Guidance for Returning to School After H1N1: Parents are asked not to send students to school if they have flu-like symptoms. Students who are ill should not return to school until their fever has been gone for at least 24 hours, without the use of products like Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

• PUBLIC H1N1 CLINIC ON JANUARY 5 AT GATEWAY HIGH SCHOOL: All residents of the Gateway hilltowns are welcome to receive a free H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccination at a clinic on January 5, 2010. The clinic will take place at Gateway Regional High School, 12 Littleville Rd., Huntington, MA  01050 from 4 - 7 p.m. Please enter by the Superintendent's Office. Open to everyone aged 6 months or older.

• “SECOND DOSE” ELEMENTARY CLINIC AT GATEWAY DEC. 16: Gateway elementary students, and their younger siblings, who received a swine flu (H1N1) vaccination at their school the week of November 9 are now due to receive their second dose. Second doses are recommended for children who are age 9 and younger. Every child (between the ages of 6 months and age 9) who received their first dose at a Gateway  clinic may return. The “Second Dose” clinic will be held at Gateway MS/HS complex, 12 Littleville Rd., in Huntington from 6 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16. There will be enough vaccine for all of the children who were immunized in our prior clinics. The clinics will remain open until 8 p.m., so there is no need for everybody to arrive early or for the start of the clinic! Parents must attend with their children. Questions may be directed to your elementary school nurse.

• Vaccination Consent Form for students
• Middle School, Jr. High School, High School packet (home with students week ending 11/6)
• Elementary packet in red folders on October 30, 2009
• Able to volunteer for one of our clinics? Please complete a Volunteer Registration Form and return to Wendy Long (email wlong@grsd.org , fax to 667-8739 or drop off at Gateway Central Office)
• Press release on swine flu clinics for Gateway, towns dated November 2, 2009
• Vaccine Information Statement: H1N1 Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine  (The nasal spray)        in Russian  
• Vaccine Information Statement: H1N1 Influenza Vaccine - Inactivated (The "flu shot")                   in Russian
• Letter home to parents April 28, 2009
• H1N1 ("Swine Flu") Fact Sheet

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health Website
• Centers for Disease Control Website

In the event of an emergency at any Gateway School that leads to a lockdown or evacuation, PARENTS SHOULD NOT PHONE OR COME TO THE SCHOOL .  Telephoning the school could tie up phone lines that may be needed to manage the emergency, or prevent us from being able to contact you.  Coming to the school will impede the arrival of emergency vehicles. 

Information for parents will be broadcast over the same radio and television stations that announce our snow days: WMAS (94.7 FM/1450 AM), WHMP (99.3FM/1400AM), WHYN (93.1 FM, 97.9 FM, 560 AM, and 640 AM), ROCK 102 (102 FM), WGGB (Channel 40) and WWLP (Channel 22).  When possible, we will also post information on this website and on the school closing/cancellations phone line (685-1001).

In some instances, it is likely that parents will be instructed to report to another school or community building to pick up their child.  It is important that everyone understand how and where to get this information.

GATEWAY'S SAFE SCHOOLS PLAN

In light of worldwide incidents of violence in schools, and realizing the need to be prepared in the event of any critical incident, the Gateway Regional School District has developed a Safe Schools Plan.  The plan not only outlines appropriate responses to a crisis, but also supports all of our schools in creating and maintaining a safe environment, so that the likelihood of a crisis event is greatly reduced.

The plan begins with a philosophy about school safety and our shared responsibility to monitor and assess the needs of students. The Safe Schools Plan outlines steps that staff should take in the event of things like an accident, bomb threat, violent incident, or evacuation due to a problem with the school building itself. School and district Response Teams have been created and trained to manage a range of emergencies. Through several federal grants, the district has been able to work with area and national experts on school safety in developing our plan and practicing its implementation.

All staff are trained and receive a copy of the Safe Schools Plan, along with a classroom or office emergency backpack containing supplies and paperwork that might be needed. The plan also provides guidance to staff in offering emotional first aid to students, and leading classroom discussions following a serious event in the school, community or larger world.

While our schools welcome parent and community involvement, Gateway’s Safe Schools Plan helps improve school safety by requiring a single point of entry to all school buildings, and specific steps that school visitors are asked to follow. 

Parents also play a special role in supporting their children through any tragic situation, and the plan offers information for parents.  Parents should also take note of the information at the top of this webpage on what to do if an emergency takes place at any Gateway school.

Those seeking more information on school safety should consult our additional weblinks.