Gateway Family Newsletter (English)
October 2022
Important Upcoming Events
Friday, Oct. 7th---1st Quarter Ends
Monday, Oct. 10th---2nd Quarter Begins
Thursday, Oct. 13th---Bus Evacuation Drills
Tuesday, Oct. 18th----Scholastic Individual Picture Day
Friday, Oct. 21st---No School for Early Childhood Students Only (Early Childhood Plan Day)
Tuesday, Oct. 25th (2:30 pm)---Classroom Fall Harvest Parties
Wednesday, Oct. 26th---Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:30 pm---8:00 pm
Thursday, Oct. 27th----NO SCHOOL, Parent Teacher Conferences, 12:30 pm---8:00 pm
Friday, Oct. 28th---NO SCHOOL, Teacher Planning Day
Monday, Oct. 31st---NO SCHOOL, Teacher Professional Development Day
Tuesday, Nov. 1st---NO SCHOOL ,Teacher Planning Day
Notes From the Gateway Office
Please remember that school will not be in session on the upcoming (4) dates listed below.
- Thursday, October 27th (Parent Teacher Conferences)
- Friday, October 28th (Teacher Planning Day)
- Monday, October 31st (Teacher Professional Development Day)
- Tuesday, November 1st (Teacher Planning Day)
Parent Teacher Conferences
Mark your calendars for Fall Parent Teacher conferences:
- Wednesday, October 26th, 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm
- Thursday, October 27th, 12:30 pm to 8:00 pm
If you haven’t done so, please call 531-299-1480 to schedule a time. Parent teacher conferences are scheduled to be held in-person and our goal is always 100% attendance!
The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) offers some excellent information about Parent Teacher conferences:
Children whose parents are involved in their education do better in school.
Before the conference, talk with your child and find out what his/her favorite school subjects and activities are and if he/she has any concerns for you to discuss with the teacher.
Review your child’s work. Are there any areas that need improvement? Discuss both strengths and weaknesses with the teacher – we all have both.
Be on time. The conference schedule is tight and everyone needs to stay on schedule. If you develop a conflict, let the school know as soon as possible. Try to reschedule, even if it needs to be a phone conference.
Keep an open mind. Conferences are meant to help you understand your child’s school performance. Working together, home and school maximize student success.
Make plans to follow through at home if needed. Decide what you, your child, and the teacher need to do to help your child succeed.
Afterwards tell your child about the talk. Praise the things he/she is doing well and pass along compliments. If you need to, talk about areas you will work to improve.
Arrival Dismissal Times
At Gateway, the safety of our students and staff continues to be our number one priority. Please remember that Gateway students that do not attend Kid’s Club should not be arriving at school before 8:35 AM. Breakfast is free for all Gateway students and will be served each morning at 8:35 am. The school day begins each morning at 8:50 AM. Students are dismissed each day promptly at 4:05 p.m.
Leaving children at school prior to 8:35 AM creates an unsafe situation, due to the fact that teachers are not on duty until 8:35 AM.
If you need to drop your child off prior to 8:35 AM, please consider using Kids Club. Kids Club is a before and after school program administered by the Omaha Schools Foundation for children attending Omaha Public Elementary Schools. If you are interested in enrolling your child in Kids Club or have questions regarding specific hours and fees, please call the Omaha Schools Foundation Office at (402)502-3032.
Safety is our Top Priority
We are teaching all students behavior expectations from the classroom to the lunchroom and recess, or extra-curricular activities. Our Student Code of Conduct outlines expectations and discipline related to the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Consequences are designed to be a learning experience for students. Families play an essential role in promoting school safety. Regularly discuss behavior expectations and consequences with your student at home, and check in daily with your student to know what's going well and what may be a challenge.
If you or your student see concerning behavior, report it immediately to a trusted staff member at school or Safe2Help Nebraska. A Safe2Help Nebraska link is installed on all student iPads. Families can also call (531) 299-SAFE. We regularly practice our district’s Standard Response Protocol in case of emergency (fire, evacuation, severe weather and more).
Thank you for your partnership in promoting safe, welcoming and supportive schools.
Here Comes The Bus App
GPS school bus tracking technology is available to all parents and guardians of district students who ride Student Transportation of America buses with bus stops. This free service provides families with the ability to track the location of their students’ buses in real-time, either on a computer or a mobile device. Participation is optional.
Tracking Features:
- Shows the real-time location of your child’s bus on a map
- Gives scheduled and actual arrival times at home and school for bus routes
- Provides push and email notifications when the bus is near
Want to sign up? Click on the link below.
Classroom Parties
Classroom Fall/Harvest Parties are scheduled towards the end of the school day (2:30) on Tuesday, October 25th. Some general classroom "do's and don'ts" for these parties are listed below. If you have specific questions, please contact your child's teacher. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Do's
Store bought pre-packaged treats
Fall or harvest theme movies, games and activities
Bingo
Outdoor scavenger hunt
Fall or harvest themed arts and crafts
Pumpkin activities
Apple activities
Dont's
Costumes
Masks
Homemade treats
Halloween themed activities
Message from Gateway School Counselors
This year, your Gateway school counselors, Kelsey Buglewicz-Miller and Alison McGovern, will be hosting a few family workshops. These workshops are intended to be utilized as a time to ask and answer questions about a variety of topics related to social emotional learning and the mental health needs of our students. Please help us select topics that you would like to learn more about, the times and days to host them, and the format of the workshops using the link below! Thank you for your input.
Not Feeling Well?
While it’s important for children to be at school, it’s also important for them to stay at home and rest if they are sick--both so they can recover and so they don’t make others sick. If your child is sick, please notify the main office at 531.299.1480. Strict adherence to our health and safety guidelines protects other members of our community and allows in-person learning to proceed more successfully.
If you have any questions, please call our School Nurse, Mrs. Lauren Boll @ 531-299-1480.
Nebraska Family Helpline
Raising kids is hard. It’s okay to ask for advice. The Nebraska Family Helpline is a free, confidential resource for parents who have questions regarding their child’s behavior. Trained counselors are standing by. Have a question? Give them a call at 1-888-866-8660.
Terry Burton, Principal Gateway Elementary
Email: terry.burton@ops.org
Website: gateway.ops.org
Location: 5610 South 42nd Street, Omaha, NE, United States
Phone: 531-299-1480