Week of March 15, 2016

CALLING ALL SHUTTERBUGS!

The Governor’s School Foundation Marketing committee is looking for a parent or two who enjoy taking pictures at occasional events.  All that’s required is a good camera and your interest!

The next event where you could make a contribution is the upcoming Alumni Showcase, being held at MLWGS on Friday, March 25.  Grandparent’s Day on April 15 and the Incoming Freshman Parent Orientation on May 25 also could benefit from your skills.

Interested?  Contact Marketing Committee Chair Lillie Wauford at lrwauford@comcast.net.

FIFTH ANNUAL GRANDPARENTS' DAY

MLWGS grandparents and special friends of the family, including aunts, uncles, godparents, and neighbors, are invited to attend the fifth annual Grandparents' Day on Friday, April 15.  This popular event, sponsored by the Governor's School Foundation, will run from 2:00 – 3:45 p.m. All attendees will be invited to hear a presentation about the school, take a short tour of the building, and attend a reception with their grandchildren.

Please send in the names and addresses of student grandparents and special family friends, even if they may not be able to attend, so that the Foundation may send them a formal invitation. Click here to reach the registration form:

http://goo.gl/forms/UZZIzUVpL5

Feel free to contact the Foundation office at (804)354-1566 with any questions.  Or, write to us at: Events@GovernorsSchoolFoundation.org

ALUMNI SHOWCASE, MARCH 25

The 2016 Alumni Showcase is fast approaching!  On Friday, March 25, about 50 alumni will return to the school to give presentations to current students on life after high school graduation.  This biennial event has been a huge hit with both speakers and students in the past, and we're so excited about this year's speakers.  They include the head of a financial tech startup, a foreign service officer, a producer for The Late Show, and a managing librarian in DC Public Libraries, along with so many other fantastic alums.  Please come to one of our four sessions of presentations throughout the school day if you'd like to see a sampling!

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS

The March Senior Newsletter is now available on the School Counseling Website (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3DE6JFmuM3LeDlqU1ZfaWNDM1k/view). 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.

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.

GOT STRESS?  

HAVE 6TH-BLOCK STUDY HALL? 

YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO REGISTER TO LEARN

KORU MINDFULNESS!

The 7th-block Koru Mindfulness class is halfway finished, but registration for the 6th-block class is open through March 17.

Based on student input, the start-date was delayed, and the four-session Tune-in Tuesday class will now be held from 12:25-1:40 p.m. (6th block) on the following dates:

• Tuesday, March 22
• Tuesday, April 5
• Tuesday, April 12
• Tuesday, April 19

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing full attention to what’s happening in the present moment without judgment.  Among other benefits, it can be a powerful way to reduce stress and improve focus and productivity. This particular pilot teaches the Koru Mindfulness program, a mindfulness program developed by Holly Rogers, M.D., and Margaret Maytan, M.D., and offered to undergraduate and graduate students at Duke University.

Since this pilot test will provide valuable feedback which will be of benefit to MLWGS in planning additional related programs, approval has been granted for students to earn five to twelve community service hours for participating. This opportunity to earn community service for participation only applies to pilot sessions and not to regular programs that may be offered in future school years.

The minimum threshold of four students has already been reached for the 6th-block session and a maximum of 14 students may sign up.

There will be nothing to read or watch for homework, but students will be expected to…

• Commit to attend all four 75-minute sessions (see specific dates below) during their study block.
• Practice the skills learned each week, keeping a brief log of their practice.
• Complete brief pre and post-program surveys.

If you’re interested and you can commit to these expectations, please sign up online @ http://bit.ly/korupilot.

If you have questions, please see Ms. DeGroat in the library.

MECH TECH DRAGONS TAKE SILVER!

Congratulations to the FRC Team 422 Mech Tech Dragons robotics team for winning the silver award in the 2016 Fed Ex Innovation Challenge. Great digital short films directed by Grant Coppedge (’16, Richmond) and edited by Jack Scheibe (’16, Chesterfield) can be seen on twitter.com/FRC422. The team won $3000 and a roboRIO controller and a Dell Aleinware laptop. Good luck to the team in the upcoming competitions.

Week of September 15, 2015

SAVE THE DATE!

SEPTEMBER 24 IS BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT 

The evening program begins at 6:30.  Student schedules, maps, and more information will be sent home with students earlier that week to assist parents.

SPEND MORE TIME ENJOYING FALL FESTIVAL BY PRE-ORDERING TICKETS

Save time by pre-ordering tickets for Fall Festival! Pre-ordered tickets will be available for pick up during the event. Only tickets will be used at the Fall Festival booths for purchases and activities, with the exception of the Dragon’s Lair. Attendees may purchase additional tickets during the event, and any unused tickets may be donated to the booth of their choice. Tickets will not be sold during lunch this year so use the following link to download the form:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7m6Y9lAknnQLTBhVE4tR09TUVk/view?usp=sharing

BOOTH SIGNUPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

Registration for Booths and other types of Fall Festival participation has gone paperless!! Only official MLWGS-administration approved clubs or organizations that have a faculty sponsor can reserve booths. Class and Club Sponsors should register online at http://goo.gl/forms/mu6Cs6vRvK. Booths can feature engaging activities or scrumptious food! The deadline is Friday, September 25, but register early to be get your first-choice activity and best location!

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF FALL FESTIVAL

The Fall Festival Committee is looking for Corporate Sponsors to cover some of the current costs and purchase items that can be used yearly. These include tents and a new Kid Zone Barrier.  Corporate Sponsors are promoted in several ways, including in Smoke and Scales, which has more than 2000 subscribers! This year there are two levels of Corporate Sponsorship - Gold for $500 and Silver for $250. To find out more about Corporate Sponsorship, please contact Michelle Hobbs at michellehobbs@me.com 

ATTENTION MLWGS PARENTS AND FRIENDS!

Registration for the Martin’s A+ School Rewards program starts today.  The program earns cash for school programs every time you shop between October 9, 2015 and March 17, 2016.

To register your card:

·  Log on to www.martinsfoods.com/aplus and designate our school ID #23112 using your BONUSCARD.

The MLWGS school number has changed, so even if you did this last year, your card will need to be registered again.

Last year this program brought in $1,500, with fewer than 130 families participating.  It’s a nice payback for very little effort.

If you have any problems or questions, please email mlwgspartners@gmail.com.

MECH TECH DRAGONS

Thanks to continued support from many volunteer mentors, MLWGS’s Robotics Team, the Mech Tech Dragons, had a busy summer with leadership training and building fighting Sumo-bots for Fall Festival.  With the continued support of former parent, Samantha Marrs, the team’s leaders and sub-team leaders prepared a team mission statement, set vision goals, practiced communication and teaching skills, and evaluated self-awareness, empathy, personal strengths and goals. Look out for this model academic team championing STEM education!

Week of March 10, 2015

IS THE COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION WEIGHING HEAVY ON YOUR MIND?

DON’T MISS THIS PTSA PROGRAM 

Paying for College 101: 

Applications, Financial Aid, Merit Scholarships, and More 

March 18, 2015 • 8:00 a.m.  

Featuring Susan Teerlink,

MLWGS’s GRASP advisor 

Susan Teerlink has been coaching families through this important (and tedious) process for nine years. She has filled out hundreds of FAFSA forms with parents and students – and her own daughters. She works one-on-one with many MLWGS juniors and seniors, but Susan has volunteered her time to share her wisdom and expertise with all MLWGS parents. Don’t miss this chance to get an overview of the process in a familiar environment – before you jump in with both feet. 

Stop by room 153, the outside classroom near the Bluestone Lobby entrance, before work or after you drop off your student and hear Susan Teerlink discuss these important topics. 

MLWGS Drama Club presents INTO THE WOODS

Music by Stephen Sondheim

Book by James Lapine

The MLWGS Drama Club will be performing Stephen Sondheim’s musical, Into the Woods, on  March 12, 13 and 14 (all shows at 7:30 pm).  Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $10 for students/$12 for adults. 

You won't want to miss these incredible performances and clever set design as the cast and crew have worked so hard to bring this musical to MLWGS stage. Have you seen the movie? If so, come out and take note of the changes that the movie made to the original Broadway production.

This production is being directed by Matt Polson with musical direction by Anthony Smith.  Some of you may remember their amazing direction of the 2012 Drama Club musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. MLWGS is so fortunate to have them working here as a team again so put the dates on your calendar; MLWGA looks forward to entertaining you!

SOL Testing

All sophomores will be taking the SOL Writing Tests in two parts in March.  On Wednesday March 11 and Thursday March 12 sophomores will take the multiple-choice part of the test during English classes. On Monday March 16, all sophomores will take the essay portion of the test during 1^st period. All other End-of-Course SOL tests will be held during the last two weeks in May. 

MLWGS SOL testing occurs in the following courses:  Biology, Chemistry, Geometry, Algebra II, 10^th-grade English (writing), 11^th -grade English (reading), Global Studies 10 (World History), and US and VA History.  Practice questions are available at the Virginia Department of Education website:   http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml

If you have any questions regarding SOLs, please contact Karl Zweerink in the school counseling office at kzweerink@gsgis.k12.va.us.

Mech Tech Dragons onto Regionals!

Departing last Wednesday afternoon for the Palmetto Regionals in Myrtle Beach, SC, the Mech Tech Dragons dodged the looming snow storm to get their newly built robot, Ignition, to the Recycle Rush competition!  It is designed to pickup and stack storage totes and put pool noodles into bins. The team is back in town and working more long hours to improve his performance for upcoming Virginia Regionals at the Siegel Center, March 20-21.  It's free--come and cheer on Ignition and Team 422!!

MUSIC BOOSTERS MEETING – MARCH 11

The MLWGS MUSIC BOOSTERS  will meet on Wednesday,March 11, at 6:00 p.m. in the Music Room. All music parents are invited to attend!

Please contact Leslie Hausser , Music Boosters President, 

GOING INTO THE WOODS?  REMEMBER YOUR UMBRELLA!

It's not just good defense against giants, wolves and witches, but it's also an essential accessory for unexpected downpours and wrinkle-etching UVA/UVB rays.  Just ask the Baker's Wife (as portrayed by Emily Blunt, as portrayed by Gwyneth Sholar) - - 'I wouldn't dare go in search of my child without my MLWGS extra-large umbrella!'***

You too can grab this invaluable item next Tuesday and Friday during lunch, OR before/during intermission of the March 12, 13 and 14 evening productions of Into The Woods by MLWGS Drama.  Check out our entire lineup of MLWGS merchandise 24/7 online (mlwgsdragons.weebly.com).  Cash and checks always accepted, and on performance nights, credit cards as well; although we might also consider trading our magic beans for your cow.

***No actual actors or baker's wives were consulted for the content of this ad.  C'mon people, it's Photoshop.  Sheesh.