Welcome to Gateway!

     As an English and History teacher, I am committed to providing students with a supportive educational environment where they are able to safely and confidently express themselves. My class encourages students to engage with English Language Arts and World History from a wide range of different perspectives, with an emphasis on empathy and a unifying focus on developing critical thinking, communication, and literacy skills. Studying English Language Arts and World History should facilitate a greater appreciation for the diversity of the human experience and the power that stories have to deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. With that in mind, I will share my enthusiasm and lifelong passion for reading and writing by helping each of my students identify with academic content that aligns with their interests. Students will be asked to seek out historical and literary topics that resonate with them as individuals and given opportunities to demonstrate their learning through a variety of assessments designed to be creative, personalized, memorable, and rewarding.

     Creating personal connections to the curriculum is important, but life is a team sport and making the most of our time at school depends on productive collaboration. Building and maintaining a mutually respectful classroom community that recognizes the contributions of each member will be a fundamental part of our work as a class. It is my expectation that, while working and learning together, students will form strong, positive relationships based on the shared values that make us proud to be Gateway Guardians.

     I intend to make the most of the instructional time I have with my students by learning as much as I can about each of them. I am dedicated to helping your child acquire knowledge and skills that will support their individual goals, both in school and in life. My goal is to provide every one of my students with educational opportunities that empower them to pursue their interests and develop a lifelong love of learning. 

     I believe that frequent parent communication is crucial to success for every student. Maintaining open communication with you is one of my highest priorities. Please feel free to contact me anytime at prentko@everettsd.org.

     We are using Canvas as our Learning Management System this school year. Students can access the digital content for all of their classes by following this link: https://everettsd.instructure.com/

I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely, 

Paul Rentko