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:  “In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” – Eric Hoffer

COMING EVENTS:  A schedule of activities for the week ending December 8, 2007 is now posted.  (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!) Please note the Early Release Day is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4th. Preschool will end at 11 a.m.; MS/HS dismissal is at 12:10 p.m.; elementary students will be dismissed at 1:10 p.m.  Lunch will be served on these scheduled early release days.

GRADE 6 STUDENTS DABBLE IN CAREERS: “I would like to decide if a person is guilty or innocent in a court of law.” That was one of 64 statements that sixth grade students had to rate, while taking a career interest inventory on November 15th. It was all part of year-long activities in this pilot program to bring early career awareness to students. Read on for more information.

Gateway Middle School students Logan Rofulowitz of Huntington, and Sam Bandoski of Middlefield, take an interest inventory that may guide them toward

their future career.

STUDENT-WRITTEN PLAYS WILL BE PERFORMED BY PROS: Professional actors who are part of the Chester Theatre Company will present an evening of one-act plays at the Gateway Performing Arts Center on December 7th and 8th. Six plays—written by sixth grade students—will be performed.  Not only is this an amazing and charming event, but your attendance will help support this program for future students! Click here for details on the plays, which all follow the theme “Desperate Measures”.

LITTLEVILLE HONORS NATIONAL LITERACY MONTH: Some Littleville parents who attended the November parent-teacher conference got their own lesson and homework assignment, as part of the Fast Start Early Reading program adopted by the school this year. Click here for details.

HIGH SCHOOL SERVES COMMUNITY: The Student Council has completed its annual food drive in time for the holiday season. The recipient will be the Gateway Food Pantry at the Assembly of God church. Over 650 food items were collected, with the junior class narrowly beating out the seniors (by two items) for the highest donations. In addition, the Student Council has collected $400 in donations for the Jeremy Bouffard Memorial Fund for the Benefit of Caleb Bouffard.

BLANDFORD PTO OFFERING CRAFTS, PHOTOS AND LUNCH WITH SANTA: The Blandford PTO is sponsoring a special event at the school for families on Sunday, December 2nd. The school will be open from 11 to 2, and families can make holiday crafts (50 cents each), enjoy a buffet lunch ($6 for adults, $4 for children) and have a photo taken with Santa ($2 each, from noon to 1 p.m.).

ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB MEETING: The next meeting of the Gateway Athletic Booster Club will be held on Sunday, December 2nd at Stanton Hall at 7 p.m. The Booster Club is still actively looking for new members. If you cannot attend and are interested in supporting the high school athletic program, please call Deb Lariviere at 667-3121.

EXTRA ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS:  It’s crunch time for high school seniors, who are busy filling out college and scholarship applications. To assist, the Gateway HS Guidance Department has opened the Career Center during lunch and advisory each day. Guidance counselors Celeste Cianfrani and Pauline McCarthy will also be available on Mondays from 2:15 to 2:55 in the Career Center for seniors needing assistance with college applications, financial aide, and scholarships.

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS NEXT WEEK: The High School Council Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 3rd from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room. There is still space available to serve on this council. The Chester School Council will meet on Wednesday, December 4th from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

BEFORE YOU FINISH HOLIDAY SHOPPING… December is already on our doorstep (How is this possible?!) Whether you’ve completed your holiday shopping or you’re making a list and checking it twice, consider checking the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for a list of recalls and product safety news. Items that have been recalled due to choking hazards, fire hazards, risk of lead exposure to young children, or severe risk of injury and more are all posted. Check out toys, specialty products, sports and recreation recalls, and outdoor products.

REMINDERS:

IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. In this week’s column, Dr. Hopson presents the considerations that are taken into account when deciding on weather delays, releases or cancellations. Read the entire column for details

Have a great week!

Wendy V. Long, Editor