1/12/25
Good evening, Dragon Nation.
While Dr. Lowerre is on medical leave (12/12/24-1/19/25), I will serve as Acting Director, with Dr. Williams as the Director’s Designee. We have temporarily divided all administrative duties. Over the next month, please contact me or Dr. Williams if you need to speak with an administrator. Please join me in wishing Dr. Lowerre a speedy recovery.
PS- Our intention is to resume classes on Monday 1/13/25 barring any other unforeseen problems with snow, road conditions, or water quality.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Smith
[email protected]
(804) 354-6800 x2120
In Memoriam- Mr. Drew Austen
Dragon Nation.
This message is a follow-up to my communication from last week. It is with deep grief that I share the obituary of Andrew Qyle Austen, a member of the MLWGS faculty from 2022-2025, a career educator, and a dedicated family man. His obituary is included below.
https://affinityfuneralservice.com/obituaries/andrew-qyle-austen/
If you would like to support the Austen family, many efforts are underway. Students should contact their SCA representative about sending cards and messages of support. Mr. Coleman of the English department is organizing a meal train for the family. The PTSA plans to collect gift cards for the family once specific needs are identified.
In lieu of flowers, Drew’s family has asked that donations be considered in his honor to the MLWGS Foundation. His family shared that Mr. Austen would have wanted this because of his love for his students and his belief in our mission. I am working with Mrs. O’Neil to ensure that Drew’s legacy is honored at the school.
Sincerely,
Dr. Smith
How do we determine whether to delay or close school due to inclement weather?
Senior Seminar and Mentorship Program Registration for Juniors
In December and January, Juniors (Class of 2026) will take a step in determining what their senior schedule will look like. All juniors will have to decide whether they are going to enroll in one of our exciting seminar courses or apply to undertake a mentorship with a professional in the area. For the past month, Juniors have had access to information about the Senior Seminar Classes and the Mentorship Program. When we return from winter break/snow and water days, students will need to rank their top five seminar classes (must be completed by Friday, January 17—Link will be released on Monday 1/13/25). If students are interested in applying to the Mentorship Program, the application is due by 3:30 on Friday, January 17, 2025 (late or incomplete applications will not be accepted). The window for seminar ranking and the due date for the mentorship application were moved due to the weather/water issues.
Save the Date: College Kick-Off
Parents of 10th and 11th graders…save the date: Thursday, January 30th! Our school’s annual College Kick-Off event is scheduled for sophomores and their parents/guardians from 10:15-11:30AM that morning and for juniors and their parents/guardians from 1:10-3:10PM that afternoon (with a parents-only Q&A session with college admissions panelists from 3:10-3:30PM). More information about RSVPing will be available later in the month. The senior/college counselors look forward to hosting you (as well as representatives from the University of Virginia–afternoon only, Hampton University, Hollins University, the University of Georgia, and the University of California, Berkeley for a robust discussion about how to support our students through their college search and application process.
Senior Newsletter
The School Counseling Department has released a Senior Newsletter (filled with important reminders and scholarship opportunities) as well as a Junior Newsletter both on Schoology and here: https://sites.google.com/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlwgs-counseling/college-admissions-information/seniorjunior-newsletters Underclassmen are also invited to read the Junior Newsletter for information about contests and summer opportunities.
MWTech | New LockDown Browser for Schoology Assessments
After Winter Break, some classes will start conducting Schoology assessments with the aid of a new application, LockDown Browser. As an integrated component of our Schoology Learning Management System (LMS), the LockDown Browser creates a secure online environment for LMS assessments, similar to the TestNAV application for SOL online test administration, and the Bluebook application for AP online test administration. As MLWGS is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) school, we request that your student installs the software on their computer. Guidelines for specific devices will be shared with students. During the school day, teachers and the MWTech office staff will be available to assist. If a student’s device is unable to install the LockDown Browser software, a school device can be borrowed for the online assessment.
Music Program Disney Trip Itinerary Information
Large Instrument Pack: Thursday, January 16
During school hours, students with large instruments (that cannot be carried on the plane) will load them into the rental cargo van driven by Mrs. Gowda.
Flight to Orlando: Friday, January 17
7:15am: Students arrive at the Richmond Airport.
-Please do not be late.
-Please meet by the Jet Blue ticketing desk for check-in with your teacher.
-Do not bring large instruments (they should be loaded in the van on Thursday)
9:45 am: Jet Blue Flight #169 departs from Richmond Airport
Flight to Richmond: Tuesday, January 21
2:58 pm: Jet Blue Flight #270 departs MCO for Richmond Airport
5:05 pm: Jet Blue Flight #270 arrives into Richmond Airport
**Parents and students are responsible for getting students TO and FROM the Richmond airport. There is no bus provided from MLWGS. The plane will not be held for late students and refunds are not available if a student misses the plane!**
Luggage
Each flight ticket includes 1 personal item and 2 checked bags. Carry-ons must fit under the seat. If you are taking a small instrument, you must bring it on the plane as your personal item.
Food
Students will receive four $55.00 dining cards, allowing $15.00 for breakfasts and $20.00 for lunches and dinners. Mr. Merillat suggests parents send an additional $20.00 for lunch at the Orlando Airport on Tuesday. The meal cards should cover the rest of the trip.
Workshop Schedule for One Small Step 2025
Hello, Dragons! As a result of missing this school week due to weather and water issues, and to prioritize mental health support for those who knew Mr. Austen, especially when we first return to school, the lunchtime workshop schedule for One Small Step 2025 has been revised as follows:
Workshop #1 – 11:45am-12:15pm on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in the Forum
Workshop #2 – 11:45am-12:15pm on Wednesday, Jan. 22 in the Forum
Workshop #3 – 11:45am-12:15pm on Monday, Jan. 27 in the Library
If you’ve signed up to participate in One Small Step, please update your calendars accordingly – and please be punctual as the workshops start promptly at 11:45am.
As noted in the welcome email sent before winter break, there will be an asynchronous option for completing each workshop, but it is strongly recommended that participants attend workshop #3 in person. That workshop will be in the library instead of the forum and involves practice conversations which are much more fun and efficient to do in-person during lunch.
If you haven’t signed up for One Small Step 2025 and would like to do so, you can still opt in by Tuesday, Jan. 14, by completing the quick sign-up form @ http://bit.ly/oss25signup.
Best regards,
Ms. DeGroat
MLWGS PTSA Advocacy for Fully Funding our Schools
Want to help fully fund our schools? The MLWGS PTSA is encouraging the MLWGS school community to email your Virginia Delegate and Senator this week to let them know that investing in our students, teachers, and schools is important to us. Students can get service hours for helping this great cause. Click HERE for more information and a sample email.
- PTA Advocacy Email Date: by Friday, January 17th
- PTA Advocacy Day at the Virginia General Assembly: Thursday, January 23rd. Contact Ben Pearson-Nelson at [email protected] if you want to join us.
MLWGS PTSA Reflections Art Contest
The MWGS PTSA congratulates the winners of the National PTA Reflections Art Contest. First place winners have been advanced to the Regional PTA Level for judging.
- Dance Choreography:
- 1st Place: Jake Nelson, “Whispers in the Wind”
- Film Production:
- 1st Place: Jake Nelson, “Vibrant Silence”
- Literature:
- 1st Place: Tanvi Palavalas, “gold in the cracks”
- 2nd Place: Sreemayi Gangireddy, “Visual Paralysis”
- 3rd Place: Candice Santos, “Imperfect”
- Music Composition
- 1st Place: Peter Yanovich, “All Too Fast”
- 2nd Place: Merely Busher, “I Tell Myself I Love Her”
- Visual Arts
- 1st Place: Alyssa Gans, “Embracing the Unseen”
- 2nd Place: Elena Loy, “Shadow of Tomorrow”
- 3rd Place: Jake Nelson, “Hands of Growth”
- Photography
- 1st Place: Jake Nelson, “Bold and Flawed”
- 2nd Place: Nuveena Sooriya, “Focused on Acceptance”
- 3rd Place: Devansh Kumar, “A Tilted Reality: One of Beauty”
Senior Yearbook Ad Deadline
The deadline to purchase a Senior Yearbook Ad is fast approaching! All payments and materials must be received by Mon, Jan. 13. Please email Yearbook adviser Michael White at [email protected] for further information.
Italian Club Helps the Community
Mrs. Hefty would like to give a shout out to the Italian Club, led by Hadley Driscoll. The students created and put together individual coloring books for the children at the VCU Children’s Hospital on Brook Road. The coloring books include pictures and Italian words describing the pictures and put together with yarn. They are 10-12 pages long, and it took a lot of effort to create them. Hadley will deliver them this coming week.
GO DRAGONS!
“Worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.” -Mary Schmich
