Gateway Family Newsletter (English)
September 2018
Important Upcoming Events
Friday, Sept. 7th—Kindergarten Color Day, Wear Yellow
Wednesday, Sept. 12---Gateway Theme Day, Twin Day (dress like a friend or staff member)
Thursday, Sept. 13th---No School for Pre-K Students, Pre-K Teacher Plan Day
Thursday, Sept. 13th—Kindergarten Color Day, Wear Green
Friday, Sept. 14th---NO SCHOOL, Curriculum Day
Monday, Sept. 17th---NO SCHOOL, Elementary TEAM Planning Day
Friday, Sept. 21st---Kindergarten Color Day, Wear Blue
Monday, Sept. 24th---Progress Reports Sent Home
Monday, Sept. 24th---School Fundraiser Kickoff Assembly
Wednesday, Sept. 26th---Gateway Theme Day, Mismatch Day
Thursday, Sept. 27th---Picture Day
Thursday, Sept. 27th---Open House, 6-8 pm
Friday, Sept. 28th---Kindergarten Color Day, Wear Purple
OCTOBER
Friday, Oct. 12th---Kindergarten Field Trip to Bellevue Berry Farm
Monday, Oct. 15th---InView Testing Begins, 2nd grade
Thursday, Oct. 18th---Gateway Family Night at the Bellevue Berry Farm
Friday, Oct. 19th—1st Quarter Ends
Monday, Oct. 22nd—2nd Quarter Begins
Wednesday, Oct. 24th---No School for Pre-K, Pre-K Plan Day
Wednesday, Oct. 24th---Parent Teacher Conferences, 4:30-8:00 pm
Thursday, Oct. 25th---Parent Teacher Conferences, Noon-8:00 pm
Thursday, Oct. 25th---NO SCHOOL, PT Conferences
Friday, Oct. 26th---NO SCHOOL, Elementary Teacher Planning Day
Monday, Oct. 29th---Fire Drill
Wednesday, Oct. 31st—Classroom Halloween Parties, 2:30 pm
Welcome to the 2018-19 School Year
My name is Terry Burton and I am the proud principal of Gateway Elementary! Our Assistant Principal, Ms. Longlee and I would like to welcome you to the 2018-19 school year and thank you for entrusting your child with the entire Gateway staff. We look forward to working with you and our nearly 1,000 students throughout the school year!!!! We welcome your input and thank you in advance for your support as we strive to provide the best educational experience possible for our students.
I am extremely proud to be the principal of Gateway! It is a special school filled with hard-working, dedicated students, staff, parents and community members that are committed to preparing all students to excel in college, career and life!
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 557-2045.
Open House
As a reminder, Open House is scheduled for Thurs., Sept. 27th from 6-8 p.m. Teachers and students are anxious to show off their classrooms and all the work that they have been completing. Also, sign up sheets for parent/teacher conferences will be located in the Gateway gym! Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. We hope to see you then!
Nutrition Services Notes
Online Payment is now available! Known as SchoolCafe, families can now utilize this option to speed up the serving lines by eliminating cash or check payments when students purchase a meal. Additionally, the payments are secure and can be set-up to automatically add funds to the student's account each month. The link is: https://www.schoolcafe.com/
Online Meal Applications are the quickest and easiest way for parents/guardians to apply for meal benefits! Located at https://schoolmealapp.com parents/guardians can register, sign-in, and complete a family application. The application is reviewed and, depending on the information included, students can start receiving meal benefits the next day!
Paper Meal Applications are always available for families! Applications were mailed with the Fall Opening Letters, however if you need additional applications (English & Spanish), please contact our main office. We have a large inventory of them! Reminder....it is important that the parents/guardians complete the application correctly.
Safety Drills
The students and staff at Gateway have already begun these drills and will continue to practice three main drills throughout the school year.
Fire Drills
We will conduct a “Fire Drill” each month that school is in session. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the fire alarm is sounded. By practicing they will know what to do and how to do it.
Severe Weather Drills
The purpose of this drill is to be prepared to move our students and staff to a safe location within the building in case of severe weather or tornados.
Lockdown Drill
Gateway will conduct “Lockdown Drills” periodically throughout each school year. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a “lockdown drill” all of the perimeter doors to the school building will be locked and will remain locked until the danger or issue outside or inside the building is removed. To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is completed.
OPS Family Math Nights
Attendance Information
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. We ask that all students are fever free for 24 hours prior to returning to school. If you have any questions, please call our School Nurse, Mrs. Ann Wees @ 402-561-6030. Please remember to call Gateway’s main office at 402-561-6030 to report student absences.
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: 402-561-6030