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STUDENT GROUPS RAISE AWARENESS AT GATEWAY: Last week marked student-led service projects at Gateway, to raise awareness on social concerns ranging from hurtful language to animal adoption and violence against women. Click here for the Dakin Humane Society wish list. Click here to view the student film on the Dakin project, posted on Mr. White's webpage.
Students and staff led peers in pledging to stop using the "R-Word".
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GATEWAY BUDGET HEARING: Superintendent David B. Hopson opened the March 3rd budget hearing with a presentation on the highlights of Version 1.12 of the coming year’s budget. Click here to see the budget and view the presentation.
“SEUSSABRATION” ENJOYED BY ELEMENTARY AND HS STUDENTS: Read Across America day was enjoyed last week by National Honor Society members, many of whom returned to their own elementary schools to read to this generation of students!
GATEWAY SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: All schools in the Gateway district will be closed on Monday, March 15 for Parent-Teacher Conferences. The Littleville Wraparound Program will be closed. (The Gateway Wellness Center will be open on its usual schedule).
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!: This section of Breaking News will feature an outstanding accomplishment by a Gateway student. This week, we recognize Gateway senior Alicia LaFountain, selected by ABC News 40 as a Student of Character. You can see Alicia’s story here. Alicia was nominated by Principal Kathleen McSweeney for this honor. As a student selected for the “Student of Character” honor, Alicia will be considered with the other weekly recipients for a full scholarship to American International College.
GATOR GRINS RETURNING TO LITTLEVILLE THIS MONTH: The Gator Grins school-based dental services program will return to Littleville Elementary School this month. They will continue to treat students enrolled in the program, and complete their bi-annual cleanings and exams. If your child is not currently served by Gator Grins and you want to enroll, please get a packet in the school office. Contact Kiirsten Cooper at 667-3009 ext. 239 or email her at kcooper@hchcweb.org if you have questions.
EARLY COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT: The Gateway High School Guidance Department is hosting a workshop for 9th and 10th graders and their parents/guardians. This night will be held on Thursday, March 25 from 6 – 7 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Topics may include: college options, college entrance testing, the college search, financial aid, college visits, and getting organized for all of it! The time to start making decisions about life after GRHS will be here before you know it!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR AT LITTLEVILLE: Littleville Elementary School’s PTO is holding a Scholastic Book Fair on Monday, March 15th during Parent-Teacher Conferences. All books are half price; cash, checks made payable to “Littleville PTO” and major credit cards are accepted.
PTO MEETING UPDATE: R. H. Conwell Elementary School’s PTO will meet on Friday, March 12 at 3:15 p.m. at the school. Please disregard other meeting dates that were previously announced for March.
CAREER CHAT ON NURSING: Eileen Hirsch and Linda Dugas will be the guest speakers for the March 18th “Career Chat”, with a focus on careers in nursing. This month’s career chat will take place during lunch (12:30 p.m.) in the Career Center. Students should bring their lunch, and signup for this event in guidance by Friday, 3/12.
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WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: Dedicated to helping Gateway parents raise strong, safe, healthy and high-achieving kids!
HELPING YOUR CHILD DEAL WITH BULLYING: The state legislature is expected to vote on a new bill regarding bullying in school. This bill is in response to two students in Western Massachusetts, reportedly victims of bullying, who committed suicide. The KidsHealth Website has a great resource for kids on the why’s and how’s of bullies, and how to deal with one.
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REMINDERS:
- KINDERGARTEN SCREENING FOR GATEWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: The Gateway Regional School District will conduct a screening for students entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2010. Students must be 5 years old by September 1, 2010 to be eligible.
- HIGH SCHOOL, JR. HIGH SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS: Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced that the high school council will meet on Monday, March 8. The Jr. High School Council will meet on Wednesday, March 10. Both meetings will take place from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room.
- SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN MARCH: The Gateway Regional School Committee will have three meetings in March, and will hold two of those meetings away from the Gateway complex.
- LAST CALL FOR SENIOR PARENT ADS! Parent ad space is still available in the 2010 yearbook. If you are interested in submitting an ad, please send a $30 check (payable to GRHS), a photograph and a short greeting to Mrs. Durken or Ms. Lavigueur in the high school. Also, yearbooks are still on sale and can be purchased through Mrs. Durken for $55, or online at www.jostens.com .
- ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE INTRA-DISTRICT SCHOOL CHOICE FOR 2010-11: Students will be assigned to Littleville and Chester Elementary Schools next fall on the basis of their town of residence, so that staff and materials can be distributed in a planful way for the fall.
- AFTERSCHOOL MATH HELP STARTING: Worried about your high school student passing the MCAS exam? This program has been HIGHLY successful in preparing students for the high stakes exam.
- BLANDFORD SPAGHETTI SUPPER: If you like spaghetti and want to support a local elementary school, please join us for a benefit dinner! The Blandford Elementary PTO will hold a spaghetti supper at the school on Saturday, March 20 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Tickets ($6 for adults and $4 for children 5 to 12 years old) may be purchased at the door. Children under age 5 are free. Profits from the dinner will be used for field day and enrichment programs for Blandford students. This is a fun, community event so bring your neighbors and friends to enjoy good food and to socialize. As in the past, the dinner will be prepared by caterer Staci Iglesias.
- CHOIRS TO SELL EASTER PLANTS: The high school choirs will be selling Easter Lilies, tulips, hyacinths, regal geraniums, hydrangea and pansy pots. Plants may be picked up at Gateway on Monday, March 29 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Click here for an order form. Orders and money must be in by March 15.
- GATEWAY SCHOOLS UNAVAILABLE FOR OUTSIDE GROUPS THIS SUMMER: Gateway schools and facilities will not be available to outside groups this summer.
- GATEWAY REVERSIBLE WINTER HATS FOR SALE: Warm, reversible winter hats are available for sale in the high school, middle school and Littleville offices. They can be purchased during lunch or after school for $13. Click here for a photo. This is a fundraiser for the Class of 2013.
- NEW SCHOOL START TIMES ANNOUNCED FOR 2010-11 SCHOOL YEAR: The Gateway Regional School District voted to approve a change in school starting and ending times for the 2010-11 school year, at its January 27 meeting. The changes were made in accordance with recommendations from an independent transportation audit, conducted by the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (MASBO).
- NEW DATE FOR LEGISLATORS MEETING: The annual meeting between district and town officials and our state legislators has been changed from February 4th to March 15. The House was in session on February 4th.
- ELEMENTARY TRANSITION UPDATES: Transition planning is now underway regarding the consolidation of Gateway elementary schools. Details will be announced as they occur, and we are building a new website for parents, staff and community members. Information will also be announced in Breaking News each week, so please encourage every elementary parent you know to subscribe! Please email subscription requests to gatewaynews@grsd.org.
- FRIENDS OF GATEWAY TO THANK SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS: The Sixth Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner for all parents and community members who serve our schools will be held on Thursday, March 11, with dinner served from 5 – 7 p.m. in the MS/HS cafeteria.
- SAVE THE DATE FOR ANNUAL SPORTS BANQUET: Students and parents who participate in Gateway Jr./Sr. High School athletic programs: the Gateway Athletic Booster Club has announced the date of the Annual Sports Banquet. This year, the banquet will be held at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield on June 2. Ticket information will be coming later in the school year. Please save the date for this special event!
- APPLICATION FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH: The application form is posted to our website. If you need assistance, please contact John Bergeron or Diane Meehan at 667-2203, who would be happy to help.
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IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached.
This week, Dr. Hopson reviews the decision to promote this year’s elementary administrators into key district-wide roles in the coming year. Read the entire column for details!
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Have a wonderful week!
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