BN - May 22, 2012

 May 22, 2012


Dear Friends of Gateway:

Here is this week’s installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter.  Back issues of Breaking News and past Superintendent’s Corners are posted in the GRSD News Archive (under “News” on the district website).  As always, your feedback and any suggestions for improvements are welcome. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best." -  Theodore Isaac Rubin

UPCOMING MEETINGS: The next School Committee meeting will be on Wednesday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school library. Agenda items include a pupil services update, the superintendent's evaluation summary, an FY'13 budget update, the new state evaluation system for educators, the FY'13 school committee meeting schedule, and an amendment to the regional agreement. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Please note that any questions or concerns should first be brought to the appropriate district staff member (i.e. a specific teacher, principal or Central Office staff member). The first agenda item of every school committee meeting is hearing issues that are not on the posted agenda.

 GOLDEN ACHIEVEMENT NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED: Principal Laurie Marvel has announced the five finalists for the Golden Achievement Award, Gateway's highest honor. In alphabetical order, they are Calvin Carrington, Paige Fairman, Emily Lessard, Chelsea Merritt and Emily Stone.  Photo of Calvin C.  Photo of Paige F
 Photo of Emily L.  Photo of Chelsea M.  Photo of Emily S.

THOMAS BERGERON JAZZ QUINTET AT GATEWAY ON MAY 30: In addition to performing for the middle school and junior high, and conducting jazz clinics with band students, the quintet will give a free concert to the public at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Thomas Bergeron is the principal trumpet player for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Several Gateway students will sit in with the quintet in their evening concert.

GATEWAY HS PERFORMING "OUR TOWN": Thornton Wilder's three-act play will be performed at 8 p.m. on June 1st, and at 7 p.m. on June 2nd, in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, and tickets will be sold at the door.

CHESTER ELEMENTARY PRESENTS "THE GINGERBREAD GIRL": What happened after the story of the Gingerbread Man? Find out in this production at 6 p.m. on May 31st in the Gateway Performing Arts Center.

50'S DINNER A GREAT SUCCESS: The Class of 2014 raised $1,200 to help defer the cost of their graduation ceremony.
WEIGHT WATCHERS AT GATEWAY: Gateway has a Weight Watchers at Work program that is now open to the public. The group meets Tuesday afternoons, with weigh-ins starting at 4 p.m. and meetings running from 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.

SENIOR NOTES: The senior exam schedule is: Block 5 on May 29 at 1 p.m.; Block 1 (7:35 a.m.) and 2 (8:35 a.m.) exams on May 30; and Block 3 (9:48 a.m.) and Block 4 (11:57 a.m.) exams on May 31st. Make-up exams will be held on Friday, June 1st. Seniors are also reminded to bring a stamped envelope to guidance so that final transcripts can be mailed to your college!

FREE DUAL-ENROLLMENT COURSES THIS SUMMER: Juniors can opt to take a free dual-enrollment course at Springfield Technical Community College this summer. Applications are in the guidance office.

SCHOLARSHIP REMINDERS: Seniors: the following scholarship deadlines are coming up: Crane Memorial Scholarship - May 25; Karen Mae Hart Memorial Scholarship - May 29; Hampden County Improvement League - June 1. Applications in the guidance office.

ADULT EDUCATION UPDATE: The Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center is pleased to offer a series of workshops on Renewable Energy, at their main site at Gateway. Classes will be held on June 7, June 14 and June 21 (6:30 - 8 p.m.). Topics include types of renewable energy, solar domestic hot water, and how to heat--even a swimming pool--with solar heat. Will be taught by Stu Besnoff of Alpine Solar Heat (Windsor, MA). Some workshops are pre-requisite to others. To reserve a spot, or for more information, please contact Michele Klemaszewski at (413) 685-1052 or southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com .

 WEBLINK OF THE WEEK: 
PRINCIPAL SEARCH CRITERIA SURVEY: This week's weblink takes you to our own website front page, where you can find more information on the survey that will help determine the qualities we are looking for in our next high school principal.

REMINDERS:
  • MEMORIAL DAY PARADES, NO SCHOOL: Beth Guertin, Gateway's instrumental music director, has announced a new rotating schedule for the Gateway band to perform in town Memorial Day parades. As usual, there will be no school on Memorial Day (May 28) and the Gateway Wellness Center and Littleville Wrap Around Center will be closed.
  • "STEP-UP" FOR CURRENT 4TH GRADERS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS: The annual "Step-Up" program will be held on Thursday, May 24 at Gateway Regional Middle School, with daytime activities for students and an evening orientation for parents/guardians.
  • ANNUAL "NIGHT OF MUSIC" SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER: The tenth annual "Night of Music" fundraiser for the Crane Memorial Scholarship will be held on Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Students, faculty, alumni and staff spanning the Gateway classes from 1970 - 2012 will perform. Admission (at the door) is $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.
  • DVD'S FROM SHIPMAN CELEBRATION AVAILABLE: For those who missed this incredible tribute to Rob Shipman--and for those who attended and want a recording--the GPAC Tech Crew is selling DVD's for $5, for a two-disc set. The recording includes tributes, performances and the slide show. (Please note: the recordings are quite audible, but do reflect the age of the video cameras!). All funds raised to this will benefit the Robert Shipman Memorial Fund for the Gateway Education Foundation. Please return an order form with payment to Wendy Long in the Central Office. DVD's are being made to order.
  • GatorRoo INFORMATION: GatorRoo will take place on Saturday, June 9th from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. This concert is free of charge, includes an outdoor picnic. Twenty two parent volunteers are needed. Click here for parent information and a volunteer form. We also have a Q&A About the GatorRoo Music Festival (updated 5/16/12).
  • STREP THROAT: Chester Elementary School has had several cases of Strep Throat among students in different classrooms. Strep infections appear as a very red, painful throat often accompanied by fever, tender and swollen lymph glands in the neck, headache and (sometimes) stomachache and coughing. Students who show these symptoms should be checked. If diagnosed with strep, students may return to school once they have been on antibiotics and fever-free for 24 hours. If your student is diagnosed, please let the school nurse know (all student health information is confidential).
  • CHESTER PTO FIELD DAY: Volunteers are sought to help put on this year's Field Day on June 12. Volunteers need to arrive at the school at 8:30 and stay through noon. Field Day Helpers will run various games and activities. Additional information is going home in red folders. Please complete and return on May 29th. 
  • BLUE & GOLD CAN DRIVE FOR GATEWAY FAMILY: People can bring cans into the front entrance weekdays between 7:15 and 7:35 a.m., and Thursdays from 2-3:30 p.m. this month, to raise funds to defray medical expenses for a Gateway family. (Sorry, we cannot accept bottles and no alcoholic beverage cans.)
  • ZUMBA CLASSES ON MONDAYS: Our own Cheryl Harper is teaching Zumba classes at Gateway on Mondays from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. These classes are open to the community and meet in the Middle School gymnasium. Each class is $5. Zumba is a fun way to get a great workout! Join us!
  • MIDDLE SCHOOL GOES ON ELEMENTARY SCHEDULE THIS FALL. As announced at last month's Public Hearing for the 20120-13 budget, the Middle School, Littleville and Chester will all be under one principal and assistant principal, and will operate on the same schedule next year. 
  • SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE: Students, parents and community members can leave a message on the Safety Hotline by calling 685-1050.
  • GATEWAY SAFE SCHOOLS PLAN: In the event of an emergency at your child's school, please do not call or drive to your child's school. We need to keep phone lines and roadways clear in an emergency. Please remain by your phone and wait for information and instructions from school staff, which will be sent using our auto-dialer. It is important that parents keep school secretaries up-to-date with their contact information.

                        IN CLOSING, this week's Superintendent's Corner is now published. This week, Dr. Hopson announces the retirement of Laurie Marvel and invites the public to weigh in on qualities they want in the next high school principal. Read the entire column for details.

                        Have a wonderful week!

                                                                                                                 Wendy V. Long, Editor

                         

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                        “Breaking News From Gateway”
                        Is published weekly by the Gateway Regional School District
                        12 Littleville Rd.
                        Huntington, MA  01050

                        For questions or feedback, please contact Wendy Long @ (413) 685-1003 or email wlong@grsd.org

                        © 2012, Gateway Regional School District