Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Dear Friends of Gateway:
Here is this week’s installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter. As always, your feedback and suggestions are invited.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending April 21, 2007 is now posted. (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)
UPCOMING MEETINGS: The next regular meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be on April 11th at 7:30 p.m. at Montgomery Town Hall. They will be reviewing fall-back budget plans and continuing discussion on asking the legislature to set forth a law capping school choice at 2% (with families who exceed the 2% mark paying their own tuition). They will also continue discussion on the proposed increases in school use fees. The Friends of Gateway are now meeting the first Tuesday of every month. Their next meeting will be May 1 at 7 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. They are working on a fundraiser for the new foundation. New members are needed and should feel welcome to attend. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.
SPRING BREAK: All Gateway schools will be closed next week for Spring Break. Gateway Wellness Center and Littleville Wrap-Around program hours are posted on the April 21, 2007 schedule (link is above, under "coming events").
SCHOOLS MATCH WITS TEAM JUST MISSES SECOND ROUND: For a while, the Gateway Schools Match Wits team stayed in the running for a second round berth, despite their 200-165 loss to Suffield Academy. While the team ultimately missed the cut-off, they were unanimous in agreeing that the experience had definitely been worth it. Read the complete article for details.
HIGH SCHOOL PAPER RECYCLING PROGRAM KICK-OFF: Students at Gateway Regional High School have initiated a paper-recycling program. The program’s official kick-off will take place on Thursday, April 11th with a school-wide assembly led by student organizers and Eric Weiss, the Hilltown Recycling Coordinator. The “Be Green” student organization has planned to show “An Inconvenient Truth”—a film about environmental issues narrated by former Vice President Al Gore. A passive permission form has been sent home to parents with notification that the film will be shown to the school, and a form to return if they do not want their student to participate. More about the program in the next issue of Breaking News.
MULTIPLE FUNDRAISERS AT GATEWAY ON SATURDAY OF CANOE-RACE WEEKEND: If you’re out and about on Saturday, 4/21, stop by Gateway to drop off returnable cans, have lunch, browse through a community tag sale, grab a bake sale item for lunch, and (weather permitting) have your car washed. It’s all part of a multitude of fundraisers to benefit high school class trips and the band. Read on for more information.
COME TO THE CABARET! The Gateway High School music department will hold their annual Cabaret performance at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 27 in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. This is the annual showcase for the Gateway Show Choir and Jazz Band. Donations are still being sought for the silent auction (click here for details). Admission will be $3.00 for senior citizens and students, and $5.00 for general admission. Tickets will be available at the door.
SUMMER PROGRAMS TO BOOST STUDENT MCAS PERFORMANCE OFFERED: Students in Middle and High School who have struggled to pass the MCAS exam in the past, have been invited to a attend summer program designed to boost student achievement. A four-week program is offered for students currently in grades 8 and 9; a three-week program is available for all others. Read why.
GATEWAY ATHLETIC BOOSTERS SEEK HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS: The Gateway Athletic Booster club is seeking nominations for their Hall of Fame, honoring athletes, coaches and others who have made significant contributions to Gateway athletics. Awards will be announced at the annual sports banquet on May 29th. Please read the complete article for eligibility and nomination information.
SAFETY IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR MONTH OF APRIL: The National Safety Council has lined up a number of safety observances for the month of April. Their website has links to information on sports eye safety, World Health Day, National Window Safety Week, National Playground Safety Week and National SAFE Kids Week (April 30 – May 6). The National SAFE Kids website has additional information on preventing child fatality and injuries which, if followed, could prevent an estimated 38,000 children’s lives each year.
REMINDERS:
- GATEWAY ACTING COMPANY TO PRESENT YOUTH-WRITTEN PLAYS: The award-winning Playwright Program—in partnership with the Chester Theatre—will present a series of plays written by sixth grade students and performed by the Gateway Acting Company (a troupe of professional actors aligned with Chester Theatre) on April 13th and 14th. Click here for details.
- LATE START ON APRIL 12: All schools in the Gateway Regional School District will have a two-hour delayed start on April 12th for staff professional development. There will be one additional late-start for training this year on May 24th. High School students in grades 9, 11 and 12 will also have late-start days on May 22 and May 23, while sophomores complete the MCAS Exam.
- SPRING SPORTS BANQUET: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club is pleased to announce that the annual sports banquet will take place on Tuesday, May 29th from 6 – 10 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel in Northampton. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under age 12. Tickets are available through Patti Trzasko at the high school or by calling Deb Lariviere at 667-3121. Athletes, coaches and families are invited.
- 8TH GRADE MOVING UP CEREMONY: For parents of 8th graders looking for information on the Moving Up Ceremony, Principal Peter Curro reports that it will take place the final day of school and will be scheduled for 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. The School Committee will be verifying the final day of school later this spring, and the exact date will be released at that time.
- GRHS TEESHIRTS ON SALE: $10 in the student store, immediately after school (until 2:30 p.m.). Makes a great spring gift! See related article for info on the artist.
- BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - Gateway alum and former teacher Janine Modestow is back at the Country Journal with her weekly column “Where are they now?” This column looks at graduates and what they have done since leaving Gateway. Look for it on the Gateway page of the Country Journal, each week. Janine would love to hear from more graduates or their families, so email her at jmowdestow@grsd.org or call (413) 238-0296 with contact information.
- GATEWAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU: The Gateway Regional School Committee has announced that it will again hold meetings in all seven district towns during this school year, so that town officials and area residents will have greater access to those meetings. The next “town” meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11 in Montgomery Town Hall. Read the complete article for details.
- GATEWAY SCHOOL SAFETY REMINDER: A reminder that the Gateway Regional School District has a confidential Safety Hotline in place, for students and community members to share their concerns. Just call 685-1050 and leave a message.
IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. This week, Dr. Hopson delves into various issues surrounding graduation rates, proving that you can’t always believe—or inherently understand—what you read on the DOE website. Read the entire column for details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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