|
REMINDERS
| |
6/9 - Parent Coffee
Step Up Day Graduation 6/20 - First Day of
Summer Camp & Classes
See our
schoool calendar
for other upcoming events
Click here to visit the "Green Gateway" blog to see what the EAP group has been up to!
|
|
|
ORDER YOUR 2010-2011 YEARBOOK NOW!
|
Click here
to download your
order form.
| |
|
Don't miss out...
GATEWAY SUMMER CAMP 2011
| |
Click here to register online!
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the Gateway Family News. Please be sure to click on the Confirm button at the very top of this email button. Doing this helps to avoid spam filters on your end.
|
|
PERCY'S BLOG
As I was listening to our 6th and 7th graders rehearse this week for their performance at Thursday's graduation - a tribute to the class of 2011 - the following words from the song "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol kept repeating themselves in my head.
"We'll do it all...Everything...On our own...We don't need...Anything...Or anyone"
The cherished tradition of our Middle School students bidding adieu to their classmates in song reminds us of the ephemeral nature of our time spent here. This particular phrase also evokes the (somewhat naive) intrepidness inherent in adolescents. Growing up on our K - 8 campus, the supportive adults with whom they work and the younger students for whom they serve as role models remind them of their responsibility to make this world a better place for those that will follow them.
Our students began this year with a sense of purpose and a desire to make a difference in the lives of others. They raised awareness and money for the victims of the Tsunami in Japan, delivered vegetables to a homeless shelter for children, visited and sang for residents of Sunshine Villa, cleaned beaches, decorated placemats for Gray Bears, donated art supplies to Jacob's Heart, collected school supplies for students in need, and, for the second year in a row, collected more cans of food (per student) than any other school in Santa Cruz County. Many of these activities were envisioned and some carried out by the students "on their own". This sense of caring for one's community is a hallmark of a Gateway School education.
As our 8th graders prepare to leave Gateway School, we look back and remember how these delicate seeds came to us ripe with possibility. Through a partnership of parents, faculty and staff, they were nourished with attention, and love. Our talented faculty allowed them to grow, make mistakes, learn, and flourish. Nurturing thoughtful, bright, independent, and caring children is a privilege, and it is our honor each June to see how they have blossomed as a result of their years at Gateway.
To the Class of 2011, I say, remember that we love you, and we will miss you dearly. I am grateful to their parents for working with the school and trusting your children to our experienced staff of educators. This partnership produced some amazing young men and women. I wish the class of 2011 the best in the future as they head off to high school and I know they will continue to serve this community and represent Gateway School with distinction.
For parents of younger children, the Middle School may seem a long way off; however, you will find that the time passes quickly. Please join us Thursday at our graduation ceremony as we honor our 8thgraders - many of whom we've know since they were 5 years old - and share their reflections on the place they have come to know as "home".
We wish all our families a fabulous summer break!
|
|
SUMMER READING FOR PARENTS
Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children by Dr. Michael Thompson, Catherine O'Neill Grace, and Dr. Lawrence Cohen.
Best Friends discusses the "topic of bullying and weaves it into a broader study of children's friendships." This book will be our first Head of School Book Club book for discussion October 11th, 7:00pm.
In Best Friends, the authors "present a developmental perspective as they describe how children's social lives emerge from toddlerhood to adolescence. The book concludes with advice to teachers and parents on how to improve social life in schools and to support children's friendships and provides a useful perspective on a critical aspect of adolescent development."
I hope that you will join the community in reading this important book about children's interactions and how we as adults can encourage positive behaviors and relationships at home and at school.
|
|
Last Day of School Events
Please join us tomorrow, June 9th for the final day of school events.
Parent Coffee, 8:00-10:30am
Hosted by the Gateway faculty to thank parents for all they do for the school.
Step-Up Ceremony, 9:00 - 9:45am
Parents are invited to join us for this all-school celebration. Students representing each grade speak about the year, and the students sing to commemorate them stepping up to the next grade.
8th Grade Graduation Ceremony, 1:00 pm
Parents are invited to celebrate the graduates, hear them reflect on their experiences through their speeches (each graduate makes a speech), and wish them well on the next step of their journey. Graduation is followed by a cake reception.
|
|
COMMUNICATIONS & WEBSITE SURVEY
Reminder to parents: please click here to take a quick survey on communications and website. Your answers will help us as we work over the summer to make modifications to our website.
Please complete the survey by Saturday June 11th.
Thank you very much for your time and input!
|
A bench in honor of Lydia Parker
If you would like to contribute to a bench in honor of 6th grade core teacher Lydia Parker at her retirement, you can donate online at https://www.gatewaysc.org/giving/donate.html or use one of the envelopes on the Main Lobby board. Thank you!
|
Spring Concert DVD's are in!
You may pick up your copy in the Main Office for $10.
|
|
2010-2011 Yearbooks
Don't forget to order your yearbook. Order forms can be found in the box on the left.
|
|
SUMMER CAMP
Gateway Summer Camp and classes at Gateway are a fun way to enjoy the campus environment during the summer. We have fabulous new classes this year! For more information and to register on-line click here.
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.
Camp Vision:
Camp Vision works to improve the self-esteem of campers ages 10-14, with learning and/or attention difficulties, through a mentoring relationship with counselors who also have learning disabilities and/or ADHD. Art empowerment and independent learning projects help campers gain self-advocacy skills and a sense of community that is imperative to success both in and outside of the classroom. For more information, click here.
|
|
FLAG FOOTBALL NEWS
Students interested in playing flag football for Gateway School in Fall 2011:
Gateway fields a 5/6 co-ed flag football team and a 7/8 co-ed flag football team which plays other teams in Santa Cruz County. The season runs from mid-September to late October. Games and practices will be scheduled around the prevailing town soccer schedules. First practices for 7/8 players will be in late August, before school starts.
If you wish to play: 5/6 players please send an email to Kurt Almendras at kurt.almendras@gatewaysc.org . 7/8 players please send an email to Kim Normington at kfromca@aol.com. We will develop an email list of players over the summer and notify you in early August of the first practice dates and times. Remember: The best preparation for Gateway Football is to play catch with someone every day of the summer!
|
|
NEW LEAF SHOPPING CARDS
Only 10 cards left! Each are valued at $100. For those of you who shop at New Leaf, please pick up a New Leaf card in the Main Office. It is easy to use (just like a gift card), and when you use it, New Leaf donates to Gateway School!
|
|
|
|
|
