First Day of School: Our complete coverage from Webster and Gates Chili
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tuesday is the first day of school for many local districts. We have live coverage on News10NBC Today from Webster Central School District and Gates Chili Central School District.
Here is when the school year starts for local districts.
- Districts that start their first day on Tuesday, Sept. 6 include: Webster, Gates Chili, Brighton, Rush-Henrietta, Brockport, East Rochester, Spencerport, Honeoye Falls–Lima, Victor, Geneseo, and Gananda,
- The Districts that start on Wednesday, Sept. 7 include: Rochester City School District, Greece, Churchville Chili, Wheatland-Chili, Hilton, Penfield, Fairport, Pittsford, West Irondequoit, and East Irondequoit.
NY State has lifted most of its COVID protocols for schools
Schools statewide this year will look very different this year compared to 2021. New York State no longer requires all students to wear a mask or practice social distancing.
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The few protocols that remain include staying at home when testing positive and wearing a mask for ten days after coming in close contact with someone who tested positive. Any student or faculty member who is experiencing unusual symptoms must take an at-home test.
Students will each get at least one at-home testing kit at the start of the school year and the state has 14.5 million kits available. You can read more about the new state protocol here.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Tuesday is the first day of school for many local districts. We have live coverage on News10NBC Today from Webster Central School District and Gates Chili School District.
Dr. Stephen MacAdam, assistant principal of Klem South Elementary School in Webster, said the pandemic allowed schools to learn how to use technology more effectively and this year will look like a more “normal” year.
MacAdam said there is always a lot of excitement and a few tears on the first day. He reminds drivers to be aware around school buses.
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Gates Chili Central School District has the first electric buses in upstate NY
Matt Helmbolt, the Gates Chili CSD Director of Transportation, said dozens of students will become part of history when they step on a school bus on Tuesday.
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Gates Chili will showcase the first two electric school buses in upstate NY. The district unveiled the buses in June, which can drive more than 100 miles on a single charge. The buses will help to lower greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, compared to buses that run on diesel. The district expects to save at least $90,000 by switching to electric.
We speak to returning students
Kelsey D’Imperio is starting the first day of her senior year at Gates Chili CSD. She told News10NBC that she’s excited to see her friends and to go to homecoming.
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New staff at schools
Martha End, the principal of Klem South in Webster, said that the elementary school is fully staffed with teachers. The school has a lot of new hires who will start this week and the school is still looking for substitute teachers and teaching aides.
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Some local school districts, including RCSD, have struggled to find staff members ahead of the start of the school year.
End said the pandemic has shown how resilient students and faculty are. Students are allowed to sit closer together in the cafeteria and parents are once again allowed to volunteer at the school.
Tweets from our coverage
News10NBC’s Patrick Moussignac reported live from Spartan Stadium at Gates Chil High School on Tuesday morning and showed off his school swag. Emily Putnam reported live from Klem South in Webster, where she went the elementary school. She ran into her fourth-grade teacher.
Read more of our coverage
RCSD school safety is top of mind for many as students get ready for back to school
30 days before school, RCSD is trying to fill hundreds of teacher jobs
Proposed legislation would remove ‘under the hood’ requirement for new bus drivers