COLLEGE KICKOFF FOR JUNIORS AND THEIR PARENTS
College Kick Off for Juniors and parents will be held TODAY, February 9 from 12:45 – 2:45 p.m. in the MLWGS auditorium. Admissions representatives from University of Pittsburg, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, University of South Carolina, and Washington and Lee will discuss:
- The College Search and Campus Visit
- How Colleges Select Their Potential Freshman Class
- The Application Process
- Honors and Specialty Programs
- The Role of Interview and Recommendations
- Financial Aid Overview
Junior attendance is required; parents are strongly encouraged to attend. A parent “meet and greet” sponsored by the PTSA will follow this program from 2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
BLOOD DRIVE
Maggie L Walker Governor’s School BLOOD DRIVE
THIS FRIDAY, February 12, 2016
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Rooms 104 and 105
- Please sign-up for an appointment time to donate with Mr. Blanton.
- All students age 16 and 17 must have a signed parental consent form to donate. Please fill out completely in ink. (Nothing in pencil will be accepted.)
- You must be at least 16 years old and weigh 110 lbs. to donate.
- Bring a valid I.D. Eat and hydrate prior to donating.
UPDATES FROM THE COUNSELING STAFF
PSAT
Score Reports are being distributed to students this week during lunch-time
assemblies. During the assemblies, Counselors are outlining the new PSAT
scoring system and opportunities for test preparation through the Khan
Academy. Please contact your student’s counselor if you have any
questions.
Course
Scheduling Forms are being distributed this week to all returning students
during lunch-time assemblies. Counselors and teachers will be working
with students on selecting courses for next year. The PTSA will hold a
program on Thursday, February 11 at 5:30 for parents. Counselors,
Department Chairs, and Administrators will discuss the course registration
process, advanced and elective course options, and Advanced Placement and Dual
Enrollment classes.
Intent
to Return Forms were due on Monday February 8. All students who wish to
return to Maggie Walker need to submit a form to Ms. Zona Hicks (zhicks@gsgis.k12.va.us)
in the counseling office as soon as possible if they haven’t already done so.
Parent
Teacher Conferences will be held on February 18 from 4 -7 p.m. Dr.
McGee will be sending out a Powerannouncement this week with links to Signup
Genius for conference registration. The links will appear in the parent
Powerschool portal later this week.
WE
THE PEOPLE WINS STATE CROWN
Maggie
Walker’s “We the People” team won its 18th state crown in the "We the
People" civics and constitutional knowledge hearings in Williamsburg on Friday,
January 29. Run by the Center for Civic Education and James Madison’s
Montpelier, this year’s competition brought together teams from across the
state to focus on their understanding of the Constitution and current and past
events surrounding the United States Government. Students are divided into
units and prepare a four-minute presentation on their focus area then
participate in simulated Congressional hearings on the topic.
Last
year, two teams from Virginia attended the national finals – Maggie Walker
placed second nationally while Douglas Freeman High School placed third
nationally. MLWGS will go on to the national hearings April 29 – May 3,
2016, in Washington, DC where students will compete for their third national
title (2003, 2011).
Team
Sponsor and Teacher: Mr. Sam Ulmschneider
Team
Members: Jacob Adams, Zachary Bampton, Nathan Berry, Marina Blough, Virginia
Chambers, Cecilia D’Arville, Fionnuala Finn, Sunita Ganesh, Caroline Hanes,
Elizabeth Hayes, Robert Hicks, Anthony Holten, Matthew Ladoscsi, John Li,
Claire Mendelson, John Metz, Ben Milburn-Town, Tess Monks, Zoe Nelson, Reshini
Premaratne, Claire Schweiker, Stephen Smith, Derrick Wang, Jake Zaslav
NIGHT OF THE DRAGON TICKETS UNTIL FEBRUARY 10!
Saturday,
February 27, Short Pump Hilton, 6-11 p.m.
Go
to www.nightofthedragon.com/tickets to
purchase tickets, drink tickets, and Heads or Tails Raffle tickets online.
Event
tickets are $60 per person and must be purchased in advance no later
than February 10, 2016. All tickets include reserved table seating. If you
want to sit with friends, we will gladly attempt to accommodate your seating
preference. Just let us know in the comment section. For ticket information or
other questions, please contact Amy Patina at abpatina@comcast.net.
The
catalog will be online in mid-February but here are a few of the Deluxe
offerings:
- Wolf Gourmet Kitchen Appliances – Redoing your kitchen, or you want to upgrade your old appliances, enjoy perfect toasting, perfect smoothies and perfect baking with the Wolf Gourmet Toaster, Blender and Convection Countertop oven.
- A collection for the Jeffersonian – 19th Century UVA colored lithograph, Jefferson Whiskey, and Virginia Architecture book.
- John Barber Print - Amazing "Buying Oysters at Drum Point" John Barber Limited Edition Print, Artist Proof, 1984.
- And the coveted Parking Passes and Graduation seating!
Also
Corporate
Sponsorship opportunities are still available! With four levels of sponsorship
- $500, $1000, $2500 and $5000 – businesses of all sizes have an opportunity to
reach the wider MLWGS community while giving back to the school.
MAGGIE WALKER WELCOMED INTO NFL SUPER BOWL HIGH SCHOOL HONOR ROLL
MWHS
is welcomed into the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll community celebrating
schools that have contributed to Super Bowl history. Quoting Roger Goodell,
Commissioner; “As we mark our 50th Super Bowl this season, we are celebrating
the players and coaches of the past 49 Super Bowls and their high schools and
communities that have positively impacted our great game. Nearly 3,000 players
and head coaches, and more than 2,000 high schools will be recognized this
season.”
As
a member of this special group, a commemorative Golden Football produced by
Wilson is being sent to the high school of every player or head coach who was
on an active roster in a Super Bowl. Maggie Walker’s Golden Football is in honor
of Willie Lanier, a member of the Class of 1963 from Maggie Walker High School.
GSMUN
XIX: WAKE THE NATIONS, MARCH 11-12, 2016
Maggie
Walker’s 19th annual Model United Nations conference, GSMUN, will take place on
March 11-12, 2016. The event, consisting
of 22 independent committees, expects to bring in delegates from 30+ schools
across Virginia and Maryland. Over 600
middle and high school students will debate policy issues ranging from the role
of the aristocracy in 14th century Japan to the ethics of modern stem-cell research.
GSMUN
strives to promote awareness of international issues in our community. Headed
by a student Secretariat, GSMUN is also dedicated to raising money for global
charities. Model United Nations students
from all grade levels participate in school fundraisers, culminating in
conference donations and merchandise sales during the weekend of GSMUN. This year, GSMUN XIX will raise money for One Hundred Pounds of Hope, an
organization that provides education and emergency relief to the people of Cambodia. Already, the students have coordinated three
bake sales, candy gram sales, and a benefit concert featuring international
cuisine and student performers.
The
theme of this year’s
conference is Wake the Nations. Much of
the current leadership team has participated in Model UN all four years at
Maggie Walker, and several even attended GSMUN as middle schoolers. If
you have any questions or would like to volunteer at the event, contact John
Metz (gsmun.secgen@gmail.com)
or Mr. Smith (msmith@gsgis.k12.va.us)
for more details!
GOT STRESS? LEARN MINDFULNESS.
As part of the study and practice that the MLWGS mindfulness
committee is engaging in this spring, students in 6th and 7th block study halls
will have the opportunity to participate in a pilot test of a four-session mindfulness
program taught by Ms. DeGroat.
Mindfulness is the practice of bringing full attention
to what’s happening in the present moment without judgment. Among other
benefits, it can be a powerful way to reduce stress and improve focus and
productivity. This particular pilot teaches the Koru Mindfulness program, a mindfulness
program developed by Holly Rogers, M.D., and Margaret Maytan, M.D., and offered
to undergraduate and graduate students at Duke University.
Since this pilot test will provide valuable feedback
which will be of benefit to MLWGS in planning additional related programs,
approval has been granted for students to earn five to twelve community service
hours for participating. This opportunity to earn community service for
participation only applies to pilot sessions and not to regular programs that
may be offered in future school years.
A maximum of 14 students may sign up for each
series. A minimum of four students is
necessary to hold the sessions. There will be nothing to read or watch for homework,
but students will be expected to…
- Commit to attend all four 75-minute sessions (see specific dates below) during their study block.
- Practice the skills learned each week, keeping a brief log of their practice.
- Complete brief pre and post-program surveys.
Specific dates for the two series are as follows:
- Mindful Monday sessions from 1:50-3:05pm (7th block) on the following dates:
- Monday, Feb. 22
- Monday, Feb. 29
- Monday, March 7
- Monday, March 14
- Tune-in Tuesday sessions from 12:25-1:40pm (6th block) on the following dates:
- Tuesday, March 1
- Tuesday, March 8
- Tuesday, March 15
- Tuesday, March 22
Interested students should see Ms. DeGroat in the
library by Thursday, Feb. 18th to sign up, or sign up online at http://bit.ly/korupilot.
MICHAEL WHITE ATTENDS AATSEEL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
When
Russian language teacher Michael White traveled to Austin, Texas last month for
the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages
(AATSEEL) annual conference, it was the first conference he had attended in
many years. As he writes below, Mr.
White returned to Maggie Walker with new ideas for his classroom and connections
to his peers.
“Teachers
are most motivated, productive and effective when we receive the support we
need to be the kinds of active, engaged learners we want our students to be.
That is why I am so grateful to the [Governor's School] Foundation for generously supporting my
travel to and participation in the annual conference of AATSEEL, the American
Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages, in Austin,
Texas, on January 7-10, 2016.
In Austin I learned things that will help me become a better teacher. I
discovered and learned about ways to use technology in the classroom more
effectively; ways to explore the benefits of the flipped classroom to make my
class meetings more efficient; and new textbooks and online media that might
serve my students better than materials we are currently using.
In addition to the absorption of ideas and content, I also enjoyed and
benefited from making professional connections with K-12 teachers and college
professors from all over the United States and several foreign countries. As
the only teacher of Russian at this school (and, as far as I can tell, the only
one within about 90 miles), I often feel isolated and disconnected from my
peers. In Austin I networked with colleagues, shared experiences and ideas, and
made connections that I expect to enrich my career, our Russian program, and
opportunities I can offer to our students in the coming months and years.
It had been years since I had attended a professional conference; cost was certainly
a factor. Please accept my sincere thanks for your generous support of this
trip, without which these experiences would not have been possible.”
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.
2016 SCHOLASTIC AWARDS SUMMARY
Talented
MLWGS students in the fine arts were recently honored by having their work
selected in this year's Scholastic Art competition. This is a highly
competitive art show which was made more so for MLWGS students this year because they competed in the Southeast
Region-at-Large. Despite this, they had another record setting
year of awards, making MLWGS one of the most honored schools in the area and
recognizing it as one of the region’s top schools for the Arts.
This success is due to not only talented students, but also excellent
faculty and tremendous support from the school administration and the Visual
Arts Boosters.
2016 Scholastic Art Awards Summary: 2nd year Southeast Art Region at Large
MLWGS students in the Writing competition earned 17 awards including:
MLWGS students in the Arts competition earned 71 awards including:
- 3 Gold Keys
- 7 Silver Keys
- 7 Honorable Mentions
MLWGS students in the Arts competition earned 71 awards including:
- 18 Gold Keys awards, including 2 Gold Key Portfolios
- 20 Silver Keys awards, including 3 Silver Key Portfolios
- 33 Honorable Mentions, including 5 HM Portfolios
Gold Key winners’ work will move on to the Alliance for Young Artist and Writers national adjudication process, where he/she will be eligible for further recognition and scholarship opportunities. Adjudication of Gold Key works will take place in New York City and award winners will be announced in March.
NEW PRODUCTS IN THE DRAGON’S LAIR!
The Dragon’s Lair would like to announce the arrival of four new products! Please stop by the store to see these great items in person. The Lair is open during lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays as well as the 1s tand 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. These Wednesday hours are intended to offer additional convenience for working parents to stop by on the way to work. We hope to see you at the Lair soon!
- Power Bank $15
- Thumb Drive $6
- Crew Socks $15
- Baseball Cap – GREEN $12
MLWGS COACHES INDUCTED INTO TJHS HALL-OF-FAME
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| Coaches Snagg (center) and Holdren (2nd from right) Inducted into Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame |
On Tuesday, February 2, 2016, Coach Jim Holdren and Coach Deborah Snagg were inducted into the Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame. Each was eloquently acknowledged for outstanding athletic accomplishments. Each received a trophy at the event. Later, plaques with details of their records will be permanently displayed in the halls of Thomas Jefferson High to inspire future generations. Maggie Walker is fortunate to have both of these beloved coaches continuing to work with our student athletes.
FREE FAFSA ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE THROUGH GRASP
(GREAT ASPIRATIONS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, INC.)
GRASP (GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.) will hold its Saturdays at the Library FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) event on February 27, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Richmond Public Main Library, 101 East Franklin Street. GRASP advisors will provide FREE college financial aid counseling and assistance with completing the FAFSA, by appointment. Call (804) 527-7743 to schedule your hour-long appointment. More information is available at the GRASP website,www.grasp4va.org.
Free FAFSA assistance is also available from GRASP advisors at these times/locations:
Henrico County Library Evening Events: THIS THURSDAY, February 11 at Twin Hickory (5-8 p.m.) – One-hour appointments can be made by calling the particular branch library.
Belmont Library in Richmond: A GRASP Advisor is available Mondays from 6 - 8 p.m. – Appointments can be made by calling GRASP at 527-7743.
Please “Save the Date” so that you are able to attend the upcoming General PTSA meetings at MLWGS. These meetings are open to parents of all students, but will be particularly beneficial for parents of Freshman and Sophomores. The MLWGS Counseling Department will be hosting the events to provide introductory information for parents on a few key topics. Please know that parents of Juniors will be invited by the Senior Counselors to attend “College Kickoff” prior to the March 16 college overview meeting.
Belmont Library in Richmond: A GRASP Advisor is available Mondays from 6 - 8 p.m. – Appointments can be made by calling GRASP at 527-7743.
SAVE THE DATE—PTSA MEETINGS
- THIS THURSDAY, February 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the Commons – Mr. Zweerwink will provide information on AP and Dual Enrollment courses.
- March 16 at 8:00 a.m. in the Auditorium (this may change) – Dr. Loving and Ms. Deck will provide an overview of the College prep and application process at MLWGS.
ON-LINE AP EXAM REGISTRATION STARTS FEBRUARY 8
From February 8 – February 26 - register for AP exams by visiting www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/471851
Each AP exam costs $92.00. A fee reduction is available for families that meet federal guidelines but must be approved in advance. Please see Ms. Deck in the School Counseling office by Friday, February 19 to inquire about a fee waiver. Last day to register for exams is February 26.
February 23 - February 26 – AP Fees and Registration Forms (cash or check made out to MLW Governor’s School) will be collected in the School Counseling Office (see payment schedule below) After this date a late fee of $10 will be charged per student. Remember, you must present both your registration form and complete payment.
FEE COLLECTION SCHEDULE
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REMINDERS:
- You may need to arrange transportation for afternoon AP exams. Exams in the afternoon will not begin prior to 12:00 p.m. and may not be over before 3:30 p.m. Plan accordingly.
- Exam pre-administration sessions (Bubblefest) will be held April 13 and 14 in the auditorium during lunch. You must attend a pre-administration session in order to take AP exams.
