Week of April 25, 2018

MLWGS DRAMA CLUB PRESENTS: 2018 SPRING ONE-ACTS FESTIVAL

An Evening of Student-Directed Short Plays April 26-28

This year's One-Acts Festival will be held on April 26, 27, and 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the Black Box Theater and features three student-directed short plays. Additionally, two of these productions will be premieres as they are original scripts written or adapted by MLWGS students. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.  Please join us for the following productions:

Clue: The Movie- adapted and directed by Clara Studdard ('18, Richmond)

A Game- directed by Amarah Ennis ('19, Chesterfield)

Galois- written and directed by Olivia Youmans ('20, Chesterfield)

Please contact maggielwalkerdrama@gmail.com with any questions.





STRESS LESS, LAUGH MORE WEEK! 

April 30 – May 4, 2018

Stress Less, Laugh More Week is an event designed to provide some fun and relaxation for our students prior to AP exams and the spring SOL assessments. It is being sponsored by Lisa Ebeling, School Psychologist and Paige Hawkins, Activities Director. A committee of students have worked with Mrs. Ebeling and Ms. Hawkins on generating ideas for this event. During lunch, our students can look forward to a Lip Sync Battle, treats at lunch, a visit with therapy dogs, and some other entertaining activities. Please note that in order for students to visit with the therapy dogs on May 4, they MUST have the attached permission form signed by a parent and returned to the school counseling office by May 3. Questions? Contact Lisa Ebeling at lebeling@gsgis.k12.va.us.

PROM AND FORMAL WEAR DRIVE

Do you have any gently used cotillion or prom dresses? Any outgrown blue blazers, suits, or ties? The Junior Class is sponsoring a community service project in conjunction with Prom. Charterhouse School is a year-round school affiliated with the foster care program at UMFS. The kids at Charterhouse are residents of the Child and Family Healing Program, and their prom is organized by volunteers and outreach programs through UMFS. They rely on donations for prom-wear. The Junior class is sponsoring a prom/cotillion dress (short or long), suit/blazer and tie drive for the kids at Charterhouse School for their prom, which is May 11. There is a rack in the athletic hall for people to put their donations. Please make sure all donations are gently used, clean, and on a hanger. The Junior class will be collecting donations through by May 1. Please consider surveying your kids' closets. These donations make a big difference for the kids at Charterhouse.

Any questions, please contact Michael Schweiker, mschweiker19@gmail.com

www.charterhouseschool.org/locations/#block-richmond-locations

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS

The April issue of the Senior Newsletter is now available! Please read for important upcoming deadlines.

ATTENTION JUNIORS AND PARENTS

Registration for the College Application Boot Camp is open as of April 24! The mission of College Boot Camp is to provide rising seniors the space and time to complete their Common Application (or other application of their choice) before the start of the school year. Boot Camp will be held from August 14-16, 2018. A morning (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) and afternoon (1-4 p.m.) session will be offered. College Boot Camp is an optional fee-based workshop led by the senior counselors. The cost of Boot Camp is $55. Fee waivers are available if paying for Boot Camp would be an obstacle. Please contact Kierstin Streitel in the Counseling Office with any questions. Registration will close on May 31. Registration operates on a “first come, first served” basis, so if you are interested in attending please register ASAP.

Click on the link to register: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d4fabae28a5fe3-college

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 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 non-Common App applications. Topics can be adjusted based on the needs of the group.





NEWS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION

Grandparents and Special Friends Day 

We are happy to report that we had more than a hundred attendees at this year's Grandparents and Special Friends Day, sponsored by the MLWGS Foundation. We loved being able to welcome grandparents who were setting foot in the school for the first time as well as others who were attending for a second, third, fourth, or even eighth time! Some came from as far as Chicago! Thanks go to the Foundation's Events Committee for putting on a beautiful event, to Dr. Lowerre for welcoming all our visitors, and to the Deadbeats for their fantastic performance. You can find pictures from the reception on our Facebook page.

Don't Miss the 2018 Day of the Dragon- Tuesday May 1

On Tuesday, May 1, the Governor's School Foundation is hosting the first ever Day of the Dragon- a full day dedicated to celebrating the good work of the Governor's School and promoting Foundation support. The Foundation will kick off the Day of the Dragon with a special breakfast honoring our newly launched Legacy Circle, which recognizes Foundation contributors who have given more than $25,000 cumulatively throughout the history of the school. Other activities throughout the day include an ice cream social study break for MLWGS students, a phone-a-thon/thank you note writing party after school, and an alumni happy hour that evening under the lights of the Byrd Marquee which will recognize MLWGS! And throughout the day, we will be busy sharing information about the Foundation's many efforts to strengthen the academic experience for our students, and garnering support for our 2017-2018 Annual Fund Campaign.

How can you make the 2018 Day of the Dragon a success?

Make a gift to the 2017-18 Annual Fund Campaign at https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/GSGISFFoundationGovernorsS/annualfundgift.html 

Volunteer at the Parent/Student Phone-a-thon/ Thank You Note Writing Party- 3:45- 7:45 pm (contact sstora@MLWGSFoundation.org to volunteer) 

Like the Governor's School Foundation's Facebook Page- https://www.facebook.com/MLWGSFoundation/ 

So far this year, the Foundation's 2017-18 Annual Fund Campaign has raised $273,906. 32% of current parents have donated a total of $62,956. In our strongest fundraising years, parent participation has reached 70% so we still have a long way to go! Here is the parent participation by class as of April 10:

Senior: 27%
Junior: 39%
Sophomore: 30%
Freshmen: 33% 

And keep spreading the word! Parent support is critical to our success!

Week of April 18, 2018

RSVP TODAY for Grandparents and Special Friends Day this Friday

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is this Friday, April 20. Please RSVP by close of business TODAY, Wednesday April 18 by either emailing the Foundation Office at events@MLWGSFoundation.org or calling (804) 354-1566.  Grandparents and Special Friends Day is an afternoon event where current students' grandparents (or other special family members and friends) can visit MLWGS and learn a little about our school, take a brief tour, and have a reception with their grandchildren.

Students! The Yearbook staff would LOVE to see pictures of you on Spring Break for use in the Spring Supplement. Whether you traveled, worked, volunteered, or did anything else remotely interesting, we would be grateful for your images of yourself doing anything interesting or in any interesting place. Please go to http://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=MLWGS and upload your images by May 1. Questions? Email Mr. White at mwhite@gsgis.k12.va.us.

On Friday, March 30, 45 Governor's School graduates spoke to current students about life after high school at the 4th biennial Alumni Showcase. Our speakers included a professional distance runner, a paleoanthropologist, a pastry chef, an investment banker, many entrepreneurs, attorneys, and alumni working in the medical field, and many more. Though most of the Foundation's work focuses on serving current MLWGS students and faculty, we also value our work as the school's alumni office, which gives us the opportunity to organize events like this. Many of the alumni who returned to speak expressed that they would be happy to be in touch with any students interested in corresponding about their education and/or chosen career field. A full list of this year's speakers can be found here.

Events like Alumni Showcase are entirely funded by the Foundation's Annual Fund.  So far this year, the Foundation's 2017-18 Annual Fund Campaign has raised $267,348 which is 81% of our $330,000 goal. 32% of current parents have donated a total of $60,767. In our strongest fundraising years, parent participation has reached 70%. Here is the parent participation by class as of April 10: 

Senior: 27%
Junior: 39%
Sophomore: 28%
Freshmen: 32%

Your gift will enrich the MLWGS experience for all student and faculty.

ORCHESTRA NEWS

Minji Cho ('21, Chesterfield), violin, and Andrew Shin ('18, Henrico), viola, performed in All State Orchestra April 7, 2018 at the Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts under guest conductor, Robert Gillespie.




FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT SPRING BREAK TRIP!

Maggie Walker Fine Arts Department had a successful trip to New York City during Spring Break 2018!

The Fine Arts Department at Maggie Walker had an amazing art-venture in New York City over Spring Break. This trip, which takes place once every four years, introduces our students to the world-class cultural institutions unique to New York City. Despite the cold weather, students toured the Met, Guggenheim, and MOMA and enjoyed some authentic New York cuisine! Thanks to the Governor’s School Foundation and the Visual Arts Boosters for their financial support of this unique student experience. -Jeff Hall

Week of April 4, 2017

MISSING SOMETHING?

On April 6 and 7 the MLWGS Lost and Found will be cleared out for donation to local charities.  Please encourage your children to check for any misplaced clothes, textbooks, water bottles, or electronics.  This process will happen at the end of each month for the remainder of the year.  New bins for sorting the Lost and Found will be going into place over Spring Break.  A PA announcement for students will be read for the 3 days proceeding a clean out.  Please support MLWGS by having students be cognizant of their belongings to avoid them ending up in the Lost and Found.  

GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

Don't miss the Governor School Foundation's annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Friday, April 21! This is an afternoon event where we invite current students' grandparents (or other special family members and friends) to learn a little about our school, take a brief tour, and have a reception with their grandchildren. The details are as follows:

Friday, April 21, 2017

2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

for Government & International Studies

1000 North Lombardy Street

Richmond, Virginia 23220

R.S.V.P. by April 7

(804) 354-1566, or Events@MLWGSFoundation.org

PARENT INFORMATION SESSION, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Please plan to attend a parent information session, Speak Up to Slow the Spinning, hosted by MLWGS Dr. Lee Ridens, the school psychologist, on April 5 in the Auditorium at MLWGS from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.  All parents are encouraged to attend.

This discussion focuses on cultivating a balanced culture at home. Join the session for an open conversation about how home environment impacts the mental health of the family.

Panelists include:

• Grace Gallagher, Executive Director, Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation
• Matt Bitsko, PhD, LCP, Health & Family Psychologists of VA/Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
• Danielle Scott, PhD, LCP
• Dr. Gayle Smith, Pediatrician, Partners in Pediatrics

GOLDEN APPLE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Iota Sigma Chapter is seeking nominations for the Golden Apple Awards Teacher of Year. 

Nominations are sought to honor exemplary teachers in the Richmond Metropolitan area.  Four recipients will be recognized at the Golden Apple Awards Luncheon in May. Prizes include a plaque/trophy and a gift package. All nominations and a letter of recommendation (Not required for students who are nominating) must be completed by April 6, 2017.

Email the letter of recommendation to info@iotasigma1935.org or mail the letter to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Iota Sigma Chapter, PO Box 26274, Richmond, VA 23220.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5ZGH2RM

DRAGONS ADVANCE IN REGIONAL GOVERNOR'S CHALLENGE

Congratulations to Christian Moore ('17, Chesterfield), Avery Gagne (’17, Hanover), Preston Hausser ('17, Chesterfield), and Parth Kotak ('17, Henrico). The Walker team will next compete on April 26 at VCU with other top state high school teams for the ‘Challenge’ championship.

http://vcee.org/high-school/governors-challenge/

DIRECTOR'S BLOG

The most recent Director’s Blog is available at http://mlwgs.com/directors-march-update/

Week of March 28, 2017

PTSA NOMINATING COMMITTEE SEEKING CANDIDATES

The PTSA has many open positions for the 2017-18 school year including Executive Board and committee chair positions. All PTSA parent members for current and incoming MLWGS students are eligible to volunteer for these positions.  If interested, please contact one of the newly elected nominating committee members noted below, preferably by March 27:

Anthony Taylor:  anthony.l.taylor82@gmail.com

Karen Townsend   : karentownsend@seaislandsoftware.biz

Kathryn Gammino: kgammino@icloud.com

Yvette Conte:  contefamily5@msn.com

POETRY OUT LOUD STATE COMPETITION TO BE AIRED APRIL 6

The Poetry Out Loud State Competition will be aired on WCVE-PBS, Thursday, April 6, at 9 p.m. Tune in to watch MLWGS’s Sarah Law (’17, Chesterfield) compete with the top 12 students from all over the state.

MLWGS GOLF TOURNAMENT SEEKS SPONSORS

Please click here for the registration form, which is due April 20, 2017.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

The Foundation is excited to announce its annual Grandparents Day on Friday, April 21! This is an afternoon event where we invite current students' grandparents (or other special family members and friends) to learn a little about our school, take a brief tour, and have a reception with their grandchildren. It's a popular event and a lot of fun!

The only way we can invite these special family members is if you provide their contact information! If you've provided this information in a previous school year, we already have that and can use it to contact your child's grandparents. If that information has changed and needs to be updated in any way, please email the changes.

Most importantly, if your child is a freshman and you’ve never sent any grandparent contact information from you, please email events@mlwgsfoundation.org with the following:

• Name and graduation year of your current student(s) 
• Name(s) of all grandparents or special family members to invite 
• Full street address with city, state, and ZIP code 
• Current email address (if they routinely use email)

Printed invitations will be mailed to all invitees in a few weeks and followed up with an email reminder. If you're in touch with those family members soon, please ask them to save the date of April 21 for this special event!

FIND YOUR CALM

DESIGNATED QUIET SPACES
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Want to step away from the rush and rumble of your busy day?  There are now two designated comfy spaces at MLWGS to take a break from noise and chatter....

·       The Mindfulness and Calm space for students (located in the Counseling suite) has groovy bean bag chairs, mindfulness coloring books, and more.  As an added touch, you’ll find a thoughtful quote on the board that a student writes there at the beginning of each day.

·       The Mindfulness and Calm space for teachers (236) has soft armchairs, mindfulness coloring books, and more.  There’s also a bookcase for a teacher book exchange. Just like the Little Free Libraries that have popped up around RVA, this is a free exchange: give one, take one.  Consider contributing a recently published book in great condition that you’d like to share.

To nurture calm, these rooms are intended as silent spaces, so please choose a different location for conversations. With quiet in mind, if you’d like to listen to music or audio recordings, please use earbuds or headphones (each room is equipped with headphones that you can borrow for this purpose).

If you’re interested in mindfulness-related recordings, you might choose a track from the library’s Mindfulness and Calm playlist on Soundcloud from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or check out one of the apps listed on the library’s Mindfulness and Calm page.

The Mindfulness Committee would like to thank Lisa Williams for her assistance in designing the teacher space and Troy Mitchell for painting two of the walls a serene blue.  Advanced thanks to the Art Honor Society who may be adding a mural to the student space by the end of the school year.

NIGHT OF THE DRAGON

THANK YOU SPONSORS AND DONORS!

The Night of the Dragon Auction Committee would like to thank the generous sponsors and donors!

Vendor Sponsors ($5000 or more)

BIZPORT

Shamin Hotels: Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa

Monetary Donations ($1000)

ASHBY

Apple Spice Junction

Monetary Donations ($500)

Nyfeler Assocaites

Natural Awakenings

Anne and Henry Savedge: In honor of Katie and Emily Page

Corporate and Group Donors

Andrew Carney Photography

Athletic Boosters

Azzurro Restaurant  

Belmont Butchery

Branch & Vine

Chris Chase Studios

Cliff Bruce Studio

Dairy Bar

Detail X Perts  

Drama Boosters

East Coast Provisions  

Fox and Hound

Fresh Market  

Friends of MLWGS

James River Transportation

Joe's Inn Bon Air

Maggie L. Walker Governor's School

Maggie L. Walker Governor's School Alumni

Maggie L. Walker Governor's School PTSA

Maggie Walker Guidance Department

Men's Warehouse

Metzger Bar and Butchery

MLWGS Dragon's Lair

MLWGS parents - past and present - who love to cook!

MLWGS Student Parking

Montana Gold Bread Company

Monticello

Music Boosters

Myrna's Boots 'n' Bits

Olive Garden

P.F. Chang

Parents of the Freshman Class

Parents of the Junior Class

Parents of the Senior Class

Parents of the Sophomore Class

Penelope Midlothian

Post & Beam Design Co.

PTSA, Alumni and Alumni Parents

Puritan Cleaners

QuickFix Golf

Rachel Loving/Maggie Walker Guidance Department

Richmond Country Club

Richmond Symphony Orchestra

RVA Trolley

School of Rock

School of the Performing Arts

Segway of Richmond  

Sheetz Inc.

Short Pump Dental

Strangeways Brewing

The 3rd Street Diner

The Boathouse

The C.F. Sauer Company

The Garden Club of Virginia

The Olive Oil Taproom, LLC  

The Omni Richmond Hotel

The Science Museum of Virginia

Trapezium Brewing Co.

Triple Crossing Brewing Company

Union Electric Contracting Company

Virginia Museum of Arts

Visual Art Boosters  

Wendell Powell Studios

Williams & Sherrill

Individual Donors

Alan Crawford

Alison Kent

Amy Jasper

Andy Brower and Peggy Feldmann

Angie Quintero

Anne Hayes

Anne O'Byrne and David Fisk

Barbara Haas

Becky and Dave Henderson

Becky Premock

Beth Thomas

Brick and Tammy Brickley

Cara O'Connell

Carl Stromberg

Carrie Reed

Chris Chase

Cindy Ortiz

Cindy Seeley

Coach Jeff Hall

Coach Jim Holdren

Coach Paige Hawkins

Cynthia Losen

Dana Hawkins

David and Beth Bortz

Donna Bennington

Dr. Randy Mortimer

Ekaterina Singletary

Eliza Askin

Eliza Bellamy

Ellis Bell

Frankie James

Frederick Ochsenhirt

Gaela Stromberg

George and Jane Hastings

Governor Terry McAuliffe

Greg Butler

Grid+ Love Designs

Jacqueline O'Neil

James Guy

Jamey Steigmaier

Jennie Eckert

Jenny Han

Jeremy Graboyes

John and Jonah Holland

John and Rebecca Piersol

John Herzog

Joyce and Aslam Handy

Julie May

Karen Miller

Kate Cooper

Katherine and Brian Baird

Kathleen and Paul Kostandin

Keith Burns

Kimberly Lee

Kori Mosley

Kristin and Chris Lyons

Leslie Kimball Franck

Lisa Marshall

Lisa Specter-Dunaway

Lucy Dacus

Lynn and Hal Greer

Lynn Foshee Reed

Mary Jane Darville

Mary Michael Schweiker

MaryAnn Easterling

Maymont

Meaco Coffey

Melissa Simmons

Molly Farrar

Monica Lewis

Parker Alter

Rob Galgano

Robyn Smith

Sam and Helen Adams

Sarah and John Datovech

Sarah Saunders

Sean and Debbie McDonald

Sher Lahvic

Sue Chaplin

Susan Creasey

Susan Davenport

Susan Hefty and Steve Ross

Tanya O'Sickey

The Graham Family

The Gruenhagen Family

Tom Williamson

Tommy Miller

Vanessa McFadden

W. Baxter Perkinson Jr., DDS

Weissend Family

Wendy DeGroat

Yu-Wen Chiou

Yvette Conte

Thank you Volunteers!

The Night of the Dragon would not have been a huge success without all the hard work by our many wonderful volunteers!

Volunteers (*alumni / alumni parents)

Administrative Chair: Peggy Feldmann

Data Management Chair: Norm Hill

Venue Chair: Megan Colson

Data Management:  Craig Goble-Garratt

Communications: Debbie Taminger

Invitations and Postal: Catherine Nicholas/Jennifer Law

Ticket Sales and Check-in: Amy Patina

Item Assembly: Leslie Hausser

Live Auction & Heads/Tails: David Henderson*

Silent Auction Set-up: Emily Goodman

Invitations/Cover Artwork: Diann Liptak*

Auction Management Software: Norm Hill

Online Catalog/Website: Norm Hill

Buy It Now: Barbara Haas

Gift Certificates: Laura Carr and Ginger O’Neil

Decorations: Megan Colson

Corporate Sponsorships: Suzannah Stora

Alumni Donors: Catherine Nicholas*

No auction is possible without the patience and persistence of the donation solicitors.  Recently, the auction was changed from Booster-centric to MLWGS-centric and these parents are commended for their hard work, dedication, and schmoozing for getting tonight’s donations. We could not have done it without them!

Debbie Taminger; JD Beam; Robyn Smith; Megan Colson Yvette Conte Sarah Saunders; Mary Michael Schweiker; David Henderson*; Sandra Shelly;Kris Lyons; Jennifer Gillette; Misty Clark*; Parent Class Reps; Joyce Handy; Catherine Nicholas*

We would like to extend our thanks to the many parents and students who have volunteered their time today and this evening. If you enjoyed this evening and would like to help in the planning process for the 2018 auction, please contact one of the Chairs.