Tuesday, October 2, 2007

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: “We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone…and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individuals threads from one to another that creates something.” Former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor 

COMING EVENTS:  A schedule of activities for the week ending October 12, 2007 is now posted.  (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)

UPCOMING MEETINGS:  The next meeting of the Gateway Regional School Committee will be October 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Library/Media Center (2nd floor) at Gateway MS/HS. The first half-hour of all School Committee meetings this year will be dedicated to planning for the future. The Friends of Gateway will meet on October 9th at 7 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. This is different from their custom of meeting the first Tuesday of each month. The meeting was rescheduled to accommodate the R. H. Conwell Open House. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.  

AP SCHOLAR AWARDS: Two members of the Class of 2007 were named as AP Scholars by the College Board, in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. Erin Judge and Ariana Rizzitana qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher. Read more in the complete article.

GATEWAY SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR COLUMBUS DAY: All Gateway schools will be closed on Monday, October 9 for Columbus Day. The Gateway Wellness Center will also be closed. The Littleville Wrap-Around Program will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; space is limited and parents must sign up in advance.

GHS LEADERS ATTEND NEASC FOLLOW-UP SEMINAR: Receiving their final Accreditation Report in the process, Kathleen McSweeney, Glenda Donovan and Rob Shipman attended a follow-up seminar sponsored by the Commission on Public Secondary Schools of the new England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).  They now have 60 days to present and distribute the report to stakeholders, and expect to have the final verdict on the school’s accreditation shortly. Click here for details.

LITTLEVILLE SUPPORTING U.S. SERVICEMEN; “PROJECT BEANIE BUNDLES” NOT YOUR TYPICAL MARINE MISSION: The Littleville PTO is collecting new and used Beanie Babies, with a surprising purpose in mind. It is all part of “Project Beanie Bundle”—a highly specialized mission for marines from Western Massachusetts and North Central Connecticut. Read on…

“WHEN THE ANIMALS DANCED” PROGRAM AT BLANDFORD, CHESTER SCHOOLS: Bob E. Thomas will present his program “Dances With Animals” at several Gateway Elementary Schools.  He will be at Blandford Elementary School on October 11th (2 p.m.), and at Chester Elementary School on Friday, October 12th at 1:30 p.m. These performances are funded through the Blandford and Chester Local Cultural Councils.  See his website for more information

CONWELL BOX-TOP CONTEST: R. H. Conwell’s PTO is holding a box top contest, and the winning class will earn a special treat. Students are bringing in box top logos from General Mills products and sending them to school.  The logos are then turned in for funds to purchase additional school materials and supplies.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? The Federal No Child Left Behind Act is undergoing reauthorization, and legislators and educators nation wide are considering a number of changes—including its name. Educational leaders across the country are weighing in on alternative names, ranging from “Children First” to “All the Money Left Behind”. Check out the Washington Post article for more ideas. 

REMINDERS:

• GATEWAY PHONE DIRECTORIES ON SALE NOW! For anyone who has ever listened to cell phone minutes click away while an electronic voice asks you to enter the first four digits of somebody’s last name, we have a solution—at least as far as contacting Gateway teachers and staff. The Friends of Gateway have published a directory of phone numbers to all district staff and phone lines.  Keep it by your phone the next time you want to know if school is cancelled due to bad weather, report your child as absence, or follow-up with the school nurse on a playground injury. Read more in the complete article—including how you can purchase this “must have” item for parents.
• PARENT LITERACY NIGHT: Parents of Gateway students in grades K – 6 are invited to a special event entitled, “Your Child and Reading” on Wednesday, October 3 from 7 – 8 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center.  Click here for the full article; you can also view the flyer that went home with students.
• COLLEGE APPLICATION WORKSHOP: The Gateway High School Guidance Department will present a workshop for high school seniors and their parents/guardians on “The College Application Process.”  This workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the GRHS Career Center.  Click here for more information.
• ATHLETIC BOOSTERS TO MEET: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club will meet on Sunday, October 7th at Stanton Hall in Huntington at 7 p.m.  New members are needed to help with all Gateway athletic sports throughout the year.  For more information, please call Deb Lariviere at 667-3121.
• SCHOOL COMMITTEE HITS THE ROAD AGAIN THIS YEAR; WILL MEET IN ALL SEVEN TOWNS: Huntington is covered, with the majority of School Committee meetings taking place at the Gateway complex on Littleville Rd. The school committee will meet in the other six member towns this year, in keeping with recent practice. This is done to make it easier for community members and town officials to attend at least one school committee meeting a year. It also allows school committee members to visit the outlying Gateway schools.  Additional information is in the complete article, or go to the School Committee Calendar on the district website.
• WELLNESS CENTER TO START UP AEROBICS & YOGA SOON: Gary St. Peter reports that the Wellness Center is getting ready to offer aerobics and yoga classes.  He’d like to hear from anyone interested in attending, to try to find the day and time that works best for each class. If you are interested in joining a class, please contact Gary (685-1040 or email gstpeter@grsd.org ).
• VOLUNTEERS  - SAVE THE DATE! This year’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner will be held on February 8, 2008 from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Gateway MS/HS cafeteria. The volunteer dinner is free to anyone who volunteers in a Gateway school by chaperoning field trips, working in a parent center or library, sponsoring student interns, serving on PTO’s, school councils or other committees, or working on fundraisers/special events—to name just a few examples. The dinner is sponsored by the Friends of Gateway. More details to come!
• HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE ON THE WEB: The fall sports schedule for Gateway Regional High School can be found on the web.
• 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 students. 

IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached.  This week, Dr. Hopson announces his plans to put forward a 2.5% increase for next year’s budget, to ease the financial constraints of our member towns.  Read the entire column for details.

Have a great week!

Wendy V. Long, Editor