NEWSLETTER QUICK LINKS:
Next Week - 4/20-27
PSAT & SAT Exams 4/24 READ NOW
5th Annual GWCS Palooza - 5/2
Save the Date - Let’s Celebrate! 6/7 Graduation Invite
Weekly Song Recommendations with Amelia
Coyote Cafe Info & Menu - Thursday Lunch - Pizza+
Ask Charley! - Technology Support
Pro-Tip: Blue Letters = Links - Happy Clicking!
MONDAY, APRIL 21
No School - LAST DAY OF SPRING BREAK 2025!
TUESDAY, april 22
No Gym - OBXers should be at school by 9:00 am
Co-Ops Continue
OBX #2 - NOVA Wild & Fairfax Lake Park departs at 9:00 am (info)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
Foundation Fundraiser Begins (info)
Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Parent Planning Meeting - Teacher Appreciation at 12:00 pm via Zoom (info)
What’s Happening Wednesdays during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
Art Club with Ms. Albert from 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
NO GYM for all students (Updated 4.23.25)
PSAT / SAT Testing from 7:30 am - 12:00 pm - later with certain accommodations (info)
Coyote Cafe Lunch option in Kids Kitchen (info/menu)
Office Hours during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
History in Movies with Mr. Goldie from 3:20 pm - 5:30 pm)
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Parent Volunteer Graduation Planning Meeting at 12:00 pm in Ms. Warden’s Classroom - lunch provided (info)
Amazing Days during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
Coyotes Care - Spring garden planning and prep during 7th period
Dungeons & Dragons with Hartly from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
GWCS ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR - UPDATED DAILY
OBX #2
NOVA Wild & Lake Fairfax Park Adventure!
April 22, 2025 (the day we return from Spring Break!)
DESTINATION: NOVA Wild and Lake Fairfax Park
On Tuesday, April 22nd the OBX crew will be headed to NOVA Wild for a wild and wonderful animal experience! Get up close with fascinating creatures, learn about conservation efforts, and maybe even feed a few friendly faces.
After our safari-style fun, we’ll stroll over to Lake Fairfax Park for a picnic lunch and a hike —with a chance to do a little geocaching along the way!
About:
Meet at GWCS: 9:00 am Sharp! (Go directly to school - NO GYM)
Pickup at GWCS: 3:15 pm
Wear: Dress for the weather: Wear comfortable walking shoes, long pants, and layers you can adjust throughout the day.
Bring: Bag lunch and refillable water bottle. Coolers will be available for your lunch bags.
Transportation: School Van & Cars
Questions? Contact:
Mr. Connelly
connellytp@gwcommunityschool.com
Thank you to The GWCS Foundation!
You Are Invited to a Planning Meeting…
for Teacher Appreciation Week shhhhhhh
Via Zoom on TUESDAY, Apr 22, 2025 at 12:00 Noon
Hello Parents and Friends of GWCS!
Let’s get together to plan and brainstorm how we can show appreciation for our AWESOME teachers and staff. Teacher Appreciation Week is from Monday, May 5 through Friday, May 9. In the past, we have provided treats and/or gifts each day.
Currently, we are planning Take-Home-a-Dinner for Thursday 5/8 where a family provides a meal for a teacher to take home. On Friday 5/9 there will be a catered lunch; so this leaves us with Monday 5/5, Tuesday 5/6, and Wednesday 5/7 to plan more special things for our wonderful teachers!
Hope you can join me on a Zoom call on Tuesday, April 22 at noon. Zoom access information below - click to view login details. Thank you!
Sharon Lin
GWCS Parent Volunteer
sjchen27@cox.net
-
Topic: Parent Planning Meeting for Teacher Appreciation Week
Time: Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87272464968?pwd=pzYzhUsCA5MSuuXJ3atZ6gfqIWOdEW.1
Meeting ID: 872 7246 4968
Passcode: 894008
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Meeting ID: 872 7246 4968
Passcode: 894008
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Spring PSAT & SAT Day is Here…
thursday, april 24, 2025 beginning at 7:30 am!
Are you on the list of registered test takers? Read to find out…
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY:
7:30 am - Students taking PSAT or SAT should arrive at school (no gym for test takers) to get settled in testing room, laptop up and running, and logged into Bluebook app.
8:00 am - PSAT & SAT exams begin promptly. No late seating allowed.
*8:00 am - NO GYM for all students. Non-test takers should report to school at 9:00 am.
9:00 am - Adjusted classes for all students not taking an exam. All will be explained at school
11:51 am - Regularly scheduled lunch for all. (Testers with extended time accommodations will be given time to have lunch at whatever time they are done.)
Afternoon schedule is as usual (info above)
* Updated 4.23.25
The following students are SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE PSAT 8/9 Exam:
Aung Myat
Brendan O’Connell
Charlie Adamoli
Hartly Llosa
James Lin
Joshua Diamond
Lily Martin
Matthew Oesterreich
Nathaniel Dereje
Peter Zeytoonian
Ryan Carroll
THE FOLLOIWNG STudent is SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE PSAT 10 Exam:
Brennan Morse
The following students are scheduled to take the SAT Exam:
Amelia Schmutz
Arish Nanjee
Ben DeGregory
Christopher Callahan
Iris Dietrick
Isabelle McCullough
Lehanna Wilkins
Mac Carbone
Naomi Willis
Ophelia Griff
Shayna Schreibman
Tyler McLean
All test takers should bring:
Fully charged laptop with Bluebook app installed
Laptop power cord
External mouse and/or keyboard (if you use them)
Approved calculator (psat calc info | sat calc info) with extra batteries (option to use calculator included in Bluebook app)
Sharpened pencils
Water bottle & snacks - there will be breaks (optional)
Comprehensive online PSAT list of what to bring | SAT list of what to bring
BEFORE TESTING DAY:
Students need to confirm they have a College Board online account (info)
Students must have a Bluebook account with current UPDATES (info) and download the Bluebook app to their laptop.
Need Help? Ask Charley!
STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT TAKING A TEST:
*NO GYM at 8:00 am
Morning classes will continue with some adjustments which will be explained at school next week.
Lunch and afternoon schedule as usual for everyone.
*Updated 4.23.25
GWCS uses the results of the PSATs & SATs to identify students' academic strengths and weaknesses, and then uses this data to strengthen the GWCS curriculum.
Questions? Contact:
Mr. Goldie
goldiera@gwcommunityschool.com
Graduation Planning Meeting: Round Two!
Friday, April 25 at 12:00 pm
Join us for the next round of graduation planning on Friday, April 25th at 12:00 PM in Alexa’s Classroom. We’ll keep the planning rolling as we work together to shape an unforgettable graduation day. Whether you’ve been involved or are just jumping in, we’d love your ideas and energy.
Ledo’s pizza will be served, so bring your appetite and your creativity!
Please RSVP (by Thursday, April 24th) via the SignUpGenius button below so we know how much to order.
Graduation 2025 ~ Come One, Come All!
save the date: Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 11:00 am
All Students & Parents Encouraged to Attend!
Mark your calendars for this year’s GWCS Graduation Ceremony on June 7th, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. All GWCS students and parents are expected to attend. Celebrating our seniors’ achievements is a community effort, and your presence makes the day even more meaningful.
Every time you attend our graduation ceremony, you gain a deeper appreciation for what this milestone represents—both for the graduates and for your own student when their time comes. The attendance of the entire GWCS community gives our seniors a heartfelt and supportive send-off in true community style.
All guests should be seated by 10:45 AM to ensure a smooth start. Keep an eye on the WYNK for volunteer opportunities to help make this day truly special.
Let’s come together to honor our seniors and celebrate their success!
Weekly Song Recommendations…
with Amelia
Hello, this is Amelia Schmutz! I am a junior at GWCS, and I write this section of the WYNK on song recommendations. I hope you enjoy. Feel free to talk to me at school or email me your top recommendations and favorite songs for a future WYNK.
MY
RECOMMENDATION
“Bring The Noise” – Public Enemy
“Bring the Noise” is a groundbreaking musical masterpiece at the birth of hip hop. It laid the groundwork for what is now known as that classic Public Enemy sound. It has been copied over and over in the years since, but never quite as well. It featured a unique layered blend of samples and noise within a song structure, complemented by Chuck D's booming voice. The song broke new ground in rap, addressing political issues and the world.
“Bring The Noise” begins with a sample from Malcolm X saying, “Too black! /Too strong!” followed by a thunderous drum kick, and Flavor Flav's hyped-up adlibs. Chuck D describes a scenario where he is persecuted for his music and put in jail for supporting rights for African Americans. Chorus gets even noisier, with Chuck D announces, “Turn it Up,” and you better! The song also calls out Black radio and defends the artistic merits of Hip Hop compared to artists like Yoko Ono and Anthrax.
I wish rap now addressed more social issues today. It is a perfect art for doing so.
GWCS RECOMMENDATION
“Fall On Me” - REM
Recommended by Faiz
A quick and enduring favorite was "Fall on Me," which featured Stipe's adamant scream coupled to a pop-like melody on the album, “Life’s Rich Pageant”, which is an album with no skips. Stipe's lyrics were obscure and difficult to understand back then leading one to interpret the song in their own way. The chord progression mixed with a series of lines would infiltrate my brain and take root there.
The first line of the chorus, "Don't fall on me," refers to the song's primary topic, which was acid rain and its effects on the environment, even though R.E.M. vocalist Michael Stipe has called it "pretty much a song about oppression." Acid Rain, which happens when burning fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the sky, making rain corrosive and endangering the ecology, Bill Berry told Spin magazine in 1986.
It's a classic of the 80’s that deserves your listen now.
NEW RECOMMENDATION
“Through My Teeth” – Spacey Jane
“Through My Teeth” is a song by the Australian band Spacey Jane, released on April 8, 2025. It's a single from their upcoming album, "If That Makes Sense," which is set to be released on May 9th. The thirteen-track album explores themes of falling in and out of love, overcoming trauma, and rebuilding.
The song has a great deal of creative confidence" with synths, crunchy indie rock, and a pop-leaning chorus. It has a longing and nostalgia that has the listener falling in love with the song – it goes until the very last fill, and we felt it was the perfect way to start the record.
It is not just indie though. The song is poppy too. It’s got a nice beat that keeps you moving through the song. It sounds fresh and familiar at the same time.
TECHNOLOGY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS?
CHARLEY IS HERE TO HELP!
QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Charley Petty
GWCS Intern
pettyca@gwcommunityschool.com
https:/tinyurl.com/askcharley
SHOW YOUR COYOTE SPIRIT…
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