It was a short week for students, but a very full one across our Maggie L. Walker community. We entered the postseason and state competition, continued robotics build season, prepared for the upcoming production of The Taming of the Shrew, hosted GSMUN programming, and continued collaboration with our Regional School Board on the budget and strategic planning priorities.
During our professional development day, staff participated in morning learning sessions and then spent the afternoon out in the community, strengthening partnerships and gaining insights that help us better connect learning to the experiences of our students and families. Even with fewer instructional days, there has been meaningful work happening across classrooms, activities, and planning efforts.
Looking ahead, we are honored to welcome Liza Mickens, the great-granddaughter of Maggie Lena Walker, who will spend time with our students and faculty next week. During Black History Month, her visit provides a special opportunity for our community to reflect on Maggie Walker’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and lasting impact, and to connect that history to the values we continue to live each day at our school.
February also brings recognition of Heart Health Month and Public School Appreciation Week. Both offer a good reminder to take care of ourselves and to recognize the educators, staff, families, and students whose commitment makes public education strong and our school community so special.
As temperatures shift back toward colder weather and seasonal illnesses continue to circulate, please take care of yourselves and one another.
Stay well and warm. Go Dragons!
Warmly,
Kristin K. Janssen, Executive Director
- Our Regional School board chair, Mrs. Donbrosky, Admin, and Ms. Cross recognized Elijah Lee for being selected by the Valentine Museum as the Young History Maker of 2026. Elijah was selected for his “compassionate leadership” and for his contributions to his community, in particular his nonprofit organization that focuses on protecting the rights of children.
- Mr. Benesh and Mrs. Hill collaborated to take their math students on a field trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. As math is a universal language and data is used to better understand the human experience, this field trip served as a unique learning opportunity. In the photo, students are posing by an exhibit on Maggie L. Walker, the nation’s first female African American bank president.
- MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The SOL Writing testing schedule will take place in the first week of March (March 2–6)
- Good luck to our Scholastic Bowl team as they compete in the State Championship in Williamsburg!
- Congratulations to all of our Winter Athletes (Swim & Dive, Indoor Track, Basketball, Wrestling) who either finished an impressive state run or are still in the post-seasonal play run. Go Dragons!
- MLWGS will be welcoming Foreign Exchange students from Japan this upcoming week.
- The MLWGS Library’s One Small Step program has moved into the conversation phase when Dragons with differing policy opinions sit down with a classmate to talk for 30 minutes (or longer) about the values and life experiences that inform their views. Often, students find points of connection that bridge policy differences, something that can foster empathy, belonging, and friendship, and expand understanding of complex issues. These connections, in turn, strengthen our community. The library will be reserved during lunch on Feb. 24 and 26 so that participants have the option to record their conversations here with cookies to fuel their curiosity, courage, and compassion. If you usually spend lunch in the library, please print or lunch elsewhere on these days. Good luck to all Dragons taking part in One Small Step 2026!
- February is School Board Appreciation Month. Video of Appreciation by Devansh Kumar. February is the month when we observe School Board Appreciation Month, an excellent opportunity to recognize the work of school board members and celebrate public education. The board at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School advocates for public schools by ensuring our students have access to a high-quality education. Their decisions and actions significantly impact the present and future lives of our community’s children. Join us in celebrating School Board Appreciation Month at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School. This year’s theme – From Strong Roots, Come Endless Possibilities – highlights the vital role school board members play in planting the seeds for student success—ensuring every student has the resources needed to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential. These local leaders voluntarily take on the significant responsibility of governing multi-million-dollar school divisions, making decisions that shape educational opportunities while upholding the core values of our democracy.
- NOTD SILENT AUCTION IS LIVE! Even if you aren’t able to attend the in-person event, we invite you to participate in our Silent Auction! All bidding for the Silent Auction is available online and will be open until approximately 8:30pm on Saturday, February 28, when the in-person Live Auction begins. The Silent Auction with mobile bidding includes lots of great items with new ones added daily, and all proceeds support MLWGS!
- Here’s just a small sample of what you can win–
- Reserved Seats for MLWGS 2026 Graduation
- A 2026-2027 Student Parking Pass
- Private Wine Tasting
- Health & Wellness Packages
- Class and Booster Baskets
- Great Date Nights and Family Fun
- Gift Certificates Galore
- Wonderful One-of-a-Kind Art
- Fun in RVA Packages
- Amazing Alumni and Parent Contributions
- And So Much More!
This is a great way to support MLWGS and get some great items no matter where you are on February 28.
And there are still tickets available for the evening if you act now. Grab your friends or come make new ones at the Dragon family social event of the year.
- Seeking Public Comment on the 2026-2031 Strategic Plan Proposal. The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Regional Board meeting on February 19, 2026, will include a public hearing for the 2036-2031 Strategic Plan proposal. The executive director will present her proposal for the 2026-2031 strategic plan. The public will have opportunities to comment before the board finalizes or changes the proposal in March. Comments regarding the 2026-2031 Strategic Plan proposal will be accepted until 10:00 am on March 18, 2026.
- Seeking Public Comment on the AY2027 Proposed School Operating Budget. The Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Regional Board meeting on February 19, 2026, will include a public hearing for the AY2027 proposed operating budget. The executive director will present her proposal for the AY27 operating budget to the board and the public. Mrs. Janssen will be asking for an additional $697,284 in spending to cover teacher and staff pay raises and facility maintenance. The public will have opportunities to comment using this form or during the public comment section of the board meeting before the budget is finalized in March. Comments regarding the AY2027 budget proposal will be accepted until 10:00 am on March 28, 2026.
- The Spring Drama Production: “The Taming of the Shrew” will take place in the MLWGS auditorium on Thursday, February 26, Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28th at 7:00 PM.
- Congratulations to these students who received recognition for their performance on the National German Exam. This challenging yearly exam tests students’ ability to read and comprehend authentic print, audio, and video materials. Students in grades 9-11 who receive Gold recognition may go on to compete for a three-week summer study trip to Germany. Students in grade 12 who receive Gold recognition may go on to compete for a monetary scholarship. Wir gratulieren euch!
German Level 4
- Anoushka Anand (Bronze)
- Keegan Blake (Achievement)
- Sabina Gunlicks (Achievement)
German Level 3
- Eli Konikoff (Bronze)
- Reesa Kelleher (Achievement)
German Level 2
- Skanda Azhagappan (Gold)
- Maddie Bridges (Gold)
- Rohan Rajguru (Silver)
- Owen Stroop (Achievement)
- Welcome Spring Sports starting Monday, February 23, 2026. ~~Students interested in trying out for a spring sport must have the below paperwork completed and sent to Ms. Hawkins, [email protected] ASAP in a PDF file. All spring sports start on February 23rd. https://mlwgs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/VHSL-Forms-25.pdf
- Celebrate National Public Schools Week, February 23 – 27, 2026
- MLWGS Math Modeling students to compete at the SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition. The Diamond Dollars Case Competition will be held during the SABR Analytics Conference on the morning of Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Beus Center for Law and Society on Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus in Phoenix, Arizona. Here are the participating schools in 2026:
- Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
- Elon University (Elon, NC)
- Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School (Richmond, VA)
- Rice University (Houston, TX)
- Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)
- Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
- Tufts University (Medford, MA)
- University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA)
- Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
