GATEWAY GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT LAUDED AT STATE CONFERENCE: Gateway Guidance Counselors Celeste Cianfrani, Carolyn Laurenza and Richard White played integral roles in promoting the new Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs at the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA)

Conference in April.

HIGH SCHOOL SPRING CONCERT NEXT WEEK: The Annual Spring Concert for Gateway Regional High School will be Thursday, May 15th at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Highlights for this year’s concert include a number of senior soloists—including a band piece that will be performed entirely by seniors—and the unveiling of a newly commissioned choral work composed by Instrumental Director Paul Sawyer. The concert will feature the Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band and Show Choir. Admission will be $1.00 (free with the donation of a canned good for the Gateway Food Pantry) with tickets available at the door. The public is warmly invited.

GATEWAY MIDDLE SCHOOL ORIENTATION: Dates for the orientation of incoming fifth grade students next year have been finalized. Read the article for details; if you are planning to come to Gateway Regional Middle School next year through school choice, please contact the GMS Guidance Department to make arrangements (685-1207).

REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPERS NAME ALL-SCHOLASTIC WINTER SPORTS TEAMS: Fifteen students from Gateway Regional High School were honored by the Republican Newspaper, for academic and athletic achievements during the winter sports season.

MAKING ‘CENTS’ OF HEALTH CARE FINANCING: The Massachusetts Family-to-Family Health Information Center will offer a presentation on health care financing on Wednesday, May 14th from 7 – 9 p.m. at Gateway. Featured will be an overview of MassHealth Programs for families who have children with special health care needs.

BLANDFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S ‘QUEST FOR A MILLION PENNIES’: Students at Blandford Elementary School are proving that sometimes it’s the little things that count.

R.H. CONWELL MINI-COURSES UNDERWAY: R. H. Conwell Elementary School students are benefiting again this year from their spring mini-course program—a joint effort between school staff and parent/alumni/community volunteers. Courses this year include: Making a Bird house, Cooking, Cheerleading, Scottish Dancing, Painting, Gardening, and Biking. Instructors include Tina Brooks, Kirsten Henshaw, Hillary Casterline, Kelly Wolf, Elizabeth Goodwin, Karen Smith, Joanne Dupont, Catherine Hanks, Jill Shippee, Amy Coyne, Regina Fitzgibbons, Kathleen Mahoney, Janine Modestow, Jack Scanlan and Jessica Rida.

CHESTER SPAGHETTI SUPPER RAISES $800; PLAYGROUND VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT: The Chester Parent-Teacher Organization raised $800 at the 5th Annual Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser, held in March. The PTO and Principal Tom Nadolny would like to thank everybody who helped and attended. Principal Nadolny reports that parent volunteers are needed to provide playground supervision between noon and 1 p.m.; please contact him (685-1360).

BAND CAN DRIVE RAISES $500:   The high school band can and bottle drive, held canoe race weekend in Huntington, raised approximately $500; meaning that students and boosters handled 10,000 cans and bottles! The band would like to thank everybody who participated and seeks help in redeeming some late donations. If you are able to help, please contact Mr. Sawyer at psawyer@grsd.org .

SOCIAL HOST LAWS IN MASSACHUSETTS: Help our students celebrate the prom and graduation season safely this year. Adults who hold a party on their property for students and allow alcohol to be served are criminally liable for anything that happens to students as a result of that drinking. Some judgements under this law have exceeded $1 million. A great explanation of the Social Host Law can be found on the Essex County District Attorney’s Office webpage. Students got the message last Monday (see Mock Crash article, above) and hopefully parents will too.

REMINDERS:

• SPECIAL LAPTOP OFFER FOR GRADUATING SENIORS: Technology Director Angela Burke has announced a special purchase program for the Class of 2008—or for families who wish to surprise them with a new laptop computer for college. Complete and return the registration form (which includes details on the program) by May 23rd. Payments can be made in full, or over a 3 month period (May, June and July).
• EARLY RELEASE ON MAY 6TH: Marking a change from the original 2007-08 calendar, a reminder that the May Early Release day will take place on May 6th (not May 20th). Read the complete article for details and a reminder on the June 10th “make-up” early release.
• GHS SPORTS BANQUET ON MAY 29TH/NOMINATIONS FOR HALL OF FAME ACCEPTED UNTIL MAY 9TH: The Annual Sports Banquet for Gateway High School will be held on Thursday, May 29th from 6 – 10 p.m. at Tekoa Country Club. Recognition and awards will be given to J.V. and Varsity athletes from all sports, all seasons. Ticket prices and further details in the complete article.
• FUTURE SUCCESS PROGRAM OFFERED TO GHS SENIORS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS: The Gateway Regional High School Guidance Department is pleased to offer an in-school presentation to seniors, and their parents/guardians, entitled “Making College and Career Count.”

• SAVE THE DATE FOR RETIREE RECEPTION: Fourteen Gateway staff members are retiring this year, and the Gateway Regional School Committee will honor them at a reception at 6:30 p.m. on May 28th in the courtyard. This event is open to students, parents, family, friends, colleagues (present and past) and alumni who would like to wish them well! Retirees are Linda Battles, Lynn Boyce, James Hale, George Hart, Elaine Hollander, Pauline McCarthy, Michael Meehan, Christine Mulcahy, Christine Scherpa, John Scherpa, Susan Schiller, Robert Shipman and Nancy Shutt.
• GATEWAY CALENDAR APPROVED: The Gateway Regional School Committee approved the 2008-09 School Year Calendar at their March 26th meeting.
• 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.
• 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 presents some of the highlights from the April 30th budget trends presentation, for those who were not able to attend. Read the entire column for details.

Have a great week!