Week of April 4, 2017

MISSING SOMETHING?

On April 6 and 7 the MLWGS Lost and Found will be cleared out for donation to local charities.  Please encourage your children to check for any misplaced clothes, textbooks, water bottles, or electronics.  This process will happen at the end of each month for the remainder of the year.  New bins for sorting the Lost and Found will be going into place over Spring Break.  A PA announcement for students will be read for the 3 days proceeding a clean out.  Please support MLWGS by having students be cognizant of their belongings to avoid them ending up in the Lost and Found.  

GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

Don't miss the Governor School Foundation's annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Friday, April 21! This is an afternoon event where we invite current students' grandparents (or other special family members and friends) to learn a little about our school, take a brief tour, and have a reception with their grandchildren. The details are as follows:

Friday, April 21, 2017

2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

for Government & International Studies

1000 North Lombardy Street

Richmond, Virginia 23220

R.S.V.P. by April 7

(804) 354-1566, or Events@MLWGSFoundation.org

PARENT INFORMATION SESSION, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Please plan to attend a parent information session, Speak Up to Slow the Spinning, hosted by MLWGS Dr. Lee Ridens, the school psychologist, on April 5 in the Auditorium at MLWGS from 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.  All parents are encouraged to attend.

This discussion focuses on cultivating a balanced culture at home. Join the session for an open conversation about how home environment impacts the mental health of the family.

Panelists include:

• Grace Gallagher, Executive Director, Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation
• Matt Bitsko, PhD, LCP, Health & Family Psychologists of VA/Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
• Danielle Scott, PhD, LCP
• Dr. Gayle Smith, Pediatrician, Partners in Pediatrics

GOLDEN APPLE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Iota Sigma Chapter is seeking nominations for the Golden Apple Awards Teacher of Year. 

Nominations are sought to honor exemplary teachers in the Richmond Metropolitan area.  Four recipients will be recognized at the Golden Apple Awards Luncheon in May. Prizes include a plaque/trophy and a gift package. All nominations and a letter of recommendation (Not required for students who are nominating) must be completed by April 6, 2017.

Email the letter of recommendation to info@iotasigma1935.org or mail the letter to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Iota Sigma Chapter, PO Box 26274, Richmond, VA 23220.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5ZGH2RM

DRAGONS ADVANCE IN REGIONAL GOVERNOR'S CHALLENGE

Congratulations to Christian Moore ('17, Chesterfield), Avery Gagne (’17, Hanover), Preston Hausser ('17, Chesterfield), and Parth Kotak ('17, Henrico). The Walker team will next compete on April 26 at VCU with other top state high school teams for the ‘Challenge’ championship.

http://vcee.org/high-school/governors-challenge/

DIRECTOR'S BLOG

The most recent Director’s Blog is available at http://mlwgs.com/directors-march-update/

Week of January 10, 2017

UPDATE ON THE NIGHT OF THE DRAGON

The next meeting for the Night of the Dragon Planning Committee is Thursday, January 12 at 5:30. This will be our annual Postcard Labeling Party! Although it isn’t really a party, it is a great opportunity to help label 3600+ postcards!! If a lot of people show up, it goes quickly! It is also a great chance to meet other parents, learn more about the Night of the Dragon, and support our school!! 

The committee would also like to thank all the volunteers who have been working hard at getting donations for the Auction. Items are starting to come in at a pretty good pace now, so due to the late surge, the deadline for accepting items has been moved to January 12! The committee is very excited about some of our new offerings this year! 

Mark your calendar for February 25, when these new items, as well as many favorites from previous years, will be up for grabs at the Night of the Dragon Auction and Dinner!

NOMINATE A TEACHER!

Nominate an outstanding K-12 public school teacher for the Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award, and they could win $2,000 cash and $2,000 from The Supply Room Companies for classroom supplies.  Help us celebrate our 10th year of recognizing amazing teachers across the Commonwealth by nominating your Super Teacher now!

http://www.vasuperteacher.com/
Please consider nominating a deserving Maggie Walker teacher.

PSAT SCORES

Attention Students and Parents

PSAT score reports will be distributed to 9th, 10th and 11th-graders during lunch time assemblies on Tuesday, January 10 and Wednesday, January 11.  Counselors will provide students with information on how to interpret score reports and how to utilize Khan Academy to help them prepare for the SAT.   In December, the College Board sent emails to students that contained information on how to view their PSAT scores online. The emails were sent to the email addresses students indicated on their registration forms when they took the test back in October. The email provides an access code as well as directions on how to create a College Board account. If students did not receive an email from the College Board, the score reports given out at school will contain access codes which will enable students to create accounts and access resources.

JUNIOR PARENTS: SAVE THE DATE – FEBRUARY 7

Attention Junior Parents! Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 7 from 12:45-2:45 for Counseling Department’s College Kickoff Program. This is a program for 11th-grade students only and attendance is mandatory. Junior parents are invited to attend! College representatives from public, private, in-state and out-of-state institutions will be available until 3:30 to answer parents’ specific questions at the meet-and-greet sponsored by the PTSA.

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS!

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

FREE FAFSA ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE THROUGH GRASP

(GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.)

GRASP (GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc.) is holding several FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)/financial aid events in January and February that are FREE and open to the public.  Below are the dates, locations, and contact information for scheduling appointments.

January 12, 2017 - Fairfield Library (1001 N Laburnum Ave, Richmond, 23223); 6-9 p.m.; sign up online (http://bit.ly/2iUHRlO) or call the library: (804) 501-1930.

January 18, 2017 – Varina Library (1875 New Market Rd, Henrico, 23231); 6-9 p.m.; sign up online (http://bit.ly/2hVntPY) or call the library: (804) 501-1980).

January 28, 2017 – “Saturday at the Library” at Richmond Public Main Library (101 E. Franklin St., Richmond  23219); 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; call: (804) 527-7772.

February 11, 2017 – “Saturday at the Library” at Richmond Public Main Library (101 E. Franklin St., Richmond  23219); 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; call: (804) 527-7772.

Additional financial aid information is available at the GRASP website, www.grasp4va.org.

Week of September 9, 2014

MLWGS PTSA Back-to-School Night

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Join the MLWGS PTSA for Back-to-School Night on September 11, 2014, at 6:30pm. Be sure to arrive early. Program details and overflow parking information can be found HERE.




Academic Boosters Seeks Parent Reps and Volunteers

The Academic Teams Boosters Club is recruiting parent reps and volunteers for the various academic teams it supports. A passion for the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School and its students is the only requirement. The Academic Teams Boosters Club supports the broad range of activities of the MLWGS Academic Teams by providing the teams with monetary and volunteer support to attend programs and competitions near and far at local, state, national, and international levels. MLWGS Academic Teams include

• Academic Quiz Bowl (BoB Squad),
• Academic WorldQuest,
• Chess,
• Debate,
• Forensics,
• Future Problem Solvers,
• History Bowl,
• LifeSmarts,
• Model Congress,
• Model UN,
• Robotics, and the
• Technology Student Association.

Parents interested in participating and volunteering should contact Bill Benos at bbenos@williamsmullen.com.

Proposed Fall Meeting Schedule:

• Thursday, September 11, 2014 – 5:30 PM (Before Back-to-School Night)
• Monday, October 6, 2014 – 6:00 PM (Before the PTSA Meeting which starts at 7:00 PM)
• Monday, November 17, 2014 – 6:00 PM (Before the PTSA Meeting which starts at7:00 PM)
• Monday, December 8, 2014 – 4:00 PM (Before the Foundation Meeting which starts at 5:00 PM) (Tentative)

MLWGS Music Boosters Meeting – September 10TH

The MLWGS Music Boosters will meet on Wednesday, September 10th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Music Room. Interested parents should attend the meeting. The Freshman Music Parent Meeting will be held in October.
Please contact Leslie Hausser, MLWGS Music Boosters President at lahmeems@comcast.net with any questions.







Green means Go! To the Dragon's Lair

“It's not easy being green” said Rana pipiens once upon a time. But without it there wouldn’t be envy, dollar bills or cruciferous vegetables. Get into the green groove at the Dragon's Lair with the *new* Maggie Walker sweatshirt, now just $18.

Follow the crowds to the Dragon's Lair every Tuesday and Friday during lunch, and before/during/after Back to School night on Thursday, September 11, this week. Browse 24/7 at mlwgsdragons.weebly.com; greenbacks and checks gladly accepted at the store.

Varkey GEMS Foundation Global Teacher Award

Nominate a MLWGS Teacher for the Varkey GEMS Foundation $1,000,000 Global Teacher Prize. Deadline October 5, 2014.

The Varkey GEMS Foundation launched the Global Teacher Prize to celebrate the best teachers around the world, those who inspire their students and the communities around them. The Global Teacher Award seeks to do for education what the Nobel Prize has done for science, literature, and peace. The focus is to uplift the valuable contributions that teachers make every day to establish a flourishing global society. Click HERE to nominate a MLWGS teacher today.




“Running for Katie”

Katie Anderson, a MLWGS Dragon, lost her battle with leukemia and passed away last March. Her mother, Carolyn McKann, will be running a marathon in her daughter’s memory on November 9 in Athens, Greece. Her goal is to raise $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. To learn more about Mrs. McKann’s efforts or make a donation, visit her webpage HERE.




Two MLWGS Students participate in 2014 VCU Medical Science Internship Program

Two MLWGS students, Aman Kapadia (Chesterfield,’15) and Purnima Ghosh (Henrico, ’15) were accepted into the selective VCU Medical Science Internship Program (MSIP). VCU MSIP, a six-week summer program (June 23 through August 1), provides high-school students the opportunity to work in a research lab at VCU with a scientist. Students have a chance to shadow doctors including neurosurgeons, orthopoedic surgeons, and pediatricians in the MCV hospital.

Kapadia worked with Shobha Ghosh, PhD, assisting with her project "Diet versus de novo synthesized cholesterol - Role in development of cardiovascular disease." Ghosh worked with Ramesh Natarajan, PhD, on his "The role of Vitamin C supplementation on wound healing."