MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS ASSEMBLY
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
The Maggie L. Walker Health & Physical Education and Counseling Departments in conjunction with our student-led Mental Health and Disabilities Awareness club will hold a school-wide Mental Health Awareness Assembly on Friday, September 30.
The assembly will feature a speaker from “Minding Your Mind,” a national prevention-based program that educates teens by initiating conversations regarding mental health. Speakers are young adults who have struggled with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, and give educational talks to reduce the stigma of seeking help. This program is being supported by the locally based Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, which works with area public and private high schools to implement “Minding Your Mind.”
Additionally, in the weeks following the assembly, professional staff from the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation and MLWGS will facilitate an optional eight-session interactive Peer Support Curriculum. Students can attend one or more of these sessions as interested (sign-up for sessions will occur after the assembly). This curriculum covers the following topics: stress, anxiety and depression, substance abuse, negative and positive coping skills, active listening, mindfulness, and establishing boundaries.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child attending the assembly, please contact either Paige Hawkins (Health/ P.E., ext. 1440) or Karl Zweerink (Counseling Department, ext. 3210). This activity was planned as part of MLWGS’ strategic initiative to “develop a systematic approach to support social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and mental health needs of our gifted students.”
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 7, 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.
THE MAGGIE L. WALKER FALL FESTIVAL
WELCOMES THE COMMUNITY!
The
Fall Festival is open not only to students and their families, but also to the
community that surrounds it! Student bands, singers and dancers will provide
free entertainment on the stage throughout the event. The KidZone will offer
free games and prizes to those 10 and under. Although tickets will be required
at most booths, several booths will have offerings that cost as little as one
ticket (each ticket costs $1)!
As
of now, the Festival has approximately 50 booths signed up, offering a large
variety of food, drinks, and fun activities. Reflecting the mission of the
school, the food and drink offerings have an international flare! Enjoy Greek
Giros, Cuban sandwiches, Snow Cones, Baklava, and Bubble Tea while trying your
luck at Duck Pond or Corn Hole. There promises to be something for everyone to
enjoy at the 20th Annual Fall Festival!
CALLING PARENTS AND STUDENTS!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PHONE-A-THON!
The
Governor's School Foundation is looking for parents and students to
participate in the Governor's School Foundation Fall Phone-a-thon! Please join
us during the evenings of Tuesday, September 27 and/or Wednesday, September 28, at MLWGS to reach out to fellow
current and alumni parents and other donors.
Students can
earn up to six hours of community service!
Dinner
will be provided at 6:00 p.m., followed by a brief training
session. Calling will follow and will conclude each night
at 9:00 p.m. Come for one or both nights and help raise the funds that
enhance the Governor's School experience for MLWGS students and teachers.
Last
year’s phone-a-thons raised more than $58,000 in gifts and pledges
for the school, so this is an extremely important part of the Foundation Annual
Fund Campaign.
Please
contact the Foundation Executive Director, Suzannah Stora at sstora@governorsschoolfoundation.org or
stop by the Foundation Office (across from the auditorium) to sign up.
ATTENTION JUNIOR AND SENIOR PARENTS!
National Honor Society applications are now available. If a student would like to be considered for the National Honor Society (NHS) please encourage him or her to complete an application and return it to Rachel Loving, School Counselor and NHS Sponsor by Friday, September 30, 2016. Candidates must be a junior or a senior, have a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, leadership, and service. A complete list of qualifications is available on the application. Candidates will be notified of acceptance by October 7 and an induction ceremony will take place later that month. Juniors and seniors will receive a copy of the application via email and a hard copy is also available in the Counseling Office. Please contact Rachel Loving with questions at rloving@gsgis.k12.va.us.
TRIP TO SPAIN
There will be an important meeting for any student interested in a trip to Spain in 2017. The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 29 at 6:30 p.m. in room 335. Parents and students are welcome. Steve Ross, Susan Hefty, and Bob Jenkins will discuss the upcoming trip.
MLWGS
FAMILIES
SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL AT NO COST TO YOU!
LAST YEAR THESE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS BROUGHT IN MORE THAN $8,000!
Through
partnerships with Kroger, Martin's, and Amazon Smile, you can raise funds for
Maggie Walker just by doing your normal shopping. For complete directions
on how to sign up for these programs, please visit the Foundation's
website: http://www.governorsschoolfoundation.org/local-business-partnerships/.
Thanks
for your support!
