Gates Notes & News

Welcome to March! Hopefully, we are past the snowy, wintery weather and spring is right around the corner. March is always a favorite as we celebrate Reading Month. In years past, some of you will remember that we participated in One School, Once Book and everyone read the same chapter book. While a wonderful program, this year we have decided to do something a little different and read several books by various Michigan authors.

Below you will find a calendar that includes the stories we will be reading in the classroom, but that you can also enjoy via the hyperlink when you access the calendar digitally. Also included are various literacy and family activities that we hope you enjoy with your children. Lastly, we will be doing drawings all month for students to win books by Michigan authors or tokens to our book vending machine.

I hope you will join us for Family Reading Night on Wednesday, March 19th! Until then, remember, reading twenty minutes before bed gets your child ahead!

Most Sincerely,

Natalie Miller

Proud Gates Principal

Please join us as we prepare to meet a variety of heartwarming, courageous, loving and funny characters in this month's featured books! During this specially designated month of reading families will receive a copy of the Gates Reading Calendar seen below - complete with links to various activities and family read-alongs. Watch for special "spirit days" and check out the activities to try at home.

Family Reading Night will be held on March 19th from 5-7pm. Families are invited to attend and will be treated to various crafts, games, featured guest readers and will even be able to sign up for a Genesee District Library card. And of course there will be books.... lots and lots of books - both featured and raffled off to take home!

Encouraging a daily reading habit at home is a wonderful way to support your child’s literacy development and love for books! Thank you for your support in making “March is Reading Month” an exciting and inspiring time for our students! Happy Reading!

The 4th Grade Musical, "The Music of Hollywood", will take place on March 6th at 6:30 pm. Information was sent home with students detailing attire and meeting location. The students are excited to be able to share their talents with you and are very much looking forward to being on stage at the new Davison Performing Arts Center at Davison High School. Any questions, please email Music Teacher, Mrs. Carter at ecarter@davisonschools.org

The 3rd Grade Musical, "The High Seas", has been rescheduled for March 10th at 6:30 pm. A notice was sent home last week with students detailing the event's theme, procedures and attire. The students are eagerly waiting to showcase their talents with you and are very much looking forward to being on stage at the new Davison Performing Arts Center at Davison High School. Any questions, please email Music Teacher, Mrs. Carter at ecarter@davisonschools.org

Gates will host a Scholastic Book Fair March 10th- March 13th for students. A flyer will be sent home with ordering options and some of the books that will be for sale. Students will be able to shop each day or during their regularly scheduled library time. However, on Tuesday March 11th, the Fair will be open until 6pm for parents to come in and shop.

There is still time to sign up to attend the Gates PTO Mother/Son Bowling event! Interested parents should complete the form and return with funds to the Gates office or register online by March 5th.

The Mobile Dentist will be back at Gates for previous student-patient's 6 months checkups and seeing new students whose parents complete the form sent home prior to break. Forms are available in the office. Online registration is also welcome at www. MySchoolDentist.com

Students must be registered by March 7th.

Spring is trying to step up and take the place of those freezing temps! Please make sure your child wears a warm coat daily as well as lighter layers in case of warmer afternoon temperatures Additionally, remind your child to try to avoid puddles and wet areas so they don't have to endure wet clothes. It's a great idea to mark all clothing with your child’s name. Students should also be reminded that they should keep track of any items taken off outside during recess. Remember, students will go outside everyday for recess unless it is raining or the temperature is below zero. If your child is in need of a coat, please contact our office. We are here to help!

If you have any socks or elastic waist pants (sweatpants) you'd like to donate, please drop them off in the office for students to borrow.

For consistency, www.weather.gov is the website used by DCS to determine the temperature daily.

Our next Early Release Day will be Wednesday, March 19th. Students will be dismissed at 1:43pm. End of the day procedures will remain the same as on other days but will take place 2 hours early. On these dates, teachers will be participating in professional development meetings in the afternoon.

It is important that your child know how they are going to get home each day. While we understand that occasionally situations arise that may cause you to request a change in your student’s usual means of transportation, you must call the office no later than 3:15 pm and talk directly to one of the office staff to ensure that the change is made. An online chart is shared with teachers who project the changes on their white boards prior to dismissal.

However, if a change is known prior to the start of school, please make sure to change your child's backpack tag. Thank you for your support.

One student from each class is chosen every month by their teacher for following the Cardinal Code, making attendance a priority and being a generous, helpful and kind friend to others! Their pictures are displayed on a hallway bulletin board and they are awarded a special lunch courtesy of Jimmy Johns.

The February, 2025 Fan Favorites are: Mila Beasley, Maverick Hagen, Hudson Patterson, Easton Cheeney, Andrew Dodge, Liam Bradford, Camilia Flores, Oliver Higgins, Vivianne Harding, Isabelle Duby, Blake Ferguson, Ellory Craine, Emalyn Evans, Rhonin Thomas, Logan Trobaugh, Wyatt Hafer, Bennett Evans, Jammie Gardner, Kinsely Watters, Oliver Brodie

Congratulations to these amazing students!

Be sure to join us for our next PTO meeting, March 11th at 6:00 pm in the Gates Library.

Get Involved! Many studies indicate increased student success when families join educational staff in creating exciting and memorable experiences together. Remember, all volunteers must have an approved volunteer application on file.

Feel free to contact the Gates PTO at gatespto@gmail.com

It’s that time of year when Mother Nature can lead to school cancellations. Be sure to turn on your television before your children leave for school when storms roll through our area. Better yet! Sign up for email and text alerts from Davison Community Schools and get the news before it hits the news! If you haven’t done so yet, you can sign up to receive text alerts and emails by visiting the district website at www.davisonschools.org and clicking on the "Quick Links" at the top of the page then choose "Ed Alerts".

• Monday, March 3rd - Board of Education Meeting, 6pm
• Thursday, March 6th - 4th Grade Musical, 6:30 pm at the Davison High School Performing Arts Center
• March 10th-13th - Gates Book Fair, Media Center- student shopping
• Monday, March 10th - 3rd Grade Musical, 6:30pm at the Davison High School Performing Arts Center
• Tuesday, March 11th - PTO Meeting, 6:00 pm.
• Tuesday, March 11th - Gates Book Fair -Parent Shopping, Open 'til 6pm
• Friday, March 14th - Popcorn Friday
• Wednesday, March 19th - Early Release Day! Dismissal at 1:43pm
• Wednesday, March 19th - Family Reading Night / 5-7pm
• Friday, March 21st - Mobile Dentist Visit
• Wednesday, March 26th - Pick the One Book Day
• Friday, March 28th - End of the 3rd Marking period
• March 31st - April 4th... Spring Break!

Around the Corner...

• Tuesday, April 8th - PTO Meeting, 6:00pm
• Thursday, April 10th - Parent Teacher Conferences - walk in only 4-5:30pm
• Friday, April 11th - Popcorn Friday

Please be sure you are signed up for a Remind account. If you already have a Remind App, this will work with your existing account. If you do not have a Remind account, you will want/need to create one. Remind will work through the app or via email for those who do not want to download the app.

Through remind, you can set notifications to alert you to messages being sent from school to keep you up-to-date with all the latest information. Please make sure to check in with your child's teacher of you have questions or issues with the Remind setup .

All volunteers at Gates must have a confirmed Volunteer Form on file prior to coming into the school to help at an event, this includes upcoming class holiday parties.

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM

Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin and Futures are Bright!

Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 2359 S. Irish, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-5001