GCCSD News and Updates - Dec. 2023
Dear Gates Chili School Community,
As our year comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering partnership and support so far this school year.
December brings with it a beautiful tapestry of celebrations and traditions from various cultures and faiths. It's a time to embrace diversity, to cherish the richness of our differences and to find common ground in the joy of togetherness. As we look forward to the holidays, let's also celebrate the milestones and accomplishments achieved by our students.
Whether your family celebrates special occasions during this season or not, I wish you moments of love, happiness, and cherished memories. May this festive period be one of reflection, gratitude and renewed hope for the upcoming year.
Go Spartans!
Christopher J. Dailey
Superintendent of Schools
💻 Bears STEAM ahead!
STEAM enthusiasts embarked on a bear-y exciting journey of discovery and innovation at STEAM Fest 2023.
🦃 Gobble till you wobble!
It was the Annual Turkey Trot at Armstrong, and the students gobbled up the challenge with gusto!
📖 Panthers on the prowl for a good book!
Fourth-grade Panthers wrapped up Paul Road’s first Storytelling Club by sharing their new skills with first- and second-grade Panthers!
🎈 Mini Macy’s magic
Sixth-graders in the Amerks and Red Wings Communities hosted their own Macy’s Day Parade after reading “Balloons Over Broadway.”
🥰 Leading with kindness!
💯 Spartans honor excellence
The Gates Chili High School National Honor Society proudly welcomed 30 new Spartans into its esteemed ranks during a ceremony on Nov. 30 in the GCPAC.
According to nasa.org, animal eyes are actually almost identical to human eyes, but due to their basic reflexes, animals never look directly at the sun. According to NASA experts, there’s no need for your pets to use eclipse glasses!
Humans do need eclipse glasses! We'll share more about those in future e-newsletters and at the Eclipse Fair on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Gates Chili Middle School. From free snacks and games, to chalk crafts and face-painting, to information on the path of totality and telescope kits--the Eclipse Fair will have something for everyone!
This week, crews began digging in preparation for new sign installation around campus next week!
You may remember we shared details about this project in October. In addition to new signs for each building on the main campus and directional signage to help ease navigation, entrances to campus and parking lots will be renamed and will soon feature new signs to enhance clarity.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has greenlighted the first phase of the district’s next capital project! The approval, which became official on Nov. 28, clears the path for local bidding that is expected to begin later this month. This means construction could start within weeks on this no-tax-impact project that voters approved nearly two years ago.
The first phase includes:
- upgrades to HS and MS technology classrooms
- upgrades to MS music classrooms
- upgrades and relocation of HS family and consumer science (FACS) classrooms
- the relocation of district office staff from the Administration Building to the high school
- the addition of restrooms near the Gates Chili Professional Learning Center (GCPLC)
Meanwhile, the district is having to change course on its plan to renovate the Gates Chili Administration Building into prekindergarten classrooms. While NYSED approved the plans to construct these classrooms, it unexpectedly did not approve state funding for this space. That funding would have offset the majority of the cost of construction. Acknowledging a commitment to not increasing the local tax burden, the district is now looking at other ways to use this space to support student learning, while being mindful of the impact on local property taxes. The district will continue to provide updates on the status of this phase.
The second phase of this project is still in the final stages of planning before being submitted for NYSED approval. It includes work at Florence Brasser Elementary School, the creation of a multipurpose turf complex near the middle school and general building upkeep such as upgrades to heating and ventilation units and other regular maintenance. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2026.
Gates Chili recognizes the importance of voter input in the budget development process. To gain this valuable feedback, the district is once again holding its Budget Ambassador Program for the 2024-25 school year budget. Ambassadors will review the preliminary 2024-25 budget as developed by the administration within parameters established by the Board of Education and recommend to the BOE any modifications they would like to see.
Ambassadors will commit to serve on a committee that meets for three (3) two-and-a-half- (2.5) hour evening sessions with the superintendent and assistant superintendent for business on the following dates and times:
- Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m.
- Thursday, March 14 at 6 p.m.
- Thursday, March 21 at 6 p.m. (if a third meeting is needed)
No experience is necessary, but ambassadors must be residents of the district. A maximum of 15 ambassadors will be accepted into the program on a first-come-first-served basis. To apply to participate in this program, click the button below and complete the form by Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 at 5 p.m.
- In the event of an emergency or inclement weather, the district will provide information and updates via phone call, text message, email, as well as the district website, social media, and local TV/radio stations. School closings will be announced no later than 6 a.m. whenever possible.
- While we aim to limit early dismissals whenever possible, sometimes they become necessary. Families whose homes are unattended during the day should make arrangements for their students to be supervised in the event of an early dismissal.
- If afternoon school activities are canceled due to weather conditions, all district campuses and buildings will be closed. This means all afternoon and evening activities are canceled including sporting events, field house activities, club meetings, Continuing Education classes, etc. This also means that all late bus runs will be canceled for the day.
Please make sure to keep contact information updated throughout the year so that you do not miss messages about inclement weather or other important topics. Go to gateschili.org/UpdateContact for directions on how to make changes to contact information in the SchoolTool Parent Portal.
- Dec. 1: FBFA Craft Show and Chili Community Tree Lighting, 6-8:30 p.m., Chili Community Center
- Dec. 2: FBFA Craft Show, 12-5 p.m., Chili Community Center
- Dec. 4: Conf. Day - No School for Students Gr. UPK-5
- Dec. 5: PR Band and Chorus Winter Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC
- Dec. 6: MS Eclipse Fair, 6:30-8 p.m., GCMS
- Dec. 6: HS Band Winter Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC
- Dec. 7: Hanukkah begins
- Dec. 7: WD Picture Day Makeup
- Dec. 8: NA Picture Day Makeup
- Dec. 12: MS Gr. 6-8 Winter Chorus Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC
- Dec. 12: BOE Mtg., 6:30 p.m.
- Dec. 13: WD Band and Chorus Winter Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC
- Dec. 14: MS Gr. 7-8 Band Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC
- Dec.15: GC Pride Day
- Dec. 21: Conf. Day - Half Day for Students Gr. UPK-5
- Dec. 22-29: Holiday Recess - No School for Students and 10-Month Staff
- Dec. 25: Christmas - District Closed
- Dec. 26: Kwanzaa begins
- Dec. 31: New Years Eve
- Job ID 958: Teaching Assistant
- Job ID 959: Science Teacher - Earth Science/General Science
- Job ID 928: School Psychologist
- Job ID 952: School Psychologist Intern (2024-25 school year)
- Job ID 955: School Counselor (LTS)
- Job ID 956: Speech Language Pathologist
- Job ID 904: Cleaner
- Job ID 954: Food Service Helper
- Job ID 957: Data Analyst (Civil Service Competitive Position)
- Job ID 789: Lifeguard
- Job ID 747: Teacher Aide - School Aide
- Job ID 728: Hall Monitor/Cafeteria Monitor (Part-time)
- Job ID 750: Bus Attendant
- Job ID 749: Bus Driver
- Job ID 723: Substitute Support Staff
- Job ID 724: Substitute Teacher*
- Job ID 871: Building Substitute Teacher (2023-24 school year)
*The Gates Chili Board of Education recently approved new,
increased rates for instructional substitutes. Click here for details.
The Gates Chili Central School District is dedicated to fostering curiosity, growth, and diversity within our school community. The district celebrates and embraces differences and strives to dismantle exclusion, bias, racism, and prejudice of all forms.