Tuesday, December 19, 2006
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: "The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success." - Irving Berlin
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending December 29, 2006 is now posted. (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)
UPCOMING MEETINGS: If you missed the December 13th meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee, you missed: a report on the Middle School Afterschool Program’s funding outlook for next year; a presentation form Nancy Bradbury on the recent review of school behavioral programs by our team of school adjustment counselors; a 2007-2008 budget update; approval of a Memorandum of Agreement with Noble Hospital, to be enacted if schools were ever needed as auxiliary medical sites; and approval of the district’s pandemic plan. (You also missed a lovely refreshment spread, put on by the PTO!) The next meeting of the School Committee will be on January 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the Library Media Center (2nd floor) of the middle/high school campus. The Friends of Gateway will begin meeting the first Tuesday of every month, starting in January. Their next meeting will be January 2nd at 7 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. New members are needed and should feel welcome to attend. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.
NO NORDIC SKI TEAM THIS WINTER: The High School has announced that there were not enough students on this year’s Nordic Ski Team to continue the program, despite last year’s success. Principal Kathleen McSweeney and Athletic Director Jeff Fisk attended a number of meetings this fall to try to expand the program to 7th and 8th grade students in order to keep the team going. Unfortunately, they were unable to get approval to include Middle School students on the team. Details in the complete article.
CHRISTMAS VACATION COMING UP: Schools in the Gateway Regional School District will be closed from December 25 through January 1, for seasonal observances. The Littleville Wrap-Around program will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday of that week; parents must register ahead of time. The Gateway Wellness Center will be closed on December 25 and January 1. It will be open from 5:30 – 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. The Wellness Center will also be open 8 to noon on Saturday, December 30th. Schools will reopen on January 2nd.
MIDDLE SCHOOL EFFORT AWARDS – ADDITIONS: Principal Peter J. Curro has announced two revisions to the Term I Effort Awards. Kolleen Morrissey in Grade 6 earned a Good Effort Award. In addition, Paige Fairman in Grade 7 was listed last week as receiving a Good Effort Award; in fact, she earned an Excellent Effort Award. Congratulations to Kolleen, Paige and their teachers.
WHAT IMPACT DOES ADVERTISING HAVE ON YOUR CHILDREN/STUDENTS?: The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a scathing report on the impact that advertising has on children, saying that young children are virtually defenseless against the barrage of advertising they are bombarded with—up to 40,000 ads a year in television, movies, magazines, and on the Internet. The study reveals the impact such ads have on a range of behaviors, such as obesity, tobacco and alcohol usage, and sex. Read the full study for recommendations on combating such influences in your school or household.
REMINDERS:
- GATEWAY WELLNESS CENTER TO ADD YOGA, AEROBICS CLASSES; COLLEGE WINTER BREAK MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE: Making fitness a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one strategy: sign up now for new fitness classes at the Gateway Wellness Center. The Center is also offering discounted memberships for college students home on winter break. Details in the complete article.
- HOLIDAY WISH LISTS: If you are Student Council Advisor Diane Uliana, then you are hoping for a donated used cash register that can be used in the student store at Gateway. And teachers at Littleville Elementary School have made their wish lists as well, which can be accessed by clicking here.
- LITTLEVILLE CAN COLLECTION TO SUPPORT INJURED ATHLETES: A reminder that Littleville Elementary School will be collecting rinsed returnable beverage containers as a fundraiser to support two young athletes who were paralyzed while training. Cans may be brought to the building before 8:30 a.m. or after 3:15 p.m.; no alcoholic beverage containers please.
- WINTER WEATHER CLOSINGS AT GATEWAY: Although the month has been unseasonably warm, winter is nonetheless approaching and parents and students may wish to review our protocols for announcing school delays and cancellations. Whether you use the telephone, Internet, or other media—you’ll want to take note. Also, be advised that these same systems will be used in a school emergency. Click here for details.
- 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, March 14th at Littleville Elementary School. In the meantime, the School Committee will meet at the Gateway complex on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of January and February. Read the complete article for details.
- DISTRICT SAFETY HOTLINE: 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 reflects back on the past year and recounts the hard work and dedication of Gateway staff and students. Read the entire column for details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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