Excitement ahead! The 8th graders are set and ready for their Washington DC adventure. It will begin on Monday morning at 3:45! A wonderfully educational week awaits us in our Nation’s capitol. Please watch the Gateway website for photos that will be posted as we tour. It’s great to see their smiling faces here back at home.
Spanish classes for grade 8 are also winding down with High School placement tests behind us. Upon our return from DC the 8th grade will practice, film and enjoy a long awaited culmination play of SaladTown Stories, our Total Physical Response Storytelling 3-year curriculum. This will provide an enjoyable end to the 8th graders’ Spanish studies at Gateway School. Then, on to speeches and graduation. Do not fail to be present for this memorable occasion as it unfolds the last day of school. There won’t be a dry eye in the house!
Seventh graders have also been winding down their studies and are looking forward to reading a novelette all in Spanish. This is a wonderful little read with high frequency Spanish words which enables the kids to simply sit and pleasure read in the language. They will create a illustrated and written response to each of the eight chapters. Finally, the year will close with skits and films of another Ensalada cliff hanger!
Sixth graders are readying to perform their Saladtown skits, puppet shows and films tomorrow. They have enjoyed the first year of this TPRS curriculum and, little do they know, but soon they will be surprised by a tragic event in this fictitious land of veggies. They will also enjoy a screening of RUGRATS-LA PELICULA in Spanish. While seemingly a film of light-hearted animation, this film is a very high level of Spanish (made for native speakers) which will challenge them and raise their comprehension abilities.
I would like to wish all Gateway students and families a relaxing and joyful summer vacation and I look forward to seeing you all again in the Fall, well rested and ready to resume learning together.
Hasta luego, amigos!
Maestra Patricia Lucas
Dear Families and Students,
We’re in the last few weeks of the school year, and many culminating activities are nearly upon us: student council election results; final exams for seventh and eighth graders; eighth graders leave for Washington, D.C. on Monday; seventh graders leave the following week for Catalina Island; and of course, there are various activities and preparations going on for our step-up and graduation ceremonies. If you have any questions about the activities and events coming up in the following weeks, please don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Best,
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
- Advisory Update for 7th and 8th Grades
Today our seventh- and eighth-grade students met with facilitators from the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center during advisory, and the topics of conversation included peer relationships, self-confidence, communication styles, and good decision making. There were two facilitators (plus grade-level teachers) leading each discussion, and we hope the students came away with helpful social strategies as they anticipate their new roles next year (as eighth graders, or as high-school students). Please do talk to your son or daughter to see what feedback he or she has, and also please feel free to share that feedback with us. We appreciate the communication!
- Student Council
- Candidate speeches and elections happened today at lunch; stay tuned for the results.
- Spirit Day is Friday, May 17th: Sunglasses day!
- Final Student Council meeting is Friday, June 7th
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine
Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited, and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby: final edition out soon!
- Talent Show Tryouts: May 20-24 and May 28-31
Talent Show tryouts are the week of May 20th-24th and the week of May 28th-31st in Sari’s 4th grade classroom from 12:00 – 1. The Talent Show is on Wednesday, June 5th.
- Middle School Physical Education: MS Physical Education now has its own web page! Go there directly at: http://www.gatewaysc.org/class-pages/physical-education/
- Mile run volunteers needed! Students are running their last timed mile for the year. Parent volunteers are needed for each class to cheer students on and help with course safety. If you are available to volunteer during your child’s P.E. time, please email Kirsten directly at kirsten_mehl@gatewaysc.org. Thank you!
6A Tuesday, May 21st 8:30-9:24am
6B Wednesday, May 15th 8:30-9:24am
7A Friday, May 17th 8:30-9:24am
7B Monday, May 13th 8:30-9:24am
8A Monday, May 13th 10:36-11:30am
8B Tuesday, May 14th 1:10-2:04pm
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
(photo: Johaan Ryberg) (photo: Johaan Ryberg) competition (photo: Phyllis Endicott)
Dear Families and Students,
First, a reminder to parents of seventh and eighth graders that TONIGHT is the informational meeting for this year’s trips to Catalina Island and Washington, D.C., and you can find more details about those events below.
Second, please see the pictures below from today’s Shakespeare To Go performance of Henry V during our Advisory period. Today’s performance is part of our grades 6-8 Shakespeare units: sixth graders will soon be reading the Sonnets; seventh graders will be reading the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and eighth graders will be reading the tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Next year’s sixth, seventh, and eighth graders will have the opportunity to attend Henry V as an entire Middle School during the Shakespeare Santa Cruz festival: more details on that event in the weeks ahead.
Have a great week,
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
- Parent Meetings for Catalina Island and Washington D.C. Trips: TONIGHT!
Please join seventh- and eighth-grade teachers for important information about upcoming trips to Catalina Island and Washington, D.C. The meetings will be held back to back, in the West Cliff Room.
- 6:00-7:00 Catalina Information Meeting
- 7:00-8:00 Washington, D.C. Information Meeting
- Bike to School Day: Thursday, May 9th
Thursday May 9th is Bike to School Day. Walk or bike in and enjoy breakfast with our community. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 8:30am. We look forward to seeing you then!
- Student Council
- For those running for office, your speeches need to be checked by the Student Council Advisors by this Thursday, May 9. A reminder that a contract for next year needs to be on file to run for office.
- General meeting this Friday, May 10.
- Elections are at lunch on May 15 in the West Cliff Room.
Spirit May 17 is our Spirit Day. Theme (TBA)
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine
Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited, and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
- EXTENDED deadline for next edition: Friday, May 10th
- Talent Show Tryouts: May 20-24 and May 28-31
Talent Show tryouts are the week of May 20th-24th and the week of May 28th-31st in Sari’s 4th grade classroom from 12:00 – 1. The Talent Show is on Wednesday, June 5th.
- Middle School Physical Education: MS Physical Education now has its own web page! Go there directly at: http://www.gatewaysc.org/class-pages/physical-education/
- Mile run volunteers needed! Students are running their last timed mile for the year. Parent volunteers are needed for each class to cheer students on and help with course safety. If you are available to volunteer during your child’s P.E. time, please email Kirsten directly at kirsten_mehl@gatewaysc.org. Thank you!
6A Tuesday, May 21st 8:30-9:24am
6B Wednesday, May 15th 8:30-9:24am
7A Friday, May 17th 8:30-9:24am
7B Monday, May 13th 8:30-9:24am
8A Monday, May 13th 10:36-11:30am
8B Tuesday, May 14th 1:10-2:04pm
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
Dear Families and Students,
This week our sixth graders are on field trips to San Francisco to visit the Asian Art Museum, and on Friday we’ll be celebrating Grandparents’ Day. A quick reminder to parents of seventh and eighth graders that NEXT Wednesday night is the informational meeting for this year’s trips to Catalina Island and Washington, D.C.; more details about those upcoming events are below.
Best,
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
-
Mini Silent Auction: May 1st-3rd
We are holding a very special, small silent auction next week! For the first time we had several items left over from our winter auction that came to us too late to be processed into the on-line or Gala event, so we have some wonderful donated goods and services to offer our Gateway community this spring! Look for these select items in the lobby, on display for bidding starting Wednesday, May 1st .
- Grandparents’ Day Middle School Program: Friday, May 3rd
Grandparents and other family members are invited to join us for the Middle School Grandparents’ Day program, which includes a presentation and Question and Answer session with Lee Rosenfeld, the grandmother of one of our Gateway first graders, and a Holocaust survivor; and a panel of speakers who are also Gateway grandparents, and who will speak with the students about what school, family, and community life was like for them as they were growing up. The program begins at 1:30 in the West Cliff Room with a welcome and introduction by Percy.
- Parent Meetings for Catalina Island and Washington D.C. Trips: Wednesday, May 8th
Please join seventh- and eighth-grade teachers for important information about upcoming trips to Catalina Island and Washington, D.C. The meetings will be held back to back, in the West Cliff Room.
- 6:00-7:00 Catalina Information Meeting
- 7:00-8:00 Washington, D.C. Information Meeting
- Bike to School Day: Thursday, May 9th
Thursday May 9th is Bike to School Day. Walk or bike in and enjoy breakfast with our community. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 8:30am. We look forward to seeing you then!
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine
Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited, and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
- EXTENDED deadline for next edition: Friday, May 10th
- Talent Show Tryouts: May 20-24 and May 28-31
Talent Show tryouts are the week of May 20th-24th and the week of May 28th-31st in Sari’s 4th grade classroom from 12:00 – 1. The Talent Show is on Wednesday, June 5th.
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
Cooking elective students await the verdict of judges
LeighAnn, Alli, and Patty in their Iron Chef competition
last Friday.
Dear Families and Students,
It has been quite an eventful week, with International Day, the Rock Band elective concert, the eighth graders visiting the Steinbeck Center, and the sixth graders kayaking; we’ll conclude this week with a Student Council Spirit Day on Friday, and the Art Tour Reception at 4:00. Next week our sixth graders will be returning to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and we’ll all be celebrating Grandparents’ Day on Friday, May 3rd. Please see below for some pictures from our recent Middle School activities.
Best,
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
- Student Council:
- Poetry Contest (Deadline Approaching!): the annual Student Council Poetry Contest has officially opened, and students may make submissions until April 26. There is an envelope in the main office for submissions.
- Spirit Day is this Friday, and the theme is Sports: Wear your sport clothing. Dance is considered a sport, too!
- Those 6/7th graders who are interested in running for office next year should pick up an application and then attend a mandatory meeting on Friday, April 26, at noon in the library.
- Sixth-Grade Kayaking Trips: April 24th and April 25th
6As will be on their kayaking trip on Thursday, 4/25, and 6Bs will take their trip on Wednesday, 4/24. Please email Sara if you can drive and/or Chaperone. We will be leaving campus around 9am and will be back by 3pm.
-
Art Tour Reception: Friday April 26th, 4-5pm
It is time again for our Annual Art Tour! Please join us and view artwork from each student in grades kindergarten through 5, as well as the students who participate in the Middle School electives. Their pieces are displayed in the lobby, along the stairwell, and in the upstairs hallways. On Friday, April 26th, please join Susan Paull for a reception for the artists in the West Cliff room from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. We will serve refreshments and discuss the creative processes that led to the artwork on display. Most of the art will remain on display for the rest of the school year, but the reception is a chance to celebrate the children’s work along with them. Look forward to seeing you there!
-
Mini Silent Auction: May 1st-3rd
We are holding a very special, small silent auction next week! For the first time we had several items left over from our winter auction that came to us too late to be processed into the on-line or Gala event, so we have some wonderful donated goods and services to offer our Gateway community this spring! Look for these select items in the lobby, on display for bidding starting Wednesday, May 1st .
- Parent Meetings for Catalina Island and Washington D.C. Trips: Wednesday, May 8th
Please join seventh- and eighth-grade teachers for important information about upcoming trips to Catalina Island and Washington, D.C. The meetings will be held back to back, in the West Cliff Room.
- 6:00-7:00 Catalina Information Meeting
- 7:00-8:00 Washington, D.C. Information Meeting
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine
Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited, and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
- EXTENDED deadline for next edition: Friday, May 10th
- Talent Show Tryouts: May 20-24 and May 28-31
Talent Show tryouts are the week of May 20th-24th and the week of May 28th-31st in Sari’s 4th grade classroom from 12:00 – 1. The Talent Show is on Wednesday, June 5th.
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
8th grader Annie serves Sam, Alyce, Blake, Aidon Wyatt performs at the
food at International Day and Ben perform Rock Band concert
8th graders at the Steinbeck 7th graders surprise Johaan and Kayce
Center in Salinas with a pre-wedding party
Dear Families and Students,
The end of this week includes some very special events, including tomorrow’s International Day Celebration (see below), the Rock Band elective concert tomorrow night, and the eighth graders’ trip to the Steinbeck Center and House on Friday. A reminder that school is dismissed for all grades at 2:30 tomorrow, following our International Day festivities. We hope you’ll be able to join us in celebrating the diverse cultures of our Gateway community.
Best,
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
- International Day: Thursday, April 18th
Our Third Annual Gateway International Day is coming up! Thursday, April 18, from noon to 2:30pm, the Gateway courtyard will be transformed into a spring celebration of cultures from around the world. If you’d like to help with this GPA-sponsored event, sign up by clicking here or email Andrea Hultzen:drehultzen@gmail.com with your potluck dish. Email Kristyna MacLaurin: kpmaclaurin@gmail.com or Virginia Rodriguez:vmrodriguez@yahoo.com to sign up to run or work a booth.
- Rock Band Elective Concert: Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Join 0ur Middle School student musicians in the West Cliff Room next Thursday evening to hear their performances of popular rock songs. This is not a concert to miss!
- Student Council:
- Poetry Contest: the annual Student Council Poetry Contest has officially opened, and students may make submissions until April 26. There is an envelope in the main office for submissions.
- Information meeting for upcoming Student Council elections Student Council general meeting this Friday. Those 6/7th graders who are interested in running for office next year should attend this meeting to pick up an application and then attend a mandatory meeting on Friday, April 26. at noon in the library.
- Sixth-Grade Kayaking Trips: April 24th and April 25th
6As will be on their kayaking trip on Thursday, 4/25, and 6Bs will take their trip on Wednesday, 4/24. Please email Sara if you can drive and/or Chaperone. We will be leaving campus around 9am and will be back by 3pm.
- Parent Meetings for Catalina Island and Washington D.C. Trips: Wednesday, May 8th
Please join seventh- and eighth-grade teachers for important information about upcoming trips to Catalina Island and Washington, D.C. The meetings will be held back to back, in the West Cliff Room.
- 6:00-7:00 Catalina Information Meeting
- 7:00-8:00 Washington, D.C. Information Meeting
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine
Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited, and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
- Deadline for next edition: Friday, April 26th
- Congratulations to our State Science Fair Participants!
Congratulations to Talia Bernstein, Jeremy Hanlon, Jaime Kvaternik and Chloe Ortiz for their participation in the California State Science Fair, and a special congratulations to Chloe Ortiz for finishing 4th place in the Chemistry Category! Each student traveled to the California Science Center in Los Angeles this past Monday and Tuesday and presented their research and findings to a panel of judges. They presented high quality projects and did an excellent job representing Gateway. Great work! See pictures below.
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
Chloe Ortiz at the Kindergarteners and 1st graders
State Science Fair listen to the Rock Band elective
(under the space students rehearse (photo credit:
shuttle Endeavor!) Percy Abram)
(photo credit:
LeighAnn Work)
Johaan and MS students 8th graders Alyce and Shani
on their Survival Skills pitch their tent! (photo credit:
trip to the Ventana Johaan Ryberg)
Wilderness (photo
credit: Johaan Ryberg)
Families and Students,
The students have come back from spring break with lots of energy, and lots of excitement about their upcoming grade-level events. The sixth graders will soon be kayaking, the seventh graders will be going to Catalina Island, and of course, the eighth graders aren’t too far away from their big trip to Washington, D.C., Jamestown, and Colonial Williamsburg. There’s a lot going on in the next several weeks, so please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions about upcoming Middle School Activities.
Also, a reminder that you can log into Blackbaud to view quarter three progress reports on Friday.
Have a great week,
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
- Student Council:
- Poetry Contest: the annual Student Council Poetry Contest has officially opened, and students may make submissions until April 26. There is an envelope in the main office for submissions.
- Mandatory meeting for officers this Friday in the library at lunch.
- Information meeting for upcoming Student Council elections will be happening in April; stay tuned for the date.
- Rock Band Elective Concert: Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Join 0ur Middle School student musicians in the West Cliff Room next Thursday evening to hear their performances of popular rock songs. This is not a concert to miss!
- Sixth-Grade Kayaking Trips: April 24th and April 25th
6As will be on their kayaking trip on Thursday, 4/25, and 6Bs will take their trip on Wednesday, 4/24. Please email Sara if you can drive and/or Chaperone. We will be leaving campus around 9am and will be back by 3pm.
- Parent Meetings for Catalina Island and Washington D.C. Trips: Wednesday, May 8th
Please join seventh- and eighth-grade teachers for important information about upcoming trips to Catalina Island and Washington, D.C. The meetings will be held back to back, in the West Cliff Room.
- 6:00-7:00 Catalina Information Meeting
- 7:00-8:00 Washington, D.C. Information Meeting
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine
Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited, and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
- Deadline for next edition: Friday, April 26th
- News from the Shark Tank: Sports Update
Please see the sports page for updates on practices and news about the Sharks’ recent games. http://www.gatewaysc.org/students/athletics/
- Girls’ Volleyball: Please return Jerseys to your coach by the end of this week.
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
7th grader Jo takes a shot 6th graders line up early for
during a lunchtime game their afternoon Humanities class
Dear Families and Students,
Spring break is nearly upon us, and the students seem ready for a little R & R. In addition to the start of spring break, Friday is also the end of quarter three, and grades will be ready to view in Blackbaud by Friday, April 12th.
Have a restful break, and we will see you again on Monday, April 8th.
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
- Student Council:
- Dessert Contest Update: many thanks to all the students who submitted beautiful, delicious desserts for our school-wide contest last week! Results will be announced soon, so stay tuned; the judges had a hard time narrowing down the outstanding entries!
- 8th Grade Science Boardwalk Physics Day Update: As part of their unit on forces and motion, eighth grade students took a trip to the Santa Cruz boardwalk today to study the physics of roller coasters and other rides. Students made qualitative and quantitative observations while watching and riding the rides. In the following days they will complete calculations in order to understand the physics behind the fun. See the pictures below!
- New Date for 6-8 Wine Social- 4/9: The 6-8 wine social has been re-scheduled for Tuesday 4/9 from 5:15-6:15.
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine
Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited, and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
- Deadline for next edition: Friday, April 26th
- News from the Shark Tank: Sports Update
Please see the sports page for updates on practices and news about the Sharks’ recent games. http://www.gatewaysc.org/students/athletics/
- Blue/Gold Girls Volleyball Games — Thursday vs PCS, 4PM and 5PM at the Circle Church
- The 8th-grade girls’ volleyball team beat previously undefeated Good Shepard on Thursday: Way to go, Sharks!
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
8th graders join in with 8th graders at Boardwalk Physics Day on Wednesday
Kindergarteners, 1st, and (photo credit: LeighAnn Work)
5th graders at the
Banana Slug String Band
concert on Monday
(photo credit: Kristin
Bogart-Smith)
Dear Families and Students,
Thank you for the warm welcome back I’ve received during my first few days on campus following my maternity leave. I’ve missed seeing my students and colleagues every day, and it’s a pleasure to be back in the classroom and the Middle School with all of you.
I’m grateful to LeighAnn for her exceptional work as Middle School Coordinator during my absence, and to Lydia for her inspiring teaching and mentorship of the eighth graders. I hope I can live up to their very good examples.
Have a great week,
Sherri Helvie
Middle School Coordinator
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
-
Santa Cruz County Science Fair Awards–Congratulations Gateway Middle Schoolers!
Six of our Middle School students were recognized Monday evening at the Santa Cruz County Science Fair awards ceremony at the Civic Center. Congratulations to each student for their hard work, creativity and amazing accomplishments!
Talia Bernstein
-2nd place the category Medicine and Health
-California State Science Fair Invitation
Hanna Fleming
-Project Of Merit in the category Physics and Astronomy
Jeremy Hanlon
-2nd Place in the category Mathematics and Software
-California State Science Fair Invitation
-Nominee for the US Broadcom MASTERS National Science Competition
-Certificate of Achievement from the US Air Force
Jaime Kvaternik
-1st Place in the category Earth Science
-California State Science Fair Invitation
-Nominee for the US Broadcom MASTERS National Science Competition
Emma Laurits
-Project of Merit in the category Electronics and Electromagnetics
-Plantronics Special Award
Chloe Ortiz
-2nd Place in the category Energy and Power
-California State Science Fair Invitation
-Nominee for the US Broadcom MASTERS National Science Competition
- Pi Day Festivities: Congratulations Ben and Victoria!
7th grader Ben Zuniga is once again crowned King of Pi, beating his own record from last year. This year he memorized 223 decimal places! 6th grader Victoria Gorum got second place, with an amazing 120 decimal places. Eighth graders Wyatt, Jason, and Alex did an amazing Pi rap, and seventh grader Jaime enlightened us with a great Pi poem. Much pie was enjoyed by all, and of course, we all calculated Pi. Thanks to all who contributed pie for the event. Congratulations Ben and Victoria!
- Student Council:
- Dessert Contest, Friday March 22nd: Entries will be judged on Appearance, Taste, Originality and Texture. Recipes must be an original recipe (no box mixes) and it must be ready to eat with no warming needed. Bring your dessert to the kitchen in the morning and pick up at the end of the day. Be sure to label the bottom of your dish with your name, grade and recipe.
- Spirit Day: The next Spirit Day is Black and White day on Friday, March 22nd. Wear black and white to help show spirit for the school and to earn spirit points for your class.
- 8th Grade Science Boardwalk Physics Day, Wednesday 3/27: All eighth grade students will be taking a trip to the Santa Cruz boardwalk to study the physics of roller coasters and other rides. Students will make qualitative and quantitative observations while watching and while riding the rides in order to understand the physics behind the fun. If you are an 8th grade parent interested in chaperoning, please contact LeighAnn.
- New Date for 6-8 Wine Social- 4/9: The 6-8 wine social has been re-scheduled for Tuesday 4/9 from 5:15-6:15.
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine: Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS
Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
THIS WEEK’S PICS
8th grader Jeremy took home 2nd place in Mathematics & Software at the County Science Fair (photo credit: LeighAnn Work)
From left: 8th graders Talia, Chloe, and Emma, and 7th graders Jaime and Hanna pose with their ribbons from the County Science Fair (photo credit: LeighAnn Work)
Dear Middle School Families,
I am surprised how fast the time has flown since I started as Middle School Coordinator last November when Sherri Helvie began her maternity leave. Sherri will be returning to Gateway this Monday, March 13th, and she will resume her role as the Middle School Coordinator at that time. We are so excited to have her back among us in the middle school and we have all missed her as a teacher and as a colleague. Welcome back, Sherri! We also acknowledge that we will very much miss Lydia, who filled in for Sherri’s teaching duties over the past few months. We have been incredibly fortunate to have Lydia back in our middle school and we will miss her when she leaves.
It has been a pleasure working with you all in this capacity over the past few months.
Sincerely, LeighAnn and The Middle School Team
THIS WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES
- Tomorrow is Pi Day! Pi day is just around the corner on March 14. The students will be celebrating the wonders of Pi through calculation of the circumference and diameters of pies. Other pie and Pi related activities will take place in math classes. At lunch we will have a Pi poetry slam but the entries must be students original work. Of course we will have the crowning of the Pi king or queen, who is the student that can memorize Pi to the farthest decimal place. We will also be sampling the wonderful pies that students contribute. Check with your student to see if they volunteered to bring in a pie. Question: What do you get when you take the moon and divide its circumference by its diameter? The students will learn the answer on 3.14
- Santa Cruz High School Counselors: The counselors from SC High will visit the 8th graders next Thursday, March 21st at 1:15 p.m. in order to discuss freshman year schedules and give an overview of a four year plan. Please contact LeighAnn if you are interested in attending this meeting or if you have any questions.
- Mile Run Helpers Needed!: Please email Kirsten directly at kirsten.mehl@gatewaysc.org if you are able to help with the mile run during your son or daughter’s class time. Please note that there is no running involved. Volunteers are stationed at the quarter mile and half mile mark, and are responsible for helping with course safety and cheering everyone to the finish line.
- 6A Tuesday, March 19th 8:30am-9:24am
- 6B Wednesday, March 20th 8:30am-9:24am
- 7A Friday, March 22nd 8:30am-9:24am
- 7B Monday, March 18th 8:30am-9:24am
- 8A Monday, March 18th 10:36am-11:30am
- 8B Tuesday, March 19th 1:10pm-2:04pm
- 8th Grade Science Boardwalk Physics Day, Wednesday 3/27: All eighth grade students will be taking a trip to the Santa Cruz boardwalk to study the physics of roller coasters and other rides. Students will make qualitative and quantitative observations while watching and while riding the rides in order to understand the physics behind the fun. If you are an 8th grade parent interested in chaperoning, please contact LeighAnn.
- Student Council:
- Dessert Contest, Friday March 22nd: Entries will be judged on Appearance, Taste, Originality and Texture. Recipes must be an original recipe (no box mixes) and it must be ready to eat with no warming needed. Bring your dessert to the kitchen in the morning and pick up at the end of the day. Be sure to label the bottom of your dish with your name, grade and recipe.
- Spirit Day: The next Spirit Day is Black and White day on Friday, March 22nd. Wear black and white to help show spirit for the school and to earn spirit points for your class.
- New Date for 6-8 Wine Social- 4/9: The 6-8 wine social has been re-scheduled for Tuesday 4/9 from 5:15-6:15.
- Santa Cruz County Science Fair: The county science fair took place last Saturday, and six of our students received awards: Hanna F., Jaime K., Talia B., Jeremy H., Emma L. and Chloe O. The awards ceremony will be next Monday at the Civic Auditorium and the students will find out which awards they have won at that time. Congratulations to all!
- Hidden Nature: Gateway’s Student Literary Magazine: Please submit stories or poems to the new literary magazine that is completely planned, written, edited and published by students:
- students may submit a story (500 words max) or a poem (10 lines max)
- submissions need not be typed, as long as they are legible
- students may also submit by email to hiddennature2013@gmail.com
- please specify if you wish to remain anonymous
- the magazine will be published every two months
- free copies will be accessible in the lobby.
- THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENTS: Please log into Blackbaud for the most up-to-date homework postings. You will need to enter your User ID and Password to access the information.
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Meghan and Ellie stand at the Willows Overlook to observe elephant seals during the 7th grade science trip to Ano Nuevo.
Students listen to the docent while observing a male elephant seal at Ano Nuevo last week.
