Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Dear Friends of Gateway:
Here is our final installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter for the 2006-07 school year! As always, your feedback and suggestions are invited.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistence.” – Daniel Hudson Burnham
UPCOMING MEETINGS: The next regular meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be on June 27th at 7:30 p.m. at Gateway MS/HS (2nd floor). Agenda items will include expanding the school day and sewer issues at Blandford Elementary School. The Friends of Gateway are now meeting the first Tuesday of every month, but will not hold a July meeting. Their next meeting is August 7th to complete activities for the September fundraiser. New members are needed and should feel welcome to attend. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.
NEW ROUND OF LAPTOP LEASES OFFERED TO STUDENTS: Technology Director Paul Facteau has announced that the district is offering a new round of laptop leases to students for the 2007-08 school year! Gateway's 1to1 Laptop Program gives all students in grades 7 - 12 the opportunity to lease or purchase their own personal laptop for use at school or at home. Affordable price includes free dialup Internet access from home! Click here for details, including schedule of parent meetings in July.
TYLER CRAIG, DOUG MESSER ATTEND BOYS’ STATE: Tyler D. Craig and Douglas A. Messner were selected to represent Gateway Regional High School at the 2007 Massachusetts Boys’ State program, held at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. The weeklong event took place from June 9 – June 15. Click here to read more.
GMS STUDENTS, RETIRING PRINCIPAL HONORED AT ANNUAL CEREMONY: The entire Middle School community gathered on the last day of school for its annual awards ceremony—made poignant and special this year by the awarding of 7 Eric M. Champiney Memorial Scholarships and a recognition honoring retiring Principal Peter J. Curro. Click for links to the press release, and listings of Student Awards and GMS PRIDE Awards.
FISK HONORED FOR CAREER AT GHS: Family, friends, colleagues and athletes gathered at Gateway Regional High School on Saturday, June 23rd for a dedication ceremony honoring retiring Athletic Director/Guidance Counselor Jeffery S. Fisk. Check out the complete article and photos from the event.
GATEWAY STAFF EXPERIENCE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION: Three Gateway staff members were selected to participate in overseas education initiatives over a 16-month period, in Germany, India and China. Biotechnology teacher Cynthia Jensen, high school English teacher Rodney Kleber and district Curriculum Director Janice Doppler are involved in programs that will also bring their overseas colleagues to Gateway. Details in the complete article.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE EXTENDS HOPSON CONTRACT; SETS SUMMER SCHEDULE: Details in the complete article.
REMINDERS:
- FRIENDS OF GATEWAY UNITE AND WRITE CAMPAIGN: Parents and community members are urged to email the Friends of Gateway friendsofgateway@hughes.net to be registered in a data-base of people willing to Unite and Write for better funding of small and rural schools in Massachusetts. “Both schools and towns have been hamstrung by the lack of state funding,” said Friends of Gateway (FOG) President Deb Carnes. “It’s time to take a stand to keep our schools strong, our towns viable, and our tax rates affordable for everybody.”
- WELLNESS CENTER OFFERS STAFF RENEWAL & COLLEGE SPECIALS; SUMMER HOURS START JUNE 25: The Wellness Center will move to summer hours starting June 25. Morning and Saturday hours will remain the same through the summer (Weekdays 5:30 – 7:30 a.m.; Saturdays 8 – noon); afternoon hours during the week will change to 3:30 – 8:30 p.m. As in the past, college students who are home for the Summer can join at the special rate of $60 for the summer, by presenting their college ID. Finally, any Gateway staff member who joins or renews their annual membership before June 30th will save $50 on their annual membership fee. An Adult Annual Membership will be available for $150, rather than $200 for early-bird sign-ups. Those with Blue Cross Blue Shield or Health New England can receive up to $150 reimbursement every year. You can also have the membership fee taken out of your paycheck. Email Gary St. Peter (GStPeter@grsd.org) if you need additional information.
- CHANGE IN LATE-START DAYS NEXT YEAR: Monthly late-start days will become early-release days next year, improving the amount of time that teachers can attend professional development. Students will report to school on September 7, 2007. The calendar is posted on the district website under the “administration” drop-down menu; click here for the official press release.
- PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT FOR NEW DENTAL SERVICE AT SCHOOL: The Dental Outreach Task Force—a new partnership between the Hilltown Community Health Centers and Gateway Regional School District—is putting the final touches on school-based dental services planned for next year; public input continues to be sought before the implementation grant is submitted later this month. Details in the complete article.
IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. This week Dr. Hopson discusses the Expanded Learning Time meeting on June 20th, his presentation of materials to the regional school legislative caucus, and urges people to join the Blandford PTO in the “Unite and Write” campaign. Sign up today! Read the entire column for details.
Have a great SUMMER!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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