Smore logo
remove_red_eye 27
page background

Your Gator Guide Newsletter

August 18, 2024

Your Gator Guide Newsletter August 18, 2024
Your Gator GuideNewsletterAugust 18, 2024
2024-2025 Academic Calendar
2024-2025 Student/Parent Handbook
Events Calendar

To browse important upcoming events, please click the events button above or select the link to the events calendar below.

Events

Events

Gateway Science Academy Fyler is located in St. Louis, MO.

launch hs.gsastl.org

πŸš€ Rocket Launch in Geometry! πŸš€ πŸš€ Rocket Launch in Geometry! πŸš€

Students in Mr. Macalad’s Geometry class took learning to new heightsβ€”literally! As part of a hands-on project connecting math to the real world, students designed and launched rockets to explore concepts like 3D design, measurements, and trigonometry. The excitement was sky-high as each group tested their designs and applied their geometry skills in a fun, unforgettable way!


ROCKET LAUNCH

❗ GSA Launches Diaper & Period Supply Drive ❗ ❗ GSA Launches Diaper & Period Supply Drive ❗

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 essentialβ€”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.

πŸ“ ACT Summer Enrichment Program πŸ“ πŸ“ ACT Summer Enrichment Program πŸ“

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 scholarshipsβ€”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!

❗2025-2026 Academic Calendar ❗ ❗2025-2026 Academic Calendar ❗

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

pdf
insert_drive_file
25-26 Academic Calendar- Final 2.12.25 .pdf
Download
164.2 KB
open_in_new zoom_out_map

🍊πŸ₯‘ Now Open: Guardian Angel Pantry & Clothing Closet 🍊πŸ₯‘ 🍊πŸ₯‘ Now Open: Guardian Angel Pantry & Clothing Closet 🍊πŸ₯‘

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.

πŸ“ž 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!

πŸ₯«Food Pantry in Your Neighborhood πŸ₯« πŸ₯«Food Pantry in Your Neighborhood πŸ₯«

Families in need can access food and clothing assistance through the local pantry and clothing room. No appointment is necessaryβ€”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!

🎨 Summer Design Opportunity at WashU for Creative Students 🎨 🎨 Summer Design Opportunity at WashU for Creative Students 🎨

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!

πŸ’» IT Helpdesk Reminder πŸ’» πŸ’» IT Helpdesk Reminder πŸ’»

zoom_out_map

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!

⭐⭐ Gator Gratitude Nomination ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ Gator Gratitude Nomination ⭐⭐

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!

πŸ“² Bright Arrow - Text Messaging Opt-In πŸ“² πŸ“² Bright Arrow - Text Messaging Opt-In πŸ“²

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.

πŸ‘• GSA Branded Gear at South City Sporting Goods πŸ‘• πŸ‘• GSA Branded Gear at South City Sporting Goods πŸ‘•

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 β€œyes” on the left side of the screen and you will have a display of all approved selections from each campus.

🐊 Healthy Gator Guide 🐊 🐊 Healthy Gator Guide 🐊

zoom_out_map

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.

πŸͺ Suggested Safe Individual Snack list πŸͺ πŸͺ Suggested Safe Individual Snack list πŸͺ

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.

pdf
insert_drive_file
Safe Snack List.pdf
Please review this information for approved snacks at school.
Download
335.9 KB
Free and Reduced Lunch Application 24-25 School Year

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 πŸ”πŸ”click button πŸ”πŸ” above to complete your application!


Thank you for your continued support.


Sincerely,

GSA Fyler Campus

❗Eligibility Criteria for Free and Reduced Meals ❗ ❗Eligibility Criteria for Free and Reduced Meals ❗

pdf
insert_drive_file
Eligibility Criteria for Free and Reduced Meals.pdf
Please review the brackets in the attachments to better guide you on what your household is eligible for in the upcoming school year.
Download
42.6 KB

πŸ₯ͺ NutriSlice Menu πŸ₯ͺ πŸ₯ͺ NutriSlice Menu πŸ₯ͺ

NutriSlice Menu Navigator

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

πŸ’²Meal Prices 24-25 SYπŸ’² πŸ’²Meal Prices 24-25 SYπŸ’²

✍🏻PowerSchool Parent Portal FAQs ✍🏻 ✍🏻PowerSchool Parent Portal FAQs ✍🏻

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 β€’ 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.

πŸ”΅ Uniform Stores πŸ”΅ πŸ”΅ Uniform Stores πŸ”΅

Click HERE to Shop for Uniforms - Sports Print Click HERE to Shop for Uniforms - Sports Print

Click HERE to Shop for Uniforms - South City Sporting Goods Click HERE to Shop for Uniforms - South City Sporting Goods

πŸ‘‰ What is the A+ Program? πŸ‘ˆ πŸ‘‰ What is the A+ Program? πŸ‘ˆ

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.

πŸ‘‰ What is Dual Credit? πŸ‘ˆ πŸ‘‰ What is Dual Credit? πŸ‘ˆ

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.


Dual credit is a way for high school students to earn college credit at the same time they are earning high school credit.The high school and college credit are separate from one another, meaning:

if a student drops his or her college credit, he or she may still be enrolled in the high school class.



* the grading systems may be different.

* the records for the course work are separate

* the college credit is recorded on a university transcript and the high school credit is on the high school transcript



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


Is Dual Credit the Same as AP?
We are commonly asked if dual credit courses are the same as Advanced Placement (AP) courses.The AP Program is a separate college-level program developed by the College Board organization. This program requires students to take and score above a certain number on examinations to earn credit. As well, the College Board develops their own curriculum through a panel.


Student/Parent Benefits of Dual Credit and College Board's AP
Dual credit is a college program in which selected high schools partner with a university to deliver college level courses on high school campuses.


Students’ grades earned in dual credit courses become part of the their official college record and are transferable to many other two and four year institutions.


AP is a high school program administered by a national corporation with no connection to any particular college or university. College credit through AP courses depends on the student’s score on a nationally administered examination.


Continue reading here a list of Frequently Asked Questions

πŸŽ“ Graduation Requirements πŸŽ“ πŸŽ“ Graduation Requirements πŸŽ“

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


πŸŽ“ Minimum of 26 credits of coursework πŸŽ“


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


πŸŽ“ Must pass the US Constitution and Missouri Constitution exams.πŸŽ“


πŸŽ“ Senior thesis project πŸŽ“


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

πŸ“© Community Service Hours πŸ“© πŸ“© Community Service Hours πŸ“©

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.

πŸ‘‡ Volunteer Opportunities for Teens in the St. Louis Area πŸ‘‡ πŸ‘‡ Volunteer Opportunities for Teens in the St. Louis Area πŸ‘‡

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!


Note: students cannot volunteer for profit organizations or companies!

Community Service Hours Log

πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”πŸ”

Click on the button above to download a copy of the Community Service Hours Log Click on the button above to download a copy of the Community Service Hours Log

πŸ’» Varsity Tutoring πŸ’» πŸ’» Varsity Tutoring πŸ’»

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

GSA Middle and High School PTO Facebook Page

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

open_in_new zoom_out_map
Click for Athletic Newsletters
Sports Registration
Fan Shop

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

open_in_new zoom_out_map
Community Resources

πŸ• After School Meals Available Monday - Friday πŸ• πŸ• After School Meals Available Monday - Friday πŸ•

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.


Locations and Times:


πŸ’  Lewis & Clark Branch: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. πŸ’ 

πŸ’  Prairie Commons Branch: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. πŸ’ 

πŸ’  Natural Bridge Branch: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. πŸ’ 

πŸ’  Weber Road Branch: 2:45 - 4:00 p.m. πŸ’ 

πŸ“˜ SLPL Library eCARDS πŸ“˜ πŸ“˜ SLPL Library eCARDS πŸ“˜

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.

SLPL Library eCARD Introduction

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

St. Louis Public Library Student eCard Introduction

St. Louis Public Library Student eCard Introduction

launch loom.com
Connect with the High School Admin Team
zoom_out_map

Dr. Icel - Principal

βœ‰οΈ icel@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Mrs. Hibbler - Assistant Principal of School Culture

βœ‰οΈ jhibbler@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Mr. Gunerhan - Assistant Principal of Academics

βœ‰οΈ egunerhan@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Mr. Davis - Dean of Students

βœ‰οΈ mdavis@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Mr.Cruz - School Counselor

βœ‰οΈ ncruz@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Coach Salih - Athletic Director

βœ‰οΈ salih@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Mr. Alpsoy - College Counselor (Grades 9 -12)

Students with last names starting with A-E

πŸ“© zalpsoy@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Mr. Ihsan - College Counselor (Grades 9 - 12)

Students with last names starting with F-O

πŸ“© idemirezen@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Dr. Ozkaya - College Counselor (Grades 9 -12)

Students with last names starting with P-Z

πŸ“© yozkaya@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Nurse Jillian

πŸ“© nursefyler@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Ms. Amra - Administrative Assistant (Grades 9-10)

πŸ“© amra@gsastl.org

zoom_out_map

Ms. Illda - Administrative Assistant (Grades 11-12)

πŸ“© illda@gsastl.org

Gateway Science Academy High School
hs.gsastl.org
Loading indicator

close

Created with

Communicate quickly and effectively with interactive newsletters.

Smore empowers educators to connect with their community, streamline school communications,
and increase engagement.

Create a newsletter