The GATE Gazette
Friday, October 25, 2019
This Week
We had a fantastic turn out for our first day of parent-teacher conferences. I hope you had a chance to get to know your child's teacher and learn more about how your child is growing and progressing in class. Our second night of parent-teacher conferences is on October 29th from 4:30-8pm. Please check with the sign-up genius link your child's teacher sent out as a reminder of the day/time.
School photos will be coming home this week in Friday Folders! If you are still interested in ordering prints, there is a code on the proof page to order online. The students also received an ID card with the school name and their photo. We will not utilize these this year at GATE, so students may keep them for personal use.
Update from the PTO on Box Tops - All paper Box Tops need to be turned in by Monday.
Enjoy this week's news!
Many of your questions can be answered within this weekly newsletter; thank you for taking the time to read it! Have a fantastic weekend!
Sincerely,
Kate Martin, Principal
Fall Has Arrived!
Please remember to write your child's name inside of any coats, hats, etc. It is much easier to return items with a name inside should they get misplaced.
Bringing P2 Home
This week's P2 character trait was perspective. In class, the students learned that someone who has perspective means that they appreciate when people see things in different ways. It means they have the ability to understand the world from multiple points of view. This character trait can be especially challenging for gifted students who lack an understanding of points of view beyond their own. This can be a common occurrence and is something that we strive to explicitly teach here at school. When students can see other's perspectives then they can:
-be more aware of their own thoughts, feelings and behaviors
-can consider all sides' needs, thoughts and opinions BEFORE acting
-can see the core of important problems
As students come into new situations and meet new people, the need for the character strength of perspective will only increase. Here are some ways you can discuss perspective at home:
-Why might our perspectives of ourselves be different than others' perspectives of us?
-Why do you think ours might be harsher?
-How might it help to hear others' perspectives more often?
Try this activity together at home:
Tonight! Go to AMS Halls of Halloween and then come enjoy a movie!
GATE Upcoming Events
- Oct. 29: GATE Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-8pm (Teachers have sent out sign-up)
- Oct. 29: Hearing Screening
- Oct. 31: Classroom Fall Parties (Time determined by your classroom teacher) & Halloween parade at 2:15 in the carpool loop.
- Nov. 4-15: Internal Application Window for residents and students already enrolled in Avondale thru schools of choice
- Nov. 5: 1/2 Day - Election Day
- Nov. 7: PTO Event - Cookies and Canvases 6-8:30 @ GATE
- Nov. 12: Fall Photo Retakes
- Nov. 13: Vision Screening
- Nov. 14: PTO Meeting 7pm, Media Center
- Nov. 22: 1/2 Day; Teacher Records in PM.
- 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!
- Dec. 12: PTO Meeting 7pm @ Media Center
- 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
Athletics Info - 6th Graders
Exciting News! Integration of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) into STEAM Lab this winter!
PLTW's activity-, project-, and problem-based (APB) instructional design centers on hands-on, real-world activities, projects, and problems that help students understand how the knowledge and skills they develop in the classroom may be applied in everyday life. The APB approach scaffolds student learning through structured activities and projects that empower students to become independent in the classroom and help them build skill sets to apply to an open-ended design problem.
This approach provides students with unique opportunities to work collaboratively, identify problems, apply what they know, persevere through challenges, find unique solutions, and lead their own learning.
Another great reason we are integrating PLTW into GATE is because it is a K-12 curriculum that is also available at Avondale High School. We think it will be an opportunity for students to continue with their love of PLTW!
The Changing Earth
Grids and Games
Variation of Traits
Programming Patterns
Input/Output: Computer Systems
Input/Output: Human Brain
Infection: Detection
Infection: Modeling and Simulation
*6th Grade PLTW is done as an exploratory with Mr. Bigelow. Students in 7th and 8th will also have PLTW options.
Avondale Comicon is Back!
Sports Opportunity
Other Reminders
Tardy and Early Dismissal Changes
In an effort to alleviate crowding in the front office and to reduce the time it takes for tardy students to get to class, a SafeEd staff member will be stationed at the GATE entrance to allow for parents/students to sign-in or out.
ARRIVAL/TARDIES/VOLUNTEERS: From 8:00-9:15am parents will be able to enter through the GATE doors to sign in late students, sign in to volunteer, or for any other reason you may be in the building.
EARLY DISMISSALS: From 2:15-2:53 parents will be able to enter through the GATE doors to sign out late students or to volunteer.
SPECIAL EVENTS: If we are ever having school-wide special events, the GATE doors will be available as an entrance. (i.e. the Halloween Parade)
While this is an added convenience, my hope is that all students are getting to school on time by 8am. However, tardies happen, and I think this will still help students get to class quicker.
Coming anytime between 9:15-2:15? Go to the Meadows Front Office.
School Hours are from 8:00am - 2:53pm
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 12-12:46.
Please sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a49aca62da0f58-lunchrecess
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.
Here's the link to the posting: https://ats4.searchsoft.net/ats/application/search/job_search_frame?APPLICANT_TYPE_ID=00000002&COMPANY_ID=JA000529
You'd need to create an application and submit it ASAP if interested. Please also email me.
Halloween Parade
Our Halloween celebration will be begin at 2:15pm on Thursday, October 31st with our parade. The parade will occur outside this year around our carpool loop, weather permitting. Some classes may have their party prior to the parade and others may have their party after the parade. Check your child's teacher's newsletters.
Costumes should be able to be put on OVER your child's school clothes. Please keep in mind the following building guidelines for costumes at school:
- We ask that children NOT wear costumes depicting violence or violent acts. This includes fake blood, gore or imagery that would not be "G-rated".
- We will also be restricting masks during the parade to avoid any potential tripping hazards.
- School policy prohibits any and all toy guns, knives, swords, wands or weapons.
Please reserve elaborate costumes, frightening masks, face paint and make-up for trick or treating as these things can create a school disruption. Halloween is an exciting time. Let's all help to make sure it is a safe and positive experience for the children while at school. Thank you for your support with these guidelines.
Please Note: Children who do not participate in Halloween activities will be offered an alternate option during the Halloween celebrations. Please let your child's teacher know by October 25th if your child will need this option.
Breakfast and Lunch
New Breakfast Option:
Breakfast will now be offered on a "cart" in the mornings between 7:45-8am! A cafeteria staff member will be in the GATE lobby area and students can "grab and go" a breakfast if they so choose. Students will be charged for an elementary breakfast if they are taking the breakfast option. Students will be expected to eat in a timely manner and complete the food no later than 8:05am in the hall/class.So far, few students have purchased breakfast. This will be discontinued if students do not purchase the "grab and go" breakfast. Breakfast will still be offered in the cafeteria.
Costs for GATE students effective October 1st:
Breakfast $1.50
Lunch: $2.75
PTO News
Cookies and Canvases Event!
Box Tops for Education
To earn money for our school From BoxTops:
-Open the App Store on any device with a camera,
-Search for “BoxTops” app,
-Download the app, and follow instructions.
(Our schools’ name is “Avondale GATE Magnet School.”)
Kroger Rewards
Amazon Smile
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
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