Gator Bites

Monday, April 17 - Friday, April 21 - No School SPRING BREAK

• Chester's Art Walk at Hamilton Memorial Library in Chester

Wednesday, May 3 - Chester's Art Gala

Friday, May 5 - 6:00pm Gateway MS/HS play - The Bros. Grimm Spectaculathon

Saturday, May 6 - 1:00pm Gateway MS/HS play - The Bros. Grimm Spectaculathon

Saturday, May 13 - 5:00 TRIVIA NIGHT - a Gateway Education Foundation Fundraiser

Friday, May 26 - High School Prom

Friday, June 2 - High School GRADUATION

Banking Day

• GRMS and Littleville Elementary - the first and third Tuesday of the month.
• Chester Elementary - the first and third Wednesday of the month.

The Gateway Education Foundation is thrilled to invite you to our 2nd annual Trivia Night Fundraiser that will be held on Saturday, May 13th at Strathmore Park in Russell. Doors open at 4:00 PM. Trivia at 5:00 PM. There will be an exciting trivia competition, a penny social, a 50/50 auction, music and hysterical adult-style comedy by . Pack a picnic, bring your beverages of choice and join us for an adult night of fun.

Pre-paid Tickets are $25 each or get your friends and family together! Book a table of 8 for just $175!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Click: BUY TICKETS HERE! to purchase tickets.

All proceeds support the Funds for Learning (FFL) Program

On Monday, April 13, Superintendent Smidy and several staff and students from Gateway traveled to the Massachusetts State House to advocate for full funding Rural Aid in the 2024 budget. Staff members Val Zeh (high school math teacher) and Karen Leis (district library paraprofessional) as well as students Nariyah Renaud, Joey Pisani, Jordyn Dubour, and Salem Painter all traveled to this forum with Mrs. Smidy. In addition, Mrs. Smidy, Ms. Zeh and Joey Pisani all testified before the committee to advocate for more funding for rural schools. With each speaker was only allowed 3 minutes, our speakers provided passionate and eloquent testimony in front of the joint Ways and Means committee. The Ways and Means committee takes the Governor's initial budget and makes adjustments to it based on their priorities. Although only three of our member could speak in front of the Ways and Means Committee, it was meaningful that Nariyah, Jordyn, and Salem along with Ms. Leis were also there showing their support. It was important for Gateway to ensure that our legislators listened to our needs, because all students across the state should be given equitable opportunities to learn and grow, even if they live in a rural community.

After an overwhelmingly positive response to our summer programs, registration is closed and we are starting a wait list. This year's summer camp for Gateway students GOING INTO Kindergarten -9th grade NEXT YEAR will start on Monday, July 10th and go until Thursday, August 10th. This year camps will be five weeks with tons of summer fun at both the Jr. Explorers (going into K - 4th grade) and Explorers Camps (going into 5th -9th grades).

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) is the theme of both our Jr Explorer’s and Explorers camps this summer.

Our Junior Explorers will be participating activities including: Board games, LEARNING to have fun, win or lose games, crafts, planting and gardening, science activities and outdoor games.

Our Explorers camp will include six different units of fun and exploration that students will participate in during their five weeks of camp. Units that students will be participating in are: Algae and Pond Study; Plants, Pollinators and Farm-to-Table; Fish, Fins and Tales; Wild about Art; Team Building; Race Cars and Recycling. Each unit will end with students completing a final project. The final project are:

1) A presentation about the health of the pond behind our school and an action plan to keep it free of algae bundles and any other things that they discover that are affecting the health of our pond,

2) The Gateway Garden Escape Walkway. Students will plan, design and build a second garden (behind our vegetable garden) that will consist of plants that attract pollinators and a walkway through the new pollinator garden. They will also plant, care for and harvest vegetables from our vegetable garden and donate them to the Chester Council on Aging for their Brown Bag Program.

3) Students will plan, design and create a prosthetic tail for a native species of fish in the Westfield River

4) Students will plan, design and create two large murals to go both the baseball dugout and softball dugout. The murals will have paintings of the types of plants and animals that live in and around the Westfield River

5) Each group of students will create a team building activity for the Jr. Explorers camp to participate in

6) Students will design, plan and create artwork as well as cars out of recycled materials

Ryan Tacke and Ethan Davenport have completed the rigorous 32-hour Elm Futures Program at Elm University at Elm Electric in Westfield. In this picture, the final project of theThis has proved to be a wonderful partnership between Gateway and Elm to offer instruction on electrical wiring to our students. We are so thankful to Elm Electric for helping us provide this track for our students. We're looking forward to offering this fantastic learning opportunity again next year.

See the picture to the right showing Ryan and Ethan successfully complete the final project: controlling a light with two (2) three-way switches and one (1) four-way switch.

On Saturday, April 22 at 2PM Littleville and Chester Elementary School students participated in special workshops where they learned about the fish, birds and mammals who live in the National Park Service designated Wild & Scenic Westfield River, created puppets of some of those animals and will be leading a parade at Stratmore park after the Wildwater Races on April 22. The event is part of the 68th running of the Westfield River Wildwater Races, the country's oldest whitewater kayak and canoe races..

All are welcome to watch the races which start in the center of Huntington at 11AM.

At 12pm, come to the River Celebration at Strathmore Park in Russell where the parade with our students and their puppets will start off the celebration of the races. At the celebration there will be three food checks, face painting, and live music by our own The 413's. If you have an elementary aged student(s) who might want participate in the parade and carry a fish puppet in the parade, please have them contact Littleville's teacher. Kristal Reingold at kfeingold@grsd.org by April 20th.

Thanks to the $59,500 grant for our high school students to participate in paid STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) internships that we were awarded from the Massachusetts Executive office of Education, we now have 13 students who are currently working in paid internships in and around the Hilltowns. The number of interns is growing. Also, our list of companies that we are partnering with is growing steadily and we are continuing to be able to provide more paid internships and experiences for students. This grant is a reimbursement grant meaning that the students are employed by the companies that they are working for and the companies pay them. The students and/or companies then submit the payment amount to us and Gateway reimburses each company for the Gross amount of the student's paycheck. We can't thank our partner companies enough for providing these invaluable learning experiences for our student. If you work at or know of a company that would be interested in learning more about our internship program, please call Martha Clark at 413-685-1003.

Thank you to all of our partner companies:

Town of Chester - Water Treatment Plant

Town of Huntington - Wastewater Plant

Town of Blandford - Water Treatment Plant

City of Westfield - Water Treatment Plant

Manufacturing Technology Group Inc - Westfield

Grader Auto - Westfield

Center City Auto - Westfield

Skyline Services, LLC - Westfield

ProAmpac - Westfield

Westfield Starfires - Westfield

Coming on board soon: Springfield Water Commission - Water Treatment Plant

Coming on board soon: Town of Chester - Municipal Government offices

A bountiful partnership has blossomed between Chester Elementary School and our friends at Community Food Engine Farmstead(CFE Farmstead). We have been working closely with CFE’s head farmer, Jeremy, to plan and develop a cutting edge, sustainable hydroponic gardening system and educational program for our students in grades K-5 at Chester Elementary School. Our students will engage in science, technology, engineering, math, and agriculture as they use a newly developed software-based approach to successfully grow various types of plants by following step-by-step directions aligned specifically to our school based hydroponic systems. Hydroponic techniques have been around for hundreds of years, but designing hydroponic growing systems is at the forefront of agricultural technology and innovation currently. CFE’s head farmer, Jeremy, has been collaborating and educating our STEM teacher, Greg Baker, and building principal, Vanna Maffuccio, on hydroponic growing systems and food production. Last week, Jeremy and Greg constructed three hydroponic systems in our newly established agricultural learning space(168 plant capacity). We hope to inspire ingenuity, pride and sustainable growing practices within the next generation of food producers in our community. CFE has generously donated their time, expertise, and extra supplies/equipment for us to use in order to ensure the success of this project and program. I want to thank our friends at CFE for their deep rooted investment and for the vital role they’ve played in helping us successfully achieve our goal to expand agricultural learning experiences for students this school year at Chester Elementary School. Let’s grow!

The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, rollicking ride as two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil's Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. A wild, free-form comedy with lots of audience participation and madcap fun.

Written by: Gabriella Salvini

Celebrating the Hidden Gems of Chester

Growing up in Chester, I always felt that it was somewhat isolated from the surrounding

areas. Despite being only a short drive from other towns, few people seemed to know

much about Chester or its history. This always bothered me, as I felt that my hometown

had a lot to offer. So when I started studying journalism at the University of

Massachusetts - Amherst, I knew that I wanted to use my skills to help share Chester's

stories with the world.

One of the things that drew me to journalism was the power of storytelling. As a

journalist, I have the opportunity to share stories about people and events that might

otherwise go unnoticed. By highlighting these stories, I can help bring attention to

important issues and connect people with one another. I believe that this is especially

important in a small town like Chester, where community is everything. Despite its size,

Chester has a rich history and a unique character that sets it apart from other towns in

the area. From the old mills and factories that once powered the local economy to the

beautiful natural scenery that surrounds the town, there's a lot to love about Chester. But

unless you live there or have a personal connection to the town, you might never know

any of this.

That's why I'm so passionate about using journalism to share Chester's stories with the

world. Whether it's through a local newspaper, a website, or social media, I want to help

bring the history and character of my hometown to a wider audience. I want people to

know about the old train station that still stands in the center of town, the annual

Chester on Track festival that draws visitors from miles around, and the hardworking

people who keep the town running. But it's not just about sharing the positive aspects of

Chester. As a journalist, I also have a responsibility to report on important issues and

challenges facing the town. Whether it's a budget crisis, a controversial development

project, or a public health concern, I want to make sure that the people of Chester are

informed about what's happening in their community. By providing accurate and

unbiased reporting, I hope to help facilitate constructive conversations and bring about

positive change.

Of course, journalism is not without its challenges. In an era of declining trust in the

media, it can be difficult to convince people to pay attention to local news. That's why I

believe that it's important to not only report on the news, but also to actively engage

with the community. I believe that by doing so, I can help make voices heard and

encourage people to stay informed and engaged. Journalism has the power to connect

people and bring about positive change, and I am eager to play my part in making that

happen. By highlighting the history, character, and challenges of my hometown, I hope to

help build a stronger, more informed, and more engaged community

May 20, 2023 will mark the 33rd anniversary of Chester on Track. This awesome event will be held from 9am - 4pm. There will be a massive parade, Revolutionary War, CCC Camp and Irish railroad re-enactors, blacksmith demos, a train show, and a craft fair. The National Historic Landmark Chester Railroad Station will be open as well. Also happening during Chester on Track will be the garden tractor pulls, 'one-lug' steam & gas engine demos, a classic car show, the infamous duck race, a petting zoo and so much more!!! Live music will start at 11 at the Station will also be live streamed to You Tube and will be shown live on the Chester on Track site. The site includes all of the activities, shows, etc. for the day as well as other important information. Click here for the site: http://www.chesterontrack.com/

4:00 Tuesday, April 18 -Baseball v. High School of Science and Tech - HOME

4:00 Thursday, April 21 -Varsity Softball vs. Putnam - HOME

4:00 Monday, April 24 -Baseball vs. Putnam - HOME

• Varsity Softball vs Smith & JV Softball vs. Smith - HOME

4:00 Tuesday, April 25 -Varsity Softball vs. Smith & JV Softball vs Smith - AWAY

4:00 Wednesday, April 26 -Baseball vs Springfield International Charter - HOME

• 4:30 -Varsity Softball vs. Monument Mt. & JV Softball vs Monument Mt. - AWSY

4:00 Thursday, April 27 -Baseball vs. Pioneer Valley Christian - HOME

5:00 Friday, April 28 -Varsity Softball vs Lee & Jr. Varsity Softball vs Lee - HOME

Get your ticket today! Tickets are $10 each and you can purchase as many tickets as you would like to in order to increase your chances of winning. Winning names will be drawn over the course of 23 days, as shown on the calendar below. Each day we will announce the winner on the parents of Chester Facebook page in addition to calling the winner. Please be sure that your name and phone number are on each ticket that you purchase. Please return the form by April 27th. All of the money raised will go towards our upcoming school field trips. Please call Chester Elementary School at (413) 685-1360 to purchase a ticket.

You can still purchase a Middle School Memory Book, the yearbook for our middle school. The cost is $13. Make checks payable to Gateway Regional School District and reserve your Memory Book today with Mrs. O'Malley.

If you have a student ready for Kindergarten next year, please click on the link below to schedule a time for Kindergarten Screening.

Chester Elementary School: https://forms.gle/BQPwidUh8v3hwXUy7

Littleville Elementary School: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceUUHAO2IHxE8p4tEKsf4tAClkJrJlrlYbuKFyTeG4t7MgDQ/viewform

• Gateway Regional School District is looking for substitute teachers and nurses

• Gateway's Special Education Summer Camp is hiring for:
• Special Education Teachers: $50/hour (Sped and/or Early Childhood certified
• preferred)
• Special Education Paras: $25/hour
• Summer Camp Nurse
• Contact Kurt Garivaltis at 413-685-1019 if you are interested or for more information

• The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is hiring laborers at the treatment plant the reservoir and on Provin Mountain. The Commission runs a treatment plant on the Blandford/Westfield line and also manages property at Cobble Mountain reservoir and on Provin Mountain in Feeding Hills. They are currently hiring Labors at the treatment plant, the reservoir, and Provin. Often, people who are interested in getting into the water treatment industry start as Laborers while they are working on getting their treatment plant operator license. These are full time positions. To apply click here: https://waterandsewer.org/about-the-commission/careers/
  

Upcoming Russell Library Events:

Kids, Recycle, Repurpose, Reduce, Pre-Earth Day Program!

Saturday, April 15th, from 10:00 -12:00. Create table top composters using recycled materials

(you can bring your own 2 liter soda bottle) Build structures from repurposed cardboard (back by

popular demand). Read about ways to care for the Earth and reduce your footprint.

Open to everyone, no registration required

(Photo: Kids Cardboard Architecture)

Two April Vacation Events for Young People and Families:

Guided Group Drumming for Everyone with Ellen Klegg, “Drumming enhances wellness and creative expression in people of all ages. Open to people of all ages. Click here to see Ellen's Website. Register by email rpldirector@townofrussell.us, call 413-862-6221 and leave a message, or come in and sign

up at the library.

Thursday, April 20, 10:30 - 12:30 - Making Paper with Ms. Dawne. Stay with our theme of Recycle, Repurpose, Reduce and make new paper from recycled paper scraps. Open to people of all ages.

Register by email rpldirector@townofrussell.us, call 413-862-6221 and leave a message, or come in and sign up at the library.

Saturday, April 29th, 10:00 -11:30 AM - An Underwater World: Critters and Creatures in the Stream (AMC WMA Chapter Family Outings Event at the RP Library) Come splash in the stream behind the Russell Public Library for some Earth Day Family Fun! We will look for the creatures who live under the water at the river’s edge and investigate the many invertebrates from the brook with Sonya Vickers, former Science Teacher, naturalist and Springfield Naturalist Club board member. Families Welcome!

Register by email rpldirector@townofrussell.us, call 413-862-6221 and leave a message, or come in and sign up at the library.

Upcoming events at the Hilltown Family Center:

April 14th 10:00 - 12:00 The Forest Park Zoo's Wildlife on Wheels Program will be at the Hilltown Family Center during our free play-to-learn group. Come see the live animals, learn about all our programs, and socialize with others in our community.

Want to see what white water canoe/kayak racing is all about? Join the Westfield River Wildlife Committee for two race clinics this April. Build your skills and learn from experts on April 15th, 12:30 - 4PM. Bring your kayak or canoe to downtown Huntington, MA. Boats in the water just off the green bridge where Rte 112 meets Rte 20 near the DPW yard.

Past Gator Bites

April 6: https://www.smore.com/e63ps

March 20: https://www.smore.com/92xwb

March 2: https://www.smore.com/fwybx

February 10: https://www.smore.com/3n2tj

February 3: https://www.smore.com/ubjsq

January 9: https://www.smore.com/mu6h0

December 19: https://www.smore.com/hm943

December 7: https://www.smore.com/5yn3t

November 29: https://www.smore.com/4zs6ax

November 14: https://www.smore.com/u49t2

November 7: https://www.smore.com/mb78u

October 26: https://www.smore.com/gmqb5

October 19: https://www.smore.com/w2fk5

October 10: https://www.smore.com/m9uke

October 3: https://www.smore.com/pnds3

September 23: https://www.smore.com/q0x4c

September 16: https://www.smore.com/bkwp3

September 9: https://www.smore.com/uyc4m

September 1: https://www.smore.com/vu28z

August 25: https://www.smore.com/k2jehc

Please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns!

Chester Elementary School:
Principal Vanna Maffuccio vmaffuccio@grsd.org

Littleville Elementary School:

Interim Principal Mark Folta mailto:mfolta@grsd.org

Middle School/High School:
Principal Jason Finnie jfinnie@grsd.org

Assistant Principal Will Sullivan wsullivan@grsd.org

Athletic Director Matt Bonenfant mbonenfant@grsd.org

Superintendent Kristen Smidy, ksmidy@grsd.org

Website: grsd.org
Location: 12 Littleville Road, Huntington, MA, USA
Phone: 413-685-1100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GatewayRegionalMA?mibextid=LQQJ4d