Grandparents’ Day 2015 a Success!
Grandparents'
and Special Friends' Day, sponsored by the Governor's School Foundation, was
held April 17. Approximately 125
grandparents and special friends of current students joined us for this
opportunity to visit with their grandchildren at MLWGS. After a short
presentation by Director Dr. Jeff McGee, Student Ambassadors led the
grandparents and special friends on a short tour of the school. A reception
with their grandchildren followed. Mary Michael Schweiker and her hard-working
team from the Foundation Events Committee organized the event.
So far this year, the Foundation's Annual Fund Campaign has raised $285,070 for the school. Overall current parent participation is 44%, and here is the parent participation by class:
• Seniors: 43%
• Juniors: 39%
• Sophomores: 50%
• Freshmen: 46%
The Governor’s School Foundation’s Annual Fund Campaign supports programs for students, grants for teacher continuing education, and special projects for facilities and equipment. To donate online, please click here.
So far this year, the Foundation's Annual Fund Campaign has raised $285,070 for the school. Overall current parent participation is 44%, and here is the parent participation by class:
• Seniors: 43%
• Juniors: 39%
• Sophomores: 50%
• Freshmen: 46%
The Governor’s School Foundation’s Annual Fund Campaign supports programs for students, grants for teacher continuing education, and special projects for facilities and equipment. To donate online, please click here.
MLWGS STUDENTS MAKE SCHOOL BOARD VISITS
On May 12, MLWGS seniors Piper
Shifflett, Ben Bowers, and Joseph Boyle (all ’15, Hanover) attended a Hanover
County School Board meeting to communicate their appreciation for the
opportunity to attend Maggie Walker. The students had a chance to speak
to the board and share their experiences, as well as thank them for their
support with a small gift.
Each year, the PTSA coordinates student
visits to the various school boards that support MLWGS. The students are
able to use their own words to describe what an impact the school and the staff
at Maggie Walker has had on them. This experience is great for the
students and the School Board members look forward to hearing from MLWGS
students every year. If you’d like to learn more about visits and
contacts with our district school boards, contact Kristin Lyons, PTSA
School Board Visit Coordinator (clyons1@comcast.net).
NOMINATE A SPECIAL MLWGS VOLUNTEER!
The PTSA
will be honoring two very special MLWGS volunteers at the MLWGS End-of-Year
Volunteer event hosted by the Governor's School Foundation on Tuesday, May 26,
2015.
For each
award, the PTSA is seeking nominations for outstanding parent volunteers who
offer their time to PTSA, Booster groups, the Foundation, or in any other
school-support capacity.
The MLWGS
relies heavily on the support of so many, and there are countless ways for
volunteers to get involved. Therefore the PTSA has created two uniquely
different awards: The Green Dragon Award for a visible
and active member of the volunteer community; and The Dragon’s Lair
Award for the person who works behind the scenes, not
necessarily in a leadership role.
Any member
of the MLWGS community may nominate a volunteer (no more than one nomination
per award please). Awards will be determined based upon nominations
received.
Please
submit nominations to mew.mailbox@gmail.com no later than Friday, May
22, 2015. Thank you for taking the time to nominate a fellow volunteer!
Costa Rica Trip – Spring Break 2016
Students interested in
the spring break 2016 trip to Costa Rica can enroll now at http://www.eftours.com/1713827WP.
Students will spend 9
days exploring the ecology, geology, history, and culture of Costa Rica. In
Tortuguero students will discover 11 different habitats, including nesting
ground for sea turtles. Then students will enjoy a unique perspective of the
rainforest while whitewater rafting and zip-lining in Sarapiqui. The next stop
will be the Arenal region, where students will study volcanic geology. The Arenal
volcano serves as a watershed for the lake, powers the hot springs, and
supports the majestic La Fortuna waterfall. The final destination is
Guanacaste, where students can explore Pacific beaches. They will also visit a
cloud forest and snorkel in a marine ecosystem. Of course, they will also have
some free time to experience local culture.
The cost of the trip is
$2635 and that price includes:
- Air fare
- Ground transportation
- Accommodations
- Meals
- Full-time tour guides
- Insurance
- Activities
For more information
contact Mr. David Barnes at dbarnes@gsgis.k12.va.us,
or 354-6800 ex 3060, or visit http://www.eftours.com/1713827WP.
Music Performance
Auditions for Seniors
May 19 & 20, 3:40 –
4:40 p.m. in the Auditorium
Showcasing MLWGS Senior
musical talent is an important tradition at Senior Recognition Night and
graduation. For example, vocalists are needed to sing The Star
Spangled Banner. Additional performers or performance groups (instrumental
or vocal) are sought for both events. Students
should begin preparing now if they would like to audition. Any
MLWGS senior or group of seniors interested in auditioning must sign up for a
time slot by May 15 on the list outside the Forum. Final decisions
will be made by a committee of faculty members and the class
officers. Note: All students intending to perform must be present
at auditions and are required to perform their intended piece for graduation or
Senior Night.
MLWSGS Students Perform Well in
AATI 2015 National Italian High School contest
This year
140 schools in twenty-one states and Canada participated in the
American Associate of Teachers of Italian 2015 National Italian High School
Contest Examination. In total, 4,464 students took the exam, which has three
levels. Participation across the levels was as follows: Level I - 1,398
students; Level II - 1,625 students; Level III - 1,441 students.
Three MLWGS
students ranked in the top 5 nationally in their level.
Raleigh
Browne (’15, Hanover) took second place nationally in Level II, receiving a
prize of $200. Isabella Ragazzi (’16, Richmond) took fourth place nationally,
winning $100.00, and Zoe Nelson (’16, Chesterfield) took fifth place nationally
in the country, winning $50.00
In
addition, Professor Lucrezia Lindia, president of the Società Onoraria Italica,
has contributed $1,200 to this contest. Using a lottery system, her committee
will select twenty-four students from the Honorable Mention List in each level
and they will receive $50 dollars each from Professor Lucrezia Lindia.
The
following MLWGS students in Italian I and Italian II earned a place on the Honorable
Mention List:
Level I
Brennan
Adams
Darby
Anderson
Jamie Benson
Emma Bilski
Ryan Buscaglia
Lane Dye
Dolan
Edinboro
Shanti
Hiremath
Kyle
Knachel
Addie Locke
Benjamin
Milburn-Town
Tess Monks
John Otero
Michael
Patina
Elle Rosenbaum
Madeline
Russo
Robin
Schwartzkopf
Level II
James Banta
Wynne
Barsanti
Devon Bortz
Bailey Dunn
Evan Fisher
Lori
Horning
Willa King
Jack Miller
Alexandra Norman
Lyla Rossi
Piper Shifflett
Maria
Tahamtani
Abby Watson
Natalie Weinberg
Level III
Blaise
Barsanti
Carrie
Hamilton
Noah Han
MWGS Hosts RVABikeDrive
Do you have
old bikes, bike accessories, or bike components that are no longer in use?
On Saturday, May 30, Sophomore Jackie O'Neil will be hosting a
used bike drive at MLWGS to benefit Bikes for the
World, an organization that provides people in need with bikes for
transportation to work and school.
Drop by Maggie Walker’s Student Parking Lot (near the track field fence) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, to donate your bike or bike parts, or email rvabikedrive@gmail.com to arrange pickup in the weeks leading up to the event.
An alternate Chesterfield location, BridgingRVA headquarters at 11307 Polo Place (Midlothian) will also be collecting bikes on May 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..
Monetary donations would also be greatly appreciated to cover part of the cost of shipment; donations will be collected at the drive and online.
If you have any questions, are interested in volunteering either at the event or as an advertiser, or if you would like to make an online donation, please email rvabikedrive@gmail.com. You can learn more about the work that Bikes for the World does both in local communities and around the world at http://www.bikesfortheworld.org/.
CONTACT: Jackie O'Neil at jackieexoneil@gmail.com
Yearbook Social
The
Yearbook staff will host the first annual Yearbook Social on Friday, May
29, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., in the Commons and Cafeteria. There will be
live music! Free pizza and drinks! The yearbook staff will distribute and sell yearbooks and offer for sale both autograph supplements and special gold and silver
Sharpies for yearbook signing. Students will have the opportunity to hang out and sign their
friends’ books. It promises to be a memorable event.
