Tuesday, May 30, 2006
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: A wise man is one who finally realizes that there are some questions one can ask which may have no answers. - Anonymous
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending June 9, 2006 is now posted.
UPCOMING DISTRICT-WIDE MEETINGS: The next meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be Wednesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Gateway complex. The Friends of Gateway will meet on June 20, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. Students, parents, and community members are invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.
BROGA, FISK INDUCTED INTO GATEWAY HALL OF FAME: Kathleen Broga (Class of 1979) and Brad Fisk (1984) were inducted in the Athletic Hall of Fame for Gateway Regional High School at the annual sports banquet on May 22nd at the Clarion Hotel in Northampton. Broga, who batted .520 with 33 stolen bases her senior year at Gateway went on to become an All American softball player her senior year in college. Fisk set the school batting record at Gateway and the home run record at American International College. Read more on these amazing athletes, plus highlights from the sports banquet in the complete article.
SCHOOL DAYS WIND DOWN FOR CLASS OF 2006: From trips to Florida and Connecticut, dances and award ceremonies, the Class of 2006 has four more days of classes at Gateway Regional High School. Final exams start tomorrow and continue on Thursday, with make-up exams on Friday. Seniors who are seeking attendance appeals must schedule an appointment with Mrs. Thayer; the last day for appeals will be June 6th. Read more about senior activities and events, including pictures from the trip to Florida.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT ORIENTATION NEXT WEEK: Parents of 4th graders and other students who will be new to Gateway Middle School in September, are invited to a Parent Orientation on Monday, June 5 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Parents will be able to hear about many aspects of the Middle School program, including the schedule, the move-up days, school council, School-Based Health Center, and volunteering. Presenters will include Principal Peter Curro, Assistant-Principal Todd Gazda, Guidance Counselors Pauline McCarthy and Richard White, Health Center Director Ellen Baer, and Volunteer Coordinator Deb Carnes-Reilly.
DID YOU MISS AN EARLIER ISSUE OF BREAKING NEWS? Don’t worry, all of this year’s issues are still on the web and can be accessed by going to the News Archive under the “General Information” drop-down menu!
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: The last day of school for preschool students will be Friday, June 23, 2006. The last day of school for students in grades K-11 will be a half-day on Tuesday, June 27, 2006.
LITTLEVILLE IS FULL FOR 2006-2007 SCHOOL YEAR: Principal Joanne Blocker has announced that Littleville Elementary School has reached full enrollment for the coming school year, and will be unable to accept any additional school choice students.
FAMILY CENTER HOSTS “RADIO FREE JAM” THIS SATURDAY: Radio Free Jam will perform at the Family Center in Huntington on Saturday, June 3rd at 1 p.m.; this event is open free to the public. Come prepared to dance and sing, and bring an instrument (or several) to play along. This event is funded by the Hampshire County Family Network, under a grant to the Hampshire Educational Collaborative from the Department of Early Education and Care. As always, playgroups take place at the Center on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 – 9, and are free to all families with children up to age 6. Snack and activities are provided.
CONNECTICUT PASSES LAW: PARENTS WILL BE CHARGED FOR HOSTING “HOUSE PARTIES” WITH UNDERAGE DRINKING: Underage drinking on public property was always illegal, but a loophole that allowed underage drinking on private property was closed by the Connecticut State Legislature this month, and Governor Jodi Rell says she will sign. House Bill 5211 was approved unanimously by the Senate on May 2nd. Charges may now be brought if a parent or adult in charge supplies alcohol to youth in their home, if parents/adults do not halt the drinking once it is discovered, and ups the fines for infractions of the law. Read more about one of the stories behind the law—the death of Senate Intern Christine Guest—at Senator Jonathan Harris’ website.
SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS:
- MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER AT THE RAPIDS: The Gateway High School Band Boosters are hosting their 2nd annual mystery dinner: “A Medium for Murder”, presented by the Comical Mystery Tour on Thursday, June 29th at the Rapids Restaurant in Huntington. Read on for ticket info, and buy your tickets soon—this event sold out last year!
- PARENT/COMMUNITY INPUT SOUGHT ON GRANTS: Grantwriters in the Gateway Regional School District are beginning to work on grant submissions for the coming school year. As always, parent and community input is welcome as part of the grant development process. Read on for more information on the grants we are applying for, and how you can become involved.
- BUDGET PRESENTATIONS WILL CONCLUDE IN CHESTER: The 2006-2007 school district budget has been approved in five district towns, and is ratified for next year. We will hold one final budget presentation in Chester at 6:30 p.m. on May 30th at Chester Elementary School. Parents, community members, staff and town officials are all invited to attend, to ensure that voters have the opportunity to be fully apprised of the district budget and have any questions answered before their town meeting.
- SUMMER ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAM STILL ACCEPTING STUDENTS: Gateway is still accepting students for the Summer Academic Support Program, which helps students prepare for taking the MCAS exam or retest. This year’s program will take place Monday July 10th through Friday July 28th, and will run five days a week from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Students entering grades 10, 11, and 12 next year will receive 2.5 Elective Credits for attending. Participants must arrange their own transportation. The program is open to students currently in grades 5 through 11, and will include Math and English Language Arts instruction. Contact Ms. Zimmerman in room 229 (or call 685-1102) if you are interested in attending.
- CLASS OF 2006 GRADUATION: Will be held at 6 p.m. on Booster Field, on Friday, June 9th. If the weather is bad, the ceremony will be held in the Gateway Performing Arts Center, and graduates will be limited to 4 guests each.
IN CLOSING, this week’s Superintendent’s Corner is now posted. This week, Dr. Hopson congratulates the Class of 2006 for their success at Gateway, and reflects upon how the last 18 years have flown by for their parents. Read the entire column for full details.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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