Dear Dragon,
We hope that this message finds you and your family well! Perhaps you are finally able to exhale and are looking forward to the possibilities that the summer holds. The summer should be a time to refuel after the challenges of the school year. Here at Maggie Walker, we have just graduated an outstanding class of seniors, and we are already turning our attention and enthusiasm to welcoming our freshmen, the class of 2028 … you!
Our formal orientation to the school this fall consists of two days: “The Walker Way Welcome Day,” on August 12, 2024, and “Freshman Orientation,” on August 13, 2024. During Freshman Orientation, you will learn some of the nuts and bolts of the school, walk your schedules and meet your teachers, hear from our administration, and get an introduction to the learning management systems we use.
But what we really want to do today is to invite you to “The Walker Way Welcome Day.” You may be wondering, what exactly is The Walker Way? Well, it’s a heightened sense of awareness about how we, individually and collectively, are able to bring the vibrant and multi-faceted culture of MLWGS to life.
The four pillars of The Walker Way are: courage, compassion, community, and collaboration. We use these four pillars to welcome incoming freshmen and to introduce them to the uniqueness of the school’s mission. The framework of The Walker Way is based on the life and legacy of our school’s namesake: Maggie L. Walker, a trailblazer and the first African-American woman bank president, who used her resources and influence to promote equality. She demonstrated courage and compassion to inspire collaboration that led to a stronger community. We are using the four pillars of The Walker Way to provide both information and encouragement to freshmen as they begin navigating their path and exploring myriad academic and social opportunities.
Here is a brief descriptor of each pillar:
Courage: demonstrating fortitude, persistence, and integrity when confronting challenges.
Compassion: possessing a sense of empathy for the plight of others and a willingness to serve in order to improve the circumstances of others.
Community: understanding and accepting differences, but also acknowledging and celebrating the connectedness of the human experience.
Collaboration: harmoniously working together and using critical thinking skills to achieve a common goal.
In addition to an outstanding academic education, Maggie Walker Governor’s School tries to teach our students to be courageous, compassionate, communal and collaborative. As a school community, we will find ways throughout the year to make a difference as learners and citizens. We will incorporate activities both in and out of the classroom that highlight The Walker Way.
On August 12, 2024, we will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a 30-minute introductory session in the school’s auditorium. Please make sure that you arrive in time to register and find your seats for an on-time beginning. From there, we will move through four 30-minute rotations, concentrating on each of the four pillars of The Walker Way. There will be a brief donut break in the commons from 10:40-11:00. No lunch will be provided. Dismissal will be at 1:00 p.m. Students will not need to bring any supplies with them on this day.
Students will be organized in their Dragon Advisory groups, consisting of a faculty advisor, approximately 6 upperclassmen mentors, and 16-18 of our newest Dragons, our freshmen. These groups will be year-long Advisory groups, and they will also constitute an academic class entitled MLWGS 101, where students will rotate through some foundational academic preparation for the school year. It is our hope that you will get to know a few classmates right at the start of the year, making the first day of school a little less intimidating.
We are VERY excited to welcome you to campus and to welcome you into our community. We hope that you will make every effort to attend both The Walker Way Welcome Day and Freshman Orientation, from August 12-13, 2024. Stay safe, and best wishes for a relaxing summer!
Dr. Lisa Williams, Assistant Director
Ed Coleman, English Teacher & 9th Grade Class Sponsor
