Good Evening MLWGS Family, this is Dr. Lowerre the Director with the First Sunday Night Update for the 24-25 school year!
Every Sunday evening at about 7:00, you will receive a message from me with a link to my blog letting you know about upcoming events in the Dragon Nation. You will hear about parent meetings, community events, upcoming deadlines, and some student activities. With over 150 sports, clubs, and activities, I can’t get to all of them, but I will try to highlight the ones that are of interest to most students and families. You can also keep up with what’s going on at MLWGS by checking out the School’s webpage at MLWGS.com.
As we get ready for our start on Monday August 19th, let me begin with some housekeeping items:
- Off-campus parking will be a serious challenge this year as the construction project continues on Leigh Street. Students are strongly encouraged to take the bus to school whenever possible.
- Please review the student dress code with your student. It can be found using this link Handbook and looking at page 22.
- School fees have been uploaded in PowerSchool and can be found on the Student Page in Power School. The online fee payment system is linked off the main school webpage. I realize that the inclusion of the AP testing fees may be a challenge, but as long as the AP testing fee is paid before we have to order the tests in October, you can pay those fees later.
From MWTech:
Good evening and welcome back!
We have launched our refreshed and updated school website for the opening of the 2024-25 school year. Site navigation is very similar to last year, now with mega menus, button links, and a modern design for improved interaction on mobile devices and ADA compliance. Our URL has not changed, and you can visit our website here: mlwgs.com. Please note that our school calendar once again integrates all school events, including our VHSL Athletics.
We have also updated our school wireless network infrastructure. All students have been sent instructions on how to connect their personal device(s) to our system via both school email accounts and Schoology class groups. As onboarding 1,600+ student devices is a large task, we are phasing in student personal laptops, starting the first week of school with our new Freshmen class. Returning Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors will connect devices to Dragon Guest WiFi. Note: Students are currently able to access all necessary school information and applications from our guest network.
We look forward to greeting our students on Monday. Should you have any questions or concerns, please email us: [email protected]
Go Dragons!
Senior Yearbook Portraits
Even MORE slots have opened up for Sept. 5 in-school senior portraits with Lifetouch/Prestige. Just go to https://mysite.vagaro.com/prestigeroadflagship, click on “Select your school” under “School Photography,” choose Virginia, find Maggie Walker (code 123983), and click “Book Now.” These slots will go quickly, and we can’t guarantee that more will become available after those are gone. You don’t have to go to Prestige for your senior portrait, but this is the only way to shoot your portrait free and at school. Tuxes and drapes will be provided. Questions? Email Yearbook adviser Michael White at [email protected]
Student Handbook Test:
I hope your summer is going well. As you may know, our students take a 25-question test on the student handbook annually. Successful completion of the test acknowledges the school’s policies and procedures. An 80% or higher is required by the end of the 2nd week of school. I am sending this email if you want to knock out this task during the summer rather than during the first two weeks of school. I’ve shared the link to the student handbook and the test below. All revisions to the handbook are highlighted in yellow. The secret word for the test is Dragons; you will want your student ID number ready. Good luck.
Locker Request Form
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, lockers will be provided to students upon request. If no locker request form is submitted, a student will not be assigned a locker. Please submit this form no later than Friday, September 13. The Facilities Department will assign you a locker and provide the combination. This will appear on the demographics tab of your Schoology account within 2 business days. If you request a locker, this will be your assigned unit for your entire time at MLWGS. Requests for transfers will be handled during the first month of the school year.
Security Corner:
Welcome back Dragons!
Seniors, If you have not received your parking pass, distribution will re-start after the first full week of school. Please ensure that all applications and parking fees have been taken care of, and then e-mail [email protected] to schedule time.
Parents, if you are picking up students in the student lot after school, please wait for your passenger(s) in an empty parking space or along the curbs. Please DO NOT line up in the rows as this prevents seniors from leaving on time for after-school jobs and events.
Please do not attempt to drive into the Bluestone parking lot to park, visit or pick up students between 2:40pm and 3:40pm. This space is reserved for busses only during that window.
Thank you! We’re looking forward to another awesome year!
Reminder for all students enrolled in 2024 Fall MLWGS Online Economics:
If you are scheduled to complete the Fall semester of Online Economics, please check your Schoology courses to make sure the course is listed, and you are enrolled. If you do not see the course listed in your Schoology course pages, please contact your guidance counselor to enroll ASAP.
Reminder ALL MLWGS students must complete Online Economics and Online Personal Finance prior the end of your junior year. If you are a rising junior or senior and have not completed the Online Economics, you must contact your counselor to enroll and complete the course this fall. It is a requirement to receive a high school diploma in the state of Virginia.
Once course content is published in Schoology to students, view the orientation instructions, and begin the course. All orientation assignments are due by August 26th at 9 AM and the first module assignments are due the week after. Contact the instructor. Crista Hamilton ([email protected]), if you have any further questions.
From the Clinic:
1. All Seniors must have documentation of at least one meningococcal vaccination given after the age of 16 on file with the school nurse in order to start 12th grade. Emails were sent to students and families who still needed to submit documentation of this vaccine being up to date. Please email Nurse Shapiro proof of this vaccine to [email protected] or call at 804-354-6800 x 1010 as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
2. All medical forms for the 2024-2025 school year should be submitted this month to the school nurse, Alisa Shapiro. 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:
The permission for over-the-counter medications can also be found as an electronic form in PowerSchool.
If you have any questions as to what forms are needed, please reach out to the nurse at [email protected]. The forms do need to be resubmitted each year.
SAVE THE DATE: Need community service hours?
Want to meet more Dragons? Reserve 3:30-5pm on 10/2 to participate in the library’s annual Kickoff Transcribe-a-thon!
On Wednesday, Oct. 2nd from 3:30 to 5pm, the MW Library will host its first Transcribe-a-thon for this school year, an opportunity to decode historic documents into searchable digital versions for the benefit of historians, scholars, genealogists, and other researchers. Ms. Sonya Coleman from the Library of Virginia will be here to share exciting project updates. Enjoy free sweet treats and get Library of Virginia bling this annual kickoff event. Once you participate in-person, you’ll have the option to continue earning community service hours (up to a max of 35 hours) by transcribing historic documents online from anywhere (as long as you provide the required documentation). Interested? Sign in to your GSGIS Google account & then sign up for this year’s team!
Let me end tonight’s update with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Mark Twain. He wrote, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” Well, it’s time to get started! I wish all members of our community the best of starts on the best of school year’s! Have a great evening and GO DRAGONS!
