Dear Gateway Community,

Welcome back to school, and Happy Fall! The year is off to a magnificent start, and the halls are abuzz with creativity and enthusiasm. The start of school is always a special time for us, and the infectious energy of our community is palpable. Students, teachers, parents, faculty, and staff have already set a high bar for the year to come. 

As you may have heard, September brought terrific news concerning our enrollment policies. The SFUSD Board of Education approved our petition to amend our charter and allow an admission preference for Gateway Middle School students who apply to Gateway High School through the Gateway High School lottery. Since we opened the middle school in 2011, we had the goal of working with students through their formative and teen years. This change ensures that we can do that work and support the students and families who need us most. As usual, it was a community effort, and we thank everyone who came out in support of our schools.

Another thing that we're excited about this year is the practice of growth mindset. We introduced the concept in both schools in 2013 and spent substantial time over the summer with our faculty developing curricula to support it. So much of what we do in Learning Seminar centers on growth mindset, the principle that students can achieve at high levels if they believe they can. Research shows that this shift in perspective can dramatically alter the trajectory of learning, for both students and adults. We're excited to see the results in the coming months.

Finally, I'm thrilled to report that 96% of our 2014 graduates went on to college this semester. Many have returned to campus to visit, and we hope that number will only grow. Our students are the legacy of what we do, and we are eternally proud of their accomplishments.

All of us at Gateway Public Schools look forward to a tremendous year ahead. Thank you for being a part of our tremendous community. 

Regards,

Sharon Olken