Good evening, Dragon Nation.
The General Assembly’s ‘bell to bell no cell’ bill will come into effect on July 1. In compliance with this, we are sharing a timetable. Starting this week, we plan to enforce what is already in our Code of Conduct (p.14) for the remainder of the year. Students will still be able to use phones in the cafeteria and transitions, but during class time, phones will need to be powered off and stored in backpacks (not pockets). As this is a cultural change for our school, we plan a long runway, with plenty of input, grace, and communication. In June, we will reassess to see if further steps are needed to comply with the law.
Best Wishes,
Dr. Smith
Acting Director
Congratulations to our We the People team for their 7th place finish at Nationals this weekend! We are proud of your achievement.
Senior Class Group Photo – Lifetouch will be at MLWGS on Tuesday, April 22 during lunch to take the Class of 2025 group photo. The cost is $18 (Order forms were distributed in English classes last week; orders can be placed online at mylifetouch.com. The code is: BW014068T0). Students need to bring their cap and gown for the picture. Reach out to Ms. Sheppard or Ms. Love with any questions.
VCU Dual Enrollment Application: Mandatory Meeting on April 23rd at 11:00 in the Auditorium
This Wednesday, April 23rd, at 11:00 in the auditorium, VCU will be leading our students who registered for dual enrollment courses through the new online application process and placement procedures. Students who registered for one or more of the following classes will need to attend this event: VCU Statistics (STAT 210 and 314), VCU Calc 200 (MATH 200), VCU Calc 201 (MATH 201), VCU Biopsych (PSYC 401), VCU Photo (PHTO 243), VCU Film Studies (PHTO 233). Students should bring their laptops (required for online tasks) and all of their belongings to the meeting because it will take the rest of the period and a large portion of lunch. The full program is scheduled for an hour. Students will need to complete their VCU dual enrollment online application by Friday, April 25th. Applications will include an in-state tuition form that needs to be completed with their parents.
Dual Enrollment math and science courses requirement placement assessments. Placement methods (AP, SAT, ACT, or ALEKS scores) will be reviewed during Wednesday’s meeting. More details will be provided in next week’s Sunday blast, but students planning to take STAT 210 or MATH 200 will want to earmark May 29th for ALEKS testing unless they are able to place out with an SAT or ACT score.
Class of 2025 Senior Survey
The “Senior Survey” is now available in Naviance student accounts and it is the method by which students will officially communicate their college choice and any scholarships they have received. This survey is required to be completed by Friday, May 2nd and is a part of seniors’ official check-out procedures. Seniors’ college choices will be featured on the graduation program and the survey will serve as their official request for their final transcript. The scholarships that students report and indicate they are accepting will be featured on the Senior Awards program bulletin that will be handed out at the Senior Awards Assembly. Counseling also likes to know about all merit scholarships awarded–even from the colleges that students will not attend. Please have your award letters in front of you when completing the survey. The survey can be found in Naviance under “About Me” and by clicking “Surveys From My School.” Seniors who have already deposited at their college are encouraged to complete the survey right away.
If a senior changes their college after May 2nd, they can complete a college change form that will be launched on May 3rd. Depending on the time submitted, new colleges may still be able to make the graduation program. Contact your senior counselor with questions about the Senior Survey and Ms. Sheppard with questions about the graduation program.
Senior counselors are also available to meet with students as they deliberate their final plans for after graduation, and we encourage students to give their counselors and the teachers that wrote their letters personal updates on their college process in addition to the formal survey. Congratulations to the Class of 2025 as you reach the end of this journey!
AP Testing Cancellation Deadline/Other Reminders- Attention students taking Advanced Placement exams in May!
Transportation arrangements during AP Exams: As students and parents plan for AP testing, remember that morning exams begin at 8:30 and students are advised to arrive at their testing room between 8:00 and 8:15 (or 12:15 for an afternoon exam). Students will want to be in their seats and ready to log into Test Day Toolkit on a school computer by 8:30 (or 12:30 for an afternoon exam). We will make every effort to hold an exam for a late bus, but because morning exams must be underway by 8:50 (including reading directions), we may need to proceed with testing without students who are running late. We encourage students to use the transportation method on exam day that will allow them to be in place and ready to test by 8:30am.
Afternoon exams will almost always run past the end of the school day. For students who ride the bus, alternate transportation will need to be arranged for afternoon exams. Afternoon exams will release at varied times, but 4:30 is our generally anticipated time. It could be earlier or later depending on the varied length of the morning and afternoon exams. Students should notify their coaches or employers of their potential late arrival to practice or jobs if taking an afternoon exam.
Logging into Test Day Toolkit: Because students are testing on school computers, it is critical that students have their College Board login credentials committed to memory.
Unpaid Exam Fees: There are some students with unresolved AP exams payments. These fees will be applied to students’ accounts and could result in a hold on transcripts if not resolved.
AP Testing Schoology Group and Other Reminders: Students are reminded that, per College Board regulation, cell phones and other electronic devices are not permitted in the exam room. More information about this and other things to bring or not bring will be available through updates in the AP Testing schoology group. If students have not accepted their invitation to join the AP testing schoology group, they will want to do so immediately to ensure they are receiving real time updates on testing locations, start times, etc.
Scholastics recently announced that Howard Luo’s (’28) short story “Sandy, Wardoh, and James” was awarded a National Gold Key!
National Medalists will be honored at a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City this summer.
Please join us in congratulating Howard for this amazing accomplishment!
Enrollment is open for the 2026 Spring Break trip to Belize
Your student will spend the week immersed in the beautiful rain forests and coral reefs of this vibrant Latin American nation. We will learn about Mayan culture and tropical ecology while having fun zip-lining, canoeing, cave tubing and snorkeling. Follow this link for enrollment details
https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2860907SV?utm_source%3Daccount-hp
Or contact Mr. Barnes [email protected],va.us
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 April, 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!
Scholarship Opportunities for MLWGS Seniors
Seniors, if you are interested in applying for a MLWGS-exclusive scholarship (the Dr. Smriti Bardhan Scholarship, the Rajan Scholarship, the Priscilla Green Memorial Scholarship, or the $10,000 Robert E. and Jacquelyn Pogue Scholarship), you are encouraged to revisit Ms. Forquer’s Schoology post in the “College Information for the Class of 2025” page about these opportunities. The application deadline for the Bardhan, Rajan, and Pt. 1 of the Pogue is NOON on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The application for the Priscilla Green can be found here and is due by March 31: https://bit.ly/PGMS2025
For more scholarship opportunities, check out the MLWGS Class of 2025 Scholarship List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t1CNmRcjxs9SSXjTh1g5Z-oDDQ8XLlZJN57s9cAWrvs/edit?usp=sharing
Athletics-IMPORTANT NOTICE: Attention all student athletes and parents. Due to the change with Governor Youngkin’s policy on high school physicals, DO NOT get your new physical until the updated paperwork is available. I hope to have the papers next week and will post them in the update. Otherwise, here are sites where you can get a physical at a low price for the 2025-26 school year.
Paige Hawkins, Athletic Director
April Highlight: The MLWGS Science Department—Research, Problem-Solving, and Rigor
The Science Department enthusiastically welcomed three new colleagues this year: Will Cottrell, William Ryba, and Dave Smail.
Will Cottrell teaches both Molecular Biology and Anatomy & Physiology. He brings energy and enthusiasm for learning and teaching in both the classroom and the workroom. Being a dedicated triathlete, he helped coach Cross Country and also helps to sponsor the Red Cross Club.
William Ryba teaches both Analytical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Plus, in addition to coaching Cross Country and Indoor & Outdoor Track. He is enjoying the opportunity to use a variety of exploratory lab activities and summative lab projects to improve learning experiences in the classroom.
Dave Smail teaches Molecular Biology, Analytical Chemistry, and AP Biology. He is enjoying the new adventure of teaching AP Biology and using case studies to provide students with enriching learning experiences. He next looks forward to integrating more inquiry-based labs in the classroom.
The biology team is led by Dave Barnes. In addition to teaching Molecular Biology, Dave also teaches AP Environmental Science. In both courses, he maximizes student-centered learning opportunities that are hands-on, incorporate innovative use of technology, or make use of relevant current events. Dave also provides learning opportunities outside of the classroom and has traveled abroad with students to both Costa Rica and Panama. He is currently planning an interdisciplinary experience for students in Belize during the spring break of 2026.
Adam Rotche is an integral member of the biology team. His passion lies in ecology and environmental interdisciplinary studies. In addition to teaching a seminar, Wilderness and the American Mind, Adam also developed and is teaching a brand-new course, Becoming a Naturalist, a Virginia ecology course. Adam is an integral member of our school community serving as the head coach of our Quiz Bowl team.
Jennifer Todd teaches AP Chemistry and is the Science Department Chair. In her 3rd year of being department chair, she has worked to provide experienced teachers and new teachers opportunities to collaborate to align curriculum and to share instructional tools. She has also actively supported teachers in their efforts to create new science electives in multiple disciplines and of a variety of challenge levels to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners.
In addition to teaching both Analytical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Plus, Hillary Gawne developed a post-AP Chemistry course based on her areas of interest and expertise. She is now in her second year of providing a robust learning experience for advanced STEM students in Introduction to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. Hillary is also the sponsor of the National Honor Society.
Mark Sailer has been part of the science team for 10 years. This year he is teaching primarily Honors Physics and has enjoyed teaching AP Physics 1 for the first time. Mark is a valuable member of the school community and is the lead sponsor of the MLWGS Robotics team. Outside of his school commitments, Mark is a dedicated musician and a member of a handbell choir, a vocal choir, and a brass group.
In addition to teaching AP Physics 1, Brandon Gooss developed and is teaching a brand-new course, Automotive Concepts and Engineering, familiarly known as ACE. Through that course, Brandon has developed a relationship with Midas of Richmond, who has provided learning opportunities for students outside of the classroom and has donated car parts for the students to work on and learn from in the classroom. Brandon also sponsors TSA, the Technology Student Association. No matter where you see Brandon, he is excited to tinker and learn with the students while working on solutions to real-world problems.
In addition to teaching math, Heather Kemmerly continues to engage students in project-based learning in Engineering. On any given day, her students may be building and testing bridges or designing their own inventions using CAD (computer-aided design) software.
VCU Physiological Psychology is taught by Dr. Tim Donahue. In this course, Tim teaches students how the brain and neurological system work from a biological perspective. Not only does Tim share his enthusiasm for learning and psychology through his exciting lectures, but he also leads them through hands-on activities such as dissecting sheep brains.
As a department, we continue to cherish our work experiences with Drew Austen, who passed away earlier this year. Drew was an invaluable member of the team, always excited and enthusiastic about learning and growing with both colleagues and students. His love of learning and teaching was infectious to all. Despite having only been a part of MLWGS Science for three school years, he will have a lasting impact on us all.
We were excited to welcome Olga Plotnikov to the team for the rest of this year. Olga is no stranger to MLWGS as an alumni parent. Additionally, Olga has immense expertise in physics and valuable experience teaching young scientists. We are more than grateful that Olga was willing to join our team at a time of great need.
Music Department Plant Sale Fundraiser
Like last year, the MLWGS Music Boosters are selling hanging flower baskets and fern baskets as a fundraiser! If you are interested in ordering, please click this LINK. Plants will be available to pick up at school from Wednesday, April 30th-Monday, May 5th. Feel free to share this link with anyone who might be interested in supporting our program.
GO DRAGONS!!!
“No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.” – Voltaire
