NEWSLETTER QUICK LINKS:
Next Week 3/5-14
Masks Optional 3/1
Staunton Shakespeare Trip 4/29-5/1
Enrollment Contracts Due 3/18
Co-Op or OBX Junior & Senior Decisions
Stream Cleanup News Blog Post
Coyote Café Thursdays
Tech Talk Screenagers
Got Kale? Tortellini’s Request
GWCS School Spiritwear by Rokkitwear
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2022
Robotics Elective with Mr. Lindner at GWCS from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
monday, 7, 2022
Yearbook Elective with Mr. Goldie during Office Hours
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022
Spring Theatre Rehearsal with Mr. Goldie & Ms. N-O from 3:15 pm - 5:15 pm
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022
Spring Theatre Rehearsal with Mr. Goldie & Ms. N-O from 3:15 pm - 5:15 pm
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022
Coyote Café with Ms. Kohler’s Personal Finance class during lunch (info)
Prom Planning Meeting with Ms. Kohler in the Lab from 2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Music Club with Mr. Torres from 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Robotics Elective with Mr. Lindner from 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm
History in Movies Elective with Mr. Goldie from 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm (now on Thursdays)
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022
No School: Student/Teacher Holiday
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022
Robotics Elective with Mr. Lindner at GWCS from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2022
No School: Student Holiday/Teacher Workday
LOOK AHEAD…
GWCS
2022-2023
AT-A-GLANCE
Start Planning
MASKS OPTIONAL…
EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2022
EMAIL SENT 2.28.2022
From: Nunez-Oliver, Maria
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 9:22 AM
To: Everybody
Subject: Changes to Universal Masking for ALL Starting March 1
Good morning, Coyotes and families!
This morning during Community Advisory, Ms. Warden announced that we will be following FCPS’ guidance on changing mask policies following the updated health guidance by the CDC. With the new guidance, Fairfax County’s current COVID-19 community level is low.
Based off this new guidance, we are going to begin to allow our community members to make a choice whether they will wear a mask starting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 1.
Last week we began discussing with students and staff what their concerns and thoughts were on the change, but ultimately we will be leaving it up to students and their families to decide what is best for them. One of our core values is Responsibility, so with this policy change, we would like to remind our community that continuing to do your part by monitoring for illness and staying home when sick will keep our community healthy and thriving. As a reminder, our current COVID guidelines for positive tests and exposures can be found here.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Warmly,
Ms. N-O
Maria "M" Nuñez-Oliver (she/her)
Director of Operations
SIGN UP TODAY - VERY LIMITED SPACE…
Lake Accotink Park Habitat Restoration!
Saturday, March 19, 2022
8:45 am - 11:00 am
As of 9:00 pm Thursday, March 3rd - there were only 2 spaces left. Don’t wait!
COYOTES CARE!
Join Ms. Kohler for a community service event at Lake Accotink Park. This event is planned by Fairfax County and there is LIMITED SPACE! If interested, sign up with Fairfax County (step 1 below) TODAY!
What:
Invasive plant removal at Lake Accotink Park. Did you know that invasive plants are a huge threat to local wildlife, including migrating birds? Help out these creatures by volunteering to remove invasive plants and restore habitat!
Who:
GWCS teachers, staff, students, parents, siblings, grandparents and friends.
Location:
Lake Accotink Park
7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA 22150
For accurate GPS directions to parking lot and meeting place, use coordinates: 38.793938,-77.215145
STEP 1:
Click this link: Fairfax County Volunteering Calendar
Go to March 19, 2022
Select 9am - 11am Lake Accotink Park Habitat Restoration - Springfield
Click Sign Up
Option: Login (if you have registered in the past) or New Volunteer
Complete sign-up process
STEP 2:
Sign up using link below so that Ms. Kohler can plan for who to expect.
Meeting Place:
GWCS Coyotes will gather at the Merry-Go-Round at Lake Accotink at 8:45 am. For accurate GPS directions to the parking lot and meeting place, use coordinates: 38.793938,-77.215145
Wear:
Sunscreen, long sleeved shirt and long pants, socks, and closed toe shoes. All of which can get dirty! Optional hat, sunglasses, bug spray (probably not needed in March)
Bring:
Water bottle - filled :)
Ms. Kohler will provide gloves, but feel free to bring your own.
Rain or Shine?
If inclement weather cancels this event, you will receive an email notification (if you signed up below).
Reminder - Log Your Community Service Hours:
In order to receive credit for your community service hours you must complete this GWCS form upon completion of any community service event.
Sign Up Below:
After completing step one, add your name to the list of GWCS participants by clicking the link below so that you will receive any GWCS related event changes or updates.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084baaa722a1fd0-lake
Questions? Contact:
Ms. Kohler
kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com
STAUNTON SHAKESPEARE TRIP…
April 29 - May 1, 2022
Yes, you read that right! The Blackfriars Playhouse is opening! After years of a COVID hiatus, GWCS students are invited to join Mr. Goldie and Ms. N-O on a road-trip down to Staunton, Virginia to take-in two Shakespeare plays, learn Shakespeare combat tricks, attend a graduate lecture, tour the theatre, eat at Staunton’s best restaurants, wander around the historic town, consume ice cream every night, and stop to romp around the Frontier Culture Museum on the way home.
Interested?
Please send in a check or pay by credit card today. See payment info below.
Dates: April 29 - May 1, 2022
Accommodations: Hotel 24 South
Transportation: GWCS van and cars
Plays at Blackfriars Playhouse:
Activities at American Shakespeare Center:
‘Fatal Foes’ Combat Workshop
‘Friday Nights Lights On’ Herbalism Lecture
Blackfriars Playouse Tour
Exit Activity:
Favorite Food Options:
Cost: $495 (includes transportation, meals, ice cream, hotel, plays, workshop, lecture, tour, and museum)
Payment Options (to secure your spot):
Send in a check to Ms. N-O for $495 payable to GWCS
—or—
Pay by credit card by CLICKING HERE
QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Mr. Goldie
goldiera@gwcommunityschool.com
GWCS Shakespeare Trip Flashbacks…
ATTENTION UNDERCLASSMEN FAMILIES…
2022-2023 ENROLLMENT CONTRACTs
DUE: FRIDAY, MARCH 18TH!
Dear Parents & Guardians of GWCS Underclassmen:
You should have received paper copies of next year’s enrollment contract and tuition fee schedule in your mailbox. Click buttons below for a preview or to print, if needed. Enrollment forms are also available on the Parent Portal page of the GWCS website.
DUE DATE:
Signed contracts and enrollment fee payment for next year are due by Friday, March 18, 2022.
QUESTIONS?
Tuition and payment questions may be sent to Mr. Goldie at goldiera@gwcommunityschool.com
ATTENTION ALL GWCS JUNIOR & SENIOR FAMILIES…
REGARDING YOUR DECISION: CO-OPS -or- OBX
Ms. N-O will be sending you an email in regards to your final decision about participating in Friday OBX events or Co-Ops from April 15 - June 3, 2022. The email will also address and acknowledge the challenges of securing Co-Op positions due to COVID.
Need to refresh your memory about this topic? Continue reading.
Roger Muntu at Voice of America in 2019 with GWCS student intern, Ciara O’Brien. Yes, the same Roger Muntu who used to teach at GWCS and still DJs GWCS dances! https://www.voanews.com/
Email sent 2.11.2022
From: Nunez-Oliver, Maria
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2022
To: Parents
Subject: Co-Op Internships Contacts!
Realistic Education and Authentic Learning Co-Ops is a hallmark of a GWCS education - this nine-week program (every Friday during the fourth quarter) allows GWCS high school juniors and seniors to actively participate in the world of work. Internships, job shadows, and volunteer positions are individually matched with our students according to their talents, interests, and skills.
Although we haven't been able to do them in recent years due to COVID, we are very excited to return to Co-Ops this spring for any Juniors and Seniors who would like to participate. Because we know that some offices are still not back to being fully in-person and may not be willing to take on an intern, this year Juniors and Seniors who are not able to find an internship may participate in OBX for credit. Unlike previous years, however, we are going to require students and their families to set up their internships individually but are happy to offer our community resources for possible contacts.
So - the ask:
If you have any professional contacts/companies/organizations who would be willing to have an intern every Friday from April 15th - June 3rd, please add them in the form linked below! I will be polling the Juniors and Seniors shortly to see what their interests are, but my hope is that if we have enough input from our community, it will be easy to connect them with an appropriate organization.
Link to form:
LINK TO INFO SHEET ON BOTH CO-OPS & OBX:
Note: 4th Quarter Experiential Learning Fridays at GWCS are mandatory and students do earn credit. The option offered this year is for juniors and seniors to choose between OBX and Co-Ops.
Thank you in advance for your help and support!
Warmly,
Maria
Maria "M" Nuñez-Oliver
Director of Operations
COYOTES MAKE A DIFFERENCE…
Read the most recent GWCS News Blog Post about Monday’s community service event at Long Branch Stream Valley.
NOTE: Students who participated in this community service event - reminder to log your hours so that you receive credit. Put Ms. Kohler (kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com) as your supervisor for this event.
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
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.
GOT KALE?
FOOD SCRAPS needed.
especially kale!
this is 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 (especially KALE), 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!
Every purchase supports GWCS
PARENT PORTAL (pw=gwcscoyotes)
WYNK NEWSLETTERS (pw=gwcscoyotes)
COYOTE WEB (status reports, grades, attendance...)
SOCIAL NETWORKS:
