Week of May 9, 2018

PHYSICALS AVAILABLE AT THE MW CLINIC!

Do you need a sports physical for the upcoming year? 

Please come to the MW Clinic on June 14, 2018.  Please report at 3:30 p.m.; all physicals will be finished by 5 p.m. The cost is $25 and will be first come, first served.



ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS

The last edition of the Senior Newsletter is now available! Please remind your senior that as part of their check out process, the Senior Survey is due by Friday, May 11. Please contact Kierstin Streitel in the School Counseling Office with any questions.

Strawbridge Studios was at MLWGS on Thursday, May 3 to take the Senior Class Group Photo. If you did not order a copy, it is not too late. You can go to www.strawbridgestudios.com and order prints online.

Showcasing MLWGS Senior musical talent is an important tradition at Senior Recognition Night and graduation. Vocalists are needed to sing The Star Spangled Banner; additional performers or performance groups (instrumental or vocal) are sought for both events. Students should begin preparing if they would like to audition. Any MLWGS senior or group of seniors interested in auditioning must sign up for a time slot by May 18 on the bulletin board outside the Forum.

Auditions will be held on Monday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 23 after school. Final decisions will be made by a committee of faculty members and the class officers. Note: All students intending to perform must be present at auditions and are required to perform their intended piece for graduation or Senior Night.

Week of May 2, 2018

Photographers from Strawbridge Studios will photograph the senior class in their caps and gowns on the front steps of Maggie Walker on Thursday, May 3. This panorama-style photograph measures around 10”x 30", and the cost is $15.00. Approximately a week before the photograph is taken, order forms will be available in the senior commons for any student interested in purchasing a copy of the photo. Students will need to wear their cap and gown for the photograph and bring their order form and money on May 3- online ordering is not available.

PROM AND FORMAL WEAR DRIVE EXTENDED!

The Junior class dress and formal-wear drive for Charterhouse School is continuing this week. Last week MW donated 16 dresses and 8 jackets for boys! Items were delivered to the prom organizers this past weekend, but there still is a need. If you have any donations of clean, gently used prom items please put them on the clothing rack in the athletic hall on a hanger. The collection date has been extended to May 4. Thank you so much for all the donations to help make the Charterhouse prom a wonderful experience on May 11!

If you have any questions please contact Michael Schweiker at mschweiker19@gmail.com.

https://www.charterhouseschool.org/

SENIOR AUDITIONS FOR RECOGNITION NIGHT AND GRADUATION

Showcasing MLWGS Senior musical talent is an important tradition at Senior Recognition Night and graduation. Vocalists are needed to sing The Star Spangled Banner and additional performers or performance groups (instrumental or vocal) are sought for both events. Students should begin preparing if they would like to audition. Any MLWGS senior or group of seniors interested in auditioning must sign up for a time slot by May 18 on the list outside the Forum (the sign-up sheet will be posted by the first week of May). Final decisions will be made by a committee of faculty members and the class officers. Note: All students intending to perform must be present at auditions and are required to perform their intended piece for graduation or Senior Night.





STUDENT TRAVEL NEWS

Maggie Walker music students in New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival April 26-28.

Week of May 9, 2017

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS!

The May 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.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE AUDITIONS

May 24 & 25 3:20 – 4:30 p.m., Auditorium

Showcasing MLWGS Senior musical talent is an important tradition at Senior Recognition Night and graduation.  For example, vocalists are needed to sing The Star Spangled Banner.  Additional performers or performance groups (instrumental or vocal) are sought for both events.   Students should begin preparing if they would like to audition.   Any MLWGS senior or group of seniors interested in auditioning must sign up for a time slot by May 17 on the list outside the Forum.  Final decisions will be made by a committee of faculty members and the class officers.   Note: All students intending to perform must be present at auditions and are required to perform their intended piece for graduation or Senior Night.

JOIN US TONIGHT

DRAMA BOOSTERS SPRING MEETING

MAY 9, 6:00 p.m. in the BLACK BOX THEATER

Drama Boosters needs your help and participation.  We have Volunteer openings for next year as our senior parents are “graduating.” 

Please contact Ryan Giorgis at giorgisfamily4@gmail.com for more information.

ATHLETIC BOOSTERS ANNUAL MEETING

AND REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS

The Maggie L. Walker Athletic Boosters Club will hold its Annual Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 15, in room 105.  Athletic Boosters Board Officers and Directors for the 2017-2018 academic year will be elected at this meeting.  All Athletic Boosters members are invited to attend.  Anyone interested in serving on the Board or serving as a parent representative for one of the sports teams should contact Athletic Boosters President Rich Schweiker at dukeschweikers@aol.com.  The Board also is looking for a volunteer to conduct its annual audit.  Performing the audit is a great way to help support athletics at Maggie Walker with a limited time commitment.  Please also contact Athletic Boosters President Rich Schweiker if you are interested in helping with the audit or have any questions about this volunteer opportunity.

YEARBOOK NEWS

Friday, May 12, is the last day to pre-order a 2017 Yearbook. Order forms are available outside Room 121. (Online ordering is no longer available.) After May 12, students will have to wait until Yearbooks are distributed in school (likely the first week of June) to purchase theirs. The cost is $55.

Week of May 10, 2016

STILL A CHANCE TO RUN IN THE 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.

For a moving account by Katie’s mother, Carolyn McKann, please see her recent piece in the Richmond Times Dispatch at

http://www.richmond.com/life/article_d5a067c4-3a76-57c4-bcca-586704a1db56.html

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE

Thursday, June 16, 2016, 6:30 p.m.

The Baccalaureate Service will be held at Reveille United Methodist Church, 4200 Cary Street Road. Sponsored by the MLWGS PTSA, the interfaith service begins at 6:30 p.m. and will last approximately one hour. Students are not required to attend, but this traditional and memorable event celebrates finishing one chapter in their lives and beginning the next. Families and friends of graduates are most welcome to attend.  The official invitation from the PTSA will arrive by mail in a couple of weeks.  Seniors are reminded to bring both cap and gown for the ceremony.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Creasey at creaseys@verizon.net.

AUDITION TO PERFORM AT MLWGS GRADUATION

Showcasing MLWGS Senior musical talent is an important tradition at Senior Recognition Night and graduation.  For example, vocalists are needed to sing The Star-Spangled Banner.  Additional performers or performance groups (instrumental or vocal) are sought for both events. Any MLWGS senior or group of seniors interested in auditioning must sign up for a time slot by May 12 on the list outside the Forum.  Final decisions will be made by a committee of faculty members and the class officers.   Note: All students intending to perform must be present at auditions and are required to perform their intended piece for graduation or Senior Night. Auditions will occur on Monday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 17 after school.

Questions? Contact Ms. Sheppard (ksheppard@gsgis.k12.va.us or 804-354-6800 ext. 3304)

MLWGS TECH PLAN

The technology integration team has been hard at work this year developing its three-year technology plan for Maggie Walker Governor’s School.  

Several months ago, the team collected substantial feedback (more than 300 survey responses!) from students, teachers, staff, and parents on use of technology at MLWGS.  These responses were compiled into a number of common themes and form the basis of the draft technology plan with high-level “goals" and more specific “objectives" for each goal.

The next step for the team is to come up with specific “strategies” or “initiatives” that will help to meet each objective and also create “measurements” to track progress. 

Because technology is an increasingly important aspect of our lives and educational environment, the team wants to be as inclusive as possible in getting a variety of perspectives for the technology plan!

Request of Parents, students, and members of the Maggie L. Walker community:  if you have an interest in the use of technology at Maggie Walker, please review the draft plan by clicking on the link to the  draft technology goals and objectives [http://bit.ly/20bst3y] and share any suggestions on potential strategies and measurements for the plan’s objectives (or feedback on the objectives themselves!) 

The best way to provide feedback is to email both Jeff Hall (at jhall@gsgis.k12.va.us) and copy Eric Lowell, who is helping to compile the results (at Eric.Lowell@bus.utexas.edu).  Please provide your thoughts by May 17.

Thank you for your input and valuable time.

Jeff Hall

Coordinator of Instructional Technology

Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School

Eric Lowell

Proud parent and helper

Link to draft technology goals and objectives:  http://bit.ly/20bst3y

2016 NIGHT OF THE DRAGON AUCTION

The bills have been paid, the checks sent to the booster groups, and the down payment for next year’s auction is ready to go!  Thanks to all donors, volunteers, bidders and winners for a very successful 2016 auction.  It was a wonderful evening and a generous outpouring of support for MLWGS. This year, through your gracious donations and winning bids the auction committee was able to provide more than $54,000 to the boosters, PTSA. and Foundation. Thanks again and we look forward to hosting another outstanding auction next year; mark the date February 25, 2017!

VOTE MLWGS IN USA TODAY'S

2015-16 America's Best Athletic Program

Who has the best athletic program in the country?  USA TODAY High School Sports is giving the fans the opportunity to decide.  The next installment of the “America’s Best” contest series will be the 2015-16 America’s Best Athletic Program.

The contest will take place over a 10-month period (August – June), where schools from each state, including Washington D.C., that have won a state championship in the past three academic years (2012-15) in a state sanctioned sport will compete for the best athletic program in the country.  States will be rolled out in groups of three (3) in two-week increments over the 10-month period.

To vote you must be at least 13 years old to vote. There is no limit to the number of times a person can vote as long as the Best Athletic Program Rules are followed.

The athletic department of the winning school will receive $2,500. Second place will receive $1,500 and third place will receive $500. All 10 finalists will receive banners for their schools.

http://contest.usatodayhss.com/vote/best-athletic-program-virginia/round-1/va/17583

http://contest.usatodayhss.com/vote/2015-16-americas-best-athletic-program

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Lucy Dacas
Photo Courtesy of Style Weekly

Style Weekly cover story on MLWGS alum Lucy Dacus     <http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/from-maggie-walker-to-national-indie-darling-richmonds-lucy-dacus-makes-an-early-mark/Content?oid=2326876>

Latest Issue of the Jabberwock <http://mlwgsjabberwock.com/>

Week of May 19, 2015

Grandparents’ Day 2015 a Success!

Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day, sponsored by the Governor's School Foundation, was held April 17.  Approximately 125 grandparents and special friends of current students joined us for this opportunity to visit with their grandchildren at MLWGS. After a short presentation by Director Dr. Jeff McGee, Student Ambassadors led the grandparents and special friends on a short tour of the school. A reception with their grandchildren followed. Mary Michael Schweiker and her hard-working team from the Foundation Events Committee organized the event.

So far this year, the Foundation's Annual Fund Campaign has raised $285,070 for the school. Overall current parent participation is 44%, and here is the parent participation by class:

• Seniors: 43%
• Juniors: 39%
• Sophomores: 50%
• Freshmen: 46%

The Governor’s School Foundation’s Annual Fund Campaign supports programs for students, grants for teacher continuing education, and special projects for facilities and equipment. To donate online, please click here.

MLWGS STUDENTS MAKE SCHOOL BOARD VISITS

On May 12, MLWGS seniors Piper Shifflett, Ben Bowers, and Joseph Boyle (all ’15, Hanover) attended a Hanover County School Board meeting to communicate their appreciation for the opportunity to attend Maggie Walker.  The students had a chance to speak to the board and share their experiences, as well as thank them for their support with a small gift.   

Each year, the PTSA coordinates student visits to the various school boards that support MLWGS.  The students are able to use their own words to describe what an impact the school and the staff at Maggie Walker has had on them.  This experience is great for the students and the School Board members look forward to hearing from MLWGS students every year.  If you’d like to learn more about visits and contacts with our district school boards, contact Kristin Lyons, PTSA School Board Visit Coordinator (clyons1@comcast.net). 

NOMINATE A SPECIAL MLWGS VOLUNTEER!

The PTSA will be honoring two very special MLWGS volunteers at the MLWGS End-of-Year Volunteer event hosted by the Governor's School Foundation on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.

For each award, the PTSA is seeking nominations for outstanding parent volunteers who offer their time to PTSA, Booster groups, the Foundation, or in any other school-support capacity. 

The MLWGS relies heavily on the support of so many, and there are countless ways for volunteers to get involved. Therefore the PTSA has created two uniquely different awards: The Green Dragon Award for a visible and active member of the volunteer community; and The Dragon’s Lair Award for the person who works behind the scenes, not necessarily in a leadership role.

Any member of the MLWGS community may nominate a volunteer (no more than one nomination per award please). Awards will be determined based upon nominations received. 

Please submit nominations to mew.mailbox@gmail.com no later than Friday, May 22, 2015. Thank you for taking the time to nominate a fellow volunteer!

Costa Rica Trip – Spring Break 2016

Students interested in the spring break 2016 trip to Costa Rica can enroll now at http://www.eftours.com/1713827WP.

Students will spend 9 days exploring the ecology, geology, history, and culture of Costa Rica. In Tortuguero students will discover 11 different habitats, including nesting ground for sea turtles. Then students will enjoy a unique perspective of the rainforest while whitewater rafting and zip-lining in Sarapiqui. The next stop will be the Arenal region, where students will study volcanic geology. The Arenal volcano serves as a watershed for the lake, powers the hot springs, and supports the majestic La Fortuna waterfall. The final destination is Guanacaste, where students can explore Pacific beaches. They will also visit a cloud forest and snorkel in a marine ecosystem. Of course, they will also have some free time to experience local culture.

The cost of the trip is $2635 and that price includes:

• Air fare
• Ground transportation
• Accommodations
• Meals
• Full-time tour guides
• Insurance
• Activities

For more information contact Mr. David Barnes at dbarnes@gsgis.k12.va.us, or 354-6800 ex 3060, or visit http://www.eftours.com/1713827WP.

Music Performance Auditions for Seniors

May 19 & 20, 3:40 – 4:40 p.m. in the Auditorium

Showcasing MLWGS Senior musical talent is an important tradition at Senior Recognition Night and graduation.  For example, vocalists are needed to sing The Star Spangled Banner.  Additional performers or performance groups (instrumental or vocal) are sought for both events.   Students should begin preparing now if they would like to audition.   Any MLWGS senior or group of seniors interested in auditioning must sign up for a time slot by May 15 on the list outside the Forum.  Final decisions will be made by a committee of faculty members and the class officers.  Note: All students intending to perform must be present at auditions and are required to perform their intended piece for graduation or Senior Night.

MLWSGS Students Perform Well in

AATI 2015 National Italian High School contest

This year 140 schools in twenty-one states and Canada participated in the American Associate of Teachers of Italian 2015 National Italian High School Contest Examination. In total, 4,464 students took the exam, which has three levels. Participation across the levels was as follows: Level I - 1,398 students; Level II - 1,625 students; Level III - 1,441 students.

Three MLWGS students ranked in the top 5 nationally in their level.

Raleigh Browne (’15, Hanover) took second place nationally in Level II, receiving a prize of $200. Isabella Ragazzi (’16, Richmond) took fourth place nationally, winning $100.00, and Zoe Nelson (’16, Chesterfield) took fifth place nationally in the country, winning $50.00

In addition, Professor Lucrezia Lindia, president of the Società Onoraria Italica, has contributed $1,200 to this contest. Using a lottery system, her committee will select twenty-four students from the Honorable Mention List in each level and they will receive $50 dollars each from Professor Lucrezia Lindia.

The following MLWGS students in Italian I and Italian II earned a place on the Honorable Mention List:

Level I

Brennan Adams

Darby Anderson

Jamie Benson

Emma Bilski

Ryan Buscaglia

Lane Dye

Dolan Edinboro

Shanti Hiremath

Kyle Knachel

Addie Locke

Benjamin Milburn-Town

Tess Monks

John Otero

Michael Patina

Elle Rosenbaum

Madeline Russo

Robin Schwartzkopf

Level II

James Banta

Wynne Barsanti

Devon Bortz

Bailey Dunn

Evan Fisher

Lori Horning

Willa King

Jack Miller

Alexandra Norman

Lyla Rossi

Piper Shifflett

Maria Tahamtani

Abby Watson

Natalie Weinberg

Level III

Blaise Barsanti

Carrie Hamilton

Noah Han

MWGS Hosts RVABikeDrive

Submitted by Jackie O’Neil (’17, Chesterfield)

Do you have old bikes, bike accessories, or bike components that are no longer in use? On Saturday, May 30, Sophomore Jackie O'Neil will be hosting a used bike drive at MLWGS to benefit Bikes for the World, an organization that provides people in need with bikes for transportation to work and school. 

Drop by Maggie Walker’s Student Parking Lot (near the track field fence) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, to donate your bike or bike parts, or email rvabikedrive@gmail.com to arrange pickup in the weeks leading up to the event.

An alternate Chesterfield location, BridgingRVA headquarters at 11307 Polo Place (Midlothian) will also be collecting bikes on May 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m..

Monetary donations would also be greatly appreciated to cover part of the cost of shipment; donations will be collected at the drive and online.

If you have any questions, are interested in volunteering either at the event or as an advertiser, or if you would like to make an online donation, please email rvabikedrive@gmail.com. You can learn more about the work that Bikes for the World does both in local communities and around the world at http://www.bikesfortheworld.org/.

CONTACT:  Jackie O'Neil at jackieexoneil@gmail.com

Yearbook Social

The Yearbook staff will host the first annual Yearbook Social on Friday, May 29, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., in the Commons and Cafeteria. There will be live music! Free pizza and drinks! The yearbook staff will distribute and sell yearbooks and offer for sale both autograph supplements and special gold and silver Sharpies for yearbook signing. Students will have the opportunity to hang out and sign their friends’ books. It promises to be a memorable event.