Gateway Family News
February 2026 Parent Newsletter
Month at a Glance
Monday, February 2nd - Friday, February 6th
National School Counseling Week
Friday, February 6th
LIF + Advisory Bell Schedule
Tuesday, February 10th - Wednesday, February 11th
Candygram Sales
Tuesday, February 10th
Please remember to vote by end of day!
PTSA Meeting re: 8th Grade Celebration in the Library 7-8pm
Friday, February 13th
S2 Art Fees assigned to student accounts
LIF + Advisory Bell Schedule
Monday, February 16th - Friday, February 20th
Mid-Winter Break, including President's Day
Tuesday, February 24th
Wrestling Starts
School Board Meeting
Wednesday, February 25th
Dine out to Donate at Panda Express
Friday, February 27th
LIF + Advisory Bell Schedule
February Bell Schedules
Standard Bell Schedule
LIF + Advisory Bell Schedule
February Sports Schedules
Lunch Drop Offs
We are seeing an increase in the number of lunches that are dropped off throughout the day in the Main Office. There is a cart available outside to please drop off forgotten lunches with your student's name, and they are brought in throughout the day.
We need to note that according to food safety regulations, we cannot have fast food delivered to students at school. Please do not bring/deliver anything for your student from a fast food place/restaurant. Thank you!
ASB Candygram Sales - Feb. 10th - 11th
Gateway ASB will soon be holding their annual Candygram Fundraiser!
Before school and during all student lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday February 10 - 11, students will have the opportunity to purchase a candygram for $2 (cash only) to be sent to their friends on Friday, February 13th! The candygram will include a small stuffed animal and candy. Students can purchase as many candygrams as they would like.
PTSA 8th Grade Celebration Planning Meeting - Feb. 10th
S2 Art Fees - Loading to student accounts on Feb. 13th
The following semester-length class for Semester 2 has a course fee associated with it:
- Art 6, 7, 8 Fee - $10.00 (per Semester)
Semester 2 course fees will be assigned to your student's account on February 13th if they are taking Art. We will notify families when the fees are assigned, and payments can be made online or in-person.
If your student was in Art for Semester 1 or is taking Music (Band, Choir, Orchestra) and that course fee wasn't paid, it would have turned into a fine. Music fees are a little different because the fee is for both semesters.
Starting on February 13th - The easiest way to make a payment is online via InTouch where you will follow the instructions to log in using your student's ID number. We also accept cash/check in the Main Office. Please bring exact change if it is cash please!
Financial Assistance is available, please reach out to Mrs. Seifert if you need assistance.
Winter 2 Sports - sign up by Feb. 20th
Winter 2 Sports - Coed Wrestling starts on Tuesday, February 24th. Wrestling is open to all students, 6th graders can participate in practices, but not matches.
Please register your athlete now on 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. If your student is already registered, be sure to check your student's email for messages from FinalForms that may require their attention.
The first day of Coed Wrestling is Tuesday, February 24th from 3:00pm - 4:45pm and there is an activity bus available at 5:00 PM for students who need a ride home. Students can sign up at the Office if they need to ride the Sports Activity Bus. If you have any questions about Sports at Gateway, please contact our Athletic Secretary, at 425-385-6604.
PTSA Dine out to Donate at Panda Express - Feb. 25th
Students After School
• If your student stays after school for a club or retake, please know that parent pick-up is prompt at 4:00pm.
• If the student's ride has not shown up by 4pm, we will have the student take the Activity Bus home.
Smile Programs (mobile dentists) 3/30 - Save the Date
• If you are interested, please go to Patient Application for In-School Dental Care, or fill out the paper permission form, that will be sent home next week, and return it to school with your child.
They are introducing a new Teledentistry program that includes:
Preventive services—still onsite
Oral health education, exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) will still be provided by a licensed dental hygienist right at school.
Dentist-reviewed care, via secure technology
A licensed dentist will review X-rays and clinical information remotely and create a treatment plan for each child.
Same high standards
HIPAA compliance, patient privacy, and quality care remain at the center of everything they do.
The dentist will be onsite Monday, March 30th, and also potentially Tuesday March 31st as well.W e are requesting that families return their permission slips or complete online registration by Thursday, March 12th.
8th Grade Families - Save the Date!
It's that time to help prepare our 8th Graders for high school, and to help them celebrate and transition! Please mark your calendars with these important dates:
- March 4 (Weds) - JHS/CHS counselor meetings with 8th graders @GMS - registration preparation
- March 17 (Tues) - HS Transition Mtgs @ GMS - 8th graders will be pulled-out throughout the day
- May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 - SBA and WCAS Assessments
- June 10 (Weds) - Senior Grad Walk @GMS - 6th period
- June 11 (Thurs) - 8th Grade Celebration @GMS - PM (PTSA Sponsored, volunteers needed!)
- June 12 (Fri) - June Jamboree @GMS - all day (ASB Sponsored, volunteers needed!)
- June 15 (Mon) - Last day of school/2.5 hour early dismissal
Information from previous issues of The Parent Newsletter
How the School Construction Bond Proposal Was Built: A Community-Led Process
Before placing Proposition 1, the School Construction Bond, on the February 10 ballot, Everett Public Schools convened a Capital Bond Planning Committee made up of families, students, community members, and staff. From February through May 2025, the group studied facility needs, toured schools, and reviewed data before making a formal recommendation to the School Board.
Their recommended projects include a new elementary school, additional permanent classrooms, replacement of Lowell Elementary, improvements at Cascade and Everett High Schools, and districtwide safety and building system upgrades. A huge thank you to this volunteer committee for helping shape a proposal that meets our highest construction needs.
Also on the ballot is Proposition 2, the Education Levy. This is a renewal of an existing levy - not a new tax - and continues funding for staff, programs, and daily operations not fully funded by the state. Levy dollars represent about 15% of the district’s annual budget.
To learn more about the School Construction Bond and Education Levy, visit the district’s bond and levy information page at https://www.everettsd.org/Bond-Levy-2026
We also have three more opportunities for our community to learn more about the bond and levies through Let’s Connect events.
•January 20: Cascade High School cafeteria, 6-7:30 p.m.
•January 21: Everett High School cafeteria, 6-7:30 p.m.
•January 28: Heatherwood Middle School cafeteria, 6-7:30 p.m.
We hope you join us!
Let's Connect Events
We want to spread the word about Let's Connect Events in January. We are holding an event in each area of the district to give families and community members options for the date and location that work best for them:
- January 20: Cascade High School cafeteria, 6-7:30 p.m.
- January 21: Everett High School cafeteria, 6-7:30 p.m.
- January 28: Heatherwood Middle School cafeteria, 6-7:30 p.m.
Student Early Pick-Up
All parents know the difficulty of scheduling medical appointments, especially the orthodontist, and often these times are out of our control as patients. Here are some tips to expedite your pick-up experience:
- We verify photo identification prior to releasing your student.
- When it is pre-arranged appointment, make a plan with your student ahead of time or make them aware of when you plan to arrive.
- It helps to know when your student has PE, since it takes extra time for students to dress out and make it to the office.
- Please ensure you come into the office to check students out. Student cell phones are to be off during the day, so please do not text students. We want to ensure that we know where all of our students are.
- We don't need you to call ahead of time about picking up your student. We will call your student to the office when you come to the office to sign them out.
- Occasionally we have different bell schedules for assemblies, testing, or other events. We include those schedule in this newsletter for your convenience.
- If someone other than a guardian is picking your student up, please email GWYAttendance@everettsd.org. We do not release a student to an emergency contact without permission from the student's guardian.
Student Phone Safety - Group Chats
Group chats exist on text, and via apps like SnapChat, Roblox, GoogleDocs, etc. Group chats are a great way for friend groups and teams to stay connected when used productively.
Over the last year, we have investigated several issues that come about on these group chats. Here are the risks:
- Anyone in a group chat can add another individual to a group chat
- There is no screening of these individuals added to a group text, so students will not know their age or place of residence
- Posts are not filtered, so any image, video, meme, or text post is visible to all members of the group chat
- Group chats are not monitored directly by adults
We share this information to help parents make the best decision for their own individual students and awareness. We want to ensure the safety of all of those in our community!
Best Practices & Rules
- Establish Ground Rules: Discuss phone usage times (no screens during homework/bedtime), approved apps, and safe sharing practices.
- Teach Digital Citizenship: Educate kids about cyberbullying, not sharing private info, and telling a parent about threats.
- Review & Adjust: Periodically check installed apps and privacy settings.
Cell Phone Policy
Everett Public Schools Board of Directors adopted a policy on use of Personal Electronic Devices in 2019.
Elementary and Middle School Students
Elementary and middle school students who choose to bring cell phones and other PEDs to school may only use them before or after the school day. During the school day, all cell phones and other PEDs must be powered off and stored (e.g., in the student’s backpack, locker, other district provided storage). Please click here to access the policy.
Parents, if you need to reach your student, please contact the office. We regularly have parents sending text messages to students during the school day. This is a distraction to learning for your student and sometimes those around them, and sometimes disrupts teaching as well. If your student is not feeling well, they should report to the health office and we will notify you. If a family emergency arises, please call the office and we will assist in retrieving your student.
We do not allow use of PEDs at anytime. ChromeBooks should only be used for academic purposes. To reduce the duration students are on screens and to encourage socialization, school ChromeBooks are not allowed to be used during lunchtime, unless a student is in the library or working with a staff member on schoolwork.
Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB)
As a parent, we always want to protect our students. If you have a concern, please take a look at the district policy on HIB. If you need to report a concern, please click here.
As defined in legislation, “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act including but not limited to, one shown to be motivated by any characteristic in RCW 28A.640.010 and RCW 28A 642.010, or other distinguishing characteristics, when the act:
A. Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property;
B. Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education;
C. Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
D. Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Gateway Student Handbook
Please take a moment to review the Student Handbook with your student. All students are expected to follow the expectations outlined in the handbook. When your student signs into their laptop, they are agreeing to these expectation.
Technical Support
Gateway PTSA
Our Mission: The PTSA strengthens our schools and benefits our children. Gateway PTSA provides programs and activities that enhance the educational opportunities of Gateway’s students, teachers, and the surrounding community. Gateway PTSA is an advocate for all students attending Gateway Middle School and Everett Public Schools.
Please consider joining our PTA!
Attendance at meetings is not required, but your support allows our students to have more opportunities. Click this link to find out more information! Click here to order Gateway spirit gear!
