Gateway Family Newsletter

August/September

Monday, Sept. 2nd---NO SCHOOL for all students, Labor Day

Friday, Sept. 13th ---No School for Pre-K students, Early Childhood Teacher Planning Day

Tuesday, Sept. 24th---(2) Hour Late Start for all students, School Improvement Day

My name is Terry Burton and I am the proud principal of Gateway Elementary! Our Assistant Principal, Kelli Long and I would like to welcome you to the 2024-25 school year and thank you for entrusting your child with the entire Gateway staff. We look forward to working with you and our nearly 800 students throughout the school year!!!! We welcome your input and thank you in advance for your support as we strive to provide the best educational experience possible for our students.

I am so excited to be joining the Gateway team this year as the Assistant Principal. I began my career in education in Grand Island, Nebraska and joined the Omaha Public Schools in 2014. While working in Omaha, I have taught at both Rose Hill and Masters Elementary in a variety of positions. I have taught English Learners, 3rd Grade, 2nd Grade, Kindergarten, and have served as an Instructional Facilitator. My goal for each student is to feel successful and welcomed as a member of our Gateway community. I look forward to working alongside families and staff to help inspire our students to learn and grow.

Thursday, August 29th marked the completion of the first (10) days of the school year! By this date Gateway students will know how to navigate from the school's entrance, through the breakfast line and to their assigned classroom. In addition, staff members are strategically positioned throughout the building to help monitor students and ensure they safely arrive at their assigned classrooms

Families can help us with this morning routine by saying your goodbyes at the school's entrance. If you'd like to enter the building, please remember to stop by our school's main office to receive a visitor's badge.

Pre-K families will continue to sign students in/out from the classrooms.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!

As we begin another school year, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of some important daily arrival and dismissal procedures.

Please be patient and follow the procedures listed below in order to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal process.

• When dropping off/picking up students, please remember that the right hand lane is designated as our drop off/pick up lane. The left lane is designated as our drive thru lane and should be used to safely exit the area. Please see the sign pictured below. Please do not drop off or pick up students in the left lane. This is extremely dangerous as students could be crossing moving vehicles.

• If you prefer to walk your child to the school's entrance, we welcome you to do so. Please park in one of the designated parking spots located in the in the first row of parking. As these spaces fill up, please park in the surrounding neighborhood. Please do not park and exit your vehicle in the drop off/pick up lanes.

• Please use designated crosswalks when crossing to/from campus.

• The tardy bell will ring daily at 8:50 am. Any students arriving after 8:50 am should enter at the main entrance and check in at the main office to receive a tardy slip.
  

The safety of all children at Gateway as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures.

During our first full week of school, Gateway students and staff practiced each of the (5) main drills listed below. Please take a look at our English/Spanish SRP posters below for more specific information. Ask your child about the drills and review the information listed.

Hold Drill

The purpose of this drill is to clear our hallways and bring all students to a classroom or office area.

Secure Drill

The purpose of this drill is to bring everyone indoors and lock all exterior doors.

Lockdown Drill

Gateway will conduct “Lockdown Drills” periodically throughout each school year. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a “lockdown drill” all of the perimeter doors to the school building will be locked and will remain locked until the danger or issue outside or inside the building is removed. To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is completed.

Evacuation Drill

We will conduct an “Evacuation Drill” each month that school is in session. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the alarm is sounded. By practicing they will know what to do and how to do it.

Shelter Drill

The purpose of this drill is to be prepared to move our students and staff to a safe location within the building in case of severe weather or tornados.

While it’s important for children to be at school, it’s also important for them to stay at home and rest if they are sick--both so they can recover and so they don’t make others sick. If your child is sick, please notify the main office at 531.299.1480. Strict adherence to our health and safety guidelines protects other members of our community and allows in-person learning to proceed more successfully.

If you have any questions, please call our School Nurse, Mrs. Desiree Cabellos @ 531-299-1480.

Raising kids is hard. It’s okay to ask for advice. The Nebraska Family Helpline is a free, confidential resource for parents who have questions regarding their child’s behavior. Trained counselors are standing by. Have a question? Give them a call at 1-888-866-8660.

Email: terry.burton@ops.org
Website: gateway.ops.org
Location: 5610 South 42nd Street, Omaha, NE, United States
Phone: 531-299-1480