A record of attendance is maintained for each student registered in the district. Parents/guardians are asked to ensure regular attendance for their child(ren) as excessive absences can interfere with the educational progress of the student. The Gates Chili Central School District recognizes the importance of vacations to families and provides several recesses throughout the school year to accommodate this need. However, when students are absent from school due to extended family vacations, important instructional time is lost and may be difficult to make up. Therefore, the district discourages vacations which would cause students to be absent from school. If it becomes necessary for a student to be absent from school due to illness or for other reasons, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to report the absence via phone during the first hour that school is in session. Students are required to provide documentation regarding their absence on the day they return to school. The note or email should be signed or sent by a parent/guardian and should include the date and reason for the absence. Students who have been absent from school due to illness should not participate in school-related activities on the day(s) of illness. Absences, tardy arrivals and early departures will be categorized in one of two ways:

• Excused: an absence, tardy arrival or early departure due to personal illness, illness or death in the family, impassable roads due to inclement weather, religious observance, quarantine, required court appearances, attendance at health clinics, approved college visits, approved cooperative work programs, military obligations or other such reasons as may be approved by the board of education
• Unexcused: an absence, tardy arrival or early departure that does not fall into the above categories (e.g., family vacation, hunting, babysitting, haircut, obtaining learner’s permit, road test, oversleeping)

Any absence for which an excuse is not submitted within five (5) school days after the student returns will be considered unexcused. Upon returning to school following a properly-excused absence, tardy arrival or early departure, it is the responsibility of the student to consult with their teacher(s) regarding arrangements to make up missed work, assignments and/or tests in accordance with the time schedule specified by the teacher. A student is truant if they were absent from the school building and/or scheduled instruction without permission of their parent/guardian. Truancy will not be tolerated and truant students will be subject to disciplinary measures.

Section 409-l of the New York Education Law, which became effective January 17, 2017, requires every public school in New York State (including charter schools) to post in English and in Spanish the toll-free telephone number operated by the New York State Office of Child and Family Services ("OCFS") to receive reports of child abuse or neglect, and directions for accessing the OCFS website.  That telephone number is 1-800-342-3720.
 
La Sección 409-l de la Ley de Educación de Nueva York, que entró en vigor el 17 de enero de 2017, obliga a todas las escuelas públicas del Estado de Nueva York (incluidas las escuelas autónomas) a publicar en inglés y en español el número de teléfono gratuito de Nueva York Oficina Estatal de Servicios para Niños y Familias ("OCFS") para recibir reportes de abuso o negligencia infantil, e instrucciones para acceder al sitio web de OCFS. Ese número de teléfono es 1-800-342-3720.

The Gates Chili Central School District Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and orderly school environment where students may receive, and district personnel may deliver, quality educational services without disruption or interference. Responsible behavior by students, teachers, other district personnel, parents and other visitors is essential to achieving this goal. The Board of Education has clearly defined these expectations for acceptable conduct on school property in the BOE-adopted Code of Conduct and Character. The district’s complete Code of Conduct and Character is available for review at each building’s main office, as well as on the district website by clicking here.

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) seeks to provide the state’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. In addition, the Dignity Act prohibits harassment, bullying and/or discrimination that occurs off school property where such acts create or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that such acts might reach school property. This also includes cyberbullying, which is defined as harassment or bullying which occurs through any form of electronic communication. The Dignity Act protects against all forms of harassment, particularly those based on a student’s actual or perceived race; color; weight; national origin; ethnic group; religion or religious practice; mental or physical ability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; or sex. Additionally, the district creates the foundation for a positive school culture through classroom curriculum on diversity, sensitivity, civility and citizenship, and professional development on culturally-responsive teaching. In accordance with the Dignity Act, the district will take necessary steps to address matters related to harassment, bullying and/or discrimination of students. If you have questions/concerns related to suspected harassment, bullying and/or discrimination of students or if you wish to make a report, please contact your building’s coordinator.

• High School Assistant Principal Jennifer Kern
• Middle School Assistant Principal Kenyala Rollins
• Brasser Assistant Principal Rebecca Scott
• Disney Assistant Principal Sara Mucino
• Neil Armstrong Assistant Principal Jeannine Bezon
• Paul Road Assistant Principal Kimberly Doty

In the event of inclement weather or an emergency, the district website at www.gateschili.org will show emergency school closing information. A mass notification call will be sent to families. For more details or to update your contact information to ensure you receive these calls, click here.

Please click here for required notices about the health and welfare of district buildings, pesticide notifications and fire safety.

Please click here for required notices about the health and welfare of district buildings, pesticide notifications and fire safety.

If a student should become ill during the school day, a school nurse is available in the health office of each building and can administer first aid treatment. If necessary, the nurse will notify the parent of person designated to be contacted in case of an emergency. The district's medical director is also available districtwide to provide health related support.

The school nurse is responsible for administering any internal medications to students. A written request from the parent or guardian is necessary before the nurse can administer the medication; a written order from the attending physician must also be on file in the school’s health office. The medication must then be delivered directly to the nurse by the parent, in the original prescription bottle, locked in a secure place in the health office, and administered only in the health office. 

The Gates Chili Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, age, marital status, partnership status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender (sex), military status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status or political affiliation, and additionally does not discriminate against students on the basis of weight, gender identity, gender expression, and religious practices or any other basis prohibited by New York State and/or federal non-discrimination laws in employment or its programs and activities. The district provides equal access to community and youth organizations. Inquiries regarding the district's non-discrimination policies should be directed to:

Civil Rights Compliance Officers:

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Labor Relations (primary)
Director of Recruitment, Hiring and Diversity Practices (secondary)

Gates Chili Central School District
3 Spartan Way
Rochester, New York 14624

585-247-5050

civilrightscompliance@gateschili.org

Please click here for required notices about the health and welfare of district buildings, pesticide notifications and fire safety.

Physical examinations are state-mandated in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 and for eligibility to participate in interscholastic sports. A health certificate signed by a duly licensed New York State physician must be provided to the Health Office for new entrants to the district or for any student entering in any of the above grades. Health appraisals need to be presented within 30 days of entry. They are valid for 12 months, through the last day of the month in which the physical was completed. It is recommended that students have their annual physical with their primary medical doctor since that person knows the student’s health and medical history the best. Physical examinations are also available at school free of charge, if necessary. Examinations are conducted by the school physician/nurse practitioner on selected days during the school year.

The New York State Education Department requires certain screening exams at certain ages or grades of students as listed to the right. The New York State Department of Health also requires that your private health care provider reports and the school district collects information on your student’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and Weight Status Category (WSC). You may fulfill these legal obligations by having your personal physician conduct the screening exams privately and then notifying the school nurse not to do the examinations. You will then present your student’s private certificates to the school prior to screening dates. The administration may grant a religious exemption for screening exams of families with a sincerely held religious belief. Please contact the nurse for information about how to apply for a religious exemption. If you have not provided a certificate or notified the nurse of your plan to have the screenings done privately by the time the nurse conducts the school screenings, the district will follow NYS Education Department mandates and will conduct the screening as scheduled. Please communicate regularly with your school nurse to avoid confusion.

The following screening evaluations are conducted by the school nurse who will advise you of any concerns:

1. Distance visual acuity and near visual acuity for all new entrants and for students in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 and at any other time deemed appropriate.
2. Color perception for all new entrants within six months of entrance.
3. Hearing acuity for all new entrants and for those in kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 and at any other time deemed essential.
4. Scoliosis screening (curvature of the spine) for girls in grades 5 and 7 and for boys in grade 9.

The Gates Chili Central School District believes one of the most important ways to help students perform better in their classrooms is to provide them with the nutrition necessary for the healthy growth of their minds and bodies. A well-nourished student will generally have better attendance, be more attentive and have more energy to take on the day’s activities.

The School Nutrition Program provides tasty, nutritious and reasonably priced breakfasts and lunches to both students and staff. Gates Chili CSD participates in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. We encourage families to complete the Free and Reduced Meals application. Those forms are available at gateschili.org/FreeReducedApp or in the district’s school nutrition office at Gates Chili Middle School, 2 Spartan Way, Rochester, NY 14624. Applications are accepted throughout the school year. Please submit forms as soon as possible for processing.

The Gates Chili Central School District is committed to ensuring student privacy and recognizes that parents/ guardians are entitled to certain rights with regard to their student’s personally identifiable-information (PII), in accordance with Education Law 2-d and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• Data Privacy As part of its commitment to maintaining the privacy and security of student data under Ed Law 2-d, the district will take steps to minimize its collection, processing, and transmission of PII. Information pertaining to this policy is published on the district website in the Parent’s Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security. For questions about data privacy or Ed Law 2-d, click here or contact the District Data Protection Officer, Jeffrey McKinney at Jeffrey_McKinney@gateschili.org.
• Directory Information, Photographs and Video FERPA generally requires that the district obtain written consent prior to disclosing PII to persons other than those with a legitimate educational interest. The district may, however, disclose directory information for limited purposes without written consent. Directory information is information that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The district defines directory information to include only the following: name, dates of attendance, photograph/image, grade level, participation in officially-recognized activities and awards/ honors received. If you do not want the district to disclose this type of information, you must notify the district in writing. Opt-out requests can be sent via email to communications@gateschili.org or by mail to Iva Petrosino, Director of Communications, 3 Spartan Way, Rochester, NY 14624. Please include the student’s full name, school and grade level in the opt-out request. This opt-out request will remain in effect for one school year.
  Please note: if your student performs in a school play, in a sporting event or a concert open to the school community and or the public, the district has no control over photographs or videos taken by the media, other parents or community members in attendance. 

Updating your student's medical records, scheduling grade level physicals, and making sure that your student has received their immunizations is important to ensure the health and safety of the Gates Chili learning environment. New York State Law requires all students to present proof of immunizations before being allowed to attend school. This year, New York State made changes to its immunization requirements. The district requires that proof of immunizations be presented before the first day of school. Students who do not provide proper proof of immunization will not be permitted to continue to attend school. Contact your student's physician immediately to ensure that your child receives the required immunizations prior to the start of school. An up-to-date copy of those immunizations must be presented to your student's school health office.