UPCOMING MEETINGS:  The next meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be February 27th at 7:30 p.m. in the MS/HS Library Resource Center (2nd floor). Because the February 12th meeting was cancelled due to weather, every effort will be made to hold this meeting—even if school is cancelled on Wednesday. Please call the Gateway Delays/Cancellations Line (685-1001) for information. Agenda items include presentations on the Senior Class Trip to Walt Disney World for 2010, the high school dropout rate, and the 208-09 Program of Studies. Extra agendas and handouts will be available for visitors. The next meeting of the Friends of Gateway will be March 4 from 7 – 9 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.

TIME TO REGISTER FOR KINDERGARTEN SCREENING: If you have a child who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2008, please call Gateway’s Pupil Services Department at 685-1017 by Monday, March 31st to schedule an appointment for Kindergarten screening. Click here for details.

“GATOR GRINS” INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR LITTLEVILLE PARENTS: What do you do when your child needs to have a dental cleaning, dental sealants or a cavity filled? If your child attends a Gateway school—starting with Littleville Elementary this spring—you might have those services provided at school! Read more about the new dental program offered in Gateway schools by the Hilltown Community Health Centers staff.

HIGH SCHOOL TERM 2 HONOR ROLL: Students who earned high academic achievement for the second quarter are identified in the complete press release.

GATEWAY FOOD SERVICES NOT AFFECTED BY MEAT RECALL: For anyone concerned about the alarming Westland Meat Company problem publicized earlier this month, read Food Services Director Wendy McCaul’s press release concerning actions taken by her department in response to allegations.

DEADLINE FOR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL APPLICATIONS IS THIS WEEK: Any Gateway 8th grade student or Gateway High School student who is interested in applying to Westfield Vocational-Technical High School or Smith Vocational-Agricultural High School program must apply before the cut-off date of March 1, 2008.  Applications received after this date will not be considered. Interested students should contact either the Middle School or High School Guidance Office for an application. Please contact Jeanene Iglesias at 413-685-1107 if you have questions or need any additional information.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2008-09 SCHOOL BUDGET: The Public Hearing for the 2008-09 school year budget will be Wednesday, March 5, 2008 in the Gateway Performing Arts Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m. This will be the final opportunity for the public to weigh in on any proposed changes to programs, fees, town assessments or other budgetary items before the School Committee votes to adopt the budget on March 12, 2008. By law, the school committee must adopt a budget 45 days before the first town meeting. The Performing Arts Center is located in the Middle/High School on Littleville Road in Huntington. The auditorium is off of the main entryway, and parking is available in front of the school.

GATEWAY TO PARTICIPATE IN STATE SPECIAL EDUCATION SURVEY: Parents and guardians of Gateway students who receive special education services will receive a survey from the State Director for Special Education in Massachusetts in April. Click here for details.

STUDENT SUCCESS PRESENTATION SCHEDULED FOR GHS JUNIORS AND PARENTS: The nationally acclaimed presentation “Making Your College Search Count” program will be offered to Gateway juniors and their parents on Tuesday, March 11 at 1 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Click here for more information.

HIGH SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING: The School Council of Gateway Regional High School will meet on Monday, March 3rd from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room (office). Parents and community members interested in serving on the council are invited to attend, and may contact Principal Kathleen McSweeney at 685-1103 for more information.

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC BOOSTERS MEETING: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club will meet on Sunday, March 2nd at Stanton Hall in Huntington at 7 p.m. The Booster Club actively supports high school athletics, sponsors the annual sports banquet, and operates the concession stands at home events. The Booster Club is in need of new members. If you cannot attend, but are interested in helping, please contact Deb Lariviere @ 667-3121.

SAFELY DRIVING IN ICE AND SNOW: Well this is timely! The Weather.Com Website has tips for safely driving in winter weather, including how to manage a skid and what to do if you get stuck. Of course, their best advise for preventing winter accidents is not to drive at all until the plows and sanders have been out!

• 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.
• SCHEDULING UNDERWAY FOR NEXT YEAR’S FRESHMAN CLASS: Officials at the Middle and High Schools are working hard this month to schedule 8th grade students in their courses next year. Students will receive course selection sheets by the end of February, which must be signed by parents/guardians and returned no later than March 6th. Read more on what’s going on behind the scenes.

• HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY: Make sure you check out the February Flyer of tests, deadlines, vacations and other items of interest from the Gateway Regional High School Guidance Office!

• LITTLEVILLE JOINS “SEARCH AND GIVE” PROGRAM: Littleville Elementary School has become part of the Search and Give program through Microsoft. Anyone who searches the Internet can support Littleville Elementary School by signing up online at www.searchandgive.com. Once registered, Microsoft will donate a “ticket” to Littleville’s account. Later this school year, the tickets will be converted to cash and the school will receive a check from Microsoft in the mail. Enrollment is free and there is no cost to the school or people who register. Each supporter can earn a maximum of 10 tickets per day.

• SNOW DAYS COULD IMPACT APRIL VACATION: Spring Break for Gateway students and staff is scheduled for April 21 – 25th, but not if the district incurs too many more snow days.  Read more in the complete article.

• 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.

                                                                                           Wendy V. Long, Editor