Week of November 11, 2020

College Financial Aid: Learn More

Interested in learning more about securing financial aid to help cover college costs? Of course you are! The 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has just opened, and we know that you have questions. This week's PTSA meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. will focus on the topic of college financial aid. MLWGS senior counselors and GRASP financial aid advisor Susan Teerlink will host and 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. We hope to see you there!

Join the Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87964314397?pwd=WlAva21laEdVNmRIdDQ0bGNXYnMxUT09.

Chalk Day and Yoga on the Field This Friday 

Signups for our rescheduled Chalk Day and Yoga on the Field are open! On Friday, Nov. 13, Chalk Day will run 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Yoga will be 10-11 a.m. If you signed up previously for Chalk Day, you are still in the Signup Genius – no need to do anything unless adjusting or deleting your spot. A new signup for Yoga Day has been created. More details and signup at the links below. If it rains again, we’ll try one more time on Friday, Nov. 20. Contact Mr. Smith with any questions.

Chalk Day info and signup here.
Yoga on the Field info and signup here. 

Preparations for Athletics

We are currently evaluating the Virginia High School League guidelines for returning sports to the campus. As we do this, it is extremely important that, if you are planning on participating in athletics this year, you have completed the VHSL physical form prior to the beginning of MLWGS organized practices. Please visit to this link for forms and information.

Senior News

The November 2020 edition of the Senior Newsletter (Issue #3) has been posted to the MLWGS counseling website. It contains announcements from colleges, a list of virtual open houses and tours, and opportunities that are all-new; none of the scholarships listed from Issues #1 or #2 have been repeated. In addition, seniors are encouraged to consider two on-site admissions opportunities offered this month. One will be facilitated via Zoom by University of Mary Washington, and another will be sponsored locally (in two locations: Short Pump and North Chesterfield) by Longwood University. What a great opportunity for seniors to introduce themselves directly to a college representative and to get an admissions decision on-the-spot! For help with college applications or other concerns, Dr. Loving and Ms. Forquer are available via e-mail or in their walk-in office hours 3-3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday on Zoom.

Freshman Friendship Hike

Freshmen will have an in-person social opportunity during the Outdoors Club Freshman Friendship hike on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Details and permission slips are posted in the Schoology freshman class group. We have slots for up to 44 students. If demand exceeds capacity we may try to organize a second day the following weekend. Contact Mr. Zweerink in the counseling office if you have more questions.

Virtual Open Mics? Virtual Dance Parties? Both?

Vote on the Library’s Friday Fun Options

Starting Friday, Nov. 20, Ms. DeGroat will host a fun Friday lunchtime activity  open to students in any grade level. Would you attend or participate in an open-mic for poets, singers, and musicians? Would you attend a dance party with a student DJ and/or student dance teacher? Would you like to be a student DJ or dance teacher? Sign in to your GSGIS Google account and submit your vote by Thursday, Nov. 12, here.

Mindfulness Series for Students and Families

Are you looking for ways to improve your focus/concentration and/or bring a sense of calm to your day? Are you interested in learning more about mindfulness practices? Ms. DeGroat is certified in Koru Mindfulness, a program that was developed to serve students at Duke University and has since expanded. If you're interested in participating in a Koru-inspired four-session mindfulness series at 1 p.m. each Friday from Nov. 20 through Dec. 18 (skipping the week of Thanksgiving), please sign up here. The series involves one 1-hour session followed by three sessions lasting 45 minutes, with an optional 15-minute reflection time about mindfulness before each of those sessions. Students and family members attending with a student are welcome to participate. Email Ms. DeGroat if you have any questions. Deadline for sign-up is midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Scrip Holiday Incentive

For every $50 you spend on scrip between now and winter break, you will receive an entry for $50 worth of scrip cards of your choice! Plastic card orders are due this Monday, Nov. 16, and then Dec. 7 and 14 before break. Please take advantage of this opportunity to benefit the MLWGS PTSA with your everyday shopping, dining, and gift giving! You can also shop for e-certificates at any time instantly. While Laura Dysart and her crew of volunteers are truly happy to deliver cards to your doorstep during COVID times, scrip is offering delivery to your home for certain products for a small fee, the list of products is here, but you must order through the Raise Right app for this home delivery feature.

Questions? Contact Laura Dysart.

Night of the Dragon Volunteer Opportunities

Planning for our annual Night of the Dragon auction is underway. Things will look a little different this year but the goal will remain the same: to create a fun evening that benefits our students by supporting the MLWGS Foundation and Booster groups. Mark your calendar now for Saturday, April 24.

Details are still in the works and we are looking for folks interested in joining the planning team. We need volunteers with all sorts of skills; techies, creatives, askers, photographers, writers, designers, drivers, task doers, you name it. If you think you might like to join the fun, contact Foundation Executive Director Ginger O'Neil for more details about how you might get plugged in.

New parents, be on the lookout for info about this event. We encourage you to take part in this incredible Governor's School tradition!

Week of October 21, 2020

PTSA Admissions Statement

The MLWGS PTSA board was invited by the Virginia Secretary of Education’s office to participate in listening-session panel discussions about racial equity issues at the Governor's Schools across Virginia. This year, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a governor’s school in the Fairfax County Public School System, admitted less than one percent Black students, according to data published by the TJHSST Admissions. MLWGS is governed by 12 school districts, with the largest student pools coming from Chesterfield County Public Schools, Richmond Public Schools, and Henrico County Public Schools. Our acceptance rates by race this year were outlined in a recent Richmond Times-Dispatch article.

On October 1, Secretary of Education Atif Quarni made recommendations about equity goals tied to funding our school. The Chesterfield County School Board, Henrico County School Board, and Richmond Public School Board may make changes to their admissions policies to meet greater inclusion standards set forth by the Governor's 2020 budget. We encourage you to learn more about the process and plans each district submitted to Sec. Quarni. Please remember that the MLWGS administration does not choose students to attend from each district; each district selects and submits a list of students to MLWGS each year. Dr. Lowerre is discussing changes to the admissions testing process for the 2020-21 school year and will update governing school districts with this information in the coming weeks.

The MLWGS PTSA stands with our teachers, administrators, alumni, families, and students who this summer together created and adopted a bold strategic plan (PDF) that set goals toward achieving racial equity, specifically for historically underserved populations. We are encouraged by these discussions and know there is more work to be done. We want you to advocate for a transparent and inclusive process from our state legislators and your school board members, as they make admissions and funding decisions. The decisions they make today will impact the future of MLWGS and our ability to achieve the goals in our strategic plan. Please contact your local and state representatives today to learn more.

AP Exam Ordering Information

Students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses should complete the AP Exam Ordering Form to indicate which AP tests you plan to take (or not take) in May. AP exams are $95 per exam. 

In order to have an AP exam ordered for you, you must complete the following tasks by Friday, Oct. 23:

1. Join the AP course(s) in your myAP.collegeboard.org account. Your teacher can help you if you have not already completed this task. (If you are self-studying for an exam, you will need to obtain an "exam only" code from Dr. Loving after your exam has been approved. NOTE: AP Statistics is pre-approved and Ms. Riles can provide the code.)
2. Complete this AP Exam Order Form and indicate all exams you wish to take or not take this year. (If you DO NOT intend to take one or more of your AP exams, you STILL DO need to complete this form so that we have a record that you wish for the school to NOT order an exam for you.)
3. Pay for your exams ($95 per exam) at https://osp.osmsinc.com/MLWGS. (The link can also be found on mlwgs.com by clicking "pay fees online.")

This Friday, Oct. 23, is the deadline for “on-time” registration. A $10 per exam late fee will be applied between Oct. 24 and Nov. 12 for exams not paid for by Oct. 23. The College Board late fee of $40 will be instituted beginning Nov. 13. Friday, March 12, is the final deadline for all late AP exam orders; no additions can be made after this date.

For the 2020-21 academic year, the College Board has waived the cancellation fee for any student who decides not to take an exam in May. For planning purposes, the MLWGS deadline for cancelling an exam is April 13, 2021.

Friday, Jan. 15, is the deadline to apply for College Board accommodations for a documented disability. Please contact Ms. Cobb no later than Jan. 11 to begin this process.

Click here to view the May 2021 AP Exam Schedule.
See this AP Ordering Information document for complete details. 

Coming Up: Chalk Day & Yoga on the Field

Friday, Oct. 30, will offer two opportunities for students to come onto campus in an outdoor, socially distanced way—just in time for Halloween!

Straight from your suggestions on the student survey, Maggie Walker will host “Chalk Day” in the student parking lot, a day for students to decorate a parking space in their own creative way. Drawings, positive messages, and/or any other chalk creations are welcomed. Since Halloween is the next day, we invite students to wear costumes if they choose!

Students will also have the option to participate in “Yoga on the Field” at 10-11 a.m.
Students may sign up for one or both of these optional events.

How will MLWGS carry out these events safely? Students who wish to participate must follow these guidelines:

• Students who wish to attend Chalk Day must sign up for a 30-minute slot between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Oct. 30. Up to 20 students can be drawing during each time slot, and they will be spaced at least six feet apart. A Sign-Up Genius will be posted on each class Schoology page this coming week. Feel free to coordinate with friends when signing up.
• A separate Sign-Up Genius will be available for Yoga on the Field later this week as well and will include details about what to bring.
• Students must wear masks intended for COVID protection at all times. Students will be temperature screened upon entering the parking lot or the field. Students should arrive via the parking lot on Elizabeth Street (bus loop) and report directly to the checkpoint on the sidewalk at the top of the steps leading down the student parking lot.
• MLWGS will order chalk to give to students, who should take it with them when they leave. Students may bring their own chalk, but cannot share it with other students.

Costumes are invited, but you must adhere to the following CDC guidelines when planning your costume (if you choose to dress up):

• Do not use a Halloween-costume mask as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and leaves no gaps around your face.
• Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• View the CDC website for complete details.

We plan to take plenty of pictures for the yearbook and, since not everyone can attend at once, pictures will be posted so that everyone can see the finished product and other classmates’ costumes.

From the Counselor's Office

Challenge Success partners with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and to implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning. Over the next month, they are hosting two online workshops that help decrease parent and student stress. A donation of $10 per workshop is suggested but not required.

A Healthy Approach to College Admissions (Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m.): What do college rankings really measure? Are students who attend higher ranked colleges better off later in life? What is “fit” and why does it matter? Learn strategies to help reduce pressure around the college admissions process and ways to support students’ well-being and readiness for life in college and beyond. With the pandemic inserting more uncertainty into this process, we will include a Q&A at the end to answer some of your most pressing questions. 

To register: https://form.jotform.com/202866805970161

Navigating School during Uncertain Times (Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m.): How can parents best support the personal and academic needs of their children while also attending to their own professional and family needs? Caregivers will learn how they can establish a healthier home environment for their school-aged child, reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement, and increase resilience, creativity, and well-being. 

To register: https://form.jotform.com/202867283912158

Congratulations, Musicians!

Congrats to the following students who auditioned for Senior Regional Orchestra last week and are now eligible to audition for All Virginia in February:

Jennifer Chen, violin ('23, Henrico)

Mira Eisenhauer, cello ('21, Henrico)

Sam Lichtman, viola ('22, Henrico)

Eric Qian, violin ('22, Chesterfield)

Joshua Yoo, violin ('22, Chesterfield)

Minji Cho, violin ('21, Chesterfield)

Concert Band to Hold Virtual Concert

Celebrate the culmination of MLWGS band students’ hard work as they perform their first virtual concert. Comprised of about 60 students, the Maggie Walker Concert Band includes woodwinds, brass, and percussion players. The concert will be on a scheduled Zoom call on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., and will last about 45 minutes. We look forward to sharing our music with you!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81596829483?pwd=eWl0MHZXczlaVUd4VEE5cTk3MGlQZz09

Meeting ID: 815 9682 9483
Passcode: DragonBand