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:  “It doesn’t do any good to sit up and take notice if you just keep sitting.” — Unknown

 

COMING EVENTS: A schedule of activities for the week ending December 25, 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, January 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gateway Performing Arts Center. The Elementary School Consolidation decision is scheduled to be considered. 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, January 12 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.

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START (CAREER) PLANNING: Students at Gateway Regional Middle School finished a month-long unit on career planning, when students held a Career Fair--with exhibits they made on various jobs, following interviews with adults in their lives.

Sixth grader Nick Hyland ponders one of the classroom career exhibits at the December 7th event.

 

SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY BREAK: All Gateway schools will be closed from December 24 through January 1 for the holiday vacation week. Schools will reopen on Monday, January 4, 2010.

WINTER SPORTS INFORMATION: Athletic Director Gary St. Peter has announced the availability of season passes for home basketball games, and how to find the winter sports schedule.

2010 YEARBOOKS ON SALE NOW; SR. PARENTS INVITED TO PURCHASE PHOTO AD: The The 2010 Portal—Gateway High School’s annual yearbook—is now on sale. Those wishing to purchase a copy, please complete this form and return it with payment to Mrs. Marilyn Durken, c/o the high school. Orders received by December 31 will be charged $50; afterwards, the price increases to $55.  ALSO, parents of graduating seniors may participate in the tradition of a family ad in this year’s Portal. There’s still time to get your ad in: click this flyer for details.

GATEWAY WELLNESS CENTER HOLIDAY BREAK SCHEDULE: The Gateway Wellness Center will be closed some of the dates of the holiday vacation week.

SAVE THE DATE FOR FAFSA WORKSHOP! The Gateway Guidance Department is offering a free evening workshop to help seniors and their families begin their financial aid forms. Make sure you get your PIN # ahead of time; bringing your social security number and most recent tax forms will be helpful. Click here for details!

R. H. CONWELL LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA FUNDRAISER: Orders will be delivered in time for Super Bowl Weekend! Orders and money are due Friday, January 16. Delivery will be Wednesday, January 27, with pickup between 4:30 and 5.

 

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

SUSTAINING AND IMPROVING READING AT HOME: Parents can do so much at home to help their child educationally. As you prepare for the holiday break, consider both gifts (books, journals, “special” pens and pencils) and activities (courtesy of Education World) to help your child have fun while they continue to build their reading and writing skills!

REMINDERS:

• HOLIDAY CONCERTS THIS WEEK: Musicians attending Gateway Middle School, Jr. High School and High School will hold their holiday concerts next week in the Gateway Performing Arts Center.
• “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.
• SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER STILL HAS SEASONAL FLU VACCINE: Eileen Hirsch, Nurse Practitioner at the Gateway School-Based Health Center, reports that they still have doses of the seasonal flu vaccine for students. Both inactivated and live seasonal flu vaccines are available. Parents who want their child to be vaccinated for seasonal flu, please call the SBHC at 667-0142. Please note that the seasonal flu nasal spray vaccine (live) needs to be at least 28 days from the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine.
• SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS: Principal Kathleen McSweeney has announced that her two schools will hold their monthly School Council meetings next week. The High School Council will meet on Monday, December 14. The Jr. High School Council will meet on Wednesday, December 16. Both meetings will be held from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room. New members are needed and welcome to attend.
• PSAT RESULTS REVIEW ON DECEMBER 18: Juniors and sophomores who took the PSAT exam last fall will meet with GRHS Guidance Counselors Celeste Cianfrani and Carolynn Laurenza next week during advisory.  Counselors will introduce “My College QuickStart™, a free online personalized planning kit that will use each student’s PSAT results to take the next steps toward college, including a complete score report, a customized SAT study plan, a personalized list of colleges, majors and careers, and access to MyRoad™--a college, majors and careers exploration tool.
• CONWELL COOKBOOK PLANNED: The R. H. Conwell PTO is seeking best recipes for a cookbook fundraiser. Please email your favorite recipes to zeus405@aol.com or drop them off at the R. H. Conwell office before February 1, 2010.
• 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.
• 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, a reprise--with updated information--of some of the challenging issues in the elementary consolidation question. Read the entire column for details!

                                                                                           Wendy V. Long, Editor