Gateway Family News

Monday, June 15th

ER + PM Assembly Schedule - Moving Up Assembly students are dismissed at 12:15pm

Last Day of School! - No Backpacks, please!

2026-2027 anticipated School Year Dates:

• Incoming 7th +8th Grade Drop-In: Monday, August 31st 2:00-4:00pm
• Incoming 6th Grade Orientation: Tuesday, September 1st 2:00pm-4:00pm
• First Day of School: TBD

Monday, June 15th

**Students are released at 12:15pm**

No backpacks, please!

Spirit Week wraps up with Color Wars on our last day of school!

• 6th Grade: Yellow

• 7th Grade: Blue

• 8th Grade: Pink

Lunches will be earlier in the day, and will be shorter than normal. School lunch from the Cafeteria will be pizza!

The Main Office will be closed after June 18th, and will reopen on August 11th.

Please see here for more Summer Information!

The 2026 - 2027 School Calendar is to be determined. This information will be released to families as soon as it becomes available.

Students will be able to walk their schedule, more details to come!

Students will be able to walk their schedule, more details to come!

Parents are welcome!

School Pictures are scheduled for September 9th - picture packets will go home at the start of the school year

Register your athlete now for next year in FinalForms. If you don't have an account in FinalForms, follow the directions in the Parent Play Book to create your account, register your student(s), and sign your forms. Your student will also need a current physical on file, which can be uploaded directly to FinalForms. Summer is a great time to have your student get their physical done - it is valid for 2 years. If your student is already registered, be sure to check your student's email for messages from FinalForms that may require their attention.

Fall Sports: Fastpitch Softball, Football, and Cross Country - Fastpitch Softball and Football are cut sports and are only open to 7th and 8th grade students. Cross Country is a no cut sport, and is open to all grade levels, but 6th graders cannot participate in meets.

Late Fall Sports: Soccer, Boys Basketball, and Girls Volleyball - These are all cut sports and are only open to 7th and 8th grade students.

Winter Sports: Wrestling and Girls Basketball - Girls Basketball is a cut sport and is only open to 7th and 8th grade students. Wrestling is a no cut sport, and is open to all grade levels, but 6th graders cannot participate in matches.

Spring Sport: Track and Field - Track and Field is a no cut sport, and is open to all grade levels, but 6th graders cannot participate in meets.

If you have any questions about Sports at Gateway, please contact Laurie Baker, our Athletic Secretary, at 425-385-6604 or lbaker2@everettsd.org.

The following is a suggested list of items your student will need. Teachers will share specifics regarding any additional items. Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you need financial assistance with required items.

A school planner will be provided for students at the start of the school year!

• Wired headphones
• Colored pencils
• Black/blue/red pens
• Assorted highlighters, at least 4 colors
• #2 Pencils
• Glue sticks
• 4 function or Scientific calculator (7th-8th grade Math)
• Scientific calculator or graphing calculator (especially helpful in Geometry & Algebra)
• Scissors
• Ruler (cm/in)
• Tissues (please deliver to 1st period teacher)
• 3 Composition notebooks – (1 for ELA, 1 for History, 1 for Math)
• Compass (Geometry)
• 8th grade: Multiple color 3x3 sticky notes, one 8.5” x 11” folder, and one ream of white 8.5” x 11” copy paper
• Art: 5.5 x 8.5” or larger sketchbook, 2 ultra-fine black Sharpies, 2 fine black Sharpies, ongoing supply of standard wooden pencils (not mechanical), hand held pencil sharpener with flip-close lid, and 2 hipolymer erasers.
• Band/Orchestra instrument rental and supplies: If your student is planning to take band or orchestra, you will need to rent or purchase an instrument and buy some supplementary supplies/accessories. Some larger instruments are available for rental from the school. Rental information will be distributed by the band/orchestra director.
• Choir: 0.5” 3-ring binder.
• Math: 3x5 lined index cards, 4 fine line Expo Markers, post-it notes, multiple rolls of tape for personal use throughout the school year
• Science class: Please provide 2 college-ruled composition notebooks (not spiral bound) with first and last name on the front cover and multiple rolls of tape for personal use throughout the school year
• Spanish class: Please provide a small portable white board, regular supply of whiteboard markers, and an eraser. There will be additional supplies required throughout the year for projects.
• Leadership class: 0.5” 3-ring binder.
• PE clothing recommendations: Tops: Students will need to wear a plain light color crew neck t-shirt that can have their first and last name written in permanent marker across the front. Sweatshirts can be worn for cold weather months. If desired, you may purchase a school PE shirt in the main office for a minimal fee. Only adult large and extra large available. Bottoms: Students can wear school dress code appropriate shorts, sweats, yoga pants, or leggings of any color. Shoes: Students need to wear comfortable athletic style shoes that lace up. PE Locks: Students have the option to provide their own PE lock or not use a lock. All PE students will be issued a basket. PE clothes should be separate from clothes worn to school each day in support of good hygiene. If you are unable to provide PE clothing or sweats for the colder months, please reach out to your school office support and/or counselor.
• Health class: 6th and 7th graders will need a composition notebook.
• Graphic Design/Exploring Industrial Tech/Integrated Tech/Digital Manufacturing: wired mouse.

Wow! I just can't believe how fast the year has gone! We have seen SO much continued success in academics, athletics, leadership, and extra-curriculars this year! I am proud that we hold onto the US News and World Report ranking as the highest ranked Middle School in Snohomish County!

While awards and achievement are important, it is the amazing staff working with our students alongside our supportive parent and adult community that makes the Gateway Family special. A school is not a building, a school is a community.

To our 8th graders and any families departing Gateway: thank you for sharing your students with us each day! This 8th grade class is just amazing and so full of heart and compassion. in 6th grade, their collective SBA scores were lower than the Gateway average, and yet this class has worked hard to now be above Gateway average. Members of this 8th grade class have many accomplishments in music, sports, and the classroom. You will be missed.

For those returning next year, we have some changes coming. The biggest rollout for fall is exciting to staff: we will be re-implementing paper planners for all students. We have not used paper planners since rolling out 1:1 ChromeBooks with students, and as a staff believe that this will support the executive functioning that adolescents need to learn organization. More details to come!

Lastly, I want to say thank you to several staff members who are retiring this year after a career of working with students:

Diana Arango, ELA/Social Studies/Drama

MaryAnn Anderson, Extended Resource

Michelle Renee, Assistant Principal

Xiao Chen, Life Skills Paraeducator

Also, thank you to those staff members moving on to new exciting schools and positions in education:

Jiso Chong, Multi-Language Learners

Chris Lawson, Life Skills Paraeducator

Denise Bowers, Psychologist

Jordan Sprink, Math

Kris Wallace, Paraeducator and Webmaster

Lorin Stewart - Campus Security

Rebecca Munoz Mandujano - Life Skills Paraeducator

Ryan Morey - ELA and History

May the summer bring warm weather and needed time to reconnect with family and for our students to rest. Be safe and see you next year.

With Appreciation,

Matt Bennett, Principal