IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE ALERT....PLEASE READ AND RESPOND!

There have been at least 40 anti-charter school bills introduced during the current Legislative session in Austin, which will conclude at the end of this school year.  

We at Orenda Education are asking for your help to protect and defend Orenda’s charter schools, including Gateway College Prep School in Georgetown. 

Every other year when the Legislature meets, bills are passed that impact public charter schools. Sometimes these bills are helpful, like when they provide better charter school funding. Sometimes they are harmful and make it more difficult for us to focus on our most important work: educating our scholars.

This legislative session is no exception. Charter schools are a very hot topic this year. We have a tremendous opportunity to gain equity and fairness in school funding through the state’s school finance reform. We’re also working to stop local discrimination against charter schools so that more money goes to the classroom instead of being spent on red tape and legal fees.

We also face some big challenges. There have been more than 40 anti-charter school bills introduced this session. Numerous organizations and elected officials are supporting legislation to curtail some of our innovative freedoms or even stop the growth of charter schools.

Orenda Education is a member of the Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA), the group that speaks on behalf of public charter schools to government officials. TCSA is actively fighting for more funding and to protect our charter schools from any harmful bills. They have a plan in place and Orenda is proud to be working alongside TCSA on behalf of our community.

We need your help. We know that lawmakers are influenced by the voices of their constituents. One of the most important things you can do as a parent, teacher, or supporter is make your voice heard. TCSA has made that very easy to do.

Please click here and join our school community in standing up for our schools. By doing so you’ll get periodic updates from TCSA on what is happening in the Legislature, including action alerts when it is time to make your voice heard.

Thank you for all that you do to support our scholars and our schools.

Our State Representative Email Addresses:

Senator:  Hon. Charles Schwertner, District 5.....click here

Representative:  Hon. Terry M. Wilson, District 20....click here

Summer School Registration Form....Click Here

Funds for New Led Vision Board for New Gym Needed

FUNDRAISING ALERT.....Orenda Education is attempting to raise monies to fund an LED video display board to be mounted in the new Main Gymnasium on the Gateway College Prep campus. Donations totaling $50,000 are required to purchase the 6.6 foot-tall by 11.48 foot-wide pixilated board and control system.

The LED board would enhance a K-12 school community experience by promoting all the activities that occur in the gym... from athletic events to pep rallies to fine arts performances to graduation exercises.

“We feel this is a great opportunity to showcase our students and our school environment to all who will view content on this state-of-the-art media tool, including students, families and visitors to the campus” said Tommy Turner, Director of Community Relations.

Turner said much of the content for the display board also would be created by students studying video production and broadcasting courses now offered at the secondary school level. The video board will need to be staffed during events and student volunteers would help in those roles.

Eventually, advertising space could be sold with revenue helping to underwrite a portion of the cost of the board. Multi-year contracts could be sold to larger advertisers or local businesses with smaller budgets could purchase digital announcements during a single athletic event, for example, Turner said.

Persons interested in making pledges or donations to this project should contact Mr. Turner at tommy.turner@orendaeducation.org or call 512-869-3020.

We are so excited to introduce Schoolway to the community. Schoolway is a mobile app that can be accessed through Apple and Android devices. This will provide fluid communication from one source for all things related to Gateway College Prep. The beauty of Schoolway is that you get to choose the information that you want to receive by choosing the feeds that you are involved in. You will find that Schoolway is separated into Elementary, Middle, and High School. Underneath each are feeds from clubs, athletics, groups, and classes. You are able to subscribe to any feed that your student is involved with. Here are a few features of the Schoolway app:

● Push and email messaging from both the district and grade site levels
● Push and email messaging from clubs and athletics

● Instant safety notification and alert reporting

● GPS mapping and navigation

● School calendars

● Access to Blackboard

● Staff directories

● Multiple language options, including Spanish

● Access to your lunch accounts through PayPams

● Notification of school events including athletics

● Connection to Open Enrollment

● Access to important forms

The Schoolway app will send you push notifications to your device, but can also send you text notifications or email upon your request through settings. Sign up today and never again miss out on events and communications at Gateway. You can find out more at MYSCHOOLWAY.COM/GATEWAYCPS.