GCCSD News and Updates - March 2024

Dear Gates Chili School Community,

As we step into spring, I'm thrilled to celebrate the richness of diversity and the power of unity within our school community. This month holds significant importance as we recognize and honor several remarkable occasions.

First and foremost, March is Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM), a time to celebrate the invaluable role of music education in our students' lives. From the harmonies of our students to the rhythms created by their instruments, music transcends barriers and touches our souls. This year, we also celebrate Gates Chili being named in the Best Communities for Music Education. Join me in celebrating our many talented musicians and dedicated music educators at one of the many performances throughout the month. Can’t catch it in person? Check out the Gates Chili Performing Arts Center (GCPAC) on YouTube for livestreamed performances!

March also marks Women's History Month, a time to honor the countless contributions of women throughout history and within our own community. From trailblazers in science and technology to leaders in politics and education, women have shaped our world in profound ways. Moreover, as we embrace the spirit of inclusion and understanding, we acknowledge the start of Ramadan. This holy month is a time of reflection, fasting and community for our Muslim friends and neighbors. Let's extend our support and solidarity to those observing Ramadan, fostering an environment of respect and unity within our diverse community.

Finally, an important reminder that there is no school for students next Friday, March 8 for Superintendent’s Conference Day. Meanwhile, spring recess is just around the corner from March 29-April 8. And speaking of April 8—that’s the date of the Rochester Total Solar Eclipse. Our district will be closed for all students and staff that day. In addition, all our campuses will be closed. Read more about the eclipse in the GCMS Eclipse Ambassador Update below.

Wishing you all a month filled with harmony, inspiration and solidarity.

Go Spartans!

Christopher J. Dailey

Superintendent of Schools

Ahead of the April 8 total solar eclipse, Gates Chili Central School District is providing special eclipse glasses to all students and staff so everyone can experience the once-in-a-lifetime event safely. Glasses will be distributed in schools closer to the big event.

Meanwhile, this month, the Outdoor Club at Gates Chili Middle School has more important information to share about how you can actually see the eclipse!

Where the sun appears in the sky is determined by compass direction. How high up in the sky that the sun appears is a measurement in degrees. Zero degrees is the horizon. To find the sun on any given day and any time you will need to know the compass direction and degrees above the horizon.

To see the eclipse on April 8, you will need to look to the southwest. Many phones have a compass app. Use the compass app on your phone to determine southwest. Before the eclipse and after March 10 (the beginning of Daylight Saving Time), take note of where the sun is at around 3:30 p.m. This is the general direction you need to look in on April 8. Don’t worry; every day the sun gets higher and higher in the sky as we approach summer!

Step 1: Hold out your arms straight and stack your two fists on top of each other. That represents 20 degrees above the horizon.

Step 2: Stack your fist up to four fists and you are at about 40 degrees. On the day of the eclipse, the sun will be between 40-45 degrees above the horizon.

There are many apps that you can get on your phone to find out where objects in the sky are. It is important to remember that no matter where you are there is very likely some opening in the trees or buildings so that you will be able to see the eclipse!

The GCMS Outdoor Club was selected by the Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) to serve as Community Eclipse Ambassadors ahead of the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in Rochester. Each month, a section of this newsletter will be dedicated to sharing student-curated resources, interesting facts, information and/or activities about eclipses.

The Gates Chili school community is made up of more than 3,700 students and 900+ staff members! Get ready to peek into the world of our Spartans in our e-newsletter segment: Ask the Spartans!

This month, meet Aiden H., a fifth-grader at Neil Armstrong Elementary School, who embodies why music education is important.

What does it mean to be a Spartan?

Aiden: To be kind, respectful, work hard and be responsible.

What made you interested in playing the piano and tuba?

Aiden: It started when I was in third grade when we had the choice of what instrument we wanted to learn. I started with the euphonium but in the middle of the year, I decided when I heard the tuba I wanted to switch. I knew it would be a bit harder with the sounds and the fingering, but that’s how I got the tuba. The day I brought my tuba home we stopped at my great-grandmother's house, and she gave me the piano.

What is your favorite part of being in the chorus and the different bands?

Aiden: It's mostly about the songs we play, like in the district chorus there's “One More Song.” After hearing it started to become one of my favorite songs.

What’s your favorite song?

Aiden: "Golden Hour" by JVKE. He’s also my favorite artist because of the sounds and how he puts together the music.

What is your favorite musical experience so far?

Aiden: I started piano lessons a month ago and it started to become one of my favorite activities ever. I started with a Disney lesson book, which started with the CD and E [scale] and then we went down to the bass clef and we added more notes in the bass clef and the treble clef, and then now I'm starting to play harder songs.

What advice would you give to younger students learning to play an instrument or interested in joining the chorus?

Aiden: Follow your musical dreams and practice a lot. I practice every weekend and if I have time I practice during the week.

This week, Gates Chili kicked off construction on the district’s next capital project!

More than 30 people were in attendance to break ground on Gates Chili High School's new Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) and technology classrooms. Other work at the high school includes the relocation of district office staff to the high school, the addition of restrooms near the Gates Chili Professional Learning Center (GCPLC) and priority building conditions work.

Visitors to campus will notice parts of parking lots G, H and I at the high school are blocked off for construction and construction vehicles. Please be mindful of this as you attend events on campus this spring as parking may be more limited.

Meanwhile, phase one of work at Gates Chili Middle School will begin later this year with the renovation of music and technology classrooms. Phase two of the project includes work at Florence Brasser Elementary School and the creation of a multipurpose turf field at the middle school. Voters approved this no-tax-impact capital project in February 2022.

Gates Chili School Nutrition workers have already served more than 400,000 free meals in 2023-24! Earlier this school year, Gates Chili was approved to serve meals to every student, every day in every GC cafeteria.

Although meals are free for students, individual items such as drinks, snacks, desserts and other items are available for purchase. The district utilizes MySchoolBucks for families to manage student meal accounts online using credit/debit cards or electronic checks.

MySchoolBucks has informed school districts that it will increase the fee it charges families for each credit and debit cafeteria prepayment to $3.25. The increase will take effect March 7, 2024. Please note, this change does not affect free meals. In addition, families are always welcome to add money to student meal accounts with no fee by sending cash or check to the School Nutrition office or at any cafeteria cash register.

Additionally, MySchoolBucks is now offering a program called “OnePay,” to avoid paying a fee for each transaction. This program allows members to pay a one-time upfront fee that is assigned per student or family. To register for this program, log in to myschoolbucks.com, click on your name and select My User Profile and then Update Membership.

The Gates Chili Central School District is now accepting petitions for Board of Education candidates. Four (4) seats on the Gates Chili Board of Education are open for election this year:

• Three (3) seats with terms beginning July 1, 2024 and expiring June 30, 2027
• One (1) seat with a term beginning May 17, 2024 and expiring June 30, 2026

District residents interested in running for the Board of Education must be nominated by petition. Interested individuals may pick up a petition from the district clerk, Condenessa Brown, at the Gates Chili Administration Building, 3 Spartan Way, Rochester, NY. The petition must be signed by 25 qualified voters of the Gates Chili Central School District and submitted, with other required paperwork, to the District Clerk by Monday, April 22, 2024 at 5 p.m.

The Annual Budget Vote and Board Election will take place on Tuesday, May 21 from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Spartan Field House at Gates Chili High School.

For questions about the process of becoming a qualified candidate, please call (585) 247-5050 ext. 12101. Visit the New York State School Boards Association (NYSBA) School Board Member Experience website or Monroe County School Boards Association website for more information about running for a board of education seat.

Tickets for Gates Chili High School Musical Theatre's production of "The Addams Family School Edition" are now on sale! The show features a cast and crew of nearly 80 students so far, bringing the iconic spooky family to life through song, dance and humor.

Tickets for reserved seating are $13 and available for purchase online at gateschili.org/tickets:

• Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m.

• Saturday, March 23 at 7 p.m.

• Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m.

The Addams Family School Edition is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036 www.theatricalrights.com

Always be sure to check the district website for the
most up-to-date dates, times and locations for all events.

March is Women’s History Month! Join us as we celebrate women and reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and the work that lies ahead to build an equitable world for all. Since March is also Music in our Schools Month, we’re spotlighting women in music! Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram throughout the month to learn more about some of the trailblazing heroines who have used their musical talents to break barriers and inspire!

In addition, Gates Chili recognizes March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which raises awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. The national awareness theme for 2024 is A World of Opportunities and focuses on people working together to remove obstacles to building communities where everyone can do well and succeed. This aligns with Gates Chili’s commitment to removing barriers and fostering a culture of inclusion, and our ongoing practice of supporting the varying needs of our Spartans.

Many people throughout Gates Chili are observing Lent, the 40-day religious observance leading up to Easter. During that time, many Christians do not eat meat on Fridays. To make it easier for students and staff who observe, Gates Chili offers meat-free meal options on Fridays during Lent.

Meanwhile, many in the GC school community will also recognize Ramadan later this month. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Gates Chili is proud to support students who fast during Ramadan by providing a food-free space during lunchtime. Check out the Ramadan information below, curated by Paul Road Elementary School ESOL teachers.

• Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar one, so the start and end dates vary each year depending on the sighting of the new moon.
• Before fasting begins, the pre-dawn meal is called “suhoor” and the meal after sunset is called “iftar.”
• You can express well-wishes for Ramadan by saying “Ramadan Kareem,” which translates to “Have a generous Ramadan” or “Ramadan Mubarek,” which translates to “Happy Ramadan.”

There is just one week left to apply for for Gates Chili’s free UPK program for the 2024-25 school year!

Families with students who are turning 4 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2024 can complete an application at gateschili.org/UPK to be entered into the lottery. To be considered, complete the online application available by Friday, March 8 at 3 p.m.

Kindergarten registration is also open for current UPK students and other incoming kindergarteners. Families with students who are turning 5 years old by Dec. 1, 2024 can go to gateschili.org/Kindergarten to begin the registration process.

Gates Chili is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions. Click the button below to apply or share the opportunity with someone you know!

• rates for instructional substitutes.