The EduGator
October 26th, 2026
Dear GRSD team,
I hope a sunny fall weekend was rejuvenating for you all! We have a full moon, a 1/2 day, and the arrival of Halloween, all in one week as some of you reminded me on Friday. Wowee! I share an updated photo of my beloved Frida here to emphasize that even on our most active and demanding days, I hope we find beauty all around us. Frida loves nothing more than sitting in the tall grass, munching on weeds and enjoying the sun.
Last week I mentioned that I'd be restarting visits to classrooms with principals. I forgot to add that I am always up for an invitation to visit you - for any reason. I'm happy to see any and all of the purposeful activities you engage in with students, so please email me or Melissa McKellick if you've got something you or your students would like to share.
Right now, your leadership team is starting a round of "New Employee Interviews." Research shows that people often make the decision to stay or go in a new job in the 1st 6 months of employment. So, we are engaging with our new employees to check in on what's working, what they need, who's been helpful to them, and any ideas that they bring from their prior experiences to help us get ever better. We look forward to sharing what we learn!
This week's Professional Development Agenda is finalized, and we will use sign in sheets at each session to continue to track participation. Please be sure to sign in with pen and paper as you attend! Within the short 1/2 day, we'll tackle Academic Excellence through some sessions and our Connected Culture by continuing or following up on our work Addressing Bias and Hate. Note that I made a change for our PreK teachers since the agenda was lst published. If you have any question about your sessions, please check in with your supervisor.
Gateway Education Foundation (GEF) recently funded an amazing project submitted by Cathy Servaes that with Pumpkin Etching, an elevated, elegant use of force to create a phenomenon where light affects what we see. The project combines science (they are studying light - why we sometimes see different things when looking at the same object), and engineering with sixth grade emphasis on treating each other respectfully. If you have an idea for an enriching activity, please submit your GEF grant application here.
We continue to look for Instructional Assistants and Substitutes. Please pass on our Employment Opportunities to others who would be a good fit at Gateway.
Happy final week of October!
Melissa
Shout out to:
- Grace Kuhn, our sometime SLPA and school substitute, has published a new children’s book titled A Day at School! The book tells the story of a little girl and her uniqueness, emphasizing our shared humanity and the importance of forming meaningful connections with others. It shares a lovely message about embracing what makes each of us special while recognizing the things that bring us together. Even more special, Grace’s brother, Griffin, illustrated the book! Grace is currently back in school working toward her master’s degree to become a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), so she has a lot to celebrate! A Day at School is now available for purchase on Amazon. What a wonderful accomplishment for Grace and Griffin! - Margaret Petzold
I would like to give a special Gator Greats shout-out to Ms. Madelyn Pond, Chester’s 2nd-grade teacher! She is truly an amazing teacher and an even more amazing person. As a fellow co-worker AND a parent of a child in her classroom, I can honestly say how grateful I am for her. The love, patience, kindness, and dedication she pours into her students do not go unnoticed. All the kids absolutely adore her, and it’s easy to see why! Thank you, Ms. Pond, for the positive impact you make every day, not only in the classroom but in the lives of the children and families you serve. Chester is so lucky to have you, and I’m so thankful to work alongside someone as special as you! - Jessica Hart
Check out the latest article on our cross country stars: https://www.masslive.com/highschoolsports/2026/10/8-massachusetts-girls-cross-country-runners-to-watch-in-the-postseason.html - Matt Bonenfant
Share your shout out with me!
October 26, 3:30 pm: Girls Soccer @ Hopkins in WMASS Tournament
October 26, 6:30 pm: BoysSoccer @ Home in WMASS Tournament
October 27: 1/2 Day for Professional Development
The Search Committee completed virtual, brief interviews with 5 candidates, continuing to help us narrow the candidate pool to those best suited to lead Gateway Regional School. Please look forward to broader opportunities to consider our final candidates in the days to come.
Amplify Free Resources
Our video library showcases teachers teaching real Amplify CKLA lessons in their classrooms. Explore the videos, then watch Amplify CKLA product expert Danielle Lillpop break down each segment and explain what worked, why it matters, and how you might adapt the idea for your own classroom. Explore the library by grade band:
An Evening of Remembrances: Returning to the Garden with Sora Vigorito
On November 17 and 18, students and families in Western Massachusetts will have a rare opportunity to hear directly from Holocaust survivor Sora Vigorito, one of the few remaining survivors of the horrific medical experiments conducted by Nazi physician Josef Mengele at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts invites you to share this extraordinary educational opportunity with your school communities and encourage middle and high school students and their families to attend.
Northampton: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Academy of Music, 274 Main StreetLongmeadow: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Longmeadow High School, 95 Grassy Gutter Road
Admission is free, but for security considerations, registration is requested. The registration link for both events is here.
UMass Amherst Showcase
Join the showcase on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield! This FREE, family-friendly event will bring the energy, excitement, and opportunities of our flagship university directly to Springfield! Attendees will enjoy interactive exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, student performances, opportunities to meet UMass student-athletes, and connections with faculty, admissions, and financial aid representatives. The Showcase is a wonderful opportunity for young people and families to explore higher education, discover new interests, and begin envisioning themselves as part of the UMass community. For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.umass.edu/springfield/umass-amherst-showcase.
STEM Learning Opportunities
As you wrap up the fall semester/trimester, please consider these winter/spring collaborative professional learning opportunities. Check them out, pass them along to colleagues and feel free to reach out with any questions. Happy learning! Find information about:
- WPI’s Online Master’s in Integrated STEM Education & the new Graduate Certificate in STEM Education (PK-12)
- Evening Course (online): Foundations of Integrated STEM Education (PK-12)
- Evening Course (online): Performance Assessments in STEM Education (PK-12)
Learn to Live Webinars
Reminder – our Take Action Challenge closes October 31st, we encourage you to earn at least one entry!. Jump back into your program this month with our Take Action Challenge! complete a lesson within your program, and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to win an Amazon e-gift card.