GATORS NEWS – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4th, 2025
Happy June, Gators Families!
We have many exciting events happening at Golden Gate this month! Please take a read through the notes below and be sure to visit our website regularly for information and updates. If you have any questions, please connect with your Gators' homeroom teacher. Website: https://www.sjasd.ca/school/goldengate/Pages/default.aspx#/=
ACADEMICS – TERM 3 ending soon…
Are you curious as to how your Gator is progressing in their final term this year? We encourage you to check in with your child to ensure their final assessment tasks have been completed and submitted for evaluation, and to reach out to your child's subject specific teacher for information on their presence and engagement with their learning in all subject areas. Report cards for this final term will be crafted on June 13, with digital copies shared home on June 26. Your support in ensuring your Gator arrives at school each day, on time, prepared and ready to learn is appreciated.
BOOK DAY is JUNE 11 – please remind your Gator that ALL LIBRARY BOOKS are due back to the library on Wednesday, June 11. Gators are encouraged to connect with their local public library to obtain books over the summer and throughout the year!
BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Our Grade 6 Gators have another afternoon visit scheduled with our neighbours at Kiwanis Courts this Friday. We are also planning a special learning opportunity to invite them to our school later this month! Be sure to check-in with your Gator to see what they have learned from their time together.
GREETING OUR NEWEST GATORS
Ms. Ostermann, our Vice Principal next year, and Ms. O'Brien, Principal, visited Strathmillan School to introduce themselves and support our newest Gators with any questions they had about moving to middle school. Our educator teams have a few visits planned in the days ahead, with a whole group visit scheduled for Friday, June 20, 1:30 PM. We are excited for them to join us this fall!
TRANSITION DAY
Each June, schools across our division provide time and space for students to visit their new schools and meet their new educator teams for the fall. The afternoon of June 20th, as we are welcoming our NEW G6 Gators, our current Grade 8 Gators will be visiting their respective high schools. Grade 8 students will be receiving details on the afternoon very soon. We will also have our current Grade 6 and 7 students learn about their new instructional groups and homerooms for next year.
INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPS/HOMEROOM GROUPINGS:
Please know that the creation of instructional groups is a complex collaborative process and the greatest care is taken by teachers, student services, and school leaders, in determining class groupings. It is our goal to create safe and inclusive spaces for each of our learners to ensure that each student is growing and learning. Individual learning needs, social emotional needs, course options, and class sizes are all factors that are considered in the class composition process. We appreciate your understanding, support, and respect in our decisions. Inquiries regarding instructional groups will be reviewed in September.
GO GATORS – ARTS, ATHLETICS & MORE!
RESCHEDULED – SJMYAA TRACK & FIELD MEET – Our coaches are working hard to find track availability for our athletes to showcase their training. If you have a child involved in Track & Field this season, please watch your inbox for a special communication regarding new dates and times in the week(s) ahead. This information will also be added to our website calendar once confirmed.
Ms. Chrisp and her musicians have been working diligently to prepare for our Spring Band
Concert. The event will take place on Thursday, June 12. The Grade 6 show will begin at 6:30 PM (Choir & Band) with the Grade 7 & 8 performance at 7:30 PM (Choir, Band, Jazz Band). This will be a very special event for all of us, as it will be Ms. Chrisp's final concert as a Gator. We have been extremely fortunate to have her share her musical talents with our emerging musicians and wish her all the best in her new adventures in our division!
GREAT GATORS AWARDS ASSEMBLY
Our final GREAT GATORS Awards Assembly will take place in our gym on Wednesday, June 25, beginning at 9:15 AM. Please join us in person or through our livestream, as we recognize students for their academics and citizenship over the past two months, as well as bid farewell to our Grade 8s and any educators who may be changing schools next year!
GATORS LEADERSHIP EVENTS
Our school leadership students, with the support of Ms. Walpole and Ms. Vendramelli, have been busy planning year end activities for all of us – we cannot wait! Tuesday, June 24, Gators will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of wellness activities, with a final fun afternoon planned for June 25.
SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHMENT MEETING
School Advisory Committees primarily serve as a communication channel between parents/caregivers and school staff. They are typically found in both middle years and high schools. Principals must hold an annual Establishment Meeting to form a parent/caregiver organization. Golden Gate's Establishment Meeting will be held at the school on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:00 PM (to 6:30 PM).
THANK YOU, FAREWELL, & WELCOME
As you know, we have an incredible team of educators at Golden Gate Middle School! This year, we have several staff changes as members of our team embark on new adventures within and beyond SJASD. We look forward to recognizing the impact of the following Gators at our upcoming Great Gators Assembly on June 25: Ms. Wilson, Ms. Moskal, Ms. Dirks, Ms. Chrisp, Mrs. Nowosad, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Hutsal, Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Nakhleh, Ms. Patel, Mr. Mulaire, Mr. Neuhofer.
NEW to our Gators Educator Team for 2025-2026:
Grade 6 & G6-8 Resource: Mrs. Mandy Nykolaishen
Grade 7: Ms. Mackenzie Busch & Ms. Susan Bergeron Grade 8 & G6-8 Art: Mx. J Kooymans
G6-8 Band: Mr. Kasey Kurtz
EA: Mrs. Christina Santos
School Leadership Team 2025-2026:
Ms. Lori Ostermann, Vice Principal
Ms. Jody O'Brien, Principal
Sincerely,
Your Gators Educational Team
Instagram: @_instagators_
