Week of October 18, 2016

HOLLYWOOD THEME FOR HOMECOMING

A Hollywood-themed homecoming dance, complete with a red carpet and popcorn bar, has been planned for October 22 from 7:00-11:00 p.m. in the commons.  Tickets will be $10 and can be purchased the week of the dance during lunch.  Thank you to Douglas and Jill Hinckley, MLWGS parents and owners of Wendell Powell Studio, for offering to take pictures at the homecoming dance as a gift to the students.  Wendell Powell Studio has been providing Richmond and the surrounding areas with excellence in photography since 1942.




THE MEAN BIRD FOOD TRUCK WILL BE AT HOMECOMING GAME ON OCTOBER 19

The Mean BirdFood Truck, owned and operated by Maggie Walker Alumni Mike and Sarah Moore, will be at the Homecoming Field Hockey Game on Wednesday, October 19! 10% of the proceeds from the food truck will be donated to the Athletic Association. At Mean Bird, Mike and Sarah take their chicken seriously! Each piece of their craft fried chicken is dry rubbed with a house mix of herbs and seasoning before sitting for 24 hours. It is then hand breaded and fried to order. Mike and Sarah offer a “Veggie Bird” as well, which is made from scratch using fresh vegetables, whole grains, and seasoning. This vegan-friendly dish is also then breaded and fried to order. At the Homecoming Game, Mean Bird will be offering these two favorites as well as some other items made using fresh and local ingredients. The truck will be parked at the end of the field, inside the gate, from 5:00 - 9:00. If the games are postponed due to weather, the food truck will be cancelled. 

The JV Field Hockey game starts at 5:30 and the Varsity Game starts at 7:00. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students not wearing a Green Machine T-Shirt. Students wearing a Green Machine T-Shirt will get in for free and will be given a free popsicle until supplies run out! Please come out, cheer on our school, and support the Athletic Association by ordering delicious fresh and local food! 




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FALL FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS


On Friday, October 7, hundreds of people from the MLWGS and surrounding community came to enjoy the 20th Annual Fall Festival despite the threat of rain! This year was one of the best all-around Fall Festivals ever, raising more than $15,000 for MLWGS clubs and organizations! It was truly an international affair! 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!




VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNORS SCHOOL FOUNDATION


Hello parents! The Governor's School Foundation would love your help!  On Wednesday, October 26, at 9:00 a.m., the Foundation will be doing our Fall Annual Fund letter mailing and need parent volunteers to help us stuff letters. 

Please contact Suzannah Stora at sstora@governorsschoolfoundation.org if you are able to volunteer.  




PSAT DAY IS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19

All 9th, 10th and 11th graders will take the PSAT in the morning while 12th graders will be participating in college and transition-related activities in the auditorium.

The PSAT is a great practice opportunity for the SAT.  For 11th graders, the PSAT results are used for qualification purposes for National Merit Scholarship Programs. 

The counseling department distributed PSAT Student Guides to all test-takers during lunch time assemblies during the week of Monday September 26.   The guides contain information about the tests as well as a full-length practice test.  Students are encouraged to take the practice test before testing day.  More information about the PSAT can be found at www.collegeboard.org/psat.

Students are reminded to bring #2 pencils and calculators for testing.  The College Board does not allow makeup testing for the PSATs so it is important that students arrive at school on time. 

Score reports will be available online in mid-December and paper copies will be available and distributed in January during lunch-time grade-level assemblies.  Juniors will be encouraged to register for an SAT or ACT date in the Spring by visiting the testing agency websites.   Sophomores and Juniors in AP classes will be reminded to register for SAT Subject tests as appropriate.




BACCALAUREATE COORDINATOR NEEDED

Every year before Senior Graduation a wonderful Baccalaureate service is held to honor MLWGS graduating seniors. Last year this non-denominational celebration had a Father, a Pastor, and a Rabbi as speakers. However, this incredible event can only be held if we have someone to coordinate it! The PTSA has a book that explains everything that has to happen to make this event a success, including contact information of past speakers! Although the location and speakers have to be approved by the school, the coordinator will have flexibility in organizing this event! Although a senior parent is welcome to chair, we would prefer a freshman, sophomore or junior parent so the senior parent can relax and enjoy this special event with their child. If you who would be interested in chairing this amazing celebration of our seniors, please contact Debbie Taminger at debtaminger@gmail.com to learn more about it! 




GET READY FOR GRADUATION 2017

Herff Jones will be stopping by Thursday, October 27  (during lunch in the auditorium) to collect measurements for graduation caps and gowns.  They will also be providing ordering information for announcements and other graduation paraphernalia.  It can be tough to anticipate how many announcements to order with graduation still eight months away, but order now to ensure you will have enough!  Herff Jones will return November 9 and 10 (during lunch in the downstairs commons area) to accept orders and payments.  Don’t forget…seniors have already paid for their caps and gowns.  This was included in their student fees, so no need to worry!  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kerry Sheppard, ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us or (804) 354-6800 ext. 3304.




STUDENTS RECOGNIZED BY MUSIC HONOR SOCIETY


The National Association for Music Education’s Tri-M Music Honor Society hosted an induction ceremony on September 28, for 15 new students and 10 continuing members. The ceremony also recognized the students who will serve as MLWGS Chapter’s officers:
  • Sarah Grace Lott (’17, Chesterfield), Co-President
  • Clara Giorgis (’17, Hanover) Co-President
  • John Kelley (’17, Chesterfield), Social Media Chair
  • Willow Kwak (’18, Henrico), Treasurer
  • Elizabeth Gillette (’17, Chesterfield), Secretary


Tri-M recognized those outstanding music students who will work together both in the school and their community as leaders providing music education and advocacy through public performances and service projects.  New members include:
  • Aashri Aggarwal (’19, Henrico)
  • Corrine Burch (’17, Henrico)
  • Oliver Fisk (’19, Richmond)
  • Jack Hendricks (’19, Hanover)
  • Vanessa Johnson (’17, Henrico)
  • Emma Jones (’17, Chesterfield)
  • Ashton Longo (’19, Richmond)
  • Elizabeth McFadden (’19, Henrico)
  • Owen Peck (‘18, Richmond)
  • Taha Shaikh (’19, Henrico)
  • Anisha Sharma (’18, Henrico)
  • Mackenzie Shearer (’19, Chesterfield)
  • Olivia Schultz-Patterson (’17, Richmond)
  • Kathryn Vail-Rhodes (’19, Hanover)
  • Rachel Zhao (’18, Henrico)


Continuing members:
  • Commodore Brower (’18, Richmond)
  • William Kang (’17, Chesterfield)
  • Andrew Shin (’18, Henrico)
  • Oliver Southam-Gerow (’17, Richmond)
  • Alexander Will (’17, Hanover). 





ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES


High School Diplomats is a free 10-day cultural exchange program at Princeton University for sophomores and juniors. Applications will be available from October 1st-January 8, 2017. Please visit www.highschooldiplomats.com for more information and to apply to the program. 

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium would like to share the following information about the following FREE NASA-related programs for Virginia's high school students interested in STEM.

For high school juniorsVirginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is an interactive online learning course with a space mission design and human space flight theme, culminating in a one-week residential Summer Academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton for those students who qualify. Offered at no cost to the student, VASTS consists of eight modules and a final project to be completed from November 2016 through May 2017 under the guidance of licensed master educators. Based on success in the online coursework, students may be selected to attend a Summer Academy where they interact with NASA scientists, engineers and technologists to design a human mission to Mars.  For program information and application, please visit http://vasts.spacegrant.org. The deadline for student applications is October 30, 2016

For high school juniors and seniorsVirginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) is an interactive, on-line Earth System Science Course featuring NASA scientific research and data. The course will be offered for dual enrollment college credit (statewide through TNCC) for high school juniors and seniors beginning in spring semester 2017. Please direct students or other faculty to the website for program information and application, http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/. The deadline for student applications is October 30, 2016.

The Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) is a program for sophomores focusing on the earth and airborne science, engineering, and technology integral to current missions at NASA Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. 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.

  • FREE Program for 10th Grade Students
  • Online modules covering NASA aircraft, balloon, and sounding rocket missions launched or managed at Wallops Flight Facility
  • Online course runs from December 2016 through April 2017
  • Highly successful students will be selected for a week long Summer Academy at NASA Wallops Flight Facility (Chincoteague, VA)


The deadline for student applications is October 30th, 2016.
Visit http://vscs.spacegrant.org/ for application and more information.




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