February 10, 2021

Special Guest Speaker TODAY

We are thrilled to announce that Christina Koch, NASA astronaut and former United States Antarctic Program research associate, will be joining the Polar Seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 10, during first period. She will talk about her experiences working in harsh and remote conditions – from the South Pole to the International Space Station. The Artemis team  of astronauts has begun training and preparing for the first planned lunar mission since 1972.

Watch this short video, “Meet Artemis Team Member Christina Koch,” to introduce you to this remarkable speaker.

If you would like to attend the seminar, please email Lynn Reed as soon as possible and she will provide you with the Zoom link. Koch's talk will begin at about 8:50 a.m., and the Q&A will conclude at 9:55 a.m. We will record the event and posting it to Schoology afterwards.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences will be conducted virtually using the Zoom platform on Thursday, Feb. 11, from 4 until 7 p.m. Find a link to the Sign-up Genius form in the parent portal of PowerSchool. As always, you can email any teacher directly and set up a time to talk.

Fall Sports

Any student who plans to participate in fall sports must have the forms completed to participate. Please send forms to phawkins@gsgis.k12.va.us as a single file attachment, such as a DOC or PDF, that is named “Lastname, Firstname.” If you do not have a scanner at home, there are free scanning apps available for your phone, and newer iPhones include a built-in scanner in the “Notes” app. The start date for fall sports is Monday, Feb. 16. 

Re-Opening Update

Gov. Northam has called upon all public schools in the Commonwealth to begin returning students to campus by March 15. Over the next few days, the MLWGS admin team will review all of the guidelines mentioned in the Governor's statement and ensure that our instructional plan is updated and in compliance.

School Counseling

Reminder: The MLWGS senior counselors are pleased to present MLWGS’s annual College Kick-Off event for juniors and their families again this year. This virtual event will take place over three informative and inspiring sessions:

• Tuesday, Feb. 16 (12:30-1:30 p.m.): Navigating Naviance and other accounts (in support of college planning), presented by senior counselors Dr. Rachel Loving and Ms. Kim Forquer, as well as GRASP representative Mrs. Susan Teerlink and English teacher Mr. Ed Coleman

• Wednesday, Feb. 17 (10:15-11:30 a.m.): The College Search and an Introduction to Scholarships, Financial Aid, Honors Colleges, and Special Programs, featuring panelists from Old Dominion University, Howard University, and Northeastern University

• Thursday, Feb. 18 (10:15-11:30 a.m.): What Colleges are Looking For and an Introduction to the Application Process, featuring panelists from the University of Richmond, the College of William & Mary, and the University of Chicago

Shop with Scrip!

We have earned $1234.51 this year with our scrip program, close to our $1,500 goal! Help us reach it by doing your everyday shopping with scrip. Go to shopwithscip.com to shop. Our next plastic card order due date is February 21 at midnight. 

During Thank Scriping days on Feb. 18 and 19, a selection of retailers will give up to 19% back on e-certificate orders! Stock up on brands you regularly shop. Questions? Contact scrip@mlwgsptsa.org. We are also looking for a coordinator for next year, as current coordinator's son is graduating! Please reach out to the scrip email address if interested. It's a great way to get involved with the PTSA Board and meet new people while benefitting the school's fundraising efforts!

Support MLWGS at the 2021 Night of the Dragon!

Plans are shaping up in a wonderful way for the 2021 Night of the Dragon on April 24. Our beloved annual fundraising auction and gala will be virtual this year, so mark your calendars and make plans now to have a viewing party or just stay in, order from one of our partner restaurants, and enjoy!

Want to help us make the upcoming 19th Annual Night of the Dragon the best ever? Sure you do! Here are some great ways:

• Get registered as soon as we let you know the auction website goes live so you can preview all the great auction items. 

• Donate an item(s) or service for the live or silent auctions. Popular items include unique experiences hosted by MLWGS families and friends, vacation home rentals, one-of-a-kind items, local adventures—GET CREATIVE! To donate, contact Ginger O’Neil.
• 
  
• Become a sponsor. Individual and corporate sponsorships are a great way to support MLWGS and celebrate someone or promote your business to our community. Sponsorships are available at many levels (from $500 to $10,000) and the livestream format allows for some great new options for recognition. For sponsorships, contact Ginger O’Neil.

Attention: Seniors

The February 2021 Senior Newsletter has been uploaded to the MLWGS School Counseling website. This document features scholarships, announcements from colleges, contests, and multicultural opportunities, as well as an on-site admissions event with Mary Baldwin University that is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 12. Students and families are reminded that each issue includes a new list of scholarships; therefore, rereading previous issues and reviewing Naviance are suggested so that opportunities and deadlines are not missed. on the website, click on the link for “College Admissions Information” and then “Senior & Junior Newsletters." Seniors should also continue viewing posts on the “College Information for the Class of 2021” Schoology page.

Joys of Service on the MLWGS PTSA Board

by former MLWGS PTSA President Craig R. Martin

I avoided even attending the PTSA meetings for my twins all through their elementary and middle school years, much less participating somehow on the boards. I look back at the full scope of my daughter’s time in school (class of 2021 at MLWGS) and I regret the early days I missed. Fortunately, I became active on the MLWGS PTSA Board during her sophomore year when I was asked to be president for 2019-20. I was honored to be asked, and looking back at my three years on the Board, including coming on as President-Elect and serving on the membership committee this year, I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to serve the school and students in this way. I know I am biased, but it feels like the smartest and most active Parent-Teacher-Student Association board in Virginia (no disparagement to all the other PTSAs).

From personal experience, I have found being part of this group incredibly rewarding. I have learned so much more about Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School than I would have ever known had I not been part of this amazing team of truly remarkable board members. We have become family and I will be very sad to not be with them after this year once my daughter goes off to college. My fellow board members have taught me so much and I was humbled to serve on a team with so many folks much, much smarter than me!

So, why am I sharing this now? Because we need you! People like me who are leaving the MLWGS PTSA have opened up spots on the board. And, we want to make sure you were invited to join the team. Now as a MLWGS dad, I would especially like to invite other dads, men on the faculty, from administration and students to consider serving the school and the MLWGS community in this way. It’s always interesting when I reach out to other MLWGS fathers and the comment comes back that they are too busy to serve. I like to laugh and say, “the previous president to when I served, the current president and the president-elect are all working professionals with much more demanding jobs than I will ever have.” So, consider being a part.

Much like my friend Natalie Smith asked me years ago if I would be a part of the board, I am asking all of you. Will you join and serve? Trust me, like many meaningful things in life, I have personally received much more being on the team than I ever gave back. You won’t regret a minute of it. If interested, you can reach out to our committee lead at vbray@barlowresearch.com or email me. Thank you!

Week of January 29, 2020

SIGN UP FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES TODAY

Mark your calendar: Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, February 6 from 4-7 p.m.

Look for a link to sign up in the Parent Portal of PowerSchool at noon today, January 29. As the number of students taught by each teacher greatly exceeds the number of available conference slots, we respectfully request that parents of students that are having a very successful experience in the class refrain from scheduling a conference so that the parents of students who are experiencing challenges may get the chance to conference with the teacher. As always, teachers are certainly open to email communication if you have any questions about your student’s performance in a class.

COLLEGE KICK-OFF AND COLLEGE JUMP-START





Attention Junior Parents!
On Tuesday, February 4, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. all juniors and their parents are invited to attend “College Kick-Off 2020” in the school auditorium. We will hear presentations from college admissions officers representing University of Mary Washington, University of Richmond, University of South Carolina, University of Miami, and Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a time for general questions and answers about college admissions. After the program, students and parents are invited to continue the conversations with the college representatives who will be available to talk throughout the lunch block. See below for information on how to RSVP.


Attention Freshman and Sophomore Parents!
On Tuesday, February 4, from 1:30-3:10 p.m. all sophomores and their parents are invited to attend “College Jump-Start 2020” in the school auditorium. Senior counselors, Dr. Rachel Loving and Ms. Kierstin Streitel, will present on various topics including how students can identify their unique goals, what colleges consider important, and “zen” ways to approach the college admission process. College admissions officers representing University of Mary Washington, University of Richmond, University of South Carolina, University of Miami, and Virginia Commonwealth University will participate in a Q&A session with students and parents following the presentation. This program is for sophomores only; however, parents of freshman are also welcome to attend if they wish to do so. See information below on how to RSVP.

Students do NOT need to RSVP. Parents have the option to RSVP, but it is not mandatory in order to attend.

As you know, a sign in process exists at Maggie Walker where visitors must scan their photo IDs the first time they enter the building during school hours. During subsequent visits, visitors must type their names into the system upon entering the building and receive a printed visitors badge containing their photo. In an effort to maintain heightened security measures during these programs, all parents must sign in prior to reporting to the auditorium. To streamline the process, we are asking that parents WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM please RSVP using this program so that Ms. Valenta Williams can have your ID badge already printed for you in the Bluestone lobby when you arrive. If you have NOT had your ID scanned into the system before, please arrive at least 15 minutes in advance to allow time for this process. You may RSVP until 7:30 a.m. the morning of February 4 and an RSVP is NOT mandatory in order to attend. We are hoping that this process will assist parents in arriving in the auditorium on time. Please plan to utilize off-site parking at the James River Bus lot on Allen Avenue. If you have questions about the RSVP process or you are not sure if you are in the system, please contact Valenta Williams. All other questions about College Kick-Off or College Jump-Start may go to Kierstin Streitel.

Click HERE to RSVP for JUNIOR College Kick-Off.

Click HERE to RSVP for SOPHOMORE College Jump-Start.


Thank you so much for your cooperation! We look forward to seeing you on February 4.

SCRIP ORDERS DUE FEBRUARY 14

The next Great Lake Scrip gift card due date is Friday, February 14. Consider doing some of your everyday shopping with gift cards; it's the way to earn the most money through this program for our school! Those enrolled can shop Scrip Now anytime and receive digital certificates instantly. To receive the enrollment code, or if you have questions, contact Laura at scrip@mlwgsptsa.org. Go to shopwithscrip.com for a full list of retailers.

PLEASE USE SCRIP TO ORDER ANY CARDS YOU ARE DONATING TO THE NIGHT OF THE DRAGON AUCTION! 





2020 REGIONAL SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS




We are very excited to announce that our talented students in the fine arts were recently honored again this year by having their work selected in the Scholastic Art competition. This is a highly competitive art competition which had over 2600 art entries from the region. MLWGS students had another record setting year of 69 total awards, recognizing Maggie Walker as one of the region’s top schools for the Arts.

2019-20 Scholastic Awards Summary

69 Total awards
12 Gold Keys awards including 2 Gold Key Portfolios
 (2 Gold Key Art Portfolios, 3 Photo Gold Keys, 7 Art Gold Keys)
23 Silver Keys awards including 1 Silver Key Portfolio
 (1 Silver Art Portfolio, 6 Photo Silver Keys, 16 Art Silver Keys)
34 Honorable Mentions including 2 Honorable Mention Portfolios
 (2 HM Photo Portfolios, 16 Photo HM, 16 Art HM)

A show of Gold and Silver Key works will be held at The Visual Arts Center of Richmond at 1812 West Main Street from February 8-16. Honorable mention works will be projected. All are welcome to come join the celebration!

A closing reception will be held for all award winners on February 15 between the hours of 1-4 p.m.  At 2 p.m., a ceremony for Gold Key winners will be held at Binford Middle school (1701 Floyd Ave. located directly next to VisArts). We hope you will be able to attend and celebrate these student successes.

Additionally Gold Key winners’ work will move on to the Alliance for Young Artist and Writers national adjudication process, where it will be eligible for further recognition and scholarship opportunities. Adjudication of Gold Key works will take place in New York City and award winners will be announced in March.

Please join me in congratulating the following Maggie Walker Students and the Fine Arts staff for their success!

Portfolio winners are in red.

First	Last	Teacher Last	Award	Category	Title
Addy	Cullen	Stinnett	Gold Key	Photography	Passing through Air and Space
Cameron	Golden	Stinnett	Gold Key	Painting	Melt
Marina	Kapitanov	Hall	Gold Key	Art Portfolio	Part by Part
Marina	Kapitanov	Hall	Gold Key	Painting	SS Cheville
Rylan	Karjane	Hall	Gold Key	Painting	Help.
Maya	Koehn-Wu	Hall	Gold Key	Drawing and Illustration	Figure Study
Maya	Koehn-Wu	Hall	Gold Key	Painting	Woman With a Gold Earring
Renny	McFadin	Hall	Gold Key	Sculpture	i may be ugly but at least i won first place
Eileen	Morley	Hall	Gold Key	Art Portfolio	au naturel
Mia	Rodriguez	Hall	Gold Key	Painting	Throw Away USA
Savannah	Vonesh	Stinnett	Gold Key	Photography	Buffetted
Jacqueline	Yu	Hall	Gold Key	Mixed Media	watch me
Kori	Benjamin	Stinnett	Silver Key	Mixed Media	Torn Paper Self Portrait
Elizabeth	Celentano	Hall	Silver Key	Mixed Media	Adolescence: Flight vs Flee
Addy	Cullen	Stinnett	Silver Key	Photography	Wing and a Wire
Addy	Cullen	Stinnett	Silver Key	Photography	Epilogue
Helen	Hall	Hall	Silver Key	Drawing and Illustration	Colorful Personality
Marina	Kapitanov	Hall	Silver Key	Painting	der Scheinwerfer
Rylan	Karjane	Hall	Silver Key	Drawing and Illustration	My Imaginary Friend
Natalie	Kim	Hall	Silver Key	Drawing and Illustration	Rocks and Waves
Michael	Kish	Hall	Silver Key	Sculpture	Freedom of Speech
Madison	Leonard	Stinnett	Silver Key	Photography	A Self Portrait
Anthony	Paiva	Stinnett	Silver Key	Photography	Democracy Dissolves
Anthony	Paiva	Stinnett	Silver Key	Photography	Top Down
Audrey	Price	Hall	Silver Key	Drawing and Illustration	Negative Figure Drawing
Mia	Rodriguez	Hall	Silver Key	Mixed Media	Bee
Mia	Rodriguez	Hall	Silver Key	Printmaking	Sign Print 2
Nived	Sanjay	Caldwell	Silver Key	Drawing and Illustration	Rule the Roost
Amelia	Seabury	Hall	Silver Key	Sculpture	An Attempt to Rest
Alyasia	Shaw	Hall	Silver Key	Drawing and Illustration	POSE
Raina	Tian	Hall	Silver Key	Drawing and Illustration	Remnants of Old China
Nathaniel	Williams	Hall	Silver Key	Sculpture	Boogiemask
Jacqueline	Yu	Hall	Silver Key	Painting	places where women are uncomfortably aware of the fact that they are women: bathroom
Jacqueline	Yu	Hall	Silver Key	Art Portfolio	the female gaze
Jacqueline	Yu	Hall	Silver Key	Future New	talk about social media, self esteem, and women with me while i paint azalea flowers on my face
Claire	Bierly	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Eye
Avery	Bowers	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Hole in One
Liza	Craig	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Waiting
Stella	Davies	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Holes
Emily	Duncan	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Morning Glory
Taylor	Dunn	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Yellow Rain Boots
Matthew	Eaton	Hall	Honorable Mention	Design	Broke-Typographic Study-Visual Pun
Hugh	Feehan	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Sparring
Max	Goldkuhle	Hall	Honorable Mention	Painting	quercus alba
Helen	Hall	Hall	Honorable Mention	Drawing and Illustration	Inside Out - Installation view of 4 portrait drawings, The Two Sides of Ada and The Two Sides of Annie
Zelda	Hinkle	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Pony
Marina	Kapitanov	Hall	Honorable Mention	Painting	die Ventilwelle
Rylan	Karjane	Hall	Honorable Mention	Painting	Self Portrait
Rylan	Karjane	Hall	Honorable Mention	Drawing and Illustration	Figure of a Woman with a Staff
Isabella	Kates	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	The Monster's Approach
Tina	Le	Hall	Honorable Mention	Design	Typographic Studies- Melt
Tina	Le	Hall	Honorable Mention	Painting	Semipermeable Dream
Eileen	Morley	Hall	Honorable Mention	Future New	turmeric tee
Eileen	Morley	Hall	Honorable Mention	Painting	la plage diptyque
Pallavi	Natarajan	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Through the Hoop
Daphne	Pang	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Stray
Meredith	Peters	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Dusting
Audrey	Price	Hall	Honorable Mention	Sculpture	Cardboard Astronaut Helmet
Mia	Rodriguez	Caldwell	Honorable Mention	Art Portfolio	The Decay of Signs
Nived	Sanjay	Caldwell	Honorable Mention	Mixed Media	Packer
Alyssa	Smith	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Bug Dance
Raina	Tian	Hall	Honorable Mention	Drawing and Illustration	Study of Henry
Raina	Tian	Hall	Honorable Mention	Art Portfolio	Traditions
Raina	Tian	Hall	Honorable Mention	Future New	17 Years
Savannah	Vonesh	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	RVA
Savannah	Vonesh	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Surfacing
Savannah	Vonesh	Stinnett	Honorable Mention	Photography	Olivia
Lucy	Wampler	Hall	Honorable Mention	Drawing and Illustration	A Study of Man
Julianne	Zielinski	Hall	Honorable Mention	Printmaking	shades of society

2-4-6-8—NOTD TICKET UPDATE! 

Night of the Dragon tickets are now on sale! Purchase tickets online HERE. You can purchase tickets, sponsor a table, and put in any seating requests. Don’t know who you would like to sit with? No worries. We will assign you to a table with other great folks so you can make new friends in the Dragon Family. Either way, be sure to order your tickets soon so you can be part of the fun!

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

• Perennial favorite multi-course, in-home Italian Dinner for 10
• MLWGS 2020 graduation seating
• Vacation homes and adventure packages
• Rooftop wine tasting in the Fan
• Original art and one of a kind jewelry 
• VIP “Behind the Ropes” tickets at the Dominion Classic
• College gear and class baskets
• Event tickets and unique outings
• And so much more!

The Night of the Dragon Needs You!
The countdown is on until the February 29 (Leap Day!) Night of the Dragon Event—Quantum Leap! The NOTD committee is busy working on a myriad of details to make this year’s event a great success and YOU can help. We are looking for a handful of folks to join the Solicitations team. This is a short-term, low commitment task that simply involves reaching out to friends of Maggie Walker who have donated items in the past to and/or to new folks in your circles (friends, favorite businesses) who might be willing to donate items this year. For more info, contact Suzannah Stora or Ginger O’Neil.

Have an item, experience, vacation home, service, etc. that other Maggie Walker folks might be interested in? Contact Suzannah Stora about making your own auction donation to help support our wonderful school. Go Dragons!

NOTD FAQs
What happens during NOTD?
Everyone has loads of fun and we make lots of money to support our amazing school. The evening looks something like this:

6:30 p.m. Check-in begins
6:30-7:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, mingling
6:30-8:15 p.m. Auction items on display
7:30-8:15 p.m. Dinner buffet and carving stations open
8:15 p.m. Silent Auction ends
8:30 p.m. Welcome from Dr. Lowerre
8:45 p.m. Live Auction begins with Head and Tails
9 p.m.  Dessert and coffee served
9:45 p.m. Student Performance

Will I have fun even if I don’t know very many people at Maggie Walker yet?
ABSOLUTELY! There’s plenty of time to mingle and meet folks during the evening. And when dinner time comes, if you don’t request specific folks to sit with, we will do our best to assign you to a table with other parents from your students' class. It’s a great way to meet other Dragon parents.

What is the dress code?
The dress code is “festive.” Not a lot of help, right? The idea is for everyone to feel as special as the event is to our school--but no need to special order a designer dress or dust off the tux--unless you want to! Wear whatever makes you feel ready to have some fun for a great cause, whether that’s a cocktail dress or your fave pants or anything in between. On second thought, wear what
makes you most want to bid lots of money on lots of items.

What Does the Money from NOTD Support?
All proceeds for the Night of the Dragon support the students and faculty at MLWGS! Last year’s event yielded more than $70,000! Proceeds benefit the enhancement initiatives of the Governor’s School Foundation as well as the efforts of the Athletic, Music, Visual Arts, Drama Boosters, and the PTSA.

Is There Parking Available?
Yes, we have arranged for complimentary parking at 13 N. 5th Street, a lot adjacent to the John Marshall.

What is Heads and Tails?
It’s a fun, interactive game coin toss game. Each person who has paid to play ($10 in advance or at the event) receives a set of beads to wear. At the beginning of the Live Auction, everyone with beads stands and places their hands on their head or their tail. The auctioneer then flips a coin. Anyone who guessed the coin toss correctly, as evidenced by where their hands are placed,
remains standing. And this continues until only one person is standing and wins the prize.

Will NOTD use mobile bidding again this year?
Yes, and we are very excited! Mobile bidding was a huge success last year and will be used again this year and in subsequent years. Mobile bidding allows you to input your credit card into a secure system when you buy your tickets or at the event. No more check-out lines at the end of the evening. No more running from silent auction bid sheet to bid sheet. You can set your initial bid and a maximum bid on as many silent auction items as you like and the system will automatically adjust your bid in increments until your max is reached or you win; you can manually enter new bids each time you get a text that you’ve been outbid. You’ll be getting more easy-to-follow bidding info after ticket sales close.

Will drink tickets be pre-sold again this year?
No. Because guests can use cash and credit cards at the John Marshall to purchase drinks, we will not be pre-selling drink tickets this year.

What about the UVA vs. Duke basketball game that evening?
We know we’ve got lots of basketball fans among us, including us, so we’ve reserved the Club Room at the John Marshall for great viewing of the game that evening, currently scheduled for 8 p.m. Mobile bidding means you can keep an eye on the game and continue your silent bidding. Anyone left unattended in the Ballroom during the Live Auction, which begins around 9 p.m, is encouraged, and granted permission to bid away!