Week of March 6, 2017

YOUTH ART MONTH

OPENING EXHIBIT THURSDAY

Youth Art Month highlights the wonderful and talented young artists at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. To help celebrate, MLWGS will be having its annual student art exhibition which opens Thursday, March 10 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the 2nd floor main hallway at Maggie Walker.   Comments will take place at 6:00 p.m.  Students enrolled in Photography and other Visual Arts classes will have their artwork exhibited in this exhibition.    The show will run through March and the opening is open to the public.  We hope that you will be able to attend.  Light refreshments will be provided by the Visual Arts Boosters.  

SPRING PARENT COACHES MEETING TONIGHT

The Spring Parent Coaches Meeting will meet tonight, March 7, 2017 in the auditorium at 6:15 p.m. This is a makeup date from March 1, 2017 and a change of site.

All coaches and parents of spring athletes, this is a mandatory meeting  for all information regarding your student athletes participation in Spring sports.  For more information contact  Paige Hawkins at phawkins@gsgis.k12.va.us

THE NIGHT OF THE DRAGON WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

The Night of the Dragon Committee would like to thank everyone who made the evening a wonderful success - all our donors, sponsors, volunteers, talented entertainment, and of course all those who attended! More than $55,000 was raised to support our school!

If any winners still have merchandise or certificates to pick up, you should have received an email over the weekend. Please have your student (or you) come by the Foundation Office to pick up your envelopes and / or items.

WALKER MODEL CONGRESS HOSTS GOVERNOR McAULIFFE

Walker Model Congress, hosted by the Model Congress Club of Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. Walker Model Congress is a unique learning experience in which students model the United States’ legislative process. Students engage in meaningful debate on issues prevalent in our country today, draft their own legislation pertaining to modern issues, and debate in committee. Furthermore, by engaging in debate with their counterparts, students develop and refine their speaking skills and increase their abilities in quick thinking, reasoning, and teamwork.

WMC was held February 10-11, 2017, and featured Keynote Speaker Governor Terry McAuliffe. For the complete set of pictures, go to http://mlwgs.com/scenes-from-wmc-february-10-11-2017/

Congratulations to Sponsor Ted Quinn and the students of Model Congress Club!

FIND YOUR CALM

DESIGNATED QUIET SPACES
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Want to step away from the rush and rumble of your busy day?  There are now two designated comfy spaces at MLWGS to take a break from noise and chatter....

·       The Mindfulness and Calm space for students (located in the Counseling suite) has groovy bean bag chairs, mindfulness coloring books, and more.  As an added touch, you’ll find a thoughtful quote on the board that a student writes there at the beginning of each day.

·       The Mindfulness and Calm space for teachers (236) has soft armchairs, mindfulness coloring books, and more.  There’s also a bookcase for a teacher book exchange. Just like the Little Free Libraries that have popped up around RVA, this is a free exchange: give one, take one.  Consider contributing a recently published book in great condition that you’d like to share.

To nurture calm, these rooms are intended as silent spaces, so please choose a different location for conversations. With quiet in mind, if you’d like to listen to music or audio recordings, please use earbuds or headphones (each room is equipped with headphones that you can borrow for this purpose).

If you’re interested in mindfulness-related recordings, you might choose a track from the library’s Mindfulness and Calm playlist on Soundcloud from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or check out one of the apps listed on the library’s Mindfulness and Calm page.

The Mindfulness Committee would like to thank Lisa Williams for her assistance in designing the teacher space and Troy Mitchell for painting two of the walls a serene blue.  Advanced thanks to the Art Honor Society who may be adding a mural to the student space by the end of the school year.

LAW QUALIFIES VIRGINIA OF POETRY OUT LOUD

Left to right:  Laney Yoo, Sarah Law

Congratulations go to Sarah Law (‘17, Chesterfield) for making it to the Virginia Finals of Poetry Out Loud. Sarah qualified by winning second place in the regional competition on February 6. First-place winner, Laney Yoo (St. Catherine’s), will also compete. The Virginia Commission for the Arts, in partnership with WCVE- Community Idea Stations, will host the state competition on Friday, March 10 at the WCVE studio. They will be recording the state championship. If Sarah wins, she will go on to Washington, DC in April for the final national event. Break a leg, Sarah!

FOR OTHER NEWS….

Check out the MLWGS News:  http://mlwgs.com/category/news/.

Peruse the latest issue of The Jabberwock:  https://mlwgsjabberwock.com/

Or, read the Director’s blog:  http://mlwgs.com/directors-blog/

Week of March 8, 2016

YOUTH ART MONTH

Youth Art Month is when MLWGS takes time to highlight the wonderful and talented young artists at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. To celebrate, MLWGS will be having its annual student art exhibition which opens Thursday, March 10 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the 2nd floor main hallway at Maggie Walker. Students enrolled in Photography and other Visual Arts classes will have a piece exhibited in this exhibition.  The show will run through March and the opening is open to the public.  We hope that you will be able to attend.  Light refreshments will be provided by the Visual Arts Boosters.  

SOL WRITING TESTS

All sophomores will be taking the SOL Writing Tests in two parts during the week of March 14.  On Monday and Tuesday, tenth graders will take the multiple-choice section of the test during English classes.  On Wednesday and Thursday, students will take the writing portion during English classes.  Because the writing portion of the test may take longer than a full class period, sophomores in periods 7 and 8 English classes will need to start the writing prompt during periods 5 and 6.  They will be excused from their regular 5th and 6th period classes.  Makeup testing will take place on Friday morning of the same week.

All other End of Course SOL tests will be held during the last two weeks in May.  MLWGS SOL testing occurs in the following courses:  biology, chemistry, geometry, Algebra II, 11th-grade English (Reading test), Global Studies 10 (World History), and US and VA History.  SOL practice questions are available at the Virginia Department of Education website: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml

(Note: You may need to update Java on your computer and use Internet Explorer or Firefox.)

If you have any questions regarding SOLs, please contact Karl Zweerink in the school counseling office at kzweerink@gsgis.k12.va.us.

WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT?

Advertise in the Jabberwock,

Maggie Walker’s student-run newspaper!

Our student body is very diverse, and as informed consumers, it is interested in supporting local businesses. The Jabberwock reaches a wide audience; a print copy of the paper is published every other week, and is distributed free of charge to the school’s students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, a new website (http://www.mlwgsjabberwock.com) is updated regularly and visited by students, teachers, parents, and alumni.

There are several different types and sizes of advertisements available to purchase. Check out the options at http://bit.ly/1Pj4uNF, and purchase an advertisement here: http://bit.ly/1Nku6nw. 

In advertising with the Jabberwock, you are not only making a good business decision but you are also supporting a program that offers students journalistic training and career options. With your support and business, the MLWGS school newspaper can continue to thrive and expand, both in print and online. If you have any questions, please contact Claire Mendelson, Editor-in-Chief, at cmendelson6@gmail.com.

MLWGS GRANDPARENTS' DAY, FRIDAY, APRIL 15

MLWGS grandparents and special friends of the family, including aunts, uncles, godparents, and neighbors, are invited to attend the fifth annual Grandparents' Day on Friday, April 15.  This popular event, sponsored by the Governor's School Foundation, will run from 2:00 – 3:45 p.m. All attendees will be invited to hear a presentation about the school, take a short tour of the building, and attend a reception with their grandchildren.

Please send in the names and addresses of student grandparents and special family friends, even if they may not be able to attend, so that the Foundation may send them a formal invitation. Click here to reach the registration form: http://goo.gl/forms/UZZIzUVpL5.

Feel free to contact the Foundation office at (804)354-1566 with any questions.  Or, write to us at: Events@GovernorsSchoolFoundation.org.

KOLOR ME KATIE 5K

The Kolor Me Katie 5K, in memory of Dragon Katie Anderson, is being held on May 21, 2016 at the Goochland YMCA. This year’s race benefits Connor’s Heroes Foundation and the Goochland YMCA Leaders’ Club. Last year’s inaugural race had around 300 runners and raised more than $7,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (last year’s beneficiary).

For more information about the upcoming race, please go to www.kolormekatie.com.

RELEVANCE RISING STUDENTS WILL TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA

Will Provide Services to the Village of Tzununá

Relevance Rising (RR) is a class dedicated to the study of non-profit organizations and has been involved with an international service project for the community center and library of Tzununá, Guatemala for several years. Through this project, students learn to develop understanding and the skills necessary to interact with peoples of a different culture. In September 2015, the current class began fundraising with bake sales, coin drives, door decorating, salsa sales, etc., with all proceeds going to support the Tzununá library project. This year students will take with them in late March over $4,500 in donations. This marks the class’s fifth trip to the region and a total over the years of contributions of approximately $20,000 in monies and materials. Their donations have covered the cost of land to house the library, engineer and architect designs, building materials and various resources such as computers to be used by the children of the village. However, the project is still $10,000 short.

  

Trip expenses are funded by the MLWGS students themselves, along with the gracious help and support of the Governor’s School Foundation.

To contribute to this effort, donations can be made at gofundme.com/relevancerising16 or checks can be sent payable to MLWGS, Attention Stephanie Welles, 1000 N. Lombardy St., Richmond, VA  23220.

GSMUN XIX: WAKE THE NATIONS, MARCH 11-12, 2016

Maggie Walker’s 19th annual Model United Nations conference, GSMUN, will take place on March 11-12, 2016.  The event, consisting of 22 independent committees, expects to bring in delegates from 30+ schools across Virginia and Maryland.  Over 600 middle and high school students will debate policy issues ranging from the role of the aristocracy in 14th century Japan to the ethics of modern stem-cell research. 

GSMUN strives to promote awareness of international issues in our community.  Headed by a student Secretariat, GSMUN is also dedicated to raising money for global charities.  Model United Nations students from all grade levels participate in school fundraisers, culminating in conference donations and merchandise sales during the weekend of GSMUN.  This year, GSMUN XIX will raise money for One Hundred Pounds of Hope, an organization that provides education and emergency relief to the people of Cambodia.  Already, the students have coordinated three bake sales, candy gram sales, and a benefit concert featuring international cuisine and student performers. 

The theme of this year’s conference is Wake the Nations.  Much of the current leadership team has participated in Model UN all four years at Maggie Walker, and several even attended GSMUN as middle schoolers.  If you have any questions or would like to volunteer at the event, contact John Metz (gsmun.secgen@gmail.com) or Mr. Smith (msmith@gsgis.k12.va.us) for more details!

SAVE THE DATE—PTSA MEETINGS

 Please “Save the Date” so that you are able to attend the upcoming General PTSA meeting at MLWGS.  PTSA meetings are open to parents of all students, but will be particularly beneficial for parents of Freshman and Sophomores.

• March 16 at 8:00 a.m. in Room 153 – Dr. Loving and Ms. Deck will provide an overview of the College prep and application process at MLWGS.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR INPUT MARCH 17

A public hearing is scheduled on March 17, 2016 at the conclusion of the Regional School Board meeting (approximately 10:00 am) for comments on the proposed 2017 Fiscal Year budget and proposed 15-year Capital Plan.  Click here for links to both the budget and the plan.

2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OPEN

Two leadership positions are available for the academic year 2016-2017:

1.  Network Manager (IRC80731)
2.  Coordinator of Administration (IRC80756)

Because of the highly specialized nature of these positions, their recruitment and application process is being managed by Henrico Public Schools.

Week of March 3, 2015

Lee Smith Coming to MLWGS March 4

Lee Smith was born in 1944 in Grundy, Virginia. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia, she developed a love for writing. After spending her last two years of high school at St. Catherine's School in Richmond, Smith enrolled at Hollins College in Roanoke. During her senior year there, Smith submitted an early draft of The Last Day the Dog Bushes Bloomed to a school contest. That book would later become Smith's first published work of fiction. Since then, she has published fifteen novels and four collections of short stories, and has received eight major writing awards including the Sidney Lanier Prize for Southern Literature in 2013. Her latest novel, Guests on Earth, takes place at Highland Mental Hospital in Asheville, N.C., between the years 1936-1948. Told from the point of view of patient Evalina Toussaint, daughter of a New Orleans exotic dancer, the novel explores the buildup to the 1948 fire which lead to the death of nine women, including Zelda Fitzgerald.  Learn more when Lee Smith herself visits MLWGS on March 4.

ARE COLLEGE COSTS WEIGHING HEAVY ON YOUR MIND?

Save the date for this PTSA program 

Paying for College 101:

Applications, Financial Aid, Merit Scholarships, and More 

March 18, 2015 • 8:00 a.m.  

Featuring Susan Teerlink,

MLWGS’s GRASP advisor

Susan has been coaching families through this important (and tedious) process for nine years. She has filled out hundreds of FAFSA forms with parents and students – and her own daughters. She works one-on-one with many MLWGS juniors and seniors, but she’s ready to share her wisdom with all MLWGS parents. Don’t miss this chance to get an overview of the process in a familiar environment – before you jump in with both feet. 

Stop by room 153, the outside classroom near the Bluestone Lobby entrance before work or after you drop off your student.

UPCOMING SCRIP ORDER DUE MARCH 5

The next Scrip order due date is Thursday, March 5. Orders will be ready for pick-up the following Thursday, March 12. Please consider ordering SCRIP gift cards for favorite stores and restaurants while supporting Maggie Walker!

Order forms can be downloaded here under "Links" or picked up in Office 100. Orders are due on Thursdays in the SCRIP drop box located in Office 100 and are delivered the following Thursday at lunchtime in Office 100. Delivery and pickup dates can also be found on the MLWGS online calendar. Be sure to check out the list of SCRIP retailers, which is regularly being updated.

Questions? Please contact:
Patty Wood 804-364-9263 or scrippattyw@gmail.com
Patty Zeevi 804-784-2966 or scrippattyz@gmail.com

YOUTH ART MONTH

March is Youth Art Month where MLWGS takes time to celebrate the wonderful and talented young artist and raise awareness of the importance of the arts in our culture.  The exhibition opens Friday March 6 from 6 – 7 p.m., in the 2nd floor main hallway at MLWGS.   Students enrolled in Digital Art, Photography, or Visual Arts classes will have a work exhibited in the annual student art exhibition.  The show will run through March.   All are welcome to attend.  Light refreshments will be provided by the Visual Arts Boosters.  

Coaches – Parents Spring Sports Meeting 

Thursday March 5

The Spring Sports Coaches – Parents meeting will be Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m. in the third floor Forum.  We will hear from the Athletic Director, and then break up into individual sport meetings.  MLWGS teams have done extremely well this year and MLWGS is expecting a great spring season.  Come meet the coaches and hear about MLWGS student athletes’ spring conference schedules and competition.

Go Dragons!

SEND A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVORITE THESPIAN!

MLWGS Drama presents, Into the Woods, March 12-14 and YOU can send a Shout Out to your favorite cast or crew member.  Shout Outs are a special place in the program where people can place notes to the cast and crew offering special wishes or words of thanks and encouragement.

Example: “Sally, we’re so proud of you! Break a leg! Love, Grandma and Grandpa Jones” or: “Mike, you’re the best!! It’s been fun! Your friend, Ellie”.

Shout Outs are $10 each ($5 for students placing a Shout Out) and should be limited to 20 words or less. All proceeds benefit the MLWGS Drama Program.

Click here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bx4f6ZhqrWcYUWN2Y1d5QzdwTHc/view?usp=sharing) for the form.  Completed forms can be returned to the green Drama Box in Room 100 or mailed to: Drama Boosters, 4303 Hanover Ave., Richmond, VA 23221.  If you have any questions, please call Jewel Caven at 938-8249 or email:  cavenfamily@gmail.com. Deadline is Thursday March 5.

Dragons Sing at All-District Chorus

Congratulations to Hannah Polaski (Richmond, '17), Evan Heiter (Hanover, '16), and Erin Turbeville (Chesterfield, '16) for a fantastic All-District Chorus weekend! They were selected from more than 1,200 auditions from the Richmond area and spent the two days singing with the area¹s best musicians. Evan Heiter was also selected to represent the district in All-Virginia Chorus!

Tickets still available for

Guys’ Night Out and Ladies’ Night Out

Attention all MLWGS parents – don’t miss out on great opportunities to connect with old friends and make some new!  Tickets are still available for Guys’ Night Out and Ladies’ Night Out.

March 27, March Madness: Guys’ Night Out — Buy Your Tickets Now!

A limited number of tickets are available for March Madness: Guys’ Night Out.  This will be a fun evening watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament with other MLWGS fathers, teachers and friends of MLWGS. Tickets are $35.  Buy one for yourself and a teacher/faculty member.  You’ll enjoy pizza, beer, and watching two games in the Sweet 16 round.  Guys’ Night Out is Friday, March 27 at the home of Bob and Liz Blue (parents of John Blue, Class of 2017). Tipoff is 7 p.m.  Space is limited to the first 50 tickets sold.  All proceeds support the Athletic Boosters.  To reserve your spot, email David Poole (father of Tucker Collins, Class of 2016) at dpoole4@gmail.com.

May 20, Salad Days: Ladies’ Night Out — Buy Your Tickets Now!

Come enjoy your "Salad Days" with MLWGS moms and female faculty and staff at the annual PTSA Ladies’ Night Out. This year’s theme is a Shakespearean expression referring to a youthful time of idealism and innocence!  We will be serving hearty salads along with bread, desserts, wine, and soft drinks at this event open to all female parents, staff, and friends of MLWGS. Last year 85 women attended this lovely evening, talking and eating with old and new friends. This year Ladies’ Night Out will take place on Wednesday, May 20 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the home of Mary Michael and Rich Schweiker (parents of Claire, Class of 2016 and Richard, Class of 2014) in historic Windsor Farms. Tickets cost $35. Consider buying tickets for MLWGS teachers too! To purchase your ticket for this PTSA fundraiser, email Kristin Lyons (Mom of Matthew, Class of 2017 and Hannah, Class of 2014) at clyons1@comcast.net or Yvette Conte (Mom of Julia, Class of 2017, Lucy, Class of 2014, and Michael, Class of 2012)  at contefamily5@msn.com.

The Write Stuff at The Dragon's Lair

Want to change your writing style?  Or perhaps you're ready to make your mark on the world? (On paper, of course, not on walls.)  The Dragon's Lair has your choice of precision manuscript implements, available in vibrant metallic dragon green or midnight-of-your-soul poetic black (http://mlwgsdragons.weebly.com/new-pens.html).  And at the March Madness price, you can afford to change your style multiple times daily.

These deals, and many more, are available at our March Madness sale, every Tuesday and Friday.  We have many items more than 50% off, but once they're gone, so are the discounts! Come shop during the upcoming Spring Drama productions, before the show and during intermission. Click (http://mlwgsdragons.weebly.com/) to see our complete selection of spirit merchandise. Cash and checks welcomed.

EARLY S&S DEADLINE ANNOUNCEMENT!

The submission deadline for the Tuesday, March 10 edition of Smoke and Scales will be TODAY, 5 p.m. (Tuesday, March 3).  This is an early deadline for the March 10 edition only.  Submissions received after 5 p.m. on March 3 will appear in the Tuesday, March 17 edition of Smoke and Scales.

Thanks from your S&S editors!