Gateway College Prep Newsletter
January 21, 2025
Gator Families,
We hope you are all staying warm and have enjoyed this beautiful snow day! Thank you for a wonderful start to this semester as well as for a successful completion to the fall semester. As you know, the spring semester gets incredibly busy and is usually packed with lots of events happening on our campus. To speak of one such event, APEX kicks off for our MS and Elementary students tomorrow. This PTO fundraising event is one that we are all looking forward to! Be sure to ask your child about the leadership lessons they learn each day during APEX.
Last week, we sent out our “Save the Dates” for the spring semester. As you can tell, we have lots to look forward to over the next several months; I have also added that information in a section below for your reference. Please review those items as well as this newsletter and let us know if you have any questions. In case you overlooked it, please pay special attention to the notation for the month of April...we will be a closed campus (for all grades K-12) due to state assessments happening throughout that month. Thank you in advance for your support and understanding.
Again, we thank you deeply for your partnership and support. I personally want to thank our parents who have extended their gratitude to our staff. It means so much to our teachers to hear your appreciation, so thank you; education is a partnership, and we look forward to partnering with each of you!
Thank you for all you do and for helping us make this the BEST school around!
In partnership,
Donna Weirich
Elementary News
Dear Families,
Welcome Back and Happy New Year! We hope you had a happy, healthy, and safe holiday break!
As we return for the spring semester, we are thrilled to welcome Ms. Leslie Autry as our elementary Instructional Coach and High School Cheer Coach! Ms. Autry has been instructing elementary and middle school students for over 10 years, most recently teaching Math, Science, PE and Art. Ms. Autry graduated with a Masters degree in Educational Leadership (2023) fromTexas A&M Central Texas University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies from Texas A&M Central Texas University (2013). Her studies include a major in English, a minor in Psychology and gaining NASM personal fitness certification. Ms. Autry was honored to receive recognition as the Elementary Teacher of the Year for Orenda Education in 2023. We are delighted to have her and her boys as Gateway Gators!
Elementary students are currently completing their Middle-Of-Year assessments. We look forward to seeing the amount of growth they’ll show with their results. You can help by making sure students get a good night’s rest each night, come to school every day and on time, and have a good breakfast. Third and fourth grade students will be taking the Reading/Language Arts STAAR test on April 8, 2025, and the Math STAAR test on April 30, 2025. Please help them be successful by not scheduling doctor or dentist appointments on these dates. You will receive additional information as we get closer.
Soon, your student will be bringing home information about our upcoming APEX leadership program and fundraiser. This is an exciting program in which students learn about leadership and great character while they raise money for the school by gathering pledges for each lap they run in the fun run. Please click here to view the APEX newsletter with more information, and watch for information from your child’s teacher.
As always, I look forward to working with you for the success of your child. Please reach out to beth.henrichs@orendaeducation.org if you ever have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Mrs. Henrichs