Library, George Washington High School
P.O. Box 460595
Glendale, CO 80246
gtg@4work.com 

A group of alums and parents of current students is setting up the foundation of the Alums and Friends of GW. We’re working it out as we go along, its success will depend on alums and friends stepping forward to help us. Below is a description of what we’re trying to do. Our mission statement and goals as submitted to the IRS for our federal tax exemption are at the end of this article. All donations made after January 31, 2007 will be tax deductible for the 2007 tax year.

What Are We Doing?

For many years the administration of George Washington High School has recognized that an alum and friends group would be of great value in maintaining an academically rich, athletically vibrant, socially diverse, and safe high school. Since GW opened its doors in 1961, 48 classes of students have passed through. Even a small number of these former students could develop an astounding support system for the four classes of students now enrolled, and for future classes.

GW has recently been ranked by Newsweek as one of the top 100 high schools in the nation. This ranking is due in part to the strength of the International Baccalaureate Program, which in 1986 was the first such program in Colorado. It is also due to the stability in the past decade of the traditional academic program, which has become a school-of-choice for many students around the city. The principal, administrators, and educators achieved this ranking despite increasingly difficult obstacles.

Strong and consistent support from the Alums and Friends of GW could provide continuity for the school and help protect it against school district budget shortfalls, overcrowding, staff reductions, facility and grounds decay, and low student morale, which leads to the unfulfilled potential of the next generation.

Website Under Construction

On this website, we will post notices about special projects organized and carried out by Alums and Friends of GW. Eventually we hope to have links to an Alum Newsletter, Reunion Notes, and Alum Profiles.

If you are an alum or a friend (parent of a student or alum, educator, neighbor, local business owner, supporter of public education, elected official, etc.) please register to be part of the Alums and Friends of GW.

If you have a particular skill, enjoy carrying out organization tasks such as contacting your classmates, or even have a specific project in mind that you or a group of interested Patriots has had in mind, please contact us at our e-mail address: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­gtg@4work.com (temporary).

Room and Archive Under Construction

Principal Goldstein has offered the Alums and Friends of GW an office in the GW library. One on-going project for interested volunteers will be to organize and manage this space, making it a useful headquarters for project leaders and committees and a gathering place for volunteers.

In addition, we’re collecting memorabilia from alums to create a GW archive. Donate memorabilia to the Archive! The 48-year history of the school covers a time of astonishing social and political change in Denver and in high-school life. Current students benefit from connection with the past.

Calling all Patriots!

There are classes that hold reunions and still delight in the camaraderie of shared experience. Now that the Alums and Friends of GW has been formed, we hope to unite the classes and individual grads in offering some service to the high school, whether that service is a donation of money, time, or skills. It is a fine civic project and a community benefit to support the next generation, its aspirations, and its imagination.

The Class of 1965 has already carried out an important project with the current juniors and seniors: an essay contest that resulted in awards being given to six students, three from the IB program and three from the traditional program.  In fact, it was bold members of the class of 1965 who placed the Jolly Green Giant on the roof of the school leaving a trail of its “footprints” behind. Since then, the green foot has been a symbol of school spirit.  We like this image.  Alums and Friends of GW has been established to make a path available so future students can follow in our footsteps.

Everyone has the ability to participate in a useful way
to the success of the students of GW! Join us! 

Mission Statement and Objectives

The mission of Alumni & Friends of George is to build a network of projects and services, including on-going funding for these projects and services, intended to support current and future students of George Washington High School.

Objectives:

1. To establish an alumni network by compiling and maintaining a database of GW graduates.

2. To use this alumni network for fundraising and for recruiting volunteers to provide leadership and opportunities for the students.

3. To establish a mentoring program, job network, and scholarships to help current GW students make the transition from high school to the workplace or higher education.

4. To help with classroom equipment and materials, library collections, faculty development, and building improvements.

5. To help keep successful programs funded when they are threatened by Denver Public Schools budget shortfalls.

6. To encourage new projects and programs developed by or recommended by students, teachers, and administrators.

7. To establish a George Washington High School historical archive.

Mission Statement