Tuesday, January 9, 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: “That’s what learning is after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we’ve changed because of it and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way, is winning.” – Richard Bach
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending January 20, 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 January 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the Library Media Center (2nd floor) of the middle/high school campus. Agenda items include a presentation on the Laptop Lease Program, a vote on the Chester Recreation Committee’s request to use the elementary school gym, 2007-08 budget discussion, pandemic update, and approval on a field trip to the Jewish Heritage Museum in New York. The Friends of Gateway have begun 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.
“JAM THE GYM” THIS WEEKEND: The Lady Gators Basketball Team is hosting their 2nd annual “Jam the Gym” event on Saturday, January 13th from 5 – 9 p.m. in the High School Gymnasium. This is an affordable, fun evening for all ages! Shooting contests for children and adults and 5 on 5 games for men and women will take place. Click here for details.
CALLING ALL GATEWAY VOLUNTEERS: Our Third Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner will be held on Friday, February 9th from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Gateway MS/HS Cafeteria. This event is free to all Gateway volunteers and their guests. So we can be sure to have enough food, please rsvp to your school office or to 685-1003 and leave your name, phone number and the number of people attending with you. Read the complete article for more information.
SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING OBSERVANCE: All Gateway schools will be closed on Monday, January 15th for Martin Luther King observances. The Gateway Wellness Center will be open from 3:30 – 8:30 p.m. The Littleville Wrap Around program will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but parents must sign up in advance.
IMPORTANT: VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DEADLINE: Any 8th grade or high school student interested in applying to vocational school for next fall needs to do so before March 1, 2007. Please read the entire article for additional information.
DID YOU MISS A PREVIOUS ISSUE OF BREAKING NEWS? Don’t worry, they are all on the district website. Click News Archive under the “General Information” tab on the website.
TRYING TO QUIT SMOKING THIS YEAR? (OR WISH YOUR KIDS WOULD?) LIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS MIGHT MAKE THAT MORE DIFFICULT: U. S. States are spending less than 3% of tobacco settlement money on programs to prevent tobacco use, according to a study by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The Centers for Disease Control had recommended that states spend 37% of their $22 billion in settlement funds on effective tobacco prevention programs to keep people from starting. For Massachusetts, that translates into $35.24 million that should be spent in FY ‘07, while only $8.25 million has actually been spent—out of $658 million in tobacco funds. Meanwhile, 7400 kids a year start smoking in Massachusetts. Read more about the “tobacco toll” in Massachusetts.
REMINDERS:
- EXPANDED LEARNING TIME COMMITTEES TO MEET TONIGHT (1/9): Students, parents, staff and community members who have signed up to serve on an Expanded Learning Time committee are reminded of our upcoming meeting on Tuesday, January 9th at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. This planning process is to decide whether or not to increase the school day/year by 25% for the 2008-2009 school year. For more information, read the complete article and visit our Expanded Learning Time web pages.
- DENTAL OUTREACH PROGRAM COMING TO GATEWAY: Parent input is sought by the Hilltown Community Health Centers, who have won grant funding to bring dental services to our elementary schools. Read more in the complete article.
- 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 welcomes all district volunteers to the 3rd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, 5-7 p.m. on February 9th. Read the entire column for details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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