Wedesday, February 28, 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:  “The only thing bad about a holiday is it is followed by a non-holiday” – Anonymous

COMING EVENTS:  A schedule of activities for the week ending March 10, 2007 is 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 February 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Library Media Center (2nd floor) of the middle/high school campus. Version 1.0 of the 2007-2008 budget will be presented. Other agenda items include a presentation on the High School Advisory program, and consideration for changing the parent-teacher conference date from 3/19 to 3/26.  We wish to hold school on 3/19 because the state has scheduled the composition portion of the MCAS exam for March 20th, and we want to do everything possible to ensure the best possible performance by our students. The Friends of Gateway are now meeting the first Tuesday of every month. Their next meeting will be March 6th at 7 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. They will begin working on Articles of Incorporation to become an education foundation for Gateway. New members are needed and should feel welcome to attend. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.  

SIX CHESTER ELEMENTARY POETS TO BE PUBLISHED: Teacher Heather Cabral is thrilled to announce that six of her student poets will be published in the Anthology of Poetry 2007.  Click here for details—including the poems that will be published! (As featured in last week’s Country Journal)

CELESTE CIANFRANI HELPS STUDENTS “REACH NEW HEIGHTS”: How many of us can recall a counselor in our childhood schools who made a real and meaningful difference in our lives, offering needed support during difficult times?  In honor of National School Counseling Week (held earlier in February), Breaking News profiles new high school counselor Celeste Cianfrani.  Click here for the complete article.

MIDDLE SCHOOL EXCELLENT AND GOOD EFFORT AWARDS: Principal Peter Curro is pleased to announce that over 170 Middle School students achieved good and excellent effort awards for the second marking period.  Students earn this distinction through teacher comments on report cards indicating that they display positive work habits, consistently complete their work on time, are motivated to achieve, and are prepared and attentive in class. Complete listing...

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET: The Public Hearing for the 2007-08 school year budget will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 in the Gateway Performing Arts Center.  This meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be the last and best opportunity for the public to weigh in on any proposed changes to educational programs, student fees, town assessments and any other budgetary items, before the School Committee votes to adopt the budget on March 14, 2007.  Read on for details.

SPAGHETTI WEEKEND AHEAD! Spaghetti lovers rejoice! Chester Elementary School is holding a spaghetti supper fundraiser on Friday, March 9th, and Blandford holds another on Saturday, March 10th! Chester’s supper will have seatings at 5 and 6 p.m., with a raffle for theme-based baskets created by each grade.  Then help Blandford Elementary School “Shade the Gym” by attending a special fundraiser on March 10th. The event will include a silent auction, dinner, and student performances. Proceeds will be used to purchase shades for the gymnasium, to improve assemblies that involve films, speakers, or performances. Ticket prices and further details are in the complete article.

BLANDFORD STUDENTS RAISE PENNIES FOR PATIENTS: Over the next few weeks, students at Blandford Elementary School will be participating in the Pennies for Patients program to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Loose change will be collected from March 5 through March 23, and the school hopes to raise $250 for the society.  Read the complete article for details.

CHANGE IS GOOD: CONWELL FUNDRAISER: R. H. Conwell students are collecting loose change to purchase materials to build a storage shed to store and protect all of the outdoor toys.  Gabe Shippee of Shippee Builders has volunteered to donate his time to put up the structure. Change will be collected from now until March 16th. The class that raises the most money will receive a pizza party.

NEW AEROBICS & YOGA CLASSES TO BEGIN IN MARCH: Registration will begin this week for a new session of yoga and aerobics classes, offered by the Gateway Wellness Center.  Aerobic Classes will run for 7 weeks and will begin March 20th.  Yoga classes will also run for 7 weeks, but will begin March 7th.  Fees are reduced for members of the Gateway Wellness Center, but classes are open to non-members as well. Click here for more information.

MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE ON MARCH 16: "The Spring Fling" sponsored by the Student Advisory Council on Friday, March 16 at 2:15 - 4:30PM for grades 5 & 6 and 6:00 - 9:00PM for grades 7 & 8.

FINAL REMINDER: VOKE SCHOOLS APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1ST:  Students and parents are reminded that the deadline for applying to Westfield Vocational-Technical High School or Smith Vocational Agricultural High School is March 1, 2007.  Applications received after this date will not be considered. Applications are available in the Guidance Office; please contact Jeanene Iglesias at 685-1107 for more information.

FOLLOW-UP AT HOME--READ WITH CHILDREN: This Friday, high school National Honor Society members will be going to the Gateway Elementary Schools to read to young students, part of our annual celebration honoring the birthday of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.  Research shows that children who are read to at home do better in school.  Plus it is a wonderful way to spend time together as a family.  The National Education Association website offers great parent tips for reading with young children.  (Don’t stop there—keep reading together as a family or library community as children become young adults!).

REMINDERS:

IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. This week, Dr. Hopson reports on the potential for an early local aid resolution this year and explains why this benefits our district and member towns. Read the entire column for details.

Wendy V. Long, Editor