It’s been a busy fall and early winter at BRVGS, with a number of projects and field trips taking place, along with the BRVGS application process.  Here are just a few of the things we’ve been up to:

Students in BRVGS World History have been working on the completion of papers and websites featuring the most important technological developments in different historical periods.  These sites will be made public after their final due date in mid-December.  World History students also visited the “Terra Cotta Warriors” exhibit at the National Geographic museum in Washington, D.C. in late November.

In October, BRVGS Biotechnology students from Fluvanna, Louisa and Goochland met to participate in a stream study on the Rivanna River in Palmyra.  Students tested water quality, counted macroinvertebrates, and learned about the history and importance of the Rivanna watershed.  Biotechnology students also presented bioethics arguments at two locations in early November.

In December, UVA engineering students from BRVGS presented the results of their “design and build” projects on sustainability at UVA’s Zehmer Hall.  Projects included a solar-powered refrigerator, gray water filtration, improved distribution of fertilizers to cut down on excess nitrogen, and a solar-power water heating system.

Congratulations to all of our BRVGS students for their hard work and accomplishments this semester!

Applications for the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School for the 2010-2011 school year will be made available in local school guidance offices and online on the BRVGS website, beginning October 15th, 2009. 

To be eligible to apply, students need to have completed Algebra I or a higher math prior to entering high school.  In addition, students must be enrolled (or plan to be enrolled) in the district in which they are applying by the start of their 9th grade year.  In addition, 9th grade students may apply for possible entry into 10th grade (providing slots are available).

In order to read and complete the online application form, you will need Adobe Reader (click here to download Adobe Reader).  To access and complete the application on your computer:

1. Go to the "Academics" menu on the left of the BRVGS Home Page and click on "Admissions"
2. The "Admissions" item will expand and you can now click on "Application"
3. From this page, select to download the application as an "editable" pdf file, which can be filled out on the computer.
4. Once you have completed the application, print and turn in to your local guidance office.

Completed applications will be due back to local guidance offices by December 18th, 2009.  For questions, contact BRVGS Director Marc Carraway at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by cell at 434-989-3972.

Students and staff of the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's are under way with the school year, and for BRVGS students, that means that students are embarking on complex projects at each grade level.  Each course/grade level kicks off the school year with a meeting at the Best Western at Zion Crossroads, where project guidelines are provided and students begin initial group work for their projects. 

This year, BRVGS 9th grade World History students will kick off the year with a website project, where teams of students will build websites to feature the most important technological inventions of different civilizations throughout history.  10th grade Biotechnology students are researching and presenting both sides of complex bioethical issues.  11th grade Computer Mth students will begin work on their culminating programming projects, in which they will generate programmed solutions to a community service problem.  12th grade students have begun work on their individual internship, research and community service projects.

Parents and others interested in the guidelines of these projects may access the requirements by going to "Current Projects" on the Main Menu to the left of the BRVGS Home page.   This will lead to links for each project, where project requirements, due dates, and grading rubrics can be found.  Parents with questions about any project are encouraged to contact their child's teacher or to contact BRVGS personnel by going to the "Contact Us" link in the main menu at left.

Several BRVGS teachers were recognized in spring and summer 2009 for being outstanding educators:

Shannon Jackowicz, BRVGS Senior Advisor, was chosen as Teacher of the Year for Louisa County High School.

Allison Brook, BRVGS Biotechnology Teacher, was named Teacher of the Year for Goochland County High School.

Kirsten Dexter, BRVGS Biotechnology Teacher for William Monroe High School, was nominated for the Rising Tide award and as a Summer Residential Governor's School Outstanding Educator.

And in late breaking news, Holly Newman, BRVGS Senior Advisor for William Monroe High School, was selected in June as the national winner of the John Marshall Foundation's "Teacher of the Constitution".

Congratulations to all four of these dedicated educators - we are very proud to have them in the BRVGS program!