COME TO THE CABARET! It is time for the annual CABARET at Gateway Regional High School, showcasing the schools elite performance groups—the Show Choir and Jazz Band. Cabaret will be held in the Gateway Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Admission is $2 for students and $4 for adults.

EARLY COLLEGE PLANNING FOR GRADE 9 AND 10 STUDENTS & PARENTS/GUARDIANS: The Gateway Regional High School Guidance Department is pleased to offer an Early College Planning Seminar for freshmen and sophomores, and their parents/guardians. The event, presented by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, will be held on April 16 in the Gateway Performing Arts Center, beginning at 6 p.m.

DOMESTIC TASK FORCE SPONSORS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CONTEST: Students who submit a written or artistic work that reflects the theme “What respect means to me” will compete for cash prizes offered by the Southern Hilltowns Domestic Violence Task Force. Entries must be submitted to the high school office by April 30th.

AREA SENIOR CITIZENS INVITED TO GATEWAY SHAKESPEAREAN EVENT: Senior citizens from the seven Gateway hilltowns are invited to share an upcoming presentation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with students at Gateway Regional High School. The event will include a fifteen-minute “audience talk-back” at the end of the performance. Seniors are asked to r.s.v.p. to 685-1003 to reserve seating. There is no charge to attend.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME NOMINEES SOUGHT: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club is seeking nominations for the Gateway Athletic Hall of Fame, which honors athletes, coaches and others who have made significant contributions to Gateway athletics. Nominations must be in by May 9th. The complete article contains details.

EARLY RELEASE ON APRIL 8TH: Students in all Gateway Schools will have an early release day on April 8th, so that staff can stay for professional development. Dismissal times are outlined in the article.

HIGH SCHOOL COUNCIL TO MEET: The School Council for Gateway Regional High School will meet on April 7th from 4 – 5 p.m. in the high school office. Parents and community members who are interested in serving on the school council are invited to attend, or can contact Principal Kathleen McSweeney at 685-1103 for more information.

GATEWAY ATHLETIC BOOSTERS TO MEET: The monthly meeting of the Gateway Athletic Booster Club will be held Sunday, April 6th at 7 p.m. in Stanton Hall. The Booster Club is actively looking for new members. If you cannot attend but are interested in helping with the club, please call Deb Lariviere @ 667-3121.

HIGH SCHOOL REPORT CARDS: Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced that third term grades will close on April 9th, and that report cards will be issued the week of April 14th.

CHEERLEADERS RUN ECO-FRIENDLY FUNDRAISER: The Gateway Regional High School Cheerleaders are raising money to help send the team to summer cheerleading camp. Your donation of small electronics items, including used cell phones, DVD movies, video games, portable DVD players, laptop/notebook computers, MP3 players, video game consoles, digital cameras, digital picture frames and portable navigation and GPS devices will be recycled or refurbished. Collection will run through the end of the school year. More details in the flyer and on the EcoPhones Website.

 

REMINDERS:

• SIXTH GRADE PLAYWRIGHTS AND CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY PRESENT: “ON THE OTHER HAND. . .THE DILEMMA PLAYS”: Don’t miss the Spring 2008 presentation of the Gateway Middle School Playwright Program “On The Other Hand…The Dilemma Plays”, performed at the Gateway Performing Arts Center on April 4 and April 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door, and are $5 for adults, $3 for students. Proceeds will help sustain this award-winning project! Click here for details on this semester’s intriguing theme! Or, check out the program's flyer.
• R. H. CONWELL SCHOOL SEEKS MINI-COURSE TEACHERS: R. H. Conwell Elementary School will again hold a four-week series of mini-courses for their K-4 students. Mini-courses will be held on the first four Fridays in May, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. The school is seeking volunteers to teach; the PTO will reimburse instructors for materials. Past offerings have included basketry, sewing, cooking, baton twirling, gymnastics, outdoor games, nature studies, babysitting, computer, macramé, collage, board games, and origami. Volunteers are sought to teach, assist teachers or provide childcare for the younger children of teachers/assistants. Please contact the school if you are interested in helping.
• BAND BOOSTERS BOTTLE AND CAN DRIVE: The Gateway High School Band will conduct their annual Bottle and Can Drive fundraiser on Saturday, April 19th from 9:30 to 3:30. Donations can be brought to the high school during that time, or dropped off ahead of time at the band room from 2 – 4 p.m. on Thursday April 17 or Friday April 18. All bottles and cans with a Massachusetts deposit will be accepted.
• GATEWAY CALENDAR CHANGES FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE AND EARLY RELEASE DAYS: This article outlines three major calendar changes that will be taking place in March, May and June. Read more about the dates in the complete article.
• FOURTH GRADE PARENTS/STUDENTS—SAVE THE DATE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL ORIENTATION: Gateway Regional Middle School will be welcoming current fourth graders in June, as they prepare to transition from their elementary schools to the regional middle school next fall. Students will visit the Middle School for a morning of activities that includes tours, sitting in on fifth grade and special subject classes, a scavenger hunt, having lunch, and being treated to a brief concert by the current Grade 5 band. Blandford and Russell visits will take place on June 9th. Chester, Conwell and Littleville students will visit on June 10th. Students will be bussed from their elementary school, and the visits will take place from 9:30 to noon. The week’s activities will conclude with a student and parent/guardian orientation on Thursday, June 12th from 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Save the dates for these fun and informative events!
• GATEWAY TO PARTICIPATE IN STATE SPECIAL EDUCATION SURVEY: Parents and guardians of Gateway students who receive special education services will receive a survey from the State Director for Special Education in Massachusetts in April. Click here for details.
• SNOW DAYS COULD IMPACT APRIL VACATION: Spring Break for Gateway students and staff is scheduled for April 21 – 25th, but not if the district incurs too many more snow days. Read more in the complete article.
• GATEWAY PHONE DIRECTORIES ON SALE AT ALL SCHOOL OFFICES! You can still purchase a Gateway Phone Directory at any school office. Get one and keep it by your phone the next time you want to know if school is cancelled due to bad weather, report your child as absent, or follow-up with the school nurse on a playground injury. Read more in the complete article.
• GATEWAY SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE: As part of Gateway’s School Safety Plan, the school safety hotline (685-1050) will remain in place for the coming school year. Monitored by the district’s Security Monitor, the hotline is a voice mailbox that can be used to report harassment, drug or alcohol concerns, vandalism, and school safety issues. The purpose of the hotline is to help keep Gateway schools safe for all.

IN CLOSING, this week’s Superintendent’s Corner is now posted. This week, Dr. Hopson reflects upon the numerous positive activities going on throughout the district and explains the many roles that parents and community members can take to support education. Read the entire column for details.

Have a great week!