Principal: Anita.Steward@avondaleschools.org

Assistant Principal: Angela.Castaldi@avondaleschools.org

Secretary: Angela.Williams@avondaleschools.org

Attendance Clerk: Divya.Majjari@avondaleschools.org

Website: http://www.avondaleschools.org/gate-magnet-school
Location: 1435 W. Auburn Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Phone: (248) 537-6400

Hours: Full Day- 8:11a.m-3:11p.m

Half Day- 8:11a.m-11:25a.m

Early Pickup for your student and changes to dismissal ends at 2:45p.m.

Middle School Webpage: https://sites.google.com/avondaleschools.org/gatemiddleschool/home

If you have a question or to report your child's absence please email Mrs. Majjari at divya.majjari@avondaleschools.org.

Please review the attendance and dismissal procedures for GATE Magnet School to familiarize yourself with the process.

avondale.nutrislice.com

With the onset of cold and snowy weather already this season, it becomes necessary to prepare for potential school closings. If the decision is made to cancel school, families can expect a call from Superintendent Schwarz, and the announcement to be posted on the District’s Facebook page and website along with GATE’s website. The district will also notify major media outlets to post the announcement. Typically after-school activities and clubs are canceled as well.

Dear Griffin Families,

As we wrap up the final month of 2024, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your ongoing support and partnership. December is a time for reflection, celebration, and connection—values that are central to our school community. We are so fortunate to have such a vibrant and diverse group of families, and we are deeply appreciative of all the ways you contribute to making our school a welcoming place for every student.

This month, we celebrate not only the holiday season but also the many cultural traditions that make our community so unique. Whether it's the celebration of the winter holidays, religious observances, or family traditions, we embrace the richness of the experiences our students bring with them. I encourage families to continue sharing their traditions with us, as this helps our students build empathy, understanding, and respect for one another’s backgrounds.

As we approach the holiday break, we want to thank our teachers, staff, and students for their hard work and dedication throughout the first semester. It has been inspiring to see the progress our students have made, both academically and socially, and we look forward to continuing this journey together in the new year.

We also want to remind families and staff to take time during the break to rest, recharge, and enjoy quality time with loved ones. A healthy work-life balance is important for everyone, and we hope that this season brings you peace and joy.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities that the new year will bring and are committed to continuing to support your child’s growth and success. Please stay connected with us, as your involvement is vital to our shared success.

Wishing you and your family a joyful and peaceful holiday season. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in January for a fresh start to the new year.

Warmly,

Mrs. Castaldi and Mrs. Steward

12/21 - Winter Solstice

12/24- Christmas Eve

12/25- Christmas Day

12/25- Hanukkah begins

12/26- Kwanzaa begins

12/23-1/5- No School - Holiday Break

12/31- New Year's Eve

1/10- Teacher of the year nominations due

1/15- Information Night, 5:30 pm

The Book Fair has officially left the building. If you did not get a chance to shop, do not worry. All online purchases through our Scholastic Book Fair page benefit our school, we earn 25% in Scholastic Dollars from December 12 - December 25.

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/avondalegatemagnetschool

Thank you!

--

Meghan Segel

Avondale GATE Magnet School Application Window Opens January 6, 2025

Avondale School District is excited to announce that the application window for the 2025-26 school year at Avondale GATE Magnet School will open on January 6, 2025.

The GATE program is open to students in grades 2-8, including both in-district residents and out-of-district students who wish to apply through our Schools of Choice program. All applications for GATE Magnet School are completed online and must be completed during the specific application window announced each year. The application can be found on GATE's website at www.avondaleschools.org/gate/apply.

For more information, please visit www.avondaleschools.org/gate-magnet-school or reach out at gate.applicants@avondaleschools.org.

Avondale High School Accelerated Pathways Application Window Now Open

Avondale High School is excited to share that the Accelerated Pathways program is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. The Accelerated Pathways program supports high school students who seek academic acceleration by providing access to opportunities for early advancement in their learning. Students receive guidance from the Accelerated Pathways coordinator in course planning, facilitating both academic acceleration and postsecondary planning. Application is for incoming 9th graders for the 2025-2026 school year. For more information, click here: https://secure.smore.com/n/m27ae

Greetings GATE Parents/Guardians,

The Oakland County Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards are presented annually to honor and reward teachers in Oakland County who have achieved, through their effort and example, the highest standards of excellence in their profession. Oakland Schools has created these awards out of a conviction that a quality public education system is essential to the health and vitality of our community. We believe that encouraging excellence in education is the shared responsibility of all who reap its benefits.

If you would like to nominate a GATE teacher for consideration for this award, please write a statement describing why you feel that teacher is deserving of the nomination. You can include specific examples and stories of how the teacher has gone above and beyond to support your child. Please limit your statement to 600 words and submit all nominations to the building principal by Friday, January 10.

Thank you for helping us to recognize the outstanding teachers that we have at GATE.

The Griffin Post just published its fifth edition! We wish all readers a happy holidays and a happy New Year! We appreciate our readers that have followed the GP on its journey since 2019, and we are happy to be closing 2024 off with a great edition! We hope you enjoy it, and we are excited for 2025, which will surely bring many more editions of awesome articles!

Here is the link to our website: griffinpost.wixsite.com/gate

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for your support!

Shawn (Shaurya Lohia) from grade- 5 (Ms. Drob’s class) won second place in Avondale’s Got Talent featuring students from all schools in Avondale district! Congratulations Shawn!

The Winter term is going to be here before you know it. Make sure you have registered for any vendor after-school programs your student is interested in. The list of Winter programs starts on page 3. Registration for the Winter term closes on Wednesday, January 8th.

TGA Golf make-up class has been scheduled for Thursday, January 9th from 3:20pm-4:20pm.

Being part of a committee is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to our school community, develop new skills, and collaborate with fellow parents, teachers, and students.

Important: Each individual can sign up for a maximum of two committee spots. This ensures that everyone has a chance to participate and contribute meaningfully.

Explore the different committees and find the ones that match your interests and strengths. We look forward to your involvement and the great ideas you'll bring to our school!

Thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment to making our school the best it can be!

To view and sign up for our PTO committees, click HERE

Please click to read this week's Avondale's Weekly News & Notes.

Here is the most recent Athletic Newsletter

Thanks,

Denise

Please use the Google doc link to sign up for the program.