Week of February 3, 2015

Night of the Dragon--Tickets available only one more week!

Don't miss the chance to attend the 13th Annual Night of the Dragon Auction on Saturday, February 21. Tickets are selling quickly for an expected sell-out crowd again this year at this fabulous fundraiser that benefits the entire school. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and there are no ticket sales at the door.

The inventory of auction items includes weekend getaways to the beach and the mountains, several gourmet dinners, more than a dozen themed gift baskets along with unique jewelry, sports memorabilia, and plenty of items to help parents and MLWGS supporters show dragon spirit!  The catalog should be online within the next week!

All ticket purchases are online this year - purchase your tickets at www.nightofthedragon.com. Please buy tickets as soon as possible - but no later than the RSVP deadline which is Friday February 6. Remember to pre-purchase drink tickets at the discounted rate of $6 each, and heads/tails tickets along with event tickets. 

Can't attend this year? Watch for the opportunity to "Buy It Now" on nearly 100 items in our "Buy It Now" online event which will be available at www.nightofthedragon.com two weeks before the event!

For more information on the Night of the Dragon Auction, check out the event website: www.nightofthedragon.com. For questions, please contact Karen Akens, Night of the Dragon 2015 Administrative Co-Chair, at nightofthedragon15@gmail.com




FOUNDATION SUPPORTS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION

For Fine Arts Department Chair Jeff “Coach” Hall, one of the challenges of teaching art is keeping up with the latest trends and techniques of the profession, especially in digital art or, as it is often referred to, “new media.”  Think of traditional sculpture or painting but add in engineering, programming, and computer science.  In addition to keeping up with the techniques, having access to the equipment is an additional obstacle.

However, thanks to a grant from the Governor’s School Foundation, the art department now has access to both the training and equipment for “new media” via HackRVA.  HackRVA is a local maker space located in nearby Scott’s Addition.  Their website declares “You provide the enthusiasm and we provide the tools and community.” The Foundation-funded membership provides access to everything from networking to woodworking programming to robotics.  Students in the digital art class designed sculptures that were printed on HackRVA’s 3D printers. 

Contributions to the Foundation Annual Fund help bring cutting-edge technology and teaching to MLWGS students.  So far this year, the Annual Fund Campaign has raised $224,755 for the school. Overall current parent participation is 29%, and here is the parent participation by class:

• Seniors: 36%
• Juniors: 29%
• Sophomores: 38%
• Freshmen: 18%

To donate online, please click here.




Parent-Teacher Conferences



Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for February 12  from 4 -7 p.m.  Dr. McGee is sending out an email this week with links to Signup Genius for conference registration.  If you do not receive the email by Friday, February 6, please email kzweerink@gsgis.k12.va.us or mrainey@gsgis.k12.va.us for the link.




Attention Senior Parents!

The February Senior Newsletter is now available on the School Counseling Website. This newsletter contains college-related reminders and a listing of scholarships with approaching deadlines. The newsletter was distributed to students in their English classes last week. Scholarship information for seniors is also available on the School Counseling website and in Naviance. Contact your child’s counselor if you would like to view the Naviance scholarship database and need your registration code. Scholarships are still being added to this database on a monthly basis, most with direct links to the applications. Hard-copy applications are scanned and attached to the scholarship description as a PDF. Please note that all deadlines posted on Naviance or in the Newsletter are subject to change as organizations are still sending us updated information for this school year. Check the organization’s website for the most current information. Please contact Rachel Loving in the School Counseling Office with scholarship questions.




Attention Junior Parents!


You are invited to attend the College Kickoff program for Juniors on February 10 at 12:45 p.m. See invitation below! Postcard (below) and email invitations have also been sent. Please contact Rachel Loving (rloving@gsgis.k12.va.us, x3211) or Penny Deck (pdeck@gsgis.k12.va.us, x3240) with questions.

Senior counselor caseloads for the Class of 2016: Last names A-Le, Ms. Deck; Last names Li-Z, Dr. Loving





MLWGS Valentine’s Day Dance

It’s that time already! Each year, the Sophomore Class hosts the MLWGS Valentine’s Day Dance and this year is no different.  The dance will be held at school on Friday, February 13 from 7-10 p.m. The dance is open to all MLWGS students and their dates, if they choose to bring one.  Tickets for the dance will be sold during school next week.  Tickets must be purchased by the end of the lunch on Friday February 13 as they will NOT be sold at the door.  Again, tickets will NOT be sold at the door.  The ticket price has not yet been set, but will likely be $10 or less.  The dress code is casual this year.  If students plan to bring a guest who is not a student at MLWGS, a form must be completed in advance and requires a signature from an official at the guest’s school. Forms can be found in Room 100.

Parents are needed to help out with this event.  Please see the sign up genius below.  If you volunteer to send in snacks, please ask your student to leave them in Mike Brown’s office. Snacks and non-perishables can be brought in on either Thursday or Friday, the 12th and the 13th.   Please also send in any brown grocery bags those in to Mr. Brown’s office as well.  They will be used to store student coats during the dance. 

As always, thanks for your support!

Sally Schultz and Cathy Temple
Sophomore Class Parent Reps





MLWGS Blood Drive

MLWGS will hold a Blood Drive on Friday, February 6, 2015 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in Rooms 104 and 105. Please sign-up with Mr. Blanton for an appointment time to donate. Walk-ins are also welcome. Prepare for your donation by eating well and staying hydrated. Please bring an ID to your donation appointment.

Every participant will receive a coupon for Outback Steakhouse!

*All students ages 16 and 17 MUST have a signed parental consent form to donate and all MUST have ID.




MLWGS Parents Love Robotics!

As the Mech Tech Dragons continue their hard work on this year’s robot, a past parent’s testimonial on the rewards of the long hours put in by students and parents provides insight into the value of this program:

My son Wil Thomason (’12 Chesterfield) has benefited greatly from his commitment to Team 422.  As a UVa student majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics, his team experience has been integral to his decisions and choices in college and graduate school, in teaching and research positions, in internships, and in development of his future goals.  FIRST Robotics contributed to his confidence and expertise which has led to opportunities with Microsoft, Google, and Palantir, to name a few.   Thank you!  David Thomason




MLWGS Students Perform in Virginia Dance Festival

Four MLWGS students will be performing with the Richmond Ballet Ensemble in the 16th Annual Virginia Dance Festival Saturday February 7 to benefit Children’s Hospital Foundation.  Annika Basch (’15, Richmond), Samantha McCoy (’15, Richmond), Catherine Gilfoyle (’16, Richmond), and Samantha Grossman ('18, Richmond) will perform at both the 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows at Altria Theater (formally the Landmark Theater).
The event will feature more than 300 dancers performing traditional and cultural dances as well as a silent auction.  Tickets may be purchased at Etix.com.




Get Lost at The Dragon's Lair

Well, with the end of exams, we turn our attention to that next major academic milestone:  SPRING BREAK!!  And the staff of the Dragon's Lair stand prepared to help you avoid the embarrassment that plagues spring breakers for years - - no, not 'should-have-thought-twice' selfies posted to Facebook.  Worse than that: Misplaced luggage. Just think, instead of watching luggage circle the baggage claim carousel, you can immediately spot your MLWGS-tagged baggage as soon as it comes down the chute.  And then it's goodbye airport, hello sweaty cab ride.

Come get tagged every Tuesday and Thursday during lunch at The Dragon's Lair and during special after-school events. Check out our entire selection of apparel, accessories, gifts and more at http://mlwgsdragons.weebly.com/.  Cash and checks are always welcome.