Paul Road Elementary School

Communication

Communication is the first step in building and maintaining positive relationships, which is why our school encourages open communication between families and school staff. Gates Chili utilizes several tools to communicate with families and the community at-large, including social media, digital newsletters and more. This page outlines several of those communication methods and how you can ensure you receive the most up-to-date information to stay in touch with your student’s school.

Who to contact at Gates Chili

Gates Chili Central School District encourages open, transparent and respectful communication among students, families, staff and the greater learning community.

To help you get answers quickly and efficiently, we’ve provided two helpful tools:

A general flowchart outlining the steps to take when addressing a question or concern.
A topic-specific contact guide showing who to reach out to for common areas of inquiry.

Inquiries Flowchart

Who to contact at GC

Get news and updates in ParentSquare

ParentSquare logo on phone with clouds coming out of it signifying different types of communication ParentSquare is a unified communication platform that offers a whole host of tools which allows district, school administrators and teachers to more effectively communicate and engage with families and students.

ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each family member, using their preferred email address and phone number. We encourage families to access their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on when and how they are notified.

Emergency closures and delays

At Gates Chili Central School District, the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. When severe weather or other emergencies occur, the district may delay the start of school, dismiss early, or close schools entirely to ensure the well-being of our community. These decisions are made with careful consideration of weather forecasts, road conditions, and input from local emergency officials.

Weather-related closures, particularly during winter months, are based on temperature and wind chill thresholds that could pose safety risks to students. Generally, schools may close when:

Wind chills reach -25°F or lower, based on National Weather Service guidelines.
Hazardous road conditions make travel unsafe for buses and families.
Severe weather warnings, such as blizzards or ice storms, impact the ability to operate safely.

To keep families informed, we use multiple communication channels, including ParentSquare, automated phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, and local news outlets. It is essential for families to keep their contact information updated in ParentSquare to ensure they receive timely and accurate notifications about closures and delays.

Below, you will find details about how closures and delays are communicated, what to expect during a schedule change, and how after-school activities may be affected. We encourage all families to review this information and have a plan in place for emergency schedule changes.

Notification Time: Families will be notified by 6 a.m. via phone call, text message, and email. If no message is received, schools will operate on their regular schedule.

Information Channels: Closure and delay details will be:
- Posted on the District Website
- Shared on official social media accounts
- Communicated to local media outlets
After-School Activities: Cancellations for after-school and evening programs will be clearly communicated through the same channels.
Two-hour delay: School start times will be postponed by two hours. Morning prekindergarten and BOCES programs may be affected, and breakfast services might be adjusted.

Early dismissal: Should conditions necessitate sending students home early, families will be informed promptly. It's essential to have updated emergency contact information and a contingency plan for such situations.

After-school and evening activities: If it becomes necessary to cancel afternoon and evening activities, all district campuses and buildings will be closed, including sporting events, field house and performing arts center activities, club meetings, Continuing Education classes, etc. This also means that all late bus runs will be canceled for the day.
All Gates Chili Central School District staff will receive updates via their Gates Chili email, phone calls, and text messages.
Families are urged not to call or visit the school during an incident to keep communication lines open for emergency responders and to ensure student safety.

Avoid contacting students directly during emergencies to prevent distractions and ensure they remain focused on staff instructions.

Update contact information

A smartphone screen displaying a text message conversation with blue and gray chat bubbles. Staying connected is essential to your student’s success—and your peace of mind. Gates Chili Central School District uses ParentSquare to share important information with families, including school updates, emergency notifications, and time-sensitive alerts via phone, text and email.

To ensure you receive all communications, it’s important to keep your contact information up to date in the SchoolTool Parent Portal. Please review your contact details at the start of each school year and update them any time your phone number, email address or home address changes.

Click here or on the button below for instructions on how to review and update your information in SchoolTool.

Requesting contact information changes in SchoolTool

Sign into the SchoolTool ParentPortal

Stay Connected with Gates Chili Central School District

Whether it’s celebrating student achievements, sharing resources for parents, or providing essential updates, our social media channels are a great way to stay informed. Follow us now and never miss a moment!

#GCPride