Weekly Roundup August 29

2023-2024 BELL SCHEDULE
Please find the GWHS Bell Schedule for the 2023-2024 school year HERE, and the Weather Delay Bell Schedule HERE. Please note the modified bell schedules for the week of August 28 through September 1: 

• Tuesday, August 29: Regular seven-period bell schedule.
• Wednesday, August 30: Seven-period bell schedule (i.e., NOT an odd-block day schedule).
• Thursday, August 31: Pep rally schedule (Homecoming Pep Rally).
• Friday, September 1: Pep rally schedule (Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony).

COMPLETE THE “YOU BENEFIT!” FORM FOR HEALTHY FREE MEALS AND MORE!
All students in DPS will have access to free healthy, nutritious school meals beginning in the 2023-24 school year thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters! While meals will be provided for free to all DPS students through Healthy School Meals for All, families will still need to complete a form to ensure DPS gets full access to available federal funding.

What this means for families:

• Please continue to fill out the You Benefit! form (formerly referred to as the Meals Application). We ask all DPS families to please complete the You Benefit! form during registration for the 2023-24 school year. By completing the form, you will help us access all available funds to cover the cost of meals, and other nutritional programs for students.
• Families who fill out the You Benefit! form may qualify to receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support and more!
• All household income information provided through this form is strictly confidential and protected by law. Only one form is required for all children in the household. Immigration, migrant, citizenship or refugee status is not required when completing the form.

Learn more about the Healthy School Meals for All program in a short video in English and Spanish, this flier (Spanish is on page 2), or by visiting the Healthy School Meals for All website. If you have questions about completing the You Benefit! form, please contact the DPS Food & Nutrition Services department by calling 720-423-5600 or emailing the foodservices@dpsk12.org inbox.

ZERO FARE FOR YOUTH PILOT PROGRAM: FREE RTD RIDES FOR STUDENTS
Starting in September, RTD will offer free bus and train rides for students as part of their new Zero Fare for Youth pilot program. Students can ride for free starting September 1, 2023 until August 31, 2024. To board the bus or train, students will need to show a form of ID. This can be a current school ID, valid government-issued ID, registration/permanent resident card, Military ID/dependent card with DOB, or RTD-issued youth special discount card.

With the pilot program in place, please note that DPS Transportation will not be providing paper or virtual RTD tickets for the 2023-24 school year. Although RTD is allowing students of all ages to ride for free, DPS strongly encourages parents or guardians to accompany their elementary school students.

• Tuesday, August 29: Jersey Day! Wear your fave jersey (GWHS jerseys count!).
• Wednesday, August 30: Pink Out! Wear as much pink as possible.
• Thursday, August 31: Clash of the Classes! Freshmen wear yellow, sophomores wear white, juniors wear green, and seniors break out the black.
• Friday, September 1: Twin Day! Match your bestie.

• Tuesday, August 29: Community Pop-Up! Shop until you drop at 3:30pm in the North Lot.
• Wednesday, August 30: Patriot Powder Puff Game! Grade 11 v. Grade 12 will square off on the Turf Field at 3:30pm.
• Thursday, August 31: HOMECOMING! We start with a Pep Rally at 2:30pm in Chauncey Billups Gym, followed by a Tailgate from 3:30pm to 5:00pm in the North Lot. Then, come cheer on our Patriots at 6:00pm at All-City Stadium!
• Friday, September 1: Homecoming Dance! See details, below.

HOMECOMING CHAPERONES NEEDED
We are so excited to host Homecoming this Friday, September 1 in the GWHS South Courtyard! Please use this LINK to sign up for a chaperone slot (either 7:00pm to 9:00pm, or 9:00pm to 11:00pm). Chaperoning is easy and fun – this is a great way to meet our GWHS staff, community and our amazing students! Thank you so much ahead of time for your willingness to help out. Questions? Contact Ms. Paukstis. 

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Join us at GWHS for Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 6 from 5:00 to 7:00pm. Come let our ambassadors lead you through a tour of our building, talk with coaches about our sports, connect with other parents about involvement opportunities, and meet our teachers and staff (some who are GWHS alums!). All family members are welcome. Food will be provided, and Kona Ice will be available for purchase! Click HERE for more info. Questions? Contact Ms. Locks.

DOUGHNUTS WITH DR. DAVIS
Parents, guardians and community members, please join our principal, Dr. Davis, on Wednesday, September 6 from 8:00 to 8:30am in the GWHS Community Room for doughnuts and conversation. Dr. Davis will be hosting a “Doughnuts with Dr. Davis” event the first Wednesday of every month, so watch future Weekly Roundup issues for reminders about upcoming dates. Dr. Davis would love to take your questions, engage in conversation, and listen to your ideas during this casual event.

FALL SPORTS DINE-OUT AT MICI’S
Put away your pots and pans and have a pizza instead! Come support our Fall Patriot athletes by dining in or ordering out from Mici’s Italian on Tuesday, September 5 at the 7th Ave. & Colorado Blvd. location. This is an all-day event (from 11:00am to 8:00pm), so buying lunch and/or dinner will bring 20% right back to GWHS athletics. Please be sure to mention GWHS when ordering!

CROSS COUNTRY CHIPOTLE FUNDRAISER
GWHS Cross Country is having a fundraiser on Wednesday, September 6 from 5:00 to 9:00pm at the Chipotle on Monaco Parkway and Leetsdale Avenue. Please mention GWHS CROSS COUNTRY or order online using the code E8KPQ3V. See this FLYER for more info. Thank you for your support!

AN EVENING OF MUSIC WITH PETER SIMON
GWHS Class of 1967 alum Peter Simon is one of the most versatile and distinctive pianists on the world stage today! From concert halls to cruise ships, to US Embassies to schools, pianist and entertainer Peter Simon has generated widespread audience enthusiasm in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Israel, as well as hundreds of cities in the US, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center. We are incredibly proud to invite you to join us for an evening of music with Peter in support of George Washington High School Patriots Care – Be Inspired Fund. The George Washington High School – Be Inspired Fund is a parent-driven fundraising vehicle that aims to provide qualified private support to benefit the school and its students. The Fund’s mission is to “inspire parents and community members to support George Washington students and faculty with annual funds to enrich the student experience.” Event details:

• Date: Saturday, September 9
• Time: 7:00pm
• Location: GWHS Auditorium
• Tickets or donations: Click HERE. 

SCHOOL BOARD COMMUNITY MEETINGS
The Board of Education is excited to kick off their annual Back to School Tour. Each year, Director Esserman and Vice President Anderson host community meetings to hear from our community about concerns that they might have for the upcoming school year. This year there will be twelve meetings throughout Denver Public Schools. All School Board members have been invited to attend when meetings take place in their districts. Please see the tour locations and dates (all meetings begin at 5:30pm), as well as RSVP links if you would like to join a meeting:

• Tuesday, August 29 – College View Elementary School (D2)

https://forms.gle/tknN8iD91PA15cnu7

• Wednesday, August 30 – Valverde Elementary School (D2)

https://forms.gle/ZKgXdeo4sdYVm3zU6

• Thursday, August 31 – DCIS Baker (D5)

https://forms.gle/CR5CurJbD4EkMFDg7

• Tuesday, September 5 – Lake Middle School (D5)

https://forms.gle/C2WEy61QQ87soRFL7

• Tuesday, September 12 – Bruce Randolph (D5) 

https://forms.gle/xPT5UYoVqHxBp9PJ9

COLORADO ROCKIES SCHOOL FUNDRAISER WEEKEND
The Colorado Rockies are hosting their School Fundraiser Weekend during their home games against the San Francisco Giants. Ticket prices range from $12 to $50 depending on seat location. $2 from each ticket purchased comes back to GWHS, and each game includes giveaways to the first 15,000 fans to enter! Click HERE for the information and ticketing page, then scroll down to find GWHS in the listed schools. Game times:

• Friday, September 15 at 6:40pm
• Saturday, September 16 at 6:10pm (stay late for the post-game drone light show!)
• Sunday, September 17 at 1:10pm

CALLING ALL GWHS ALUMNI!
GWHS loves and appreciates all our alumni! We would like to foster alumni relations and preserve and promote the history of GWHS by having our alumni work in partnership with our school to build community and connection. Are you an alum interested in promoting student achievement, raising funds to benefit of GWHS’s community, or preserving and improving the buildings and grounds of our school? If so, please click HERE for a QR code to indicate your interest.

ORDER YOUR LETTERMAN JACKET
Letterman jacket orders are open now! Click HERE for more information.

WEEKLY ATHLETICS UPDATE
Patriots excel in the classroom and on the field! Check out this week’s Athletics Update HERE.