Charles Rinaldi, Superintendent

2010-11 Back to School Message

From the Superintendent

On Wednesday, September 1^st, the staff of the Gowanda Central School District gathered to “kick-off” the 2010-2011 school year and prepare for students’ first day of school on September 8^th.  It is a wonderful time of year when everyone starts anew and positive opportunities await all of our students.  As Superintendent, I want to welcome all GCS students, parents and guardians to the new school year.  Our students will be greeted by welcoming teachers and staff, new technology-based learning tools, textbooks, and other educational resources.  The High School even has a fresh look courtesy of a new hallway paint scheme and gymnasium upgrade.

When students arrive, many will find their classrooms to be a familiar setting.  However, there have been some changes, particularly in the High School, that deserve mention.  I am referring to changes that have been brought about by the capital improvement project that was approved in May of 2009.  As many already know, this $6.8 million project will be completed in four phases, the last terminating in the fall of 2013.  Work on the High School locker rooms began during the summer of 2010 and will be complete by October 1^st.  The boys/girls showers are the areas that received the most attention.  Both were completely torn-out to allow for a new configuration; new shower areas, floors, walls, ceilings, toilets and sinks.  Fortunately, the areas where students dress and use their lockers will not be affected by the time students return on September 8^th.  During the school day construction workers will not be on-site and a partition will be in place to separate the shower areas from the locker-room.  At the end of the school day, the workers will return, remove the partitions and continue working.  Athletes will be required to use the Middle School locker rooms for after-school activities.  We estimate the work will be complete on or about October 1^st.  It is my hope that the boys and girls will feel it will have been worth the wait.  Meanwhile, the renovation of the basement locker room used by the football players is already complete and accessible to the athletes.

The condition of the pool in the Middle/High School has also been an area subject to repairs.  Coincident with the start of the capital project, we also detected a leak in the pool that required repairs.  Although it took much trial and error to finally discover the source of the leak, it is now permanently repaired.  Soon we will repair and regrout the entire tiled area, refill the pool and again open it to public use.  We expect the pool will again be in operation by October 1^st.

We are very anxious to welcome all of the young people who will soon arrive in the Elementary, Middle and High Schools.  The staff has worked hard to make the learning spaces and extra-curricular facilities safe, welcoming and conducive to learning.  It is a tremendous time of year when everyone starts fresh and dreams become reality.  Let us all work and play together for the benefit of our children and thank you for your continued support.

(You can visit my new school-related blog at www.crinaldi.edublogs.org)

SchoolWorld
© 2010 - Privacy Statement
School Websites