As we move into September, our Dragons are beginning to settle into the rhythms of the school year. We’ve practiced important safety routines with fire and lockdown drills, and class meetings have helped set the tone for a strong start. Just as we do at school, it’s a great time to help your student establish routines and practices at home that will carry them through the year.
Looking ahead, Back to School Night is Thursday, September 4th- a wonderful opportunity to meet teachers, hear about their classes, and connect with the people who will be supporting your student all year.
Our drumline reminded us this week that every rhythm has power- their energy captures the movement and spirit of our community. On my morning walks, I’ve noticed it’s just cool enough now that I need a light jacket- another reminder that the season is shifting and we are settling into new rhythms together.
And with Labor Day here, I hope you enjoy the gift of a little extra time this weekend. May it be restful and refreshing as we move forward into September. Go Dragons!
Warmly.
Kristin Janssen, MLWGS Executive Director
| Let’s go to Belize for the 2026 Spring Break! Has your student ever dreamed about traveling the world? Exploring ancient Mayan ruins, learning Mayan cooking, snorkeling with turtles, or ziplining through a rainforest canopy, and more? Now is the chance to make your dreams a reality! You will gain new perspectives, develop a sense of independence, and build skills for the future through this experience. Please follow this link for information and to register, or contact David Barnes at [email protected] for more information. |
| Chesterfield and Henrico County Families Parents and guardians, as we roll out the 2025-2026 school year, our counseling team wanted to share information for students residing in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties. HAZEL HEALTH is offering free telehealth sessions available to support mental health for students in grades 6-12. No insurance necessary. Want more info or to sign-up? Click here! Please note sessions with this specific provider cannot take place during school hours. Wishing everyone a great start to the new school year, let’s go Dragons! |
| Student Fee Sheets All Maggie Walker students received their yearly fee sheet this week. Sheets were distributed in each student’s first block class. Please review the sheet carefully with your student and take note of any fees that need to be addressed for the 2025-2026 school year. Payments may be submitted to the main office or made online through ODP. If you have questions about specific charges or need assistance, please contact Crystal Charity at [email protected] for support. |
| BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th Students are asked to fill out their schedule and give it to their parents. Back to School Night is for parents and guardians. Students are NOT encouraged to attend. Plan to arrive by 6:15 pm., because school parking lots fill up quickly. Leave additional time for parking. Overflow parking is available at Moore Street Baptist Church, 1408 W. Leight St., one block past Sugar Shack. Parents should report to the school auditorium no later than 6:30 p.m. for the first PTSA meeting of the year. A welcome, maps, and directions for the evening will be provided. Students should provide their schedules to their parents to follow. Each class session will last for ten minutes, and a bell will signal the transition to the next class. Parents will have five minutes between classes. Teachers will be providing specific information about their classes, not about individual students. Parent-teacher conferences will take place on November 3rd, during which time parents may discuss their child’s progress. More information regarding these conferences will be forthcoming. |
| Attention Senior Students! Lifetouch Studios/Prestige Portraits is offering one last chance to have your senior portraits taken on campus and free of charge, in the first-floor Commons on Thursday, Sept. 4. Sign up at https://prestigeportraits.com. Start by clicking on the link https://schedule.prestigeportraits.com/schedule/home.html (you don’t need to enter Maggie Walker’s 8-digit code). Select Zip Code and enter Maggie Walker’s Zip code, which is 23220. Then, in the dialog box below, start typing “Maggie L. Walker” and our school’s name will appear. Click on it and hit Continue. Enter your legal first name and last name in the appropriate boxes, click Verify & Proceed, and select your appointment type: Essential ($30 for three outfits), Mini ($20 for two outfits), or Yearbook (no charge: two poses, one outfit). All scheduling and payment are handled through Lifetouch/Prestige’s website. Lifetouch/Prestige is Maggie Walker’s official school photographer, but you are NOT required to get your portrait taken by them. If you’d rather get your formal Yearbook portrait at another studio, your portraits must adhere to the following specifications: 1) formal dress (tux or drape), 2) “midnight blue” or other standard, dark blue or black background, 3) photo should be head & shoulders, with bottom of frame hitting mid-chest level. Photos from other studios are due to the MLWGS yearbook staff on Monday, November 10. |
| Summer in Spain 2026 Is your student interested in practicing their Spanish skills, visiting a sword factory, learning to cook paella, or making a traditional mosaic? Join Señora Nichols and Señora Manning for a cultural tour of Madrid, Granada, Sevilla & Barcelona from June 15 – 24, 2026! We’ll visit historical sites and participate in hands-on workshops that focus on the fine arts and cultures of Abrahamic religions across the centuries in Spain. This trip is recommended for students who have prior experience with Spanish, to help strengthen their language skills and practice using vosotros! Our interest meeting will be on Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00pm via Zoom using this link. Register your student now through September 30 at our website: https://www.explorica.com/Nichols-41477 |
| School Nurse Reminders As a reminder, please help prevent the spread of infection by staying home if you are actively sick. More specifically, you need to stay home if you have had a fever that is over 100.0°F in the last 24 hours or have had any vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours. If you are feeling sick and have cold symptoms, consider wearing a mask and washing your hands or using hand sanitizer throughout the day to protect others. All medical forms for the 2025-2026 school year should be submitted this month to the school nurse, Alisa Shapiro at [email protected]. This includes all students who have a medical condition or a life-threatening allergy or if they would like to either self-carry medications or have access to over-the-counter medications here at school. Please find forms online here: https://mlwgs.com/parent-resources/annual-student-forms/ For our sophomore families: Vision and hearing screenings will be completed on all 10th-grade students, as this is required by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Parents have the option to have their child opt out of the screenings with written parent notification to Alisa Shapiro at [email protected]. The school nurse will complete these screenings for early identification of deficits. Parents are notified of results if further evaluation is indicated. Parents and teachers may request vision and/or hearing screening for any student with written parental permission. |
MLWGS students in grades 10-12 are invited to attend College Rep Visits in our building during their lunch block throughout September and October. Locations of these presentations will be posted on the daily morning announcements and a board outside the Counseling Office. A list of colleges (and their admissions representatives) who are scheduled to speak with our students this fall can be found here: College Rep Visits to MLWGS as of August 28 2025 Please note that this spreadsheet will be updated weekly to reflect any additions or changes. Also–MLWGS will be hosting UC Night Richmond in our school auditorium on Weds, Sept. 24th from 6-8PM. To register, visit https://apply.admissions.uci.edu/register/?id=e3764f57-cfb0-4cda-ad7c-0cc417c2c7d3
“Join staff from Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA04) & Congressman Rob Wittman’s (VA01) Offices for an informational day about our five US Service Academies and how you can apply! We’ll be joined by representatives from each of the service academies: the US Naval Academy, US Military Academy (commonly known as West Point), US Air Force Academy, US Coast Guard Academy, and the US Merchant Marine Academy who will give presentations about each program and answer any questions you may have. ROTC representatives from Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, and more will also be present to share more information about their programs. Doors open at 8:30 am! We hope you and your families can join us!” Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/metro-richmond-service-academy-day-tickets-1617357272139
On Monday and Tuesday, senior counselors Dr. Rachel Loving and Ms. Kim Forquer presented information about the college application process to seniors in their English classes. Every student was given a hard copy of the September 2025 Senior Newsletter and a Transcript/Letter of Recommendation worksheet. Both documents can be found in the Resources section of the “College Information for the Class of 2026” Schoology group. The Senior Newsletter can also be accessed here: https://sites.google.com/gsgis.k12.va.us/mlwgs-counseling/college-admissions-information/seniorjunior-newsletters The Senior Newsletter contains college-related reminders and listings of scholarships and special programs with approaching deadlines.
