Gator Bites 03/15/24
March 15th Edition
Welcome!
Gateway Regional School District is focused on continuing what has been an incredible year so far! We're so excited to provide you with some information and updates on recent and upcoming events at Gateway and in the community!
I am pleased to share that Gator Bites will now be developed collaboratively with our Communications Intern for the district. The new "look" of the newsletter is thanks to the innovative work of our intern. To find out more or to take advantage of a similar opportunity, please see the flier below. Thank you!
In this edition of Gator Bites you will find important information and updates on various topics such as:
Important Dates
Student Spotlights
Rural School Advocacy
Barr Foundation Grant Update
Better Words, Better Community, Better Gateway Initiative
Messages from our Community Partners
Spring Sports Schedule
and more!
We want to start this edition of Gator Bites with an opportunity for Internships!
Email mclark@grsd.org for more information!
Friday, March 29-No School
April 15-19-Vacation
Friday, May 3-Kindergarten Screening for Littleville
Friday, May 10-Kindergarten Screening for Chester
Friday, May 31- Graduation
School Committee approves 24-25 GRSD Calendar:
You can take a look at the approved 2024-2025 calendar below!
This edition's Safety Tip: Parking Lot Protocols
A safety tip or reminder will be included in each Gator Bites. This edition, we will focus on safe parking lot protocols.
Now that the spring weather is starting to emerge, it is tempting to want to roll down the windows and hit the gas pedal to head out of the parking lot at the end of the day. Please be mindful that children who may not be visible in the mirrors because of height are out and about as well. Being cautious when you're entering or exiting campus is an important strategy to assure safety for all.
To that end, please hold young children's hands while moving about the parking lot. Children can move quickly off the sidewalk and into the parking lot in the blink of an eye!
Students participate in Skills USA District Competition!
5,673 students from around the state have taken district tests in their trade areas this month.Contestants earning gold and silver medals in their trade area will move on to the State competition in April in Marlborough, MA.
NHS Students read to Elementary Students!
NHS students included Jackson Harding (pictured above), Alexi Bonenfant, Reeghan Morawiec, Sawyer Wilkinson, Abby Madru, and Kaitlyn Maynard!
Those who went to Chester Elementary also got a chance to see and test out the schools brand new playground!
Community Health Worker Update!
Jennifer Smith is our Gateway School Based Community Health Worker (CHW). She is available to support patients and their families in our Gateway Regional School District community.
The CHW is an advocate that serves as a liaison between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and to improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. They deliver outreach services for individuals and/or communities to receive services and resources to address health needs by assisting in finding and establishing a relationship with medical and behavioral health services, helping to navigate the health insurance system and find resources for clients (housing, food, supplies, heating and fuel assistance and more).
Please call (413) 667-0142 for more information.
Read here to learn about current issues rural schools are facing.
Read here to learn how YOU can help advocate for rural schools!
Safe and Supportive School Grant: Gators speak at Legislative Briefing
On March 5, 2024, high school students from TLPI’s Students Speak project participated in a legislative briefing, Students Speak: Humanizing our School Communities, at the Massachusetts State House. Gateway Regional School District was asked to attend as a long-time recipient of the Safe and Supportive Schools Grant, specifically to talk about our work elevating student voice. The students from Gateway and from TLPI advocated for the Legislature to continue funding the Massachusetts Safe and Supportive Schools initiative and to prioritize student voice in educational decision-making.
Using our Voices!
Exploring the Statehouse!
Tour of the Senate with Sen. Paul Mark
While watching the entire program is strongly encouraged,
we began our testimony 40 minutes into the video!
Get a Gateway bracelet!
As a part of the Culture Committee's work this year, we have launched a Better Words, Better Community, Better Gateway Initiative! The goal of this is to encourage better, more positive language and rhetoric being used at our schools. Students and staff are encouraged to get a free bracelet to show their support from the bin in the MS/HS office!
Dream Phase!
As you know, Gateway Regional School District is the recipient of the Barr Foundation Grant to transform the student experience. We are in the process of visiting other schools across the country to gather inspirational ideas to determine how to best move forward to meet the needs of the students at Gateway.
So far, 34 stakeholders have traveled to 13 schools in California, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and Eastern Massachusetts. Over the next few weeks, new teams of teachers will conduct visits to schools in Vermont and in Western MA. After all the visits are complete, we will circle back to the information we collected during the first phase of the grant, the Learn Phase, to determine which ideas and inspirations best fit our hopes, strengths, and needs.
You can see more about the places we've visited on this website:
https://sites.google.com/grsd.org/barr-trips?usp=sharing
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)
You can still sign-up/buy tickets for GEF's annual Trivia Night!
You can buy tickets using cash or check (make checks out to "GRHS Class of 2024")
Support our Seniors in their last fundraiser!
Winter Sports highlighted at Gateway Winter Sports Banquet!
Students, coaches, and families all joined together to celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing winter athletes! The Booster Committee once again did an awesome job organizing this event!
March Russell Public Library and AMC Sponsored Events!
March StoryWalks® Sponsored Hilltown Family Center at Noble View: Thanks to the Animals by Allen J. Sockabasin. At Russell Public Library : A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel
Families and Adults, Join Appalachian Mountain Club leader, Ms Dawne (your librarian) for a Sweet
Spring, Maple Syrup Hike Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. We will hike the Conwell Property Trail in Worthington (part of Hilltown Land Trust) and then partake in a sugar house buffett at High Hopes Farm in Worthington. Kids eat for free with AMC! The hike is rated as an easy, 2.1 mile, out and back route with one water crossing, taking approximately 60-90 minutes to hike. A good hike for families with children. Register at outdoors.org or by email dawne4amc@gmail.com, call 413-862-6221 and leave a message, or come in and sign up at the Russell Library, by March 19th.
Adults, Join us for a presentation by Bruce Cortis on the history of Russell and view pictures and
documents of Russell’s past from the Russell History Room, Saturday, March 16th, from 2-4 PM
Register by email rpldirector@townofrussell.us, call 413-862-6221 and leave a message, or come in and sign up at the Library by March,14th.
Kids, March into Spring! Join Ms. Dawne, for Marching into Spring, an hour of backyard science, books and preparation for Spring. Saturday, March 16th, 10:30 -11:30. Register by email rpldirector@townofrussell.us, call 413-862-6221 and leave a message, or come in and sign up at the Library by March,14th.
Upcoming events at the Porter Memorial Library!
Our new story walk book at Watson Park is the picture book “The Village Garage.” Our story
walk is a nice stroll suitable for all ages. This month we dedicate the story to the Blandford
Highway Department.
- CommuniTea Reads: Saturday March 16th at 11AM. Our growing adult book discussion group is tackling a refreshing memoir this month: “Fly Girl” by Ann Hood. This is a change of pace from the novels we’ve been reading. Join us for discussion and snacks at 11am on March 16th.
- Pokemon Club: March 23rd at 11AM. This is the second of two Pokemon events this month! Bring your cards and be ready to trade and do crafts! This event is aimed at kids 6-13 years old.
- Lego Club: Monday March 25th at 3PM. The library owns lots of Legos! We will bring them out for sorting and building. Come in to the library Monday March 25th at 3PM for a dedicated Lego time.
- Book Squirms: Every Tuesday at 4PM & Wednesday mornings at 10:30 AM Storytime for littles under 5 and their caregivers! We read stories, sing songs, play with sensory bins and toys! Join us with your little ones to borrow books and meet other families!