Welcome to the Gateway School
The Gateway School of Carteret, NJ currently serves approximately 75 students from sixteen school districts representing five counties in central New Jersey. It is staffed with 55 dedicated special education instructional and support service professionals. The warmth and energy that permeate the school creates an outstanding learning environment to provide the students support and structure to grow and progress both academically and socially. The program currently serves children, adolescents and young adult students ranging in age from five years old up to twenty-one.
Of the 75 students approximately 70 % are classified as Multiply Disabled or Cognitively Impaired. Over 23% are students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The remaining are students with learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury or other health impairments.
The goal of Gateway School is to provide an individualized learning environment that fosters the total development of each student and prepares them for future adult settings. We build academic skills, increase motivation and strive to bolster children’s self-esteem. Gateway School provides each child with a solid foundation that serves as the basis for future success. Gateway begins by establishing an important bond between parent, sending district, student and school staff. The experience of a Gateway School education offers a definite advantage in preparing students with disabling conditions to lead satisfying, productive and independent lives.
What's New at Gateway
Welcome back to all. We hope everyone had a joyous and safe holiday season and wish you all a very prosperous 2012.
On Monday, January 16th, Gateway School will be closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. A holiday assembly to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.and Black History Month will be held on Friday, January 27th.
On Friday, February 10th, Gateway students will participate in a Basketball tournament with students from our sister schools, Alpha and Harbor. Students will work on passing, shooting and team play skills. A Great Time will be had by all.
On Monday, February 13th, Gateway students will be participating in the Jump Rope for Heart program. Jump Rope for Heart is a national educational fundraising program that is sponsored by the American Heart Association. It engages students in jumping rope while raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research. Students ask friends and family for donations and receive thank-you gifts based on the dollars they raise. This educational program teaches physical fitness and promotes the value of community service to students and their families.
Gateway School will be closed for Winter Recess from Monday, February 20th until Friday, February 24th. We will reopen on Monday, February 27th.
Student Life
We again have several trips planned to Sandy Hook Beach during our extended school year program. Please refer to our calendar for specific dates and times. We have been bringing our students to Sandy Hook Beach each summer for over a decade and a great time is always had by all. Please be sure your children wear proper attire on beach days including swim trunks and sunscreen.
On Wednesday, August 10th, Gateway School will be sponsoring our Third Annual Alumni Day. Alumni and parents will gather to talk about what they have been doing since graduation and their experiences with adult service agencies. Alumni will also be given a chance to meet with former teachers and old friends to reminisce about old times. If you know anyone who is a graduate of Gateway School and may not have been contacted for Alumni Day, please have them call Pat Gutowski at Gateway School (732) 541-4400 so that we may add them to our mailing list.
Also on August 10th, Gateway School will be holding its annual Extended School Year Family Picnic. The picnic will take place from 11:30a.m. to 1:30p.m. at Carteret Park with immediate family members of our students invited to attend. We hope to see you all there.
Teachers Corner
Every spring the Gateway School selects one staff person whose hard work and dedication exemplifies the best quality of teaching or professionalism within the school environment, and honors that individual with the Ruth B. Newman Award. This past year Ms. Mary Pavlonnis, the school’s senior Administrative Assistant was presented with that tribute. Below are a few reasons why!
To know Mary Pavlonnis is to visit the main office at Gateway School just once. She is unforgettable. She always maintains a cheery attitude, a wonderful smile and an outgoing and gregarious personality that is contagious.
She greets several of the students every day by name as they stop by the office to say their “Good Mornings!”, and the parade repeats itself at the end of the day just before dismissal. To witness this, you would seriously believe they were her own kids.
Ms. Mary knows many students so intimately that she, in collaboration with the teachers, has implemented her own Behavior plans with some of our more challenging students – encouraging good behavior and hard work in exchange for a pencil or other reward.
Fielding incoming calls on a daily basis, she has also developed wonderful relationships with so many of our students’ parents. They seem to need their “Good Mornings” as well. And Ms. Mary doesn’t disappoint. In fact at times I think the parents need the attention more than our students. She has this wonderful quality of making all those around her feel comfortable and welcomed, an exceptional attribute for the person greeting visitors to the main office. When the holiday seasons roll around, we are sure to know it as the office takes on the decorations of the current season. Also she never forgets a birthday, bestowing presents and her famous homemade cakes and pastries to all. My waistline can attest to this generosity!
In 1750, Benjamin Franklin in his Poor Richard’s Almanac observed the great difficulty of knowing one's self, with: "There are three Things extremely hard, Steel, a Diamond, and to know one's self." Well Ms. Mary knows herself well indeed. In fact, on her application form from April 1997 under List any additional information you would like us to consider, she writes “Works well under pressure and with people. Able to multi-task.” After fourteen years working alongside her, all I can say about Mary is the woman knew what she was talking about!”
It has been a wonderful pleasure and privilege to work with Mary all these years. I can’t even begin to count how many sending district Case Managers, parents and guests to our program have commented on her friendly attitude. It is our honor to acknowledge her this year with this prestigious reward.