Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Dear Friends of Gateway:
Here is this week’s installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter. As always, your feedback and suggestions are invited.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure. - Emma Goldman
COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending September 29, 2006 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 on September 27 at 7:30 p.m. The School Committee will meet in each of the district towns and schools this year (more details below), starting with a meeting at Russell Elementary School on 9/27. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.
TWENTY ONE SENIORS NAMED FOR ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP: The news was positive this week for 21 seniors at Gateway Regional High School: they are being honored for high scores on the MCAS exam with a four-year, tuition-free scholarship to a Massachusetts state college or university. Read on for details…
CONSTITUTION DAY was acknowledged at the high school on Monday, September 18th and led by two students from Mr. Gary Boisseau’s American Studies and American Government classes. Christopher Bracket and Elizabeth D’Amato delivered a school wide address at exactly 2:00 p.m. See the complete article for details.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: GATEWAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU: The Gateway Regional School Committee has announced that it will again hold meetings in all seven district towns during this school year, so that town officials and area residents will have greater access to those meetings. But discussion on the issue focused on the lack of attendance at those meetings, and the committee will consider whether or not to continue this practice for next year. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27th at Russell Elementary School. Read the complete article for details.
PRINCIPAL ANNOUNCES MONTHLY PARENT/COMMUNITY FORUMS: High School Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced that she and Assistant Principal Laurie Marvel will again host monthly Administrative Forums, to hear concerns and suggestions from parents and community members. The first Forum is scheduled for Monday, September 25, 2006 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room of the HS office. The complete article has the entire schedule for the year.
PSAT EXAM SIGN-UP DEADLINE OCTOBER 2ND:The PSAT Exam will be given at Gateway Regional High School on October 18, 2006. Students may sign up in the High School Guidance Office, and a $12.00 fee must be paid at sign up. The deadline to register for the test is October 2, 2006. All Juniors are encouraged to take the PSAT, which is a practice test for the SAT. Most 4 year colleges in the Northeast require results of the SAT exam for admission. For more information, please stop by the High School Guidance Office.
SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR (SIB) RATES CONTINUE TO RISE:
Cornell University Researchers, reporting on the largest study to date on cutting and other self-injurious behaviors (SIB), found that 1 in 5 female college students reported practicing one or more forms of SIB. SIB can include cutting, burning, ripping or pulling skin or hair, biting, bruising oneself and even intentionally breaking one’s bones. A slightly smaller number (14%) of male students also reported the practice. Only a few students sought medical help for their behavior and resulting injuries. Findings were consistent with other studies showing SIB as a growing problem in the past 5 years, tying the phenomenon with an increase in stress and decrease in coping mechanisms among youth. The report was published in the June issue of Pediatrics and can be viewed online.
REMINDERS:
- LATE START ON SEPTEMBER 21ST: Parents and students are advised that there will be a two-hour delayed start day on Thursday, September 21st for staff professional development. This is part of a series 2-hour delayed start days at Gateway to bring staff together for training. The days work like a late start for snow days: students will be picked up at their regular bus stops and arrive at school two hours later than usual. Staff will report at their regular time and will participate in training planned for each day. The delayed start days have been used for the past three years, to offset the reduction in professional development due to state cuts in Chapter 70 funding. The late-start days for the remainder of this school year are: October 19, December 7, March 15, April 12, and May 24.
- WELLNESS POLICY IN EFFECT THIS YEAR: The new Wellness Policy goes into effect this school year. The entire policy is posted on the district website. There are also links to other valuable resources, including ideas for classroom and school celebrations that are in accordance with the policy.
- HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE ON THE WEB: The fall sports schedule for Gateway Regional High School can be found on the web at www.highschoolsports.net
IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. This week, Dr. Hopson reviews Gateway’s AYP status and discusses next steps for the district and schools that did not make AYP. Click here for the full column.
Have a great week!
Wendy V. Long, Editor
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