This Week at Gateway
Gateway Regional Community Newsletter-November 29, 2020
Principal's Message
It is my hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy. Recently, we received new guidance from the Department of Health as our county has been reclassified in the high risk/orange category. This category has new restrictions and new responsibilities for both schools and parents. There are a few important areas that have changed:
- Any individual with COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and contact their healthcare provider. These symptoms are listed on the daily health screening you complete
- If someone in your household is sick or being tested for COVID-19 due to illness, students should stay home until the test result is received.
- Siblings of a student who has symptoms and meets criteria should be excluded from school until the symptomatic individual receives a negative test result.
Revised Hybrid Instructional Design (Effective December 7th)
We want to thank the parents and students who participated in the Parent and Student Survey about our hybrid learning design. Your input is deeply appreciated. Here are the results of the survey.
Based on these survey results and on feedback from the Gateway faculty, we will implement the adjustments detailed below to the hybrid schedule beginning 12/7/2020. We do not make these adjustments lightly. The most difficult part of running a school during this COVID-19 crisis is that there is no playbook on how best to do it. We are committed to providing the best possible education for our students regardless of the challenges and that means responding to the evolving needs of students, parents, and teachers.
Beginning on 12/7/2020,
Students will be expected to remain present in their live Zoom session for the full period on opposite cohort days.
Cohort A will attend class in-school Monday and Tuesday and attend class virtually on Thursday and Friday for the entire period.
Cohort B will attend class virtually on Monday and Tuesday for the entire period and attend class in-school on Thursday and Friday.
Cohort C will attend class virtually Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for the entire period.
Cohort D will attend class in-school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Wednesdays will be used for office hours or small group and individual instruction. Office hours will run on the 1st-8th period bell schedule to prevent overlapping schedules, but students will not be required to check-in to classes unless they are failing the course, owe make-up work, or are required to attend for small group or individual support. Students will be notified by their teachers if they are required to attend office hours for additional support. Students WILL have asynchronous assignments to complete on Wednesdays in lieu of attending live classes.
We continue to urge students to turn on their cameras during Zoom classes. Turning on cameras and actively participating in class helps both students and teachers in the learning process. Teachers may require students to turn in their cameras for attendance-taking, discussions, group work, or when answering questions. Students who are unable to turn on their cameras when requested should reach out privately to their teachers to find a solution or alternative method of indicating active participation.
The adjustments proposed were developed in collaboration with the COVID-19 Curriculum and Instruction Committee - special thanks to Mrs. Buehler, Dr. Bush, Mrs. Gailliout, and Mrs. Kane for their service on this committee. Adjustments were proposed to the Gateway faculty and staff and approved by consensus.
For an in-depth description of the Hybrid Plan, please see the chart at the end of this newsletter. Thank you again for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Dr. Pierro or Dr. Mount.
Weeks After Thanksgiving and New Year's
As COVID-19 cases rise across our county, we are continually talking with health officials and the Department of Education regarding the status of schools. The holidays are approaching and we are aware that many people may travel and visit with family. With that in mind, the weeks following the holiday breaks will be switching to remote instruction.
The week of November 30 -December 4 and the week of January 4-January 8 will now be ALL virtual.
We will continue to follow the hybrid schedule during remote instruction. Sports practices will continue as planned following NJSIAA guidelines. If any of this information needs to change we will inform the community as soon as possible.
Travel Advisory
As we are approaching the holiday season, we understand that this is traditionally a time for travel and vacations. We kindly ask that if you are traveling, please continue to utilize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended safety guidelines such as wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, social distancing, etc. If you are traveling to an area on New Jersey’s Travel Advisory List, we ask that you follow the State of New Jersey’s recommendation to quarantine your family for 14 calendar days upon your return and participate remotely. If your child logs on and completes assignments, this time will not be counted as an absence. Please see the link, Self-Quarantine for Travelers Frequently Asked Questions, for further information.
This Week at a Glance
Monday
- Online Instruction for Cohorts A, B, C, & D periods 1-4
Tuesday
- Online Instruction for Cohorts A, B, C, & D periods 5-8
Wednesday
- Wednesday Hybrid Schedule: All Cohorts periods 1-8
Thursday
- Online Instruction for Cohorts A, B, C, & D periods 1-4
Friday
- Online Instruction for Cohorts A, B, C, & D periods 5-8
Dress Code
Students should not be wearing hats or hoods in school.
Cell Phones
Chromebook Use and Attendance
Reminder that students should be using their Gateway issued Chromebook. This allows us to monitor student progress. Also students should be using their full name when using Zoom.
Chromebook Help
If you are having trouble with your Chromebook, check out the link below for possible solutions. If none of these solutions work, contact any of your teachers, they will fill out a tech request and we can get you a loaner device:
Chromebook Tips doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JRqJqGWjFXLP-A_kujOIjnjuaDU9M_gaaR_N5eIjZUk/edit?usp=sharing
New Jersey Junior Classical League
Congratulations to Sydney Abele and Sophia Lund for being elected to serve as Co-Historians on the board of the New Jersey Junior Classical League. In this role, Sydney and Sophia will create and oversee monthly Latin Club photo contests across the state of New Jersey. They will also create a digital scrapbook to represent the state of New Jersey, which they will enter in a nationwide competition at the National Convention. We are so proud to have Sydney and Sophia representing our school and our state!
Attention Students
Tyler Clementi Foundation #Day1 Student Leadership Opportunity
Last year, we launched the #Day1 Representatives initiative in Bergen County as part of our Youth Ambassadors projects and as a way for Bergen County high school students to work together and put a stop to bullying. #Day1 is an innovative campaign created by TCF that works to address bullying early on by having students take an Upstander Pledge.
Since the beginning of our program, our “#Day1 Reps” have accomplished some incredible things in their respective school districts and are on track to do so much more! Our representatives have hosted assemblies that have gotten statewide attention, created clubs, and have even moved on to become fellow Youth Ambassadors for the Tyler Clementi Foundation. We were able to give a presentation at Ramsey High School before the pandemic that even received some media attention and a segment was aired on NJTV about us.
We are looking for leaders to maintain a #Day1 Representative group for their county, as well as representatives to be in these groups. Our goal is to establish a group of high school students across the State from each county who are devoted to implementing this program and creating a welcoming environment in our schools. This is an incredible opportunity for students to get involved in their community and county while making a positive impact.
#Day1 Leader Responsibilities:
Leaders will be trained and then tasked with assisting us in starting/maintaining a #Day1 Representative chapter for their county
Leaders will run a monthly meeting with the representatives in their select counties
#Day1 Representative Responsibilities:
Representatives will be trained by TCF Youth Ambassadors and then tasked with implementing #Day1 at their respective high schools
Representatives will attend monthly meetings
#Day1 Application Process:
Students must apply to be a Representative/Leader by completing the application here.
Applications are due Monday, December 14, 2020.
Gateway and Hawk's Corner Deli Deliver Meals to Families
The Cheryl Baldosaro Comfort Closet is Open and Here for You
Gateway 100 Mile Club Update
Any students who complete the 100 Mile Club Challenge will be awarded 100 PBIS points! There's still more than 4 weeks left to complete the challenge! You can do it!
- If you haven't already, please fill out this form with your t-shirt size ASAP: https://forms.gle/NeFyG9FGTkYt6Xtw8
- Congrats to this week's top placeholders on the leaderboard. Keep up the great work!
NHS Community Drive
College and Career Readiness
Congratulations to Victoria Mickles for her acceptance into the University of Delaware and the Widener University Nursing programs!
Do you have big plans after graduation? We want to hear about your acceptance: College or University, Trade or Career Program, or Armed Forces of the United States. Please email Dr. Pierro with your acceptance letter. We would like to give you the recognition you deserve in the newsletter and morning announcements!
Winter Sports Registration
Winter sports registration is now open! Please complete the online registration ASAP!
https://gatewayregionalhs.rschoolteams.com/
Physical forms should be submitted to the main office.
Please contact the following coaches for additional paperwork and information:
Cheerleading: Email Coach Genzano
Winter Track: Email Coach Covely
Boys Basketball: Email Coach Durand
Girls Basketball: Email Coach McGowan
Wrestling: Email Coach Rutter
Swimming: Email Coach Steiger