend four hours playing Risk, the other night you can spend the whole night looking at memes." 

Dr. G, our newest teacher, says he "just likes the opportunity to gather with students and colleagues, to get to know them as individuals, beyond the context of school and work...also to find out what all the fuss was about, since I've been hearing about it since I started here. And I like the fact that a lot of the public high schools do this for seniors at the end of the year, but this school has it for the whole school in the middle of the year, so it's more about relationship building." 

"I thought it was very unifying", says Joey. 

"Event Night is a cherished GWCS tradition", says Ms. Warden. "Students and teachers create memories that last a lifetime."

GWCS Event Night 2017 was maticulously planned and exotically executed by the GWCS Student Government Association.  Quotes gathered by SGA Rep. Extraordinaire... Brian