Tuesday, June 5, 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 fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse." - Ed Koch
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending June 15, 2007 is now posted. (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)
BUDGET UPDATE: To date, the budget has passed in the towns of Blandford, Middlefield, Worthington and Russell. It also passed in Huntington, contingent upon an $83,334 Proposition 2 ½ override, which is scheduled for June 21st. The final two town meetings are Chester (June 9) and Montgomery (June 11). If one of those towns approves the budget, or if Huntington passes its override, the proposed budget passes.
UPCOMING MEETINGS: The next regular meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be on June 13th at 7:30 p.m. at Middlefield Town Hall. The Friends of Gateway are now meeting the first Tuesday of every month. Their next meeting is June 5th to begin working on the fall fundraiser. New members are needed and should feel welcome to attend. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.
WILL GATEWAY INCREASE ITS SCHOOL DAY? We are at an important point in the planning process and are seeking public input at an Expanded Learning Time Public Meeting on Wednesday, June 20th at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Read more about this special hearing and a great opportunity to provide input. All are welcome to attend. Click here for additional details.
MCVEIGH, FISK INDUCTED INTO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME: The Clarion Hotel in Northampton was the setting—with former teacher Ken Barrows serving as emcee—for Gateway’s 2007 All-Sports Banquet on May 29, 2007. Gateway alum and former teacher/coach Bill McVeigh (’66) and Jason Fisk (’90) were both inducted into the Gateway Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Read more about their athletic careers for Gateway and the recognition of our high school athletes in the complete article. Click here for photos.
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.
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER NOW OFFERS CHOLESTEROL SCREENINGS: Gateway’s SBHC can now perform Cholesterol Screenings, for a fee of $10. The test involves a finger prick for a small blood sample. You do not need to be a member of the SBHC to access this screening tool. Each appointment will take approximately 30 minutes.
CORRECTION ON FINAL DAY OF PRESCHOOL: The final day for morning and afternoon preschool classes in the district will be June 21st. This is a correction from last week’s press release. We apologize for any inconvenience.
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!: Kudos to mother-daughter team Kim Savory and Annie Skerry, who won a $200 grant from Cooley-Dickenson Hospital to support the activities of “Be Green” – Gateway’s student-run paper recycling program. Be Green may use these funds to kick-off a plastics recycling component for the complex next year. (Applause, Applause is a new feature for Breaking News that celebrates student and staff successes outside of school. Send your good news to wlong@grsd.org)
GRADUATION PARTY RISKS: Serving (or turning a blind eye to) alcohol at graduation parties is risky; even holding guests car keys does not eliminate the risks of sexual assault, alcohol poisoning, or social host legal consequences on parents or homeowners. For additional information, check out 25 reasons not to serve alcohol at graduation and data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism concerning teens, drinking and graduation parties.
REMINDERS:
- GATEWAY GRADUATION: The schedule of activities leading up to graduation continues this week with the senior awards ceremony and senior banquet, and with commencement exercises on Friday, June 8, 2007 at 6 p.m. on Booster Field. Read the complete article for details and weather contingency plans.
- THIRD ANNUAL MYSTERY DINNER IS COOKING SPOOF: With characters like Martha Stupor, Chef Day Ja-Vou (who thinks she cooked this before), and Chef Julia Chives, you know you are in for a deliciously fun night out at the 3rd annual mystery dinner at the Rapids Restaurant. This event will benefit the instrumental music program at Gateway High School. Details in the complete article.
- NOW ACCEPTING MS SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATIONS: All students who will attend Gateway Middle School next year are invited to attend a 4-week summer camp at Gateway running July 9th through August 2nd. This is a great opportunity for rising 5th grade students to really get to know their way around the school! (And for grade 6 – 8 students to show them the way!) Students can attend Monday/Wednesday sessions or Tuesday/Thursday sessions. Check out the complete article and then download a registration form here!
- SUMMER PROGRAMS TO BOOST STUDENT MCAS PERFORMANCE OFFERED: Students in Middle and High School who have struggled to pass the MCAS exam in the past, have been invited to a attend a summer program designed to boost student achievement. A four-week program is offered for students currently in grades 8 and 9; a three-week program is available for all others. Read why.
- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: The school committee has confirmed that the final day of school for Gateway students will be June 22, 2007; it will be a half-day. The last day of preschool will be June 21. Also, parents of any students who will be in preschool again next year are reminded to submit an updated physical and immunization record to their school their child attends.
- GATEWAY SCHOOL SAFETY REMINDER: 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’s topic addresses Expanded Learning Time, and the work that 4 district committees of students, parents and staff have undertaken over the past 5 months. Read the entire column for details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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