Good evening, Dragon Nation.
At the MLWGS Regional School Board meeting on February 27th, the board voted to extend the current leadership structure for the remainder of the year. I will continue as Acting Director with Dr. Williams as Director’s Designee through June 30. A search for a Director will begin in March with a start date of July 1. Dr. Williams and I plan to honor Dr. Lowerre’s legacy through stability, continuity, and finishing the year strong. Thank you all for your support.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Smith
Acting Director
**Quarter 3 grades will be ready for review on March 25 on PowerSchool. This is a change from the original date of March 18 due to multiple school days lost in January and February due to snow and the water crisis.**
Senior Letter/Senior Events 2025
Every year, MLWGS publishes a letter with information about senior-related events taking place for the remainder of the year. As it is only March, we want to remind you that some details may change. We hope that you will bookmark this letter and refer back to it as we near each activity and opportunity. If you have any questions, please contact the individual(s) responsible for the event.
You can access the letter here.
We look forward to celebrating all of our seniors as we get closer to the end of the year!
Attention all AP Testers!
By March 13th, all AP Testers must do the following:
1) Log into their MY AP account and confirm that all exams you want to take are listed.
2) Notify Dr. Loving immediately if you are missing an exam as March 15th is the College Board’s deadline to add an exam and/or fix any errors.
3) Ensure that you are a member of the AP Testing Schoology Group. All students have been invited to join so please accept this invitation. All future announcements about AP Testing in May will be made through the AP Testing Schoology group, so make sure to adjust your Schoology settings to allow direct emails from this group.
If you wish to cancel an AP exam for any reason, the AP exam cancellation form can be found in the “resources” section of the AP Testing Schoology Group. One waive of partial refunds ($59) will be issued after March 15th and another waive will be issued after the final deadline to cancel an exam of April 15th. No refunds will be issued after April 15th.
Seeking Public Comment on the 2025-2026 Proposed School Operating Budget
During the MLWGS Regional School Board meeting on February 27th, the acting director presented a proposal for the 2025-2026 academic year operating budget.
The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Administration, in conjunction with the Superintendent’s Steering Committee and the Finance Steering Committee (comprised of the Chief Financial Officers from Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan, and Richmond) worked to finalize this operating budget proposal.
The AY26 budget proposal and executive summary can be viewed here, created on baseline financial data received from the VDOE to date, but subject to change with the upcoming conclusion/adoption of the Virginia General Assembly State budget with the Governor’s signature of approval.
Persons wishing to submit their feedback to the Regional School Board regarding the proposed FY26 operating budget may use this link to submit their remarks or email them to the Board Clerk by Wednesday, March 19, 2025, @ 10:00 am. A separate comment form will be created for other matters before the board at their March meeting.
Course Registration for 2025-2026 School Year (March 10- ODD BLOCK DAY)
Course Registration will take place on Monday, March 10th during 1st period. Students will need to have a parent signature and teacher signatures for dual enrollment, plus, pre-AP, AP, and Intensive courses to enter course requests into PowerSchool. If a student is not able enter their request on March 10th, there will be a makeup opportunity on Friday, March 14th in room 318. Please reach out to your child’s counselor if you have any questions.
Band Assessment Details for Parents
VBODA Band Assessment takes place on Friday, March 14 for Intermediate Band, and Saturday, March 15 for Advanced Band. Attendance is mandatory for this performance. Concert black attire is required. The concerts are free and open to the public. The students always respond to the audience – please come support the band and cheer them on at assessment!
Transportation
Intermediate Band students will all take a bus to Atlee together. Parents may pick up their students from Atlee at 4:50PM, or meet them at MLWGS at 5:10. Please email Mr. Merillat if you are picking up your child from Atlee.
Advanced Band: We need upperclassmen to drive themselves to Atlee. Underclassmen, GSMUN students, and percussionists will report to Maggie Walker and take a bus. Parents may pick up their students from Atlee at 2:50PM, or meet them at MLWGS at 3:10. Please email Mr. Merillat if you are picking up your child from Atlee.
Intermediate Band Assessment: Friday, March 14
2:40: Students depart MLWGS by bus for Atlee HS
3:00: Students arrive via bus at Atlee
3:25: Warmup
4:00: Assessment Stage Performance, Atlee Auditorium
4:30: Sight Reading
4:50: Load Bus for MLWGS*
5:10: Bus returns to MLWGS, parent pickup
*Alternatively, parents may pick up students directly from Atlee.
Advanced Band Assessment: Saturday, March 15
12:40: Bus Departs MLWGS
1:00: Students arrive via bus OR drop off at Atlee HS (do not be late!)
1:20: Warmup on Atlee Stage
1:55: Assessment Stage Performance, Atlee Auditorium
2:25: Sight Reading
2:50: Load Bus for MLWGS*
3:10: Bus returns to MLWGS, parent pickup
*Alternatively, parents may pick up students directly from Atlee.
Speech and Debate Team Tournament Update:
This past weekend (March 1st) the Speech & Debate Teams Represented Maggie Walker at Tournaments, earning two second place trophies!
The following students qualified for States in their Speech Categories: Vrinda Shah, Emma Lindsey, Henry Erda, & Lolu Nzombola
The following students qualified for the Debate Super-Regionals Tournament: Cathleen Liu, Zoe Fang, Annie Katherine Robin Santhosh, Simone Shende, Theo Chukin, Simon Moon, Amy Sun, Fotini Tzavellas & Lola Acquista.
Congratulations to all of the students and schools involved!
Juniors:
Senior/College Counselors Dr. Loving and Ms. Forquer encourage you to visit their SignUp Genius links on the “College Information for the Class of 2026” Schoology page with your parents to discuss the scheduling of your individual Junior College Meeting.
National German Exam
Congratulations to these students who received recognition for their 2025 National German Exam performance. This challenging yearly exam tests students’ ability to read and comprehend authentic print, audio, and video materials in German. Keegan Blake has advanced to the national stage of competition for a three-week summer study scholarship trip to Germany. Wir gratulieren euch alle!
German Level 4
Jan-David Wasiak (Gold)
James McGraw (Bronze)
Ananthu Anish (Achievement)
Amala Kudithipudi (Achievement)
German Level 3
Jaeda Perry (Bronze)
Samuel Adalbert (Achievement)
Emma Gaines (Achievement)
Sabina Gunlicks (Achievement)
Maggie Josefiak (Achievement)
Hanh Le (Achievement)
German Level 2
Anoushka Anand (Gold)
Keegan Blake (Gold)
Everett Reeves (Gold)
Julia McClintock (Gold)
Ryan Karami (Silver)
Eli Konikoff (Silver)
Leah Hazelrigg (Silver)
Eric Zheng (Bronze)
Jack Buchta (Achievement)
Sanika Kumar (Achievement)
Reesa Kelleher (Achievement)
Lucy Maceyka (Achievement)
David Roberts (Achievement)
Sophia Runberg (Achievement)
Ashley Simmons (Achievement)
Rewa Totey (Achievement)
Piper White (Achievement)
Jacob Williamson (Achievement)
Let’s go to Belize for 2026 Spring Break!
Has your student ever dreamed about traveling the world? Exploring ancient Mayan ruins or zip-lining through a rainforest canopy? Now is the chance to make their dreams a reality! Your student will gain new perspectives, develop a sense of independence, and build skills for the future through this experience
Please register for the information session on March 24 at 6:00pm to learn more. Follow this link to send your response: https://bit.ly/4hZrJMX
In this info session, we’ll talk about:
- How this opportunity will benefit your student
- What we’ll see and do on our trip
- Everything that’s included in this experience
- How we’re keeping this safe and affordable
- How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!) during EF’s risk-free enrollment period
Update Mu Alpha Theta Guest Speaker Series
Due to winter weather challenges, the talk by Dr. Laura Taalman of James Madison University has been postponed to Friday, MARCH 21, 2025, from 3:30 to 4:45 in the Forum. Her presentation is on “Interactive Patterns: Using math and code to optimize crafts.”
Get Your Night of the Dragon Tickets Now!
Get your tickets now for 23rd Annual Night of the Dragon. This fun-filled event taking place on March 22 is MLWGS’ single largest annual fundraiser and includes Live and Silent Auctions, dinner, drinks, student entertainment, and more.
Can’t attend the event? Sign in and register on the site to bid from anywhere and/or purchase a ticket for a teacher.
Items will be ready to view on March 10 (with new things added daily) and bidding begins March 15. All proceeds benefit our amazing Dragon and their incredible teachers.
This year’s line up of amazing Live and Silent Auction items, includes: * Vacation home stays * Lunch with Richmond Mayor Danny Avula * Reserved seats for MLWGS graduation * Theater and event tickets * Wine for a year * Date Nights for a year * One-of-a-kind art, jewelry, and items for the home * Our ever-popular themed gift baskets * Gift certificates galore * And so much more!
Contact Info for Grandparents’ and Special Adults Day Wanted
On the afternoon of Friday, April 25, the Governor’s School Foundation will host Maggie Walker’s annual Grandparents’ and Special Adults Day. Grandparents or other special adults of all current Dragons are invited to come to campus, hear a bit about our wonderful programs, and take a tour with their grandchild(ren) at the end of the day.
If your Dragon would like to invite their grandparents/special guest, please fill out the google form linked here by March 15 so we can create invites.
The event will begin at 2:30 pm with a short presentation in the auditorium followed by a reception with guests’ students at 3:15pm. Students are encouraged to show their guests some of their favorite spots around the school once the halls clear. The final shuttle will depart for the parking lot at 4pm.
Important Parking Info: Because parking is very limited, we will be running a shuttle from a satellite lot tbd. Please consider dropping off and picking up your guests if this is problematic. More details about location to come closer to the event.
Congratulations to the Swim and Dive team
They made a splash at States this week where the Boys took 7th and Girls took 4th!
Some standout performances were:
Kate Bowman-2nd place diving
Ayden Greer-2nd place 100 fly
Cal Vellozzi, Ben Li, Ayden Greer, Reid Winters-Boys Medley Relay 3rd place
Francie Mckay, Maddie Goodman, Candice Santos, Elizabeth O’Shea-Girls 400 Free Relay 2nd place
Great job Dragons!
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan’s (VA-04) Second Annual Black History Month Essay Contest
Congratulations to Tanvi Palavalas who won first place and to Chris Qian who won third place.
Students wrote essays about the namesakes of Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia’s Fourth District and focused on the legacy of Gen. Arthur J. Gregg, the first Black Army officer to reach the rank of lieutenant general. Congrats Tanvi and Chris!
GO DRAGONS!!!
“A man who fears losing has already lost.” -Syrio Forel
