Smoke and Scales: AP Exams

Showing posts with label AP Exams. Show all posts

Week of May 5, 2021

Teacher Appreciation Week

May 3-7 is nationally recognized as Teacher Appreciation Week. The PTSA and school administration have several events planned for our teachers, but the one thing that teachers really love is when a student or a parent sends a personal note or email sharing their appreciation for what a specific teacher has done for them. If you are so led, please take the time this week to send a quick note to a teacher who made a difference. It will make their day!

PTSA Program: College to Career

Parents: how do you ensure your students graduate from college with the skills and experience for a viable career?

Join the PTSA’s spring program on Thursday, May 6, at 7:00 p.m. and find out! Jennifer McCluskey will lead a discussion on how students can ensure college leads to a career. She will cover the challenges college students face in both deciding on and preparing for a career, and offer parents some ideas on how to support their students through this process. This program ties into the workshop Jennifer is leading for seniors later on Wednesday, May 12. While this program is especially relevant to parents of seniors, all parents are welcome.

In addition to being mom to current students Teagan '21 and Lauren '23, Jennifer is a career coach at Capital One and former MLWGS teacher. Join us for a lively and interesting discussion.

Here’s the link for Thursday’s Zoom call: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88427092880?pwd=ekZQcGwzaXNIczIxNkgxSWp5RWE4UT09.

AP Testing

This past week a large volume of information was sent regarding the upcoming AP exams. If you missed it, this link will take you to what was sent out.

Baccalaureate Update

This year's Senior Baccalaureate Service will take on a new format. Due to the governor's executive order restricting social gatherings, the PTSA is no longer able to host this service as planned at Temple Beth El. However, we will honor the graduating class with a video baccalaureate service featuring remarks from Richmond area faith leaders and musical selections performed by fellow graduates. The PTSA will share this service through social media, offering seniors a keepsake video to help celebrate their hard work and achievements.

In addition, we would like to feature individual pictures of the seniors in their caps and gowns. To help us create our video, we need seniors to share individual pictures of themselves in their gap and gown by June 1. Please upload your photos here.

Graduation Update

Due to Friday, June 18, being designated by the Commonwealth of Virginia as the observed date for the Juneteenth Holiday, as well as the VHSL State Outdoor Track Championships taking place on that date, we are moving graduation for the Class of 2021 to Thursday, June 17, at 5:00 p.m. at Hovey Field on the campus of Virginia Union University. The rain date will be Sunday, June 20, at 1:00 p.m. at the same location.

If you have not picked up your cap and gown, you may stop by and pick it up from Mrs. Williams in the Bluestone Lobby daily until 3:15 p.m. If you are coming on campus after school, reach out to Ms. Sheppard to make arrangements.

Night of the Dragon Tally

The tally is in and with more than 10,000 bids on more than 236 items plus many generous donations, the Night of the Dragon raised just over $70,300 this year! This is great news because all proceeds go directly to support our students and teachers through the Foundation, booster groups, and the PTSA.

In addition to the financial support from the auction, the evening also provided a chance for many of us to get together for the first time in much too long. Heartfelt thanks to all of you who donated and participated and to the amazing NOTD Planning team—Kristi Turner, Anne and Brad Ewald, Jennifer Rector, and Mist Morton Clark—for making this reimagined event possible during such an unusual year.

Week of March 17, 2021

Chalk Up Some Words from Home

The long-awaited week is here. Dragons who chose to do so have returned to the MLWGS campus! Since these students have been in the familiar environment of home for the past year, the MW Library has created a space to connect them with encouraging words from home. Does your family have a phrase or brief quote/saying that you often share to lift each other’s spirits? If so, please submit it for inclusion on the library’s chalkboard wall using this form.

Animando a los estudiantes desde casa

Ya que los estudiantes empiezan a regresar a MLWGS el lunes 15 de marzo, nos gustaría animarlos con palabras inspiradoras de sus familias. Si su familia quiere compartir una frase alentadora en la pizarra de la biblioteca, favor de escribirla en este documento digital. ¡Gracias!

AP Testing Information

Students registered to take one or more Advanced Placement exams this spring should carefully read the following documents to learn about the testing options for 2021:

Students will have the opportunity to take all exams in a paper-and-pencil, in-person format. Students interested in requesting a digital, at-home exam for eligible subjects should do so by Monday, March 29, by using the Digital AP Exam Request Form linked within the AP Testing Information document above. Feel free to use your content teachers as a resource when making your decision about how and when to test. Families may also direct questions to Rachel Loving, AP Coordinator, at rloving@gsgis.k12.va.us or 804-354-6800 x3211.

Sports Photographs Available

Want to purchase action shots from this year's fall and winter sports teams? You're in luck! Wendell Powell Studios has shot several athletic events, and they've posted images for purchase. Here's the link. For more info, please contact Douglas at wps@wendellpowell.com.

Scrip News

The scrip team is looking for a volunteer or two who would be willing to sort cards and distribute them to families next fall on a monthly basis. If you are interested, this is a great way to become involved with the PTSA and meet other families! I'd love to hear from you this spring as my son is graduating and we would love to have volunteers lined up for next fall. The program makes a lot of money for the PTSA and costs families nothing extra. Please contact Laura Dysart if you're interested or want more information.

Our next scrip order is due this Sunday, March 21. For every $50 families spend by March 19, you earn a chance to win a $50 scrip card of your choice and a $25 Panera Card. Help the PTSA reach our goal of $1,500 this year – we are really close! Go to shopwithscrip.com to order, and contact scrip@mlwgsptsa.org with questions.

Night of the Dragon Website Goes Live March 18!

On Thursday, March 18, the Night of the Dragon website will go live, and you’ll be able to register (for free) for the April 24 virtual event, purchase 50/50 raffle tickets, order dinner from Perch or East Coast Provisions (the first 100 orders get a free signature cocktail), see sneak peeks of the April 24 show and auction items, and more.

This year’s NOTD items include long-time favorites and many exciting new items:

Vacation Home Rentals (OBX, Wintergreen, Snowshoe, and more)
MLWGS 2021 Graduation Seating
Local Adventure Packages
Private Wine Tastings and Wine Class for 20
Original Art and One-of-a-Kind Jewelry
College Gear and Class Baskets
Event Tickets and Unique Outings

And so, so, so much more! We’re adding new items daily. Please contact Ginger O’Neil if you have a donation idea.

Week of March 10, 2021

Return to School: Social Distancing

For students returning on Monday, March 15, the attached map provides an overview of our new one-way traffic pattern. This system was created in consultation with the MLWGS engineering club to promote social distancing while transitioning between classes. Arrows are being placed on the floor, and signage will mark each stairwell. Please review before arriving on campus. This will take some getting used to, but if we work together, we can promote health and safety at the school.

Attention Parents of Returning 2021-22 Students

Students registered for next year’s classes on March 4-5. Parents have the opportunity to check student course requests through the “Class Registration” icon in Powerschool this week to make sure they approve student selections. If parents wish to make a change or override a grade prerequisite for a class, please email your student’s counselor by the end of this week.

Freshmen – kzweerink@gsgis.k12.va.us
Sophomores – jcobb@gsgis.k12.va.us
Juniors with last names A - K - kforquer@gsgis.k12.va.us
Juniors with last names L - Z rloving@gsgis.k12.va.us

Students will receive confirmation of classes successfully scheduled by June.

Prepare for AP Exams

Students who are planning to take AP exams in May should log into their College Board account (myap.collegeboard.org) and double-check they have “joined” all of their courses. The deadline for MLWGS to order an AP exam for you is Friday, March 12, and, even if you paid for an AP exam, if you have not joined the course, an exam cannot be ordered for you. We are doing all we can to make sure that all enrolled students are joined in the appropriate courses in the College Board system, but if your teacher does not regularly use this system for instruction, it is possible that this step could have been overlooked. If you have questions about how to join a course with the specific join code, contact your content teacher or Dr. Loving. School staff cannot complete this step for you. If there are any last-minute orders for AP exams (cost with late fee is $135), you must discuss this with Dr. Loving and join the course by noon on March 12.

Additionally, information will be available in the coming days and weeks about exact exam dates, times, and format. All students will have the option to test in-person at MLWGS, but digital at-home testing will also be available. The specs for digital exams are now available on the College Board website and Dr. Loving will post these and other important details on the “AP Testing” Schoology page. If you are not a member of this group and should be, notify Dr. Loving. Please look there over these next three months for important AP information.

Scrip: Chance to Win and Help Wanted

The next order due date is Sunday, March 21. Don't forget that for every $50 you spend by March 19, you will be placed in a drawing for $50 in scrip cards of your choice and a $25 Panera gift card.

We have a volunteer lined up to coordinate promotion, communication and place orders for next fall. We are looking for one or two volunteers who would be willing to deposit any money received at school for orders once a month (twice in December), and to sort card orders when they arrive as well as distribute orders to families at school. Serving as the Scrip Coordinator s a great way to get to know other MLWGS parents and become involved with the PTSA! Please contact Laura Dysart if you're willing to learn more about this opportunity.

MLWGS Drama Needs You

Calling all singers, dancers, and actors/actresses! MLWGS Drama will be accepting audition submissions for our virtual spring musical production, The Theory of Relativity, until Wednesday, March 17. Don’t want to be in front of the camera? There are many ways to get involved behind the scenes with costumes, props, lighting, sound mixing, editing, and even marketing! Please see the Drama Schoology page for details. Questions? Please do not hesitate to reach out to director Leigh Glatt.

Youth Art and Music Month Continues

The Fine Arts Department will be celebrating YAMM 21 with a series of virtual events this year including:

Lecture on Japanese Aesthetics by VMFA lecturer Amanda Adams on Thursday, March 11, at 3:30 p.m. This lecture is sponsored by the Fine Arts Department, the National Art Honors Society, and VMFA Statewide Programs. Join here.

Watch the Youth Art and Music Month performances online: If you missed last week’s online extravaganza of student art and music, you can still watch the event online. You’ll also find an online gallery of student artwork.

Next Walker Way Forum Is March 17

Our first Walker Way Forum, a speaker series for students designed around the pillars of the Walker Way, was held in February. Students who attended responded positively, and we are looking forward to hosting our second speaker, L. Robert Bolling, CEO of Child Savers, on Wednesday, March 17. Child Savers provides comprehensive support to children who have experienced trauma. Robert is a great person to speak to the Walker Way pillar of compassion. Students have received a “Save the Date” notice of the event through Schoology. Questions? Email Mrs. Ebeling, School Psychologist.

Virtual Night of the Dragon Set for April 24-- Registration Goes Live March 18!

Vacation Home Rentals (OBX, Wintergreen, Snowshoe, and more)
MLWGS 2021 Graduation Seating
Local Adventure Packages
Private Wine Tastings and Wine Class for 20
Original Art and One-of-a-Kind Jewelry
College Gear and Class Baskets
Event Tickets and Unique Outings

And so, so, so much more! We’re adding new items daily. Please contact Ginger O’Neil if you have a donation idea.

Week of October 21, 2020

PTSA Admissions Statement

The MLWGS PTSA board was invited by the Virginia Secretary of Education’s office to participate in listening-session panel discussions about racial equity issues at the Governor's Schools across Virginia. This year, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a governor’s school in the Fairfax County Public School System, admitted less than one percent Black students, according to data published by the TJHSST Admissions. MLWGS is governed by 12 school districts, with the largest student pools coming from Chesterfield County Public Schools, Richmond Public Schools, and Henrico County Public Schools. Our acceptance rates by race this year were outlined in a recent Richmond Times-Dispatch article.

On October 1, Secretary of Education Atif Quarni made recommendations about equity goals tied to funding our school. The Chesterfield County School Board, Henrico County School Board, and Richmond Public School Board may make changes to their admissions policies to meet greater inclusion standards set forth by the Governor's 2020 budget. We encourage you to learn more about the process and plans each district submitted to Sec. Quarni. Please remember that the MLWGS administration does not choose students to attend from each district; each district selects and submits a list of students to MLWGS each year. Dr. Lowerre is discussing changes to the admissions testing process for the 2020-21 school year and will update governing school districts with this information in the coming weeks.

The MLWGS PTSA stands with our teachers, administrators, alumni, families, and students who this summer together created and adopted a bold strategic plan (PDF) that set goals toward achieving racial equity, specifically for historically underserved populations. We are encouraged by these discussions and know there is more work to be done. We want you to advocate for a transparent and inclusive process from our state legislators and your school board members, as they make admissions and funding decisions. The decisions they make today will impact the future of MLWGS and our ability to achieve the goals in our strategic plan. Please contact your local and state representatives today to learn more.

AP Exam Ordering Information

Students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses should complete the AP Exam Ordering Form to indicate which AP tests you plan to take (or not take) in May. AP exams are $95 per exam.

In order to have an AP exam ordered for you, you must complete the following tasks by Friday, Oct. 23:

Join the AP course(s) in your myAP.collegeboard.org account. Your teacher can help you if you have not already completed this task. (If you are self-studying for an exam, you will need to obtain an "exam only" code from Dr. Loving after your exam has been approved. NOTE: AP Statistics is pre-approved and Ms. Riles can provide the code.)
Complete this AP Exam Order Form and indicate all exams you wish to take or not take this year. (If you DO NOT intend to take one or more of your AP exams, you STILL DO need to complete this form so that we have a record that you wish for the school to NOT order an exam for you.)
Pay for your exams ($95 per exam) at https://osp.osmsinc.com/MLWGS. (The link can also be found on mlwgs.com by clicking "pay fees online.")

This Friday, Oct. 23, is the deadline for “on-time” registration. A $10 per exam late fee will be applied between Oct. 24 and Nov. 12 for exams not paid for by Oct. 23. The College Board late fee of $40 will be instituted beginning Nov. 13. Friday, March 12, is the final deadline for all late AP exam orders; no additions can be made after this date.

For the 2020-21 academic year, the College Board has waived the cancellation fee for any student who decides not to take an exam in May. For planning purposes, the MLWGS deadline for cancelling an exam is April 13, 2021.

Friday, Jan. 15, is the deadline to apply for College Board accommodations for a documented disability. Please contact Ms. Cobb no later than Jan. 11 to begin this process.

Click here to view the May 2021 AP Exam Schedule.
See this AP Ordering Information document for complete details.

Coming Up: Chalk Day & Yoga on the Field

Friday, Oct. 30, will offer two opportunities for students to come onto campus in an outdoor, socially distanced way—just in time for Halloween!

Straight from your suggestions on the student survey, Maggie Walker will host “Chalk Day” in the student parking lot, a day for students to decorate a parking space in their own creative way. Drawings, positive messages, and/or any other chalk creations are welcomed. Since Halloween is the next day, we invite students to wear costumes if they choose!

Students will also have the option to participate in “Yoga on the Field” at 10-11 a.m.
Students may sign up for one or both of these optional events.

How will MLWGS carry out these events safely? Students who wish to participate must follow these guidelines:

Students who wish to attend Chalk Day must sign up for a 30-minute slot between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Oct. 30. Up to 20 students can be drawing during each time slot, and they will be spaced at least six feet apart. A Sign-Up Genius will be posted on each class Schoology page this coming week. Feel free to coordinate with friends when signing up.
A separate Sign-Up Genius will be available for Yoga on the Field later this week as well and will include details about what to bring.
Students must wear masks intended for COVID protection at all times. Students will be temperature screened upon entering the parking lot or the field. Students should arrive via the parking lot on Elizabeth Street (bus loop) and report directly to the checkpoint on the sidewalk at the top of the steps leading down the student parking lot.
MLWGS will order chalk to give to students, who should take it with them when they leave. Students may bring their own chalk, but cannot share it with other students.

Costumes are invited, but you must adhere to the following CDC guidelines when planning your costume (if you choose to dress up):

Do not use a Halloween-costume mask as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and leaves no gaps around your face.
Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
View the CDC website for complete details.

We plan to take plenty of pictures for the yearbook and, since not everyone can attend at once, pictures will be posted so that everyone can see the finished product and other classmates’ costumes.

From the Counselor's Office

Challenge Success partners with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and to implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning. Over the next month, they are hosting two online workshops that help decrease parent and student stress. A donation of $10 per workshop is suggested but not required.

A Healthy Approach to College Admissions (Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m.): What do college rankings really measure? Are students who attend higher ranked colleges better off later in life? What is “fit” and why does it matter? Learn strategies to help reduce pressure around the college admissions process and ways to support students’ well-being and readiness for life in college and beyond. With the pandemic inserting more uncertainty into this process, we will include a Q&A at the end to answer some of your most pressing questions.
To register: https://form.jotform.com/202866805970161

Navigating School during Uncertain Times (Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m.): How can parents best support the personal and academic needs of their children while also attending to their own professional and family needs? Caregivers will learn how they can establish a healthier home environment for their school-aged child, reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement, and increase resilience, creativity, and well-being.
To register: https://form.jotform.com/202867283912158

Congratulations, Musicians!

Congrats to the following students who auditioned for Senior Regional Orchestra last week and are now eligible to audition for All Virginia in February:

Jennifer Chen, violin ('23, Henrico)
Mira Eisenhauer, cello ('21, Henrico)
Sam Lichtman, viola ('22, Henrico)
Eric Qian, violin ('22, Chesterfield)
Joshua Yoo, violin ('22, Chesterfield)
Minji Cho, violin ('21, Chesterfield)

Concert Band to Hold Virtual Concert

Celebrate the culmination of MLWGS band students’ hard work as they perform their first virtual concert. Comprised of about 60 students, the Maggie Walker Concert Band includes woodwinds, brass, and percussion players. The concert will be on a scheduled Zoom call on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., and will last about 45 minutes. We look forward to sharing our music with you!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81596829483?pwd=eWl0MHZXczlaVUd4VEE5cTk3MGlQZz09

Meeting ID: 815 9682 9483
Passcode: DragonBand

Week of October 14, 2020

PSAT Reminder for Juniors

Attention, juniors in the first half of the alphabet – PSAT testing is this Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Report to school ready to test by 8:40 a.m. Students may want to come as early as 8:15 to avoid lines.

Make sure to

wear layers, as some rooms are cold and others are warm.
bring a #2 pencil and a graphing calculator (with extra batteries if needed).
pack a nut-free (for allergy reasons) snack.
eat a big breakfast as testing may not finish until 1 p.m.

Find more info about testing on the counseling website here.

If you aren’t planning on attending and haven’t informed us yet, please complete this survey.

Important: Students must wear masks at all times during testing and will be subject to temperature checks and health screening questions upon entry.

PTSA Talk on COVID-19 and Student Health

Want to learn more about how to support your students through their first pandemic – and yours? Join the MLWGS Counseling Department and PTSA on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. for Helping Adolescents Cope during COVID-19, a candid online discussion led by Dr. Beth Heller, VCU Center for Psychological Services and Development; Lisa Ebeling, MLWGS psychologist; and Karl Zweerink, MLWGS counselor. The webinar will cover the impact on teens’ health as the pandemic persists, self-care practices, parent support ideas, school counseling support, and how to determine when professional mental health support is needed.

To participate, sign up here so we can send you the Zoom link, and take a minute or two to share you preferences for future parent meetings and discussion topics. It’s an important topic for unprecedented times – and definitely worth your time. We hope to see you there.

Great Lake Scrip Orders Due Monday, October 19

Thanks to all those who have used scrip to raise money for our PTSA by doing some of your everyday shopping with gift cards and e-certificates! Our next plastic-card due date is only a week away, so if you want to pay by check please plan your shopping ahead so your check will be received by the due date. You can also pay by linking your bank account (this is a safe, preferred method), or with a credit card. Shop for available e-certificates any time, no need to wait for the due date. Go to shopwithscrip.com to shop. Want more information? Please watch our PTSA scrip video or contact your scrip coordinator Laura at scrip@mlwgsptsa.org.

Check payments should be made out to MLWGS PTSA and mailed to:
Laura Dysart, 5021 Sylvan Rd., Richmond, VA 23225. Or contact Laura to arrange a pick up. Thanks for your support!

AP Exam Ordering Information

Join the AP course(s) in your myAP.collegeboard.org account. Your teacher can help you if you have not already completed this task. (If you are self-studying for an exam, you will need to obtain an "exam only" code from Dr. Loving after your exam has been approved. NOTE: AP Statistics is pre-approved and Ms. Riles can provide the code.)
Complete this AP Exam Order Form and indicate all exams you wish to take or not take this year. (If you DO NOT intend to take one or more of your AP exams, you STILL DO need to complete this form so that we have a record that you wish for the school to NOT order an exam for you.)
Pay for your exams ($95 per exam) at https://osp.osmsinc.com/MLWGS. (The link can also be found on mlwgs.com by clicking "pay fees online.")

If you feel you might qualify for a fee waiver or fee reduction, please review the Fee Waiver/Reduction Application for income guidelines. Please complete and return this form to Dr. Loving at rloving@gsgis.k12.va.us by Monday, Oct. 19. Dr. Loving will be in touch about your request approval. Students who have submitted this form previously and have been approved do not need to apply again this year.

Friday, Oct. 23, is the deadline for “on-time” registration. A $10 per exam late fee will be applied between Oct. 24 and Nov. 12 for exams not paid for by Oct. 23. The College Board late fee of $40 will be instituted beginning Nov. 13. Friday, March 12, is the final deadline for all late AP exam orders; no additions can be made after this date.

For the 2020-21 academic year, the College Board has waived the cancellation fee for any student who decides not to take an exam in May. For planning purposes, the MLWGS deadline for cancelling an exam is April 13, 2021.

Friday, Jan. 15, is the deadline to apply for College Board accommodations for a documented disability. Please contact Ms. Cobb at jcobb@gsgis.k12.va.us no later than Jan. 11 to begin this process.

Click here to view the May 2021 AP Exam Schedule.

See this AP Ordering Information document for complete details.

Concert Band to Hold Virtual Concert

Week of April 22, 2020

AP EXAM UPDATE

As you know, AP exams have moved to 100% at-home administration this year. The schedule of AP exams has changed and will begin May 11. Dr. Loving sent a detailed email about the changes on April 3 and the College Board has been in touch with AP testers.

If any student wishes to cancel an AP exam, the College Board has waived the cancellation fee. To cancel an exam and initiate a refund, visit the link below and complete the Google Form.

Please contact Dr. Loving with questions about AP exams.

ATTENTION JUNIORS AND PARENTS!

Registration for College Application Boot Camp is open as of April 16! Emails with instructions were sent to juniors and parents at the start of registration.

The mission of College Boot Camp is to provide rising seniors the space and time to complete their Common Application and/or Coalition Application (and/or other application of their choice) before the start of the school year. Boot Camp will be held August 24-26, 2020. A morning (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) and afternoon session (1-4 p.m.) will be offered. College Boot Camp is an optional fee-based workshop led by the senior counselors. The cost of Boot Camp is $55 and this fee will not be collected until August. Fee waivers are available if paying for Boot Camp would be an obstacle. Please email Kierstin Streitel with any questions or if you would like to request a fee waiver. Registration will close on May 31. Registration operates on a “first come, first served” basis, so if you are interested in attending please register as soon as possible.

More information about College Boot Camp: The MLWGS Senior Counselors will provide a structured curriculum over three, three-hour sessions with specific tips and personal assistance at every step. College Boot Camp is designed to walk students through each section of the Common Application and/or Coalition Application and provide them with the resources to complete each section during the program. A guest speaker will address the essay specifically, and the students should leave the Boot Camp with their Common App primary essay (or other essay of their choice) in a completed draft form. There will be some group discussion, peer editing, quiet individual work time, and one-on-one consultations. The Boot Camp will also touch on college-specific supplements and popular institutional applications. Topics can be adjusted based on the needs of the group.

We are very hopeful that we will be able to come together as a group for Boot Camp in August; however, if that is not the case, we will be making adjustments in order to still provide Boot Camp via video conference, etc. In the event that we need to switch formats, the cost of the program will be lowered. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

We can't wait to see you all again in person!

MLWGS Senior Counselors

METRO RICHMOND REGIONAL STEM FAIR WINNER!

Perisa Ashar (Henrico '21) presented her research on lung cancer at the Metro Richmond Regional STEM Fair on the topic: "Development of a Novel miRNA Biomarker Panel for Treatment and Rapid Identification of Lung Cancer by Blood Tests Utilizing Next-Generation Sequencing, Computational, and In-Vitro Analyses." She won first place in Biochemistry in the senior division.

Additionally, Perisa won the International Science and Engineering Fair Finalists award, the Yale Science and Engineering award (at the Metro Richmond STEM Fair), presented her research at the Virginia State Junior Science and Humanities Symposium where she won third place and will be presenting at the National JSHS symposium, the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair, and the Virginia Junior Academy of Science.

Week of April 1, 2020

SPRING BREAK: APRIL 6-13

Smoke and Scales will not be published next week. Stay safe and healthy.

AP EXAM UPDATES

For each AP subject, there will be two different testing dates. The full exam schedule, specific free-response question types that will be on each AP Exam, and additional testing information will be available by April 3 on the College Board website.

YEARBOOK NEWS

The school year may have ended abruptly, but your memories will last forever. After seven months of labor (plus two weeks of remote work), the YEARBOOK staff has completed the 2020 book! While this edition will lack the traditional Spring Supplement, Editor-in-Chief Zelda Hinkle (Hanover '20) and her dedicated staff have compiled a beautiful, comprehensive historical document that we can all be proud of. The cover is spectacular unlike any we've produced in my 20 years as Adviser. Inside you'll find thorough coverage of student life, athletics, academics, and more-- even the Coronavirus gets a two-page spread. And don't forget the global debut of Faculty Superlatives!

While we can't provide spring delivery, the book will at some point be printed and shipped, and all orders will be fulfilled. We're EXTENDING THE DEADLINE for online purchases. Just go the yearbookordercenter.com and enter our school's code-- 14632. Currently the online ordering deadline is April 25, but we are working to move that even further back. If you order a book, YOU WILL RECEIVE IT, though we don't yet know when. We'll ship books to seniors via USPS. Thank you and we hope you enjoy the book.

LIBRARY NEWS

How could the MW Library help YOU learn, create, and connect during the 4th nine weeks?

Calling Dragons in all grade levels! Ms. DeGroat would like input from students in imagining ways the MW Library could support your learning, personal growth, and mindfulness needs - and perhaps host gatherings where you could share your creativity, research, or reflections - during 4th nine weeks.

While the library can't offer every possibility that might emerge through this process, she'd like to offer several of the most popular selections. Please complete the following survey by April 1 to let her know which options interest you and to share other ideas you have: https://bit.ly/ideasforyourMWlibrary

If you'd like to schedule a research consultation about a topic you're exploring (for school or beyond), sign in to your GSGIS Google Drive, then complete this request form: http://bit.ly/researchconsultrequest

See the MW Library blog for this and other pertinent information.

Need the database password list? Go to the Resources folder of the Dragons Research group in Schoology.

2020-21 MLWGS SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Looking for student and parent volunteers! The MLWGS School Advisory Council (SAC) currently has both student and parent openings for the 2020-2021 school year. To learn more about the SAC, please visit THIS LINK.

Students must be rising juniors, have no honor code violations, a minimum GPA of 3.3, show a demonstrated commitment to MLWGS, and be willing to serve a 2-year term. If interested, please contact Mr. Dan Brown who will send you an application. Any parent PTSA member may be on SAC (except for current PTSA Board members); parents serve a 3-year term. If you are interested in becoming a parent member, would like to nominate someone, or would like to learn more, please contact Karen Townsend. SAC is requesting to receive all expressions of interest no later than Friday, April 17.

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

The counseling department would like our Maggie Walker families to know that we are thinking about our community during this unsettling time. While we miss seeing students, we want you to know that we are still working (albeit from home) to help support students.

Counselors and Ms. Ebeling will be checking their email from 8:30 a.m. -3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Typically, we try to reply within 24 hours or the next business day but due to an increase in emails, please be aware that our response may be delayed. We will not have access to the phone in the building so please utilize email to communicate.

We plan to send information and resources to students through Naviance blasts and Schoology. Please visit our MLWGS Counseling COVID-19 PAGE for resources.

~MLWGS School Counseling

SCRIP IS AVAILABLE ANYTIME

Don't forget to use Scrip Now for on-line shopping any time. You can receive your digital gift certificate immediately and copy and paste into your check out. If you find yourself ordering from Amazon, you can use both Amazon Smile and Amazon Scrip Now to benefit MLWGS twice! Go to shopwithscrip.com for a full list of scrip now retailers or to order. Need to create an account or have questions? Contact scrip@mlwgsptsa.org.