Tuesday, March 27, 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: “To teach children is to learn the song that is in their hearts and sing it to them when they have forgotten.” – Thomas Chandler (adopted)
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending April 6, 2007 is now posted. (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)
UPCOMING MEETINGS: The next regular meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be on March 28th at 7:30 p.m. in the Library Media Center of the Middle/High School complex. They are scheduled to see a presentation on the HS Advisory program and to continue 2007-08 budget discussions and examine revised school use policies. The Friends of Gateway are now meeting the first Tuesday of every month. Their next meeting will be April 3 at 7 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. They are working on a fundraiser for the new foundation. New members are needed and should feel welcome to attend. As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.
SIX STUDENT MUSICIANS PERFORM AT JR. DISTRICT MUSIC FESTIVAL: Six students from Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School performed at the UMASS Center on March 25th, as part of the Western Massachusetts Jr. District Music Festival. These students won their places in the concert band and jazz band by auditioning in December. The Jr. Festival features the best musicians in Western Massachusetts from grades 7, 8 and 9. Click here for more information, photos.
ANOTHER PRIZE-WINNING GATOR FOR TY CRAIG: You’ve seen his gator artwork for the past 4 years—on Middle School band tee shirts, in the high school hallways and conference room. And now you can own a Gator tee yourself! Read more in the full article.
SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR GOOD FRIDAY OBSERVANCES: Gateway schools and the Gateway Wellness Center will be closed on Friday, April 6, 2007 for Good Friday. The Littleville Wraparound program will be open to pre-registered students from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SAVE THE DATES FOR UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS AND EVENTS: If you’re out and about on canoe race weekend, don’t forget to stop in at Gateway Regional High School. Multiple fundraisers will be going on, including a “Can-Can-Cans” drive for the band, the annual craft show, a car wash, and a bake sale. The high school band is also holding a pancake breakfast on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend (May 12th). Expand your family celebration with a special breakfast, featuring REAL maple syrup! The band will also be announcing their annual Mother’s Day plant sale soon, and those plants can be picked up at the breakfast. Stay tuned for more details!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - Gateway alum and former teacher Janine Modestow is back at the Country Journal with her weekly column “Where are they now?” This column looks at graduates and what they have done since leaving Gateway. Look for it on the Gateway page of the Country Journal, each week. Janine would love to hear from more graduates or their families, so email her at jmowdestow@grsd.org or call (413) 238-0296 with contact information.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOSTER CLUB TO MEET: The Middle School Band Boosters will meet on Thursday, April 5th at 6 p.m. in the band room. All band parents are invited to attend and help plan fundraisers, the Memorial Day parade, and other upcoming events.
GATEWAY SCHOOL SAFETY REMINDER: Did you know that in the final report compiled by the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Education (“Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States”) researchers found that in 81% of instances of school violence studied, at least one person had information that the attacker was planning the school attack? In nearly two thirds of the incidents, more than one person had information. That’s why the Gateway Regional School District has a School Safety Hotline, which is monitored regularly by security monitor Jen Dubiel. We hope we never need it, but if you have critical information please know where to direct it. Read more in the complete article.
EXPANDED SCHOOL DAY GAINING INTEREST THROUGHOUT US: The New York Times reported yesterday that a number of schools across the country are considering expanding the school day. Citing the Massachusetts initiative MASS 2020 as one of the leading pilot programs in the country, the article discusses the reluctance by many parents and educators of schools considering ELT against the enthusiasm among staff and parents in Massachusetts’s schools that have made the switch. Gateway has a $15,000 planning grant to explore expanding the school day in the 2008-09 school year.
REMINDERS:
- “HOOPS FOR HEART” FUNDRAISER IS MARCH 30TH: Organizer Matt Collins reports that middle school students who raise at least $10 in donations to the American Heart Association will be rewarded with an afternoon of special activities on Friday, March 30th. But there will truly be “March Madness” at 4:30 that day, when everybody is invited to watch the game of the year: the annual student-faculty basketball game in the high school gym. Details are in the complete article.
- SPAGHETTI SUPPER AT CONWELL ON MARCH 30TH: The R. H. Conwell PTO is hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the school on March 30, 2007 with dinner served from 6 – 7:30 p.m. The menu includes spaghetti, meatballs, tossed salad, rolls and dessert. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $4.00 for children, and youngsters 3 and under are free. The PTO is looking for items for the Chinese Raffle; raffle proceeds will be used to fund a new shed.
- FINAL REMINDER ON PRESCHOOL SCREENING FOR 3 AND 4 YEAR-OLDS: Gateway is offering a developmental screening for all 3 and 4 year old children in the Gateway towns. This screening is conducted to identify where children are in their developmental growth, as well as look at any concerns or questions parents may have. Parents must call by March 30th to schedule an appointment for a screening Please click here for more information.
- SAVE THE DATE FOR SPRING PLAYWRIGHT PERFORMANCES: The Chester Theatre Co. (CTC) and Gateway Middle School will present “Waiting” an evening of one-act plays written by our grade 6 playwrights. Plays will be performed by members of the CTC’s Gateway Acting Company on Fri and Sat, April 13 and 14, @7:00 PM in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students. This program is supported by Local Cultural Council grants from all seven Gateway towns.
- GATEWAY STUDENT TO BE FEATURED ON WGBY’S “TALENTED TEENS”: Senior Chris Robie will be featured in the season opener of WGBY’s “Making it Here: Teenstyle”, premiering Monday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. on the public television station. Chris is interning this year at Zing Recording Studios in Westfield, and plans to attend Berkley College of Music to become a recording engineer. The program will repeat on Saturday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m., and is also available ON DEMAND to Comcast and Time Warner digital cable subscribers.
- SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULE ON THE INTERNET: The spring sports season begins with golf, softball and baseball tryouts starting March 19th. Click here for details on finding the spring sports schedule and other items of interest to athletes, their families and fans.
- 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. Read the complete article for details.
IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. This week, Dr. Hopson responds to calls from some town officials to vote down the adopted budget. Read the entire column for details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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