The GATE Gazette
Friday, November 22 , 2019
REMINDER!! Next Tuesday, November 26th is a HALF DAY! Dismissal is at 11:14am
This Week
I can't believe we are nearing the end of the first trimester! I have seen so many wonderful activities going on in our building, and I'm so excited to see what else we can achieve and how much we can grow in the next two trimesters. I am so grateful for the inspiring teachers, dedicated parents and hardworking students that make up our GATE community.
I am so excited to share that our students donated more than 500 pounds to the Gleaners Food Pantry! We are showing our gratitude for what we have and giving to others when we can. #OtherPeopleMatter!
1. School-wide goal: 500 lbs = We all earn a Pajama Day! We will celebrate this on December 19th!
2. Classroom goal: Most pounds donated = Pizza Party!
Final totals will be made on Monday!
3. Classroom goal: Most pounds per student = Paint the Rock!
Final totals will be made on Monday!
Please note that I will not be sending a newsletter out next week since it is only 1 1/2 days.
Enjoy this week's news!
Sincerely,
Kate Martin, Principal
Bringing P2 Home
This week's P2 character trait was gratitude. This character trait extends into next week as well. Gratitude means that you are aware of and thankful for good things that happen.
Now Try This!
IF YOU HAVEN'T YET - please consider sending in a hand-written note from your child for his/her teacher using the 1/2 page sent home in Friday Folders. Please have your child bring them directly to me rather than their teacher. I'll have a pile of them on the table in my office. I'd love to post them in the halls next week to show the teachers how grateful we are for their hard work and efforts. They do so much that isn't always recognized or seen.....writing engaging and rigorous lesson plans, giving encouragement to students, tying shoes, wiping tears, giving hugs, running after school clubs, attending evening activities....the list goes on and on. We LOVE our teachers and, although I'm admittedly biased, I think they're the most fantastic, hard-working teachers around! Let's show them we have gratitude for their efforts. Don't forget about our special area and additional staff members, too!
GATE Upcoming Events
- Nov. 25: Fall Photo Retakes
- Nov. 26: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM. End of 1st Trimester.
- Nov. 27-29: No School
- Dec. 2: Art Gallery Walk 6pm @ GATE
- Dec. 2-6: Scholastic Book Fair all week! See times below.
- Dec. 6: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM.
- Dec. 7: Holiday Breakfast @ 8:30am-11am (If you signed up)
- Dec. 9: Ukulele Recital (club) immediately following dismissal in Media Center
- Dec. 12: PTO Meeting 7pm @ Media Center
- Dec. 17: Drama Club Performance in Cafeteria after school
- Dec. 19: School-wide PJ day!
- Dec. 20: Classroom winter parties - time TBD by classroom teacher
- Dec. 23-Jan. 3: Winter Break
- Jan. 9: PTO Meeting 7pm @ Media Center
- Jan. 16: Early Dismissal @ 1:05pm
- Jan. 17: Blanket Making event sponsored by PTO - details to come
- Jan. 23: GATE Open House Showcase Event - details to come
- Jan. 27-31: NWEA MAP Winter Testing week
Parent/Teacher Gifted Resources
School Security Changes
STEAM Lab News!
Holiday Breakfast - Sponsored by Woodland PTO
Woodland Elementary School has been thoughtful enough to invite us to their annual Holiday Breakfast! Please see the details below. If you're interested, please print the form below and turn the form and payment in to your child's teacher.
Woodland's 21st Annual Holiday Breakfast will be held on Saturday, December 7th from 8:30am-11am. Breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes served with sausage and a toppings bar! There will be pictures with Santa, crafts and games.
In order for us to provide the proper amount of food and crafts, you must have an advanced reservation to attend the Holiday Breakfast. Please send in your response form with your payment no later than Monday, November 25th.
If you would like to volunteer your time to help at the Holiday Breakfast, please click on the following Sign Up Genius:
Avondale's Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Avondale High School's Leadership 101 class is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for the Avondale community next Tuesday, November 26th from 5:00pm-7:00pm in the AHS Cafeteria.
Thanksgiving is a very special time for many people in the United States to spend with their families. Our best Thanksgivings are spent with loved ones, eating wonderful food and having fun. However, many people in our community are unable to participate in such a blessed time and it is our duty to make sure that they are able to take part in it. This is Avondale's way of giving back and we need your help to do so.
This dinner can only be possible with your donations, although a donation is not required. If you would like to donate a fully prepared dish or supplies, please sign up at bit.ly/ahsthanksgiving. We hope that everyone can join us! Thank you for supporting us in helping those in need this holiday season.
Other Reminders
Volunteer Requirements
I wanted to clarify some things about volunteers in Avondale and what regulations we have to follow. There are two different levels of volunteers:
Level TWO Volunteers:
-Just submit the volunteer form and driver's license copy.
-Examples of activities they can do once cleared: field trip chaperone, classroom helper, copy parent, can volunteer for lunch/recess but must be monitored by GATE or SafeEd staff, etc.
-Parents need this when they will be doing activities that still involve a GATE staff member or SafeEd guard monitoring the room/area.
-These volunteers are never alone with a child.
Level ONE Volunteers:
-Must go to HR to get a fingerprinting sheet, get the fingerprinting done, and pay for it themselves.
-Examples of activities they can do once cleared: hold small group activities without a GATE staff member or SafeEd guard in the same room, overnight field trips, book room volunteer on their own, can volunteer for lunch/recess and monitor on their own, etc.
-These volunteers can be alone with a child.
Field Trips: Prior to signing up to be a field trip chaperone, submit your volunteer form and ID.
Special Events: No volunteer status needed, but you do need to sign in and get a name tag. In January we will have a new system for any visitor which will involve everyone bringing their ID called Raptor. More info to come on this from the district soon.
I have linked the level 2 volunteer form below. You can submit the form and a copy of your ID to Brenda in the front office. It typically takes about a week to process. Thank you for your diligence with this!
Secure Doors: During the school day, parents may not let other parents into the building, even if you know them. Only GATE staff members or SafeEd staff may do this.
Lunch/Recess Help Needed
Parents and volunteers - even ONE day a week or every other week HELPS a TON! Please consider signing up to help monitor students between 11:50-12:46.
Please sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a49aca62da0f58-lunchrecess
Please note that due to volunteer requirements and restrictions, you MUST have submitted a volunteer form and your photo ID to be processed before signing up. See additional instructions at the link above.
If you think you **might** be interested in our actual lunch/recess supervisor position, know that you can do it PART-TIME as well and share the job with someone else! Please email me if you think you might be interested in this option! We need 2 Lunchroom/Recess Supervisors. Hours are 11:30am-1:00pm Monday-Friday.
Please email me if interested.
PTO News
Staff Contact Information
If you need to notify the school of an:
ABSENCE
ABSENCE EXCUSE
EARLY DISMISSAL
OTHER IMPORTANT INFO FOR YOUR CHILD
Please call/email Brenda in the front office AND email your child's teacher:
GATE OFFICE CONTACT:
248-537-6400 (voicemail is now set up) or email brenda.trager@avondaleschools.org
You do not need to notify Ms. Martin of absences or early dismissals; please follow directions above.
Classroom Teachers
4th/5th: Ms. Michelle Gierman
michelle.gierman@avondaleschools.org
4th/5th: Ms. Erica Burmann
erica.burmann@avondaleschools.org
2nd/3rd: Ms. Amanda Merrill
amanda.merrill@avondaleschools.org
Long-Term Sub for Ms. Merrill - Ms. Leanore Ray
2nd/3rd: Ms. Kimberly McDermid
kimberly.mcdermid@avondaleschools.org
3rd/4th: Ms. Rachel Breeden
rachel.breeden@avondaleschools.org
6th: Mr. Mike Bigelow
michael.bigelow@avondaleschools.org
Special Area Staff
STEAM Lab: Ms. Heidi Heil
heidi.heil@avondaleschools.org
Physical Education: Ms. Adrianna Pfeffer
adrianna.pfeffer@avondaleschools.org
Art: Ms. Elizabeth Lowe
elizabeth.lowe@avondaleschools.org
Support Staff
Learning Resource Room: Ms. Jennifer Spencer
jennifer.spencer@avondaleschools.org
Speech Therapist: Ms. Kristen Genslak
kristen.genslak@avondaleschools.org
Social Work: Ms. Anne Ossewaarde
Contact Info
Our secretary, Brenda Trager, will be answering your calls.
Please call this number to report absences or when you have school related questions.
brenda.trager@avondaleschools.org
8:00-9:15am & 2:15-2:53pm - Enter at GATE entrance. All other times, enter main office.
Our address is 1435 West Auburn Rd. Rochester Hills, MI 48309
Our website: https://sites.google.com/a/avondaleschools.org/gate-1/
Contact Information
Email: kate.martin@avondaleschools.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/avondaleschools.org/gate-1/
Location: 1435 West Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 537-6400
Twitter: @KateMartinGATE