Week of March 22, 2016

FOUNDATION MAILING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

The MLWGS Foundation needs volunteer help in preparing a bulk mailing on Wednesday, April 6, starting at 8:30 a.m. in the MLWGS Boardroom. If you have a few hours to spare, please join us!

Foundation helpers will be preparing our third Annual Fund Letter mailing.  Coffee, snacks, and friendly conversation all served!

No RSVP necessary, but for questions or to be added to the Foundation's volunteer list for future bulk mailings, please contact Laura Lewis at laura.lewis@governorsschoolfoundation.org.

SCRIP

For SCRIP for the rest of this school year, the PTSA has decided to sell the remaining gift cards we have in stock, first come - first served, and to not take any more special orders. If you would like to purchase any gift cards, please email Karen at k.murtha@comcast.net or Lori at lori.bek@verizon.net and we will make arrangements to get you the cards. Our current stock includes Arby's ($10), Barnes and Noble ($10 and $25), Build-a-Bear Workshop ($25), Chili's ($25), Coldstone Creamery ($10), Food Lion ($25 and $100), Lowe's ($25), Martin's ($25 and $100), Olive Garden ($25), Outback Steakhouse ($25), Panera ($10), Red Robin ($10), Starbuck's ($10 and $25), Target ($25) and Walmart ($25). For many of these, the PTSA has multiple cards. Please think of supporting the PTSA by purchasing gift cards for end-of-year gifts for teachers and other occasions.

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS

The Mid-March Senior Newsletter is now available on the School Counseling Website (https://sites.google.com/a/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlw-school-counseling/2011-2012-newsletters). This newsletter contains college-related reminders and a listing of scholarships with approaching deadlines. The latest newsletter was distributed to students in their English classes last week. Scholarship information for seniors is also available on the School Counseling website (https://sites.google.com/a/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlw-school-counseling/college-admissions-information-1/scholarships-financial-aid) and in Naviance (https://connection.naviance.com/mlwgs). Contact your child’s counselor if you would like to view the Naviance scholarship database and need your registration code. Scholarships are still being added to this database on a monthly basis, most with direct links to the applications. Hard-copy applications are scanned and attached to the scholarship description as a PDF. Please note that all deadlines posted on Naviance or in the Newsletter are subject to change as organizations are still sending us updated information for this school year. Check the organization’s website for the most current information and availability. Please contact Rachel Loving in the School Counseling Office with scholarship questions.

THE ROBERT E. AND JACQUELINE POGUE SCHOLARSHIP

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

The Robert E. and Jacquelyn Pogue Scholarship annually recognizes a Maggie Walker senior by an award of $3,000 per year for the first two years of their college experience. Selection criteria includes demonstration of a strong interest in the study of history, government and politics, an ability to achieve in a well-rounded academic program, proven leadership ability, and a strong commitment to community service. Financial need will be considered, although it is not a primary factor. Part I of the application can be picked up in the Counseling Office beginning March 22, 2016. An information session for interested seniors will be held Wednesday, March 23 in the College Center (Counseling Office) during lunch starting at 11:40. Please turn in Part I of the application to Dr. Loving by April 11 at 12:30 p.m. Semi-finalists will be given Part II of the application which will be due April 28 at 3:30 p.m. Finalists will be interviewed on May 16.

MLWGS DEBATE TEAM WINS

CATHOLIC FORENSIC LEAGUE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Public Forum Competitors and Faculty Sponsor Dan Brown

Congratulations to the MLWGS Debate team for Winning the Catholic Forensic League State Championship May 12 at Fluvanna County High School. In Public Forum Debate, George Moss (’16-Henrico) and Sreekar Kandlakunta (’16-Henrico) finished first, Andrew Bui (’17-Henrico) and Omar Karim (’17-Henrico) finished second, and Ryan Lucia (16-Hanover) and John Li (’16-Henrico) finished fourth. In Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Claire Mendelson (’16-Richmond) finished first, Sophia McCrimmon (’17-Hanover) finished second, and Dharaa Rathi (’17-Henrico) finished third.

Congratulations are also due to the Forensics program which finished second overall in the state championship. In Extemporaneous Speech Michael Benos (’16-Chesterfield) finished in 5th and Lawrence Jia (’19-Chesterfield) finished 4th. In Declamation Ananya Suram (’18-Henrico) finished 4th and Emily Ma (’18-Henrico) finished in 2nd. In Original Oratory Genna Markee (’17-Chesterfield) finished 2nd while Naomi Vickers (’17-Richmond) was the state champion in Oral Interpretation.

MLWGS STUDENT EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN

2016 SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS

Emma Bilski (’16-Chesterfield) has earned national recognition in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2016. Emma received a Gold Medal in the category of architecture for her set design of the Crucible. Her work has been identified by panels of creative professionals as one of the most talented young artists in the nation. This year, nearly 320,000 works of art and writing were submitted. Only the top 1% were recognized at the national level. Emma Bilski has been invited to attend a ceremony at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York on Thursday, June 2. Congratulations Emma!

MLWGS ORCHESTRA STUDENTS EARN SEATS IN

ALL-STATE BAND AND ORCHESTRA 

All-State Band and Orchestra auditions were held February 27 at James Madison University. Each year, the occasion brings the top instrumentalists in the state together based on eligibility gained through earning seats, also by audition, in district and regional band and orchestra events. At stake is a coveted seat in one of the top orchestras or bands in the state. It is widely considered the pinnacle achievement for high-school instrumentalists and the competition at this level is fierce.

MLWGS is proud to congratulate three outstanding students for earning seats in All State Band and Orchestra this year:

Charles Yang (‘17, Henrico), 15th-ranked flute

Willow Kwak (‘18, Henrico), 31st-ranked violin 

Rachel Zhao (‘18, Henrico), 9th-ranked cello

The All State Band and Orchestra event takes place April 7-9 at George Mason University.

ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLES EARN SUPERIOR RATINGS AT DISTRICT ORCHESTRA ASSESSMENT FESTIVAL

Congratulations to the Orchestra I and Orchestra II classes for both receiving the highest ratings of Superior from each of the four professional adjudicators at the District Orchestra Assessment Festival Thursday, March 10 at Hanover High School.

The ensembles prepared a program consisting of music selected from a list of pre-approved titles graded by level of difficulty (I-VI, VI being most difficult). Orchestra I performed grade IV material and Orchestra II performed grade V. Additionally, a sight-reading component rounded out the assessment.

“Straight superior ratings are naturally the benchmark we work to achieve and we’re thrilled and proud to celebrate,” says orchestra director, Karl von Klein. “But the greater takeaway transcends a rating. It’s the shared experience we enjoy by creating art together, for ourselves first and foremost, and the constructive criticism we use from the judges to elevate our ability to control the expression we are capable of conveying through our instruments.”

MLWGS ROBOTICS TEAM COMPETES IN VIRGINIA SOUTHWEST DISTRICT

This past weekend, the Maggie Walker Robotics Team, FRC Team 422, competed at the Virginia Southwest District Competition. By competition end, the team was awarded the Industrial Design award which celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively addresses the game challenge. Team 422 was also semifinalists of the game competition, along with their robot, Paragon!

The team is pictured with the Industrial Design Award.

LADIES NIGHT OUT

It’s not too late to purchase your ticket for the very popular Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Ladies’ Night Out.  This year we are celebrating "Under The Tuscan Moon” in the Italian-style courtyard of the beautifully restored 2710 Monument Avenue home of alumni parents, Julie and Paul Weissend. Join other MLWGS moms, female faculty, and woman friends of MLWGS for some antipasti, wine, soft drinks and desserts on Wednesday, May 18 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and benefit the PTSA. Feel free to buy a ticket for a teacher too! Contact Yvette Conte at contefamily5@msn.com or 804-647-5289 for ticket information.

Week of October 13, 2015

PSAT—WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14

Parent and students, please remember that the PSAT will be administered on Wednesday October 14 to all 9th, 10th and 11th graders. Students need to bring graphing calculators and #2 pencils. The school will not have enough calculators to loan out to students who forget to bring one. Also, the revised PSAT is longer and testing will not conclude until approximately 12:20. Students should eat a healthy breakfast that day so that they don’t get too hungry during testing.

FOUNDATION MAILING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22

The MLWGS Foundation needs volunteer help in preparing a bulk mailing on Thursday, October 22, starting at 9:00am in the MLWGS Boardroom. If you have a few hours to spare, please join!

Foundation helpers will be preparing our first Annual Fund Letter mailing.

No RSVP necessary, but for questions or to be added to the Foundation's volunteer list for future bulk mailings, please contact Laura Lewis at laura.lewis@governorsschoolfoundation.org.




STUDENT ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Attention Sophomores!
Virginia Space Coast Scholars is a NASA-based STEM program for 10th-grade students interested in NASA’s space and Earth and airborne science-related missions managed or flown by NASA Wallops Flight Facility. This dynamic (and FREE) program, designed by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC), inspires students who possess technical and/or scientific interests and are motivated to learn about the many different opportunities that NASA offers. Additional information and applications can be found at http://vscs.spacegrant.org/. Applications are due by November 8, 2015. 

The Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar Program is offering one slot for a sophomore from our school to attend its state-wide seminar in the spring. Interested students should submit a 75 to 100-word essay to Ms. Davis describing the most rewarding and challenging aspect of being a leader in our school and community. The deadline for submission is October 30. More information about the program is available at www.hoby.org.

Attention Juniors!
Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is a NASA-based program for 11th-grade students interested in aerospace-related science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM). Applications and additional information can be found at http://vasts.spacegrant.org. The application deadline is November 8, 2015. 

Attention Juniors and Seniors!
National English Honor Society
The English Department is pleased to invite juniors and seniors to apply for admission to the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Chapter of the National English Honor Society. 

To be eligible, you must have completed four semesters of core English credits with an un-weighted GPA of 3.75. 

To apply, please pick up an application from Ms. Davis (counseling office). Applications and the membership fee must be received no later than Friday, October 16. 

The Society of Women Engineers at the University of Virginia invites high school seniors and juniors to apply for a place in our High School Visitation program, taking place Saturday, November 14, 2015. The program gives young women a comprehensive look at engineering fields and at UVA’s engineering curriculum through informative speakers and hands-on design activities. The program is designed to benefit participants with all levels of engineering experience, but it particularly targets those students who are not yet familiar with the field but may be interested in applying to engineering schools or pursuing a STEM career. Applications are available athttp://www.virginiaswe.org. Applications are due by October 23. 

Virginia Earth Systems Science Scholars (VESSS) is a NASA-based program for 11th and 12th-grade students who are interested in Earth Systems Science-related science, technology, engineering and/or math (STEM). This course focuses on Earth Systems Science and the NASA mission that help study these topics. Applications and additional information can be found at https://spacegrant.net/apps/?pk=sss and are due by November 8, 2015. 




BOOK DISCUSSION OPPORTUNITY

Chitra Divakaruni’s novel One Amazing Thing is the All-Henrico Reads book for 2015/16. You may have heard Divakaruni’s name before in connection with Mistress of Spices, an earlier novel that was made into a popular movie.

As is customary for selected authors, Henrico County will be sponsoring a talk by Ms. Divakaruni scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Glen Allen High School auditorium.

Students interested in participating in a spring discussion about this book shortly after the MLWGS spring break (which ends Monday, April 4), please complete the online sign-up form.

The description of Divakaruni’s book from Amazon follows:

Late afternoon sun sneaks through the windows of a passport and visa office in an unnamed American city. Most customers and even most office workers have come and gone, but nine people remain. A punky teenager with an unexpected gift. An upper-class Caucasian couple whose relationship is disintegrating. A young Muslim-American man struggling with the fallout of 9/11. A graduate student haunted by a question about love. An African-American ex-soldier searching for redemption. A Chinese grandmother with a secret past. And two visa office workers on the verge of an adulterous affair. When an earthquake rips through the afternoon lull, trapping these nine characters together, their focus first jolts to their collective struggle to survive. There’s little food. The office begins to flood. Then, at a moment when the psychological and emotional stress seems nearly too much for them to bear, the young graduate student suggests that each tell a personal tale, “one amazing thing” from their lives, which they have never told anyone before. And as their surprising stories of romance, marriage, family, political upheaval, and self-discovery unfold against the urgency of their life-or-death circumstances, the novel proves the transcendent power of stories and the meaningfulness of human expression itself. One Amazing Thing is a passionate creation about survival–and about the reasons to survive.

STUDENTS THOUGHTS ON FALL FESTIVAL

Check out the Jabberwock for pictures and students thoughts on Fall Festival!




SUBSCRIBE TO SMOKE AND SCALES

Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, Smoke and Scales will not be using Constant Contact to blast your email inbox every Tuesday morning in the wee hours. Don’t worry though! You can still receive Smoke and Scales every Tuesday by subscribing to the newsletter by email. How? At the top of this page on the right-hand side is a “Follow by Email” subscription option. Simply enter your email address, hit submit, and you’re subscribed! Smoke and Scales’s goal this year is to transition the entire readership to subscribe via email. Please get us started on that goal, and subscribe today!

Week of April 21, 2015

PTSA Programming – Ethics Pro and MLWGS Senior Team Up!

Raising Children to be Ethical Leaders

May 5, 2015 • 5:30 p.m. MLWGS Auditorium

Local author Linda Fisher Thornton will discuss ethical leadership, the morals and principles inherent to good business practices, and raising children to reflect these values. Senior Reed Canaan (Henrico), student chairperson of Maggie Walker’s honor council, will discuss the important role of the honor council at Maggie Walker and introduce Ms. Thornton.

The author of  7 Lenses: Learning the Principles and Practices of Ethical Leadership, Ms. Thornton is a leadership consultant who teaches ethics at University of Richmond, and speaks and writes about the future of ethical leadership.   

Good Luck, We the People Team!

The Governor’s School Foundation wants to wish the MLWGS We the People team good luck in the national tournament this weekend!  Along with their teacher, Sam Ulmschneider ’02, the twenty-four member team travels to George Mason University and the U.S. Capitol to compete against teams from around the country. 

This is the seventeenth time since 1998 that the Governor’s School team has won the state championship and competed in the national tournament.

The Governor’s School Foundation is pleased to support our We the People team, along with the following corporate sponsors:  the New Market Foundation, the MeadWestvaco Foundation, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, and Tailored Touches.

PLEASE JOIN THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION FOR ITS LAST MAILING OF THE YEAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

The Governor's School Foundation needs volunteer help in preparing the final mailing of the year on Wednesday, April 29, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the MLWGS Boardroom. This last postcard mailing usually goes pretty quickly, so if you have a couple hours to spare, please join us! It is a great time to meet up with other parents to have coffee and great conversation!

No RSVP is necessary, but for questions or to be added to the Foundation's volunteer list for future bulk mailings, please contact Laura Lewis at 354-1566 or Laura.Lewis@GovernorsSchoolFoundation.org.

Thanks!

MLWGS Drama Club Presents 2015 SPRING ONE-ACTS FESTIVAL

An Evening of Student-Directed Short Plays

The One-Acts Festival will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 30 - May 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater. This year’s festival includes five student-directed short plays. Tickets will be available at the door for $5. Please join us for the following productions:

• A Human Write directed by Taylor Hawkins ('15, Chesterfield)
• Variations on the Death of Trotsky directed by John Libby ('16, Hanover)
• Red Nose Floppy Shoes directed by Emma Bilski ('16, Chesterfield)
• What If I Told You directed and written by Genna Markee ('17, Chesterfield)
• Admissions directed by Shannon Colson ('17, Henrico) and Naomi Vickers ('17, Richmond)

STUDENT Travel Opportunity

International/Interdisciplinary trip To Costa Rica

MLWGS students have an exciting opportunity to participate in the international/interdisciplinary trip to Costa Rica during Spring Break 2016. MLWGS has chosen to offer this opportunity because of Costa Rica’s unique history, vibrant culture, and robust ecological diversity. Students will spend nine days exploring the ecology, geology, history, and culture of Costa Rica. In Tortuguero students will discover eleven different habitats, including nesting ground for sea turtles. Then students will enjoy a unique perspective of the rainforest while whitewater rafting and zip-lining in Sarapiqui. The next stop will be the Arenal region, where students will study volcanic geology. The Arenal volcano serves as a watershed for the lake, powers the hot springs, and supports the majestic La Fortuna waterfall. The final destination is Guanacaste, where students can explore Pacific beaches. They will also visit a cloud forest and snorkel in a marine ecosystem. Of course, they will also have some free time to experience local culture.

           

MLWGS has chosen to work with Education First (EF), an accredited international travel company, because it is a leader in international education, with more than 45 years of experience in 50 countries. EF will provide transportation, accommodations, food, insurance, and an experienced tour guide. The tentative cost of the trip is $2635 plus $80 for tips.

  

Questions can be directed to David Barnes at dbarnes@gsgis.k12.va.us, or 354-6800 ex 3060. More information is also available at http://www.eftours.com/1713827WP .

MLWGS (Required) Summer Reading Books

There is no frigate like a book . . . . 

Emily Dickinson was absolutely right!  The PTSA is taking orders for the Maggie Walker required summer reading selections.  The titles are available at a discounted, tax-free price - - convenient for families, a benefit to MLWGS, and best of all, those books will get into eager hands before the summer begins (certainly a bonus in getting started on the tale of the whale)!

Order forms will be distributed to rising Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, and the form can also be downloaded here on the MLWGS home page.

Orders are due by Tuesday, May 19.  Please leave them in Valenta Williams’s office off the Bluestone Lobby.  Make checks payable to MLWGS PTSA.  The books will be distributed to students through the English Department.  Students needing financial assistance in obtaining any of the required titles should contact Karl Zweerink at 354-6800, ext. 3210, kzweerink@gsgis.k12.va.us.  For questions or more information, please contact Susan Creasey at creaseys@verizon.net.

Calling All MLWGS Families:  Show an Outpouring of Appreciation for MLWGS Faculty and Staff

Send in $10 Gift Cards by May 1, 2015!

The MLWGS PTSA is asking all parents to send in one, two, three or more $10 gift cards so during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, MLWGS can show its genuine appreciation to MLWGS teachers for all they do.

Please purchase $10 gift cards from Kroger, Target, Martin’s, Barnes and Noble or Starbucks, then bring (or send with your student) the gift cards to Room 100 (Mrs. Valenta Williams’ office, which is to the right through the Bluestone lobby entrance). There will be a drop box labeled TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFT CARDS for the cards. 

These gifts of $10 gift cards are a terrific way to show collective appreciation and support for the amazing faculty and staff at Maggie Walker. The cards will be given to the faculty and staff at the Teacher Appreciation event on Thursday, May 7.  

Deadline to send in gift cards is Friday, May 1.  The cards will be presented to the teachers and staff as a gift from all parents and students of MLWGS; no individual names of families who donated gift cards will be provided. During Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, parents and students are also encouraged to send a personal note or email to faculty and staff expressing support and appreciation of their dedication to MLWGS students.

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2015!

Here are some senior events coming up in the next two weeks.

Senior Survey via Naviance
April 14 through May 8

The senior survey will be available on Naviance starting April 14 and must be completed by May 8 as a part of the official check-out process.  This survey will give the senior counselors information about each student’s post-graduation plans.  The final college decision each senior reports will be used in the graduation program, and the scholarships accepted will be reported in the Senior Awards Assembly program.  To access the survey, go to Naviance and click the senior survey link to the left under "About Me."  When complete, select "Save and I am finished" on the survey, and also mark it "Complete" on the Naviance Checklist.  If a student changes his/her college decision or receives a scholarship after submitting the form, please notify his/her senior counselor in person or by e-mail.  A brief demonstration and question/answer session about this survey will be provided during AP “Bubblefest” on Tuesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 22.  Please contact Ms. Deck or Dr. Loving with questions.

Caps, Gowns, and Announcements

Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, during Lunch

Caps, gowns, announcements, and other items ordered from Herff-Jones will be distributed on April 22 and 23 in the student commons during lunch.  If a student does not pick up his/her order at that time, s/he should contact Ms. Sheppard (class sponsor/graduation coordinator) in Room 330.   Questions about or problems with the order placed should go directly to Herff-Jones directl at  804-598-0971.  Additional announcements are available for purchase ($1.35 each); students who need to order extras or who forgot to place an order should contact Ms. Sheppard by email (ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us) or by phone (354-6800 ext. 3304). 

Senior Graduation Ticket Distribution

Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, during Lunch

Please note that these are tickets for admission to the graduation exercises and are not the announcements you would have ordered from Herff-Jones.  Anyone planning to come watch a graduate receive their diploma must have a ticket to gain entrance into the theater.  Ms. Sheppard will be at a table in the student commons (next to the Herff-Jones tables) where seniors can pick up their tickets.   Each student will receive 13 tickets, and more tickets may be available on a case-by-case basis.  If tickets are lost, they are not replaceable.  Please keep them in a safe place until June 15. 

Senior Group Photo
Wednesday, April 29, 11:50 a.m.

A group photograph will be taken of all seniors in their caps and gowns standing proudly on the front steps of Maggie Walker.  This panorama style photograph measures approximately 10”x30”, and the cost is $15.00.   Approximately a week before the photograph is taken, order forms will be placed in the senior commons for any student interested in purchasing a copy of the photo.   Students need to remember to bring their caps and gowns that day.

Week of April 14, 2015

Grandparents and Special Friends Day Reminder

MLWGS hopes your students’ grandparents and special friends will be joining us this Friday, April 17, for Grandparents and Special Friends Day! 

Students with grandparents and/or special friends attending the event are invited to join us for a reception beginning at 3:00 p.m.  Please remind your child to stop by the Foundation office, room 225, to pick up a permission slip to be excused from class.  Only students whose grandparents have RSVP’d for the event will be allowed to get a permission slip.

Lastly, please remind the grandparents and special friends that a shuttle bus will be available to travel between the James River Bus Lines parking lot and the school.

MLWGS looks forward to meeting all grandparents and special friends!

Please join the Governor's School Foundation for their last mailing of the year, Wednesday, April 29!

The Governor's School Foundation needs volunteer help in preparing the final mailing of the year on Wednesday, April 29, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the MLWGS Boardroom. This last postcard mailing usually goes pretty quickly, so if you have a couple hours to spare, please join us! It is a great time to meet up with other parents to have coffee and great conversation!

No RSVP is necessary, but for questions or to be added to the Foundation's volunteer list for future bulk mailings, please contact Laura Lewis at 354-1566 or Laura.Lewis@GovernorsSchoolFoundation.org.

Thanks!

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AT MLWGS – MAY 4-8

Calling All MLWGS Families

Show an Outpouring of Appreciation for our Faculty and Staff
Send in $10 Gift Cards

The MLWGS PTSA is calling all parents to send in one, two, three or more $10 gift cards so during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, MLWGS can show its genuine appreciation to MLWGS teachers for all they do.

Please purchase $10 gift cards from Kroger, Target, Martin’s, Barnes and Noble or Starbucks, then bring (or send with your student) the gift cards to Room 100 (Mrs. Valenta Williams’ office, which is to the right through the Bluestone lobby entrance). There will be a drop box labeled TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFT CARDS for the cards. 

These gifts of $10 gift cards are a terrific way to show collective appreciation and support for the amazing faculty and staff at Maggie Walker. The cards will be given to the faculty and staff at the Teacher Appreciation event on Thursday, May 7.

Deadline to send in gift cards is Friday, May 1.  The cards will be presented to the teachers and staff as a gift from all parents and students of MLWGS; no individual names of families who donated gift cards will be provided. During Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, parents and students are also encouraged to send a personal note or email to faculty and staff expressing support and appreciation of their dedication to MLWGS students.

Please see the link below if to participate in other Teacher Appreciation Week events hosted by the PTSA.

Maggie Walker Teacher Appreciation Week donations needed!

Counseling Department Offerings!

Attention students:  The counseling department will be offering small group counseling for students interested in further exploring the following topics.  Most likely groups will meet during lunch.  Please see a counselor during the week after break to sign up!

Stress! Stress! Stress!  So much to do!  So little time!  Join other students to explore the ways you respond to the stresses of everyday life and those extra ones deadlines an active life imposes.  Using Affect Theory let’s find some ways to reduce your response to stress and increase your sense of accomplishment.

Who am I?  What are my interests?  What do I want to do with my life after college?  Ah, let’s explore the possibilities based on an inventory similar to the Myers Briggs.   Ultimately, you will decide what is best for you but some exploration will inform your process.

Worried about someone’s substance abuse?  No one ever means to become an abuser.  We won’t “fix” anyone, but you can learn about the signs, symptoms and stages in the addiction process and how to take care of yourself in the presence of someone who seems to be getting in “harm’s way.”

Attention Class of 2015!

Here are some senior events coming up in the next two weeks.

Senior Survey via Naviance –
April 14 through May 8

The senior survey will be available on Naviance starting April 14 and must be completed by May 8 as a part of the official check-out process.  This survey will give the senior counselors information about each student’s post-graduation plans.  The final college decision each senior reports will be used in the graduation program, and the scholarships accepted will be reported in the Senior Awards Assembly program.  To access the survey, go to Naviance and click the senior survey link to the left under "About Me."  When complete, select "Save and I am finished" on the survey, and also mark it "Complete" on the Naviance Checklist.  If a student changes his/her college decision or receives a scholarship after submitting the form, please notify his/her senior counselor in person or by e-mail.  A brief demonstration and question/answer session about this survey will be provided during AP “Bubblefest” on Tuesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 22.  Please contact Ms. Deck or Dr. Loving with questions.

AP Exam “Bubblefest” – Tuesday, April 21, 11:40 a.m., Auditorium

Any senior who has registered to take an AP exam in May is required to attend Bubblefest hosted by the school counselors during lunch on April 21.  Any senior absent on Tuesday may attend the underclassmen session on Wednesday. 

Caps, Gowns, and Announcements

Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, during Lunch

Caps, gowns, announcements, and other items ordered from Herff-Jones will be distributed on April 22 and 23 in the student commons during lunch.  If a student does not pick up his/her order at that time, s/he should contact Ms. Sheppard (class sponsor/graduation coordinator) in Room 330.   Questions about or problems with the order placed should go directly to Herff-Jones directl at 804-598-0971.  Additional announcements are available for purchase ($1.35 each); students who need to order extras or who forgot to place an order should contact Ms. Sheppard by email (ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us) or by phone (354-6800 ext. 3304). 

Senior Graduation Ticket Distribution

Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, during Lunch

Please note that these are tickets for admission to the graduation exercises and are not the announcements you would have ordered from Herff-Jones.  Anyone planning to come watch a graduate receive their diploma must have a ticket to gain entrance into the theater.  Ms. Sheppard will be at a table in the student commons (next to the Herff-Jones tables) where seniors can pick up their tickets.   Each student will receive 13 tickets, and more tickets may be available on a case-by-case basis.  If tickets are lost, they are not replaceable.  Please keep them in a safe place until June 15. 

Why read Moby Dick?

On Thursday, April 23, during lunch in the auditorium, Associate Professor Les Harrison from the VCU Department of English will answer the basic but very important question “Why read Moby Dick?”  He will also discuss author Herman Melville’s life and experiences in the whaling business.  No food is allowed in the auditorium, so students will have to eat lunch before or after the presentation.  You don’t want to miss it!

Note: Moby Dick is the only summer reading for American Literature students and is one of two selections for AP Language and Composition students

Physicals for Student Athletes

The Athletic Department will be having 2014-2015 physicals, through Virginia Commonwealth University, on June 4 2015 from 4-6 p.m. for $25 in the MLWGS clinic.  Please stop by Ms. Hawkins’ office for a physical form or download one from VHSL.org.  To schedule a physical, please stop by and sign up on the Athletic Training Room door, room 146.

PTSA PROGRAMMING ALERT!

Raising Children to be Ethical Leaders

May 5, 2015 • 5:30 p.m. in the MW Auditorium

Local author Linda Fisher Thornton will discuss ethical leadership, the morals and principles inherent to good business practices, and raising gifted children to reflect these values.  Senior Reed Canaan, student chairperson of Maggie Walker’s honor council, will discuss the role of the honor council and introduce Ms. Thornton.  


The author of “7 Lenses: Learning the Principles and Practices of Ethical Leadership,” Ms. Thornton is a leadership consultant who teaches ethics at University of Richmond, and speaks and writes about the future of ethical leadership.