Gator Bites 04/06/24

Here at Gateway we make the most out of what we have, and as we begin our last quarter of the school year we are excited to make the most of it!

Spring has arrived which also means it's the busiest time of the year for many of our students, staff, and families. Hopefully you find this edition of Gator Bites helpful in reminding you of all the upcoming events, and as always providing updates about what has been happening at Gateway!

In this edition of Gator Bites you will find information and updates on:

• Important Dates

• Student Spotlights

• Rural School Advocacy

• Barr Foundation Grant Update

• GEF Trivia Night Update

• Messages from our Community Partners

• Spring Sports Schedule

• and more!

Importantly, please be sure to register for summer programming below if you plan for your child to participate!

Gateway Regional is so pleased to offer free summer programming for current Gateway students again thanks to grant funding. Summer programming starts on July 8 and will run for 5 weeks.

Incoming grades 5-8:

It's time to sign up for our fun-filled and free five week middle school summer camp. Attached is a flyer with a link to register. If the link on the flyer doesn't work, please click here to register: https://forms.gle/KdPTpcLx9rmboGhE9

Contact Martha Clark with any questions.(mclark@grsd.org).

Explorer Summer Camp '24 Information and Registration Link

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Incoming grades K-4:

The district is still in the process of determining how programming will be operated and staffed, but we are planning on running a *free* program for five weeks in the summer. We are able to offer the summer program free of charge due to the ASOST grant received! Wrap around hours before and after the summer program will be for a fee. In order to help us make planning decisions, please complete this pre-registration no later than April 11, 2024. Pre-registrations that are received after April 11 may not be honored. If you are pre-registering more than one child, please complete more than one form.

• The program will run from 8:30am through 2:30pm Monday through Friday from July 8 through August 9.
• Field trips will be planned for some weeks to local attraction areas. Field trips will be free of charge.
• Transportation will be provided via community hub stops in each in-district town for the program hours of 8:30am-2:30pm.
• Breakfast and lunch will be provided to students. On days students attend field trips, students need to bring their own lunch.
• Wrap around may be provided from 7am-8:30am and then from 2:30-5pm. Wrap around will have a fee associated. Transportation will not be provided during wrap around hours.

Please complete the form below to be put on the list.

https://forms.gle/k4naNZJNQUEkDF9MA

More information about programming, transportation, meals, and field trips will be shared by May 1.

Monday, April 8-Solar Eclipse

April 15-19-Vacation

Friday, May 3-Kindergarten Screening for Littleville

May 6-10-Teacher Appreciation Week!

Friday, May 10-Kindergarten Screening for Chester

Friday, May 24- HS Prom

Monday, May 27-Memorial Day-No School

Friday, May 31- Graduation

Friday, June 14- Last Day of School!*

*Half day of school on June 13 and June 14 for elementary

**Half day of school for finals June 11-14 for MS/HS

We are preparing for students to experience the upcoming solar eclipse which is set to occur on Monday, April 8. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. While no location in Massachusetts will experience the eclipse in totality, some parts of the state will see over 95% coverage of the sun if weather permits. For our area, the eclipse is scheduled to begin around 2pm and is expected to last about two and a half hours.

Staff are provided with resources to ensure that students can learn about this unique natural phenomenon. We are excited about the opportunity to teach and learn about the eclipse, as it is sure to be a memorable learning experience. At the same time, we want to be sure that all students practice safety precautions, as staring directly into the eclipse can be damaging to an individual’s eyes. All students and staff are being provided with ISO-certified eclipse glasses that will be distributed on April 8 for all to take home. These glasses were provided to the district from a grant from the Department of Public Health and from a donation from the Blandford Public Library. On April 8, dismissal will occur at the regular time. We have confirmed with the bus company that they are confident they can travel safely during this time.

Please speak to your child about safety measures to take on April 8, such as not staring directly at the eclipse. Information can be found on the NASA website:

https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/

Additional resources can be be found on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website:

https://www.doe.mass.edu/stem/ste/eclipse.html

As we enter the spring season, we we have many events on campus to celebrate our students and community. We welcome those who come to support our amazing students. At the same time, when on campus, we expect all community members to comply with our safety expectations including:

• If you see something suspicious, say something to a staff member immediately.
• No smoking (including vaping) on campus at any time.
• If accessing the building, do not permit anyone to "piggyback" or enter the building after you who has not been screened.
• Only park in designated parking spots.
• Do not prop doors open at any time for any reason.

Also, please know that our campus, both inside and out, have surveillance cameras rolling at all times. It is the responsibility of our security monitors to be viewing footage to ensure our protocols are being followed. If a security monitor asks you to do something, it is because it is part of our comprehensive safety plan.

The Gateway Regional Administrative team would like to give you some statistics regarding Chronic absenteeism. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is focusing on chronic absenteeism this year and is asking school districts to do the same. Over the next few weeks, keep an eye out for different facts regarding school absenteeism, and some of the complications that come alongside missing school regularly.

Chronic absenteeism increases a student's chance of dropping out of high school: that means that someone who has missed only 10 out of 100 days of school is 7x more likely to drop out than a student who comes to school and has few absences!

There are some protective factors that can help your student be less absent and do better at school. For example, if your student gets to bed at a consistently reasonable hour and gets plenty of sleep, your student is less likely to be chronically absent; protecting your student from becoming a high school dropout.

First grade just finished up their study on the History of the Earth. Students learned about the three different types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic), the difference between volcanoes and geysers, the layers of the earth, and different types of fossils. They celebrated by digging out dinosaurs from eggs, walking across lava on igneous rocks, creating fossil imprints, making a volcano "explosion" and building layers of the earth projects!

The 2024 Project 351 ambassadors would like to thank the community for its generosity and support during the recent clothing drive. The donations will be passed on to the Village Closet and Cradles 2 Crayons.

Gateway Seniors had an awesome opportunity to attend a regional Credit for Life Fair at Westfield High! Students got to simulate entering the world of making everyday financial decisions. Prior to the fair students got to eat at Tandem Bagel and answer some survey questions thanks to the Barr Foundation Grant! Shout-out to Field Trip Leader Ms. Zeh and Principal Sullivan for making this possible!

Lisa Lynch will be joining SBHC as the program manager in mid-April of this year. As you may remember, Lisa was with Hilltown for about 7 years prior to leaving about a year and ½ ago.

Welcome, Lisa!

Our efforts to advocate for rural schools like Gateway to receive the funding we deserve and need to survive from the state continues as always! Recently we have felt the impacts of Rural School Aid not being fully funded even more than usual during school budget season.

Over 100 people including administrators, staff, students, community members, and parents attended the 3rd Annual Gateway Education Foundation Trivia Night. The event was held at Stanton Hall and hosted by Steve Nagle. Gateway Education Foundation raised over $4500 from this event which will be used to sponsor Funds for Learning Grants - these grants help teachers provide out-of-the-box learning opportunities for the students in the district! Just this week, Gateway Education Foundation released the application for teachers and staff to apply for Funds for Learning for the Spring and Summer! Board members are excited to see what amazing projects the staff has planned and can't thank the community enough for their continued support!

As you know, Gateway Regional School District is the recipient of the Barr Foundation Grant to transform the student experience. Many staff members and some community members have gone on site visits to other schools for inspiration. Once the trips are finished at the beginning of May, members of the Core Team will be developing a plan for the next two years to propose for future Barr funding and support.

Check out this video that detail the ideas that have been generated from the trips so far!

https://youtu.be/e8AFE2Jz-IU

You can also see more about the places we've visited on this website:

https://sites.google.com/grsd.org/barr-trips?usp=sharing

Summary from the March convening: Members of the core team participated in the final convening hosted by the Barr Foundation to transition into the Plan Phase. Some takeaways from this convening are:

• No decisions about the plan have been made
• Barr is asking us to critically review how we can invest in ourselves in order to support the transformation for the student experience
• Transformation for all students also needs to include the review of Central Office and if there needs to be shifts made to support a student-centered vision
• We spent alot of time doing self-reflection and identification of how we can be transformative together

We are happy to hear from you regarding YOUR thoughts and dreams about the future of Gateway! Please reach out to your school's principal, Superintendent Smidy, or anyone on our Barr Foundation Core team anytime!

Dr. Will Sullivan (MS/HS Principal)

Cheryl Wright (HS math teacher)

Anne Marie Fant (HS English teacher)

Bill Brown (district librarian and union vice president)

Martha Clark (6th grade teacher, parent of child in district, district resident)

Linda Hyjek (3rd grade teacher, parent of Gateway graduates, district resident)

Deanna LeBlanc (district Curriculum Director and Barr Foundation grant writer)

Amy Mason (district teacher of the visually impaired, parent of child in district, district resident), Taylor Simpson (HS English teacher)

Val Zeh (HS math teacher, parent of Gateway graduate)

Drawing shave started but you can still get tickets throughout the month! You can buy tickets using cash or check (make checks out to "GRHS Class of 2024")

Support our Seniors in their last fundraiser!

Congratulations to the Gateway Varsity Softball team for winning their first game 10-3!!!

New April story walk book at Watson Park: “The Listening Walk.” Visit us at the library for a

scavenger hunt and exploration bag.

Book Squirms: Every Tuesday & Wednesday PreK kids and their caregivers visit the library for

story time, sensory play and socializing.

Monday April 8th: Eclipse Party 2-5PM:

Drop in celebration during the eclipse on Monday April 8th. Learn about the eclipse and watch

with special glasses...we’ll have snacks and a sparkling cider toast! Visit the library to pick up

a pair of free eclipse glasses!

Saturday April 13th: Story and Art Time at 11am:

Make a clay coil pot to take home and listen to the story of “Snake’s Big Mistake.”

Monday April 15th: Vacation Week Pokemon Club 4-5PM:

Bring your Pokemen cards to the library and trade with your friends. Play games and make

Pokemon related crafts. For kids 6-13.

Wednesday April 18th: Vacation Week Crafter-Noon 4-5PM:

Make a tiny painting with Library Tech Lucia, this craft session is for kids aged 8 and up!

Thursday April 19th: Vacation Week Lego Club 3-5PM:

Join us to play and build with Legos! Free building time with friends!

Monday, April 29th: 4-5PM Pokemon Club:

Kids aged 6-13, join us at the library to trade cards, make Pokemon crafts and play games.

All through April: Visit the library to see our live butterflies and moths in different stages!

Please reach out if you have questions or concerns!

Chester Elementary School:
Principal Vanna Maffuccio vmaffuccio@grsd.org

Littleville Elementary School:

Principal Melissa McCaul mmccaul@grsd.org

Middle School/High School:

Principal Will Sullivan wsullivan@grsd.org

Interim Assistant Principal Kylie-blu Crawford kcrawford@grsd.org

Athletic Director Matt Bonenfant mbonenfant@grsd.org

Superintendent Kristen Smidy, ksmidy@grsd.org

Gateway Regional School District

Website: grsd.org

Location: 12 Littleville Road, Huntington, MA, USA
Phone: 413-685-1100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GatewayRegionalMA?mibextid=LQQJ4d