Week of September 22, 2015

Help Alleviate Underfunding of MLWGS

MLWGS PTSA is asking students, parents, and friends to support THE school and all of Virginia's Governor's Schools by signing this petition requesting Governor McAuliffe to fix funding for Virginia's Academic-Year Governor's Schools in his budget proposal which will be announced in December.

Sign petition HERE.

This is the culmination of a three-year effort to address serious disparities in the way Virginia funds Governor's Schools. Please join the more than 2,214 supporters who have signed already. The petition links to a recent Study of Governor's School Funding outlining deficiencies. Read the signer comments at the bottom of the petition link and you will see many reasons to become a supporter. Individuals who are at least 13 years of age may sign.




Volunteers are vital to the Success of Fall Festival!


The festival relies on volunteers to help with many jobs including set-up, booth support, PTSA drink sales, crowd control, ticket counting, and tear-down. Students are welcomed to work alongside their parents, and may earn community service hours working in the Kid Zone. Volunteers are needed beginning at 9 a.m. on October 9, the day of the festival, to help set up tables, chairs and booths. Volunteers are also needed throughout the festival and at the end for tear down and ticket counting.

The MLWGS PTSA is looking to borrow certain items essential to the festival success such as tents and coolers. Please use the following link to sign up to volunteer for a shift or two, or to lend items: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0444aaae2da5f58-2015




Deadlines Approaching for Fall Festival!


The deadline to sign up for booths and entertainment is Friday September 25! Class and Club Sponsors should register booths on line at: http://goo.gl/forms/mu6Cs6vRvK. Entertainers should register at: http://goo.gl/forms/RCCxIS4MyU

The deadline for Corporate Sponsorship is Wednesday, September 30! As of Thursday, September 17, the Fall Festival is pleased to announce that Virginia Family Physicians, Finance for Churches, and Natural Awakenings have all committed to be Fall Festival Corporate Sponsors! If your company is interested in supporting MLWGS clubs and activities as well, please contact Michelle Hobbs at michellehobbs@me.com.




Attention Senior Parents!

The September Senior Newsletter is now available on the School Counseling Website (https://sites.google.com/a/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlw-school-counseling/2011-2012-newsletters). This newsletter contains college-related reminders and a listing of scholarships with approaching deadlines. The latest newsletter was distributed to students in their English classes last week. Scholarship information for seniors is also available on the School Counseling website (https://sites.google.com/a/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlw-school-counseling/college-admissions-information-1/scholarships-financial-aid) and in Naviance (https://connection.naviance.com/mlwgs). 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.




Enrichment Opportunities for students

Attention Juniors and Seniors!
The Society of Women Engineers at the University of Virginia invites high school seniors and juniors to apply for a place in their High School Visitation program, taking place Saturday, November 14, 2015. The program gives young women a comprehensive look at engineering fields and at UVA’s engineering curriculum through informative speakers and hands-on design activities. The program is designed to benefit participants with all levels of engineering experience, but it particularly targets those students who are not yet familiar with the field but may be interested in applying to engineering schools or pursuing a STEM career. Applications are available at http://www.virginiaswe.orgApplications are due by October 23

Virginia Earth Systems Science Scholars (VESSS) is a NASA-based program for 11th/12th grade students who are interested in Earth Systems Science-related science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM). This course focuses on Earth Systems Science and the NASA mission that help study these topics.  Applications and additional information can be found at https://spacegrant.net/apps/?pk=sss and are due by November 8, 2015

Attention Juniors!
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is a NASA-based program for 11th-grade students who are interested in aerospace-related science, technology, engineering, and/or math (STEM). Applications and additional information can be found at http://vasts.spacegrant.org. The application deadline is November 8, 2015. 

Attention Sophomores!
Virginia Space Coast Scholars is a NASA-based STEM program for 10th-grade students who are interested in NASA’s space and Earth and airborne science-related missions managed or flown by NASA Wallops Flight Facility. This dynamic (and FREE) program, designed by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), inspires students who possess technical and/or scientific interests and are motivated to learn about the many different opportunities that NASA offers. Additional information and applications can be found at http://vscs.spacegrant.org/. Applications are due by November 8, 2015.