Gateway Family Newsletter

August/September

Monday, Sept. 1st---NO SCHOOL for all students, Labor Day

Friday, Sept. 12th ---No School for Pre-K students, Early Childhood Teacher Planning Day

Tuesday, Sept. 23rd---(2) Hour Late Start for all students, School Improvement Day

See pics. below.

My name is Terry Burton and I am the proud principal of Gateway Elementary! Our Assistant Principal, Kelli Long and I would like to welcome you to the 2025-26 school year and thank you for entrusting your child with the entire Gateway staff. We look forward to working with you and our nearly 900 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 so excited for my second year as Assistant Principal here at Gateway Elementary. Last year was such a wonderful experience getting to know our students, families, and staff, and I look forward to building on that momentum together. My goal continues to be for each student to feel successful and welcomed as a valued member of our Gateway community. I look forward to working alongside families and staff to inspire our students. Together, we can make this school year one filled with growth, joy, and lasting memories.

Let’s make it a fantastic year at Gateway!

Wednesday, August 27th will mark the 10th day of the school year. By now, most Gateway students should know how to navigate from the entrance to their assigned classroom. If not, the next couple of days, you might want to try walking them halfway and observing the rest of the way.

Beginning Wednesday, August 27th, we ask families to please say goodbyes at the entrance. Gateway staff members will be positioned throughout the hallways to monitor students and to ensure that they make it safely to their classrooms.

As part of keeping our school safe, we work hard to control access to the building and monitor who is inside at all times. If you need to visit the main office, please press the visitor button at the main entrance so we can assist you. Pre-K families will continue to sign students in/out from classrooms. If you need to schedule a time to meet with your child’s teacher, please email them directly.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping keep our kids safe!

As we begin another school year, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of some important daily arrival and dismissal procedures.

Please be patient and follow the procedures listed below in order to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal process.

• When dropping off/picking up students, please remember that the right hand lane is designated as our drop off/pick up lane. The left lane is designated as our drive thru lane and should be used to safely exit the area. Please see the sign pictured below. Please do not drop off or pick up students in the left lane. This is extremely dangerous as students could be crossing moving vehicles.

• If you prefer to walk your child to the school's entrance, we welcome you to do so. Please park in one of the designated parking spots located in the in the first row of parking. As these spaces fill up, please park in the surrounding neighborhood. Please do not park and exit your vehicle in the drop off/pick up lanes.

• Please use designated crosswalks when crossing to/from campus.

• The tardy bell will ring daily at 8:50 am. Any students arriving after 8:50 am should enter at the main entrance and check in at the main office to receive a tardy slip.
  

The safety of all children at Gateway as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures.

During our first full week of school, Gateway students and staff practiced each of the (5) main drills listed below. Please take a look at our English/Spanish SRP posters below for more specific information. Ask your child about the drills and review the information listed.

Hold Drill

The purpose of this drill is to clear our hallways and bring all students to a classroom or office area.

Secure Drill

The purpose of this drill is to bring everyone indoors and lock all exterior doors.

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.

Evacuation Drill

We will conduct an “Evacuation 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 alarm is sounded. By practicing they will know what to do and how to do it.

Shelter Drill

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.

Students enrolled in Omaha Public Schools are provided free health screening in accordance

with Nebraska State Statute. Screenings are conducted throughout the school year and may begin

as early as August.

Students in early childhood, kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, seventh, and tenth grades

are screened for hearing, vision, dental, height, and weight per the rules and regulations set forth

by the state of Nebraska. The screening is conducted to help identify health concerns in as early a

stage as possible, in an effort to enhance learning. Screening is not intended to be diagnostic, but

to identify students with potential problems. Findings that need further evaluation by a health

care provider will be sent home.

Per Nebraska State Regulations, a parent/guardian may supersede the mandated school health

screening by submitting a statement signed by an authorized health care provider attesting that

the required screening has been completed in the previous six months. An updated healthcare

provider statement must be submitted each school year.

Contact your school nurse for any questions regarding screening.

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. If your child is sick, please notify the main office at 531.299.1480. Strict adherence to our health and safety guidelines protects other members of our community and allows in-person learning to proceed more successfully.

If you have any questions, please call our School Nurse, Mrs. Desiree Cabellos @ 531-299-1480.

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.

Email: terry.burton@ops.org
Website: gateway.ops.org
Location: 5610 South 42nd Street, Omaha, NE, United States
Phone: 531-299-1480