GCCSD News and Updates - Aug. 2025

Dear Gates Chili School Community,

The first day of school is just around the corner, and I couldn’t be more excited to welcome our Spartans back for another year of learning, growth and connection. Whether your student is just beginning their journey in Gates Chili or returning for another chapter, we’re ready to make this a year full of opportunities and success.

This year brings several important changes designed to enhance learning and safety for our students. Most notably, Gates Chili is joining schools across New York State in going distraction-free during the school day. By keeping personal internet-enabled devices silenced and away from the first bell to the last, we can reduce distractions, foster stronger relationships, and create more equitable classrooms where every student can focus on learning.

You’ll also notice exciting progress on our facilities — from the new Spartan Park turf fields nearing completion, to expanded music classrooms, and updated traffic patterns to improve safety on our main campus. We’re also continuing to serve free breakfast and lunch to all students and rolling out our new, mobile-friendly district website to make it easier than ever to stay connected.

Thank you for partnering with us as we begin this new school year. I encourage you to review the important updates in this newsletter so you and your student are ready for a great start. Together, we can make 2025-26 a year of focus, connection and success for every learner.

Welcome back, Spartans — let’s make it a great year!

Go Spartans!

Christopher J. Dailey

Superintendent of Schools

Sea-horsing around 🌊

Students in the Grade 1 Summer Development class had a fin-tastic time learning all about seahorses and so much more this summer!

Fun in the sun ☀️

Summer program wasn’t all work. Check out these Grade 2 Summer Development students taking a break and soaking up the sunshine.

Summer meals 🍔

GC’s school nutrition team has been serving up FREE summer meals, and is excited to continue to offer free meals in the 2025-26 school year!

Spartans soar 🐦

Secondary ENL students spent a week learning all about birds. They even got to design and build a bird habitat of their choosing!

Science in nature 🌱

Students in the STEM Summer Learning program took a field trip to Tinker Nature Park for some hands-on, outdoor learning.

Welcoming future Spartans 👋

This summer Gates Chili had record-breaking turnout at the annual Support Staff Hiring Event!

Bear-y wonderful upgrades 🐻

Bears will see big changes at Brasser on the first day of school, including a new parking lot and traffic pattern, new main entrance, and several renovated spaces inside the building!

Welcome to Spartan Park! 🤩

We’re in the homestretch when it comes to construction of our two new, multi-purpose turf fields, which will be known as Spartan Park!

Music classroom expansion 🎶

The sound of construction equipment has been music to our ears as crews worked on the expansion of music classrooms at Gates Chili Middle School this summer!

Gates Chili schools are going distraction-free this fall!

As part of a new requirement in New York State, the Gates Chili Board of Education adopted a policy that requires students to keep all personal internet-enabled devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds and gaming devices, silenced and away throughout the school day. This change is designed to help students focus, reduce distractions, and create more equitable and connected classrooms.

What does this mean for your student?

All personal internet-enabled devices must be silenced and away every school day. During these times, devices are not to be carried around the building, used or seen in any school setting:

Elementary (gr. K-5): 9 am. and 3:30 p.m.
Middle School (gr. 6-8): 7:58 a.m. and 2:57 p.m.
High School (gr. 9-12): 7:05 a.m. and 2:12 p.m.

The first week of school will be focused on teaching expectations and helping students adjust to new routines. During this week, we are building understanding, setting norms and creating distraction-free learning environments. After the first week of school, staff will use a restorative, progressive approach when managing expectations.

We recognize that there may be rare instances where a student has an approved need for limited device use, such as medical monitoring or the use of assistive technology as part of a learning plan. These exceptions are handled discreetly and, on a case-by-case basis.

How can I get in touch with my student during the school day?

Parents/guardians may call the school's main or grade-level office, and the office staff can relay messages to the student or call the student to the office to speak with their parent/guardian. In addition, parents/guardians can drop off written notes at the school's main office, which can then be delivered to the student by school staff.

Click here for more information about Distraction-Free Schools

This summer, Gates Chili began upgrading all district devices to Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest operating system. This required update happens automatically for most devices, but some families and staff will need to take specific action to ensure their devices update properly.

Who needs to take action before the first day of school?

If they have not already done so, students in grades 6-8 and 10-12 and all teachers who bring laptops home for the summer must:

Leave laptops ON and connected to Wi-Fi
Keep the device plugged in and online until the update begins (this could take several hours and may not start immediately)

This ensures the upgrade happens before the start of school. Devices not updated over the summer may cause delays or disruptions in September.

Who does NOT need to take action?

Students in grades K-5 and grade 9 will receive updated devices in the fall
Technology staff will update on-campus devices over the summer

There are important updates to the traffic flow, parking, and drop-off/pick-up procedures on our main campus. These changes are designed to improve safety, reduce congestion, and streamline the daily arrival and dismissal process. Please take a moment to review the updates below:

🚸 HS Morning Drop-Off Change

Student drop-off will now occur in the GCPAC loop (door 60). Families should proceed north through Lot H as will be indicated by security to drop off students in the loop safely and efficiently.

🚙 HS Afternoon Pick-Up Change

Instead of lining up in Lot E, families picking up students in the afternoon should park in Lot D and wait for their students to come out after dismissal.

🚗 HS Student Parking Lot Change

Student drivers will now park in Lot H, located near the Gates Chili Performing Arts Center (GCPAC). Lot E near the Field House will no longer be used for student parking.

↔️ New Traffic Flow for Lots D and E

To improve circulation and safety:

All cars will enter Lots D and E using the center entrance (between the two lots).
Cars will exit Lot D via the Operations Center driveway (right-turn only).
Cars will exit Lot E near the Spartan Way “T” intersection.

↗️ District Office and Operations Center

Last school year, the District Office moved to a new location at Gates Chili High School.
Visitors to District Office should follow the navigational signs to parking lot G and enter using door 73.
Meanwhile, the building at 3 Spartan Way is now the Gates Chili Operations Center.

🚧 Temporary MS drop-off still in effect

MS student drop-off will still be located in Lot F (HS bus loop) during construction.
While families may choose to line up as early as 7:20 a.m., students will not be released from vehicles until 7:35 a.m.
If you are dropping off a student between 7:58-8:20 a.m., please do so at MS door 3.
Afternoon pick-up will still be in parking lot L.

Click here to see a map of the main campus

Gates Chili is proud to serve free breakfast and lunch every day in district cafeterias again in the 2025-26 school year!

Families do not have to complete any forms for their student(s) to receive free meals at school. However, families are strongly encouraged to complete the Income Eligibility Form, formerly known as the Free and Reduced Meal Application, which is tied to other important benefits for students such as fee waivers for advanced placement exams, dual-credit tuition assistance, state funding and more.

Complete the Income Eligibility Form now!

We’re excited to share our newly redesigned, mobile-friendly website at gateschili.org! The new site offers a clean, user-friendly layout with quick access to calendars, news, important resources and more.

✔ Sleek, modern design
✔ Easy navigation on any device
✔ Quick links to key tools and info

The address is the same, but the experience is all new — check it out today!

Gates Chili is proud to continue using ParentSquare for school-to-home communication!

ParentSquare is a powerful and user-friendly communication platform where families will be able to keep track of news, activities and events from all their students’ schools in one place. With ParentSquare’s iOS and Android apps and web-based platform, Gates Chili families will be able to choose how and how often they receive information from the district. Families can also choose the language in which they would prefer to receive messages.

Look out for important things in ParentSquare on the following dates:

Thursday, Aug.14: Teacher assignments for students in grades K-5
Wednesday, Aug. 20: Bus assignments for
Monday, Aug. 26: Student schedules for students in grades 6-12

Learn more or download the ParentSquare app

The first day of school is less than a month away! Calendars for the 2025-26 school year are now available online. Click here to see the at-a-glance calendar and pattern day calendars for elementary and secondary students. The printed district calendar is in production and will be mailed to district families this month.

August 2025

Aug. 19- 21: New Staff Orientation, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Aug. 25: HS Grade 9 Orientation, 8-9:30 a.m. and 6-7:30 p.m., GCPAC
Aug. 25: MS Grade 6 and New-to-District Orientation, 8:30-11:15 a.m. and 12:15-3 p.m.
Aug 25: MS Locker Setup, 2-4 p.m.
Aug. 26-27: Superintendent Conference Day – Staff Only
Aug 26: Board of Education Meeting, 6 p.m., GCPLC
Aug. 27: NA and PR Kindergarten Orientation, 3-4:30 p.m.
Aug. 27: FB and WD Kindergarten Orientation, 3:30-5 p.m.
Aug. 28: MS Locker Setup, 3-7 p.m.

September 2025

Sept. 1: Labor Day – District Closed
Sept. 2: First Day of School for Students
Sept. 4-5: HS Picture Day
Sept. 9: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m., GCPLC
Sept. 18: HS Senior Parent/Guardian Night, 5:30-6:15 p.m., HS Library Mezzanine
Sept. 18: HS Open House, 6 p.m.
Sept. 23: MS Grade 6 Meet the Staff Night, 6-7:30 p.m., MS Cafeteria
Sept 23: Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m., GCPLC
Sept. 24: Superintendent Conference Day – Half Day for Students UPK-12
Sept. 25: HS College Fair, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sept. 25: NA Family Movie Night, 5:45-7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25-26: MS Picture Day
Sept. 26: #GCPride Day
Sept. 30: MS Grades 7-8 Meet the Staff Night, 6-7:30 p.m., MS Cafeteria

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

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

Instructional Staff Positions:

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

Job ID 1257: Substitute Support Staff

Job ID 1258: Substitute Teacher*

Job ID 1274: School Social Worker - LTS

Job ID 1275: Occupational Therapist-LTS (2025-26 School Year

Job ID 1276: Building Substitute Teacher

Job ID 1277: Registered Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse

Job ID 1278: Elementary Special Education Teacher - 6th Grade CT

Job ID 1279: LTS Social Studies Teacher

Job ID 1281: Speech Language Pathologist

Job ID 1283: School Social Worker

Support Staff Positions:

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 1272: Transportation Assistant

Job ID 1273: School Aide – Health Office

Job ID 1280: Grounds Equipment Operator

Job ID 1282: Network Technician (Civil Service Competitive Position)

Job ID 1284: Lead Night Cleaner

*The Gates Chili Board of Education approved new,

increased rates for instructional substitutes. Click here for details.

Click here to see job details and apply!