UPCOMING MEETINGS:  If you missed the April 9th meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee, you missed a recognition of the nominees for this year’s Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards, the recognition of Cheryl Harper as the 2008 Education Support Professional in the state of Massachusetts (we will have more on this in a few weeks!), the introduction of our new Technology Director Angela Burke, and a request to raise school breakfast and lunch prices for the 2008-09 school year. The School Committee also voted to pay half of the fee for students in the AP Chemistry class to take their AP Chemistry Exam, due to a change in teachers during the school year. The next meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be May 14th at 7:30 p.m. at Russell Elementary School.  The next meeting of the Friends of Gateway will be May 6th at 7 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. New members are sought to help support volunteerism and communications in the district. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.

 

 

NHS INDUCTION IS APRIL 17: New members of the Dana O. Webber Chapter of the National Honor Society will be inducted this Thursday, April 17th in a ceremony beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. The public is invited to attend this recognition of students who have been selected on the basis of knowledge, character, service to others, and leadership.

GATEWAY SCHOOLS CLOSE FOR SPRING BREAK: All schools in the Gateway Regional School District will be closed from April 21 through April 25 for Spring Break. Schedules for the Littleville Wrap Around Program and Gateway Wellness Center are included in the press release.

STILL TIME TO SUBMIT ENTRIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL RESPECT 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.

REMINDER ON STATE PARENT SURVEY: Parents and guardians of students who receive special education services in the Gateway Regional School District will receive a survey from the State Director for Special Education in Massachusetts this month.

POTTY TRAINING AT THE FAMILY CENTER: The Gateway Family Center will present a workshop on the art of Potty Training, with the lively, funny and knowledgeable Sarah Patton (Hampshire Educational Collaborative) presenting. This event is free and open to the public, with childcare provided. The workshop will be held Wednesday, April 23 at 10 a.m. Support for this program is provided by the Hilltown Community Health Centers and a grant from the Massachusetts department of Early Education and Care through the Hampshire County Family Network.

RAISING TEENS—PART I OF II: A new report has been released by the Harvard School of Public Health entitled “Raising Teens: A Synthesis of Research and a Foundation for Action.” The purpose of the report was to heighten public attention to the risks before today’s American teenagers—from violence, mental illness, abuse, neglect, substance abuse, poverty and other factors. “One of the most striking aspects of this crisis is how little we have involved parents as part of the solution.” Breaking News will do its part by highlighting the major portions of this groundbreaking report. This week, we will look at The Ten Tasks of Adolescence: the ten key developmental milestones that teenagers must accomplish to become fully functioning adults. This information begins on page 9 of the report.

REMINDERS:

• 2008-09 GATEWAY CALENDAR APPROVED: The Gateway Regional School Committee approved the 2008-09 School Year Calendar at their March 26th meeting.
• CORRECTION ON PRESCHOOL SCREENING SCHEDULING DEADLINE: Parents wishing to schedule an appointment for Preschool Screening have until April 18th to call 685-1017 for a slot; this is a correction from prior notices. Any child who will be 3 or 4 years of age by April 28th is eligible to participate in the district’s annual Preschool Screening, which will be held at Littleville Elementary School on April 28th. Preschool screenings are not required, but they are highly recommended and help parents assess the strengths and needs of each child.
• STUDENT COUNCIL SPONSORING FOOD DRIVE: The Gateway Regional High School Student Council is sponsoring a Food Drive from Monday April 14 to Wednesday April 16. Please bring non-perishable food items (no Ramon Noodles, please) to Block One classes, where they will be tallied. Student council members will collect the food. Classes will earn spirit points for participating.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• HIGH SCHOOL REPORT CARDS: Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced that report cards will be issued the week of April 14th.
• 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 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 shares an April Fool’s prank—in the form of a mock letter from the state department of education—that portrayed the tendency of systems like MCAS to reach ridiculous levels of implementation! Read the entire column for details.

Have a great week!