Gates Chili High School

Anime club is dedicated to Japanese animation. In Anime Club we discuss Japanese culture while engaging in various group activities that cultivate the groups’ interests and shared talents. Our students are able to showcase their talents and indulge in their passion for Anime through activities such as our drawing competition of Anime characters, games based on Anime television series, cosplay, and guest speakers.

In Aquarium Club you will learn about marine and freshwater organisms and will assist in the care/maintenance of our aquarium ecosystems in the atrium. 

The Botany club is an opportunity to explore information and create experiences with growing indoor and outdoor plants. In May that we teach fifth graders about plant life during their tour of the High School Atrium. Monthly meetings will have various topics of interest based upon the interest level of the club. Students will take over a part of the atrium to make sure that the plants are watered and growing. Students may also earn service-learning credits for community participation projects. You don’t need to have a strong passion or even a green thumb. There is value in the beauty of it.

The Chess Team is comprised of students who enjoy the intellectual stimulation and challenge that accompany being part of a competitive chess team. The team practices once a week and has a match once per month against area high schools involved in the Monroe County Scholastic Chess League.

Any high school student is eligible to participate. If you’ve never played and are interested in learning, you can also learn to play the game by joining. 

Bake desserts, create meals, explore appetizers, and venture into the unusual/non-traditional recipes. Students make food for their own consumption or for special events taking place in our school. Students are also invited after school for guest speakers in the culinary field.

DECA stands for Distributive Education Club of America. It is also known as Marketing/Business Club.

The DECA club is an area wide competitive marketing/business club. The club meets every other week to review marketing fundamentals and plan for the county-wide social events through the year. In January, the club travels to RIT to compete in the regional DECA competition. Winners advance to the states competition with an opportunity to go to the international conference in June.

Auditions for acting parts will be announced. Students interested in the technical end of the production should listen for announcements and/or see Mrs. Coughlin.

Practices begin in September and continue to the performance. Practices are Monday through Friday. We also meet periodically during the year to work on skills.

All students involved need to understand that being a part of these productions require a major commitment that demands a great deal of time and energy

The Gates Chili GSA strives to ensure that everyone is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Our GSA seeks to develop a school climate where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome any and all individuals as members, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, identity/expression, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in our high school.

Intramurals is an after-school activity for girls and boys that ends in time for students to take the late bus home. Activities offered are: football, team handball, floor hockey, ping pong tournament, softball, basketball, tennis, swimming, volleyball, and weight room (Fitness Center).

To participate students need to show up for the activity. There are sign up dates for each individual activity. Check with your physical education teacher. We do different units at different times of the year.

The Jazz Ensemble is a co-curricular activity that is open to band members by audition. The Jazz Ensemble performs a wide variety of music styles and is often featured in school and community performances.

During the first full week of school, audition music will be passed out to all interested Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Piano, Bass, Guitar, and Drum players.

Masterminds is an academic competition for high school students. Masterminds uses the College Bowl format for match play. If all participants agree, meets can be held in neutral locations and scheduled at other times. It is fun for students and adults. It provides students with a meaningful opportunity to represent their school in an interscholastic setting.

School team practices are held approximately every other week during the after school. League meets are held after school with each league meeting once every few weeks. Meets are held over the course of the school year with the regular season running from approximately October to April. Each meet consists of five to eight matches, generally beginning around 3:00 p.m. with the final match ending between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Math League is a competitive activity which allows students with a passion for math and problem-solving to match wits with students from across the county once a month from October to February. Students signup for 3 of 6 different categories each month and try to answer 3 questions from each category within a 10 minute time span. Points are awarded for correct answers only, with point values of 1, 2, and 3 according to the progressive difficulty of each of the questions.

Model United Nations is a nationwide organization that models itself after the United Nations. Each semester the club prepares for one of the area conferences in which all the area schools participate. The club chooses a country to represent and researches their economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics. The conference creates discussion topics that reflect current international issues. The members have to discuss the issues based on how the particular country would respond.

The Multicultural International Club is a group that focuses on activities and events that relate to the many cultures in our world. As a group, we decide what activities we would like to explore and participate in. Any ideas are welcome and active participation is encouraged!

The Spring Musical is a musically based performance opportunity for students interested in acting, singing, dancing, set/lighting design or direction.

If students want to be considered for the cast of the musical they must audition, typically in the beginning of December. There are dancing, singing, and reading auditions for all performers.

Students interested in the technical end of the production should listen for announcements and/or see. Mrs. Coughlin (i.e., sound, lights).

Rehearsals begin in January and end with the performance at the end of March. Rehearsals are Monday through Thursday; we also have a few Saturday rehearsals as well as build days over February Break.

All students involved need to understand that being a part of these productions requires a major commitment that demands a great deal of time and energy.

National Honor Society is a national organization whose members are chosen for and then expected to continue their exemplary contributions to the school and community. A large portion of NHS activities is focused on service.

Students with a grade point average of 92 are academically (Scholarship) eligible for the Gates Chili Chapter of the National Honor Society. However, scholarship (academic excellence) is only one of the four criteria for selection.

Students are selected for exceeding high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Students who embody these characteristics are invited to join the National Honor Society.

NHS is a nationally recognized organization, colleges and employers view NHS members as leaders with high moral character with a commitment to academics and service to the community.

The National Honor Society ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious organizations for high school students. Chapters exist in more than 60 percent of the nation’s high schools, and since 1921, millions of students have been selected for membership. Millions of dollars in scholarships have been awarded to senior members since 1945 by the sponsoring organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

The Observer is the high school newspaper. As a member of the club, you will be involved in the writing and editing of the newspaper.

You can join any time by coming to a meeting. We encourage staying in the club for the duration of the year. As a member you will be allowed to write stories that can be published in the paper. Also, you can be a member by being assigned an article to write for the newspaper.

PACA is a club whose goal is making healthy choices and to educate younger students on safe choices. All students in this club sign a contract to remain drug-free in order to be role models for others. Activities include going to the elementary and middle schools to talk to younger students about making healthy choices.

SAVVY is a new club with an old name (formerly SAVI). SAVVY is not just a girls group, but a powerhouse of young women “in the know!” SAVVY means to know or understand. We promote Girl Power! The mission of SAVVY is to build a “sisterhood” sense of community here in the High School. This sisterhood community will be developed through group discussions, community experiences (field trips) and educational enrichment.

Service Club is an organization whose participants try to help community members in need. The club raises money and then implements projects such as Thanksgiving dinner deliveries, Christmas dinners and gift deliveries, Animal Shelter donations, Easter baskets for the needy, Chili Senior Center and the MS Walk, etc.

The Gates Chili High School Ski Club is an organization open to skiers and snowboarders in grades 9-12.

Students must pre-register for the ski club and make payment for lift tickets, ski/snowboard rentals and transportation costs beginning in October of each year. Fundraising is available to help defray transportation costs.

The Gates Chili High School Ski Club travels to Swain Ski Center on six Friday evenings beginning the first Friday in January. The buses leave on Friday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. and return to the High School around 11:15 p.m. that same evening.

The Student Government is a leadership opportunity for students interested in coordinating student activities like homecoming, powderpuff, dances, Recognition Ceremony at the end of the year, the High School Talent Show and other student activities for the whole school.

Tri-M, once named the "Modern Music Masters", is the international honor society for music students in junior and senior high school. It is a program of MENC; the National Music Educator's Conference, a national

association for music education, comprised of over 85,000 music education professionals nationwide who realize the importance of motivating students and recognizing music achievements.

To be in Tri-M, students first have to be nominated by one of the music staff at Gates Chili High School. In February membership packets are sent to nominated students who qualify by meeting the following criterion:

1. Membership is open to 10-12th graders.
2. The student must be enrolled in a school-sponsored music course.
3. The student must be of excellent character, musicianship, exhibit a good attitude towards teachers and fellow students, and be cooperative and helpful in their classes at school.
4. They must maintain an 85 overall unweighted average and a 95 average in their music classes. They must not be failing any one class.

To complete the application process, students must perform publicly in a recital, and get 2 letters of recommendation.

A club that explores the geography, the cities, and New York State itself through outings and events.

World Language Club is an organization open to any high school student. Being enrolled in a World Language class is not a requirement, but one should be interested in participating in cultural events and/or travel related to the languages taught at the high school

We typically plan one event per month, most of which take place at the high school during 9th period. We try to have two of those events off site at local restaurants or seeing movies, performances or art exhibits.

We offer a trip to Europe every other summer, with stops in various cities throughout Spain and Italy. Fundraising opportunities to help offset the cost of club activities and travel are offered.