BN - November 2, 2010

November 2, 2010

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: "You can tell how high a society is by how much of its garbage is recycled." - Dhyani Ywahoo

UPCOMING MEETINGS: The Gateway Regional School Committee will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3 in the Gateway Library. This is a special school committee meeting to set goals for the coming year. Click here for information on November School Committee Meetings. The public is welcome to attend School Committee meetings, as an important way to learn more about how the district operates. 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. The Friends of Gateway typically holds their meetings on the first Tuesday of every month at 9:30 a.m. in the Superintendent's Office. Due to a conflict in schedule, the next meeting will be Tuesday, November 9th. New members are welcome to join this group, which supports district communications and volunteers.

MORE DETAILS ON NOVEMBER 13 RECYCLING EVENT: Area residents are invited to start the holiday season with tidy basements, attics and closets, with help from the Gateway Regional School District! Click here for a flyer of all of the day's activities. Click here for a poinsettia order form; click here to pre-order a grinder for the 13th (orders also taken at the school that day).

Photographer Dru Bloomfield took this photo of an electronics recycling event in Arizona. (used by permission)


Electronics recycling photo
 

FLU VACCINATION CLINIC AT GATEWAY FOR THE PUBLIC: A seasonal flu clinic will be held on Wednesday, November 17 from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Gateway Regional High School. Also, a local resource fair will take place during that time. At 6:30 p.m. on that date, the public is invited to hear more and weigh in on the proposed district bullying plan. Please read the complete article for details.

AP 'SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION' ANNOUNCED: Jessica Hopson, a 2010 graduate from Gateway Regional High School, earned an AP Scholar With Distinction Award in recognition of her exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement exams.

SAVE THE DATE FOR CHARLES NEVILLE, THE SKELETONES, AND ELEMENTARY STUDENT CONCERT: Third and fourth grades students attending Littleville and Chester Elementary Schools, will hold a special concert on Tuesday, November 23 at 6 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Click here to download a CD order form of the concert; forms and payments will be collected at the concert (all CD's must be pre-paid).

FALL SPORTS RALLY/FAN DAY:  A special sports rally will be held in support of the fall teams--boys and girls cross country, gymnastics, and boys and girls soccer--as they prepare for post-season competition. Students in the Jr. and Sr. High School will hold a sports rally at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium on Monday, November 8th. Team captains will speak and the high school band will play. Students are encouraged to wear Gateway apparel on that day.

GATEWAY ALUMNI SOUGHT FOR COLLEGE FAIR: Graduates of Gateway Regional High School are invited to return the day before Thanksgiving, to speak with students about their college and military experiences.

GATEWAY SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR VETERANS DAY: All schools in the district will be closed on Thursday, November 11 in recognition of Veterans Day. Read the complete article for Wellness Center and Wrap Around Program details.

STUDENT COUNCIL SPONSORS FOOD DRIVE: Food will be collected at the student store before and after school, and will earn spirit points for each class.

BAND BOOSTERS MEETING: The Gateway Band Boosters will meet on Tuesday, November 9th. Middle School (grades 5 - 7) boosters will meet from 6 - 6:30 p.m.; High School (grades 8 -12) will meet from 6:30 - 7 p.m. All band parents and supporters are welcome and encouraged to attend.

SR. DISTRICT AUDITIONS: The Western Massachusetts Music Educators Association is holding auditions for the Sr. District Music Festival on Saturday, November 13 at Westfield State College. Please see Mrs. Guertin (instrumental) or Ms. Beauregard (choral) if you wish to audition. The snow date is November 20.

CRAFTERS SOUGHT FOR ANNUAL HOLIDAY FAIR: Crafters are sought, and shoppers should save the date for this high end craft fair and schoolwide fundraiser.

UPCOMING COLLEGE REP VISITS FOR HIGH SCHOOL:  Eastern University on 11/2 at 1 p.m.; University of New England on 11/4 at 7:35 a.m.; Saint Anselms College at 8:45 a.m. on 11/5; Wheelock College at 12:50 p.m. on 11/5; Johnson & Wales at noon on 11/9.  This schedule is subject to change and students should check frequently for additions. Students should sign up in the Guidance Office in advance.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: Dedicated to helping Gateway parents raise strong, safe, healthy and high-achieving kids!

NATIONAL YOUNG READERS WEEK:  Recently, the Fisk/Grady/Harper sixth grade class held a character dress-up day. After reading biographies, students created stamps to illustrate their person, wrote a summary report, came to school dressed as the person they studied, and made a presentation to their class (photo below). This is a great example of ways to make reading come alive for children. Next week is National Young Readers Week, co-founded in 1989 by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Click here for more information on this year's theme ("Book It!") and activities geared for the classroom and adaptable for home.

Photo of student biographers

REMINDERS:

  • PARENT SUPPORT GROUP MEETING: The Gateway Sped-PAC Parent Support Group will meet in the high school Career Center from 6:30 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2nd.
  • LITTLEVILLE SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING: The Littleville School Council will meet on Wednesday, November 3 at 4 p.m. in the school library.
  • SBHC HAS FLU VACCINE FOR STUDENTS AT HIGH RISK: The Gateway School-Based Health Center has a limited amount of injectable flu vaccine available for students in grades 5 - 12 who have high risk medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or other chronic conditions. Students and parents/guardians who are interested can schedule an appointment with June Tanski (667-0142 ext. 1).
  • ONLINE ACCESS TO STUDENT GRADES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Parents/guardians of students in grades 5 - 12 can now monitor their student's assignments, homework, grades and attendance online.
  • SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE: As part of the district's ongoing commitment to school safety, a school safety hotline is in place for all schools. Anyone wishing to report harassment, bullying, drug or alcohol concerns, vandalism, and school safety issues can call 685-1050.
  • TRANSPORTATION UPDATE: Parents/guardians and students are reminded that all Gateway school buses are now at 75% capacity or higher. As a result, we can no longer issue passes to guest riders from other buses.
  • The Application for Free and Reduced Lunch
  • STUDENT FEES FOR 2010-11: Information on student fees for parking and athletics, and building use fee information are posted in this article. 
  • HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE ONLINE: For a look at all of the home and away sports contests this fall, go to highschoolsports.net and enter "01050" for the Gateway HS Sports Calendar.

IN CLOSING, this week's Superintendent's Corner is now posted. This week, Dr. Hopson reviews the two presentations that were given at the last School Committee meeting. The first presentation was on the steps that Worthington needs to take to withdraw from the district or become a 'Union School'. The second was a presentation from the principals, staff and students on the consolidation of our elementary schools. 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

© 2010, Gateway Regional School District