GCCSD News and Updates - June 2026

Dear Gates Chili School Community,

As we enter the final month of the school year, there is a great deal to celebrate across our district. June is a time of reflection, accomplishment and transition as we recognize the hard work, growth and perseverance of our students, staff and families throughout the year.

Over the coming weeks, we will celebrate important milestones for many of our Spartans. Our fifth-grade students will participate in our annual fifth-grade track meet and moving-up ceremonies as they prepare for the next chapter of their educational journey. We will also proudly honor middle and high school scholars and athletes and celebrate our graduating seniors at the Class of 2026 commencement. These moments remind us that education extends beyond academics; it’s also about helping students discover their strengths, build meaningful relationships and prepare for what comes next.

As we celebrate these achievements, we are also looking toward the future. This month, we are seeking community input as we develop our next Strategic Plan. The feedback we receive from students, staff, families and community members will help guide our work in the years ahead and ensure we continue creating a school district where every learner feels supported, challenged and empowered to succeed. June is also a reminder of the strength that comes from embracing the diverse experiences, perspectives and identities that make our Spartan community so special.

Thank you for your partnership, support and commitment to Gates Chili throughout the school year. I hope you enjoy reading about the many accomplishments and celebrations highlighted in this month's newsletter. Together, we have much to be proud of and even more to look forward to.

With GC Pride,

Dr. Mitchell J. Ball
Superintendent of Schools

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 Maggie S., a senior at Gates Chili High School. With graduation fast approaching, we caught up with Maggie to reflect on her high school experience and get advice for her younger peers.

Tell us about yourself.

Maggie: My name is Maggie and I’m a senior here at Gates Chili High School. A big part of my academic career has been taking a lot of AP and honors courses. I like to challenge myself by taking more advanced classes, especially this year. I’m currently taking humanities, advanced topics, Junior Achievement and sociology. Another big part of my academic career has been volunteering, and it's how I’ve made a name for myself here at school. I earned 500 volunteer hours last year through peer leadership, and then gained another 200 this year, mostly through Junior Achievement.

What else are you involved in?

Maggie: I’ve been a part of the service club, the School Improvement Team (SIT), and the math league. I’m still involved in peer leadership, which has led to involvement in Unified Basketball and more volunteer opportunities. I’ve helped paint a lot of the murals you see around the high school.

What’s your favorite memory from high school?

Maggie: It has to be my entire senior year. I have an established friend group, which took all four years of high school to really build, but I’m very grateful that I finally found my people. We’ve gone to so many sporting events together and had fun in our classes together. All of the senior activities have been fun and now I’m really excited about graduation.

What will you miss most about high school?

Maggie: I’m so grateful to have attended Gates Chili, because I genuinely believe that this is the best high school I could have gone to. Everyone here is so inclusive, and I’ve found my circle. There have also been so many teachers that have helped me out like Mr. Marco and even our principal Mr. Hammel. They may not know me personally, but they put in a lot of effort to help me grow. It's the people and community that I will miss the most.

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?

Maggie: When I was a freshman, I don’t think I took high school very seriously. I slacked off in classes, without considering how it might catch up to me. I built bad habits that have stuck with me, until senior year when I finally faced the consequences of my past actions. I prioritized extracurriculars and fun events, while letting schoolwork fall to the side. This year, I really learned the importance of finding a balance between fun and work. I would advise my younger peers to try and find that balance at the start.

I also have some general advice for any underclass students, especially juniors heading into their senior year. You have so many resources at your disposal here, especially in terms of preparing and applying for college. Make sure to utilize your counselors, teachers and anyone else willing to help you go through the process, because you don’t have to do it alone. Once you find a good group of people willing to help you, you can go so far.

Also, you don’t have to know what you want to do in the future right away. I have changed my career interests so many times. Don’t stress, you have more time than you think to decide.

What are your plans after graduation?

Maggie: I plan to attend the University at Buffalo to major in business management and minor in marketing. And I already intend on applying for a marketing internship with LeChase over the university summer breaks.

In your own words, what does it mean to be a Spartan?

Maggie: To be a Spartan means to embrace our Gates Chili culture. We have so many resources and teachers to help us. It's about supporting our school, classes, teams and just being respectful. If you’re respectful of others, they’re going to do the same for you. I think of Mr. Perkins and how this was his first year as an assistant principal. He barely knew us at the start, but over the course of nine months he’s grown bonds with 300+ students. I think that’s very admirable and is exactly what it means to be a Spartan, willing to grow connections with everyone in the school community.

Gates Chili is developing a new Strategic Plan to help guide the district’s priorities and work for the future. The plan will focus on four key areas: Culture and Belonging, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Systems and Accountability, and Sustainability.

As part of this process, the district is seeking feedback from families and community members to help identify the needs, priorities and opportunities that should shape this work moving forward.

Please take a few minutes to complete the short, nine-question survey by Friday, June 12 at 3 p.m.

📌 All of the Fifth-Grade Moving-Up Ceremonies will be held in the Gates Chili Performing Arts Center at Gates Chili High School:

💚 Paul Road: Wednesday, June 17, 9:30 a.m.

🩵 Neil Armstrong: Wednesday, June 17, 2 p.m.

❤️ Florence Brasser: Thursday, June 18, 9:30 a.m.

💚 Walt Disney: Monday, June 22, 9:30 a.m.

📆 Thursday, June 25

🕒 5 p.m.

📌 Spartan Field House at Gates Chili High School

The Town of Gates will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America with a special celebration on Saturday, June 27!

It all kicks off with a parade beginning at 3 p.m. near Tinseltown and ending right on our main campus. The parade will follow Pixley Road to Buffalo Road and onto the main campus. There will be viewing areas in the parking lots at Westmar, the Tops plaza, as well as along the parade route. Then, the big party continues with food trucks, kids activities, craft vendors, community groups, and music beginning at 4 p.m. Finally, join us for fireworks at 10 p.m.

For more information on this event, visit townofgatesny.gov.

Click on the links below to learn more about this month's awareness and heritage months:

Pride Month

National Caribbean-American Month

June 3: MS Grade 6 Band Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC

June 4: Elementary Fifth-Grade Track Meet, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Spartan Stadium

June 4: MS Grades 7-8 Band and Jazz Band Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC

June 5: MS Grade 8 Trip

June 5: FB Brasser Backyard Bash, 5 p.m.

June 5: PR Panther Palooza, 5 p.m.

June 8: MS Grade 6 Spring Chorus Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC

June 9: MS NJHS Ceremony, 6:30 p.m., GCPAC

June 9-10: HS Regents Exams

June 10: MS Award Ceremony, 6:30 p.m., GCPAC

June 11: MS Grade 7-8 Spring Chorus Concert, 7 p.m., GCPAC

June 12: #GCPride Day

June 15: Athletic Awards Ceremony, 6 p.m., GCPAC

June 16: Last day of school for HS students

June 16: WD Disney Dragon Day

June 16: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m., GCPLC

June 17: PR Grade 5 Moving-Up Ceremony, 9:30 a.m., GCPAC

June 17: NA Grade 5 Moving-Up Ceremony, 2 p.m., GCPAC

June 17-18: HS Regents Exams

June 18: FB Grade 5 Moving-Up Ceremony, 9:30 p.m., GCPAC

June 18: MS Grade 8 Farewell Dance, 7 p.m.

June 19: Juneteenth – District Closed

June 22: Half day of school for MS and elementary students

June 22: WD Grade 5 Moving-Up Ceremony, 9:30 a.m., GCPAC

June 22-25: HS Regents Exams

June 23: Last day of school and half day for MS and elementary students

June 25: HS Commencement Rehearsal, 9 a.m., Spartan Field House

June 25: HS Class of 2026 Commencement, 5 p.m., Spartan Field House

June 26: Conference Day – Last Day for 10-Month Staff

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

Gates Chili Central School District is seeking dedicated and safety-focused Lifeguards to support students, staff and community members at the Gates Chili Natatorium. This part-time position plays an important role in creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment while promoting water safety and wellness.

Lifeguards are responsible for supervising swimming activities, enforcing safety procedures, responding to emergencies and assisting with pool operations and swim instruction as needed. Candidates should be strong communicators who work well in a team environment and are committed to maintaining a positive experience for all pool visitors.

This position offers competitive hourly pay starting at $16.00/hour for lifeguards and $17.00/hour for swim instructors. Candidates must possess current lifeguarding, CPR, AED and first aid certifications (training available upon hire) and be at least 15 years old (with work permit).

If you’re passionate about safety, leadership and supporting your community, we encourage you to apply and join the Gates Chili team!

Gates Chili is hosting its annual Support Staff Hiring Event this summer!

📅 Friday, July 17

⏰ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 4-6 p.m.

📍 Spartan Field House at Gates Chili High School

💙 Learn more about the perks of being a Spartan

❓ Take part in an on-site interview with next-day follow-up

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

Job ID 1253: Teacher Aide for the 2025-26 school year

Job ID 1257: Substitute Support Staff

Job ID 1258: Substitute Teacher*

Job ID 1440: General Science Teacher

Job ID 1450: Fall – Boys Modified Volleyball Coach

Job ID 1456: Winter – Boys Modified A Basketball Head Coach

Job ID 1457: Winter – Boys Modified B Basketball Head Coach

Job ID 1459: Spring – Boys Modified A Baseball Head Coach

Job ID 1472: Winter – Boys Swim Varsity Head Coach

Job ID 1474: School Counselor – Long-term Substitute

Job ID 1476: Teaching Assistant

Job ID 1478: English Teacher

Job ID 1479: Elementary Special Education Teacher (6:1:1 classroom)

Job ID 1480: School Psychologist Intern for the 2026-27 school year

Job ID 1481: School Psychologist

Job ID 789: Lifeguard

Job ID 1251: Bus Attendant for the 2025-26 school year

Job ID 1252: Bus Driver for the 2025-26 school year

Job ID 1254: Cleaner for the 2025-26 school year

Job ID 1255: Security Worker 2025-26 school year

Job ID 1256: Food Service Helper for the 2025-26 school year

Job ID 1442: Cook

Job ID 1473: Custodian

Job ID 1475: Network Technician

Job ID 1477: Courier

*The Gates Chili Board of Education approved new,