SPEAK UP AT THE BUDGET TOWN HALL
December
2, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
The annual budget development process for MLWGS is starting. Last year, parents
and students spoke up about a variety of needs including a new activity bus and
textbooks. Guess what? The activity bus was replaced as well as textbooks for
some of the classes that need them. The Regional School Board will listen, it just
needs your input. Come to the Budget Town Hall on Wednesday, December
2, 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the MLWGS Auditorium. Speakers need to signup in
advance by contacting Barbara Marshall at bmarshall@gsgis.k12.va.us no
later than 10:00 am on December 2. For more information about
the public comment procedure, click here. For other questions, please contact Anne Hayes, PTSA Advocacy Chair at annehayes@verizon.net.
DID YOU FORGET TO ORDER YOUR GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS?
Never
fear! Herff Jones will be accepting orders online through early January
without a late penalty. Go to www.vagrad.com, type
in “Maggie Walker” in the dialogue box at the top of the webpage. Once
the page loads, click on “Graduation Products.” If you don’t see an
option that fits your needs, simply scroll down to the bottom of the screen and
“Create Your Custom Grad Package.” Don’t forget…you have already paid for
your cap and gown (paid through senior dues). All orders received on time
will be delivered in late April. Please contact the vendor directly with
questions about these products. If
you have other questions regarding graduation, please contact Ms. Sheppard,
MLWGS Graduation Coordinator, at 804-354-6800 ext. 3304 or ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us.
LAST SCRIP ORDER BEFORE BREAK
Yes,
it's true. There is only one SCRIP order date left before the holiday break. If
you are trying to think of the perfect gift for that special someone, consider
a SCRIP gift card! The final scrip order due date before the holidays
is Tuesday, December 1. Cards will be delivered to school the
following Tuesday, December 8. SCRIP order forms can be picked up in the
Bluestone Lobby office or can be downloaded from the MW website. Contact Karen
Murtha at k.murtha@comcast.net or Lori
Bekenstein at lori.bek@verizon.net if you have any
questions.
SOL
TESTING INFORMATION
SOL
Testing for freshmen who attended private middle schools will take place during
the week of Monday December 7. Specific testing times and locations were
distributed to these students last week.
All
students at MLWGS are required to pass nine SOL End-of-Course tests in order to
qualify for a Virginia Advanced Studies High School Diploma. MLWGS
students typically earn SOL verified credits for Biology, Chemistry, World
History II (given at the end of 10th grade), US History (10th or 11th grade),
English writing (10th grade), English reading (11th grade), Algebra
I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
Students
who attended private middle schools need to verify earned credit through SOL
tests for Algebra I, Geometry, and/or Algebra II classes taken.
Students
are encouraged to go to the Virginia Department of Education site http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml
to review materials to prepare for the tests. In addition, students may
ask their current math teacher for additional help. Finally, the math
tutoring lab is open after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for help
with specific content.
Students
will have a practice opportunity to use the online math tools during lunch
on Monday, November 30 in lab 201. It is highly recommended that all
students attend this practice session since it is important to be able to use
the tools effectively during online testing. Students with last names A-H
should report at the start of lunch and last names K-Z should report
at noon.
SOL
tests are scored as fail, pass/proficient or advanced/college path. If a
student fails the SOL, he or she is permitted to take an expedited re-take if
the score is between 375 and 399. This re-take will be scheduled within a
couple of weeks of the initial testing date. If a student fails the
re-test, he or she will have an opportunity to retake the test in May.
The scores are not used for college admissions purposes and are only used for
verifying credits.
Please
contact MLW School Counseling Coordinator Karl Zweerink at kzweerink@gsgis.k12.va.us or 804-354-6800, extension 3210 if you
have any questions or if your student did not receive an SOL schedule last
week.
MLWGS
STUDENT HONORED BY NICKELODEON
Ethan
Cruikshank (Hanover ‘16) has been named a 2015 Nickelodeon HALO (Helping and
Leading Others) honoree for his efforts with his community service organization
Music To My Ears. The organization, which he founded in 2009, offers free
weekly musical instrument lessons to elementary school-age children taught by
experienced musicians in middle and high school. His program also provides
instruments to children that are unable to obtain a practice instrument so they
too can participate. Now in its seventh year, Music To My Ears has spread to
neighboring communities and three additional states. Through the efforts of the
volunteers, more than 1800 hours of service has been provided to their
communities. As a benefit of being a HALO honoree, Ethan received a college
scholarship and support for his organization. He is thrilled to be among the
four honored this year at the HALO TV awards show which airs on Nickelodeon on
November 29 at 7:00 p.m.
MLWGS
ORCHESTRA STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN
SOUTH CENTRAL SENIOR REGIONAL ORCHESTRA
Qualifying
for selection into the prestigious event requires a thorough blind audition
process that takes place each year in September. More than two-thirds of those
who audition will not qualify. At stake is the opportunity to perform in a one-hundred
piece symphony orchestra under the direction of an acclaimed guest conductor.
Participants also gain eligibility to audition for an even higher and more
competitive honor: All Virginia Orchestra. This year’s SRO event transpired
November 11-12 at Glen Allen High School. Maestro Scott Laird, Fine Arts
Coordinator and Instructor of Music at The North Carolina School of Science and
Mathematics, conducted works by Tchaikovsky and Smetana. Congratulations to
Rachel Zhao (Henrico ‘18,), 6th Cello, Willow Kwak (Henrico ‘18,), 10th
First Violin, and Andrew Shin (Henrico ’18), 1st Viola (pictured left to
right).
GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION SEEKS
PART-TIME FISCAL ASSISTANT
The
Governor's School Foundation has an immediate opening for a part-time fiscal
assistant. This position is responsible
for maintaining and updating certain fiscal records for the Foundation, whose
mission is to support MLWGS. The Fiscal
Assistant plays an important role by providing financial accountability and
administrative support to the Foundation.
Qualifications
include proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, database management experience
(eTapestry preferred) and knowledge of accounting/bookkeeping software
(Quickbooks preferred.)
This
20-hour/week position is perfect for a Maggie Walker parent who is looking for
a part-time opportunity. Click here for a copy of the job description: Fiscal Assistant Position. For more
information, please e-mail Laura Lewis, Interim Development Officer, at
laura.lewis@GovernorsSchoolFoundation.org, or call her at 354-1566.
