Week of October 2, 2019

COME ONE, COME ALL TO THE MLWGS FALL FESTIVAL

Parent volunteers are still welcome. Please sign up using the link below:

2019 MLWGS Fall Fest Sign Up

Ticket preorders will be at the will call booth behind the stage and will also be sold on site in Tickets Booths (cash only if possible please).

Please consult the diagram below for parking options. The James River Bus Line lot is your best option.

Maggie L. Walker Mural Update: 

Educational signage to be unveiled at Fall Fest at 6 p.m.

Please join us for an unveiling ceremony for new educational signage for the Maggie L. Walker mural. The Maggie L. Walker collaborative mural project was painted by over 325 people including alumni of the original Maggie L. Walker High School along with MLWGS students, faculty, alumni, and parents. The mural is a visual memorial of the many accomplishments of Maggie L. Walker. This new signage details the collaborative process used to create the mural and will provide an educational reference for the symbols and elements included in the mural. The mural was generously sponsored by the PTSA and Visual Arts Boosters. The new signage is courtesy of the PTSA.  Please join us at 6 p.m. at the Bluestone entrance in front of the mural. 

SCRIP ORDER THIS FRIDAY BY NOON

Our first order due date is this Friday, October 4 by noon.  Please go to www.shopwithscrip.com to enroll, to see the full list of retailers, and to purchase gift cards.  The MLWGS enrollment code is C43669E564L28. Consider buying gift cards for retailers you regularly shop or for gifts. You can pay with Presto Pay, credit card, or by check (payable to MLWGS PTSA); checks need to be in the PTSA Box in room 100 by noon on October 4.  If you would like to use a paper order form, it is attached (you can find a full list of retailers on line). Please submit it with payment to room 100 by the deadline. Cards will arrive at Maggie Walker the following week. When the cards arrive, you will be contacted by your Scrip Coordinator with options for pick up of your cards.

You don’t have to wait for order due dates to use Scrip Now or Reload Now for the retailers that participate. If you would like a quick explanation of Presto Pay, ScripNow, Reload and Reload Now, watch this video:

https://shop.shopwithscrip.com/Support/videos/family-ordering.

Questions? Contact your PTSA Scrip Coordinator at scrip@mlwgsptsa.org.

SCRIP order form

The next PTSA board meeting is Monday, October 7 at 6 p.m. in room 153 (just outside the Bluestone lobby).  We have a few open positions!  If you'd like to join our wonderful group of volunteer parents, please come.  This meeting is open to all parents and teachers who would like to participate.

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS

The second edition of the Senior Newsletter was sent out on Friday, September 27 and can be found on the school counseling website. This newsletter contains important college and scholarship-related reminders and deadlines.

Susan Teerlink, our GRASP Representative, is available to assist with financial aid information. Ms. Teerlink is here on Mondays and students and/or parents can sign up for an appointment in the School Counseling Office. Seniors can begin filling out the FAFSA form on October 1! Visit https://fafsa.ed.gov/ for details.

PSAT DAY IS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16

The PSAT is a great practice opportunity for the SAT. PSAT results from the junior year administration are used for qualification purposes for National Merit Scholarship Programs. The counseling department distributed PSAT Student Guides to all 10th and 11th graders during lunch time assemblies during the week of Monday, September 30. The guides contain information about the test as well as a full-length practice test. Students are encouraged to take the practice test before testing day. More information about the PSAT can be found at www.collegeboard.org/psat. Score reports will be available online in mid-December and paper copies will be distributed in January during lunch-time grade-level assemblies. Juniors will be encouraged to register for an SAT or ACT date in the spring by visiting the testing organization websites. Sophomores and Juniors in AP classes will be encouraged to register for SAT subject tests as appropriate.

Students are reminded to bring #2 pencils and calculators for testing. The College Board does not allow makeup testing for the PSATs so it is important that students arrive at school on time.

The Foundation Annual Fund parent competition is off and running! Each year Dragon parents battle it out to see which class has the highest parent percentage of Foundation Annual Fund supporters. This year the class with the highest parent percentage will receive a student ice cream party at the end of the school year! Help the Foundation meet its goal of raising $330,000 before the end of the school year.  

Totals to date are as follows:

Senior Parents (2020)	18%
Junior Parents (2021)	10%
SophomoreParents (2022)	19%
Freshman Parents (2023)	19%

The Governor's School Foundation Annual Fund makes a huge impact on all students at MLWGS by directly supporting activities like academic competitions and student travel, as well as new technology, and student financial assistance. The support of our parents is critical in these efforts and we are most grateful for your continued commitment. Make your contribution now. 

We look forward to all that we can accomplish together for MLWGS!

Week of October 18, 2016

HOLLYWOOD THEME FOR HOMECOMING

A Hollywood-themed homecoming dance, complete with a red carpet and popcorn bar, has been planned for October 22 from 7:00-11:00 p.m. in the commons.  Tickets will be $10 and can be purchased the week of the dance during lunch.  Thank you to Douglas and Jill Hinckley, MLWGS parents and owners of Wendell Powell Studio, for offering to take pictures at the homecoming dance as a gift to the students.  Wendell Powell Studio has been providing Richmond and the surrounding areas with excellence in photography since 1942.

THE MEAN BIRD FOOD TRUCK WILL BE AT HOMECOMING GAME ON OCTOBER 19

The Mean BirdFood Truck, owned and operated by Maggie Walker Alumni Mike and Sarah Moore, will be at the Homecoming Field Hockey Game on Wednesday, October 19! 10% of the proceeds from the food truck will be donated to the Athletic Association. At Mean Bird, Mike and Sarah take their chicken seriously! Each piece of their craft fried chicken is dry rubbed with a house mix of herbs and seasoning before sitting for 24 hours. It is then hand breaded and fried to order. Mike and Sarah offer a “Veggie Bird” as well, which is made from scratch using fresh vegetables, whole grains, and seasoning. This vegan-friendly dish is also then breaded and fried to order. At the Homecoming Game, Mean Bird will be offering these two favorites as well as some other items made using fresh and local ingredients. The truck will be parked at the end of the field, inside the gate, from 5:00 - 9:00. If the games are postponed due to weather, the food truck will be cancelled. 

The JV Field Hockey game starts at 5:30 and the Varsity Game starts at 7:00. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students not wearing a Green Machine T-Shirt. Students wearing a Green Machine T-Shirt will get in for free and will be given a free popsicle until supplies run out! Please come out, cheer on our school, and support the Athletic Association by ordering delicious fresh and local food! 

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FALL FESTIVAL WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

On Friday, October 7, hundreds of people from the MLWGS and surrounding community came to enjoy the 20th Annual Fall Festival despite the threat of rain! This year was one of the best all-around Fall Festivals ever, raising more than $15,000 for MLWGS clubs and organizations! It was truly an international affair! Twenty different groups and individuals performed on the fabulous stage lent to us by Henrico Recreation and Parks. The entertainment line-up was one of the best ever, providing the crowds with a wide variety of acts. There were more than 60 different booths, offering a wide variety of activities and food for all! Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our wonderful clubs and organizations! Additional thanks to the 100+ folks who volunteered and/or lent items!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNORS SCHOOL FOUNDATION

Hello parents! The Governor's School Foundation would love your help!  On Wednesday, October 26, at 9:00 a.m., the Foundation will be doing our Fall Annual Fund letter mailing and need parent volunteers to help us stuff letters. 

Please contact Suzannah Stora at sstora@governorsschoolfoundation.org if you are able to volunteer.  

PSAT DAY IS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19

All 9th, 10th and 11th graders will take the PSAT in the morning while 12th graders will be participating in college and transition-related activities in the auditorium.

The PSAT is a great practice opportunity for the SAT.  For 11th graders, the PSAT results are used for qualification purposes for National Merit Scholarship Programs. 

The counseling department distributed PSAT Student Guides to all test-takers during lunch time assemblies during the week of Monday September 26.   The guides contain information about the tests as well as a full-length practice test.  Students are encouraged to take the practice test before testing day.  More information about the PSAT can be found at www.collegeboard.org/psat.

Students are reminded to bring #2 pencils and calculators for testing.  The College Board does not allow makeup testing for the PSATs so it is important that students arrive at school on time. 

Score reports will be available online in mid-December and paper copies will be available and distributed in January during lunch-time grade-level assemblies.  Juniors will be encouraged to register for an SAT or ACT date in the Spring by visiting the testing agency websites.   Sophomores and Juniors in AP classes will be reminded to register for SAT Subject tests as appropriate.

BACCALAUREATE COORDINATOR NEEDED

Every year before Senior Graduation a wonderful Baccalaureate service is held to honor MLWGS graduating seniors. Last year this non-denominational celebration had a Father, a Pastor, and a Rabbi as speakers. However, this incredible event can only be held if we have someone to coordinate it! The PTSA has a book that explains everything that has to happen to make this event a success, including contact information of past speakers! Although the location and speakers have to be approved by the school, the coordinator will have flexibility in organizing this event! Although a senior parent is welcome to chair, we would prefer a freshman, sophomore or junior parent so the senior parent can relax and enjoy this special event with their child. If you who would be interested in chairing this amazing celebration of our seniors, please contact Debbie Taminger at debtaminger@gmail.com to learn more about it! 

GET READY FOR GRADUATION 2017

Herff Jones will be stopping by Thursday, October 27  (during lunch in the auditorium) to collect measurements for graduation caps and gowns.  They will also be providing ordering information for announcements and other graduation paraphernalia.  It can be tough to anticipate how many announcements to order with graduation still eight months away, but order now to ensure you will have enough!  Herff Jones will return November 9 and 10 (during lunch in the downstairs commons area) to accept orders and payments.  Don’t forget…seniors have already paid for their caps and gowns.  This was included in their student fees, so no need to worry!  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kerry Sheppard, ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us or (804) 354-6800 ext. 3304.

STUDENTS RECOGNIZED BY MUSIC HONOR SOCIETY

The National Association for Music Education’s Tri-M Music Honor Society hosted an induction ceremony on September 28, for 15 new students and 10 continuing members. The ceremony also recognized the students who will serve as MLWGS Chapter’s officers:

• Sarah Grace Lott (’17, Chesterfield), Co-President
• Clara Giorgis (’17, Hanover) Co-President
• John Kelley (’17, Chesterfield), Social Media Chair
• Willow Kwak (’18, Henrico), Treasurer
• Elizabeth Gillette (’17, Chesterfield), Secretary

Tri-M recognized those outstanding music students who will work together both in the school and their community as leaders providing music education and advocacy through public performances and service projects.  New members include:

• Aashri Aggarwal (’19, Henrico)
• Corrine Burch (’17, Henrico)
• Oliver Fisk (’19, Richmond)
• Jack Hendricks (’19, Hanover)
• Vanessa Johnson (’17, Henrico)
• Emma Jones (’17, Chesterfield)
• Ashton Longo (’19, Richmond)
• Elizabeth McFadden (’19, Henrico)
• Owen Peck (‘18, Richmond)
• Taha Shaikh (’19, Henrico)
• Anisha Sharma (’18, Henrico)
• Mackenzie Shearer (’19, Chesterfield)
• Olivia Schultz-Patterson (’17, Richmond)
• Kathryn Vail-Rhodes (’19, Hanover)
• Rachel Zhao (’18, Henrico)

Continuing members:

• Commodore Brower (’18, Richmond)
• William Kang (’17, Chesterfield)
• Andrew Shin (’18, Henrico)
• Oliver Southam-Gerow (’17, Richmond)
• Alexander Will (’17, Hanover). 

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

High School Diplomats is a free 10-day cultural exchange program at Princeton University for sophomores and juniors. Applications will be available from October 1st-January 8, 2017. Please visit www.highschooldiplomats.com for more information and to apply to the program. 

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium would like to share the following information about the following FREE NASA-related programs for Virginia's high school students interested in STEM.

For high school juniors, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is an interactive online learning course with a space mission design and human space flight theme, culminating in a one-week residential Summer Academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton for those students who qualify. Offered at no cost to the student, VASTS consists of eight modules and a final project to be completed from November 2016 through May 2017 under the guidance of licensed master educators. Based on success in the online coursework, students may be selected to attend a Summer Academy where they interact with NASA scientists, engineers and technologists to design a human mission to Mars.  For program information and application, please visit http://vasts.spacegrant.org. The deadline for student applications is October 30, 2016. 

For high school juniors and seniors, Virginia Earth System Science Scholars (VESSS) is an interactive, on-line Earth System Science Course featuring NASA scientific research and data. The course will be offered for dual enrollment college credit (statewide through TNCC) for high school juniors and seniors beginning in spring semester 2017. Please direct students or other faculty to the website for program information and application, http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/. The deadline for student applications is October 30, 2016.

The Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) is a program for sophomores focusing on the earth and airborne science, engineering, and technology integral to current missions at NASA Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. 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.

• FREE Program for 10th Grade Students
• Online modules covering NASA aircraft, balloon, and sounding rocket missions launched or managed at Wallops Flight Facility
• Online course runs from December 2016 through April 2017
• Highly successful students will be selected for a week long Summer Academy at NASA Wallops Flight Facility (Chincoteague, VA)

The deadline for student applications is October 30th, 2016.
Visit http://vscs.spacegrant.org/ for application and more information.

GET THE STUDENT NEWS!

The latest issue of the Jabberwock, the MLWGS student newspaper, is available here:

http://mlwgsjabberwock.com/

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 September 29, 2015

OCTOBER 14 IS PSAT DAY

All 9th, 10th, and 11th-graders will take the PSAT in the morning while 12th-graders will participate in college and transition-related activities in the auditorium.

For 9th and 10th-graders, the PSAT is primarily a practice test for the SAT.  For 11th-graders, the PSAT results are used for qualification purposes for the National Merit Scholarship Programs. 

There are major changes to the questions and format of the PSAT and SAT tests this year.  Students will be receiving an “Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT“ this week during lunch-time assemblies.   The assembly for juniors will be held on Monday September 28 and the assembly for freshmen and sophomores will take place on Wednesday October 1.   In addition to providing general information about the PSAT, the guides have specific information about test questions and contain a full-length practice test.  Students are encouraged to take the practice test before testing day.  More information about the PSAT can be found at www.collegeboard.org/psat. 

Students are reminded to bring #2 pencils and calculators for testing.  The College Board does not allow makeup testing for the PSATs so it is important that students arrive at school on time. Counselors will distribute score reports to students in mid-December through lunch-time, grade-level assemblies.  Juniors will need to register for SATs and ACTs on their own by going to www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org. 

Juniors have the option to take the current SAT in December or January, or the new version starting in March.  Students may want to consider taking the current version of the SAT to see how well they do on it.  Also, the score reports for the March SAT will be delayed until May because it is the first administration of the new test.   Please note that colleges will not be able to “super-score” (selecting the higher scores for the different sections) between the current version and the new version of the SATs. In addition, the ACT is given several times in the year and is always an option for students as well. 

Sophomores and Juniors in AP classes will be reminded to register for SAT Subject tests if appropriate.   

Please visit the MLWGS school counseling website for more important information about college admissions testing at https://sites.google.com/a/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlw-school-counseling/college-admissions-information-1/test-preparation 

FALL FESTIVAL SUPPORTS MLWGS COMMUNITY

As part of Maggie Walker’s community engagement efforts, and a primary goal of this year’s SCA, school supplies for Carver Elementary will be collected during the Fall Festival.  Although any item is appreciated, the following items are especially appreciated as they are contributed less often and used at a greater rate:

• dry erase markers
• black and white composition notebooks
• wide-loose leaf paper
• K and 1st-grade writing tablets
• crayons
• glue sticks
• glue bottles
• 3-ring binders
• hand sanitizer
• paper towels
• liquid hand soap

Items maybe dropped off at the Community Engagement Booth during the Festival.

VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED FOR FALL FESTIVAL

The MLWGS PTSA would like to thank all the many people who have signed up to volunteer or to lend items to the Fall Festival! The success of the Festival is dependent on Volunteers! However, there are still lots of opportunities to help out! Please use the following link to find out how you can help support MLWGS clubs and organizations:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0444aaae2da5f58-2015

ORDER TICKETS IN ADVANCE TO AVOID LINES

Have you ordered your Fall Festival Tickets yet? If not, please use the following link to order in advance and save time in line! 

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

WELCOME BACK FROM THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION

The Governor's School Foundation would like to welcome all new and returning faculty, students, and families back for the new school year!  For those of you who may not be familiar with the Foundation, it is a non-profit established to support the students and faculty of the Maggie Walker Governor’s School.  In the 2014-15 fiscal year, the Foundation raised more than $357,000 to help enhance the educational experiences of MLWGS students, assist in sending teachers to workshops, conferences and graduate programs, provide student aid, and enhance technology in the school.  Additionally, the Foundation serves as the MLWGS Alumni Office, helping more than 3000 alumni stay in touch with their alma mater.  Over 28% of our alumni and 52% of current parents supported the Foundation last year. 

Look for articles in Smoke & Scales over the course of the school year for stories of enhancements the Foundation was able to provide for Governor’s School students and faculty. 

Questions about the Governor's School Foundation?  Feel free to reach out to Laura Lewis, Interim Development Officer, at 354-1566 or laura.lewis@governorsschoolfoundation.org.  And next time you are at school, stop by the office in Room 251!

STUDENT ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Hugh O’Brian Youth
Leadership Seminar Program

The Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar Program is offering one slot for a Sophomore from MLWGS 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 their school and community.  The deadline for submission is October 30.  More information about the program is available at www.hoby.org.

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, students 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. 

   

National Honor Society applications are now available. If your child would like to be considered for the National Honor Society (NHS) please encourage him or her to complete an application and return it to Rachel Loving, School Counselor and NHS Sponsor by Monday, October 5. Candidates must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, leadership, and service. Candidates will be notified of acceptance by October 9 and an induction ceremony will take place later that month. Please contact Rachel Loving with questions at rloving@gsgis.k12.va.us.

The Society of Women Engineers at the University of Virginia invites high school seniors and juniors to apply for a place in its 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 at http://www.virginiaswe.org. Applications are due by October 23. 

Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) is a NASA-based program for 11th-grade students  who are 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. 

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. 

Virginia Space Coast Scholars is a NASA-based STEM program for 10th-grade students who are 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. 

THANK YOU MLWGS PARENTS

MLWGS’s quarterly Kroger Community Rewards payment for the quarter ending on August 31, 2015 is $1,989.64.  That’s more free money that goes to help the school’s programs. 

A quick reminder to those who participated last year--registration has to be renewed annually.

To renew:

1. Sign in using your email and password.
2. Click on View Reward Details – In the Account Summary page scroll to Community Rewards at the bottom.
3. Type in 82125 or Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School and click to update.

For those of you who haven’t signed up yet:

1. Click on “SignIn/Renew” then click on “SIGN UP TODAY” in the “New Customer?” box.
2. Sign up by entering your zip code, clicking on your favorite store, entering your email address, creating a password and agreeing to the terms and conditions.
3. You will get a link by email – click on this link.
4. Click on “My Account” and use your email address and password to proceed.
5. Click on “Edit Kroger Community Rewards” information and input your Kroger Plus card number from your card. Update or confirm your information.
6. Enter the school NPO number 82125 or Maggie L Walker Governor’s School PTSA, select the school from the list and click on “Confirm”. The school name should appear at the right side of the page.

You still get all of your Kroger discounts and fuel points, and MLWGS gets a share of the money set aside to support community organizations.  

KEEP UP WITH STUDENT EVENTS (AND ALL THINGS DRAGON) ...

 For this week's issue, check out the new Jabberwock website.

HELP RESTOCK LIBRARY'S GRATITUDE DRAWER

Two years ago, the MLWGS Library started making supplies available to students and teachers for spreading gratitude at MLWGS and beyond.  You can help re-stock its gratitude supplies by donating extras of any of the following that you have on hand:

• Blank note cards (with envelopes)
• “Thank-you” cards (with envelopes)
• Colored paper
• Decorative printer paper
• Stickers, glitter, or glue
• Colored pencils, magic markers (incl. Sharpies), or pens

Thank you in advance for your contributions!

Sincerely,

Wendy DeGroat

Librarian, MLWGS