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May 20-22 | Final Exams

Dear Class of 2025,

The moment you’ve been working toward is finally here—it’s your time to walk the stage.

As you take these final steps through our halls and prepare to step boldly into the next chapter, know that we are so incredibly proud of each and every one of you. You've faced challenges, embraced growth, and made memories that will stay with you for a lifetime. You’ve led with heart, courage, and determination—and you’ve left your mark on this school in a way no one else could.

As you go forward, follow your dreams fiercely, believe in your power to create change, and never forget where you came from. Carry that Gator pride with you wherever you go, and remember—you’ll always have a home here.

Once a Gator, always a Gator. 🐊

Sincerely,

To wrap up their final exam in Anatomy, students participated in a hands-on dissection of a fetal pig—an exciting and educational experience! This immersive activity allowed students to explore all the body systems they’ve studied throughout the year in a real-world context. They also had the opportunity to compare anatomical differences between two fetal pigs at different gestational stages, gaining valuable insight into developmental biology. It was a memorable and impactful way to bring classroom learning to life!

GSA students recently participated in a dynamic financial literacy program led by Washington University students, receiving small group instruction on topics such as investing and personal finance. The program concluded with a capstone project where students applied their new knowledge in meaningful ways. As a reward for their hard work and successful completion, each student will receive $100 in an investment account when they turn 18—an incredible step toward building financial empowerment for the future!

Students in Mr. Doll’s Life Skills class have been busy in the kitchen, building independence, teamwork, and practical life skills—one delicious meal at a time!

In one session, students crafted their own personal breakfast pizzas, taking charge of everything from rolling out crescent dough and scrambling eggs to chopping veggies and air frying bacon and crust. The result? Tasty, customized creations and lots of smiles!

Later in the week, the class whipped up a hearty lunch of homemade Sloppy Joes with a fresh side salad and crispy tater tots. Students led every step, even teaching one another how to brown meat. As sophomore Trey put it, “I give it an 8.5 out of 10!”

From breakfast to lunch, these students are truly cooking up confidence and real-world skills!

Congratulations to our Middle School Heart & Sole Team and High School Junior Coaches on wrapping up a fantastic season with the GOTR 5K on Saturday, May 10th! It was a fun, high-energy day that celebrated months of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork.

Special shoutout to our Junior Coaches: Jasmine Ruggles and Chelsea Vollmer (Nancy King not pictured), and to our dedicated team members: Alaina Haines, Amari Robinson, Jamirriah Sykes, and Vivienne Varagona (Leila Diehl not pictured). We’re so proud of each of you!

And a huge thank you to Mrs. Armbrister for joining in on the fun and running alongside the Heart and Sole team—your encouragement and support made the day even more special!

Looking ahead to Fall 2025:

• General Registration opens August 4th

• Practices begin the week of September 8th

• The next GOTR 5K takes place on November 15th

Let’s keep the momentum going—Go Gators! 💙🐊

We’re proud to announce that Gateway Science Academy students had an outstanding showing at the 2025 Academy of Science – St. Louis K-12 Regional Science Fair! Competing among over 1,700 students from across 72 communities, our GSA scholars earned:

• 21 First Place Blue Ribbons

• 9 Second Place Red Ribbons

• 6 Third Place Green Ribbons

• 7 Special Awards, including top honors from Bayer, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and more!

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One of our students was also nominated for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, a national-level recognition!

Congratulations to all of our young scientists for their incredible work and passion for discovery!

We’re excited to partner with the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank for a Diaper & Period Supply Drive, running now through the end of Summer School! These basic hygiene items are essential—yet too many families in our community go without.

How to Help:

Donate diapers (sizes 4–6), wipes, and period products

Contribute via gift card, check, or through our [school website]

Drop off items in yellow donation bins around school

Shop our curated Amazon Wish List

Students can earn service hours for donating or volunteering during our upcoming Packing Party (date TBA)! Let’s work together to support families in need and empower students to lead with compassion.

As the school year winds down, we're excited to offer a FREE ACT Summer Enrichment Program to help students get ahead and shine on test day!

Why Join?

ACT scores matter for college admissions and scholarships—and it’s never too early to start preparing! Based on spring ACT data and teacher recommendations, we believe this program could give your student the extra boost they need to reach their full potential.

Program Details:

Dates: Wednesday, May 28 – Friday, June 13

Location: GSA HS ACT Summer School @ Fyler Campus

Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (in-person)

Meals: Free breakfast and lunch provided daily

Bonus: Free registration for the official ACT on June 14!

We’ll tailor the schedule to student availability, so please complete the preference form by May 5, 2025 to help us build the best experience for everyone. Please submit your preferences and register here.

Don’t miss this chance to gain confidence, improve your score, and open doors to future success!

Please see below the district-approved calendar for the 2025-2026 school year

Guardian Angel’s new Pantry and Clothing Closet is officially open! Families can now shop for clothing and household items while picking up food essentials.

The food pantry serves the greater St. Louis area, offering staple items like canned goods, bread, pasta, rice, beans, fresh produce, and meat. Instead of pre-boxed food, members can shop based on dietary and religious needs.

Hours (by appointment only):

• Tuesdays: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Thursdays: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• Fridays (Seniors 55+ only): 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Every 2nd Saturday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

For urgent food needs, emergency bags are available without an appointment.

📞 Call 314-773-9027 to schedule a visit or submit an appointment request here.

Residents of 63118 or 63104 are encouraged to take advantage of this resource!

Families in need can access food and clothing assistance through the local pantry and clothing room. No appointment is necessary—just bring a photo ID!

🍎 Food Pantry:

• Shop for Groceries (M-Th, 10 AM – 1 PM): Guests can choose their own food, including canned goods, meat, deli items, produce, and bread.

• Pre-Packed Bags (Fridays, 10 AM – 1 PM): Pre-packed food bags are distributed.
• Fresh Food Friday (Fridays, 10 AM): Free fresh produce, deli items, bread, and occasional dairy/eggs.

Clothing Room:

• Open Tuesdays–Thursdays, 10 AM – 1 PM
• Offers gently used clothing for all ages, including business attire for job seekers

• Who Can Access These Services?

• Food pantry: Available to residents of 63104, 63110, 63118, and 63116 (limit twice per month).
• Clothing room: Open to all (limit once per month).

For more information, visit during open hours or call for assistance!

The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) is offering a free 2-week summer program called Design Your World (DYW) for high school students interested in art, architecture, interior design, fashion, or other creative fields.

Location: Sam Fox School of Design, Washington University

Dates: July 7 – July 18 (Monday–Friday)

Who: Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors

Bonus: $200 stipend upon completion

Program highlights include:

• Hands-on workshops in design and architecture
• Studio time to build creative projects
• Mentorship from industry professionals
• Final showcase for family, friends & local community
• Only 25 students will be accepted citywide on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Deadline to apply: June 27

Apply here or visit the IIDA website for more info.

Let your creativity shine this summer!

The Governor’s Council on Disability announced applications are now open for the 2025 Missouri Youth Leadership Forum (MO-YLF) for high school students with disabilities (ages 16-21). Applications are due on March 31, 2025, to join the forum July 15-19, 2025.

The MO-YLF provides a unique and empowering experience for students looking to grow their leadership skills and prepare for a successful transition into college, careers, and independent living. Students will gain valuable skills, connect with peers and mentors, and immerse themselves in a college environment, staying on campus at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Learn more about the opportunity and submit your application on the State of Missouri Disability Portal here. The entire program is provided at no cost to selected delegates, thanks to support from the event's sponsors and donors.

For all IT-related requests, students and parents are kindly asked to submit a ticket by emailing helpdesk@gsastl.org. This ensures that your concerns are addressed promptly and efficiently.

Thank you for your cooperation!

To support students in reaching their academic goals and staying on track for graduation, mandatory tutoring will begin on Monday, October 21, 2024.

Students who receive a failing grade or a D- (below 65) in any subject by the end of the quarter are required to attend after-school tutoring sessions with their teachers throughout the second quarter. This tutoring is designed to prevent further academic challenges and will continue until the end of the next quarter.

If your student is in this situation, please ensure they attend the mandatory tutoring sessions. Tutoring will take place from 2:35 PM to 3:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, following the teacher's tutoring schedule.

For more details, please refer to the following documents:

• Mandatory Academic Tutoring for At-Risk Students Letter
• 24-25 Extracurricular Schedule (Clubs, Sports, & Tutoring)

Thank you for your cooperation in supporting your student's success!

Over the past two years, the CYSP department has organized international trips for students, parents, and staff from 34 Concept Schools. This year, we have exciting trips planned to five different destinations. You can explore them by following the link below.

Submit a Gator Gratitude nomination NOW, where you can recognize any Gateway Science Academy employee, volunteer, or community partner for going above and beyond what is expected.

Let's continue to show our appreciation for the wonderful individuals who make a positive impact on

our school community!

BrightArrow is a district communication service that enables us to send timely and relevant SMS text messages directly to parents' cell phones.

To participate, parents must opt in. Simply text YES to 79041 and repeat this process for any phone number you want to receive text messages on. Please ensure that the front office has your current cell phone information.

Please note, standard message and data rates may apply based on your wireless carrier’s terms.

If you have any questions regarding SMS text messaging, feel free to contact Ms. Amra at 314-500-1312 or Ms. Illda at 314-500-1313.

We can now offer additional GSA-branded gear through South City Sporting Goods! You can check out the collection here: GSA Collection. The site is live and ready for orders 24/7/365, and everything is produced on demand.

If you are shopping for uniform items, please select “yes” on the left side of the screen and you will have a display of all approved selections from each campus.

GSA High School students!

Do you feel like you’re invisible? Like you don’t have a voice? Or maybe you have a pressing question you’d like to ask in a laid-back setting. Well, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for! The success of any school requires the input of all its stakeholders and YOU are a very integral part of that community. Assistant Principal of School Culture, Mrs. Hibbler, is spearheading a new opportunity for high school students to meet with her on a very informal basis to become acquainted with her and other students, enjoy snacks, and chat! The best ideas can come from casual conversations and she is excited to hear from you!

Space is limited, so sign up today!!

Ready to level up your high school experience? Whether you're into sports, arts, gaming, or something totally unique, we've got a club for YOU! Joining a club is the perfect way to meet new people, explore your passions, and make lasting memories.

Please take a moment to review the list of clubs below. If you’re interested, just swing by the rooms mentioned and sign up for the club/s you like. Get ready to get involved, make friends, and have a blast!

We have a ✨✨NEW ✨✨website for our Seniors and Families!

Please visit the following link to access all information regarding Senior Year:

https://sites.google.com/gsastl.org/gsaseniorclass2025/home

Please use this website to order your Senior Sweatshirts and pay Senior Dues moving forward. If you have already ordered one, or paid, there is no need to do it again.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Your Senior Sponsor,

Mrs. Bland

💠 3/20 - March Movie Madness 💠

💠 5/14 - Lemonade and Learn 💠

Reminder About Medications at School: Students are not allowed to carry over-the-counter medications at school, including tylenol and ibuprofen. They also should not carry prescription medications unless they have permission forms on file with the nurse to carry their inhaler or epipen. Thanks for helping to remind your student of these safety practices.

Covid and Respiratory Illness Guidelines: GSA is following the current guidelines from the STL City Department of Health and CDC. These guidelines state for a person to stay home when ill or have tested positive for Covid. A person can return to school/activities when symptoms have been improving for 24 hours - and if a fever was present, it has been gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. In addition, people are strongly encouraged to wear a mask for the next 5 days to curb the spread of disease.

Food that is shared class-wide must be store bought and come in original packaging (not homemade).This list contains some suggestions for allergen safe snacks for your child to bring to class for their daily snack.

The cost is $3 for the single day(s) or $12 for the semester. They can be purchased from Mr. Cruz in the morning of each dress down day. Cash or check made payable to "GSA PTO."

Please review our dress code matrix as to what is allowed.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are pleased to inform you that the Free and Reduced Meal applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now available. We kindly request that each household completes the application, even if you do not believe you will qualify for free or reduced meals.

Did you know that completing the Free and Reduced Meal application helps in many areas beyond just providing meals? Just one form ensures continued funding to support ALL students in several critical ways:

• School Budgets: Increased state and federal funding for staff, equipment, and supplies.

• Computer Network: More funding for internet access and network services.

• School Meals: Free or reduced-price school meals and qualification for various pandemic benefits.

• Scholarships: Eligibility for local scholarships, tuition assistance, and discounted college application fees.

• Sports Fees: Reduced fees for sports and other extracurricular activities.

By filling out this application, you contribute to the betterment of our entire school community.

Please use the Free and Reduced Lunch Application blue 🔝🔝click button 🔝🔝 above to complete your application!

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

GSA Fyler Campus

The view the breakfast, lunch and snack options for the rest of the school year. Please click on the Menu Navigator (blue button) above.

Question 1: What is PowerSchool? Answer: PowerSchool is a student information system that allows us to manage a wide range of information, including the following: grades, attendance, tests, demographics, activities, courses, and photos. Because the program has been designed using Internet-based software tools, it also allows us to connect parents and students to information.

Question 2: When will parents and students get access to the information on the PowerSchool server? Answer: Parents of students in grades 6-12 can get their logins and passwords at Back- to-School Night from the office where their student is enrolled. Usernames and passwords will be available in the school office.

Question 3: Whom should I call if I have a question? Answer: Please use the table below to decide whom to contact for various types of questions.

Question 4: Do all teachers post grade and attendance information to the PowerSchool server? Answer: Attendance is posted by teachers and by the office.The office collects information and logs the daily attendance (which is used for state reporting) while each individual teacher is responsible for recording the period attendance for their rosters. All teachers assign and post grades to PowerSchool at different times. Some may give grades to their students’ everyday and some may give far fewer grades during the marking periods. This is up to each teacher and depends upon their grading system. If you see grades in PowerSchool for some teachers but not others, this is a normal function of the way teachers assign and post grades. As always you may contact teachers by e-mail or request a phone call or meeting at any time.

Question 5: I know that teachers sometimes weigh different categories of grades. How does this affect how a grade is calculated? Answer: Many teachers use categories such as tests, quizzes, and daily work to organize and give different weights to grades; how they weigh them is an individual decision. Teachers share with students how they grade at the beginning of each course. As always you may contact teachers by e-mail or request a phone call or meeting at any time.

Question 6: How often can we expect grades to be updated? Answer: There are many factors that determine how soon a teacher can assess and return assignments. Essays, research papers, and tests take longer to grade than a quiz. Coaching, club sponsorships, and family commitments can also affect turnaround time, as well as a teacher's student load. All teachers do their best to grade their students and communicate their progress in a timely manner.

Question 7: Do all teachers use the same grading scales? Answer: Yes. Grading scales are common among teachers and among classes in the same building. All teachers share their grading scales as well as other class policy information with their students at the beginning of each course.

Question 8: What can I see on the PowerSchool site? Answer: Parents and students can access the following information on the PowerSchool public site.

• Grades for current classes, as well as the assignments that make up those grades

• Attendance for the past two weeks or for the current term, including a legend of attendance codes used by the school

• Teacher comments • Reports via Email, which allow parents to request daily, weekly, or monthly reports to be sent via email.

Question 9: Can other people see my son’s/daughter’s grades? Answer: As long as you protect your password, others will not be able to see your information.

Question 10: How does one get a PowerSchool login and password? Answer: The school will provide this information.

The A+ Program is a program funded by the state of Missouri to provide scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools, including Gateway Science Academy, who attend a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools.

Dual credit programs offer high caliber high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and become familiar with the college experience while still in a high school setting. College credits earned through dual credit programs are widely accepted at Missouri public colleges and universities and many other institutions across the country.

* the grading systems may be different.

The work that the student completes throughout the course contributes to the student's final college grade in the class, which shows on their college transcript. This is why in order for students to transfer their dual credit, they must request a transcript be sent from college they are completing dual credit through to the college they are ultimately attending after high school.

Top Reasons to enroll in Dual Credit
* Save some serious cash on college
* Challenge yourself with college-level courses
* Learn from master’s-level teachers
* Start your college transcript
* Earn easily transferable college credit hours
* Get a head start of your college career

To prepare students to meet top colleges’ entrance requirements, GSA’s graduation requirements exceed those of traditional Missouri public high schools and include:

🎓 Minimum of 26 credits of coursework 🎓

🎓 40 hours of community service: Each grade level is required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of community service.🎓

🎓 Must pass the US Constitution and Missouri Constitution exams.🎓

🎓 Senior thesis project 🎓

🎓 Must take the following tests: EOC Algebra I or EOC Algebra II, EOC English II, EOC Biology, EOC Government 🎓

Beginning your freshman year, and continuing throughout high school, you’ll complete 40 hours of community service. By connecting classroom curriculum with service projects, you’ll deepen and extend your knowledge to improve academic achievement, build social skills, and develop civic skills and attitudes. To ensure a manageable workload and a smooth progression towards meeting the 40-hour community service requirement, it is advised that students commence their service early, spreading their efforts across their high school years. We propose implementing a yearly completion target of 10 hours, allowing students to steadily accumulate towards the total of 40 community service hours before their senior year.

Volunteer Match

Use the advanced search option and enter the zip code, interests, and check the teen box.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Charity Navigator

Use the advanced search option to find a list of about 50 local charities.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Tree House of Greater St. Louis

https://thstl.org/volunteer/

Stray Rescue

http://strayrescue.org/node/79

St. Louis Zoo

https://www.stlzoo.org/give/volunteer

Open Door Animal Sanctuary

https://odas.org/volunteer/

Missouri Department of Conservation

https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/volunteer-opportunities

St. Louis Parents

https://www.stlparent.com/story/volunteers-needed-15-places-st-louis-where-your-teen-can-make-difference-summer

United Way of Greater St. Louis

https://www.stlvolunteer.org/syg?layoutViewMode=tablet

You can also volunteer at:

• Magic House

• Science Center

• Zoo

• Animal Shelters

• Food Banks

• Churches, mosques…

• Tutor students

• Wildlife Center of Missouri

• Schools

You can call a charity and offer to plan an event for them. Can you put together a teen trivia night or a walk-a-thon to raise money? Use your creativity to come up with ideas, like a dog house decorating contest to benefit an animal shelter, a book drive to support a local children’s charity? The possibilities are endless!

There may be more than these listed ones. You just need to find them!

🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝

Every student in our district now has access to the Varsity Tutors for Schools platform that includes 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring, On-Demand Essay Review, 100+ Weekly Live Classes in Test Prep & Enrichment, Recorded Enrichment Classes, Self-Study & Practice Resources.

Students will log into the platform using Clever.

Please see the following for more information:

How to Access Scheduled Tutoring Sessions (Students-Clever).pdf

Test Prep - ACT, SAT, more - Flier - High School Student 2.pdf

Upcoming PTO Meetings & Events :

November 21: General meeting

Saturday, February 8: 3rd Annual Mouse Races, Affton Elks Lodge

February 20: General meeting

April 24: General meeting & Elections

PTO Website

hs.gsastl.org/pto

Please join the PTO Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/GSAMiddleSchoolPTO

Students are only allowed to wear these as part of spirit wear on Fridays or dress down days.

St. Louis County Library and Operation Food Search are offering free meals to children ages 5-18 at four library branches during the 2024-25 school year. Meals are served Monday through Friday and include activities for kids.

Student eCards are a powerful tool that connects students with a wealth of learning resources, enhancing their educational experience both in and out of the classroom. These eCards give access to digital materials, library resources, and more, helping to support their academic growth.

Families play an important role in making the most of this opportunity! We encourage you to review the flyer below which provides an overview of the eCards and answers common questions. By staying informed, families can help students fully utilize these valuable resources.

Check out the helpful video below for an introduction to the library eCARDS for your student.