Week of February 24, 2021

TODAY! Black History Month Assembly










SAC and students have organized a mandatory, school-wide Black History Month Assembly for students on Wednesday, Feb. 24, during 5th period. The event features information from the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, African American poetry performed by the Slam Poetry Club, and a keynote presentation from Faithe Norrell, whose children are the great-grandchildren of Maggie Walker. She will discuss the 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments, Reconstruction, systemic racism, and modern-day social injustices. A special assembly bell schedule has been created, and 5th period teachers will usher students to the webinar from 12:20-1:30 p.m. 

Here is Wednesday's Assembly Bell Schedule:
  • Block 1: 8:40-9:15 a.m. (75 minutes) normal
  • Block 2: 10:10-11:25 a.m. (75 minutes) normal
  • Lunch 11:25 a.m.-12 p.m. (35 minutes) shortened
  • Block 5: 12-12:20 p.m. (attendance taken)
  • Assembly: 12:20-1:29 p.m.
  • Block 5: 1:30-2 p.m. (50 minutes total) shortened
  • Block 7: 2:10-3 p.m. (50 minutes) shortened





Re-Opening Survey


If you have not already completed the Return to School Survey, please use this link to do so ASAP.






One Small Step Deadline TODAY













Participate in One Small Step! The MLWGS Library has partnered with the national One Small Step initiative from StoryCorps to organize conversations between Dragons with contrasting political perspectives. MLWGS and Trinity Episcopal are the first two high schools in the nation to partner with One Small Step. Four workshops with Ms. DeGroat will help prepare you for these conversations.

To participate, sign up by Wednesday, Feb. 24. For the sign-up link and to learn more about this exciting opportunity, watch this intro video.

Check out a video I made via Loom




Last Week for Registration Counseling

Attention freshman and sophomore families, make sure your student has signed up for a course registration meeting with Mr. Zweerink or Ms. Cobb. This week is the last full week of meetings before students register for classes next week on Thursday, March 4,  through the Powerschool portal.
Juniors with questions about next year’s schedule may sign up for a 15-minute “12th Grade Scheduling Chat” with their senior counselor to be held this week . SignUp Genius links are posted in the Resources section of the “College Information for the Class of 2022” Schoology page. Day #3 of College Kick-Off has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 25, from 10:15-11:30 a.m. due to last week’s bad weather, and individual Junior College Meetings will run in March and April.




GRASP and FAFSA



















GRASPa career and college access organization, encourages high school seniors to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as a first step toward their postsecondary education/training goals. Millions of students who are eligible for aid fail to file the FAFSA each year, leaving “money on the table” that could be supporting their postsecondary education. GRASP Advisors can assist students and families with FAFSA completion, virtually and free of charge.

Appointments are available at 6-8 p.m. on Wednesdays and 2-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 804-923-0059 to make your appointment! 





Athletic Boosters Update


Even though no one has had the opportunity to work out in the Maggie Walker Fitness Center, that doesn’t mean that nothing has been happening there. We’ve been putting the funds that YOU have donated to the Athletic Boosters to work! We have replaced all the bikes, and purchased two new treadmills and one new elliptical machine. There are now six stationary bicycles, three elliptical machines and six treadmills. These additions mean that all equipment is now either brand-new or less than a year old.

We have also partnered with the Maggie Walker Art Club to brighten the space. Under the supervision of Jeff Hall, the NAHS Mural Team has created some great designs and are currently painting them during asynchronous learning Fridays.  We hope that once everyone returns to in-person learning, we can have some sort of ribbon-cutting to show off the Fitness Center! This is only one example of how your Athletic Booster donations are getting put to work for your students and the faculty. We’ve purchased equipment for sports teams, purchased video equipment and have another large project in flight that will impact one of the outdoor sports areas as well.