Tuesday, April 24, 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:  “Train yourself to let go of the things you fear to lose.” -George Lucas

COMING EVENTS:  A schedule of activities for the week ending May 4, 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 25th at 7:30 p.m. at the Library/Media Center at the Gateway complex (2nd floor).  Discussion will continue on the new building use fee proposal as well as the potential for consolidating elementary schools if Version 2.0 does not pass at town meetings. The Friends of Gateway are now meeting the first Tuesday of every month. The May 1st meeting will begin at 7 p.m. but will adjourn at 7:30 so that members can attend the budget Q & A session at Gateway (see related article, below). New members are needed and should feel welcome to attend. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.  

UPCOMING BUDGET QUESTION/ANSWER FORUMS IN 5 TOWNS: Concerned over the 2007-08 school budget and the possibility of closing 3 elementary schools? You’re not alone and you can join other concerned area residents at Q & A forums throughout the Gateway hilltowns: 4/30 at 7:30 p.m. at Middlefield Town Hall; 5/1 at the Gateway Performing Arts Center (7 p.m.); 5/2 at Blandford Elementary School (7 p.m.); 5/3 at R. H. Conwell Elementary School (7 p.m.); 5/8 at Russell Elementary School (7 p.m.).  Read more in the attached article or click here for an informational flyer.

ACCREDITATION VISIT FOR GATEWAY: The visiting team from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges will be at Gateway Regional High School from May 6 – 9, as part of the school’s decennial accreditation. The school is hosting a public reception on May 6th from 5 to 5:45 p.m. Parents, students and community members are invited but are asked to rsvp to Kristy Parzych at 685-1103 by May 4th if planning to attend.  Read more in the complete article.

TODAY IS LAST DAY TO ORDER MOTHER’S DAY HANGING PLANTS! The High School Band is selling beautiful hanging plants that will be delivered in time for Mother’s Day. (In fact, you can pick them up at the Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser the day before!). Click here to download a form.  Bring the form and payment to the HS office for the Band Boosters, c/o Gateway Regional High School, 12 Littleville Rd., Huntington, MA  01050.  BUT YOU MUST ACT NOW—deadline is today!!!

HIGH SCHOOL FORUM ON APRIL 30TH: Monthly forums to discuss issues or concerns regarding Gateway Regional High School will continue on April 30th, from 5 – 6 p.m. in the high school office conference room. All interested are invited to attend and speak with Principal Kathleen McSweeney and Vice Principal Laurie Marvel.

PRINCIPAL SETS DEADLINE FOR SENIOR AWARDS: As a school community, one of the annual events we take tremendous pride in is our SENIOR AWARDS ASSEMBLY.  This event, to be held June 6, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center, recognizes selected members of each graduating class with various awards, scholarships, and superlatives; last year’s ceremony awarded over $40,000 in scholarships.  As the detailed and exciting, yet, overwhelming, task of putting this event together draws near, we need to set a deadline of MAY 3, 2007 AT 3:00 P.M. for the submission of recipient’s name(s) for awards, scholarships, and superlatives, to the high school guidance office. Please notify HS Guidance Secretary Jeanene Iglesias (685-1107). Adherence to this date will assure an all-encompassing program, recognizing deserving students.  As a school community we sincerely appreciate the efforts of so many of our area local businesses, supporting families, and civic groups; you are the financial base supporting our graduating seniors on Senior Awards Day.  Thank-you!

CONGRATULATIONS TO “HOOPS FOR HEART”: The Gateway Middle School basketball fundraiser to benefit the American Heart Association raised $3,500! Thank you to all of the students, staff, families and community members who helped.

THIS WEEK AT THE GATEWAY FAMILY CENTER:  We will be taking a field trip to the Boston Children's Museum on Saturday, April 28. We will leave at 8:30 AM. Families will need to bring or buy lunch. For more information call Kim at 667-2203 x3 or email at FamilyCenterKim@aol.com . As always, open playgroups are held on Wednesday and Friday from 10 to 12. School Readiness resumes this week at 8:30 on Tuesday. Happy Spring!

SCHOOL SECURITY IN SPOTLIGHT DUE TO RECENT SHOOTINGS: Public schools, and now an increasing number of colleges, are reviewing security measures and school safety plans following the Virginia Tech shootings. Obviously, the tragedy has received a great deal of national media attention, much of which has focused on the use of technology by schools and universities (including a system for colleges that will text-message thousands of students) and students (who used their Face Book and My Space websites to let parents know they were OK).  Read more at msnbc.com , Boston.com  and the Baltimore Sun . Important information on Gateway’s Safe Schools Plan can be found on the web

As always, our confidential school safety hotline number is 685-1050; our School Resource Officer Trooper Mark Rogers and our Security Monitor Jennifer Dubiel monitor this line.

REMINDERS:

IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. This week, Dr. Hopson describes the many different ways to measure student and school success and concludes that Gateway does an outstanding job, given our fiscal constraints. Read the entire column for details.

Have a great week!

Wendy V. Long, Editor