The EduGATOR!

Monday, February 10-Regular School Day

Aspiring Admin PLC 3:30pm

GEF Trivia Night Planning Meeting 5:30pm

Tuesday, February 11-Regular School Day

Wednesday, February 12-Regular School Day

School Committee Meeting, 7pm

Thursday, February 13-Regular School Day

Friday, February 14-Wear jeans and your Gator Gear!

Abbey Keeler is Gateway’s Grinspoon Teacher of Excellence this year! Nominated by numerous colleagues, this is what one had to say about Ms. Keeler:

I feel that Abbey Keeler is deserving of the Excellence in Teaching Award for several reasons. First, she is an amazing health teacher for grades 6 - 12. Her students respect her, even when the topics are very emotion provoking and sensitive. She has a wonderful way with all her students that makes them feel comfortable with the subject matter and heard when they have questions they need answered. She is the "face of PBIS". She organizes the pep rallies, Reindeer Games and Snowmen Games. Her bubbly spirit makes attending these special functions fun and entertaining. She is a member of the Academic Council. Her passion for team sports is shown through her coaching of the girls' softball team and her help with the newly started volleyball effort. She volunteers her time every Tuesday and Thursday for our afterschool program, Later Gators. In every corner of our school, there is a piece of Ms. Keeler! I would love for her to be recognized for the contributions she makes to our Gateway community.

Ms. Keeler will be honored at the Grinspoon Teacher of Excellence Award Dinner on April 30 at the Log Cabin.

We will continue into February with inviting staff to share how YOU are implementing a part of our instructional vision.

This month's focus are the fourth two bullets in the instructional vision are:

• Students will seize opportunities and direct next steps for learning based on interests and abilities
• Staff will create meaningful and personalized opportunities for all students

Staff are invited to fill out a brief (2-3 sentences!) summary of how you are implementing this part of our vision. It can be specific or general, and it should clearly describe how your actions are moving this part of our instructional vision forward.

Here is the link to share!

https://padlet.com/ksmidy1/february-instructional-vision-challenge-bf3lvbp903q5pvfm

To add to the board, click the plus sign in the bottom right corner and write in your submission. Finally, hit Publish and voila! You're done!

Staff who share how they are implementing or supporting implementation of December's focus area of the instructional vision by February 28 will be entered to win a $50 gift card to one of the following locations: Carms, Common Table, Moltenbreys, Amazon, Big Y, Dunkin or at a place of your choice that I can get a gift card with relative ease 😂

The following Illness Protocol was sent home to families by Nurse Leader Kelly Sudnick to clarify when families should keep their child out of school. If you have questions, please see Kelly!

Illness Protocol

2024-2025

If a child has symptoms of illness they should not come to school. Children with symptoms of illness in school will be evaluated by the nurse.

Your child should remain home if:

• Child has a fever of 100.0 or greater.

• Children can return to school when they are fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of medications such as Tylenol or Motrin.

• Child has a contagious illness such as influenza (flu), RSV, or Covid-19

• Children can return to school when cleared by their pediatrician OR when symptoms are improving, they feel better, and have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medications for fever.

• Child has a diagnosis of Strep throat

• Individuals who have a positive strep culture should stay home until they have had at least 24 hours of antibiotic therapy and fever is gone.

• Child has a continuous cough or wheeze.

• Frequent, severe coughing, or coughing fits

• Coughing that keeps child up at night

• Children can return when cleared by their pediatrician

• Child has diarrhea or vomiting associated with acute illness, not a chronic condition or side effect.

• Children should stay home until it has been 24 hours since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea

• Diarrhea is 3 or more loose stools in a 24 hour period

• Child has crusty, green or yellow drainage from the eyes.

• Diagnosed Conjunctivitis (pink eye) must be treated for 24 hours before returning to school.

Documentation

When a child meets criteria to return to school, all doctor's notes should be provided to the school for a medically excused absence. If a child is feeling unwell at school, they must see the nurse for an assessment in order to be medically dismissed from school. Children who do not see the nurse for an assessment and are dismissed by a parent/guardian will be dismissed but it will not be a medically excused dismissal.

Please see below for educators to claim a complimentary ticket to Teacher Appreciation Night at the Springfield Thunderbirds on March 28!

Approved District Strategy Plan

Safety Memo 8/8/23

MTSS DESE Blue Print

Approved District Bullying Prevention Plan

February 3

• Grinspoon Teacher of Excellence Luncheon Celebration
• January Instructional Vision Winners
• Attorney General FAQ Docs
• PRISM Grant Announcement
• MSBA Site Visits
• Transportation Data

January 27

• January Instructional Vision
• First State Budget from Governor for FY26 data

January 20

• Barr Convening
• Upcoming Portland Maine Learning Excursion
• Virtual School Cap Data