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Dear Gateway Community,
Late autumn is a notoriously busy and often challenging time of year for teachers and students alike. Between exams, activities in full swing, family conferences and, for seniors, college applications, Thanksgiving break can feel like a distant dream. This year, of course, is different – many of the same challenges persist, or are even starker, and we desperately miss the support, joy, and sense of purpose being together in person each day creates.
There are other factors that make this an exceptional year, too, of course, as our students, families, and staff await the outcome of an election that feels more important, more personal, and more uncertain than ever. Most of our students are too young to vote in this election, but that doesn’t mean they are voiceless. In (Zoom) classrooms across our schools, social justice and the ways in which young people can shape their communities for the better are a frequent topic of discussion, as we are committed to helping the next generation of leaders develop the compassion, resolve and clarity to dismantle structures of inequity that remain stubbornly embedded in American life. Our students have done incredible things the past few months, including postcard-writing and youth-led call/text networks, and many of our students are working at polls next Tuesday. I'm proud of their leadership and advocacy, especially when the uncertainty of the moment is challenging for all of us.
In the following stories, you’ll see some of the ways our staff and students are continuing to connect and build community, as well as the ways in which our community has rallied around Gateway in these challenging times. This school year was never going to be easy, but we have much to celebrate, and much to be thankful for.
Warm regards,
Sharon Olken
Executive Director, Gateway Public Schools
“I Know I’m Making a Difference:” Meet the GHS Student Activist Who Might Be Your Future Congressman
When asked how many hours he’s spent volunteering for the races and candidates of his choice for this election, GHS student Alan blushes a little, then does some quick mental calculations.
“Well, technically I started with the March for Education last November, so… 200 hours?” he said. “Maybe more like between 250 and 300. At least 200, though.” READ MORE >
Finding Belonging Virtually at GMS
Ernesto, a WEB leader, chatting on Zoom
Starting sixth grade is a big deal: a new school, new expectations, and some of those eighth graders can seem awfully intimidating! “We wanted to honor how important a transition that can be,” said GMS Counselor Ken Angelo, who started and leads the “Where Everyone Belongs” (WEB) program to help Gateway’s newest and youngest students learn the ropes as they begin middle school. This is a tall order for each new cohort, but as with so many other things this year, students and staff faced a particularly puzzling challenge: how do you help students feel connected to school when everyone is still staying home? READ MORE >
A Ray of Sunshine on a Rainy Day: Gateway Receives #HalfMyDAF Funds
On May 5, 2020, Jennifer and David Risher announced a challenge to the philanthropic community: commit to donating half of your donor advised fund (DAF) between now and September 2020, and nominate a charity of your choice to receive a matching grant from the #HalfMyDAF fund. READ MORE >
Gateway’s Virtual Luncheon Raises over $350,000 for Teachers and Students
One of Gateway’s oldest traditions is the Matters of the Mind Luncheon, a chance for our biggest supporters to celebrate our incredible students and teachers, and a fundraising event responsible for over 20% of Gateway’s fundraising budget each year.
For 2020, however, Gateway was charged with creating a virtual extravaganza that would capture the fun of a live event but allow everyone to participate safely at home. READ MORE >
Mentoring the Next Generation of Coders
In her 9-to-5, Molly Goss is a Project Manager at Oracle, but that’s not how the students of Gateway Middle know her. To them, she’s co-leader of the school’s Girls Who Code chapter, one of the most popular clubs at school – even during distance learning. We chatted with her this summer about volunteering at GMS and her passion for helping young women explore the world of STEM. READ MORE >
“We Are Teaching to Change Things”
With just one complete school year of full-time teaching under their belt, Ferris McIntyre is still fairly new to the teaching profession, but they’re not at all new to Gateway. A recent graduate of the University of San Francisco’s Dual Degree in Teacher Preparation Program, Ferris completed all of their required classroom observation hours
and student teaching semester at Gateway schools, and was so impressed by the school community they applied to stay and begin their teaching career in earnest. We sat down with Ferris for a conversation about becoming a part of the Gateway community and growing as a professional in the midst of a history-making year. READ MORE >
National Case Study Shines the Spotlight on Gateway
Spend even a little time at Gateway and you’ll be able to tell that it’s a truly extraordinary school, but why? That’s a question researchers from the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), a nonpartisan education policy think tank, set out to answer in their extensive case study of Gateway Middle and High that was published this month. READ MORE >
Powerful Learners Conference Continues to Grow
As part of our ongoing mission to positively impact public education beyond the confines of our own two schools, Gateway launched the Powerful Learners Conference in 2019 as a forum for educators, youth workers, tutors and administrators from across the Bay Area to come together and learn concrete strategies designed to increase students’ belief in
themselves as learners and their power in the classroom and beyond. Last year’s event saw attendance more than triple as it became clear that educators are eager for opportunities to build students’ non-cognitive and social emotional skills.
We’re thrilled that on Saturday, February 6, 2021, we’ll host our third Powerful Learners Conference as a virtual event, allowing us to serve an even wider audience of educators. READ MORE >
And One Last Reminder: VOTE!
The presidential election is getting a lot of attention this year – and it’s definitely important! – but there are many other local and statewide races on this year that will impact our communities and schools for years to come. We encourage you to make your voice heard! Need help? Check out the wealth of resources available at https://www.calvoter.org/!
