What’s Up With Waters?
Dear GW Community –
The end of a school year always invites reflection. Having students and staff return to full-time, in-person learning for 2021-2022 has, undoubtedly, been this year’s highlight. We have had the opportunity to host a successful and fun-filled Prom (our first full Prom in two years) and afterparty, we have had athletic teams compete in district and state finals, our Speech and Debate and DECA teams have travelled around the country to compete, we have hosted adaptive Field Day for elementary students and an inaugural chess tournament (see our articles below). Full-scale theater productions, winter and spring music concerts, and AP and IB exams have seen students and families engaging and supporting our school.
It is with a hopeful heart I leave GWHS in the capable and committed hands of Dr. Dackri Davis. Please join me in welcoming her to our Patriot family; I know she will work tirelessly to continue our work of inclusion and equity to ensure all our students and families have the tools they need to succeed in high school and beyond.
The Class of 2022 were freshmen when I began at GWHS. As I see them off to their chosen careers and colleges, I am continuously impressed by their accomplishments. It was our GWHS teachers and staff that empowered the Class of 2022 to achieve so much, along with our students’ families and networks of support. To our staff, families and community, thank you for all you’ve contributed over the past four years. I will carry our work and dedication with me, and I will always be a Patriot at heart.
With gratitude,
Kristin Waters, Ph.D.
Principal | George Washington High School
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Learner Profile Trait: Balanced
In each issue of the Patriot Post, we highlight an attribute from the Learner Profile. The Learner Profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. Each characteristic implies a commitment to help all members of the GW community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.
The Learner Profile trait for May is Balanced.
As we head into the summer months and take a break from school, how will you reset and ensure that your life becomes more balanced with what you have to do and what you want to do?
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Spring Sports Highlights
The Spring Sports season was full of chilly temperatures and gusty winds, but all our athletes braved the elements and showcased tremendous talent! Our senior athletes will all be missed. They have given so much leadership and commitment to their sports, and we wish them the best as they move on to career and college!
Baseball had a successful season. They played hard, and competed in every game. There were a lot of good wins and some tough losses. They showed growth on and off the field as the season progressed. The seniors created a huge family atmosphere that set the tone for this new era of Patriot Baseball under a new coaching staff. Alex Tseng held down the middle infield, Will Kuntner was amazing on the offensive bat (3 home runs on the season) and played utility on defense and behind the plate, Billy Galpern led the team with a batting average of .403, Harry Haber came in clutch every time he was called on, Sam Wiederholt excelled on the mound and centerfield, and Joey Tantillo‘s work ethic motivated everyone. Beyond their success on the diamond, this graduating class boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.97! Juniors Cody Morris and Eddy Strand are ready to take on senior leadership roles next year, along with sophomores Tony Tantillo, Garrett Morris and Yahir Varela, and freshmen infield utility Diego Varela and the big arm of Luke Wiederholt. The JV team saw a lot of success as well under the leadership of Coach Chap and Coach Recardo. Great season, Patriots!
Girls Tennis had a season full of wind, snow, sunshine, and some victories. All 31 players showed great improvement and the team attitude was outstanding. 23 girls got to play a varsity match this season and that experience will help next season. Varsity player Leah Tiktin went undefeated at 1 singles until the finals in regionals. She is taking her skills to the State tournament in Pueblo. Go Leah! 3 singles saw Josie Simonson play multiple 3 set matches; Josie won the Raven Invitational defeating a tough Denver South opponent. The 4 doubles team of Sophia Afiri and Lucy Foster performed well throughout the season and took home a second place trophy at the Raven Invitational, helping GW take second in the 8 team tournament. The rest of the team showed great improvement and the senior leadership of Emma Carey, Katie Jack, Josie Simonson, Maddie Chomiak, Sophia Afiri, Lucy Foster, Ashley Gutknecht, Ella Smith, and Ella Stern will be greatly missed.
Girls Golf broke out their rain suits this season! The team had a great season, highlighted by a defeat of crosstown rival Denver East. Each year our team is growing in size and talent and the future is looking bright! The team had a tremendous day on May 18 at Kennedy Golf Course, competing in the Varsity/City Cup, the final DPS Tournament of the season. Congratulations to Julia Maes Farone, Natalie Brammer, Emma Dudley and Josie Abramson for placing third (missing second by a mere 6 strokes). Individually, Julia placed fourth overall shooting an 89, and Natalie was just behind her in fifth place with a round of 91. The Junior Varsity also placed third. Big congratulations to Sachi Rothberg who placed third individually, Abby Heckler who placed eighth individually, as well as Mari Valore Caplan and Paula Acosta who contributed to the team score. The development team did not field enough players to have a team score but Erika Englestad placed fifth with a 42, and Jazzy Tung shot a 54. Regionals start on May 24. Wish them good luck! State championships will play May 31 and June 1 in Grand Junction.
Girls Soccer saw the Girls Varsity Soccer team finishing 7-6-1. Big highlights of the season included a 1-0 victory over South and a 0-0 tie against East in the last game of the season. Girls soccer will graduate eight seniors this year, and wishes them all the best on their future endeavors, as they will be greatly missed! Girls soccer saw three teams competing this season, and hopes to continue with three teams in the future.
Boys Swim and Dive celebrated an incredible finish to their season last weekend at the CHSAA 4A State Championships. The team, coming off their DPS League Championship from the previous week, went into state championships with high expectations; they met and exceeded those after the two-day meet was over. State championships began with diving, and GW enjoyed its best-ever diving finish, with divers Cole Vicars in second place and Ashden Vicars in sixth place. Swimming started later that day, and the boys immediately performed at their best. They placed themselves in great positions in all of their events for a great Finals showdown. Narrowly missing Finals but having lifetime best swims in Prelims were Ben Walczak (200 Free and 500 Free), Fisher Pruitt (200 IM and 100 Fly), Rowen Mowrey (100 Breaststroke) and Jacob Reimer (200 Free and 500 Free). At Finals, the team truly showed what a powerhouse they are. HERE is a list of some of our highlights at State. At the end of State, GWHS placed fourth overall, our highest finish in 20 years!
Girls Track saw participation almost quadruple from last year’s team through the efforts of our school counselor and assistant coach Ms. Griffin. New track athletes like Jaida Redwine, Michaela Harris, EmmaJo Locks, Quiyara Williams, Sophia Ayala and Sophia Singh learned at an amazing rate. Middle distance runners, including Lizzie Jenulis, Sophie Graham, Grace Ferrell, Kate Taylor, Lilly Schorr-Ratzlaff and Violet Eleson excelled under assistant coach Chris Turner. The girls 4 x 800 relay team comprised of Grace Ferrell, Lilly Schorr-Ratzlaff, Violet Eleson and Kate Taylor qualified for this week’s CHSAA Track and Field Championships. Team Captain Lizzie Jenulis also qualified in the individual girls 800 and 1600 meter runs, two of the most competitive events at this week’s championships. Good luck to these Patriots, and great work this year!
Boys Track had a fantastic showing this year, with a host of new athletes. This season brought several personal records! Last weekend, the team competed in League Championships, with a number of finalists and two athletes emerging as league champions: Ryan Hajek in the 300m hurdles and Peter Neid in the 3200m. This season ends with the Colorado State Championship this weekend in which De’Andre Fabre is set to compete in two individual events. He is coming in ranked in the top 10 for both events. Go Patriots!
Boys Club Volleyball saw over 30 students participating in its inaugural season this Spring. Senior Captains Sandy Goldstein, Victor Nardi, and David Shinbein organized two teams: Green competed as GW A-team and White competed as GW B-team against six other teams from Denver South, Denver East, and Kennedy High Schools. Seniors Shira Linkow, Jennie Simonson, and Haley Wilson served as coaches. After a close loss in the season-ending tournament, GW Green finished in fourth and GW White finished in seventh. Congratulations to all of the participants!
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Yearbook Completion
Congratulations to GW’s yearbook class for completing the 2021-2022 yearbook! This is the second time a yearbook class has been offered to our students. The yearbook class focuses on allowing students to unleash their creativity and engage their digital design skills to create a long-lasting product. This year’s book was created in collaboration with students of all grade levels as well as contributions from the GW community. The yearbook is currently being published and will be ready for distribution over summer break. As we receive our yearbooks, let’s be sure to acknowledge the effort put into this product. We are excited for you to see it!
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GW Students Sweep Metro State Math Day
The George Washington Patriots brought three teams to Metro State Math Day, an annual competition where students from across Colorado (and even other states) compete in three categories: Algebra, Geometry, and Engineering. Metro State Math Day competitions vary from typical pencil-to-paper math competitions, as they are team-focused and collaborative. The teams representing GW were: Team 1 – Ezra Caplan, Sophia Fabian, and Maxwell Rodgers, Team 2 – Rowan Eklund, Jack Pflugh, Storm Thomas and Maggie Schneider, and Team 3 – Xavier Hill, Fisher Pruitt, Brady Schiff, and Nathan Tamkin. GW won all three competitions, with Team 1 winning both the Algebra and the Geometry competitions, and Team 3 winning the Engineering competition (as well as placing third in the Algebra competition). Congratulations to these GW math students on an awesome outing!
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GW Hosts Inaugural Colorado High School Chess League Competition
On Saturday, April 23 George Washington High School was honored to host the inaugural league championship of the newly-formed Colorado High School Chess League. Team Captains Ezra Caplan and Henry Dole both competed for GW. In total, 60 players from Mountain Vista, Rock Canyon, Chatfield, Thunder Ridge, Smoky Hill, Overland, Cherry Creek, Castle View, Rocky Mountain, Littleton, Dakota Ridge and George Washington High Schools participated at both Varsity and JV levels in a five-round, Swiss-style tournament.
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GSA Family Night – An Evening of Education and Celebration
On Tuesday, April 26, the GSA hosted its first-ever family night. The students of the GSA wanted to create an evening that was warm and inviting for students and their families, as well as educational. To do this, the students applied for and were awarded a grant through the A to Z fund sponsored by DPS. Through the grant, the students were able to have over 80 attendees eat dinner, learn about Trans rights and how families can support Trans students, and enjoy some socializing over arts and crafts and music. The GSA wants to thank all who attended and shared their expertise, including Benny Chester of CU School of Medicine, Logan Anderson of the True Center for Gender Diversity, Hope von Gunten, a Nurse Navigator of Gender Affirming Surgery, and Page Regan of a Queer Endeavor. We also want thank all attendees. We hope to have more events like this in the future!
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Go Green Day Recap
On Saturday, April 30, over 40 students and community volunteers participated in our 14th annual Go Green Day. Together, they added five new trees to the GW arboreal family. Our volunteer gardeners also restored the north planter box and distributed mulch to every single tree on campus, rounding out yet another productive and wonderful Go Green Day. Special thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer and support this beautiful GW tradition!
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Illuminate, a Social Justice Journal
Illuminate is a journal produced by the GWHS Social Justice League incorporating pieces of art and literature created by students. These works are related to important social justice issues to which students want to bring awareness. Please read our May issue of Illuminate HERE.
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National History Day State Finalist
Congratulations to Evelyn Milias, who won silver at the Denver City National History Day competition, then moved on to final competition rounds at the State level. Her senior paper, “The Waco Tragedy: How Public Outcry Sparked Congressional Debate,” addressed this year’s National History Day theme of “Debate and Diplomacy: Successes, Failures and Consequences.”
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Student Presents Talk at TED x Youth@CherryCreek
Kalina Kulig participated in the TED x Youth@CherryCreek event this May, which invited students to share a topic about which they are passionate. Please click HERE to view Kalina’s talk titled “How to Reinvent Policing.”
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Scholastic Art & Writing Awards – Gold Key
Congratulations to Finn Hilty for representing GW at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. He earned a Gold Key and was recognized at the regional art show hosted by the Denver Art Museum.
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GW Hosts DPS Adaptive Field Day
You may have seen in a recent 9News story that GWHS hosted the second annual DPS Adaptive Field Day for elementary students on May 13. The 2018 GWHS AVID class started the tradition of Adaptive Field Day. This idea created a more inclusive community by collaborating with AVID and establishing a Peer-to-Peer PE class at GWHS. The Peer-to-Peer PE class is a class where students work with PMDs (Patriots with Multiple Disabilities) in establishing friendships and teaching social skills while enjoying physical movement. The idea progressed to include not only GW students, but students with multiple disabilities throughout DPS. Thank you, GW students, for keeping this wonderful homegrown tradition alive!
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JROTC Unarmed Regulation Team Competes at Rocky Mountain Regional Drill Competition
Members of the JROTC Unarmed Regulation Drill Team competed at the Rocky Mountain Regional Drill Competition on Saturday, April 9 at the National Western Complex. The event, one of the largest and finest all-service drill competitions in the country, attracts teams from as far away as Alaska. Members of the team included Jaskirat (Jazzy) Kaur, Evelyn Milias, Kevin Lopez, Siddik Ullah, Matt Chufong-Sprague, Troy Kennedy, Parker Pruitt, Liam Anderson, Anna Johnson and Brandon Lopez. The team performed exceptionally well, and represented GWHS in a professional manner. Additionally, Jazzy and Evelyn competed in Honor Platoon, an unarmed exhibition drill event, and received high compliments from the President of Drill Team Dynamics for their excellent performance, as well as their positive example and mentorship of other high school students enrolled in JROTC. Super job, team – you should all be proud of your performance and leadership!
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JROTC Raider Team Competes at Denver Raider Series Challenge
Members of the GWHS JROTC Raider Team competed at the Denver Raider Series Challenge. The event took place on Saturday, May 7 at the National Guard Armory in Denver. The members of the team included Anna Johnson, Cameron Hukari, Troy Kennedy, Rafael Hernandez, Stuart Motes, Sam Datz, Gavin Weber and Jazzy Kaur. The team placed second in the mixed team event and received a trophy for their performance. Anna Johnson placed second in the two mile run and Jazzy Kaur placed third in the seated power throw. Congratulations, team! Great job!
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Speech and Debate Heading to Nationals
After three different qualifying tournaments, GWHS is proud to announce it is sending eighteen competitors to the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Tournament! The tournament takes place in Louisville, Kentucky from June 11 through June 18. Please find a complete list of these amazing GWHS competitors HERE. Good luck, Patriots!
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International DECA Finals for GWHS Students
DECA, a long-standing business competition program promoting business education and community service, had a great second year at GWHS, with 55 student members. After sending 24 students to the State competition in Colorado Springs in late February, GWHS took 9 students to the International DECA Finals held in Atlanta, Georgia in late April! Greg Mackintosh was a finalist in role play for Sports and Entertainment Marketing, and Braeden Rudolph and Nathan Tamkin advanced to the final round in Business Law and Ethics. We are so proud of our GWHS DECA team!
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Patriot Powerlifters Compete
GWHS had six students compete in a powerlifting competition on May 1 in Golden. These students have been practicing before school this spring as an added activity to their already full schedules. They competed in squat, bench, and deadlift. All the students medaled, and some made new personal records! This is the first group of powerlifting students that GWHS has had in a long time and they are already creating great traditions and an encouraging, positive community for future powerlifters.
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GWHS Students’ Learning Adventure in Washington, DC
In late April, sixteen GWHS students traveled to our nation’s capital on a whirlwind sightseeing and educational tour. They were able to visit the National Mall, the Smithsonian Museum for African American History and Culture, Capitol Hill, the White House and the home of George Washington himself!
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Teachers Enjoy Dessert Day!
The teachers and staff at GWHS are so grateful to our community for the appreciation they demonstrated during Teacher Appreciation Week. We enjoyed breakfast burritos at our Staff Meeting on May 5, then indulged in a lavish Dessert Day buffet on May 6! Thank you for all your kindness and support.
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