Week of March 11, 2020

GENERAL PTSA MEETING MARCH 12

At the next general meeting, the topic will be student loans.Student loans are a common consideration for students and parents who are figuring out how best to pay for college, but the student loan process can be confusing. Scott Kemp, Student Loan Advocate for the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), will join us at our next PTSA meeting on Thursday, March 12 from 8-9 a.m. in room 153. Scott will walk through the loan process and share smart strategies for student loan borrowers. Stop by and learn how to make your borrowing strategies pay off. All parents are welcome – this information is helpful for any age student.





PI DAY 2020










PI DAY (March 14) will be here soon, and there is no tastier way to celebrate than by having PIE with your friends and classmates! Individual-sized pies in an assortment of flavors will be on sale March 6-11 in the cafeteria during lunch. The cost is only $1.00 per pie, and all orders will be delivered during math classes on Friday, March 13. Order one for yourself and/or send one to a friend or teacher to show your support of everybody’s favorite irrational number. Event sponsored by Mu Alpha Theta.

AP EXAM INFORMATION 2020

Advanced Placement registration is now complete, but we are encouraging students to DOUBLE CHECK their course status in their account at myap.collegeboard.org to confirm they are “joined” in all tests and that their “order exam” status is marked “yes” to order an exam or “no” if the student does not plan to take the exam for that course. Per College Board policy, exams cannot be added to your order after March 13.

Please review these important dates if you are considering making changes to your AP exam registration:

March 13: Deadline to add an exam (even with the late fee)—SUBMIT THE AP EXAM ORDER FORM AND FEE BY MARCH 11

April 15: Last day for students to cancel an exam for a refund of $54—SUBMIT AP EXAM CANCELLATION FORM BY 3:30 P.M. AND ATTACH RECEIPT

No refunds of any kind will be issued for cancelled exams after April 15.

Please read the AP Bulletin for Students and Parents for exam policies and procedures. It will tell you what to bring/not to bring on testing day. This bulletin and a handout with the information from this email were distributed to students last week. Any students who did not receive these items can see Dr. Loving in the Counseling Office.

Please also be aware that afternoon exams will almost always release after the end of the school day, so testers must arrange alternate transportation. Students must stay until the end of the examination period, even if they are finished, and may not access their phones to communicate with rides until they are released. Be sure to plan accordingly. This includes planning for job shifts, sports practices, etc.

Contact Dr. Rachel Loving, AP Coordinator, in the Counseling Office with questions about AP exam registration or administration at rloving@gsgis.k12.va.us or 804-354-6800 x3211.





CONGRATULATIONS MW SWIMMING
Congratulations to the fierce Maggie Walker Boys relay team that won two relays at the Virginia Class 3 State swim meet! Racing to victory in the 200 Medley Relay and the 400 Free Relay were Henry Paulson (Richmond '20) and Noah Ratliff (Richmond '20), Bryce Mortimer (Richmond '22) and Devon Naoroz ('23). 

Other top eight finishers at the State Championships in the boys and girls races include the following.

Bryce Mortimer: 8th place in 100 Free

Devon Naoroz: 1st place in 100 Back 

Henry Paulson: 3rd place in 50 Free, 6th place in 100 Free 

Audrey Paulson (Richmond '23): 6th place in 100 Breast

Noah Ratliff: 6th place in 100 Fly

Girls 400 Free Relay Team: Kate Farmer ('20) and Susanna Kast (Chesterfield '23), Ala Killen (Richmond '23) and Audrey Paulson: 8th place




CONGRATULATIONS MW TRACK 



MW girls took home team runner-up honors in the VHSL 3B Indoor Track Championship last week at Liberty University. Congratulations runners on a great season with a big finish!

Yesterday marked the end of the 20th VHSL season since the switch from three divisions to six. The Maggie Walker Green Dragons have taken home a state team trophy (1st or 2nd) in all 20 seasons (16 titles 4 runner-ups), as reported by Coach Ryan Webb.



Maggie Walker girls knocked off over 20 seconds of their season-best time to win the Class 3 girls 4×800 in 9:36 minutes breaking a 25-year school record! Runners included Mimi Kemp (Richmond '21), Kathleen Russo (Chesterfield '21), Josie Greer (Richmond '20), and Mary Caroline Heinen (Richmond '20).



Congratulations also to Mary Caroline Heinen (Richmond '20) who added state titles #13 and #14 to her incredible career haul in the Class 3 girls 1600 and 3200!

Week of March 4, 2020

REMINDER: SPRING FORWARD 

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 8.

SPRING ATHLETICS MEETING CHANGE TODAY

Attention all spring Dragon sport families! Due to several teams still to be determined, we are canceling/postponing our meeting for this Wednesday, March 4 at 6:15 p.m.  If your student plays Tennis or Baseball, we will still meet today in room 105 at 5:45 p.m. If you have questions contact Paige Hawkins at 358-6961.

YOUTH ART AND MUSIC MONTH KICKS OFF TONIGHT!

Poster by Tina Le (Henrico '21)

March is when we take time to highlight the talented young artists and musicians at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. To help celebrate Youth Art and Music Month, we will be having our annual student art exhibition! Each student in art and photography classes will have work on display. Additionally, there will be student music groups performing throughout the evening as well as films by our digital video students showcased in the auditorium.

Youth Art and Music Month opens tonight, March 4. The event runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with remarks at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. This event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be provided so please bring your entire family.

Also, the Dragon's Lair will be open from 5-7 p.m.! 
Pick up a new t-shirt or sweatshirt to wear to spring sports! 




SCRIP

Earn money for MLWGS while shopping at no extra cost to you! 

Scrip orders for plastic cards are due Friday, March 6 (e-certificates can be purchased anytime with Scrip Now). Go to www.shopwithscrip.com to place an order. If paying by check, please make checks payable to MLWGS PTSA with Scrip in the memo and deliver to Room 100. Thank you for supporting the MLWGS PTSA! Questions? scrip@mlwgsptsa.org.

ATHLETIC BOOSTERS MONTHLY MEETING




The Maggie L. Walker Athletic Boosters Club will hold its monthly Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 9 in room 105. All members of Athletic Boosters and anyone interested in becoming involved with Athletic Boosters are welcome to attend.





GENERAL PTSA MEETING MARCH 12

At the next general meeting, the topic will be student loans.

Student loans are a common consideration for students and parents who are figuring out how best to pay for college, but the student loan process can be confusing. Scott Kemp, Student Loan Advocate for the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), will join us at our next PTSA meeting on Thursday, March 12 from 8-9 a.m. in room 153. Scott will walk through the loan process and share smart strategies for student loan borrowers. Stop by and learn how to make your borrowing strategies pay off. All parents are welcome – this information is helpful for any age student.





TSA SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL FAIR A SUCCESS

The Dragons had a great showing at the TSA South Central Regional Fair last Saturday. Maggie Walker teams and students finished in the top three in the following events:

Music Production 1st Place: Jacob Lee (Chesterfield '21) and Senthil Meyyappan (Henrico '21)

Music Production 2nd Place: Kapil Iyer (Henrico '21) and Jaeson Martin (Henrico '21)

Extemporaneous Presentation 3rd Place: Senthil Meyyappan

Photographic Technology 2nd Place: Kapil Iyer

Prepared Presentation 3rd Place: Amar Srinivasan (Chesterfield '22)

Debating Technological Issues 1st Place: Ryland Wilson (Hanover '21) and John Staley (Hanover '21)

Special congratulations to Senthil Meyyappan and Pooja Muthuraj (Henrico '22), who were elected as regional officers. Senthil will serve as Vice President and Pooja will serve as Historian. Congratulations to everyone who competed!

Thank you to our faculty sponsor, Mr. Zach Zelenak, for advising this club in his first year as MLWGS staff.

Week of November 27, 2019

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

PTSA MEETING DECEMBER 2

Please join us on December 2 at 6 p.m. in room 153! You don't have to be a board member to participate.  If you can't attend in person, we do have a call in option available:

Conference Dial-in Number: (605) 475-4000
Participant Access Code:191682#

SCRIP HOLIDAY NEWS

The last order due date for physical cards before winter break is Friday, December 6. Cards will be available for pick up the following week. The very good news is that for orders placed on December 5 and 6 only, there will be no Scrip fee for using a credit card to shop all 750 plus brands! Please take advantage of this limited time offer to do your holiday shopping. Some retailers are offering $5 and $10 cards in December as well. You can also pay by check made payable to MLWGS PTSA which must be received in the PTSA Scrip Box in room 100 (Valenta William's office) on the due date or with Presto Pay. Hard copy of the order form is available here.

If you are not yet enrolled in Scrip, but want to do some holiday shopping, please contact your Scrip Coordinator, Laura Dysart at scrip@mlwgsptsa.org for the enrollment code. We can no longer post the enrollment code on-line. Go to shopwithscrip.com to see all available retailers or to shop. 

Thanks to all those who have used Scrip to support Maggie Walker. We have already raised $500 in family shopping rebates!





PARENTS OF JUNIORS

Senior Seminar and Mentorship registration information can be found in your student’s Schoology account (in the “Senior Seminar/Mentorship Application Information” group in the resources section). This includes the PowerPoint presentations used at student and parent sessions, handouts, seminar proposals, and the mentorship application. Please look at this information with your student as you help in the decision-making process. The online registration survey will be open until December 9 at 3:15 p.m. The paper Mentorship Application is also due by December 9 at 3:15 p.m. If you have any questions about the registration and application process, please contact Mr. Cook.

AUDITIONS FOR THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL

Auditions for The Addams Family musical will be by appointment from 3:30-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10 and Wednesday, December 11. Callbacks will be held from 3:30-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12. Audition sign ups will go live Monday, December 2.

CAFETERIA GRAB AND GO LUNCH PILOT

After evaluation of the food service survey that was issued earlier this year where we asked you for your feedback to improve this program, Serve1 is launching a pilot program of pre-ordered boxed lunches called “Grab and Go.” The concept should help reduce lunch lines for students allowing them more time to eat and socialize with friends. Boxes will be labeled by name and placed in a specific area of the cafeteria that does not run through the regular line. The pilot will run the entire month of December and will be evaluated in January.

During this pilot, only cold foods will be available for pre-order to include salads and sandwiches with sides. Attached is a form to print and complete. Submit a completed form to cafeteria personnel by 12:30 p.m. each Friday for lunch the following week. Complete your order for 1-5 days and total the amount due. Payment is due when the order is placed with acceptable payment forms of cash, debit, or MLWGS cash cards.

Use the attached order form or students can pick up extra copies to complete from Reception in room 100. The lunch order form will also be found on the ‘Co-Curricular and Curricular and Activities Fee Payment’ page of this website.

Grab and Go lunches December 2-6: Order due to cafeteria by November 26

Grab and Go lunches December 9-13: Order due to cafeteria by December 6

Grab and Go lunches December 16-20: Order due to cafeteria by December 13

Orders not picked up for any reason will be discarded and cannot be refunded or credited.

BONUS: During this pilot, Wednesday mornings will be smoothie days. More information coming in December.

ORCHESTRA NEWS

Congratulations to the following students who made it into Central Regional Orchestra this past weekend. They will be participating in the event in February 2020.

Chloe Biggs- Violin (Chesterfield '23)
Mariam Jafari-Nassali- Violin (Richmond '23)
Annabel Tang- Violin (Henrico '23)
Shreyas Muthusamy- Viola (Henrico '23)
Mark Janssen- Viola (Chesterfield '23)
Drew Rivas- Viola (Chesterfield '23)
Sarah Hendricks- Cello (Hanover '23)
Abhishek Satpathy-Cello (Henrico '23)
Ella Folin- Cello (Henrico '23)
Sean Fang- Cello (Chesterfield '23)
Will Taylor- Cello (Henrico '23)

THE CUBE IS BACK! 

The MLWGS Cube Club will hold their second annual Cube Speed Competition on Saturday, January 18, 2020. This will be held in the Gymnasium.

See the World Cube Association link for details.

Registration is now open and will close Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 7:00 PM EST, or sooner if participant limit is met.  This event fills up fast! Register soon!




SAVE THE DATE! 2020 NOTD- SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020!


The Night of the Dragon Auction is one of the highlights each year for Dragon parents (past and present), staff, and alumni. The 2020 NOTD: Quantum Leap-will take place on Leap Day, February 29!

The evening includes live and silent auctions, dinner, drinks, student entertainment, heads and tails, and more. This fun-filled event is also MLWGS’ single largest annual fundraising event.

Here’s how you can help make the upcoming 18th Annual Night of the Dragon the best ever! 

• Save the date and get your tickets when they become available after winter break.
• Donate an item(s) for the Live or Silent Auctions. Popular items include unique experiences hosted by MLWGS families and friends, event tickets, vacation home rentals, artwork, local adventures—GET CREATIVE! To donate or help solicit, contact Suzannah Stora.
• Become a Sponsor. Individual and corporate sponsorships are available at many levels. For Sponsorships, contact Suzannah Stora.
• Lend a hand. If you want to help with putting on this amazing event, contact Ginger O’Neil for committee options.

Stay tuned for more information about this wonderful event in the coming weeks! 






Dragon parents continue to battle it out to see which class has the highest parent percentage of Foundation Annual Fund supporters and the competition is fierce! Remember 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) 26%
Junior Parents (2021) 23%
Sophomore Parents (2022) 28%
Freshman Parents (2023) 27%

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 30, 2019

GET READY FOR GRADUATION 2020

Herff Jones will taking measurements for graduation caps and gowns today Wednesday, October 30 during lunch in the auditorium.  Ordering information for announcements and other graduation paraphernalia will also be available. 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 6 and 7 (during lunch in the downstairs commons area) to accept orders and payments. You are also welcome to order your announcements online www.herffjones.com. Just make sure to order before January 1 to avoid an increase in the price. Don’t forget that 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 Ms. Sheppard or 804-354-6800 ext. 3304.

VISUAL ART BOOSTERS EVENT

This Friday, November 1, the Fine Arts Department and Visual Arts Boosters is hosting our annual Fall Art Walk event in conjunction with Richmond’s First Fridays. Every first Friday of the month, local art galleries open their doors for the evening.

To begin the evening, our wonderful Visual Arts Boosters are hosting a reception from 6-7 p.m. in room 153 outside of the Bluestone Lobby. Please join us for snacks and fellowship prior to heading out to the galleries. If you are willing to help out with food for the reception, please sign up HERE

We will give everyone maps of the galleries and Coach Hall will take anyone who would like to join him around to some specific exhibitions.

To help avoid parking around the galleries, we will have a school bus which will run a circuit from the Main St. galleries to Broad St. and then back to school. The bus will continue this circuit throughout the evening until the last pickup at 9:30 p.m. This way, you may stay for as long (or as short) as you like. Details will be discussed that evening.

If you’ve never had the opportunity to participate in a First Fridays Art Walk - or even if you have - we’d love to see you at our event! All are welcome (students, parents, family members, and faculty)!

Additional details can be found here: http://www.maggiewalkervab.org

Thanks again and we hope to see you and your young artists at this event. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Jeff Hall




PTSA GENERAL MEETING: COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID 

PTSA General Meeting Monday, November 4 8-9 a.m.

The 2020-2021 FAFSA is now open, and we know that you have questions! Please plan to attend the next Maggie Walker General PTSA event on Monday, November 4th at 8 a.m. in room 153 (just inside the front doors, on the left). 

MLWGS Senior Counselors and Susan Teerlink, GRASP Financial Aid advisor, will host the meeting. Ms. Teerlink will provide important information regarding the financial aid application process, followed by Q&A. This meeting is open to all MLWGS parents, with a particular focus on parents of Juniors and Seniors. The meeting will end by 9 a.m., in time to attend parent meeting about mentorships/senior seminar in the auditorium. Make it a twofer! We hope to see you on Monday.

Maggie L. Walker Drama presents:  Almost, Maine

Poster Credit: Malina Gavris (Chesterfield '20)

Almost, Maine

by John Cariani

Directed by Leigh Glatt

November 7, 8, and 9 at 7:00 pm

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that's so far north, it's almost not in the United States. It's almost in Canada. And it's not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized- so it almost doesn't exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend- almost- in this delightful midwinter night's dream. The show runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 7-9, at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for students and $12 for adults and may be purchased at the door or online at https://mlwgs-am.brownpapertickets.com/.

OPENING NIGHT SPECIAL: Everyone can enjoy student pricing on opening night, Thursday, November 7.

Questions? Please contact maggiewalkerdrama@gmail.com.





SCRIP

Two more order due dates before the holiday break! Due dates are November 8 and December 6. Of course you can shop Scrip Now products anytime for your every day or holiday gift shopping! Great Lake Scrip offers some great gift cards for as little as $10.00 that make great holiday presents such as Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, Panera, Chipotle, Barnes and Noble, Bath and Body Works, Baskin Robbins, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Burger King, Cold Stone Creamery, Sweet Frog, as well as a selection of movie theaters.  Many of your children's favorite clothing stores are Scrip retailers as well, and they have big rebates! Let those retailers you already shop give back to Maggie Walker at no extra cost to you! 

To enroll or shop go to: shopwithscrip.com. Enrollment code: C43669E564L28. 

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





VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR INFORMATION FORUMS

Information Forums will be held on November 11, 12 and 13. Prospective students and parents can meet teachers and students, ask questions, tour the building, and receive an overview of the program and extracurricular activities. 

We need volunteers to provide refreshments, help with setup and clean up, and answer questions from prospective students/parents.

Please sign up to either donate cookies and brownies or to help on any of the three nights. All food must be store bought and nut free due to allergies.

Contact Kim Nguyen for further information.

Prospective Student Night Signup

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 April 17, 2019

SENIOR CLASS GROUP PHOTO

Photographers from Wendell Powell Studio will photograph the senior class in their caps and gowns on the front steps of Maggie Walker on Wednesday, April 24. This panorama-style photograph measures around 11”x14” and the cost is $21.50. If you would like to order a print, you will need to follow these steps once the picture is taken:

Go to: www.wendellpowell.com
Click: "Proofing"
Click "MLWGS"
Click: "MLWGS Class of 2019"
Enter your email address
Enter the password: MWSR19

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Class of 2019 sponsor, Ms. Kerry Sheppard, if you have questions. Her contact information is 804-354-6800 ext. 3304 and/or ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us. If your student did not pick up their cap and gown when they were delivered on April 8-9, they need to see Ms. Sheppard as soon as possible to ensure theirs was delivered and available before picture day.

COLLEGE BOOTCAMP FOR JUNIORS

Dear Juniors and Parents!

Registration for College Application Boot Camp will open on April 23! You will receive an email as soon as registration opens.

The mission of College Boot Camp is to provide rising seniors the space and time to complete their Common Application and/or Coalition Application (and/or other application of their choice) before the start of the school year. Boot Camp will be held from August 19-21, 2019. A morning (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) and afternoon (1-4 p.m.) 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 or if you would like to request a fee waiver. 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.

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/or Coalition 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 institutional applications. Topics can be adjusted based on the needs of the group.

MLWGS Senior Counselors

PTSA MEETING APRIL 24- SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OUR KIDS

Please plan to join us for our next general membership PTSA meeting, taking place on Wednesday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m. in room 153. This meeting will focus on various aspects of substance abuse, including talking to your student about drugs and alcohol, recognizing when they may need support, and more. This presentation will be valuable for all MLWGS parents--whether your student is just starting to navigate the high school social scene, or heading off to college where experimentation becomes more widespread. Thomas Bannard, the program coordinator for VCU's Rams in Recovery, will speak to parents and answer questions. Mr. Bannard is a UVA graduate in Long-term Recovery, a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and holds an MBA from VCU. He has engaged crowds throughout our community speaking on these topics, including TEDxRVA. We hope that you can join us next Wednesday!

LIBRARY NEWS

April is both School Library Month AND National Poetry Month! YES!!!

What a perfect time to feature POEMS treasured by MLWGS Dragons – students and faculty – on the LIBRARY’S message wall!

To participate, please pick a favorite poem, print it, and post it on the library’s message wall. Please include the poet’s name on the printed copy. Then, after you print the poem, jot a note on the paper that indicates “posted by [Your Name].” “To Be of Use” by Marge Piercy (posted by me) and “No Help for That” by Charles Bukowski (posted by Liza Craig Richmond '20) were posted within the first few hours. Which poem will you add?

Need more poetry? Besides the message wall, you'll find six contemporary American poetry books on display. These are just a small sampling of the classic and contemporary American poetry available in the MW Library. For more new favorite poem possibilities, browse 808.81 and 811 on the library shelves.

Best regards,
Wendy DeGroat, Librarian
www.resourceress.wordpress.com

STRESS LESS, LAUGH MORE WEEK APRIL 29-MAY 3

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 coordinated 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 free treats (thanks to the PTSA!), a visit with therapy dogs, and some other entertaining activities.

Students can also check out books from the MW Library related to humor, mindfulness, stress management, reducing anxiety, or stop by the library’s Creativity and Calm cabinet for a creative diversion. Ms. DeGroat will have some special additions to the Creativity and Calm cabinet during Stress Less, Laugh More Week. The library web site provides more tips and resources about mindfulness and calm, accessible at http://bit.ly/mindfulnessandcalm. 

Please note that in order for students to visit with the therapy dogs on May 3, they MUST have the attached permission form signed by a parent. The signed permission form will be collected at the entry where the dogs will be located that day (track weather permitting or the gym). Questions?  Contact Lisa Ebeling at lebeling@gsgis.k12.va.us.

Permission Form attached HERE

RUBIK'S CUBE COMPETITION A SUCCESS

The First Annual MLWGS Rubik's Cube Competition was an overwhelming success!

On Saturday, April 13, 2019, the MLWGS Rubik’s Cube Club hosted the first ever Rubik’s Cube competition at the school. The competition was officially sanctioned by the World Cube Association (WCA) and drew almost ninety competitors from multiple states (NC, WV, VA, MD) to test their skills with variations of the classic puzzle. The events were 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, pyraminx, and one hand 3x3.

Approximately 250 people (competitors, families, guests, and volunteers) were in attendance. There were first-time competitors all the way to the 3rd and 6th fastest 2x2 solvers in the world. Age range from 6 years to 40+. This SOLD OUT event was a great outreach to the cubing community.

The competition was made possible by contributions and work from many groups. Dawn Grois, German instructor and Rubik’s Cube club sponsor at MLWGS, was instrumental in making the event a success. Corey Sakowski, a delegate from the WCA, drove down from Maryland to assist in official matters and management. The Governor’s School Foundation also generously donated funds to give the competitors lunch. The help and hard work of security and custodial staff allowed the club to use the school building even on a weekend. Finally, the outstanding help of over twenty student volunteers ensured that the event ran smoothly and successfully. The Rubik’s Cube Club would like to extend immense gratitude to all coordinators, assistors, and volunteers who made this competition possible.

The co-presidents: Jacob Lee (Chesterfield '21), John Staley (Hanover '21), and Ryland Wilson (Hanover '21), organized and led this event.

Spring is officially here! Each April, a dedicated member of the alumni community sends out a letter on behalf of the Governor's School Foundation requesting support for the Annual Fund. We are planning to mail out letters the last week in April to all parents who have not yet had the opportunity to support the Foundation's Annual Fund this year.

Save us a stamp and make your gift now!

The support of our parents is critical in these efforts and we are most grateful for your continued commitment.

Every year parents from each class compete for the greatest percentage of participation. Help your child's class land on top! Current parent participation is as follows:

Senior parents (2019): 31%
Junior Parents (2020): 27%
Sophomore parents (2021): 25%
Freshman Parents (2022): 30%

We still need to raise more than $120,000 in order to provide the same level of enhancements next year. Make a contribution now. We look forward to all that we can accomplish together for MLWGS!