GWHS Breaking News
GWHS Clubs and Music Programs Thrive on Fundraisers
From fun bake sales to concerts, students at George Washington High School are finding creative ways to fund the activities they love. These fundraisers not only raise funds but also unite the school community, fueling school spirit and enhancing student life.
The Price of Memories
As graduation approaches, one of the biggest traditions for seniors is getting their iconic senior portraits taken. The different backgrounds, outfit changes, and seamless retouching, seems like a fun ordeal for many seniors when trying to capture the perfect snapshot. These photos represent their time at Washington and can be shared with classmates, teachers, and families. However, the high cost of these portraits has made this important rite of passage out of reach or a burden for many.
Get Ready to Show Your Colors: Spirit Week Hits GWHS
Get Ready to Show Your Colors: Spirit Week Hits GWHS
Get Ready to Show Your Colors: Spirit Week Hits GWHS
By Hiwan Tedla
This week, students at George Washington High School are getting creative for Spirit Week, a fun tradition that boosts school pride and community spirit. From Oct. 9 to Oct. 13, each day features a different, unique dress-up theme, leading up to the big Rally on Friday.
To learn more about this exciting week, I spoke with Sophie Wong, a member of ASB as Spirit Board. With four years of experience in student leadership, Wong shared insights into how the themes were chosen. “We asked students for their ideas through a Google form, making sure everyone could join in and have fun,” she explained. This year, students can look forward to favorites like Pajama Day and the new tradition of hallway decorations, where each class has a designated floor to show their creativity.
Wong believes Spirit Week is all about bringing people together. “I hope everyone feels included and excited to be part of our school,” she said. The ASB promotes the events through announcements, social media, and colorful posters around the school to encourage participation.
The week wraps up with the rally, where students compete in a color war—freshmen in gray, sophomores in black, juniors in white, and seniors in red. “It’s all about having fun and showing our school spirit,” Wong added.
As the week unfolds, students are reminded that Spirit Week is not just about dressing up; it’s about uniting as a community. “Every outfit is a way to express pride in our school,” Sophie said. With excitement building, Washington is set for an unforgettable Spirit Week!
College Becomes a Reality for Seniors at College Night
Get Ready to Show Your Colors: Spirit Week Hits GWHS
Get Ready to Show Your Colors: Spirit Week Hits GWHS
By Thao Le
Roughly 40 families showed up to College Night, hosted by the PTSA, just last week on Sept. 25, 2024. The meeting started at 6 p.m., offering families a chance to ask questions regarding the college admissions process, financial aid, personal insight questions, and college resources. The informational presentation was led by Chatree Touch, George Washington High School’s enthusiastic college and career counselor, who kindly reassured attendees with his various tips.
“I thought college night was quite informative,” Kara Howa smiled when questioned how she regarded the event. Howa, a senior student, continued recommending the event to future seniors, “Yeah, I think it will help them to get a better direction of what they want to do.”
College Night is an annual event meant to help families find their footing as they venture toward college applications. The short PTSA run-down before College Night officially began with mentioning the science department needed new calculators which parents were happy to consider as they decided how to use the school budget.
During the College Night presentation, Touch, located in Room 115F, brushed over the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process and tips regarding personal insight questions.
ASB Student Board’s Vice President’s mom and PTSA even shared her own experience with college admissions, mentioning The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), which allows for tuition-saving access to schools that the program partners with. This includes over 160 schools in Western America.
Touch helped reassure families that he would be there every step of the way following the college admission process.
College is an enormous milestone that takes a lot of effort from students and support from families. Rest assured since College Night and Touch, using the email TouchC@SFUSD.edu, are here to help!
Washington’s Annual Homecoming Dance is Almost Here After Being Postponed
Washington’s Annual Homecoming Dance is Almost Here After Being Postponed
Washington’s Annual Homecoming Dance is Almost Here After Being Postponed
By Tessa Roznovsky
After being postponed due to some conflict, George Washington’s 2024 Homecoming dance is right around the corner. The dance will be held in the gym on Saturday, Oct. 19, starting at 7 p.m.
Originally, Homecoming was scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, which is why Spirit Week and Fall Rally do not align with the week of the dance. The date was changed after some controversy around its overlap with Yom Kippur, an important Jewish holiday.
Now, students have an extra week to figure out what to wear. This year, the theme is “Miami Nights,” so students should plan to dress accordingly. The theme is not super specific, which allows for creativity and individuality among the attendees. Homecoming is a semi-formal event and should be treated as such. Students should try to find something that stays on theme but is comfortable to dance in. The dance will last about three hours, so comfort is important.
The dance starts at 7 p.m., and the doors will close at 8 p.m. All students and their guests need to enter from the Beacon gate on 30th Avenue. Food trucks and a photobooth will be available, along with a free bag check. Students must bring their ticket and student ID in order to enter.
Tickets will cost $25 per person and will be required for entry. However, there will be a presale, where tickets can be purchased for just $20. There is no reason to miss this deal, so students should be ready to stand in line once it begins on Oct. 7, 2024. The presale will last until Oct. 11. Regular sale begins Oct. 15 and ends Oct. 18. Anyone interested in bringing a guest must first fill out the guest form, and the guest ticket must be bought alongside a student ticket. Guest tickets will cost $25 each.
Tickets can be purchased in Room 120 during lunch and after school, same as previous years. Both cash and card will be accepted.
Homecoming’s new date gives students extra time to prepare for the “Miami Nights” theme. Stay updated on ticket sales to enjoy this upcoming semi-formal event!
Explore Your Future: Career Day Brings Professionals to GWHS
Washington’s Annual Homecoming Dance is Almost Here After Being Postponed
Washington’s Annual Homecoming Dance is Almost Here After Being Postponed
By Jolie Li
George Washington High School will host its third Career Day on Oct. 16 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., offering students a chance to connect with other professionals from various work fields. This event will be held in the esplanade, where tables will be set up for guest speakers, allowing students to walk around and network freely with them.
Career Day is a great opportunity for students to ask questions and learn about different careers that might interest them. “There will be some professionals attending like scientists, private investigators, private equity staff, software developers, sales operations, auditors, and accountants attending,” says Jirachanon Anurakdaenthai, one of the event organizers.
Students can discover the skills and education required for each profession, and what a typical workday looks like. They are encouraged to come prepared with questions and think about what to gain from the event. This is a chance to gather real-world advice from different professionals who will share their success stories and the obstacles they faced along the way.
“This event is basically an opportunity for students to network and ask questions to professionals from all sorts of careers and backgrounds,” Anurakdaenthai adds. In addition to the in-person opportunities during Career Day, students can also connect with professionals year-round. Anurakdaenthai explains that Career Day is co-sponsored by PACE (Professional Advancement and Career Exploration), which also offers online webinars for high school students to network with guest speakers from various industries. Some of these professionals may even offer internships or mentorship programs for those looking to gain hands-on experience beyond the event.
So save the date! Career Day is a great opportunity to gather information and guidance for your future. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to explore the possible professions that await you after high school.
GWHS Speech and Debate Team Goes Undefeated This Weekend
GWHS Speech and Debate Team Goes Undefeated This Weekend
GWHS Speech and Debate Team Goes Undefeated This Weekend
By Eliza Moore
The GWHS Speech and Debate Team triumphed at the Golden Gate Speech Association Debate Tournament this past Sunday, Oct. 6. They went undefeated in all three rounds at Emerald High School in Dublin, California, in the varsity division, despite rookie experience with a new format. The team went up against five different schools from various counties, showcasing their talent as they worked to qualify for state-level competitions.
The GWHS Speech and Debate Team triumphed at the Golden Gate Speech Association Debate Tournament this past Sunday, Oct. 6. They went undefeated in all three rounds at Emerald High School in Dublin, CA, in the varsity division, despite rookie experience with a new format. The team went up against five different schools from various counties, showcasing their talent as they worked to qualify for state-level competitions.
“We weren’t expecting to win...so it was really exciting when they told us that we went undefeated all three rounds,” said Austin Li, captain of Washington's Speech and Debate team. As Li and his vice-president Edward Guerrero grinned and held their golden trophy - topped with a sparkling model of a podium - aloft, you could tell just how excited they really were. What made their performance even more impressive was that the team had never competed in the challenging ‘Public Forum’ format until their win this weekend. Public Forum requires the team to conjure up four types of speeches, as well as face three grueling periods of questioning called “crossfires.” Despite never having gone through this demanding competition format before, the Washington team was among only five varsity teams to go undefeated in the tournament against teams from public and private schools throughout California. Li told me that “this win builds confidence that we can still perform extraordinarily, despite our inexperience.” He hopes that this early victory will be a platform for the team to step off into a year of successful competition. And there's no debating that.
GWHS Interact Club Takes on Ocean Beach Pollution
GWHS Speech and Debate Team Goes Undefeated This Weekend
GWHS Speech and Debate Team Goes Undefeated This Weekend
By Samantha Wan
On Saturday, Oct. 5, George Washington High School’s Interact Club, along with many other schools, plans to take on the challenge of cleaning the community’s Ocean Beach.
Ocean pollution has always been a problem that threatens our world. People are becoming more and more careless, developing poor waste management practices, which leads to the increase in litter we see on our beaches today.
According to Clean Water Action, a campaign that values the environment and community and strives to protect and improve these aspects of life, “Marine plastic pollution has impacted at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species and 43% of all marine mammal species.” The influence pollution has on our marine ecosystem not only hugely affects the ocean’s species but can also be a danger to us humans, as “plastic debris is polluting the human food chain.”
With our school’s Interact Club committing to a beach cleanup this weekend, it gives an opportunity for the students to seek out about marine life, as well as helping prevent more waste entering the oceans. Educating students on the topic of pollution, and giving them a chance to contribute to the city’s environment, allows a deeper understanding on the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.
Staying aware of our city’s pollution and oceans is critical, as it sets our world forward from the amount of waste it is currently facing. When more and more people take part in opportunities to help the environment, such as the Ocean Beach Clean up, it really does make a difference.
Club Fair Kicks Off New School Year
Club Fair Kicks Off New School Year
Club Fair Kicks Off New School Year
By Lillian Hannan
Continuing George Washington High School tradition, the yearly club fair was hosted on Sept. 11 during advisory. Where Washington students gather around the esplanade and UCs in massive crowds, listening to speeches on why students should join various clubs.
Club Fair is held to give clubs an opportunity to increase their membership and give students a chance to find clubs that interest them. Wash does this by having Clubs set up a booth outside, which students adorn with sign up sheets and candy, enticing students to sign up in exchange for free candy. Even though this initial sign up may be influenced by the draw of sugar, many Club Presidents report that Club Fair helps significantly increase members and bring attention to their club.
When asked about the productivity of Club Fair, Thao Le, the Club President of Vietnamese Student Association explains, “It really helps promote all the smaller clubs as well as get out information for the newcomers like the Freshmen.”
Due to the fact that Washington is such a large school, it can be extremely helpful for students and particularly underclassmen to join clubs, therefore finding smaller communities they connect with and will enjoy being part of. Club Fair acts as a community builder, connecting students to their interests, hobbies, and each other.
Although finding these communities are important, Washington has over 60 clubs and due to the amount of booths, Club Fair can be a chaotic experience that may be overwhelming. So, if you weren't able to get to all the booths you wanted to, find the list of all active clubs posted in the main hallway.
However, if you don’t see anything that interests you, creating your own club is always an option!
Senior Jerseys CANCELLED
Club Fair Kicks Off New School Year
Club Fair Kicks Off New School Year
By Asha Ingram
In September, this year's decided seniors jerseys were revealed by ASB. Despite seniors being able to vote on it, the decided jersey has been less than popular, with many expressing disappointment over the result.
Seniors this year were originally allowed to choose one of three options: hockey, football and baseball jerseys, via a google form at the beginning of the school year. From this vote ASB narrowed it down to the Baseball and Football jersey options. With over 200 seniors voting on this final Instagram poll, Football eventually won with 128 votes, narrowly beating out Baseball with 118 votes.
The original jersey featured a red jersey with “Washington 25” logo on the front, followed by a “Seniors 25" logo on the back of the jersey. Both of these logos were in big white block lettering with a black border. The jersey also features an eagle on the left sleeve. This result, when released, has caused an overall negative consensus among the seniors.
“I was initially really excited to buy a jersey,” said student and Vietnamese Student Association President Thao Le. “ I was a little disappointed with how it looked in the end.” Le expressed her disappointment, particularly about the jersey’s design. “I wouldn’t say it's because it's a football jersey; I just feel like it lacks design compared to last year,” she said.
Seniors at Washington will have to wait until Oct. 9 to see the jerseys in person due to manufacturing delays caused by the recent Hurricane Helene on the east coast.
As for the negative feedback, ASB has adjusted the design of the jersey in the hopes that the overall opinion of them will improve.
What do George Washington Students think about this year's bell schedule?
What do George Washington Students think about this year's bell schedule?
What do George Washington Students think about this year's bell schedule?
There has been a lot of discussion between students at George Washington High School over the new bell schedule being implemented this year. The new bell schedule has students questioning if this change will bring new opportunities or add additional stress to their already busy schedules. George Washington decided to change the bell schedule for the 2024-2025 school year.
Behind-the-Cameras of Wash House Weekly
What do George Washington Students think about this year's bell schedule?
What do George Washington Students think about this year's bell schedule?
While watchers know the popular Wash House Weekly videos shown every Wednesday at George Washington High School, few know the chaos that drives the staff behind-the-cameras. At George Washington High School, we care, especially when it comes to forging a strong community amongst students and staff. Wash House Weekly is the hub for student outreach. Every week, they find ways to promote student involvement and unity amongst Washington High.