Dear Friends of Gateway:

Here is this week’s installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter.  As always, your feedback and suggestions are welcome.  Back issues of Breaking News and past Superintendent’s Corners are posted on the News Archive (under “general information” on the district website).  As always, your feedback and any suggestions for improvements are welcome.   

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “We become what we think about all day long.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending December 11, 2009 is now posted.  (Items for this calendar should be submitted at least two weeks ahead of time!)

UPCOMING MEETINGS: The Gateway Regional School Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the Gateway Library (2nd floor). The Friends of Gateway have changed their standard meeting time to the SECOND Tuesday of each month, at 6:30 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. The Friends of Gateway will next meet on Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. New members are sought and are welcome to join this group, whose goals include improving communications, parent involvement, and volunteerism in support of student achievement. The public is invited and encouraged to attend all meetings.

 

 

ALUMNI RETURN TO SERVE HIGH SCHOOL: Nearly 40 Gateway High School alumni returned the day before Thanksgiving to speak with current students about their college and military experiences.

Gateway HS Alumni gather for a photo on November 25th.

GATEWAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO MEET DECEMBER 9: The Gateway Regional School Committee will take a vote on the future of Gateway elementary schools, at its only scheduled meeting for the month of December.

HIGH SCHOOL FIRST TERM HONOR ROLL: Over 150 high school students made the honor roll in the first marking period.

ANNUAL “TURKEY TROT” RAISES FOOD FOR LOCAL PANTRY: Students from Gateway Middle School participated in their 2nd Annual Turkey Trot, raising over 300 non-perishable foods for the Huntington Food Pantry.

WORKSHOP FOR GATEWAY FACULTY, STAFF: The Wellness Initiative will visit Gateway on Thursday, December 10th from 2:15 - 5:00 p.m., with information on identifying stressors and unplugging them this holiday season. Included will be identifying and reducing stress, brief chair massages (ongoing), healthy snacks, flexibility assessments and ergonomic presentations for proper lifting (at 2:15, 3 and 3:30), door prizes every 15 minutes, and take home copies of the Decision Care Guide Book to help manage your health. Family members of Gateway faculty and staff may also attend.

GATEWAY ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB MEETING: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club will meet on Sunday, December 6 at Stanton Hall at 7 p.m. The Boosters are actively looking for new members to help fundraise for all Jr./Sr. High School sports. If you cannot attend but are interested in helping, please call Deb Lariviere @ 667-3121.

 

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: Dedicated to helping Gateway parents raise strong, safe, healthy and high-achieving kids!

MEMA WINTER ADVISORIES: The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has issued their annual winter weather advisories. Thanks to Charlie Kaniecki, District Health Officer for the Department of Public Health, they are all compiled into a single document. Brush up and plan ahead for winter snow, ice, winds, power outages, and the like!

REMINDERS:

• EARLY DISMISSAL ON DECEMBER 1: All schools in the Gateway Regional School District will be dismissed two hours early on Tuesday, December 1, for staff professional development.
• ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFTS AND BUFFET BRUNCH AT BLANDFORD: The Blandford Elementary PTO reports that the annual Holiday Craft and Buffet Brunch event will be held on Sunday, December 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa will be on hand to visit with kids and have photos taken. All are welcome to share in the good food and fun! Make and take crafts will be available for kids. A buffet brunch complete with holiday goodies will be served throughout the event. The buffet is $6 for adults and $4 for children (aged 3 – 12).
• R. H. CONWELL FOOD DRIVE: Students at R. H. Conwell are collecting food for the Gateway Hilltown Food Pantry, as part of a larger community effort to collect 1000 food items for the pantry. These donations help local families who are currently struggling to provide adequate food to their children. Please be as generous as possible. The food drive will run from November 23 to December 21. Items may be brought to the school.
• CHESTER GRADE 3-4 HOLIDAY WISH LIST: Students in Ms. Cabral’s Grade 3-4 classroom have updated their wish list of needed materials.
• COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW TO BE UNDERTAKEN AT GATEWAY: Margery Gerard, Director of Pupil Services for the Gateway Regional School District, has announced that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be conducting its Coordinated Program Review the week of December 7 – 11. Any member of the public may ask to be part of a telephone interview by the visiting team. Read the entire article for details.
• WINTER ATHLETICS: The winter sports season begins November 30, 2009. All paperwork must be completed before a potential student-athlete may tryout. Please see Mr. St.Peter in the Wellness Center for details.
• GATEWAY TO HOST ELDERS FOR HOLIDAY CONCERT AND LUNCHEON: The Gateway Regional School District extends a warm invitation to area senior citizens for the annual event, to be held on Wednesday, December 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m.
• SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE SAME-DAY ACCEPTANCE: Seniors at Gateway Regional High School can submit an early application to STCC on December 8th, and get offered acceptance that same day! A STCC Representative will be at Gateway on December 8 to meet with students headed for the college. Qualified students will be offered conditional acceptance on the spot. Students must prepare and bring a completed STCC application, official high school transcript and their MCAS scores to the meeting. Interested students should meet with their Guidance Counselor in November, and must sign up for a meeting slot with STCC no later than December 2. For more information, please contact Carolyn Laurenza at 685-1107 or claurenza@grsd.org .
• WINTER WEATHER CLOSINGS AT GATEWAY: HOW WILL YOU KNOW? With winter fast approaching, it is time for parents and students to review how to find out if school is delayed or cancelled due to winter storms. In addition to your morning phone call, you can check the following avenues.
• WINTER BUS STOPS--A THING OF THE PAST: The Gateway Regional school District has confirmed that bus stops that were eliminated for the 2009-10 school year will not be restored for the winter months.
• 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.
• DISTRICT CALENDAR FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR: The district calendar for the coming school year is posted on-line, and contains Open House Dates, parent conferences, holidays, vacations, graduation and student early-release days.

• WEBSITE ON THE FUTURE OF GATEWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: Parents of students in Gateway elementary schools have a new resource for information as the district grapples with tough economic decisions and the possible closure of some schools. Click here for the website.
  

The Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached.  This week, Dr. Hopson reminds students, staff and parents of the many factors that must be taken into consideration for school delays and cancellations. Read the entire column for details!

                                                                                           Wendy V. Long, Editor