Pro-Tip: Blue Letters = Links - Happy Clicking!

monday, MARCH 10

Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Amazing Days during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
Co-Op Training with Kimberly Oesterreich &Deepa Nanjee during 7th period (info)
Coyotes Care - 7th period in Ms. Warden’s classroom (info)
*Donate old socks and t-shirts - collection bin next to front desk*
Theatre Rehearsal with Mr. Goldie from 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm

TUESDAY, MARCH 11

Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Coyote Cafe every Tuesday in the Kids Kitchen! (info)
Office Hours during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
Theatre Rehearsal with Mr. Goldie 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, march 12

Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Co-Op Training with Kimberly Oesterreich &Deepa Nanjee during 7th period (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
Theatre Rehearsal with Mr. Goldie from 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm

THURSDAY, march 13

Event Night Payment Due - price goes up on Friday. (info)
Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
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, march 14

Regular class schedule - First Period Gym thru Dismissal from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
Pi(e) Day - Bring a pie to share! Consuming will begin at lunch - 12:00 pm (info)
Co-Op Training with Kimberly Oesterreich &Deepa Nanjee during 7th period (info)
Coyotes Care - 7th period in Ms. Warden’s classroom (info)
*Donate old socks and t-shirts - collection bin next to front desk*
Amazing Days during 7th period from 2:22 pm - 3:15 pm
Theatre Rehearsal with Mr. Goldie from 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Dungeons & Dragons with Hartly from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
EVENT NIGHT | The GWCS Annual Lock-In (info)
- Half Night: 6:00 pm - 12:00 am
- Full Night: 6:00 pm - 8:00 am

SATURDAY, march 15

Event Night - Pickup at 8:00 am (info)
GWCS ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR - UPDATED DAILY

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Pi(e) Day and Event Night...

The Ultimate Combination!

Get ready to indulge in all things π (pi) on Thursday, March 14th! We’re inviting students and parents to bring their favorite pies—sweet or savory—to share as we celebrate math’s most delicious holiday!

While classics like apple, pumpkin, and pecan are always welcome, why not try something new? Here are a few pies from around the world to inspire you:

Pastel de Choclo (Chile) – A savory corn pie with ground beef, olives, and hard-boiled eggs.
Spanakopita (Greece) – A crispy, flaky spinach and feta pie wrapped in phyllo dough.
Meat Pie (Australia) – A hearty hand pie filled with minced meat and gravy.
Kūmara Pie (New Zealand) – A pie made with sweet potato and warm spices.
Yatsuhashi Pie (Japan) – A unique cinnamon-filled pastry inspired by Kyoto’s famous yatsuhashi sweets.

Join us for a fun-filled Pi Day celebration with delicious pies, math games, and a slice of fun!

We will enjoy our pies at lunch and during Amazing Days... and all through Pi Night - a.k.a. Event Night!

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Event Night is Coming - Are You Going?

FRi, MARCH 14 @ 6 pm
Half-night pick-up @ 12 am
full-night pick-up: sat, march 15 @ 8 am

What is Event Night? Event Night is where students and teachers spend the night at the school and do cool things like watch movies and play video games and sing songs and become extremely sleep deprived until everything is funny.

Event Night has been a GWCS Tradition since 2004! We hope you will join us this year and contribute to this memory-making tradition. Photos below are from last year’s Event Night.

What’s Event Night? Read on.

Q: Why is it called Event Night?

A: In 2004, the Student Government Association wanted to have a Poker Night. However, it was pointed out that poker is gambling, and gambling is not good for children. So the SGA expanded the night to be about more than poker, which was a good thing. Then we played poker anyway. But we did other things too. No lives were lost (there was a ping-pong war, however), and a GWCS tradition was born!

click images to enlarge

Q: Should I go to Event Night?

A: Heck yeah you should go. We usually sell half-night and full-night tickets, so if you're wondering whether Event Night is for you, buy a half-night ticket (good up until midnight), and then you can decide.

Q: What kind of movies get shown at Event Night?

A: There's usually at least two movies going at any one time. There is a R-Rated room for terrifying and/or explody movies, and then a different, classic, non-R movie showing on the big screen in the cafe. They movie in the cafe is always a good movie. The movie in the r-rated room is sometimes good, and sometimes so bad it's funny.

Q: What kinds of games get played at Event Night?

A: A lot of video games get played on consoles/computers that people bring in. It's different every year but it's always fun multiplayer games. A lot of board games get played too. And Mr. Goldie usually has a running trivia contest throughout the night.

Q: Will I have a good time?

A: Let me look into my crystal ball. Yes. The crystal ball says you will have a good time, and the crystal ball never lies.

and here’s the boring info:

Note 1 - Before Event Night: If it makes your life easier to just stay at school and wait for Event Night to begin - that's between you and your parents. Staff and students in charge of Event Night will be busy setting up and will not be supervising students who stay after school.

Note 2 - During Event Night: Students will not be allowed to come-and-go. This is a 'lock-down' event. If you need to arrive or leave at a time other than what's listed above - you will need to get special permission from Ms. N-O.

SIGN UP:

Limited space is available due to a strict student/teacher ratio. Reserve a spot on the exclusive Event Night attending list by turning in cash or a check (payable to GWCS) ASAP! Once you have paid your dues, you will be added to the exclusive list. Note: The price increases on Friday so pay by Thursday - this saves you $$ and helps us with planning and ordering!

$25 (6:00 pm - midnight) for those who pay by Thursday 3/13
$35 (6:00 pm - 8:00 am) for those who pay by Thursday 3/13
$30 (6:00 pm - midnight) for those who pay on Friday 3/14 (space permitting)
$40 (6:00 pm - 8:00 am) for those who pay on Friday 3/14 (space permitting)

FOOD:

Yes, there will be pizza, snacks, and drinks all night (including the infamous midnight ice cream social and 2 AM vegan tacos!)

BRING:

Movies
Snacks to share
Video games
Gaming system and controllers
Musical instrument

All optional...

Sleeping bag
Pajamas
Change of clothes
Toothbrush

click images to enlarge

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Sky Zone = Fun Zone = Learning Zone…

Mrs. Kohler's Cognitive Capacities class took on Sky Zone last week in style - I mean check out those grip socks! The students exhibited all of our school values with every twist, turn, launch, and jump!

Responsibility with getting waivers signed
Team Play during dodgeball and basketball showdowns
Service for cheering Goldie on to take the plunge on the High Slide
Excellence for Shayna beating (at first) Brenner on the Punch Machine
Intellectual Curiosity for McKenzie trying to maneuver the Obstacle Course most efficiently
Kindness for lending helping hands to rescue those stuck in the Foam Pit
Investment for Faiz bouncing longer than any other student
Learning for Aung finding the name of the elusive Pugil Stick

Our courageous Coyotes had a blast!

Mrs. Kohler
Science Teacher
kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com

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Enroll Today for 2025-2026 School Year…

contract & registration fee Due: March 28, 2025

Hello GWCS Families (Grades 7-11),

Your re-enrollment packet for the 2025-2026 school year should have landed in your mailbox by now. Although September may seem far away, the GWCS staff began planning for the next school year months ago. For your convenience, the same documents that were mailed are linked below.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Goldie at goldiera@gwcommunityschool.com.

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R.E.A.L. Term Co-Op Updates…

Kim Dwyer, GWCS Alumni Parent & Co-Op Support

Just What We Needed!

A huge thank you to Kim Dwyer, parent to Jack (GWCS Class of 2020), for swooping in to support REAL TERM Co-ops 2025! Kim is meeting with students one-on-one to help define career interests, craft resumes, and secure quality co-op placements. She’s a fantastic addition to our dedicated parent volunteer team, who are already leading workshops, hosting events, and soon assisting with placements.

Look out, careers—here we come!

three Co-op Training sessions:

March 10, 12, & 14 during 7th period

Next Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, REAL TERM Co-op students will take part in a hands-on training experience. Through a real-world activity, interns will plan, execute, and reflect—all through the art of pancake making. Don’t ask… just trust the process!

Request for electric skillets & spatulas.

A huge thank you to Kimberly Oesterreich and Deepa Nanjee for hosting this event. More details coming soon to your inbox (you do check that, right? 😉). Stay tuned!

***Can we please borrow your electric griddle and spatula for this activity? Please clearly label your griddle and spatula and drop them off in the kids' kitchen Monday morning. Thanks!!!***

R.E.A.L. Term Co-Ops will take place every Tuesday
April 8th through May 27th.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE GWCS CO-OP INFO SHEET

Questions? Contact:

Ms. Warden
wardenac@gwcommunityschool.com

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Coyotes Care About… SOCKS!

COLLECTING OLD SOCKS TO MAKE PULL TOYS FOR PUPS!

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES - mONDAYS & fRIDAYS

COYOTES gather:

WHEN? Every Monday & Friday
TIME: 7th period (2:22 pm)
LOCATION: Ms. Warden’s Classroom

COYOTES CARE ABOUT...SOCKS!

Thanks to all families who have sent in old T-shirts to help us make enrichment toys for the animals of Friends of Homeless Animals. Keep them coming! To add some variety for the pups, we're also making toys with socks and recycled water bottles. So if you have a washing machine that likes to eat socks and you have a bag of unmatched socks (we know you do!), we'd love to take them! We're looking for clean socks that are long enough to fit a water bottle and tie a knot (not no-show or ankle). Athletic or dress socks will work. Look for a collection bin by the front desk in the café.

Questions? Suggestions? Contact:

Shannon Carroll
GWCS Parent Volunteer
#202-365-8617
carrollshannon@yahoo.com

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Parent Appreciation Event…

Relaxation Yoga with GauraV at gwcs!

sign up by clicking on button below

Space is Limited - Click Here to Sign up for Relaxation Yoga @ GWCS!

Relaxation Yoga will be at GWCS on March 25th
With Instructor Gaurav Singh (Yogi G)
From Going Yogue in Oakton, VA

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Hot Off the Palette!

The new mural in the main GWCS hallway is almost done and it is singin' a vibrant tune. And get this—we're talkin' more than just paint on the wall. They're dropping some serious 3D-printed riffs in there, adding a whole new dimension of texture. It's gonna be a feast for the eyes and the fingertips! Check out the photos below, art students are putting the final brush strokes on the mural and painting the 3D textured elements pieces to be added to the mural next week!

Let's give a round of applause that echoes through the school to Art Teacher and GWCS Parent, Rachel Albert!

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Look Out, Rehoboth - Here We Come!

Note: Slight change from last week - new hotel.

Mrs. Kohler
kohlerja@gwcommunityschool.com

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Spring PSAT & SAT Update…

ATTENTION NEW FAMILIES!

What You Need to Know:

All GWCS 8th, 9th graders have been signed up to take the PSAT 8/9 Exam
All GWCS 10th graders have been signed up to take the PSAT 10 Exam
All 11th and 12th graders have the option to take the SAT Exam

ALL STUDENTS should opt-in or opt-out of the spring SAT/PSATs by clicking the button below.

GWCS uses the results of the PSAT for underclassmen to identify students' academic strengths and weaknesses, and then uses this data to strengthen the GWCS curriculum.

CLICK HERE TO OPT-IN OR OPT-OUT OF PSAT/SAT EXAM

What if you’re NOT scheduled to take an exam? Stay tuned for more details about test-day as we get closer to April. GWCS covers the cost this year.

Questions? Contact:

Mr. Goldie
goldiera@gwcommunityschool.com

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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.

Email: amelias@gwcommunityschool.com

MY
RECOMMENDATION

“Violet” – Hole

Hole’s album “Live Through This” has been the anthem to my life. Courtney Love’s unapologetic, justified, female frustrations are so empowering to hear. “Doll Parts,” “Violet,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “Asking For It,” “Miss World,” just to name a few, mean more to me than you know. I chose “Violet” because it feels very relevant to the times we are going through. “Go one take everything. /Take everything. /I want you to.”

“Violet” was written about the Courtney’s relationship with Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins. The recurring issue, which unfortunately hasn’t lost its relevance, is the exploitation and (self-) degradation of women. “When they get what they want, /and they never want it again.” Courtney uses her negative feelings and turns them into empowerment when she uses romantic phrases just to reverse them the next second. “And the sky was all violet, /I want it again, but violent, more violent.” Her mix of powerful lyrics and distorted guitar will forever be a part of my life.

"Violet" – Hole (Official Music Video)

Fun fact: In the song “Asking For it” Kurt Cobain has uncredited vocals. He sings with Hole on the bridge during “And if you live through this with me, I swear that I would die for you.”

Here is a clearer version of Kurt Cobain’s vocals: "Asking For It" – Hole, Kurt Cobain

GWCS RECOMMENDATION

“Wondering Why” – The Red Clay Strays

Recommended by Leahanna

“Wondering Why” was written in 2019. The Red Clay Strays guitar player, Drew Nix, and Brandon Coleman were in Nashville, and had a co-write set up with a man named Dan Couch. They wanted to go in and try to write a love song, and it took them three or four hours. It showcases ‘The Red Clay Strays’ now-signature ability to beautifully build out a track from a sparse and virtually a cappella opening, before gradually introducing new elements as the song grows in sonic and emotional intensity.

This introduction outlines his sense of inferiority to their lover, with the stripped-down music echoing the insecurity and fragility of the lyrics. When Coleman then goes into the ways his partner makes him feel deeply loved, the bass and guitar are brought in as the protagonist revels in this unexpected romance.

He emphasizes that he thanks God each night for this blessing. It serves as a continuation of the opening lyric about his lover's church-going nature. Clearly, Coleman has been introduced to faith into his life since they got together.

Towards the end of ‘Wondering Why,” Brandon Coleman stretches his vocal range and brings in a range of raspiness, accentuating his fervent, stirring words of affection.

“Wondering Why” – The Red Clay Strays (Official Lyric Video)

NEW RECOMMENDATION

“I Need You” – Vundabar

Vundabar has their rise to fame with their hit song “Alien Blues” but are proving that they are way more than just a one-hit-wonder. “I Need You” was released as a part of a single along with three other songs from their upcoming album “Surgery and Pleasure” which will be released this Friday on March 7, 2025.

After the passing of the leader singer, Brandon Hagen’s, it significantly impacted the “Surgery and Pleasure.” This is especially so on “I Need You.” The song felt like a triumph and a perfect analogy for how the band dealt with their feelings at the time. Thay have said that the event changed the way he made music from then on.

“I Need You” initially existed as a very sparse demo of vocals and a nylon string guitar. It was one of the last songs that they worked on. Writing the record with a new approach they learned recovering from the singer’s death felt to the band like a triumph and a perfect analogy for processing loss in mind, body and heart.

“I Need You” – Vundabar (Official Audio)

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