Congratulations to our Student Council Poetry Contest Winners!

K-2 Winners:

1. The Ocean by Aidan (C-2)

2. Sea Turtles by Lauren (C-2)

3. Leo by Alexandria (C-2)

3rd-4th Winners:

1. Davenport Beach by Elias (J-3)

2. The Undersea by Kanami (J-3)

3.What Is It Like by Chloe  (K-3)

5-6th  Winners:

1. Water by Chloe (L/L-6)

2. Flying by Leisi  (L/L-6)

3. A Dark Storm by Alyce  (L/L-6)

7-8th Winners:

1. The Early Hours of Cannery Row by Daniel (S-8)

2. A Day on the Bay by Michael (S-8)

3. Untitled by Kate (S-8)

A special thank you to our judges: Lydia, Sherri, Lauren, Johaan, and our Student Council Officers!

40 Acts of Kindness  

IMAGINE: the Gateway Auction 

Our Auction events were a wonderful expression of the kindness and generosity of our extended families and Gateway community supporters. We are so grateful to the newer team of volunteers who shaped the Gala this year and brought us a delightful evening, complete with surprises that enthralled guests! Our auction helped to raise important funding for this school year's budget, in support of our financial aid program, and in support of the Beach Flats Community Center.

The auction has several components, including an on-line event, a small silent auction and a Live auction at the gala event, and our Fund-a-Need at the conclusion of the live event, which funds a program area each year. Altogether, with these events, ticket sales and sponsorships, we raised $133,324. Once expenses are removed we have a net proceeds of $103,510. From these proceeds we made a donation of $4,000 to support the work of the Beach Flats Community Center (BFCC).

In total we have donated $4,658 to BFCC, combining the auction, the Dad's Club Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery event this spring, and two training registrations. We are underwriting the registration for two of the BFCC staff members to take the Mindfulness Fundamentals class offered by Mindful Schools on our campus this summer.

Our Fund-a-need and related donations for the Mindfulness training brought in $23,752. This enabled us to have the 8 week in-classroom training program and to provide additional training for faculty and parents during the summer and 2011-12 school year. We are interested in securing the program firmly within our own school and also reviewing the possibility of helping to bring it to other local public elementary schools in the future.

We are deeply appreciative of everyone's efforts on creating a successful auction event this year. It was a large scale effort which has paid off for our children and faculty! Many thanks to everyone who touched the auction in some way, whether through sponsorships, volunteering, buying tickets, or shopping the auction items! Together we have made it possible for the children to experience a fabulous school year!

EAP Meeting 

Tues. May 24th, 3:30-5:00pm, Library

Please join our next Environmental Advisory Panel meeting on May 24th, where we will continue our implementation and planning for the Monterey Bay Green Schools Certification Program.  We will plan for next year by creating strategies for parents, teachers and students to work together to make our green certification dream come true. Come to see how you can be involved in this exciting next step for Gateway!

Seasonal snacks will be served!

Business Office Announcement

Annual and Semi-Annual Tuition Payments Are Due Soon:  If you chose to pay your child's 2011-2012 tuition  on the Annual or Semi-Annual payment plan, your Annual or Semi-Annual tuition payment is due by the close of business (5:00 pm) on Tuesday, May 31st.  We recommend that families start making arrangements for this payment now so that the required funds are sure to be available by May 31st.  The exact amount of your  tuition payment appears on the 4/30/11  billing statement that was sent to you in the first week of May.  Your Annual or Semi-Annual tuition payment must be made in cash or by check.  No late fees will accrue on this tuition charge as long as your payment arrives in the Main Office by 5:00 p.m. on May 31st.  We urge parents to be on time with their tuition payments so that they may avoid the late fees and loss of tuition discounts that result from being late with their payments, and so they may avoid placing their children's enrollment (and any financial aid they may have received) in jeopardy. Please contact Rima in the Business Office at x 308 if you have any questions.

Gateway Summer Camp 

KENNOLYN CAMP  

Located on 240 acres of redwoods overlooking Monterey Bay, Kennolyn's Day Camp for ages 5-13 includes daily bus transportation with convenient bus stops all over Santa Cruz.  Enjoy over 40 hours a week of fun-filled group activities. Activities include horseback riding, vaulting, animal care, fencing, riflery, archery, high ropes, climbing, swimming, tennis, crafts, pottery, and more! The professional staff provides an overall 1:4 staff to camper ratio. An RN or EMT is on duty during camp hours. Overnights and Parent BBQs are also included. Visit Kennolyn during an open house on May 21st, or June 10th. Kennolyn is accredited by the American Camp Association and is the 1st and only Diamond Certified camp in the US. Kennolyn donates 4% of all camp tuition paid by Gateway families back to our school.

For every Gateway student who attends Kennolyn, Kennolyn donates a portion of their proceeds back to Gateway School.  Last year we received $953.89!  If you are interested in learning more about Kennolyn Camps, please pick up a brochure in the Main Office, or visit  www.kennolyncamps.com.    

Don't forget to order your yearbook. Order forms can be found in the box on the left.