NEWSLETTER QUICK LINKS:
Next Week 1/15-24
Midterm Exams Canceled
Coyote Cafe Thursdays
Food Drive Now —> 1/31
Tech Talk Screenagers
GWCS School Spiritwear by Rokkitwear
Welcome to the Last Week of 2nd Quarter!
SATURDAY, JAN. 15, 2022
Robotics Qualifying Tournament with Mr. Lindner at Hayfield Secondary School, Alexandria, VA. Watch us compete LIVE at www.twitch.tv/firstchesapeake (Participants should refer to Mr. Lindner’s 1/13 email for COVID related updates.)
MONDAY, JAN. 17, 2022
No School: Dr. Martin Luther King Day
TUESDAY, JAN. 18, 2022
Food Drive (info)
Gym at Home! Students report what they did each day to their Advisor for PE credit
History in Movies Elective with Mr. Goldie from 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19, 2022
Food Drive (info)
Gym at Home! Students report what they did each day to their Advisor for PE credit
Spring Theatre Elective with Mr. Goldie from 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
THURSDAY, JAN. 20, 2022
Last Day of 2nd Quarter!
Food Drive (info)
Gym at Home! Students report what they did each day to their Advisor for PE credit
Coyote Café with Ms. Kohler’s Personal Finance class during lunch (info)
Music Club with Mr. Torres from 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Robotics Elective with Mr. Lindner from 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm
FRIDAY, JAN. 21, 2022
No School - Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
SATURDAY, JAN. 22, 2022
Robotics Elective with Mr. Lindner from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
MONDAY, JAN. 24, 2022
No School - Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
LOOK AHEAD…
GWCS
ONLINE
CALENDAR
UPDATED DAILY
COVID-19…
COUNTER MEASURES & UPDATED GWCS GUIDELINES
EMAIL SENT 1.12.2022
From: Nunez-Oliver, Maria
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 4:16 PM
Subject: COVID-Counter Measures and Updated Guidelines
Hello all,
Considering the emerging COVID-19 omicron-variant outbreak in our area, we have decided to update some of our guidelines to keep our community as safe as possible.
After reviewing both Fairfax County Public Schools and the guidelines of other schools in our area, we are deviating from some of the CDC guidelines in an effort to avoid transmission at GWCS.
Please review the updated rules regarding COVID below:
If a student exhibits COVID symptoms at school, they will be sent home.
Students sent home with COVID symptoms may return to school when the following are met:
The student is fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours AND
The student no longer has symptoms
If symptoms persist – we highly suggest:
Getting a COVID test to show negative test result (either Antigen, Rapid Antigen, or PCR test) OR
Getting a clinical evaluation from a healthcare provider that offers an alternate diagnosis to COVID
If a student has had a close contact to exposures and are asymptomatic, the student may return to school when the following are met:
Student completes 5 days of quarantine AND
Student is asymptomatic AND
Student returns to school and wears a face mask properly for days 6-10
Students who display a pattern of failing to wear a mask correctly will be sent home at the discretion of GWCS administration
Upon returning to school, students will also be required to eat lunch in a room by themselves, but they may socialize (masked) after eating
Students who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 may not return until all of the following have been met:
It has been at least 10 days since the student first had symptoms (for symptomatic students) or 10 since testing positive (day the test was administered) for COVID (for asymptomatic students) AND
The student is fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours AND
The student no longer has symptoms
We’ve stayed opened previously during the height of the COVID pandemic, so we hope that these guidelines will assist us in continuing to keep our classes in person, and keep our community safe.
Thank you for reading, and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Warmly,
Maria "M" Nuñez-Oliver
MIDTERM EXAMS UPDATE…
January 18-20, 2022
Due to recent snow related school closings, we will focus on missed instruction instead of administering midterm exams the week of January 17th. In other words - midterm exams are CANCELED. We will have normal class schedules and no early dismissals. Let’s finish 2nd Quarter off strong!
TRY SOMETHING NEW SECOND SEMESTER…
GWCS offers a generous selection of electives and clubs. Most take place during 7th period (3:15 pm - 4:15 pm) -- but not all.
An elective is a class which means attendance is taken and grades and credit are earned. Clubs are more casual, and students do not earn grades or credit. So, come out and experience history through HIM-NAP, build a robot, or maybe venture into acting, cooking, or hiking.
If a student is not participating in a 7th period elective or club on any given day, their pick-up time is 3:15 pm or they should go to the pick-up location designated on their emergency form.
GWCS AFTER SCHOOL Clubs:
Music Club with Sr. Torres (Thursdays)
Oui Gobleu Cooking Club with Ms. Warden (one Monday per month)
Outdoors Club with Ms. N-O (Days Vary)
GWCS AFTER SCHOOL Electives:
History in Movies Elective with Mr. Goldie (Tuesdays)
Robotics Elective with Mr. Lindner (Thursdays & Saturdays + Tournaments)
Spring Theatre with Mr. Goldie (Wednesdays)
Yearbook Elective with Mr. Goldie (Mondays)
Questions?
Talk with the teacher in charge of the club or elective. If you decide to signup for (or drop) an elective - remember to complete the ‘Blue Schedule Change Form’ which can be found on the magazine racks in cafe or print THIS!
NO BOOING SHAKESPEARE
CLICK HERE for the most recent GWCS News Blog Post about the Theatre performance of I Hate Shakespeare that took place just before winter break. Hope you were there! Many more photos included in post. Check it out!
THE CAST:
Alex Roach
Dakota Gerber
Evan Koenig
Jay Mestraud
Kason Daniels
Lauren Kainz
Lonny Schulman
Luther Winters
Rachel Mears
Sam Peters
THE DIRECTORS:
Mr. Goldie
Ms. Nunez-Oliver
COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELING…
Dear GWCS Parents,
I’m Beth Goldstein, a former GWCS parent. As part of a career shift, I am getting a Certificate from UCLA in Educational Counseling. The Certificate program includes volunteering as a college counselor for a Practicum quarter. I am glad to be able to provide my volunteer hours to GWCS families.
I would be happy to set up FaceTime or Zoom meetings with students and/or parents for the college or career planning most useful to each student.
For most GWCS students, I expect that career and personality testing and discussions would be most useful. If a student prefers, we can focus on how to find and explore college paths for a student’s particular interests or priorities or, especially for seniors, prepare for interviews.
Options to consider:
Career and personality testing and evaluation
Interview preparation
Gap year consideration
Special issue exploration (e.g., arts preparation or LGBTQ-friendliness)
College readiness preparation
Most of our work would be in January and February, but if a student would benefit from meeting sooner – for example, for interview preparation – I am happy to find an earlier time.
Please email me at goldsteinb@gwcommunityschool.com or call or text me at 914-391-9080 to start a conversation about the most helpful approach for your family.
Go Coyotes!
Beth Goldstein
goldsteinb@gwcommunityschool.com
PSAT/SAT Scores Now Available!
Hey coyotes! It’s time to access those psat / sat scores…
If you provided your email address on your answer sheet on test day, you'll receive an email notifying you of when your scores are available.
The email will have a unique access code that will connect you to your scores online. If you haven't already done so, you'll be asked to set up a free College Board account before you can view your scores.
If you didn’t provide an email address on your answer sheet on test day, you can still access your scores online. If you haven't already done so, you'll be asked to set up a free College Board account before you can view your scores.
Don’t have a College Board account? Save time and set one up now.
Watch this video to learn what's on your score report
Questions? Contact:
Ms. N-O
nunezoliverm@gwcommunityschool.com
She will be happy to walk you through the process!
COYOTE CAFE…
EVERY THURSDAY DURING LUNCH
WHAT IS COYOTE CAFÉ?
Once a week, Ms. Kohler’s Personal Finance class operates a lunch time café offering snacks, sweets, sodas, and of course… pizza.
WHERE & WHEN?
Thursdays during lunch in the staff kitchen.
MENU & prices:
Pizza Slice -$2.00
Mac and Cheese - $1.50
Ramen Noodles: $1.50
Ritz Cheese Crackers - $1.00
Granola Bars - $1.00
Fruit Roll Ups - $0.75
Candy - $0.50
Chips - $1.00
Chips Ahoy - $1.50
Oreos - $1.50
Soda - $1.00
Klondike Bar - $2.00
Freezer Popsicles - $0.50
Twin Popsicles - $1.50
Ice Cream Sandwich - $1.50
PAYMENT:
Coyote Café accepts CASH ONLY!
PROCEEDS:
All earnings will be used to support a GWCS spring event. Last year we had an outdoor concert!
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Ms. Kohler
kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com
GWCS FOOD DRIVE…
FILL THE VAN!
From November 15 until January 31, 2021, GWCS is hosting a Food Drive! All donations will go to Food for Others. Please participate by donating and asking family, friends, and neighbors to give you items that you can bring to school.
Students and staff can drop the donations off in the little kitchen next to Mr. Lindner’s classroom. We are off to a good start - but not close to filling the van yet. Thanks to all who have sent in the bags of food pictured below.
THE MOST NEEDED ITEMS INCLUDE:
Canned beans
Peanut butter
Grains
Canned vegetables
Cereal
Juice
Healthy snacks (such as raisins or granola bars)
Canned fruits
Canned salmon, tuna, or chicken
Our goal is to FILL THE SCHOOL VAN!!!
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS:
Students can earn community service hours by tracking their time shopping and collecting items outside of school as well as volunteering to sort and package donated items in school. Remember to log your community service hours via the online form:
Thank you in advance for helping us reduce food insecurity!
Questions? Contact:
Ms. Kohler
kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com
GREAT DINNER TIME CONVERSATIONS…
In each WYNK, we will provide links to the three most recent Screenagers Tech Talk Tuesday articles. We hope you will find them informative, with helpful suggestions, and interesting questions to discuss as a family. This blog is not an attack on teens and technology - it’s truly helpful and appreciated by students, parents, and teachers as it provides the framework for constructive and enlightening conversations.
SEND US YOUR FOOD SCRAPS…
HAVE YOU MET TORTELLINI OUR RUSSIAN TORTOISE?
Tortellini, one of our beloved GWCS critters, lives in a cozy condo in Ms. Warden’s office and he loves to eat! If you would like to help keep his belly full, you can send in food scraps and garden snacks, but first please READ THIS to understand his diet and then drop off your gourmet scraps in Ms. Kohler’s lab. Questions? Email Ms. Kohler at kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com.
SHOW YOUR COYOTE SPIRIT…
ORDER GWCS SPIRITWEAR TODAY!
PARENT PORTAL (pw=gwcscoyotes)
WYNK NEWSLETTERS (pw=gwcscoyotes)
COYOTE WEB (status reports, grades, attendance...)
SOCIAL NETWORKS:
