Week of June 13, 2018


GRADUATION - THE FINAL REMINDERS!



Senior Picnic


Thursday, June 14 from 12-2 p.m.
Carillon Shelter at Byrd Park

The Senior Picnic is the first official alumni event for the Class of 2018; it is sponsored by the Governor's School Foundation and Alumni Office. The event will take place at the Carillon Shelter at Byrd Park, and students are asked to sign-up to bring desserts, drinks, paper goods, and chips. The Foundation will assist in providing the main meal. 

Any parent who wishes to help serve at this event, please contact class sponsors: 

Kerry Sheppard ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us 804-354-6800 ext. 3304 or Celie Boswell cboswell@gsgis.k12.va.us 804-354-6800 ext. 2366.


Baccalaureate Service 

Thursday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Reveille United Methodist Church
4200 Cary Street Road


The Baccalaureate Service will be held at Reveille United Methodist Church, 4200 Cary Street Road. Parking is available behind the church. From the parking lot, follow the brick walkway to the sanctuary. Seniors are reminded to bring both cap and gown for the ceremony. Seniors report to gymnasium no later than 6:15 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Hendricks juliebhendricks@hotmail.com.


Graduation Rehearsal Information

Friday, June 15 at 9:00 a.m.
Altria Theater
6 N. Laurel Street

Graduation rehearsal is held at the Altria Theater on June 15, 2017. Parking for graduation is available at the VCU parking deck for $10 (entrances are on Cherry and Laurel Streets). There are pay stations at the decks, but don't forget to print out a receipt. This will allow you to return later in the day for no additional charge. Please adhere to posted street parking signs as ticketing and towing are strictly enforced. Seniors must arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. and report to the downstairs ballroom (enter through the Main Street entrance towards the rear of the building). Rehearsal will begin at 9:00 a.m. sharp. ANY STUDENT WHO MISSES REHEARSAL WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO WALK IN THE ACTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY, so parents are asked to please work with your student to make sure he or she is on time. Practice is usually completed by 11:30 a.m. or so, but given that we will take as long as needed to perfect the process, please do not plan anything that requires your student to leave early or be gone by a certain time. This run-through is crucial to the success of the graduation ceremony.


Graduation Information

Friday, June 15 at 3:00 p.m.
Altria Theater
6 N. Laurel Street

Graduates must arrive at the downstairs ballroom by 2:00 p.m. For organizational reasons, this area is off limits to parents, relatives, and friends; we appreciate your understanding. Cap, gown, and tassel are the most important items for the day, but students are asked to dress appropriately: dark dress pants, collared shirt and tie for the young men, dresses or dark dress pants for the young women. Students may wear cords earned as part of their membership in our Honor Societies (as has been our custom). Students may wear one piece of additional pre-approved regalia which they have earned as a member of an enduring MLWGS organization. All pieces of regalia will be distributed by sponsors in the days leading up to graduation.

Perhaps the most important clothing decision for the day, however, is shoes. Dress shoes and socks or low-heeled dress shoes are the best choices; please, no “flip-flops” or athletic shoes. Additionally, decorations on mortarboards are absolutely prohibited.

Doors to Altria Theater will open at 2:30 p.m. Guests should enter through the front doors and must have a ticket to attend graduation. Seating is not reserved. Handicap seating is available in multiple locations; please see one of the ushers at the door upon your arrival if you need this seating. Parking for graduation is available at the VCU parking deck for a minimal fee (entrances are on Cherry and Laurel Streets.) Please adhere to posted street parking signs as ticketing and towing are strictly enforced.

Photographs during the ceremony are only allowed from your seats. The Altria Theater will not permit us to spill into the aisles for this activity, and they enforce this quite seriously. Strawbridge Studios will be taking pictures of each individual student as he/she receives his/her diploma.

Graduation activities should conclude by 5:30 p.m.

Directions to and Parking Information for Altria Theater, 2018





NEXT STEPS FOR SENIORS- CONGRATULATIONS!!!














The Dragon's Lair will close for the summer on the last day of school, June 15.  Please stop by and grab your MLWGS gear in time for the summer break. In the event you need a sticker, a hoodie, or a Maggie Walker t-shirt, before we return in August, our online store will remain open all summer long! 

Dragon's Lair Spirit Store   

The Dragon's Lair sends a heartfelt thanks our all of our store volunteers, students, parents, and alumni who helped make this past year one of our best. Sales are up over 40% from last year and for this we say THANKS! We also wish all our of graduating seniors much happiness and success in their future endeavors. 





RESTOCK THE GRATITUDE BOX





When a student or teacher would like to brighten someone’s day with “Thank you,” or a kind, encouraging, celebratory, or empathetic note, they can grab a card from the library’s Gratitude Box or make their own card from the supplies they find there.

This has led to a happy problem: the MLWGS Library’s Gratitude Box is running low.

The “Restock the Box” supply drive runs through June 15 (or if you would prefer to drop supplies by MLWGS after graduation, you can do so until June 22).  Students seem especially fond of bright, hip looking designs.

If you would like to help restock the gratitude box, Ms. DeGroat will gladly accept the following: 

  • Glue sticks 
  • Construction paper 
  • Colorful card stock 
  • Blank cards 
  • Thank you cards 
  • Congratulations, Thinking of You, Happy Birthday, Get Well, and Sympathy cards 
  • Scissors 

Your contribution helps support a culture of caring at MLWGS. Thank you!





VOLUNTEERS NEEDED




The PTSA Board is seeking volunteers to either chair or co-chair next year’s Night of the Dragon auction.  The annual Night of the Dragon event is the PTSA’s major fundraiser from which proceeds support our Booster groups, the PTSA, and the MLWGS Foundation.  If you are willing to serve or would like further information, please contact Rachel Downey at downeyfamily5@verizon.net.








Smoke and Scales wish to thank Nancy Turnage (Mitch Turnage '18, Hanover) for her fours years in her role as Co-Editor.  She will be missed by her fellow Co-Editors!  Congratulations to you!

Christine Wampler (Lucy Wampler, '20, Richmond) and Kimberly Lee (Megan Lee '18, Jacob Lee '21, Chesterfield) will remain as co-editors next year.


SMOKE AND SCALES WISHES YOU A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER!

"See" you in the first 2018-2019 school year edition, scheduled for Wednesday, August 29; submission deadline is Sunday, August 26.