Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Dear Friends of Gateway:
Breaking News was not published last week, due to illness. Here is this week’s installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter. As always, your feedback and suggestions are invited.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” --Benjamin Franklin
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the weeks ending December 9, 2006 and December 17, 2006 are now posted. (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)
UPCOMING MEETINGS: The next meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be on December 13th at 7:30 p.m. at Blandford Elementary School. The next meeting of the Friends of Gateway will be Tuesday, December 5th 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.
COACH O’CONNELL NAMED ‘COACH OF THE YEAR’: After his tenth season as Boys’ Basketball Assistant Coach, Michael O’Connell learned that he would receive the Western Massachusetts Assistant Coach of the Year award from the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association. Click here for complete details, photos.
WINTER CONCERT SERIES AT MS/HS NEXT WEEK: Student musicians from the Middle and High School are putting finishing touches on their performances in preparation for next week’s concerts. The grade 5 and grade 6 bands will perform with the Middle School Jazz Band on Monday, 12/11. The Grade 7/8 band will join the Jazz Band on Tuesday, 12/12. Finally, the High School music groups—Chorus, Show Choir, Jazz Band and Concert Band—will perform on Thursday, 12/14. All concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center and are open to the public, free of charge.
STUDENTS COLLECTING FUNDS, MITTENS: High school student groups are as busy as elves this month, preparing to make some holidays a little brighter. National Honor Society members are collecting money until December 8, 2006, which they will use to purchase toys for underprivileged children who live in the hilltowns. Student Council members are collecting mittens, gloves, scarves, hats and warm clothing through December 14, 2006, which will also be distributed to those in need.
END OF YEAR WISH LISTS: If you are Student Council Advisor Diane Uliana, then you are hoping for a donated used cash register this month 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.
CONWELL STUDENTS MAKE TELEVISION DEBUT: Meteorologist Brandon Butcher of CBS Channel 3, Springfield, has been visiting Western Massachusetts schools to discuss weather. Footage of his visit to R. H. Conwell Elementary School is still available on the CBS website. Go to http://www.cbs3springfield.com/weather and scroll down to click the school’s name.
LATE-START DAY IS DECEMBER 7TH: Students will have a two-hour delayed start day on Thursday, December 7th, so that staff can attend professional development. There will be no morning preschool on that day. Remaining late-start days are scheduled for March 15, April 12 and May 24.
MONTHLY BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC ON THE 13TH: The Gateway School-Based Health Center will be holding their free monthly blood pressure clinic on Wednesday, December 13th from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Visitors are welcome and may come in through the main entrance of the school; the SBHC is located off of the main foyer.
“STOP” BILL PASSES IN U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE: Earlier this month, the U. S. House of Representatives passed the “Sober Truth On Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act." Calling for action to address over 4,550 deaths of young people a year due to alcohol overuse and related accidents, the House bill attempts to address the inequity between government spending on alcohol prevention (currently at $71 million) and drug prevention (currently at $1.8 billion). Cited by prevention scientists as a “modest but important” step forward, the bill calls for a $1 million annual media campaign against underage drinking; $5 million in grants to community coalitions; $5 million in grants to higher education; an annual report on prevention and enforcement; establishing a federal interagency coordinating committee; and authorizing $6 million for research on underage drinking, including unnatural deaths of 12 to 20 year-olds. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
REMINDERS:
- GATEWAY TO HOST ELDERS FOR 15TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT AND LUNCHEON: The Gateway Regional School District is pleased to extend a warm invitation to hilltown senior citizens for the 15th Annual Holiday Luncheon and Concert at the Middle/High School complex on Wednesday, December 6th. Read the complete article for details.
- 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. See details in the complete article.
- 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, December 13th at Blandford Elementary School. 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 seeks volunteers to meet on January 9th to explore expanding the school day, as well as volunteers to help select a new Middle School Principal, as Peter Curro will retire this summer. Read the entire column for details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
|
