Dear Friends of Gateway:

Here is this week’s installment of Gateway’s weekly e-newsletter. 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 suggestions are welcome.   

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “Whoever one is, and wherever one is, one is always in the wrong if one is rude.” – Maurice Baring

 

COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the weeks ending April 16, 2009 and April 23, 2009 are 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, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Russell Elementary School. The Friends of Gateway meet on the first Tuesday of the month, at 9:30 a.m. in the Superintendent’s Office. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, April 6. We welcome new members to 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.

 

 

TON OF FOOD, TON OF FUN: Students from Gateway Jr. High School collected over a ton of food plus office and cleaning supplies, pet toys and cash for Dakin.

Student volunteers with staff and adoptees from the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, with collected items.

 

SPRING BREAK: Spring vacation will be April 19 – 23 for Gateway students. Read the complete article for details on the Littleville Wrap Around Program, Gateway Wellness Center, and some home sporting events that week.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR CLASS OF 2010, PARENTS: Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced the following dates of important events coming up for the Class of 2010, their parents, and other high school students.

ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB SEEKS ‘HALL OF FAME’ NOMINATIONS: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club is seeking nominations for the Athletic Hall of Fame, which honors athletes, coaches and others who have made significant contributions to Gateway as an athlete, coach or volunteer.

 

BAND BOOSTERS PLANT SALE: Members of the Gateway grade 8 - 12 band are selling plants for Mother's Day. Click here for an order form. Orders and money must be in by April 27. Please make checks payable to "Gateway Band Boosters".

ELEMENTARY CALENDAR NOTES: The next two months are very busy for young children and their parents. Read the complete article for up-to-date information.

UPCOMING SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS: Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced that the School Councils for Gateway Regional High School and Junior High School will meet next week. The high school council will meet on April 12; the jr. high council on April 14. Both meetings will be held from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room.

REMINDER ON SUMMER USE OF SCHOOLS: Gateway schools and facilities will not be available for outside groups this summer.

APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE: This section of Breaking News will feature an outstanding accomplishment by a Gateway student. This week, we recognize Gateway seniors Emma Long and Trevor Hamel, selected by the Hampshire/Franklin County Referees for the Hampshire County All-Star Basketball Teams. They played in the all-star games at Frontier High School in March.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC FOR STAFF: The Gateway School-Based Health Center is holding a free blood pressure screening for staff on Thursday, April 29th from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m.

REMINDERS:

• ANNUAL ‘CABARET’ ON APRIL 9: Music fans, take note. The Gateway Regional High School Music Department will hold its annual Cabaret on Friday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. Tickets, program details in the complete article.

• SCHOOL COMMITTEE RESUMES “1 PERSON, 1 VOTE”: At its March 24 meeting held at R. H. Conwell Elementary School, Attorney Fred Dupere affirmed that the Gateway School Committee is out of compliance with “One Person, One Vote” and outlined possible solutions to remedy this.

• RUSSELL, R. H. CONWELL AND LITTLEVILLE ORIENTATION DAY: Grades K – 4 from Russell and R. H. Conwell Elementary Schools will come to Littleville on Wednesday, April 14 for a special concert and orientation activities to bring the students and staff together. Another event will take place this spring to bring Blandford and Chester students and staff together.
• SPECIAL EDUCATION-PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS: The Gateway Regional School District has formed a new Special Education - Parent Advisory Council (Sped-PAC). The parent support group will meet on Tuesday, April 6 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the High School Career Center. The Sped-PAC will hold a meeting for business on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the High School Career Center. All are welcome!
• ASVAB TEST ON APRIL 14: Juniors and seniors at Gateway Regional High School can participate in the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) Career Exploration Assessment. Interested students should see their counselor for more information about the test and a permission slip, or call 413-685-1107 for more information. The test includes a multiple-aptitude test battery, an interest inventory and career planning tools designed to help students explore potential careers. It will take 3 hours to complete and will begin at 7:45 a.m. This is an optional test and parental permission must be obtained by March 31.
• GATEWAY ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB TO MEET: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club meeting will be held Sunday, April 11th at Stanton Hall at 7 p.m. New members are actively sought to help with fundraising for all Jr./Sr. High School sports. Projects include working the concession stand for fall and winter sports, senior night recognition during each sports season, organizing the Annual Sports Banquet, managing the scholarship program for graduating senior athletes and working on the Gateway Athletic Hall of Fame selection process. If you can’t attend the meeting but are willing to help, contact Deb Lariviere at 667-3121.
• BOOK YOUR SPORTS PHYSICAL EARLY: Hilltown Community Health Centers is making a major technology transition this summer. As a result, they will be booking fewer appointments through the summer months. Any fall athlete who is a patient of HCHC and needs a sports physical for the fall is urged to book their appointment EARLY.
• SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULE ON THE WEB: Looking for the softball or baseball sports schedule? Home games are posted in each week’s On Schedule – The Week at a Glance. But for the die hard gator fans who want to catch the away games as well, go to www.highschoolsports.net , enter our school name (or zip code 01050), and download the complete sports schedule.
• CHESTER SPAGHETTI SUPPER: The Chester Elementary PTO is hosting its annual Spaghetti Dinner on Friday, April 9. Dinner will be served from 5 – 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $7, and children ages 3 – 12 will be $5. All children under 3 are free. The menu includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, rolls, various drinks, and cake for dessert. Students have assembled baskets to be raffled off at the end of the dinner. Tickets will be available for purchase. There will also be a gift card raffle. If you have any questions, please call the school office at 685-1360.
• GATEWAY ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB SCHOLARSHIP: The Gateway Athletic Booster Club Scholarship applications are now available in the main office. Any graduating senior who has participated in high school athletics is eligible. Completed scholarships must be turned into the Gateway Athletic Director (Gary St.Peter) by May 3rd.
• APRIL SCHOOL CALENDAR NOTES: The month of April includes a holiday, an early release day and a week’s vacation for Gateway students.

• SCHOOL SAFETY HOTLINE AT GATEWAY: As part of the district’s ongoing commitment to school safety, a safety hotline is in place for the Gateway Regional School District. In the final report compiled by the US Secret Service, researchers found that in 81% of instance of school violence studied, at least one person had information that the attacker was planning the school attack. In nearly two thirds of incidents, MORE THAN one person had information.

• FATHER/SON DUO LEADING SCHOOL EFFORT FOR HAITI:  Bob and Zach Archambault are challenging the children and staff at R. H. Conwell Elementary School to collect spare change for the Haiti Charity Hope Foundation. Items such as bandaids, triple antibiotic ointment, toothpaste and soap are also being collected. Bob and Zach will deliver items to Jack Hurley (their uncle) who will travel to Haiti during April vacation. Donations accepted until Monday, April 12, 2010.
• SCHOOL COMMITTEE ADOPTS BUDGET: The Gateway Regional School Committee voted 12-2 to adopt Version 1.1 of the budget for the 2010-11 school year, and defeated a motion to calculate town assessments based on the regional agreement formula. See the entire budget and budget presentations here.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.

IN CLOSING, the Superintendent’s Corner for this week is attached. This week, Dr. Hopson takes a closer look at the 2010-11 budget and the impact that elementary consolidation had on town assessments. Read the entire column for details!

 

                                                                                           Wendy V. Long, Editor