A Conversation with MLWGS' Own Mr. Irvin Charles

Maggie Walker Alumnus and MLWGS Head of Security shares his thoughts

How is Ms. Bowman feeling now that she is back?

She’s slowly getting back to her old self. What we did find out when she was gone was that it takes a unique individual to run that attendance office. It is a very stressful job.

Do you have an update about the parking lot?

As always it has sold out. They haven’t started towing yet, but pretty soon we’ll have that going.

What about off-campus parking?

I want students to be mindful of their surroundings and I suggest they stick together when going off campus. In the afternoons and evenings especially. Students can call the security hotline at 354-3608 anytime with any concerns.

Have there been any major security issues so far this year?

We’ve done pretty well. There have been no major issues, only a few small things. But, just because we haven’t had something doesn’t mean it can’t happen. We will be practicing different crises situations in the next few months

Just the other day, I went over to VCU and met with the director of the Siegel Center. VCU has agreed to let us use this facility during a crisis. He showed me all the safe areas, the showers, and all that we might need.

Any thoughts for the diversity consultants?

I think we all get along real well at this school. For the most part, people respect each other and each other’s diversity. I hope they see that.

Anything else?

I would just like to thank all the teachers that support our security department. Teachers like Ms. Losen and all the teachers on the third floor whose windows face the student parking lot… they all always keep an eye open for me.

*Q&A by Danny Yates

Mr. Charles: Now Hiring

by Elaine Hillgrove, Jabberwock Staff Reporter

It happens in the night…without warning, without a sound, without being witnessed. No one knows how, no one knows why. It just happens.

But actually, it doesn’t. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience.

What is this mysterious job, whose perks include “community service, hard hats, big jackets, security medals and sashes?” Who does the job now? Why is it available? And what does it have to do with Mr. Charles?

The answers are simple. The job – changing the marquee outside the school to various messages throughout the year. The current job-holders – Mallory Noe-Payne and Becca Diakun. Why it’s available – they’re graduating. What it has to do with Mr. Charles – everything.

For the past three years, Noe-Payne and Diakun have been changing the sign outside of the school. Their looming graduation, though, is forcing them to look for replacements.

“We want a freshman with a free period before lunch,” said Diakun.

Why a freshman?

“This is a very integral job, and staring out as a freshman, the years of experience going ahead will be good,” said Mr. Charles, who not only acts as the Head of Security, but also as the overseer of the “sign girls.”

“It took us a while to get the hang of it,” said Noe-Payne. “We want people who are up for the challenge.”

One challenge in particular sticks out in the minds of Diakun and Noe-Payne. The girls wanted to make the marquee read “peace” in different languages for the winter holiday.

“We had to decide what languages to use and look up how to say it,” said Diakun.

“We wanted to say peace in Chinese,” added Noe-Payne. “But we had to make the characters. We had some blank [letters] and we used electrical tape. It took all day.”

The hallowed MLWGS marquee.

Field Hockey Back In the Game

by Karthik Ilakkuvan, Jabberwock Staff Reporter

Field hockey, as most everyone knows, is one of the most successful teams at our school.

Field hockey, as most everyone knows, usually goes undefeated for a good part of the season before succumbing to their first loss.

Field hockey, as most everyone knows, is a fast-paced sport, with so many stoppages for minor fouls, that the grand majority of fans don’t completely understand all (or any) of them.

So, once MLWGS’ field hockey team hit a two-game losing streak, people started to dismiss them – that they weren’t as good as previous years, that they didn’t have as much talent, or that they didn’t have as much offense.

Field hockey showed them.

Following a disappointing 3-0 loss to Thomas Dale, they regrouped, and won an enticing 1-0 game at home versus Monacan that even went into overtime.

A scoreless game throughout, a big crowd near Monacan’s goal ended up with Amanda Watson (’09) scoring the winning goal.

“We played with a lot of intensity because we didn’t want to lose, but we also wanted to prove to everyone that we still are one of the top teams in the region,” Kelsey Huffer (’09) said. “Even though we had to go into overtime, the win still helped us bring up our spirits and morale after two losses.”

After that close win, Maggie Walker played Mills Godwin at home on Wednesday night. It was a battle between two top-10 teams. The #4-ranked Green Dragons and the #6-ranked Eagles. Godwin was 4-1 on the season, while Maggie Walker was a game over .500, at 3-2.

The game was close, the score was closer, and the end result was a win. Battling for position and possession throughout, Maggie Walker came with the scoring first, with Huffer establishing an early 1-0 lead, the same score that would end the first half.

Fortifying their lead, Maggie Walker had a beautiful cross from Deirdre Gill (’09) to Cassie Turnage (’11) for a score, increasing their lead to two scores.

Seeming increasingly unlikely to lose, the game was going well. Another shutout seemed on its way. But teams aren’t ranked top 10 in the region for no reason. Godwin came back to score with a little over five minutes left in the game, but the Green Dragons were able to hold on.

“There were a couple times Godwin almost had fast breaks, and we played really good defense. Since we haven’t been able to score as much as we have in past seasons, we’ve had to rely even more on our defense to prevent other teams from scoring,” Huffer said. “The defense has been even more important than in years past because they help keep us in the game.”

Now comes an even bigger task in the form of Manchester on Friday. Facing the team that beat them in double overtime by one goal, the Green Dragons want some payback. On top of that, Manchester is the team that broke our winning streak last year, resulting in our only regular season loss.

“Were going to come out with full intensity wanting to win, and we’ll see what happens,” Kelsey Sawyer (’09) said.

To add even more to the atmosphere, this is going to be a Green Machine game. Anticipated to be the largest field hockey turnout by Green Machine ever, the excitement is in the air. Thus far this year, Green Machine has shown up to four games – one Varsity Boys Volleyball game, one Varsity Girls Volleyball game, and two Varsity Field Hockey games.

Maggie Walker’s record in those games? 4-0.

As Ese Shaw (’10), one of the leaders of Green Machine, put it, “when Green Machine shows, Walker wins!”

The MLWGS field hockey team battles against Godwin and comes away with a win during a September 24 home game.

New Board Member Elected to School Foundation

Rebecca Breamer Booth (‘97) was elected to the Governor’s School Foundation Board on August 27, due to the board’s expansion and retirement of 3 past members.

The Governor’s School Foundation Board is an organization established to keep alumni connected, and support the Governor’s School through fundraising.

Ms. Booth graduated from the Governor’s School when it was still a part of Thomas Jefferson High, and was involved in German Club and S.C.A. She was chosen out of a large group of applicants for the job.

"I’m a local to Richmond, which I think also swung the scale in my favor," said Mrs. Booth.

New Students Still Expected

MLWGS' freshmen class is projected to gain at least two new students in the coming months to replace those who moved away over the summer.

The class of 2012 is most prevalently populated by students from Chesterfield, Richmond, and Henrico. Out of the 884 students who originally applied, 181 are currently enrolled at MLWGS.

"This is a particularly smart group," said Mr. Karl Zweerink, freshman class counselor. "I'm really looking forward to working with them."

New Teachers at MLWGS

Over the summer, MLWGS has hired 16 new teachers to fill vacant teaching positions.

"They are a very talented pool of teachers, and we are very fortunate to have them on our faculty." said Mrs. Barbara Marshall, the Executive Assistant of Administration at MLWGS.

The majority of the new teachers previously taught at Henrico County Schools.

Each teacher hired has either gifted endorsements or is on their way to acquiring some.

New Plans For Lunch

New plans abound this year in the Maggie Walker kitchen where the chefs work to bring students a diverse array of available meals.

“The main thing I want people to know,” said Mr. Wilson, head chef, “is that you should be able to get all the same kinds of foods here that you could get at a restaurant.”

The lunch line continues to support the charge card program. Various seasonal foods will also be provided, including funnel cakes at fair time.