Breaking News From Gateway

March 4, 2008

Dear Friends of Gateway:

Here is this week’s installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter. As always, your feedback and suggestions are welcome.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)

COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending March 15, 2008 is now posted. (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)

UPCOMING MEETINGS: The public hearing for the 2008-09 school year budget will take place tomorrow evening (see below) at 7:30 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. The next meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be March 12th at 7:30 p.m. in the MS/HS Library Resource Center (2nd floor). Extra agendas and handouts will be available for visitors. The next meeting of the Friends of Gateway will be March 4 from 7 – 9 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.

11th ANNUAL READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY: “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” So reads the slogan on the Read Across America website. Gateway students and schools participated for the 11th year, with National Honor Society members from the high school reading Dr. Seuss books to students at all five elementary schools. Click here for details.

(L to R) Erin McQuade and Molly McCarthy read to students in Sue Schiller's class at Littleville.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2008-09 SCHOOL BUDGET: The Public Hearing for the 2008-09 school year budget will be Wednesday, March 5, 2008 in the Gateway Performing Arts Center, beginning at 7:30 p.m. This will be the final opportunity for the public to weigh in on any proposed changes to programs, fees, town assessments or other budgetary items before the School Committee votes to adopt the budget on March 12, 2008. By law, the school committee must adopt a budget 45 days before the first town meeting. The Performing Arts Center is located in the Middle/High School on Littleville Road in Huntington. The auditorium is off of the main entryway, and parking is available in front of the school.

GATEWAY SCHOOLS TO CLOSE FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: All schools in the Gateway Regional School District will be closed to students on Thursday, March 20th for parent-teacher conferences. This marks a change from the original school year calendar, which had the conference date as March 24th. The change was made due to MCAS examinations. Gateway schools will also be closed on Friday, March 21 for Good Friday observances. The Littleville Wrap-Around will be open both days from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pre-Registration is required and parents must pack a lunch and snacks for those days. The Gateway Wellness Center will be open for regular hours on Thursday, but will close for the Friday holiday. Click here for a Middle School conference request form.

HIGH SCHOOL TALENT SHOW FUNDRAISER: Students from the Gateway Regional High School will demonstrate a range of talents—song, dance, comedy, film, and much more—at the annual Talent Show on Friday, March 14th from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Admission prices are $5 for adults, $4 for students and the event is open to the entire community. Proceeds will benefit the Yearbook and the Class of 2008.

PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN SCREENING COMING UP: Any hilltown family with a child who will be 3 or 4 years of age by April 28th is eligible to participate in the district’s annual Preschool Screening. Children who will be five years old on or before September 1st should participate in the district’s Kindergarten screening. Details on dates, times, and how to schedule an appointment in the complete article.

LITTLEVILLE LIBRARY READ-A-THON: The Littleville library is holding a Read-A-Thon through the month of March to honor Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Family and friends of Littleville students are encouraged to sponsor children for reading books; every student who participates will receive a prize and certificate. Forms and pledge money are due back on March 24th; proceeds will go towards books and materials for the library.

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES: BIRTH THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL: As our early childhood educators organize another round of Preschool and Kindergarten Screenings for our district’s young children, I thought this website might be interesting for people to look at. It not only identifies ages and stages of development for young children—it continues through elementary, middle and high school years.

REMINDERS:

GATEWAY CALENDAR CHANGES FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE AND EARLY RELEASE DAYS: This article outlines three major calendar changes that will be taking place in March, May and June. Read more about the dates in the complete article.
STUDENT SUCCESS PRESENTATION SCHEDULED FOR GHS JUNIORS AND PARENTS: The nationally acclaimed presentation “Making Your College Search Count” program will be offered to Gateway juniors and their parents on Tuesday, March 11 at 1 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Click here for more information.
SCHEDULING UNDERWAY FOR NEXT YEAR’S FRESHMAN CLASS: Students course selection sheets must be signed by parents/guardians and returned no later than March 6th.

“GATOR GRINS” INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR LITTLEVILLE PARENTS: What do you do when your child needs to have a dental cleaning, dental sealants or a cavity filled? If your child attends a Gateway school—starting with Littleville Elementary this spring—you might have those services provided at school! Read more about the new dental program offered in Gateway schools by the Hilltown Community Health Centers staff.
GATEWAY TO PARTICIPATE IN STATE SPECIAL EDUCATION SURVEY: Parents and guardians of Gateway students who receive special education services will receive a survey from the State Director for Special Education in Massachusetts in April. Click here for details.
LITTLEVILLE JOINS “SEARCH AND GIVE” PROGRAM: Littleville Elementary School has become part of the Search and Give program through Microsoft. Anyone who searches the Internet can support Littleville Elementary School by signing up online at www.searchandgive.com. Once registered, Microsoft will donate a “ticket” to Littleville’s account. Later this school year, the tickets will be converted to cash and the school will receive a check from Microsoft in the mail. Enrollment is free and there is no cost to the school or people who register. Each supporter can earn a maximum of 10 tickets per day.
SNOW DAYS COULD IMPACT APRIL VACATION: Spring Break for Gateway students and staff is scheduled for April 21 – 25th, but not if the district incurs too many more snow days. Read more in the complete article.

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.
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, this week’s Superintendent’s Corner is now posted. This week, Dr. Hopson speaks to the annual auditing process and other operating procedures that safeguard our fiscal health. Read the entire column for details.

Have a great week!

Wendy V. Long, Editor

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, please send an email request to gatewaynews@grsd.org

“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