NEWSLETTER QUICK LINKS:
Next Week - 4/26 - 5/4
Fire Department Field Trip - 4/28
OBX #3 Udvar-Hazy - 4/29
Teacher Appreciation Week - 5/5-9 Help Needed!
5th Annual GWCS Palooza - 5/2
GWCS Chronicle Yearbook - On Sale Now!
AP Exams Proctored at GWCS week of 5/5
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 28
Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Burke Fire Department Field Trip with Ms. Kohler departs at 9:45 am (info)
Amazing Days during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
TUESDAY, APRIL 29
No Gym - OBXers should be at school by 9:00 am
Co-Ops Continue
OBX #2 - Udvar-Hazy departs at 9:00 am (info)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30
Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
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, may 1
Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
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, MAY 2
Regular morning schedule - First Period Gym thru 4th Period
No afternoon classes!
GWCS Palooza 2025 from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (info)
Amazing Days during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
Dungeons & Dragons with Hartly from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
GWCS ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR - UPDATED DAILY
2025-2026 School-Year-at-a-Glance - Updated 4.22.25
Dear GWCS Community,
It’s hard to believe, but GW Community School is celebrating 25 incredible years! As we reflect on a quarter-century of learning, growth, and community, the GWCS Foundation is proud to launch this year’s annual fundraising campaign with a special theme — Giving Forward — and a bold goal of $50,000.
As many of you know, the GWCS Foundation supports programs and activities that enhance and enrich the GWCS student experience.
This year, we’re especially excited to announce a few new developments:
🎓 Scholarship Program — The GWCS Foundation is planning to launch scholarships to support students facing financial hardship. Your donations will help make this possible and ensure that every student has access to the full GWCS experience.
🏅 Recognition for Major Donors — Gifts of $1,000 or more will be honored with a personalized, engraved plaque displayed at the school.
💎 25th Anniversary Legacy Opportunities — In celebration of this milestone year, our Diamond Legacy Donors will have the unique chance to name a space at GWCS. Imagine the Smith Family Coyote Cafe or the Jane Doe GWCS Theater! We’ll work with you to find a naming opportunity that’s meaningful to you and your student.
All donations to the GWCS Foundation are tax-deductible, and directly impact every
GWCS student.
In the coming weeks, we’ll celebrate GWCS’ 25th year with highlights from the early days…all the way to the soon-to-be-graduating Class of 2025. We’ll also share stories that show the real impact your generosity has on GWCS students, including support for:
Academic Enrichment: SLAY outdoor projects, experiential field trips, guest speakers, and more
Signature Trips & Activities: OBX Learning Experiences, Junior Gettysburg Trip, Senior Essay Writing Retreat, Camp Coyote
Student Clubs: Theater, History in Movies, Yearbook, and beyond
GWCS Traditions: Homecoming, Heritage Feast, Event Night, Coyote Day
Here are just a couple of examples of how your donations are making a difference:
Thanks to GWCS Foundation support, every GWCS student enjoyed Camp Coyote, a beloved tradition started over a decade ago.
2. Through funding for the student kitchen renovation, students are learning everything from food science to recipe development and, of course, taste-testing. Talk about a win-win-win!
The GWCS Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 2014 by a group of committed parents. It continues today with the mission of providing financial support to enhance and enrich the student experience at GWCS.
We’d be honored to have your support as we Give Forward in celebration of this milestone year. To learn more and make your tax-deductible donation, please go to gwcsfoundation.org.
With thanks and gratitude,
Suzanne Parisi
President, GW Community School Foundation
Andrea Spiegel
Fundraising, GW Community School Foundation
Field Trip: Burke Fire Department…
Ms. Kohler’s Chemistry & Cognitive CAPACITIES Classes
On Monday, April 28, 2025, the GWCS Chemistry and Cognitive Capacities classes are going on a field trip to the Burke Fire Department to learn all about fire chemistry and safety. Students will also get a tour of the facility and closeup views of all the different equipment and gadgets in stock. Students should come ready with questions to ask the firefighters! Students must wear closed-toed shoes, and a bagged lunch is recommended since we might get back to lunch a little late.
Parents, please sign and have your student return the GWCS Permission Slip linked below. Your student was also given a physical copy of the permission slip for you to sign and return. You can email Mrs. Kohler your signed permission slip if preferred.
FIELD TRIP DETAILS:
Where: Burke Fire Department
When: Monday, April 28, 2025
Depart: GWCS at 9:45am
Return: to GWCS at 11:45am
Bring: Bagged lunch (recommended)
Wear: Closed-toed shoes
Method of Transportation: GWCS Van
Return Permission Form by: Monday, April 28, 2025
Questions? Contact:
Mrs. Kohler
kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com
OBX #3: Udvar- Hazy Air & Space Museum…
April 29, 2025
Destination: The Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum, Dulles VA
The Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum is named for Stephen Udvar-Hazy, a Hungarian immigrant who came to America with an abiding fascination with human flight. The museum opened in 2003 and displayed many artifacts that simply wouldn’t fit in the Washington, DC museum. We will see amazing exhibits and machines that first lifted humans off the ground in balloons and then elevated them into outer space in massive rockets. Famous aircraft like the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay, and the super-sonic Concorde will be parts of the tour.
About:
Depart: GWCS: 9:00 am (Go directly to school - NO GYM)
Pickup: GWCS: 3:15 pm
Bring/Wear: Smart Attire (No sweats, pajamas), Good walking shoes - No back-packs
Lunch: Students should bring cash for the on-site cafe ($20-$25)
Transportation: School Van & Cars
QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Mr. Howarth
HowarthD@gwcommunityschool.com
Thank you to the GWCS Foundation!
Teacher Appreciation Week… May 5-9, 2025
GWCS Faculty and Staff go above and beyond the call of duty from before the first day of school until after graduation. This is never clearer than second semester. In addition to individualized teaching and advising, faculty are organizing senior internships, taking underclassmen on OBX experiences, and organizing multi-day trips for students. We invite everyone to join us in showing appreciation the week of May 5-9.
Parents – we need your help!
An email was sent to all GWCS parents (on Thursday, April 24th) with all of the details about plans for Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week. We need help with gifts and as volunteers for specific tasks. The email includes a detailed signup for contributions and volunteer opportunities. One item that I wish to highlight is Take Home Dinners where a family prepares a dinner for a staff member to take home and enjoy. Please sign up for a meal on the Google Sheet linked below and we will let the staff pick. Please note that we will need at least two vegetarian meals. Thank you!
Everybody is Invited…
Get ready for some fun! We're inviting you to come hang out, listen to music, pet the animals, and enjoy good food. Just bring a comfy blanket or your favorite lawn chair to chill on, and maybe some cash for the awesome Frozen Treats Food Truck. The best part? Lunch from Cafe Rio is totally on us – no charge! See you on the lawn at GWCS!
GWCS 2024-2025 Chronicle Yearbook…
Place your order by June 6th
before the price jumps!
Alright Coyotes! Listen up! It's go-time to lock in your very own GWCS Chronicle Yearbook – your personal time capsule of awesomeness! Imagine flipping through pages of side-splitting candids, reliving those unforgettable school events, and yes, even cringing (in a good way!) at those iconic hairstyles. Don't let these memories fade away! Order your yearbook today before that price does a high jump!
ORDER FORM:
Click Here for printable order form
Price:
$50 if ordered by June 6, 2025
$65 if ordered after June 6, 2025
Payment:
Send in cash or a check payable to GWCS
-or-
Click Here to pay by credit card online
YEARBOOK PICK-UP PARTY:
Mark your summer calendar! On Thursday, August 14, 2025 from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm GWCS will host a Yearbook Signing Party followed by a Summer Movie Marathon from 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm!
Questions? Contact:
Mr. Goldie
goldiera@gwcommunityschool.com
AP Exams Proctored at GWCS…
beginning the Week of May 5th
GWCS students who are taking AP Exams will receive information from their respective teachers.
Tuesday, May 6 - US Government & Politics at 12:00 pm
Friday, May 9 - US History Exam at 8:00 am
WHAT IF YOU HAVE AN AP EXAM ON INTERNSHIP DAY (tuesday, May 6th)?
Any Co-Op students taking the AP US Government & Politics exam on Tuesday 5/6 should notify their internship supervisor via email and cc Ms. Warden at wardenac@gwcommunityschool.com.
College Board AP Exam Information
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
“Black” – Pearl Jam
The other day, during one of the various times I’ve been listen to “Black,” my dad said, “Black is one of the best break-up songs ever written and I thought to myself “Wow… you are absolute right!”
Pearl Jam has put out so much outstanding music and though “Black” is not the most original choice from Pearl Jam, I have been listening to this on a non-stopped song for WEEKS! The amount of emotion and power Eddie Vedder in his voice on this track is irreplaceable.
Vedder stated that “Black” reflected an intense heartbreak, suspectedly from his high school girl friend Beth Liebling. “I take a walk outside. /I'm surrounded by. /Some kids at play. /I can feel their laughter. / So why do I sear.” These passionate emotions made beautiful, poetic lyricism. “I know someday you'll have a beautiful life. /I know you'll be a star. /In somebody else's sky. /But why? /Why? /Why can't it be? /Why can't it be mine?!”
GWCS RECOMMENDATION
“Love In The Dark” – Adele
Recommended by Señor Paul
I believe that Adele is one of the finest voices of this generation. A towering talent! I know that she is already popular, but I don’t think we talk about her enough!
Adele's “Love in the Dark” is a slow, melancholic, and a very lovely song. Adele expresses her desire to leave her relationship with her partner, but her heart still pulls her back. She asks him not to come closer and not to change his mind, believing this will be best for both of them. “Please stay where you are. /Don't come any closer. /Don't try to change my mind.” In the chorus, she sings about their relationship being in a bad place, leaving her with uncertainty. “I can’t love you in the dark.” She wants a well-lit, direction, purpose, or certainty relationship.
NEW RECOMMENDATION
“Moving on” – Lexi Jones
Lexi Jones has quietly released her debut album “Xandri” April 2, 2025. Levi Jones is David Bowie’s daughter. While is not possible to completely live outside of the genius that is her father, she makes every effort to do so – and does quite a good job of it.
She wrote and produced the album herself. It has a demo feel in that it doesn’t feel overproduced, and I think that’s a good thing. The standout track on the album, “Moving on,” feels new and familiar at the same time. There are 60’s influences in the song, like the way it imitates classical music synthetically the way the bands like the Beatles did. Her voice is modern though and comes through to make the song something new. We should keep an eye on Lexi Jones and nepotism has nothing do with it.
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…
ORDER GWCS SPIRIT WEAR TODAY!
COYOTE HOWL (Bell Schedule)
PARENT PORTAL (pw=gwcscoyotes)
WYNK NEWSLETTERS (pw=gwcscoyotes)
COYOTE WEB (status reports, grades, attendance...)
