GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION SUPPORTS JABBERWOCK
Have you visited the new on-line version of the MLWGS Jabberwock, the student-produced newspaper? If you do, you are in for a treat! An enhancement grant from the Governor's School Foundation helped make this dream a reality.
The
Foundation’s grant covered the one-time set-up fees of host organization SNO
(School Newspapers Online), as well as multimedia, advertising and form
building capabilities. According to Dr.
Janet Spencer, Jabberwock sponsor, “…we are excited about the ability to
feature color photographs, update the Sports Center more rapidly, and explore
uses of multimedia for journalistic purposes.
This grant will help us attract new readers and improve the scope of our
content.” Follow Jabberwock at http://mlwgsjabberwock.com/.
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
AND ALL 19 ACADEMIC-YEAR GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS AIM FOR $3.6 MILLION INCREASE
Great news! The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) recently submitted a
budget recommendation of an additional, annual increase of $3.6 million to
implement a new funding formula for Virginia's Academic-Year Governor's Schools
(AYGS). If this request is incorporated into the state budget, MLWGS will
receive a significant increase in state funding in the 2016-2017 school year.
This additional funding will help alleviate chronic underfunding issues at
MLWGS. The time and effort the staff at VDOE devoted to devising a more
equitable funding formula is much appreciated. The critical process of
reviewing budget requests is underway. Governor McAuliffe, who has stated that
education is his number one budget priority, will present his spending plan in
December and the goal is to see this new formula and funding included. Governor
McAuliffe needs to hear how important it is to properly fund Academic-Year
Governor's Schools.
If
you have contacts in the Governor's office or the General Assembly, please
e-mail MLWGS PTSA Advocacy volunteers Anne Hayes, annehayes@verizon.net or
Laura O'Brien, prable@comcast.net.
And, if you haven't done so already, show your support by signing the petition
HERE (https://www.change.org/p/gov-mcauliffe-please-fix-funding-for-virginia-s-governor-s-schools)
FALL FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!
Friday,
October 9, was a beautiful day and hundreds of people from the MLWGS and
surrounding community came to enjoy the 2015 Fall Festival! This year was one
of the best all-around Fall Festival ever, raising more than $15,000 for MLWGS clubs!
Twenty different groups and individuals performed on the fabulous stage lent to
us by Henrico Recreation and Parks. The entertainment line-up was one of the
best ever, providing the crowds with a wide variety of acts. There were more
than 60 different booths, offering a wide variety of activities and food for
all! Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our wonderful clubs and
organizations! Additional thanks to the 100+ folks who volunteered and/or
lent items!
Special
recognition should go to all the Fall Festival Committee Members who worked
hard to make this years festival a huge success. In particular we would like to
thank MLWGS senior parents, most of whom have been on the Committee for the
past four years. They are the Kristen Vithoulkas (Committee Chair), Trish
Edinboro (Community Outreach), Mary Call (Drinks), Cara Metz (Entertainment), Paula
Chambers (Fall Festival Times), Michele Nelson (Security), and Julie Fegler
(Support). Their leadership will be missed next year! Mike Normansell
(Logistics) is also a senior parent who will still be with the committee next
year.
Finally,
we would like to thank our Corporate Sponsors:
- Midlothian Behavioral Health Associates
- Patient First
- Virginia Family Physicians
- Commonwealth Primary Care
- Laxmi Palace
- Natural Awakenings
- Nyfeler Associates
- Short Pump Dental
Their
contributions allowed MLWGS to invest in items such as more tents which
improved the look and the organization of the Festival. Special thanks also
goes to:
- Henrico Recreation and Parks
- Container First Services
- 1709 Gallery’s InLight Richmond
- Dan Lee of Optimum Ed
- Richmond City Police
- Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Samantha Mier
- Karl Van Klein
- Charles Aldridge
- Dave Dembicer
- MLWGS Administration, Security, Maintenance and Cafeteria
- MLWGS Photography Club
- Governor’s School Foundation
- all our many volunteers!
For
a slide show of Fall Festival, check out the following link:
FOUNDATION MAILING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Thursday,
October 22
The
MLWGS Foundation needs volunteer help in preparing a bulk mailing on Thursday,
October 22, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the MLWGS Boardroom. If you have a few
hours to spare, please join us!
Foundation
helpers will be preparing our first Annual Fund Letter mailing. No RSVP
necessary, but for questions or to be added to the Foundation's volunteer list
for future bulk mailings, please contact Laura Lewis at laura.lewis@governorsschoolfoundation.org.
ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS
The
October and Mid-October Senior Newsletters are now available on the School
Counseling Website.
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 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.
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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.
The Hugh
O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar Program is offering one slot for a
sophomore from MLWGS school to attend its state-wide seminar in the
spring. Interested students should submit a 75 to 100-word essay to Ms.
Davis describing the most rewarding and challenging aspect of being a leader in
our school and community. The deadline for submission is October 30.
More information about the program is available at www.hoby.org.
The
Society of Women Engineers at the University of Virginia invites high
school seniors and juniors to apply for a place in our 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.org. Applications
are due by October 23.
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 Nov. 8, 2015.
Virginia
Earth Systems Science Scholars (VESSS) is a NASA-based program for 11th
and 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 Nov. 8, 2015.
MLWGS
YEARBOOK RECOGNIZED
The 2015 MLWGS yearbook won first-place in the VHSL judging. Congratulations to Editor-in-Chief Devon Bortz (’16, Richmond), and to current co-Editors-in-Chief (and 2015 editors) Virginia Chambers (’16, Henrico) and Julia Trachtenberg (’16, Chesterfield). Their creativity, diligence and leadership made this award possible, and they have every reason to be proud!
