Fall officially arrived this week, and we certainly had some rainy weather to go along with it. Hopefully, autumn will also mean it will not be quite so humid. Having everyone inside during lunch reminded me that colder weather is coming. It also showed us that we have plenty of space for our students to comfortably enjoy themselves inside. If last week was defined by meetings, this week was definitely about classrooms.
Last year, I had to let go of some personal teaching that I volunteer and do outside of Walker. Two weeks ago, that started back up. The instructional bug does not go away when you move into administration. My wellness tracker actually shows the time I spend teaching as restorative. Most administrators probably do not need a gadget to tell us that. Being back in classrooms and around students and staff replenishes us.
Our administrative team got plenty of that this week as we observed teachers in our respective clusters. Our instructional staff is exceptional. We have so many educational experts navigating their content and everything that comes with teaching a classroom full of curious, young people. I love watching what I call the “volley” between teachers and students. A teacher puts something out, a student responds, someone else adds something, the teacher shifts, and back it goes. It really is fun to watch. We picked up so many little nuggets in the classrooms we visited and enjoyed comparing notes about what we saw. It is also a reminder that no matter how long you have been in education, you can walk into someone else’s classroom and learn something.
The week was also full of PSAT readiness checks, college visits, Model UN, GRASP, recruitment events, athletics, auditions, practices, testing labs and, of course, the serving line. Thank you to our volunteers. It was just a good week to be out of the office and in classrooms. Meetings will certainly still be waiting for us next week. Enjoy your weekend, Dragons!
Go Dragons!
With Pride,
Dr. Kristin Janssen
Executive Director
Additional information below…
Welcome Omo & Co!
The Dragon Nation is excited to welcome Omo & Co. to Maggie Walker! Beginning September 28, Omo will serve lunch in our cafeteria, focusing on fresh, varied, and nutritious meals with plenty of choices for our students. Each day will feature a selection of entrées and sides, giving our Dragons the opportunity to try something new or stick with a favorite. Lunch will be available for purchase directly in the cafeteria using our new point-of-sale system with no pre-ordering or app required.
We’re especially excited to partner with Omo to meet the unique needs of our Maggie Walker community. Their team has been working closely with us to create a lunch program that is convenient, welcoming, and gives our students more variety. We hope our Dragons will stop by, check out the daily offerings, and give Omo a try! We’re looking forward to a great year of good food and good fellowship in the cafeteria. Go Dragons!
Menus and information on pre-paid accounts will be forthcoming on our website.
Grades 9-12: Parent/Teacher Conferences:
Also mark your calendar for our two parent/teacher conference sessions during this school year. The first will be on Monday, November 2nd; the second on Thursday, January 21st. Details will be announced closer to each.
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Picture Make-ups & Retakes for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and staff are scheduled for Wed, Nov. 4.
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Student Fee Payments – Due by September 30th
Student fees are considered delinquent if not paid by September 30th.
Please submit your payment online at https://osp.osmsinc.com/MLWGS/default.aspx. Alternatively, your student may bring cash, check, or money order to the main office (Ms. Charity – 9th & 10th grades) or (Ms. Rowe – 11th & 12th grades). Student fee statements were mailed home prior to the first day of school. If you need another copy, please email [email protected] (9th/10th) or [email protected] (11th/12th).
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Mark Your Calendars for the 25th Annual Night of the Dragon–
Saturday, February 20, at the Altria Theater
Mark your calendar now for this highlight of the year for the Dragon family. The entire MLWGS community is invited to celebrate 35 years of Maggie Walker during this special evening featuring performances by beloved alumni musicians, our iconic live and silent auctions, dinner and more. Hosted by the MLWGS Foundation, this is the largest social event of the year with all proceeds benefiting our Dragons and their teachers.
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This 2026-2027 Parent Participation Competition is Officially Underway!
Help Your Dragon’s Class (and all of MLWGS) Win
The Foundation’s Annual Fund supports the amazing academic and extracurricular experiences that set MLWGS apart, including our award-winning academic clubs and teams, mind-broadening student travel, cutting-edge teacher professional development, vital student aid, and more. The Parent Participation Campaign is a friendly (but fierce, lol) competition that recognizes the class with the highest percentage of parents making annual fund donations each year. Every donation counts. And the winning class gets bragging rights and a sweet treat in May courtesy of the Foundation!
Who will take the early lead this year? 2027? 2028? 2029? 2030? We’ll see. Support your Dragon’s class by making your gift online today.
Join Your MLWGS Parent Teacher Student Organization for 2026-2027!
Click HERE to join your family to the PTSA and donate!
Click HERE for the Volunteer Interest Form
Let’s Go Dragons! We loved meeting so many new families at MLWGS orientation. The Dragon magic is alive and well, and we’re excited for another amazing year!
Join Now! Your family belongs! Our PTSA is 100% inclusive, welcoming everyone who supports our students and school. Membership is for one school year, so it’s time to join for 2026–2027!
All In! We encourage parents/guardians and students to join together. Grandparents, relatives, and alumni are welcome, too! Our community is one of the largest PTAs in Virginia because we all invest in our Dragons.
Support MLWGS & Your Student! Our PTSA relies entirely on family donations. With our work powered by volunteers, every dollar goes toward supporting students and teachers. Suggested family donation: $50.
All Means All! If membership fees or donations are a challenge, please contact a PTSA officer or school counselor. We will make sure your family can join. Everyone belongs! Want to sponsor another family? $31 covers two adults and a student.
Our goal: 1,000 Dragons strong! Let’s Go Dragons!
This is going to be our best year yet! —Dr. Ben Pearson-Nelson, MLWGS PTSA President
Join your family to the PTSA and donate today!
As of September 10, 2026, 80 colleges/universities have scheduled visits to MLWGS for lunchtime presentations! All Dragons in grades 10-12 are invited to attend. Exact locations will be featured on the daily morning announcements and the white dry-erase board outside of the Counseling Office. To preview a list of who is coming to our school*, check out this link, and if you have any questions about College Rep Visits to MLWGS, feel free to contact senior/college counselor Kim Forquer at [email protected]:
*Please note that all appointments are subject to change…and more are likely to be added throughout the fall.
Class of 2027 Parents: Has your senior shown you the newsletter and Transcript/Letter of Recommendation Worksheet that they received from counselors Ms. Forquer and Dr. Loving in English class during the second week of school? Students aiming to meet college application deadlines of December 1 or earlier have a list of related tasks that must be completed by Friday, 9/18. Please review these materials with them ASAP and encourage them to check the “College Information for the Class of 2027” Schoology group daily for reminders, updates, and new opportunities related to college admissions, scholarships, career pathways, and more.
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The MLWGS Homecoming Dance is Saturday, October 10th from 7 to 10 pm. Homecoming Dance Tickets are now available on OSP. Tickets are $19 until September 25th. Take advantage of the early bird discount!
Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) offers free Math Tutoring every Monday and Thursday at lunchtime (11:45-12:15) in Room 201 and every Tuesday and Wednesday after school (3:30-4:30) in Room 202. Students are welcome to just drop in – no appointment is necessary!
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National English Honor Society
Juniors and Seniors, be on the lookout for NEHS applications. Your English teachers will share the link.
NEHS seeks members who have demonstrated exceptional ability and interest in English. This may include appreciation and study of literature, creative writing, media studies, journalism, literary analysis, and/or composition. Members must have and maintain a 3.75 GPA in English. (We run it again your senior year).
*The application window closes Monday, 28 September @ 3:30 PM.
**WE WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE APPLICATIONS.
National English Honors Society also offers tutoring in the Dragon Lit Lab in room 228 during lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students are welcome to drop in, and no appointment is necessary! Our current focus is parts of speech and sentence patterns for 9th and 10th graders!
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PSAT Day Information
PSAT Day for sophomores and juniors will take place on Friday, October 9th. Families can visit Digital PSAT Information for detailed information to prepare for PSAT Day. Please contact Joy Cobb at [email protected] if you have additional questions.
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WINTER SPORTS are just around the corner. Basketball, Swimming, Indoor Track and Wrestling will start on November 10th. Please send the completed required VHSL paperwork https://mlwgs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/VHSL-Forms-25.pdf to [email protected] as a PDF file to be eligible. _________________________________________________________________________
AP Exam Registration and Payment
For students enrolled in one or more Advanced Placement courses, it is now time to complete your registration for AP exams for May 2027. Handouts went out this week outlining the simple two-step process:
- Join the course in MyAP (most students did this at the start of the year) and confirm that the courses listed are accurate. Ensure any dropped courses no longer appear on your course list, that you have ant recently added courses, and that you are enrolled in the correct section.
- Pay for your exams ($99 per exam) in OSP by Friday, October 23rd, 2026. The College Board’s $40 per exam late fee will be applied after that date.
Important dates and deadlines and procedures for special circumstances such as opting out taking an AP exam are explained in the linked AP Exam Ordering Information handout. Requests for fee waivers or reductions can be made by completing this form and returning it to Joy Cobb at [email protected]. All other AP questions can be directed to Rachel Loving at [email protected].
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From the Yearbook staff:
1. Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen! Remember Picture Day? Want to see your Yearbook picture and maybe even order copies? Just click on this link to get to the CADY portal and see how great you looked. In related news, makeups/retakes will be on Wed, Nov. 4. Questions? Contact Yearbook Adviser Michael White at [email protected].
2. Yearbook prices go up on Oct. 1, but right now you can pre-order your book at the low price of $50. Here’s how to buy the 2027 Vault directly from our publisher, Varsity: click HERE, then follow the prompts to pay via credit card, debit card, PayPal, or e-check. You may also mail a traditional check directly to Varsity. Sadly, Varsity doesn’t accept Venmo or Zelle and we can’t accept payments at Maggie Walker. Pre-orders will not be accepted after May 1.
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Robotics Practice Field Open House
What is it?
Team 422 invites all teams, along with anyone interested, to our practice field on October 3 to view our robot along with others, explore the space behind our team’s success, and have a chance to drive our 2026 competition robot, Shenron.
Who are we?
Team 422, The Mech Tech Dragons, is a world class robotics team consisting of over 60 dedicated and passionate students from Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School.
Info:
Location: 5340 S Laburnum Ave, Henrico, VA 23231
Date: October 3rd
Time: 2-5pm
Questions? Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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Annual Compulsory Attendance Reminders
Attendance counts; every day matters! Our dragons work hard to balance rigorous coursework, extracurricular activities, and a social life, but we understand that life happens. Kids get sick, families take vacations, and doctor’s appointments must be kept. As the parent or guardian, please take the time to read the Code of Virginia pertaining to compulsory attendance, with subsequent information outlining your responsibilities as the caregiver. In addition, make note of our policies and time frames to ensure you are communicating with our attendance secretary, Ms. Darleen Bowman ([email protected]) when your child is absent, will be arriving late, or leaving early. Details can be found in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, pages 17-20. Have questions? Please email Ms. Bowman and Ms. Ortiz, the school social worker and attendance officer. Have a great year!
