Genesee Community Charter Schools

Dear GCCS Families, Staff and Community Members,

I am thrilled to connect with you for the first time as your interim executive director! As we kick off this school year, I want to extend my warmest greetings and share my enthusiasm for the journey ahead.

Our schools are filled with talented students, dedicated educators, and supportive families, all of which contribute to our vibrant learning communities. Together, we create school environments where every student feels valued, inspired, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.

In this inaugural newsletter, you’ll find key updates about our goals for the year, upcoming events, and important initiatives aimed at enhancing our educational programs. I believe that open communication is vital, so I encourage you to reach out with your thoughts, questions, or ideas as we work together to make GCCS places where every child can succeed.

I am excited to share an important step in our journey as we continue to unite the GCCS River and GCCS Flour schools under one shared vision. This collaboration represents a commitment to enhance educational experiences and foster a stronger sense of community for all our students. As such, we will continue our efforts to merge our schools under one umbrella to streamline our efforts as an organization. Here's what we know:

Our Vision
Together, we aim to create an inclusive environment where every student feels empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally through high quality teaching, inquiry based learning and using the community as our classroom. By combining our strengths, we can offer richer resources, diverse learning opportunities, and a vibrant community spirit.

What We Do Together:

• Engaging Learning and Expeditions: We develop Learning Expeditions with our community partners that engage students in learning that is purposeful, authentic and serves our community where all students benefit from a wide array of activities and resources.
• Shared Community and Crew: Both schools engage in weekly Community Crew Meetings that will bring our us together and fosters friendships and collaboration among students, families, and staff. It helps all students to have a sense of belonging and joy of learning.
• Shared Academic Goals: We align our educational goals and initiatives to ensure that all students receive the highest quality of education, regardless of their school, where all students succeed academically. We have rigorous, standards based instruction that encourages students to ask questions, explore their environment and make real-world connections with what they are learning,

We believe that our schools cultivate a supportive and enriching learning environment that spurs growth, innovation, and excellence in all of us. Your support and involvement are essential as we continue to grow as a school community. In the coming months our Board of Trustees will be providing more updates on the quest to bring the two schools together organizationally, the search for a permanent executive director and what you can do to be a part of the planning.

Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. Together, we will build a bright future for all our students!

I am so appreciative of how you have welcomed me into this community. I look forward to meeting many of you in the coming weeks and continue our collaboration to make this a fantastic year for our students!

With gratitude,

Beth

Dr. Elizabeth Mascitti-Miller-Miller, Interim Executive Director

Hello GCCS Families,

This summer the Board of Trustees began our search for the permanent Executive Director of GCCS. We have assembled a search committee and engaged with external partnerships to guide the search process. To gather input we've utilized interviews, focus groups and surveys to hear from GCCS teachers and staff. A link to a survey for families can be found below. The position will be posted in mid-October. Throughout this process we are committed to equity, transparency and open lines of communication. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me or any other Board member with questions or suggestions.

Family Feedback Form

Sincerely,

Colin D. Orr

Board Chair

Students at Genesee Community Charter Schools have the opportunity to call the community their classroom. Our place-based and project-based approach centers students where history happened so they have a better understanding of how the past shapes the present. Our students have gone to dig fossils to understand the prehistoric seas that covered the Western NY region. They have travelled along the Genesee River from its source in Pennsylvania to its end at Lake Ontario to learn how geography and geology shaped our community's growth. They explore High Falls and ride the Erie Canal to learn how both transformed Rochester into America's first boomtown.

And this winter, our 4th and 5th graders will travel to New York City and learn how successive waves of immigration fueled our city's industrial and cultural growth.

During this year's expeditions, 4th and 5th grade students will walk the streets of Manhattan's Lower East Side and learn about its immigrant past and present. They will go to museums to learn about the life and times of immigrant families from around the world, stand in the Great Hall of Ellis Island, where the echoes of history ring loudest and students will participate in a simulation to see what the immigrant experience was like 100 years ago. When they return to Rochester, our students will unpack all that they have learned and use it to fuel projects that honor our nation's and city's rich immigrant history. All of our work is based on equity for all and has a culturally responsive lens where all students see themselves in the learning.

The Family Association is launching the first fund raiser for our expeditions so be on the look out for the Annual Pie Sale! We can't do this alone; we need support for the costs of transportation, lodging, meals, and admission fees for our 98 4th and 5th graders this winter.

If you are interested in volunteering in our school and joining us on field studies, be sure to sign up for our Fall Chaperone and Volunteer Workshop, being offered Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Flour City Campus (1100 S. Goodman St.) or Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9:30 -10:30 am at the River/ RMSC Campus (657 East Ave.). This workshop is required for any caregiver interested in volunteering 30+ hours and/ or being a chaperone for overnight fieldwork. If you have not participated in this workshop since 2021, it is time for a refresher. Please register using this link or contact Chris Dolgos at cdolgos@gccschool.org for more information.

¿Sabías que Seesaw puede traducir tus mensajes a las maestras? ¡Simplemente escribe un mensaje en tu idioma natal, envíalo a las maestras de tus hijos y el software lo traduciráHaz cliq aqui para obtener instrucciones:

https://help.seesaw.me/hc/es/articles/206514655-Empezando-con-Seesaw-para-familias

¡Tenemos intérpretes disponibles! Siempre que quieras reunirte en persona con alguien de la escuela, envía un correo electrónico a Erika Dooley: edooley@gccschool.org en el idioma que quieras. ¡También podemos traducir cualquier correo electrónico que envíes! ¡Somos equipo!

Did you know Seesaw can translate your messages to teachers? Just write a message in your home language, send it to your children's teachers and the software will translate it!

Click here for instructions: https://help.seesaw.me/hc/es/articles/206514655-Empezando-con-Seesaw-para-familias

We have interpreters available! Any time you'd like to meet with anyone at school, send an email to Erika Dooley: edooley@gccschool.org in whichever language - we can translate any email from you too! We are crew!

If your child has a special need, we are here to support you every step of the way and we believe in the incredible potential of every child. Your advocacy and commitment are paving the way for a brighter future, not just for your family but for all of our families. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your child’s educational experience. We are honored to work alongside you!

The link below may have some resources that may be helpful to you.

The Family Association is off to a great start. Many things are happening, and we want every family to participate. Here are some things to know!

• Family Events: Family Movie Night-October 18, 2024
• GCCS Swag: The GCCS Family Association (FA) has started the annual apparel sale! All proceeds benefit directly benefit FA which will help to raise much-needed funds for field studies. This is a great way to get some GCCS gear and support our crew. (Bonus: The t-shirts are super soft and could be an excellent way to advertise the school). Orders are due by 10/18 and will be delivered in early November. Here’s the link to view and purchase: https://gccspresale.itemorder.com/shop/home/
• Fundraising: 4th and 5th Grade Pie Fundraiser

Thank you to all our families for all you do for GCCS

OCTOBER:

• Oct 9: Volunteer & Chaperone Training
  
• Oct 10: Curriculum Night (6:00 - 9:00pm)
  
• Oct 14: NO SCHOOL - Indigenous People Day
  
• Oct 18: Family Association Movie Night
  
• Oct 19: Volunteer & Chaperone Training
  
• Oct 25: No School For Students: Professional Development Day -
• Oct 30: Board of Trustees Meeting
  

NOVEMBER:

• Nov 5: NO SCHOOL - Election Day
  
• Nov 11: NO SCHOOL - Veterans’ Day
  
• Nov 15: Fundraiser Pie Pick Up
  
• Nov 20: Board of Trustees Meeting
  
• Nov 25 -: NO SCHOOL - FALL RECESS

• Visit our website for all of the up to date news https://gccschool.org.