Happy December MLWGS families.
I hope you all enjoyed a restful and joyful Thanksgiving break. As we move into December, I want to share a few important updates and celebrations from across our school community.
Honor Council Family Meeting
Our recent Honor Council meeting was a tremendous success. Families and students engaged deeply in conversation about what it means to uphold the Walker Way, and the dialogue in each session reflected a genuine commitment to integrity, community, and shared responsibility. Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful night.
Budget Town Hall
We will host our virtual Budget Town Hall on Tuesday, December 9th from 6-7 PM. The Zoom Link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8287416197. This session is essential as we look ahead to the upcoming budget cycle and continue planning for the long-term needs of our school. I encourage all families to join us, hear the current landscape, and learn more about the strategic priorities guiding our decisions.
First Annual Battle of the Bands
We are thrilled to launch our first-ever Battle of the Bands on Friday, December 12th from 5-7 PM. This is a fundraising opportunity for the junior class. Our students have been rehearsing, organizing, and creating with incredible energy. This event promises to showcase the talent and spirit that make our school so vibrant.
Winter Athletics
Winter sports are well underway. Our student-athletes are practicing hard, competing with heart, and representing MLWGS with pride. The season is fast-paced, but our Dragons continue to rise to the moment while the rest of us hang on and catch our breath.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. There is so much to celebrate at MLWGS, and I am grateful to work alongside you. Below are some additional upcoming events and dates to note.
Warmly,
Kristin Janssen
Executive Director, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
| Night of the Dragon 2026 is Saturday, February 28. Mark your calendars. |
| Just a friendly reminder to order your student’s cap and gown for graduation! All graduation regalia must be purchased through the Herff Jones website. Cap and gowns will be delivered directly to the school at no extra cost, while any additional products will be shipped to your home for an additional fee. To get started, simply use the link or QR code in the PDF below.Seniors 2026- Maggie Walker HS.pdfYou can reach out to Ms. Sheppard or Ms. Love with any graduation-related questions. |
| It’s not too late to join the Robotics Team – FRC 422 The Mech Tech Dragons. Use this LINK to find the list of membership tasks to complete. The deadline to complete is December 15.To find out more about the robotics team see the team website – https://mechtechrobotics.com/ Any questions reach please out to Mark Sailer [email protected] and/or the team [email protected] |
| The Freshman Lock-in tickets are now on sale! The lock-in is a Maggie Walker tradition, a night of fun, games, pizza, and movies. The Lock-in registration and check-in starts at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, 12/12/25. Doors to the building will be closed and locked at 10:00 pm. All students should be picked up at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13th.Students must have a signed permission slip in order to attend. These slips have been distributed in English classes; digital versions are available in the Class of 2029 Schoology page.Tickets are $10 and may be purchased through OSP. Parent volunteers are welcome to sign up either to supervise a shift at the lock-in (10:00-2:00 or 2:00-6:00) or to donate food, snacks, and treats – keep an eye out for future communication on PT Board. |
| Senior Seminar and Mentorship Program Registration for JuniorsIn December and January, Juniors (Class of 2027) will take a step in determining what their senior schedule will look like. All juniors will have to decide whether they are going to enroll in one of our exciting seminar courses or apply to undertake a mentorship with a professional in the area. On Monday, 12/8/25, Juniors will be added to a Schoology Group that will provide information about the Seminar/Mentorship selection and application process. As the process moves forward in December, students can help their parents view all material on this site. Juniors are encouraged to start thinking about this decision now, and parents are encouraged to discuss this decision with their student. Anyone that has questions about the process should reach out to Mr. Cook ([email protected]). The deadline for completing the Seminar/Mentorship selection and application process will be Friday, January 16, 2026. |
| Community Service Announcement:All students and parents are encouraged to check your community service hours totals to make sure that you are on track to complete this requirement. Students can help their parents get onto their x2vol accounts to check to see how many hours have been earned. Each student is striving to earn a total of 140 hours while at MLWGS, or 35 hours a year. Each student should work diligently to earn these hours while learning how to be leaders in the community. If a student has questions about any of this process, please stop by Mr. Cook’s office (room 149) or send him an email ([email protected]). |
| Looking for Host Families for Japanese Students in March 2026 I am excited to announce that students from our partner school in Japan are visiting Maggie L. Walker next March. We are currently looking for families who are willing to host the Japanese students during their two-week visit. The planned dates for the visit are February 28 (Sat)– March 14, 2026 (Sat). The responsibilities of a host family are to pick up and drop off the student at Richmond Airport; to provide housing and food for the student; to ensure the student can get to and from school each day; and to include the student in family activities in evenings and on weekends. Our partner school, Chiben Gakuen, is in Wakayama, Japan, about 2 hours and 30 minutes south of Kyoto via train. The exchange is supported by our school, and we are planning on having 12 high school students from Japan visit. There will be an information session on Tuesday, December 16, at 7 pm on Zoom to provide more details about the exchange and the hosting experience. Your child does not have to be learning Japanese to be a host family. If you are interested in hosting a student, please fill out the survey below by Sunday, December 14. I will email you the Zoom link. Link: https://forms.gle/wfWwy3B4N5KzhfQU6 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Yoko Eshita, the Japanese teacher, at [email protected]. |
| MLWGS is closed for winter break-12/22 – 1/2 |
