This Week @ Gates
December 10, 2017
Upcoming Events

November-December: Gates Fall Appeal
November-December:  Giving Tree (Mitten Tree)
Tuesday, 12/12/17: Hanukkah Begins
Friday, 12/22/17: Gates School Annual Sing-a-long
Monday, 12/25/17: Christmas
Monday-Friday, 12/25/17-12/29/17: Winter Recess (no school)
Friday, 02/02/18 : Dances of the World

The Gates Fall Appeal is Underway

To date, the Gates School PTO has raised $27,000 for Gates School, but we are still short of reaching our annual goal of $40,000 . This holiday season, we ask you to open your wallets and hearts and donate to Gates School as much as you can. You can simply write a check directly to the Gates PTO or make an online donation through PayPal . No gift is too big or small.

It's through your generous donations that the PTO can provide fun family nights, bring cultural and educational groups to school, provide scholarships, supply funds for extra teaching hours, and so much more.

We greatly appreciate any donation you can make.

Don't Forget to Grab a Mitten Off the Giving Tree!

Each year we adopt families through the Acton Housing Authority as part of the Giving Tree (Mitten Tree) Project to help those in need during the holiday season.

If you would like to participate in this year's Giving Tree Project please select an item to purchase by clicking the signup link here . Then ask your child to select a mitten from one of the trees placed in each of the Gates School pods. The mittens have labels that should be filled out and attached to the gift once purchased. Please return the wrapped gifts with the mitten label attached and filled out to the donation boxes next to the Mitten Trees. We ask that all gifts be returned by Monday, December 11th .
Please let us know if you have questions or concerns.  Thanks in advance for your support and assistance!

Best regards,

Senior Chair Giving Tree

Junior Chair Giving Tree
Dances of the World Is Just Around the Corner

Dances of the World is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our multicultural community and will be held on February 2nd from 6:45-8:30 pm in the Gates Cafeteria. All families are invited to come and enjoy the various events representing art forms around the world depicting our rich diversity.

Performers
If you would you like to share a dance, musical number, a skit, or martial arts performance, etc. then please review the participation guidelines and sign up .

Trifold
We are inviting 4th, 5th, or 6th graders to create a trifold of a country and culture. Whether it is your home country, your parents/grandparents country, or just a country you fell in love with. You can create it alone or with friends. Trifold details are available here .

Program Guidelines
  • There will be a $5 per person or $10 per family entry fee, the night of the program.
  • A sign-up sheet for food donation will be provided soon.
  • This is not a drop off event, parents must supervise their kids at all times.

Planning Committee
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Dances of the World co-chairs:


Please Come to the Gates School Annual Sing-a-long

We welcome all families to come, sing, and watch their children perform holiday songs in the Gates Cafeteria. In addition to songs for everyone to sing, each grade will perform a special winter-themed song. This year's sing-a-long is scheduled for Friday, December 22nd beginning at 2:15 pm. Additional parking for this event will be behind the school on the basketball court. If you are
planning on attending, please consider carpooling.

One More Day for the Winter Clothes Drive!

The Gates Student Council (Mrs. Melbourne and Mr. Wadsworth) are collecting items for donation to the Acton Clothes Closet, a charitable organization run by the Acton Food Pantry. They are collecting new winter hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and socks. There will be a collection box in the school lobby or items may be dropped off in Room 11. Please bring all items in by Monday, December 11, 2017. Please contact Mrs. Melbourne and Mr. Wadsworth with any questions.


Superintendent Search: Your Input is Welcome

The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District has engaged the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) to assist them in the search process for a new Superintendent of Schools.  An integral part of the process involves staff, parent/guardian and community participation in focus groups.The groups are designed to obtain participant input about the attributes, experience and knowledge that the new superintendent should possess.  The groups also provide an opportunity for participants to identify immediate tasks which the new superintendent should address.  
Dr. Anthony Bent and Dr. Sally Dias, search consultants with NESDEC, will meet with interested parents/guardians and community members in focus groups. Participation in a focus group will require about 1-2 hours. All AB faculty and staff are welcome to attend and to participate. No previous sign-up is required. The Focus Groups will be held on:
  • Wednesday, December 13 at 12:30 p.m. at the Sargent Memorial Library, Boxborough
  • Monday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the RJ Grey Junior High School Library
  • Wednesday, January 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the RJ Grey Junior High School Library
 
If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, the consultants would be pleased to receive your comments in writing. Direct them to: Dr. Anthony Bent/Dr. Sally Dias, NESDEC, Acton-Boxborough RSD Superintendent Search, 28 Lord Road, Marlborough, MA 01752.  
Additionally, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to participate in a very brief survey, which will be open from Monday, December 11 - Wednesday, December 20.  A link to the survey will be sent separately.
The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District wants and values your opinions.  We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to participate.











Shop and Support Gates

Donelan's Receipts for Education
Donelan's Supermarkets proudly sponsors the Register Tapes for Education Program to make a difference in local communities. Simply collect Donelan's receipts and deposited them in the collection center outside the Gates school office. These receipts are then converted into points and redeemed for equipment and supplies for Gates School.

AmazonSmile
Shopping on AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Gates school. Just sign up at AmazonSmile and register Paul P. Gates School PTO as your designated charity. Then every time you shop, AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of your purchase price to the Gates PTO. Don't forget to bookmark the website.

Box Tops for Education
The Box Tops for Education program is an easy way to earn cash for Gates school. Simply clip Box Tops on hundreds of products at your local grocery store and place them in the collection box outside of the Gates school office. For each one, Gates receives 10 cents and it really adds up.

"This Week at Gates" is distributed at the beginning of each week. If you have a submission you'd like to have included in the weekly email, please be sure to email it to the Senior Co-chair Naomi Phaneuf by noon on Wednesday. 
This newsletter was created solely for the purpose of communicating school related events to parents and students.