Tuesday, January 30, 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 brighter you are, the more you have to learn." - Don Herold
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending February 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 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Library Media Center (2nd floor) of the middle/high school campus. The Friends of Gateway are now meeting the first Tuesday of every month. Their next meeting will be February 6th 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.
MCQUADE, LONG TO REPRESENT GATEWAY IN BOSTON: Erin D. McQuade and Hannah E. Long, both of Huntington, have been selected to represent Gateway Regional High School at this year’s Massachusetts Celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The event will be held in Boton on February 2, 2007. Click here for complete details.
ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS: The Friends of Gateway are sponsoring their 3rd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Friday, Februay 9, 2007 from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Gateway MS/HS cafeteria. In addition to organization by the Friends group, our teachers, aides, secretaries, nurses and administrators are pitching in (BIG TIME!) to make the evening special—from decorating the gym, to providing musical entertainment and decorations, serving food and creating baskets for the raffle. All we need now are volunteers! If you volunteer in any capacity for Gateway, there are 3 steps you need to do. First, click here for more information. Second, call any school office or 685-1003 to rsvp. And finally, come to the dinner and enjoy yourself!
ANNUAL “JUMP ROPE FOR HEART” AT LITTLEVILLE: Permission forms will be going home to Littleville students to participate in this annual fundraiser for the American Heart Association. This event will be held on Friday, February 16th from 9 – 3. Students will be asking for pledges and will be jumping rope to raise money. Parent volunteers are needed; please contact Jodi Fairman, Coordinator of this event if you have any time available on 2/16.
ONLY ONE MONTH LEFT TO REGISTER FOR VOKE SCHOOLS: 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, and for more information, contact Jeanene Iglesias at 685-1107.
WEB-BASED PARENT RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION: Designed by educators for use by parents, this website has a homework help search engine and activities geared from pre-school to college bound students. For links to online kids’ books, ocean adventures, learning games, and parent involvement information go to the AOL At School website and check out the parent and student links.
REMINDERS:
- HIGH SCHOOL ORIENTATION ON FEBRUARY 1ST: An orientation to the academic and enrichment programs at Gateway Regional High School will take place on Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 6 p.m. Students who are currently attending 8th grade, high school students considering a transfer to Gateway, and their parents are invited to attend. The orientation will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center, and will include an overview of academic programs, enrichment activities, and athletics. Students will receive a program of studies and information about selecting their 2007-2008 school year classes.
- HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULES DUE FEBRUARY 1ST: All current Gateway students must return their course selections for the 2007-2008 school year by February 1st. Course selection forms will be going home with students later this week.
- PARENTS NEEDED FOR DENTAL PLANNING: Hilltown Community Health Centers won a grant to provide dental services to Gateway students. We need parents to help plan these services in a way that makes sense for our community! Read on for details and contact information.
- JANUARY HIGH SCHOOL FORUM: The January forum to discuss high school issues, answer questions, and to obtain input from the public will be held on Monday, January 29th from 5 – 6 pm in the Principal’s Office. Principal Kathleen McSweeney and Assistant Principal Laurie Marvel will be on hand to meet with parents and community members.
- MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE EVENT TO BENEFIT ALPINE SKI TEAM: If you can’t get away on that dream cruise this winter, consider the next best thing. Come to the “Murder on the High Seas” mystery dinner at The Rapids restaurant on Friday, March 2, 2007. The play will be presented by the Comical Mystery Tour, which describes this play as having a “love boat gone awry” plot. Read on for details.
- WINTER WEATHER CLOSINGS AT GATEWAY: Many are starting to wonder if we will even need these protocols this year! Nonetheless, parents and students may wish to review our procedure 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 provides an update on the budget process, with the School Committee voting to support a budget increase of just under 7% over the current year’s budget for next year. Don’t forget the budget hearing on March 7th to learn more and provide input to the School Committee. Read the entire column for details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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