11/24/24 Sunday Night Update

11/24/24

Good evening, Dragon Nation.
While Dr. Lowerre is out, I will send the Sunday Updates as part of my role as Acting Director.  Please feel free to contact me for any submissions in November or December.  Dr. Williams and I will handle all administrative duties while Dr. Lowerre undergoes his procedures.  He hopes to work from home January-March while he recovers.  Let’s all wish him a speedy recovery!

Best Wishes,
Dr. Smith
[email protected]

(804) 354-6800 x2120

Security Corner:

Reminder:  Leigh Street will be closed to parking until November 27!  Plan accordingly!!  Partial road closures are likely in the morning with full closures midday. 

CLASS OF 2028

Attention parents of freshmen – The Freshman Dance and Lock-in tickets are now on sale in OSP. The dance is for freshmen and their invited guests only; if students wish to bring a guest from another school, there is a guest permission form available in Schoology, in Ms. Williams office, and sent out as an attachment from the PTSA. The Lock-in is a Maggie Walker tradition, a night of fun and games, pizza and movies. The dance will be on Saturday, December 7th, from 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. The Lock-in starts at 10:30 p.m. after the dance and all students should be picked up at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 8th. Tickets are $15 for both the dance and the lock-in, or $10 for either the dance or the lock-in.

CLASS OF 2025

CAP AND GOWN – Herff Jones recently visited MLWGS to share ordering information about graduation-related paraphernalia (regalia and announcements).  Students must wear a MLWGS cap, gown, and tassel to participate in graduation.  To purchase these items, please visit https://hjvirginia.com/schools/maggie-walker-governors-school/ or contact Ms. Sheppard to pick up a hard copy of the packet. 

Prices go up starting December 5, so please place your order as soon as possible. All items will be mailed directly to students  (Don’t forget to open the box and check your order when you receive it!).

GRADUATION TICKETS – Graduating seniors will receive up to 8 tickets for our ceremony at Dominion Energy Center (Carpenter Theatre) on May 27 at 6:00pm.   To reserve the number of tickets you need, please fill out the Google Form below using the student’s MLWGS Google Account by Tuesday, November 26.  Only requests submitted through the form will be considered.  If you need additional tickets, we are holding a lottery with what is left over before we leave for Winter Break. 

https://forms.gle/aRdPQFMKvEk9cBpK6

If you have any questions about graduation, please reach out to Ms. Sheppard:  [email protected].

Senior Parents!

Your child has an opportunity to make a long-lasting imprint of MLWGS. The Power of Story Seminar offers senior students the opportunity to paint different-sized wall sections in room 228. They can be painted alone or in groups of 3. Purchasing blocks can be done through OSP, and people can come to paint during lunch and after school. All designs will be submitted to Ms. LeCroy for approval.” Prices are $55, $35, and $15! Email Ms. LeCroy if you have any questions — [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.  On Monday, 12/2/24, Juniors will be added to a Schoology Group that will provide information about the Seminar/Mentorship selection and application process.  As the process moves forward in December, students can help their parents view all material on this site.  Juniors are encouraged to start thinking about this decision now, and parents are encouraged discuss this decision with their student.  After materials are released by the first week of December, anyone that has questions about the process should reach out to Mr.  Cook ([email protected]).  The deadline for completing the Seminar/Mentorship selection and application process will be Friday, January 13, 2025.

Club Pictures will be taken Dec. 2-17, during lunchtime in the Gym. Consult the schedule shared through the four class Schoology groups. Get your officers and members together and be on time. See you there!

Community Service Announcement

All students and parents are encouraged to check your community service hours totals to make sure that you are on track to complete this requirement.  Students can help their parents get onto their x2vol accounts to check to see how many hours have been earned. Each student is striving to earn a total of 140 hours while at MLWGS, or 35 hours a year.  Each student should work diligently to earn these hours while learning how to be leaders in the community.  If a student has questions about any of this process, please stop by Mr. Cook’s office (room 149) or send him an email ([email protected]).

Mech Tech Dragons Robotics Team Update

      If you plan on joining the team, please complete the following steps by December 15.   If you have any questions or concerns about completing any of these items please reach out to Mr. Sailer – [email protected]

Build season Kickoff is Saturday January 4 – More details will be sent out prior to winter break.

  1. Complete the team application (https://forms.gle/oF69r8p1kfaDbq426 )
  2. Complete FIRST Registration (https://bit.ly/4hdMHHU 
  3. Complete the field trip form and upload to link on team website –  (Please note that there are two signatures needed on the form)
  4. Submit team membership fees ($250) to OSP – CLICK HERE

      You can check your status Here

PLEASE JOIN THE PTSA

Thank you to our MLWGS community for your support of our PTSA! Your membership dues went towards a highly successful Fall Festival that raised $14,500+ for our clubs, Homecoming that was attended by 750+ students, a Diwali celebration during the school day, and also a staff appreciation cookout.


In November and December, we have many more events, including 2 staff appreciation opportunities. We will offer a cornucopia of snacks for teachers and will host the staff holiday party. Each staff member will also receive a $50 gift card as a token of our appreciation for all they do. 

Your $25 membership dues directly support these events for our students, staff, and community. There is still time to join the PTSA this school year! In fact, we are so close to meeting our membership goals that joining today will help us be “out of the red” by Black Friday! Please join using this link: https://app.etapestry.com/cart/GSGISFFoundationGovernorsS/default/category.php?ref=185.0.191974557

If you’re not sure if you’ve joined yet this year, please reach out to our VP of Membership, Meredith Farrell at [email protected]. We appreciate your support!

National PTSA Reflections Art Contest at MLWGS

The MLWGS PTSA is sponsoring the National 2024-2025 Reflections Arts Contest. Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps students explore thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning to become more successful in school and in life.

2024-2025 Theme: “Accepting Imperfection”

How To Enter: Students create and submit their completed works of art tied to this year’s theme in one or more of the available arts categories: Film Production, Music Composition, Visual Arts, Dance Choreograph, Literature, & Photography.

Fill Out the Submission Form: Please read the category specifications and official rules for detailed information and enter the required details:  https://forms.gle/b1z2zV7aUeHknbcr9 

Submission Deadline: Monday, December 7, 2024.

Questions?  Email [email protected] and [email protected] with your questions.

Your Foundation Donation Makes 2X the Impact Between Now and Giving Tuesday, December 3

The MLWGS Foundation needs your help unlocking TWO matching gifts of $10,000 each by Giving Tuesday, December 3.

Thanks to a generous alum family and an ‘07 grad, any donation made to the Foundation between now and Giving Tuesday will be matched, up to $20,000. 

Meeting these challenges would mean an extra $20,000 in much-needed support for our students and teachers, which makes this the perfect time to make your ANNUAL FUND gift of support for our students and teachers.

So mark your calendar and be sure to make your 2024 Giving Tuesday ANNUAL FUND gift online or by check (made out to the Governor’s School Foundation) by DECEMBER 3 to help unlock the match!

Don’t want to wait? Great! Make your gift now using this special Giving Tuesday link!

Questions? Reach out to Executive Director Ginger O’Neil at [email protected] about the Foundation’s work any time.

Have a great evening and GO DRAGONS!

“Success is not owned; it is rented- and that rent is due every day.”- Rory Vaden

Director’s Blog

View Sunday Evening Updates by Dr. Robert C. Lowerre for this academic year.

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