Week of November 21, 2018


HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 














School will be closed from Wednesday, November 21 through Friday, November 23 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.




GO FUND ME FOR INJURED MLWGS STUDENT

Davison Chapman, freshman at Maggie Walker, and his mom were in a life-altering pedestrian accident on November 3 as both were hit by a car in a crosswalk. Davison is an exceptional human being- kind, loving, and extremely smart. The family has been through far too many medical emergencies for any one family to endure in his lifetime. His story is best expressed through the Go Fund Me page a family member created for Davison. I know the Maggie Walker community wants to come together and support Davison and his family. Many are aware and have already shared loving support. The best way to support the family at this time is through Davison’s Go Fund Me page, as the family is overwhelmed with around the clock care. On this site you can leave a message for Davison and his family, see updates on his progress, see the Channel 6 news story about his accident, as well as make a contribution to his medical care no matter how small. Meals are not needed at this time but may be in the future, for now, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/davison039s-beautiful-heart-amp-mind.





FY20 BUDGET TOWN HALL















Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School will host a budget town hall on December 4 at 6 p.m. in the Forum to solicit community priorities as we develop the fiscal year 2019-20 budget that will be presented to the Regional School Board and the public in March. A short presentation at this town hall will be followed by opportunities for stakeholders to comment and ask questions of the administration.

MLWGS values your input and has provided another option for those unable to attend the Budget Town Hall. The community may also submit their priorities or concerns here: https://goo.gl/forms/M0JJKKR4ppZUM9i62

MLWGS will develop a proposal that attempts to include constituent priorities. Comments will be shared with the Regional School Board, Superintendent’s Steering Committee, and the school Administration as they work to create a budget that reflects the cost of operation, programming, and staffing.




BLAST PROGRAM 










The Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) program is designed to offer an exciting on-campus STEM experience FREE to participating students. Students may apply to attend any ONE session at either University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, or Old Dominion University in the summer of 2019. 

In order to apply, students must be currently in 9th grade, a Virginia resident, have at least a C+ average, and not have previously attended BLAST. Students must have transportation to and from the university. Applications are due February 11, 2019. For more information and to apply, please visit http://www.blast.spacegrant.org/





ATTENTION SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS













Applications Are Open for the 2019 Bronfman Fellowship
Every year, twenty-six outstanding North American teenagers are selected as Bronfman Fellows. The highlight of the Fellowship is a free transformative and intellectually adventurous summer in Israel, where Fellows engage in thought-provoking study and conversation and make lifelong friends with a pluralistic group of peers. Our high-caliber educators focus on teaching a broad range of traditional and contemporary Jewish texts at a university level. Fellows encounter the land and people of Israel, study major issues in contemporary Jewish life, meet with some of today's most influential figures, and learn about themselves and each other. The Fellowship year continues with monthly virtual meetings and a seminar in the spring. Fellows continue their association with the Fellowship through our extraordinarily active, 1200+ alumni community.  Applicants must be in 11th grade, self-identify as Jewish, and live in the U.S. or Canada. The deadline is November 30. Click here to apply

Pathways Flight Academies-The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Liberty University, Averett University, and the Virginia Department of Aviation, is offering flight academies at no cost for high school students statewide. The Pathways Flight Academies will immerse students in learning to fly while discovering the range of exciting aviation career opportunities available. In order to apply, students must be 16 at the start of the academy, a US citizen, and a Virginia resident. Applications can be found at http://vsgc-net.odu.edu/pathways-flight-academies/. The deadline to apply is January 25, 2019.

Summer Residential Governor's School Programs for Sophomores and Juniors!

Visual and Performing Arts Programs- areas of study include Dance, Theatre, Visual Art, Instrumental Music, and Vocal Music. We can send a nominee for each area of study. Interested students must speak with their fine arts teacher.

Foreign Language Academies- full-immersion Academies in French, Spanish and German; partial-immersion in Japanese and Latin. We are able to have one nominee from our school. If interested, please contact your language teacher.

Academic Programs- areas of study include Humanities; Mathematics; Science and Technology; Agriculture; Life Sciences and Medicine; Engineering (NASA- must be 16 by June 24, 2019); Marine Science. Interested students should contact Ms. Davis in the counseling office.

Please see Ms. Davis or visit the website for more information.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/summer_residential/index.shtml

The High School Diplomats Program is now accepting applications for the 2019 High School Diplomats (HSD) program (July 24 - August 4) at Princeton University. We are a true scholarship opportunity (no costs or add-on fees) and our best students learn about HSD from their teachers and counselors. The online application is available on our website: www.highschooldiplomats.com until January 8, 2019 and all current sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply.




A NOTE OF THANKS

Team Weens was a special team for Kathleen Hefty, daughter of Ms. Hefty in the Language Department. Here was her response to our involvement in the event:

WOW! You guys! I've been grappling with the diagnosis of my brain tumor since I was 20 years old. I have had seizures and surgery, I've done chemo and had radiation and it's been hard and heartbreaking and overwhelming. But throughout all this pain, I've been continually touched and moved by the support of the beautiful people around me who support me endlessly. There is nothing as heartwarming as the kindness and generosity of these people, who keep me going and going strong. And now I add YOU ALL to the list of people who give me hope and courage that I'm not alone in fighting this. When my mom sent me a picture of you all in your Team Weens shirts, I cried because I felt so special and empowered. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. It means the world to me.

XO Kathleen






As of November 15, 2018, the Foundation has raised $88,339 toward our $350,000 goal. We have been able to do a lot already this year!  Just recently, we subsidized travel for Model UN and Model Congress, paid registration fees for students competing in the High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling, and purchased a classroom set of clip-on reading lights to help art students drawing in low light.  It is a privilege to be able to help students do even more with their time at MLWGS. You can support all of our enhancement programming by giving to the 2018-19 Annual Fund. Thank you to everyone who has given already! We couldn't do it without you.