1/19/25
Good evening, Dragon Nation.
While Dr. Lowerre is on medical leave (12/12/24-1/26/25), 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.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Smith
[email protected]
(804) 354-6800 x2120
Parent Teacher Conference Sign-Up
Winter Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held via Zoom on Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 4-7pm. Please use the link below to reserve a time slot with your student’s teacher: https://bit.ly/WinterConf25
Please note that the form may take 5-10 seconds to completely load on your device after clicking the link!
- If you have any questions regarding time slot availability with your student’s teacher, contact them directly.
- If you have any issues accessing the SignUpGenius form, please contact MWTech: [email protected]
- The form will close at Noon on Wednesday, January 22, so that teachers have time to prepare for scheduled conferences.
- Zoom links for the conferences on January 23 will be sent via School Messager (PowerSchool email) next week.
-MWTech
Intent to Return Form
Dear Maggie Walker freshman, sophomore, and junior families,
Below is a link for families to complete regarding their intent to attend Maggie Walker Governor’s School next year. It will only need to be completed if you have had a change of address OR your student does NOT intend to return to Maggie Walker. While the form is short, it is critically important for planning and budget purposes. We ask that parents be present if a student is completing the form. Please complete it by Tuesday, February 4th. Division gifted coordinators rely on your responses to know how many student slots are available for incoming students next year.
Thanks for your prompt attention to this matter.
MLWGS Intent to Return Form 25-26 – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaczbKJqc8hvzbXUHhkOJe8NYOjocNJ-coVPlOgllJTU0aMw/viewform?usp=sharing
College Kick-Off 2025…Parents of Sophomores and Juniors: Save the Date!
College Kick-Off is scheduled for Thursday, January 30th. Its goal is to generate more awareness of college admissions, support students through their college search and application process, and set them up for success!
Senior/college counselors Rachel Loving and Kim Forquer (the planners and moderators of this event) will be joined onstage by panelists from Hampton University, Hollins University, the University of Georgia, the University of California–Berkeley, and the University of Virginia–who will be at both assemblies this year.
Parents of 10th graders* are invited to join their students in the MLWGS Auditorium on 1/30/25 from 10:15-11:30 AM.
Parents of 11th graders* are invited to join their students in the MLWGS Auditorium on 1/30/25 from 1:10-3:10 PM; college reps will be available (for 11th grade parents only) until 3:30 PM for additional Q&A.
*Please note that due to limited seating capacity, each student may be accompanied by only 1-2 parents or guardians to their assigned assembly. Parent/guardian(s), please RSVP using the Google form that was shared with you via email on 1/15/25, and keep an eye out for additional messaging closer to the event regarding parking options. If you have any questions (or did not receive the email with the RSVP link), you are welcome to email [email protected].
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.
Class of 2025
Don’t forget to order your cap, gown, and tassel along with any other graduation-related paraphernalia from Herff Jones! All orders are shipped directly to your home, so please make sure you check inside the box(es) when they arrive. If you have any graduation-related questions, feel free to contact me: Kerry Sheppard, graduation coordinator, at [email protected].
AP Exam Accommodations for Documented Disabilities
This is a reminder that the deadline for Ms. Cobb to submit requests for accommodations for Advanced Placement exams is Friday, January 24th. In order for forms to be prepared and completed on time with the appropriate documentation, all requests and documents must be submitted by Tuesday, January 21st (extended from the originally announced deadline of January 17th). Students who have already been approved for accommodations by the College Board for the PSAT or SAT tests do NOT need to apply again. Please contact Joy Cobb ([email protected]) if you have any questions your (or your child’s) approved accommodations.
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.
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
Attention Current Transcribers!
There will be TWO transcribe-a-thons in February! Our regular quarterly transcribe-a-thon will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 3:30-5pm. Then, on Friday, Feb. 14, the library will host a drop-in Douglass Day transcribe-a-thon during lunch and the after-lunch study blocks. Douglass Day is an international event that celebrates Frederick Douglass’s chosen birthday by inviting groups across the globe to transcribe a relevant collection of documents. We’ll pause transcribing periodically to watch special programming via a live event broadcast.
Support MLWGS by Supporting the 23rd Annual Night of the Dragon!
Plans are shaping up in a wonderful way for the 23rd Annual Night of the Dragon, being held March 22, 2025, at the Guzman Community Center @ Faison. Make your plans now to join us for this hallmark social event and largest MLWGS fundraiser of the year. Tickets go on sale in February. Stay tuned!
Here’s how you can help us make the upcoming 23rd Annual Night of the Dragon the best ever!
- Mark your calendars and make your plans now to attend.
- Donate an item(s) for the Live or Silent Auctions. Popular items include unique
experiences hosted by MLWGS families and friends, event tickets, vacation home rentals, artwork, local adventures, gift baskets—GET CREATIVE! To donate, fill out this online form or contact Ginger O’Neil at [email protected].
- Become a Sponsor. Individual and corporate sponsorships are a great way to support MLWGS and promote your business to our community. Sponsorships are available at many levels. For Sponsorships, contact Ginger O’Neil [email protected].
- Get your tickets as soon as they go on sale in January.
- Check out the auction website when it goes live so you can preview all the great auction items! Don’t worry, we’ll spread the word far and wide.
Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!
Dance Team Workshop
Do you know a student in grades 1-8 who loves to dance? The Maggie Walker Dance Team is hosting a dance camp for elementary and middle school students after school on Monday, February 3rd from 4:30-6PM! Campers will then perform with the Dance Team the following night (2/4/25) during halftime of the 6PM Girls’ Varsity Basketball game. Any parents with children interested in participating can sign up through this link: LINK.
Security Corner:
Lost and found filling up quickly again. Please check frequently! It will be emptied January 24.
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.
Spring Sports
All students you plan to tryout for spring sports that start on February 24th, you will need a completed packet turned into Ms. Hawkins at [email protected] as PDF file.
Henrico Invitational Model UN Conference
Next weekend Friday and Saturday, 1/24–25, Model UN will attend HIMUNC with a delegation of over 50 students. As a friendly reminder to all our delegates, the OSP for HIMUNC is live, and you must also complete the required field trip Google Form for parent/guardian permission by next Thursday even though it is an entirely after-school, extracurricular event. We send a delegation to compete at Henrico High School’s conference each year and consistently set an example of excellence in diplomacy, so if you know anyone who is attending please wish them good luck!
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!
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” -Chris Grosser
