Gates Chili Central School District

At Gates Chili, we are committed to supporting the whole child by fostering personal, social and academic growth in every learner. Our elementary school counseling program plays a key role in that commitment, providing students with the tools and mindsets they need to thrive in school and beyond.

Rooted in the district’s mission—Together we teach and inspire excellence for all learners—our counseling curriculum reflects both the New York State Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks and the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Standards. It is designed to nurture each student’s development while celebrating individual uniqueness and diversity.

Through engaging classroom lessons at every grade level, students build essential social-emotional skills in areas such as:

• Empathy and understanding others
• Emotion management and healthy coping skills
• Being an upstander and promoting kindness
• Problem solving and executive functioning
• Mindfulness and growth mindset
• Personal safety (including Erin’s Law)
• Career exploration and goal setting

These lessons empower students to develop strong relationships, make thoughtful decisions and lay the foundation for lifelong learning, responsible citizenship and career readiness.

Gates Chili CSD is proud to partner with Delphi Rise to provide school-based substance abuse prevention services that support the health and well-being of our students.

Through this partnership, trained Delphi counselors offer services right within our schools, making it easier for students to access support when they need it most. The program focuses on early intervention and prevention by helping students build protective skills, make informed decisions, and access positive alternatives to substance use.

Services include:

• Individual and group counseling
• Substance use assessments
• Evidence-based education and prevention programs
• Referrals to community resources
• Parent and family education opportunities
• Community awareness events like health fairs, guest speakers and panels

Delphi counselors are trauma-informed and sensitive to the effects of adverse childhood experiences. Their approach focuses on understanding each student’s story and providing supportive, nonjudgmental care.

These services are designed to benefit not only students, but also families, staff and the greater Gates Chili community. If you or someone you know could benefit from speaking with a counselor, reach out to your school’s counseling team for more information.