Breaking News From Gateway
 
January 9, 2008

Dear Friends of Gateway:

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  "Be at war with your vices; at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man." – Benjamin Franklin

COMING EVENTS:  A schedule of activities for the week ending January 19, 2008 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 January 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the MS/HS Library Resource Center (2nd floor). Extra agendas and handouts are available for visitors.  The Friends of Gateway will meet on January 8th at 7 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.

FACTEAU TO LEAVE GATEWAY: “At times, as I prepare for this departure, I am struggling with the feeling that I could have done more,” reflects Paul Facteau, the Technology Director for the Gateway Regional School District since 1999. This marks the final week at Gateway for Facteau, who leaves to become the Northeast Educational Consultant for Apple, Inc. Read more in the complete article.

L to R) Computer Technician Kurt Zinnack works with Tech Director Paul Facteau, in the final days of his tenure at Gateway.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AWARDED FOR SHOWING COMPASSION: As part of the new Character Education program at Gateway Regional Middle school, 45 students were recognized by their school principal and other leaders for demonstrating compassion last month. Click here for details, photo.

VOCATIONAL SCHOOL APPLICATION DEADLINE: Any Gateway 8th grade student or Gateway High School student who is interested in applying to a 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.

WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT CYBERBULLYING: Studies reveal that 43% of teens have been victims of cyberbullying in the past year, and that almost 80% of teens said that their households had no parental rules regarding Internet use, or that they had found ways around those rules. What’s a parent to do? Click here for suggestions from the National Crime Prevention Council.

REMINDERS:

  • NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! The Gateway Wellness Center is offering a new session of aerobics classes, to begin on January 8th. Anyone who has made a fitness resolution for 2008 might want to think of joining the Cardio Blast Aerobics Class! Contact the Gateway Wellness Center (685-1040) for details.
  • MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SET TO RAISE FUNDS: The Blue & Gold Committee and Student Advisory Council have organized two student events as fundraisers for three local charities: the Gateway Food Pantry, the Caleb Bouffard Fund and the Bertram Family Fund. On Friday, January 11th students in grades 5 & 6 can participate in an Open Gym & Pizza event afterschool. That evening, students in grades 7 & 8 can be part of a Dodgeball Tournament from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Any community member wishing to contribute to support these student-run projects should send a donation to the middle school office, c/o B&G/SAC Community Service Project. Questions? Please contact advisor George Hart at 685-1239 anytime and leave a message.
  • MID-YEAR EXAM SCHEDULE: High School mid-year exams will be held on January 24th, 25th and 28th. Exams for blocks one and two will be held on Thursday, January 24th. Exams for block three and four will be held on Friday, January 25th. (The 24th and 25th are half-days.) Mid-year exams for block five will be held in the first period of January 28th. The last day of the first semester will be January 29th. Second semester will begin on the 30th, and students will switch their lunch and advisory times for the remainder of the year.
  • GATEWAY CALENDAR CHANGE APPROVED: The Gateway Regional School Committee voted on November 14, 2007 to change the district calendar for the current school year.  The parent-teacher conference day initially scheduled for March 24, 2008 will now be held on March 20, 2008, which will be a day off for students. The change was made to accommodate MCAS testing.
  • 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.
  • VOLUNTEERS  - SAVE THE DATE! This year’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner will be held on February 8, 2008 from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Gateway MS/HS cafeteria. The volunteer dinner is free to anyone who volunteers in a Gateway school by chaperoning field trips, working in a parent center or library, sponsoring student interns, serving on PTO’s, school councils or other committees, or working on fundraisers/special events—to name just a few examples. The dinner is sponsored by the Friends of Gateway. More details to come!
  • HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE ON THE WEB: The winter sports schedule for Gateway Regional High School can be found on the web.
  • 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.

 

IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is now posted. This week, Dr. Hopson introduces two new staff members who will be replacing staff who are leaving. Read the entire column for details .

Have a great week!

 

                                                                                           Wendy V. Long, Editor

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“Breaking News From Gateway”

Is published weekly by the Gateway Regional School District

12 Littleville Rd.

Huntington, MA  01050

For questions or feedback, please contact Wendy Long @ (413) 685-1003 or email wlong@grsd.org

© 2008, Gateway Regional School District