It has been a full and meaningful week at MLWGS. We have presented and worked in board meetings to make important decisions about our future. We have filled our halls with spirit days, pep rallies, and the joyful energy that makes Maggie Walker feel like home. We have also taken time to pause and reflect on what truly matters in a community rooted in learning and care.
On Monday, we join the nation in observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In his sermon The Drum Major Instinct, Dr. King spoke directly to the human desire to matter, to lead, and to be out front. Rather than denying that instinct, he named it honestly and then reframed it. He urged us to resist the pull of ego, status, and recognition, and instead to let our deepest drive be a commitment to service. “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve,” he reminded us, grounding greatness not in position or privilege, but in grace, love, and care for others.
What makes this sermon so powerful is its clarity and humility. Dr. King did not call for perfection or heroism, but for everyday acts of service rooted in compassion. He imagined a world shaped by people who choose to lead by lifting others, who measure success by the good they do, and who understand that real leadership is inseparable from moral responsibility. It is a message that feels timeless, and one that speaks directly to the heart of education and community.
That vision resonates deeply in a school like MLWGS, where learning is both an individual pursuit and a collective responsibility. It affirms our belief in young people, in the transformative power of education, and in our obligation to one another as we work toward a more just and compassionate world.
As we reflect this weekend, we also pause to recognize individuals whose lives quietly reflected those same values. We remember Pat Taylor, a founding member of Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, whose early vision and lifelong dedication helped shape MLWGS into the school we know today. We also honor Ms. Linda Hyslop, our Hopewell board representative, whose more than sixty years in education stand as a testament to advocacy, service, and deep love for students and schools.
The truest legacy is not found in titles or recognition, but in the lives we uplift, the grace we extend, and the love we bring to our work. May we carry that spirit forward in how we teach, lead, learn, and care for one another at MLWGS. Go Dragons!
Warmly,
Kristin K. Janssen, Executive Director
| Parent/Guardians of Juniors/Sophomores/Freshmen: MLWGS Finance Office will be sending out invoices for any students that have outstanding school fees. These fees were due in September and should be paid as soon as possible. Any unpaid fees will be carried over into the next school term. Please make sure you take care of these prior to your student signing up for classes for next year. |
| Parent/Guardians of Seniors: MLWGS Finance Office will be sending out invoices for any students who have outstanding school fees. These MUST be paid in order for your student to walk at graduation. Please make sure you take care of this as soon as possible. |
| Kudos to the Italian Club and National Honor Society for making Italian language coloring books and providing crayons for a Winter Break activity for the children at the VCU Cancer Hospital Pavillion. |
| Attention All Parents and Legal Guardians! It is time for the parents of students in 9th-11th grades to complete the annual “Intent to Return Form” to secure your child’s spot for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. BY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, a parent/legal guardian for each student is required to submit this form, affirming their student’s plan to return to MLWGS next year. This form also aims to capture any address changes and reaffirm students’ commitment to the academic, attendance, behavioral, and community service standards of MLWGS for the 2026-2027 academic year. Only one response per student. This form should not be completed for students in the Class of 2026. Note: This is a change to the process used over the last couple of years, and a response for EVERY student– not just those with changes– is once again required. Translation instructions for Spanish and other languages can be found here. Este Formulario de Intención de Devolución debe completarse antes del 2 de febrero. Las instrucciones de traducción para español u otro idioma se pueden encontrar aquí. |
| For the Class of 2030: On Saturday, January 24th, MLWGS is the host site for prospective student assessments conducted in two separate sessions. Students and their families will be notified by email the week of Jan 12, if they are testing, and which session they are scheduled to attend (morning or afternoon). Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. for the morning session. Students must report by 7:45 a.m. Testing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students arriving after testing has begun may not participate in this assessment session. Please enter the building through the front doors at the top of the steps on the Lombardy side and proceed directly to your testing room. Only bring pencils for testing. Scratch paper will be provided. Electronic devices (calculators, cell phones, etc.) may not be accessed during testing. There will be a stretch break for which you may bring a bottle of water or drink from the water fountain. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. for the afternoon session. Students must report by 12:45 p.m. Testing will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Students arriving after the test has started may not participate in this assessment session. Please enter the building through the front doors at the top of the steps on the Lombardy side and proceed directly to your testing room. Only bring pencils for testing. Scratch paper will be provided. Electronic devices (calculators, cell phones, etc.) may not be accessed during testing. There will be a stretch break for which you may bring a bottle of water or drink from the water fountain. The snow date for testing is Saturday, January 31st. Should you need more information or be unable to attend the assessment session, contact your home division coordinator. In case of inclement weather, please check local television and radio stations for announcements or mlwgs.com. |
| Nominations opened today for the 2026 R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence, The Community Foundation’s yearly awards that identify, recognize, and support outstanding teachers in the area. Through your efforts, Connie Hill, Math Department Chair, was a 2025 award winner. Through a nomination process, approximately 15 outstanding teachers are selected each year to receive cash grants to support professional development activities. Award recipients have earned graduate degrees, climbed mountains, traced their ancestors, and met peers from around the world – all to reignite their passion for learning and to pass it on to their students. The Community Foundation invites nominations from students, parents, colleagues, school staff, and administrators (except for the school principal), and the community at large. Nominations must be made online and be accompanied by a letter in support of the nomination, written by another individual, and submitted online with the nomination. Nominations and letters of support must be submitted through the Community Foundation’s website by February 17, 2026, by 5 p.m. Recipients will be announced in November 2026. For a link to the nomination portal, visit here. |
| Parents of 10th and 11th graders–save the date for College Kick-Off: Thursday, January 29th! From 10-11:30 AM, parents of sophomores are invited to join their students in the MLWGS Auditorium for a rich discussion about the college search and admissions with panelists from Old Dominion University, George Washington University, UVA, the University of Alabama, and Davidson College. Parents of juniors are invited to attend an assembly on college-related topics designed just for the Class of 2027 from 1-3:10 PM (followed by a parents-only Q&A session from 3:10-3:30 PM). Please keep checking your email for more details throughout the month from senior counselor Kim Forquer ([email protected]). |
| Thursday, January 22nd is a virtual parent/teacher conference opportunity from 4-7 PM. Sign-up information will be forthcoming. |
| Monday, January 19th is a student and staff holiday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| Early bird tickets are now on sale for Night of the Dragon 2026, happening Saturday, February 28. Only 200 total tickets are available and prices rise on January 16, so be sure to get yours today at https://onecau.se/notd2026. You don’t want to miss the hallmark MLWGS event! |
| NASA’s Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) is thrilled to announce that the application window for Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST)—our FREE summer residential STEM program for Virginia 8th and 9th-grade students—opens December 1st! BLAST gives students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore their passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through immersive learning and career exploration. The program is designed specifically for students who have not yet had significant STEM experiences (such as afterschool programs, electives, or camps), offering them a first chance to dive into engaging, hands-on sessions. Selected students will spend three days and nights on campus at one of Virginia’s top universities: Old Dominion University (ODU), Radford University (RU), University of Virginia (UVA), Virginia Tech (VT), or William & Mary (W&M). Led by university faculty, participants will: Take part in interactive STEM activities Attend demonstrations, tours, and guest speaker sessions Gain valuable insight into college life and STEM careers 📅 Application Window: Opens Monday, December 1, 2025, and closes Saturday, February 1, 2026 🎥 Short Informational Video: Watch here 🎥 YouTube Channel: Click here 📄 Flyer & More Details: https://vsgc.odu.edu/blast/ |
| Looking for 8 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, January 20, 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, January 18. 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]. |
| Class of 2028 Leading in MLWGS Foundation’s Family Participation Competition! The Class of 2028 is leading the charge so far in the Foundation’s Annual Fund Parent Participation Contest. But will their lead last? Our goal is 100% participation, and every gift of any amount counts. Class totals as of January 8, 2026, are: Seniors (Class of 2026) – 9% Juniors (Class of 2027) – 12% Sophomores (Class of 2028) — 17% Freshmen–(Class of 2029) – 12% Thanks to everyone who already made a gift. Haven’t yet? Support your Dragon’s class by making your gift online today. Or via Venmo @mlwgsfoundation or check. Each year, the Foundation’s annual fund supports many of the amazing academic and extracurricular experiences that set MLWGS apart, including our academic clubs and teams, student travel, teacher professional development, student aid, and more. This year, the Foundation has committed to raising $400,000 to support our Dragon. The winning class gets bragging rights and a sweet treat in May courtesy of the Foundation! |
Hello, Transcribers! The library’s Q3 Transcribeathon is on Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 3:30-4:30 pm. There will be cookies to fuel your work and classmates to collaborate with on decoding cursive writing. Hope to see you there! If you have friends interested in joining the Transcribe Team, please invite them to come along.
Attention Seniors! It’s time to confirm the spelling of your name for your diploma using the following form: https://forms.gle/5sPHe4k15i3Tb8qRA
This form is due February 2nd, 2026, as the diploma order will be placed in early February. Seniors are directed to complete this form, but are encouraged to have a parent review the spelling of their full name (first, middle, last, and any suffixes or accent notes) before they submit.
