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GATEWAY FAMILY NEWS 
 

February 10, 2010
In This Issue
From the Head's Desk
School Life
GPA News
Development News
Admissions News
Parent Resources
Classifieds
Quick Links
Campus Happenings




2nd graders worked on their native California animal masks.



















Kindergarten students worked on their planet models.

























Alumni students (here with Jessica) greeted guests at the Auction Gala on Saturday night.





















Kindergarten class projects
for the online auction.






















Rachel's 1st grade class
project for the online auction.


















Haley's 1st grade class project
for the online auction.




















Middle School Music Elective students gave a lunch time performance




















Middle School Music Elective performance.




















Kindergarteners worked together on building their robots
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FROM THE HEAD'S DESK
by Percy L. Abram, PhD, Head of School

As parents, the instinct to protect our children and the desire to control their environment is natural, understandable, but often fraught with peril.  As our children age and mature, our role as parents becomes more critical precisely when our influence over them begins to diminish.
           
The importance of my role at the school and as Claudia's parent will come to pale in comparison to the significance of her friends.  While completely appropriate and natural, it is no less disconcerting.  I lament a time will soon come when she will forego afternoon sushi and warm hot chocolate on a Saturday in favor of a sleepover with friends, and that my extraordinarily sage advice will be largely ignored.  I see this dynamic play out at school everyday as parents drop off their children.  I notice students running for class, leaving car doors ajar as they hastily make their way onto campus with nary a glance back at their dutiful yet disappointed mom or dad.  As I watch the students together on campus, I realize how lucky they are to have such wonderful peer and adult resources and I am grateful that this is the environment where they will grow and mature.  
 
I am comforted by the fact that my daughter (and son) will grow up in a K - 8 environment, where the adolescents who shun parental intervention are eager to invest themselves in the relationships with their teachers and with the students.  I am impressed with the ways in which they work with and help out the younger students.  I witness these interchanges on the play yard and in the classrooms; older students caring for, shepherding, playing with, and teaching those younger than them.  They are responsible, communicative, supportive, and patient (not characteristics we typically expect from pre-teens).  They are excellent role models precisely because they know that the younger students are looking up to them.   Gateway School's K - 8 structure provides rich opportunities for emerging adolescents to assume responsibility and demonstrate leadership - and our students acquit themselves tremendously well.   
 
I will always consider my daughter daddy's little girl even when she is taller, wiser, and more accomplished than I.   As the years progress, and she grows more aloof and distant, I know that the strength and values of our community will help to raise a wonderful young girl.  I look forward to the day when she is the one counseling, advising, and serving as the role model for the younger students.  It is a wonderful cycle to watch.

Warm regards,
Percy
SCHOOL LIFE
 
Reminder - No School Monday February 15th - President's Day Holiday
 
The Student Council will be hosting a bake sale on February 17th after school to raise money for Haiti. Donations of baked goods are appreciated. Please bring all your baked goods that morning upstairs to "social street" (across from Patricia's room) or to the staff room.

Reminder: 6th Grade Parent Coffee TOMORROW Thursday Feb. 11th 8:30 - 9:30am.  Join Percy, sixth grade teacher Lydia, and Resource Specialist Joan Saia for an informal chat about your child's developmental milestones and outcomes, and information on what to expect from your child throughout the year.
 
Feb 17th: Student Council faculty co-leader, Merle Froshman, has arranged for Red Cross volunteers who have done disaster relief work to present to our Middle School Town Hall Advisory meeting. They have been invited in response to the Haiti earthquake to talk about Disaster Relief and how teams of volunteers help people during disasters within the US and overseas. They will also talk about other ways to help.  This meeting was rescheduled due to the power outage at school a couple of weeks ago.


Re-Enrollment for 2010-2011:  Re-enrollment packets were mailed to current Gateway families two weeks ago and are due back by February 26, 2010. Each family is a valuable part of our Gateway School community, and we look forward to welcoming each family back next September.  After the February 26th deadline, the school offers open enrollment to the general public so please submit your paperwork by the deadline.  If you are applying for financial aid, we automatically hold a space for your child once we receive confirmation from SSS that they have your application.  Thank you.  Your continued commitment to our school allows us to plan the exciting programs that engage our children in this wonderful learning community.
GPA NEWS
by Sheri Corona, GPA President  sheric2000@yahoo.com

 Family Science Night Feb. 24th - After countless hours of work on their projects and designing their displays, this is the evening when our Gateway 5th - 8th grade students will be revealing their Science Fair entries for the first time to family and friends.  Come out to show your support for their scientific endeavors as well as to learn some new things! 
 
Parents are also invited to lead a science project during the evening related to their profession or hobbies.  For more information, or to organize a parent project, please contact George Delli-Santi:  831-461-0885 (eve); 408-338-9011 (day); george.den11@gmail.com
 
New 40th Anniversary mugs will be available for purchase starting February 22nd ($8/mug or 2 for $15).
DEVELOPMENT NEWSMeg Corman-Hall
by Meg Corman-Hall, Director of Development & Communications
meg.corman-hall@gatewaysc.org


Garden of Dreams - Phase 1: Gala Event
Many, many thanks to everyone who supported our Garden of Dreams Auction Gala event Saturday night at the Dream Inn!
 
We are especially grateful to our two devoted and talented co-chairs, Amy Jensen and Andrea Hultzen.  For those who have not been involved in organizing and implementing an event of the scale of our auction gala, it is hard to know even 1/10th of what the co-chairs must manage. There are few volunteers who step forward to take leadership in the key positions such as this, because it is a huge personal, and family, year-long commitment to ensure the event is planned and implemented successfully.
 
This year Amy and Andrea were gracious enough to take on the leadership role, with some conditions as to what they personally could commit too. One of their primary interests was to undertake a more manageable event at a new venue. The size of the new venue required us to make a few other key changes. It is with our greatest appreciation (and admiration) that we thank Amy and Andrea for ensuring a wonderful event last Saturday and facilitating raising a significant amount of money to support the children and faculty this school year. I hope you will join me in thanking them for their efforts to benefit all the children of Gateway School!
 
As we were trying a new venue, and a modified structure for the event, overall we were pleased that the evening went well. Amy and Andrea and other lead volunteers and staff have heard feedback that has been passed along to the Dream Inn about the areas where guests felt they could improve.
 
Photographs taken at the event by parent Lea Pittman will be available on-line later today and we will e-mail that link to our guests. Thank you, Lea!
 
Garden of Dreams - Phase 2: On-line Auction
We are now moving to Phase 2 of our new structure this year, the first ever On-Line Auction, which will run from February 24th - March 10th.  The on-line format provides the exciting opportunity for ALL our parents, extended family members, friends and neighbors having access to bid on a range of fabulous donated items. You will begin to get e-mails linking you to the auction web site within a week. Please help us reach our extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, et al) by submitting their e-mails to us using the form sent home and also available in the "Wednesday Folder"  section of the Family News Page.
 
We are, again, deeply grateful to the volunteer leadership of kindergarten parent Michele Brady in coordinating (and securing) donated item solicitation. And thanks to Kim Carlton, Angela Chesnut, Denise Lee, Jodi Morgan, Dana Nichols and Anne Rowley who have been out asking businesses to make donations. And finally, thank you to the many Gateway parents and faculty who have made personal donations or offered donations of services. We have a great line up of donations coming on-line in 2 weeks!
anADMISSIONS NEWS
by Colleen Sullivan, Admissions Director
colleen.sullivan@gatewaysc.org

Thank you to our parent tour guides who gave tours at the January and February Open Houses: Sheryl Cowen, Sally Fauske, Maria Gaura, Shannon Hersey, Laura Lucas, Molly Slete, and Jeannie Wholey.
 
We are thrilled to have many wonderful applicants for the 2010-2011 school year.  There is still time for your friends or neighbors who are investigating school options for their children to come for a visit. Encourage them to attend one of our Open Houses to learn more about our school or simply have them contact me at ext. 302 or by email.
 
Kindergarten Information Night is Thursday Feb. 18th at 6:30pm.  Invite your friends to come and hear our wonderful kindergarten teachers speak about the kindergarten program and philosophy at Gateway School.  RSVP to Colleen at colleen.sullivan@gatewaysc.org  Childcare is available (please sign up in the Main Office).
Parent Resources
Parenting the Unique Child: A group for parents of children with high sensitivity, difficulties with managing energy, or social awkwardness. Mondays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Feb. 22 - Mar 29, 2010. Offered by Family Services Agency of the Central Coast. For more information or to register, call 423-9444, ext. 304.
Classifieds
Send your free classified ads (maximum 50 words) to kristin.smith@gatewaysc.org or put them in the Development mailbox in the Main Office.  Submissions should be received by the first Monday of the month to be included in that month's issue.

Visit Nubius Organics for a wide selection of sustainable products for your healthy and ecofriendly lifestyle.  From lunch to-go ware to natural skin care, all of our products are BPA, PVC and lead-free.  Save time & money - shop online and opt to pick up at our Brommer St. Santa Cruz location.  Friends of Gateway take 15% off your order with coupon code ECO15 at www.nubiusorganics.com.
 
Memoir Writing Workshop - Nationally renowned author of seven non-fiction books and writing teacher Laura Davis will host a memoir writing workshop "From Memory to Memoir," the weekend of March 19- 21 at Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel. The weekend offers people of all ages the opportunity to reflect upon their lives and begin crafting their personal story.
 
In her mid-50's, Laura is also a cancer survivor. After using writing to navigate through her own journey with cancer, Laura began offering a Memoir Writing workshops to help others process their own lives.  Laura will donate 10% percent of workshop fees back to Gateway (write on the enrollment form that you are from Gateway), costs $500-$620 depending upon accommodations. Learn more/register at www.lauradavis.net or call (831) 464-9517.
 
Aux Trois Pommes Language School - Gateway Parent Raymond Samaha is starting a foreign language school in Santa Cruz for children and adults.  Languages include French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese and Arabic.  Classes begin January 18th.  Visit Aux Trois Pommes www.aux3pommes-ca.com for more information.

HOST FAMILIES ARE BEING SOUGHT FOR...ANNIKA & MORITZ, high school exchange students from Germany. Coming for the 2010-11 high school year, Moritz and Annika are excited about the opportunity to live with and get to know an American family and attend high school in Santa Cruz. They are good students and speak English well. Annika loves dance, theatre, basketball, soccer, photography and dreams of going to Harvard. Moritz plays basketball and soccer, and he likes music, movies, art and travel. They would be an asset to any family and school. For more information call Sandi Spanfelner, 335-3088 ~ 419-9633 or sandispan@aol.com.