Dec - GWA Townlake Charter High School

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
DECEMBER 2009
Jaguar Express
Gateway Academy - Townlake
DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS
SPECIAL POINTS OF
INTEREST:
• Pennies for Patients winners
• Festival of Lights
Contributions
• First Annual Festival of Lights
• Calendar of Events
• Just for Parents
• 21st Century Grant activities
It was with great pride and joy
as Director of Gateway Academy Townlake to see so many
students, faculty and staff participate in all the activities that
the school has been having.
Hats off to all of you for doing
such a great job. Hope that
everyone enjoys their much
needed vacations. Rest, relax
and enjoy. Expect to see everyone back on January 4th for
faculty and staff and January
5th for students. Please remember to take sometime to be
grateful for what you have (as
little or as much as it is) and to
really remember the reason for
the season.
Mrs. Olga Treviño
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
STUDENTS OF THE
MONTH
2
COUNSELOR’S
CORNER
2
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BORDER SKULLZ
3
FESTIVAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
4
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
HIGHLIGHTS
5
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
6
JUST FOR PARENTS
7
INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS
Mrs. Aida Ponce
GENERAL
INFORMATION
8
True potential comes from risk
taking and striving to meet the
highest standards you set for
yourself. It has been a wonderful experience to see many of
our students exceed their own
expectations and try something
new. Whether it is acting or
singing in the Festival of Lights
or speaking in front of the student body to collect toys for
needy children, our students
have been surprising themselves as much as they amaze
us. Students have the option to
make a difference in their own
lives and the lives of others,
and all these humbling experiences will only serve to make
them better individuals. Hopefully, these experiences will
encourage them to continue to
serve others throughout their
lives.
JAGUAR EXPRESS
PAGE 2
STUDENT OF THE MONTH (NOVEMBER)
Daniel Alvarado
AM
Pablo Banda
PM
“My bad grades from before make me want to do better [at] [Gateway].”
- Daniel Alvarado
ART CLUB
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS WINNERS
Pennies for Patients was a success. Many
of our students unselfishly donated
money for patients battling blood cancers.
Mrs. Lopez’s class collected a grand total
of $68.32, followed by Ms. Sanchez’s and
Mr. Rangel’s class with $61.52. Thank
you to all others who so generously
donated money for this worthy cause.
Mrs. Estrada from Communities In
Schools was able to provide pizza and
drinks for both classes.
COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Reminder:
If the first letter of your last name falls between
letters A - L, your counselor is Mrs. Garza. If
it falls between M - Z your counselor is Mr.
Elizondo.
Also, if you are in Content Mastery you would
inquire with Mr. Rodriguez or Mrs. Rodriguez
in room 9 about any question.
Remember that the counselor’s are not just
there to guide you through your classes, they
are also available for personal counseling.
If you are a senior contact your counselor for
credit checks with time before you are set to
graduate.
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
PAGE 3
HISTORICAL SOCIETY MOTORCYCLE RUN TO SENATOR JUDITH ZAFFIRINI SCHOOL
The Historical Society collected toys,
jackets and blankets between November
30th thru December 11th. Disadvantaged
families in our community are in need
and we are humbled by the immense
contributions by our students and staff.
On December 14th Mr. J. Aguilar and
Historical Society members accompanied
by Border Skullz Motorcycle Club went
to Senator Judith Zaffirini Elementary to
deliver the collected toys and blankets to
their students and make the children’s
Christmas season a bit brighter. The
media reported on the highlights of the
day on our local evening news station.
Gateway students were filled with
emotion as they experienced first-hand
how such a little toy or soft blanket can
brightened a child’s face with excitement.
We truly believe that this event has been
a life changing experience for the students
of Gateway Academy. Similar plans are
in the works to continue to give back to
people in our community.
“As amazing as it was to see the elementary student’s faces light up when they saw us walk in, it was
emotional at the realization that they were making a difference in someone’s life.” - Aida Ponce
BORDER SKULLZ MOTORCYCLE CLUB AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY JOIN HANDS IN GIVING
The Border Skullz Motorcycle
Club and Historical Society
members teamed up to collect
extra donations from the
community for the students at
Judith Zaffirini Elementary
despite the cold weather
Saturday morning. They
stood in the cold to make sure
there were enough gifts for
every child at the elementary
school.
JAGUAR EXPRESS
PAGE 4
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED PARENT VOLUNTEERS
Mr. Rogelio Martinez, Store Manager at
Home Depot donated $140 in Christmas
lights.
Ms. Maribel Moncivais, Store Manager
at Lowe’s Home Improvement donated
$25 in Christmas lights.
Ms. Diana Hernandez, Store Manager at
Wal-Mart donated a $35 gift card.
Mr. Bobby Cruz, Director of Athletics at
UISD loaned tents.
Mr. Jose A. Valdez Jr., City of Laredo
Council Member District VII organized
the approval for equipment from the City
of Laredo to be loaned to us
Mr. Osbaldo Guzman, Assistant Director
at City of Laredo Parks and Leisure
Department loaned bleachers, a stage and
a large tent.
Mr. Jesus Olivares, Assistant City
Manager for the City of Laredo loaned us
equipment from the City of Laredo
These kind people helped make our
school’s first annual Festival of Lights a
success. From all of Gateway Academy
student body and staff, Thank you! We
truly could not have done it without you.
Mr. Rolando Sauceda / Father of Rolando
Sauceda Jr. donated menudo and champurado
Mrs. Jacinta Lawson / Mother of Isabela
Lopez donated menudo
Mrs. Maria C. Maldonado / Mother of
Barbara Maldonado donated champurado
Ms. Adriana de la Cruz / Mother of Adriana
L. Garza donated menudo
The compliments on the delicious food were
endless. People stood in line more than
once for a chance at seconds.
A special recognition to our Superintendent Mr. Eddie Gutierrez, Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Frances Johnson, District Director Mr.
Humberto Treviño, Student Alternatives Programs, Inc. State and Local Board Members, SAPI school directors and all SAPI schools’ staff
who traveled to Laredo to attend this very special event. Also, to our Principal Mrs. Olga Trevino who trusted Mrs. Aida Ponce and everyone else to bring this night together.
“It took the efforts of a whole city to realize our “Festival of Lights,” but it was the dedication and efforts of
the students who participated that touched the hearts of an entire community.” - Aida Ponce
GUITAR CLUB
ART CLUB
Sponsor: Ms. Carmen Estrada
Sponsor: Mr. Tony Gutierrez
Marco Alvarado, Cesar Cancino, Janeth
Carreon, Eduardo Guerrero, Jessie Joe
Hernandez, Gladys Miramontes, Cirilo
Puerta, John Teneyuque, Maria I.
Reyna, Sabrina Gonzalez, Luis Lopez,
Raymundo Morado, Blas Villarreal and
Cristina Lopez
Leticia Cantu, Israel Tovar and
Edwardo Martinez
MORE HELPFUL GATEWAY STUDENTS AND STAFF
Festival Coordinator: Aida
Ponce
Festival Director: Adela
Gutierrez
Ms. Rosa Ayala and Ms. Aida
Benavides having fun while
serving guests delicious
Mexican food.
Parent and Community
Contacts for Donations:
Veronica Ugalde
School Beautification
Committee: Lynda Martinez,
Aida Benavides and Adrian
Rangel
Festival Dinner Committee:
Rosa Flores, Adriana Riojas,
Rosa Ayala and Beth
Montalvo
Clean-up and Set-up
Committee: Julian Castillo
and Jorge Rubio
Security: Jesus Hernandez
and Gregorio Gonzalez
Technology Committee:
Luciano Herrera and Jorge
Espinoza
Costume, sets and music coordinators: Annabel Palacios
and Rosa Flores
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
PAGE 5
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AND PASTORELAS ON 12-11-09
Pan American Student Forum members, Spanish Class, Homemaking Class, Student Council members:
(Production under the direction of: Adela Gutierrez)
Isabella Lopez, Eduardo Guerrero, Marco Alvarado, Jesus Anguiano, Abraham Karahroodi, Marie Reyna, Johann
Hernandez, Darwin, Loranca, Mary I. Elizondo, Alyssa Bear, Daisy Rodriguez, Cindy Rodriguez, Cynthia Rubio, Demi
Esquivel, Daisy Palacios, Elizabeth Vela, Anthony Cervera, Mary Ann Malacara, Melissa Esquivel, Ricardo Santana,
Trish Arenas, Jubilee Gutierrez, Danny Alvarado, Eddie Garcia, Barbara Maldonado, Daisy Ramirez, Amanda Bernal,
Daniel Garza and Eddie Martinez
JAGUAR EXPRESS
December 2009
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
Basic Computer
Class @ 5:30
3
4
5
9
Basic Computer
Class @ 5:30
10
11
• 2 - Basic Computer Class for parents @ 5:30
• 7 - Parent Volunteer Meeting @ 5:30 / Basic
Computer Class for parents @ 5:30
• 8 - SBDM
• 9 - Basic Computer Class for parents @ 5:30
6
• 11 - Festival of Lights
• 14 - Basic Computer Class for parents @ 5:30 /
Historical Society “Toy Drive Bike Run” to
Judith Zaffirini Elementary School
• 15 - 16 - Credit by Exams / Retake Exams
Parent
Volunteer
Meeting @ 5:30
Basic Computer
Class @ 5:30
8
SBDM
12
Festival of
Lights
13
14
15
Basic Computer
Class @ 5:30
H.S. Toy
Drive
16
Basic Computer
Class @ 5:30
17
18
Abbreviated
Day
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
• 16 - Basic Computer Class for parents @ 5:30
• 18 - Abbreviated Day (AM) 7:55 - 10:40; (PM)
10:55 - 1:40
• 21 - 1/1 - CHRISTMAS VACATIONS
7
May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! ~Author Unknown
PAGE 6
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4
PAGE 7
JUST FOR PARENTS / SOLO PARA PADRES
Greetings to all our Parents! As we embark into this Holiday Season, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year full of Love and Blessings! First and foremost, I would like to add that our “Parent Thanksgiving Luncheon” was a great
success. GWA thanks all the parents that attended. A special “Thank You” goes out to our parent volunteer, Mrs. Baker for assisting us in decorating our school Christmas tree. On another note, parents just a friendly reminder that we are still offering the “Basic
Computer Classes,” in the conference room on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please take advantage of this educational opportunity, as
it will expand your knowledge.
For the month of December, GWAs Historical Society Club is currently accepting donations for our Toys, Jackets, and Blanket
Drive to benefit the students of Judith Zaffirini Elementary. Parents, we ask for your support to this good cause.
Also, remember our main goal is to promote student success and academic achievement. "When schools, families, and community
groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more." That's the
conclusion of a recent report from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. The report, a synthesis of research on parent
involvement over the past decade, goes on to find that, regardless of family income or background, "students with involved parents
are more likely to:
•
Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs;
•
Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits;
•
Attend school regularly;
•
Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school; and
•
Graduate and go on to postsecondary education" (Henderson & Mapp, 2002).
With this, GWA wants to continuously encourage more parental involvement and parent volunteers. If interested, please fill out a
Parent Volunteer Application, which are located in our Parent Corner section in the front office. Again, we thank you in advance
and Season Greetings!
Veronica Ugalde-Rangel
Parent Liaison
Saludos a todos nuestros padres! Al embarcarnos en esta temporada festiva, quiero desear a todos una Feliz Navidad y un Feliz Año
Nuevo lleno de amor y bendiciones! Primeramente, me gustaría anunciar que nuestra "Comida de Acción de Gracias" fue un gran
éxito. GWA les da gracias a todos los padres que asistieron. Específicamente, queremos mandarle las gracias a nuestra madre voluntaria, la Sra. Baker por ayudarnos en la decoración de nuestro árbol de Navidad. En otra nota, los padres sólo un amable recordatorio
de que todavía estamos ofreciendo el "Clases de Computación Básica", en la sala de conferencias los lunes y miércoles. Por favor
tome ventaja de esta oportunidad educativa, ya que ampliará su conocimiento.
Para el mes de diciembre, la Sociedad Histórica de GWAs Club está aceptando donaciones para nuestro drive de juguetes, chaquetas
y colchas en cual beneficiara a los estudiantes de primaria de Judith Zaffirini Elementary. Padres de familia, les pedimos su apoyo a
esta buena causa.
Padres, recuerde nuestro objetivo principal es promover el éxito de los estudiantes y el logro académico. "Cuando escuelas, familias
y grupos de la comunidad trabajan juntos para apoyar el aprendizaje, los niños tienden a hacer mejor en la escuela, permanecer en la
escuela, y al igual que más de la escuela". Esa es la conclusión de un reciente informe de la Southwest Educational Development
Laboratory. El informe, una síntesis de la investigación sobre la participación de los padres durante la última década, va a encontrar
que, independientemente de los ingresos de la familia o de fondo, "los estudiantes con padres que participan tienen más probabilidades de:
• Ganar grados superiores y resultados de las pruebas, e inscribirse en programas de nivel superior;
• Ser promovido, pase sus clases, y obtener créditos;
• Asistir a la escuela con regularidad;
• Tener mejores habilidades sociales, muestran un comportamiento mejorado, y se adaptan bien a la escuela, y la
• Licenciado y pasar a la educación postsecundaria "(Henderson & Mapp, 2002).
Con esto, GWA quiere fomentar una participación más constante de los padres y los padres voluntarios. Si está interesado, por favor
llene una solicitud de padres voluntarios, que se encuentran en nuestra sección de Padres en la oficina. Una vez más, le damos las
gracias de antemano y Felices Fiestas!
Veronica Ugalde-Rangel
Parent Liasion
Gateway Academy - Townlake
"Where learning has no boundaries"
1230 Townlake Dr.
Laredo, TX 78041
Phone: 956-722-0747
Fax: 956-722-0767
E-mail:
lyndam.martinez@gwacademy.esc1.net
Eduardo Gutierrez, CEO S.A.P.I.
DID YOU KNOW…
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team
and also played 2nd string for his college basketball team.
Who is Michael Jordan? I believe he needs no introduction, but
just in case you didn’t know he was recently inducted into the
Basketball Hall of Fame. In his speech he made sure to mention
all those who doubted he could ever win an NBA championship, including his high
school coach. Michael Jordan is known to have changed basketball forever.
Nora Madrigal 12 - 05
Norma Olivares 12 - 12
Rosa Ayala
12 - 25
Irene Servin
ESL Teacher
Virginia Hinojosa
Homebound
Rosa Ayala
Office Staff
“Birth may be a matter of a moment, but it is a unique one.”
- Frederick Leboyer
21ST CENTURY GRANT
The 21st Century Grant activities are still
in effect. Ms. Garcia has been doing a
great job in providing the activities most
desired by our student population. If you
are interested in any of the activities
please contact Ms. Garcia, the 21st
Century Grant Coordinator. Also, if you
are always waiting around after school to
be picked up you might want to consider
spending that time having some fun learning how to play the guitar or scrapbooking.
Activities still in effect:
Chess - T, W & Th from 12:05 - 1:05
in Rm. 2 with Mr. Vargas
Guitar - M, W, & F from 12:05 - 1:05
in Rm. 4 with Mr. Gutierrez
Scrapbooking - M & Tues from
12:05 - 1:05 in Rm. 9 with Mrs. Flores
Dance - will continue when we return
from vacations
SECRET SANTA
The Gateway Academy staff is once again
having fun with the Secret Santa gift exchange.
I, Lynda Martinez will be coordinating this
activity so please do not attempt to bribe me;
past attempts have failed.
REMINDER: If you are not planning on attending the Christmas party please let me know
so we can make arrangements to give your
final gift to your secret person.