May Newsletter 2022
Gateway Elementary
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear GREAT Gateway Families,
May tends to be a time for reflection for educators and this year is no different. While it has been a challenging year in many ways as we have all come back together and learned how to do school post-COVID, we have many, many things to celebrate!
- We have successfully maintained and grown several Gateway traditional events like Think Tank and Think Tank Showcase and Cultural Night, and we have added in some new fun events like our all school Open House and Showcase Night.
- We have demonstrated growth and achievement in our classrooms, on our MAPs tests, and through our Title and ELL programs.
- Our Student Council has had their best year yet working to serve our school, our community, and our world!
- Four of our teachers received grants for innovative classroom ideas totally $4, 758!
- And so much more!!
We have had many other successes this year, but the most important success is always the relationships that we build with children and with families. The joy we have found this year in continuing and developing relationships with your children is beyond description! Each child and adult is truly part of our Gateway school family! All of our staff and our students are contributors to our wonderful and safe school community.
We do have some events coming up for different grade levels so please pay attention to those class emails and newsletters. Teachers will be sharing details about these events as we move through the month of May.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for sharing your students with me!
Sincerely,
Principal Ashley Lawson
Teacher Appreciation Week - May 2-6
Monday - Bring in a flower - real or drawn
Tuesday - Write a letter, poem, song or rhyme about why your teacher is so wonderful
Wednesday - Bring in your teacher's favorite snack or sweet treat
Thursday - Surprise him/her with a pampering item (lotion, chapstick, bubble bath or gift card)
Friday - Dress like your teacher or wear his/her favorite color.
Yearbooks!
Personalization and on-line ordering has closed.
Some Important Changes for School Lunches
MUSIC NEWS
As the year comes to a close there are a few things remaining on the music calendar:
The first ever Gateway Music Album titled, "Understanding Hearts for Ukraine" is now on sale in the front office for $10. 2nd - 5th grade songs, a total of 46, are included in the album, many of which are original creations. Mrs Elzy's class recorded, "Heal the World." All proceeds before May 9 will benefit Ukraine. Limited supply available.
Music Genre Exploration has begun in our Preschool - 1st grade classes. Many students have explored Country & Western, Jazz, Rock n Roll, Pop and will continue to learn Classical, Rap, Negro Spirituals and more! Students discover through dance, games, coloring, role-playing, singing, playing etc...
For the Talent Show performance on May 27th, 2nd - 3rd graders are learning "Heal the World" while 4th - 5th graders are learning "You Raise me Up." They've also been competing in singing battles with the game "Encore." 2nd - 3rd grade performance of original songs yet to be decided...stay tuned.
The Royal Musicians Party will be after school on Monday May 16 from 3:30-4:30. We will meet in the music room.
Junior Achievement
JA of Teller County and Teller community volunteers will bring the Junior Achievement Done In A Day (JAIAD) school-based curriculum to the K-5th grade classrooms at Gateway Elementary on Wednesday, May 11th. This will be daylong opportunity beginning at 8am and ending by 2pm (at the latest). Breakfast snacks, lunch and beverages will be provided.
JA provides tested, specially-developed curriculum for each grade level to correspond with the Colorado educational standards. JA is the nation’s largest, nonprofit organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future and make smart academic and economic choices.
For curriculum examples, please feel free to check out the JASOCO website.
If you would like to help out in the classroom and make a difference in the lives of our students – please contact Sherri L. Albertson at sherri.albertson@ja.org or via phone at (719) 650-4089.
VIRTUAL BACKPACK
The Virtual Backpack is a paperless means of distributing flyers, newsletters and other notices that traditionally have come home in your child's backpack. Rather than local organizations making copies of their approved flyers, and District personnel coordinating their distribution to the schools, the flyers will instead be posted to this designated place on our website.
Please go to Virtual Backpack link for more information.
Important Dates
May 11 - Talent Show Tryouts (4th & 5th gr only)
May 20 - Fifth Grade Field Day
May 24 - Talent Show Rehearsal 3:30-4:30
May 27 - Mayfest & Talent Show
June 2 - Last Day of School & PBIS Assembly
Lunch Menu
New Gateway Facebook Page
WPSD - GATEWAY ELEMENTARY
https://www.facebook.com/WPSD-Gateway-Elementary-School-103778115379133