WYNK: January 21-30, 2022


Welcome to the First Week of 3rd Quarter!

 

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

TUESDAY, JAN. 25, 2022

  • First Day of 3rd Quarter - Go Coyotes!

  • 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. 26, 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. 27, 2022

  • 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. 28, 2022

SATURDAY, JAN. 29, 2022

  • Robotics Qualifying Tournament with Mr. Lindner at Norfolk State University

LOOK AHEAD…

 

GWCS FOOD DRIVE…

Our goal is to FILL THE SCHOOL VAN!!!

THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK — DONATE TODAY!

Since November 15, 2021 GWCS has been hosting a Food Drive and it’s about to end! Please participate by donating and asking family, friends, and neighbors to give you items that you can bring to school. (See recommendations below.)

We are so close! Currently 2/3 of the way to filling the van!

The last day to donate is Monday, January 31, 2022!

Students and staff can drop the donations off in the little kitchen next to Mr. Lindner’s classroom. Please help us fill the school van with food donations for a good cause:

 
 

https://foodforothers.org/

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

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

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ADVENTURE IN BELIZE…

SPRING BREAK 2022 ~ SPACE AVAILABLE!

April 2 - 11, 2022

GWCS students and parents are invited to join Senor Torres for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure tour to Belize over spring break in 2022! This trip will have students hiking ancient Mayan ruins, ziplining in the jungle, and snorkeling in Belize’s stunning waters. What a fantastic way to experience another culture firsthand and become a global citizen. CLICK HERE for trip information.

The Belize spring break trip is currently still on and there is still space for a few more GWCS students/parents. CLICK HERE to read how EF Tours is addressing COVID concerns.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT:

Alejandro Torres
GWCS Spanish Teacher
torresra@gwcommunityschool.com

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

nunezoliverm@gwcommunityschool.com

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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

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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SHOW YOUR COYOTE SPIRIT…

ORDER GWCS SPIRITWEAR TODAY!

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Thank you for reading all the way to the end!