Week of November 4, 2020

Drive In to the Movies!

On Friday, Nov. 6, MLWGS and the PTSA will host a Drive-In Movie Night in the student parking lot. In response to student surveys, we are offering a double feature: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at 5:30 p.m. and Knives Out at 8 p.m.

Tickets are free and available to all students and faculty/staff through a Constant Contact link posted to Schoology class pages. Please sign up for one ticket per carload and be 100% sure you plan to attend. A DJ will provide music prior to both showings, pre-wrapped goodie bags will be distributed, and the Dragon’s Lair will have an outdoor booth for school swag purchases.

Tickets will be checked upon entering the student lot from Lombardy St. Security will then direct each car to a space. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to the showing. Restrooms and hand-washing stations will be available. At all times, masks must be worn while outside a vehicle, and proper social distancing must be maintained.

For more information, please contact Mr. Smith. 

Chalk Day and Yoga have been rescheduled to Friday, Nov. 13. Refer to Powerschool blast or Schoology class pages to sign up for the new date.

Summer Residential Governor's School Programs

Applications are now available for the 2021 Summer Residential Governor’s Schools. All sophomores and juniors are eligible. These programs provide opportunities for gifted students to explore professional and university environments through mentorships and academic enrichment. Information and applications can be found here.

Academic Programs are offered in humanities, mathematics, science and technology, agriculture, life sciences and medicine, engineering (NASA – must be 16 by June 18, 2021, and a U.S. citizen), and marine science.

MLWGS can send a total of two nominees for this entire area, with a third slot for the School for Agriculture. Students should submit applications to Joy Cobb in the counseling department by Jan. 22, 2021. This allows time for our school selection committee to choose which students to nominate, and in turn to solicit teacher recommendations for these nominees.

Governor’s Foreign Language Academies include full-immersion academies in French, Spanish, and German; partial immersion in Japanese; and Latin Academy.

Each academy allows one nominee from our school. Our foreign language department determines which students are nominated. If interested, please contact your language teacher. The deadline for completed application forms and supporting materials to Ms. Cobb is Jan. 19, 2021.

Visual and Performing Arts Program offers these areas of study: dance, theatre, visual art, instrumental music, vocal music.

MLWGS can send a total of five nominees for this program, one per area of study. Interested students should talk directly with their fine arts teacher so that we have time to submit the Applicant Report for Site Adjudication form by Dec. 1, 2020. The final application is due Feb. 19, 2021.

Yearbook Needs Your Photo

Guarantee your spot in the 2021 Yearbook! Until we're back in the building, Wendell Powell won't be taking individual underclass portraits. To make sure that you get a photographed with your class, please go to this form, complete the brief survey (fun facts about you!), and submit a selfie. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 6. This is the only way you can guarantee yourself a picture in the 2021 yearbook.

Order Your Scrip

There are three more scrip order dates for plastic cards before winter break: 11/16, 12/7 and 12/14. Please consider using scrip for your holiday decorating, dining, travel and gift giving! Don't forget that even if you don't want to give a gift card, you can use the gift cards to shop for gifts. Do you use Shutterfly for your holiday cards? Scrip is a provider! Go to http://www.shopwithscrip.com to shop. Questions? Contact Laura Dysart.

And congratulations to Angela MacKay, who won the drawing for a $25 scrip card for spending more than $50 in October!

Week of November 20, 2019

CONGRATULATIONS TO GIRLS AND BOYS CROSS COUNTRY! 

In their debut in VHSL Class 3, the Girls came in First and the Boys came in Third!  Mary Caroline Heinen (Richmond '20) raced to win her third First place finish in a row.

SCRIP

As you begin to think about your holiday shopping, we hope you will consider giving Scrip gift cards or shopping for gifts with them. The next and last order before winter break is due Friday, December 6 by noon. Cards will be delivered the following week before break. If using a check instead of credit card or Presto Pay, please make check out to MLWGS PTSA and deliver to the Scrip Box in room 100 (Valenta William's office) by the due date. Of course you can order Scrip Now anytime without waiting and receive them on your computer. Scrip Now products have an exclamation point icon when you click on the brand or an "S" on the retailer list. Go to shopwithscrip.com for a full list of retailers or to place an order. You can also still use paper order forms (attached).

This Thursday, November 21 is ThankScriping Day. If you have an account, you can earn up to 21% of your purchase for Maggie Walker with over 100 retailers on Scrip Now e-cards and reloads. This is a great time to give back A LOT to Maggie Walker at no extra cost to you on retailers you would already shop! Please look at what is offered on Thursday at www.shopwithscrip.com. It only happens three times a year and this is the biggest give back! 

If you haven't enrolled yet, please contact your coordinator, Laura Dysart at scrip@mlwgsptsa.org, for the enrollment code as this cannot be advertised on-line, or if you have any questions, Laura is happy to help. 

FREE FAFSA ASSISTANCE WITH GRASP

GRASP (GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.) will hold its "Saturdays at the Library" FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) events this November 23, 2019 and January 18, 2020 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the Richmond Public Main Library, 101 East Franklin Street. GRASP advisors will provide FREE college financial aid counseling and assistance with completing the FAFSA, by appointment. Call (804) 527-7772 to schedule your hour-long appointment. More information is available at the GRASP website www.grasp4va.org. See flyer here.

ATTENTION JUNIORS AND SENIORS!

National English Honor Society applications are available in a red folder outside of Ms. Cobb’s office in counseling. The application deadline to is Friday, December 6.

SUMMER PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMATS

The High School Diplomats Program is now accepting applications for the 2020 High School Diplomats (HSD) program (July 22-August 2) at Princeton University. We are a true scholarship opportunity (no costs or add-on fees) and our best students learn about HSD from their teachers and counselors. 

The online application is available until January 8, 2020 and all current sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply.

High School Diplomats

SUMMER RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

Visual and Performing Arts Programs: areas of study include Dance, Theater, Visual Art, Instrumental Music, and Vocal Music. We can send a nominee for each area of study. Interested students must speak with their fine arts teacher.

Foreign Language Academies: full-immersion Academies in French, Spanish, and German; partial-immersion in Japanese and Latin. We are able to have one nominee from our school. If interested, please contact your language teacher.

Academic Programs: areas of study include Humanities, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Life Sciences and Medicine, Engineering (NASA- must be 16 by June 24, 2019), and Marine Science. Interested students should contact Ms. Davis in the counseling office.

VA Dept of Education Summer Programs

Week of November 17, 2015

MLWGS DRAMA CLUB PRESENTS THE CRUCIBLE BY ARTHUR MILLER
and MLWGS STUDENT TICKETS ARE FREE!

The MLWGS Drama Club will be performing The Crucible this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. each night (November 19, 20 and 21).  Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2406230.  Tickets are $8 for non-MLWGS students and $10 for adults. 

This wonderful opportunity for MLWGS students to see the show for free is made possible due to the incredible generosity of an anonymous drama supporter.  MLWGS and the Drama Club are so grateful for this gift that opens up the show to the entire student body. 

The Crucible is produced by Carol Piersol and directed by Matt Polson. Matt also directed last year's shows, Into the Woods and You Can't Take it With You, and MLWGS is so fortunate to have his leadership once again. Please join us as MLWGS Drama looks forward to entertaining you!

Questions? Please contact maggiewalkerdrama@gmail.com.

BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR THANKSGIVING TURKEY ... 

don’t forget to register your Kroger and Martin’s cards.

For Kroger Community Rewards, register at krogercommunityrewards.com and click on Sign In/Renew and follow the instructions.  The school number is 82125 (or you can look it up under Maggie Walker). Even if you did this last year, it has to be done again. If you are one of the 138 parents who have signed up this year, we thank you.

You can also take the Kroger bar code to your local store and have customer service scan it to participate in the Plus Card for Education, which gets the school free supplies. This is NOT the same as the Community Rewards program, but you can do both.

For Martin’s A+ School rewards log on to www.martinsfood.com/aplus and designate our school ID 23112.  Despite the instructions in last week’s Smoke & Scales, you actually DO have to sign up again this year since the MLWGS school number has changed.

This year is also the last one for Target’s Take Charge of Education, so let’s get the most we can out of it.  Go to www.target.com/tcoe and enter your Redcard number.  The school number is 104517.

Although it’s a pain to register annually, these programs brought in more than $8,000 last year.  The Kroger program is particularly generous.  It’s all money that goes to the school and MLWGS students, so please take the time to register.

STUDENT COUNSELING DEPARTMENT OFFERING SESSIONS

The School Counseling Department is offering weekly support groups for students who may be feeling overwhelmed this time of year. The sessions will be led by Cindy Barnes, a veteran school counselor and licensed professional counselor.  Ninth through eleventh-graders will meet to explore the ways they respond to academic demands and the stresses of everyday life.  Using Affect Theory students will find some ways to reduce their response to stress and increase their sense of accomplishment.

For Maggie Walker seniors, the college admissions season typically brings with it increased student stress.  To this end, the School Counseling Department will be offering a dedicated counseling group for interested seniors on stress management. 

If students are interested in attending either of these groups, please have them let their school counselor know so that the School Counseling Department can organize the sessions.  We hope to start these sessions this week so please let us know this week if possible.

THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL RICHMOND ALUMNI PRESENT
SECOND ANNUAL PAT TAYLOR TEACHING AWARD LECTURE

Celie Boswell:  "Rainbows have no Fences"

Thursday, November 19, at 5:30 p.m. in the Forum

Have you ever tried boerewors, a traditional South African sausage spiced with coriander?  How about biltong, a dried meat similar to jerky?  Come discover the flavors of South African fare on Thursday, November 19, when English teacher Celie Boswell presents Rainbows have no Fences, chronicling her travels this past summer to South Africa and Swaziland. These South African favorites will be served along with other dishes that will seem both exotic and familiar to your palate. Along with food and stunning photos, Celie will share tales of traveling with her family in modern day South Africa and Swaziland. The reception begins at 5:30 in the Forum, followed by Celie’s presentation at 6:00. 

The Governor’s School Foundation sponsors the Patricia E. Taylor Teaching Award for International Experiences, which provides a cash grant of up to $7,500 to a MLWGS teacher for a summer international travel experience that will have a direct impact upon his or her classroom instruction. For more information on the Taylor Teaching Award, please contact Laura Lewis in the Foundation office at (804) 354-1566 or Laura.Lewis@GovernorsSchoolFoundation.org.  To donate to the Governor’s School Foundation, click here.

SPEAK UP AT THE BUDGET TOWN HALL

December 2, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Did you know that for FY16 participating school divisions will pay almost $700 less annually per pupil for the education of MLWGS students than they paid in FY09? Over that same time period, healthcare costs alone for MLWGS employees have more than doubled. What is not being funded by the school now that should be included in the budget? Have you ever looked at the old copyright dates on some of MLWGS’s students' textbooks? Heard complaints about technology issues? Did you write a big check for dual enrollment fees, workbooks, or a trip required for an instructional class? How about the suggested participation donation of $150 per sport? Would you like to see these issues or others addressed in the budget?

The annual budget process for MLWGS is starting. Last year, parents and students spoke up about the need for a new activity bus and textbooks. Guess what? The activity bus was replaced as well as textbooks for a few of the classes that need them. The Regional School Board will listen, it just needs your input. Come to the Budget Town Hall on Wed., December 2, 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the MLWGS Auditorium. Speakers need to signup in advance by contacting Barbara Marshall at bmarshall@gsgis.k12.va.us no later than 10:00 a.m. on December 2. Questions? Contact Anne Hayes, MLWGS PTSA Advocacy Chair at annehayes@verizon.net.

SUMMER RESIDENTIAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS
FOR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS

Applications are now available for the Summer Residential Governor’s Schools.  These programs provide opportunities for gifted high school students to explore professional and university environments through mentorships and academic enrichment. 

For academic and mentorship programs, information and applications can be found at    http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/governors_school_programs/summer_residential/ 

For the foreign language academies, information and applications can be found at

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/foreign_language/language_academies/index.shtml. 

Please see Ms. Davis for additional information about the application process and deadlines.

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS

The November Senior Newsletter is now available on the School Counseling Website (https://sites.google.com/a/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlw-school-counseling/2011-2012-newsletters). This newsletter contains college-related reminders and a listing of scholarships with approaching deadlines. The latest newsletter was distributed to students in their English classes earlier this week. Scholarship information for seniors is also available on the School Counseling website (https://sites.google.com/a/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlw-school-counseling/college-admissions-information-1/scholarships-financial-aid) and in Naviance (https://connection.naviance.com/mlwgs). Contact your child’s counselor if you would like to view the Naviance scholarship database and need your registration code. Scholarships are still being added to this database on a monthly basis, most with direct links to the applications. Hard-copy applications are scanned and attached to the scholarship description as a PDF. Please note that all deadlines posted on Naviance or in the Newsletter are subject to change as organizations are still sending us updated information for this school year. Check the organization’s website for the most current information and availability. Please contact Rachel Loving in the School Counseling Office with scholarship questions.

GOVERNOR McAULIFFE SEEKS NOMINATIONS
FOR VOLUNTEERISM AWARDS

“On behalf of the Department of Education, I am pleased to announce that Governor Terence R. McAuliffe is seeking nominations for the 2016 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards.  The awards recognize the outstanding efforts of Virginia’s volunteers.  Nominations are open to small businesses, corporations, community groups, individuals and families that exemplify extraordinary volunteerism and community service.

I encourage you to consider nominating an individual, family, parent, or organization that is making a positive impact in your school community.  Awards will be presented in individual and group categories, including youth, senior and adult volunteers, faith-based organizations, families that volunteer together, community organizations, small businesses and corporations.

This year’s winners will be honored this spring during an awards ceremony in Richmond.  For more information or to nominate a person or group, click here or call (804) 726-7918,1-800-638-3839 FREE or e-mail volunteerism@dss.virginia.gov. The deadline for nominations is December 16, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2015/274-15.shtml”

Signed,

Barbara Marshall, Executive Assistant and

Regional School Board Clerk

LEARNING ABROAD SYMPOSIUM AT UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

For those students contemplating studying internationally during college, University of Richmond invites you to a "Learning Abroad Symposium" featuring the experiences of nine student speakers across six continents. With projects from the Scottish Parliament to genetic counseling in Peru, these students and their insights will inspire your next step into the world!

Tuesday, November 17 at 4 p.m., Carole Weinstein International Center, International Commons

RICHMOND WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL HOSTS RIBAL AL-ASSAD

Founder and Director of the Organization for
Democracy and Freedom in Syria 

Exiled from his native Syria as a child, Ribal al-Assad is an unusual critic of the Syrian regime. He is a leading global campaigner for democracy, freedom, and human rights in Syria and the Middle East, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s first cousin. al-Assad is a leading authority on Syrian politics and how the current conflict is shaped by regional and geopolitical dynamics.  

• Free to students but registration is required.
• Business Casual Attire
• November 17 at 5:45 p.m., Jefferson Hotel - The Empire Room