Week of May 20, 2020

CUBE TO CURE 2020

MLWGS juniors Jacob Lee (Chesterfield), John Staley (Hanover), and Ryland Wilson (Hanover) are hosting Cube To Cure 2020, an online Rubik’s Cube competition on Saturday, May 23, starting at 12:20 p.m. to raise money for COVID-19 relief. The competition will feature a livestream hosted by YouTube personalities Brody Lassner and Phillip Lewicki alongside CubingUSA 2019 National Champion Patrick Ponce. The Cube To Cure 2020 team is also selling cubing-themed face masks. For more information please visit the Cube To Cure 2020 website at www.cubetocure.org




BOOK AND SCHOOL PROPERTY RETURN

May 27: Freshmen morning/Sophomores afternoon

May 28: Juniors morning/Seniors afternoon

Book Return Days are coming on May 27-28. Students are scheduled for a 20 minute window to promote social distancing. All school property (books, technology, instruments, uniforms, parking permits, etc.) must be returned before the end of our academic year, otherwise, fines or fees may be assessed. They will also have a chance to clear out their lockers, drop off any uniforms, return any library materials, drop off any technology, return any musical instruments, or pick up any medications. Please print out the instruction sheet and bring it with for your scheduled time. Seniors must complete the supplement on the back of the sheet and drop it off upon departure from the school in order to graduate on June 3-4. Copies of the instructions and supplement will be available when entering through the Bluestone Lobby.

Mrs. Charity will be in the main office for any fees or fines. No more than 50 people will be in the building at a time.

Book Return Instructions
Book Return Schedule

BACCALAUREATE UPDATE

This year's Senior Baccalaureate Service will take on a new format. Due to the Governor's executive order restricting social gatherings, the PTSA is no longer able to host this service as planned at Temple Beth El; however, we will honor the graduating class with a video baccalaureate service featuring remarks from four Richmond area faith leaders and musical selections performed by fellow graduates. The PTSA will share this service through social media, offering seniors a keepsake video to help celebrate their hard work and achievements.

In addition, we would like to feature individual pictures of the seniors in their caps and gowns. To help us create our video, we need seniors to share individual pictures of themselves in their gap and gown by June 1.

Please upload your photos HERE.





GRADUATION INFORMATION

Graduation is scheduled at four minute intervals on June 3-4. No more than 10 people will be allowed in the auditorium at a time: the graduate, four guests, Mrs. Shore for reading names, Dr. Lowerre for giving diplomas, a counselor for helping with distribution of diplomas, Mr. Smith for transitioning groups in/out, and the photographer. The graduate and guests will:

1. Enter the building through the student parking lot entrance
2. Then proceed down the main hall to enter the auditorium by the audience right door
3. Walk around the audience right side of the auditorium
4. Cross the stage and receive a diploma
5. Exit through the audience left side of the auditorium
6. Then out the main doors and down the main steps

Students and their families waiting in the main hall will be spaced 15 feet apart at tape markers. Tables will be set up for honor cord self-service in the hall. Formal copies of the graduation program will also be available. Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled graduation for purposes of robing and picking up honor cords. No more than four groups will be in the main hall waiting. Any others will wait outside the building, spaced out appropriately. The individual graduations will be filmed and then edited to create one graduation ceremony to be shown on June 15. Details of the streaming of this package will be sent later this month.

Graduation Schedule

DRAMA BOOSTERS OPEN ROLES

In these COVID-19 times, "desperate" and "unrehearsed" pretty much nails it. We may not know when it will be safe to stage our next production or what it will look like, but the Drama Boosters is taking our cue from your incredible students who are in the throes of choosing next year's shows. One of the initiatives we undertook this school year was to break the Booster roles into several smaller ones. The prevailing motto was: We need you, but we don't want to need that much of you. 

Opportunities: 

• Treasurer 
• Set Build assistant(s) to supplement and support the co-directors
• Assistant Tech Coordinator- supervises the students working on tech for a few evenings or on weekends
• Music Booster-Drama Booster Liaison for Pit- can be Music or Drama Booster
• Contact List management- updating a list twice a year, less than two hours of work
• Freshman Parent Rep- attend monthly meetings, max 1 hour
• Sophomore Parent Rep- attend monthly meetings, max 1 hour
• Concessions Coordinator
• Fan-o-gram Coordinator
• Night of Dragon Auction Rep

Liaisons to support student directors

• Stage Management
• Props and Set Dressing
• Hair and Makeup
• Show Shirt
• Borrowed Items

If you are interested in learning more about any of these openings without commitment or simply would like to receive periodic MLWGS Drama-related news, please email us at mlwgs.drama.boosters@gmail.com or 804-551-2776.

FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVER'S TEAM WINS PRIZE



Maggie Walker's freshman Future Problem Solver's team finished third in the state for the middle division (7-9th grade). The competition took place virtually on Friday, May 7, and the awards were announced through a live virtual ceremony on Tuesday, May 12. Congratulations to Markella Straitiou (Goochland), Lauren McCluskey (Richmond), Charlotte Bray (Chesterfield), Susanna Kast (Chesterfield), and coach Ed Coleman!

Week of May 6, 2020

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK 

May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week nationally.  This has always been an important week at MLWGS to celebrate our outstanding faculty.  This year it is especially important to reflect on the courage, flexibility, and compassion that our teachers have shown through the current health crisis.  Please join me in expressing gratitude to our amazing teachers at Governor's School. 

Although difficult to appreciate our faculty while social distancing, consider getting creative:

• Record a message on their voicemail
• Send a picture holding a sign
• Email a virtual thank you card
• Record a poem, song, or dance to send

Be silly, think outside the box, and show your thanks this week.

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!

LIBRARY NEWS

Taking The Good Road from Idea to Premiere

Thursday, May 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Join RVA film-maker (and president of the MLWGS PTSA) Craig Martin this Thursday as he shares insights from his journey to tell stories about the power of philanthropy around the globe in his show The Good Road, currently in its debut season on PBS. Access links to two episodes in Dragons Create (Code to join Schoology group: 7FBZ-NBKC-RQT23). Sign up to reserve your spot @ https://bit.ly/creativityandfilm

Mindfulness for Dragons this Month

Sign up @ https://bit.ly/mindfulness4dragons

Mindfulness for Writers
11:30 a.m.-Noon (Wednesdays through May 27)
Mindfulness practices and a writing prompt.


Midday Mindfulness
11:30 a.m.-Noon (Thursdays through May 28)
Gather with classmates and Ms. DeGroat, Coach Hawkins, and Mrs. Ebeling for a variety of mindfulness practices.

New York Times 

The New York Times is offering free access through July 6 to high school students; however, in order to honor students' privacy, Ms. DeGroat will only upload the school email addresses of students who choose to OPT IN for this access. She will only share your school email address, not your name. Once she submits the MLWGS list, you will receive an email from the NY Times at your school email address inviting you to create a login.

Unfortunately, we have checked to see if the Wall Street Journal has a similar offer and they do not have free access.

Here are links to the offer, FAQs, and the NY Times Privacy Policy which you need to review before you opt in to this offer.
Offer description: https://www.nytimes.com/initiative/highschoolaccess
Offer FAQ's: https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041777211
Privacy Policy: https://www.nytimes.com/subscription/privacy-policy#/

If you'd like Ms. DeGroat to include you in the list of Dragons who'd like NYT access through July 6, please let her know by no later than 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 by completing the Google form @ https://bit.ly/nytimesfreeoffer

CUBE TO CURE

During this pandemic, Jacob Lee (Chesterfield '21), John Staley (Hanover '21), and Ryland Wilson (Hanover '21) (co-presidents of the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School Rubik's Cube Club) have been working hard at hosting an online cubing competition.

This will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2020, starting at 12:20 p.m. EDT.

The entry fee is $5 with proceeds benefiting Covid-19 relief efforts through Heart to Heart International. Prizes and raffle items are being provided by The Cubicle.

They are also making and selling Rubik's cube Masks.  You can order them here.

Cube to Cure information here.  Please share this with anyone that would be interested! Register Here

Thanks to all who participated in the virtual Day of the Dragon! It was a fun day of celebration for the Dragon community and we had an awesome response from parents, faculty, and alumni! We plan to leave the Instagram page of well wishes open throughout the rest of the school year and invite any who didn't have a chance yesterday to contribute a message of support to the class of 2020. You can write (or type) a note, record a video, draw something, sing a song--however you want to participate. Email your submissions here or tag the account on Instagram @tothemlwgsclassof2020.

We also want to thank Dragon families who supported the Foundation yesterday through the National Day of Giving. The work of the Foundation continues despite the school closures and your support will provide enhancements that will strengthen the MLWGS experience in the years ahead.

Week of April 29, 2020

DAY OF THE DRAGON IS TOMORROW!

Tomorrow, Thursday, April 30, the MLWGS Foundation will host the 2020 Day of the Dragon, an opportunity to connect our amazing Governor’s School family as we celebrate our alumni and current students, especially the incredible class of 2020! Here is how you can participate:

Send a message of support!
We are dedicating this year's Day of the Dragon to supporting the MLWGS Class of 2020 and are inviting alumni, faculty, and parents to contribute a message of support!

We are collecting congratulations, well wishes, and advice for this year's seniors and sharing them on Instagram @tothemlwgsclassof2020.

You can write (or type) a note, record a video, draw something, sing a song; however, you want to participate. Email your submissions here or tag the account on Instagram.

Attend the virtual event on Facebook!
We can't be together to celebrate our Dragons in person, but on Thursday, April 30, we can virtually connect online. We look forward to sharing stories throughout the day celebrating our students, alumni, and faculty. You won't want to miss it!

Update your Facebook profile pic!
Help show your Dragon spirit by adding a temporary Day of the Dragon frame to your Facebook profile. You will be able to add your temporary profile frame here.

We look forward to connecting for the 2020 Day of the Dragon!

EARTH DAY NEWS

Pictured: Claire Ewald (Richmond '20), Anne Ewald PTSA, Caroline Ewald (Richmond '23), Melanie Warren (Chesterfield '23), Kim Warren PTSA.

Several students and PTSA parents spent their Earth Day cleaning out a few garden beds around school. Their hard work helped clear out weeds and prune shrubs in the Bluestone Mural and Marquee gardens while also sprucing up all the planters around school with new flowering succulents. We are planning another cleanup in late August and would love more helpers to tackle areas like the student parking lot and student patio garden. It’s a great way to earn volunteer hours too!





LIBRARY NEWS

Guided by student responses to the "online library possibilities" survey sent out just before spring break, starting next week the MLWGS Library will be offering opportunities to gather online to share creative work, practice mindfulness, earn community service hours together, and more.

NOTE: Before clicking on the registration/interest links for activities listed below, please log in to your MLWGS Google account. These forms are restricted to MLWGS students and faculty. If you've forgotten your MLWGS Google user name or password, email Ms. DeGroat and she will reset it for you.

Creativity Open Mics (Wednesdays 5:30-7 p.m.)
Dragon creatives from each grade level will have an opportunity to share their work with peers during creativity open mics held online each Wednesday from 5:30-7:00 p.m. All attendees must pre-register. To register to attend or sign up to share your creative work, go to https://bit.ly/creativityopenmicsignup

Wednesday, April 29- 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Class of 2020
Wednesday, May 6- 5:30-7 p.m. - Class of 2021
Wednesday, May 13- 5:30-7 p.m. - Class of 2023
Wednesday, May 20- 5:30-7 p.m. - Class of 2022

Giving Back Together (Tuesdays 3:30-5 p.m.)
Earn community service hours by participating in online gatherings each Tuesday from 3:30-5 p.m. to make handwritten letters/postcards for residents of The Virginia Home and/or to transcribe documents for Virginia Memory - your choice. Sign up to express interest in Giving Back Together: https://bit.ly/givingbacktogether

Mindfulness for Dragons (Wednesdays and Thursdays 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.)
Mindfulness practices can help create a sense of peace and calm and perhaps spark creativity during this unpredictable time. Students and faculty are invited. 

Mindfulness for Writers from 11:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. on Wednesdays (with Ms. DeGroat)

Midday Mindfulness from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Thursdays (with Ms. DeGroat and Coach Hawkins)

Sign up to express interest in practicing mindfulness together: https://bit.ly/mindfulness4dragons

For more details about these opportunities and more, visit the new Dragons Create group on Schoology (Access Code: 7FBZ-NBKC-RQT23).

If you have questions or feedback, please email Ms. DeGroat.




SCRIP

During these times of increased on-line shopping, consider using Scrip Now e-certificates to make your purchases and let those retailers give back a percentage of sales to MLWGS PTSA. Amazon Smile, Target, Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, Papa Johns, clothing retailers, restaurants (for delivery/pickup) are Scrip Now Providers. You'll receive your certificate to your Scrip Wallet, and can copy and paste your certificate number in your on-line checkout. If you don't have an account and have questions or need the enrollment code, please email questions to scrip@mlwgsptsa.org. Thank you for continuing to support the MLWGS PTSA.

For a full list of retailers and to shop on line, go to shopwithscrip.com.

CUBE TO CURE

During this pandemic, Jacob Lee (Chesterfield '21), John Staley (Hanover '21), and Ryland Wilson (Hanover '21) (co-presidents of the Maggie L. Walker Governor's School Rubik's Cube Club) have been working hard at hosting an online cubing competition.

This will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2020, starting at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

The entry fee is $5 with proceeds benefiting Covid-19 relief efforts through Heart to Heart International. Prizes and raffle items are being provided by The Cubicle.

Cube to Cure information here.  Please share this with anyone that would be interested! Register here

Week of January 22, 2020

REMINDER: MONDAY, JANUARY 27 IS A TEACHER WORK DAY

COURSE REGISTRATION ASSEMBLIES JANUARY 29-31

Lunchtime assemblies will be held for the underclasses in the auditorium on the following dates: 

• Juniors- Wednesday, January 29
• Sophomores- Thursday, January 30
• Freshmen- Friday, January 31

Students will be provided with materials, information, and options about their upcoming course registration on March 5.

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS!

The January edition of the Senior Newsletter is now available. Please read thoroughly for important deadlines and updates.

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.

DISTRICT BAND NEWS




Ryan Eklund (Richmond '22), Helen Hopkins (Chesterfield '22), Devon Jebo  (Henrico '22), Rahul Ramesh (Henrico '21), Amar Srinivasan (Chesterfield '22), and Carson Wang (Henrico '23) were awarded positions in the 2020 district band. District band is a competitive auditioned ensemble that comprises of the best high school band students from Henrico, Richmond City, and Hanover. They will perform on February 1 at Hanover High School.





ATHLETIC BOOSTER COLLEGE BASKETS FOR NOTD

Every year, Athletic Boosters provides college baskets to auction off at Night of the Dragon. The money raised from the auction items support both Maggie Walker and our student athletes. Please consider donating a few items to your favorite Virginia college basket. Items can include: sweatshirts, T-shirts, glassware, banners, pajamas, blankets, stickers, trinkets - anything that supports your team! Donations are due February 7, 2020. Drop off or ship to 317 Lexington Road, RVA 23226, leave at school in the Auction box (labeled for Athletic Booster College Baskets) in Valenta Williams' office room 100, or we will come to you! Please also consider coming out to support the Auction on February 29, 2020- it's a great night. Thanks for supporting Maggie Walker! 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a054fa9a62b0-college




2-4-6-8—NOTD TICKET UPDATE! 

Night of the Dragon tickets are now on sale! Purchase tickets online HERE. You can purchase tickets, sponsor a table, and put in any seating requests. Don’t know who you would like to sit with? No worries. We will assign you to a table with other great folks so you can make new friends in the Dragon Family. Either way, be sure to order your tickets soon so you can be part of the fun!

This year’s NOTD items include long-time favorites and many exciting new items:

• Perennial favorite multi-course, in-home Italian Dinner for 10
• MLWGS 2020 graduation seating
• Vacation homes and adventure packages
• Rooftop wine tasting in the Fan
• Original art and one of a kind jewelry 
• VIP “Behind the Ropes” tickets at the Dominion Classic
• College gear and class baskets
• Event tickets and unique outings
• And so much more!

The Night of the Dragon Needs You!
The countdown is on until the February 29 (Leap Day!) Night of the Dragon Event—Quantum Leap! The NOTD committee is busy working on a myriad of details to make this year’s event a great success and YOU can help. We are looking for a handful of folks to join the Solicitations team. This is a short-term, low commitment task that simply involves reaching out to friends of Maggie Walker who have donated items in the past to and/or to new folks in your circles (friends, favorite businesses) who might be willing to donate items this year. For more info, contact Suzannah Stora or Ginger O’Neil.

Have an item, experience, vacation home, service, etc. that other Maggie Walker folks might be interested in? Contact Suzannah Stora about making your own auction donation to help support our wonderful school. Go Dragons!

NOTD FAQs
What happens during NOTD?
Everyone has loads of fun and we make lots of money to support our amazing school. The evening looks something like this:

6:30 p.m. Check-in begins
6:30-7:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, mingling
6:30-8:15 p.m. Auction items on display
7:30-8:15 p.m. Dinner buffet and carving stations open
8:15 p.m. Silent Auction ends
8:30 p.m. Welcome from Dr. Lowerre
8:45 p.m. Live Auction begins with Head and Tails
9 p.m.  Dessert and coffee served
9:45 p.m. Student Performance

Will I have fun even if I don’t know very many people at Maggie Walker yet?
ABSOLUTELY! There’s plenty of time to mingle and meet folks during the evening. And when dinner time comes, if you don’t request specific folks to sit with, we will do our best to assign you to a table with other parents from your students' class. It’s a great way to meet other Dragon parents.

What is the dress code?
The dress code is “festive.” Not a lot of help, right? The idea is for everyone to feel as special as the event is to our school--but no need to special order a designer dress or dust off the tux--unless you want to! Wear whatever makes you feel ready to have some fun for a great cause, whether that’s a cocktail dress or your fave pants or anything in between. On second thought, wear what
makes you most want to bid lots of money on lots of items.

What Does the Money from NOTD Support?
All proceeds for the Night of the Dragon support the students and faculty at MLWGS! Last year’s event yielded more than $70,000! Proceeds benefit the enhancement initiatives of the Governor’s School Foundation as well as the efforts of the Athletic, Music, Visual Arts, Drama Boosters, and the PTSA.

Is There Parking Available?
Yes, we have arranged for complimentary parking at 13 N. 5th Street, a lot adjacent to the John Marshall.

What is Heads and Tails?
It’s a fun, interactive game coin toss game. Each person who has paid to play ($10 in advance or at the event) receives a set of beads to wear. At the beginning of the Live Auction, everyone with beads stands and places their hands on their head or their tail. The auctioneer then flips a coin. Anyone who guessed the coin toss correctly, as evidenced by where their hands are placed,
remains standing. And this continues until only one person is standing and wins the prize.

Will NOTD use mobile bidding again this year?
Yes, and we are very excited! Mobile bidding was a huge success last year and will be used again this year and in subsequent years. Mobile bidding allows you to input your credit card into a secure system when you buy your tickets or at the event. No more check-out lines at the end of the evening. No more running from silent auction bid sheet to bid sheet. You can set your initial bid and a maximum bid on as many silent auction items as you like and the system will automatically adjust your bid in increments until your max is reached or you win; you can manually enter new bids each time you get a text that you’ve been outbid. You’ll be getting more easy-to-follow bidding info after ticket sales close.

Will drink tickets be pre-sold again this year?
No. Because guests can use cash and credit cards at the John Marshall to purchase drinks, we will not be pre-selling drink tickets this year.

What about the UVA vs. Duke basketball game that evening?
We know we’ve got lots of basketball fans among us, including us, so we’ve reserved the Club Room at the John Marshall for great viewing of the game that evening, currently scheduled for 8 p.m. Mobile bidding means you can keep an eye on the game and continue your silent bidding. Anyone left unattended in the Ballroom during the Live Auction, which begins around 9 p.m, is encouraged, and granted permission to bid away!

2nd ANNUAL RUBIK'S CUBE EVENT 

The MLWGS Rubik’s Cube Club hosted its second World Cube Association (WCA) competition on January 18, 2020, attracting over 80 speed-solvers from multiple states testing their skills. This event was led by John Staley, Jacob Lee, Ryland Wilson, Ross George, and Uzair Bhatti as part of their club, which is sponsored by Mr. John Wilkes. Corey Sakowksi and Keaton Ellis, WCA delegates from Maryland, assisted in official matters.

The competition was a resounding success, and the organizers plan to hold another next year. The Rubik’s Cube Club would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the security and custodial staff, the Governor’s School Foundation, Mr. Wilkes, and the student and parent volunteers for all their help and support. Additionally, a dedicated group of MLWGS volunteers took time out of their weekend to make sure that the event ran smoothly and had efficient set-up and take-down

A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.

Officers who organized this event (from left to right)

Uzair Bhatti (Chesterfield '21), Ross George (Hanover '21), Ryland Wilson (Hanover '21), John Staley (Hanover '21), John Wilkes (Faculty Advisor), Jacob Lee (Chesterfield '21).

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) 31%
Junior Parents (2021) 28%
Sophomore Parents (2022) 36%
Freshman Parents (2023) 36% 

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 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 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!