Hello Dragon Families,
This past week we celebrated NHS inductions, a meaningful evening for our students and families. We were fortunate to hear from Jasmine Snead of Housing Families First, who spoke powerfully about her own journey with housing insecurity and the importance of safe, stable homes. Her words were a reminder of the impact of courage, compassion, and connection in our daily lives.
In addition, our administration team had the opportunity to visit one of Micheal Sparks’ Underground Kitchen Community First sites, where we saw firsthand how his organization is using food as a way to bring healing, opportunity, and unity to the Richmond region.
As we continue to grow and learn together, our classrooms remain alive with energy, questions, and ideas. Beyond academics, our Dragons are making their mark in the arts and athletics, from regional golf playoffs to tonight’s choir and band concert (10/3) and next week’s orchestra concert (10/7). Senior picture retakes will also take place on Wednesday (10/8).
We will end the week with the Fall Festival, rescheduled to its rain date (10/10), and we are all excited to showcase the talents of our students, connect with families, and come together with our PTSA for one of their major fundraising events. It will be a beautiful day and I hope to see so many people there.
Finally, thank you to everyone who assisted with refining our mission and vision. Only small adjustments will be needed, showing how solid and enduring our foundation truly is.
GO DRAGONS!
Warmly,
Kristin Janssen
| Rescheduled: MLWGS Fall Festival!!! The anticipation is growing…the MLWGS PTSA Annual Fall Festival 2025 will now take place after school on Friday, October 10th. Given the date change, we need new volunteers to work before, during, and after to make this tradition a success. None of the volunteer jobs for the Fall Fest require previous experience. Sign up today! Please contact Julie Seitz at [email protected] if you have any questions. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0444AAAE2DA5F58-58673135-2025 It takes a village! Thanks so much for your help! Reminder: Tickets for Fall Fest can be purchased online. Tickets are Fall Festival currency used to purchase refreshments and activities from our student booths. Students can pick up the pre-purchased tickets at Fall Festival Will Call and avoid the lines. |
| 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 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. If you would like your child to receive … All medical forms for the 2025-2026 school year should be submitted this month to the school nurse, Alisa Shapiro, [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/ |
| 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: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QuwhXAKlurzQ9cpH6e2drkaRqFmiY4jmh4Tw-geI9rw/edit?usp=sharing 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 |
| Notice of 10th-grade Vision and Hearing screen Dear Parents/Guardians of 10th graders 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. |
| Dear Sophomore and Junior Families, The PSAT is a great practice opportunity for the SAT. PSAT Day will take place on Friday, October 17th. This year, the PSATs will be digital to help students prepare for the digital SATs.2025 PSAT Guide provides families information and resources to prepare for PSAT day. Personal Chromebooks are not allowed for testing. Students can request to borrow a device by completing this form. Please contact Ms. Cobb at [email protected] if you have additional questions. |
| AP Exam Fees – Due October 24th, 2025 Attention students enrolled in one or more Advanced Placement courses: In order to ensure an AP exam is ordered for you to take in May 2026, you must complete the following tasks: Join the AP course(s) in your myAP.collegeboard.org account by August 28th. Before October 1st, students should check to make sure that all of their AP courses are reflected in their MyAP account. This requires students to use their College Board log in credentials or create an account if they do not have one. Your teacher can advise if you have trouble. (If you have unresolved challenges logging into your College Board account, call 1-888-SAT-HELP.) Pay for your exams ($99 per exam) at https://osp.osmsinc.com/MLWGS by October 24th. Beginning October 25th, the College Board’s $40 late fee per exam will be applied. Note: Each exam fee is labeled by course this year, so please be mindful to select the correct courses for your payment “cart.” If students plan to take all the exams for the courses in which they are enrolled (no more, no less) and pay by October 24th, then no additional steps are required. Students received the AP Exam Ordering Information handout in classes last week. Steps for special circumstances, tips for avoiding additional fees, and directions for how to apply for a fee waiver are included. |
| Night of the Dragon Auction Volunteer Interest Meeting Join the fun on Wednesday, October 8, at 7pm on ZOOM for a Planning Committee Interest Mtg for our annual NIGHT OF THE DRAGON! NOTD is not only the social event of the year, it’s also MLWGS’ single biggest fundraiser – with 100% of proceeds going directly to students and teachers to continue the MLWGS Foundation’s mission of enhancing the educational experience for ALL MLWGS students. Can’t make it on the 8th? Email Ginger O’Neil with questions, ideas, and/or to get on the volunteer list so we can let you know about future planning meetings. And be sure to mark your calendars–Night of the Dragon 2026 is Saturday, February 28. |
| Looking for Lawyers The Foundation is interested in partnering with law firms as part of our work to support MLWGS’ nationally award-winning ‘We The People’ team. If you (or someone you know) has a connection to a law firm, Ginger would love to speak with you about what’s possible. Please reach out to her at [email protected] or at 703-801-2506 (cell). Go Dragons! |
| This year’s Archives Month theme for Virginia is Oh Snap! Photography in the Archives (click title for related resources & info), and the Library of Virginia has several online programs scheduled that might interest you, including one focused on how to care for photographs. The programs are free but do require pre-registration. Thursday, Oct. 9, 6-7:30pm – Conserving, Preserving and More: How to Care for PhotographsThursday, Oct. 16, 6-7:30pm – Coming Together Through Archives: Archiving Underrepresented Virginia HistoryWednesday, Oct. 22, 6-7:30pm – A Hands-On Approach to the History of Photography Students will have their own small celebration here at the MLWGS Library with a lunchtime transcription event on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Look for more info about that later this month. |
| Homecoming Tickets are now on sale in OSP (https://osp.osmsinc.com/MLWGS/default.aspx) by selecting “HOMECOMING 2025 DANCE TICKETS”. Tickets are on sale until Wednesday, October 15th at midnight. Once registered on OSP, students must pick up their entrance ticket at school on Thursday (10/16) or Friday (10/17) at lunch. No sales at the door.What: Hoco tickets ($18 each/students & guests) When: Saturday, October 18th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.Where: MLWGS field (inside the school, if the weather doesn’t cooperate)Who: MLWGS students + their friends (Guest form is required for non-MLWGS students)How: Friends and family volunteers help make this event possible. Students should not fear that they will see their parents during the event – nearly all the jobs are discreet. Please consider signing up today! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CA9A829A20-59190996-mlwgsQuestions: email [email protected] or [email protected] |
