Gearity PDS

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! All 1st - 5th grade students report August 19th no later than 8:45. Review the information below to determine when your kindergarten student is supposed to start. The Pre-K staff have mailed orientation letters to families so call the office if your letter has not yet arrived.

Our team has been working hard to prepare classrooms, plan engaging lessons, and create a safe and supportive environment for all students. Whether your child is returning or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to have them as part of our school community!

Here are a few important reminders to help you and your child have a smooth start to the school year:

Student Homerooms: Homeroom teacher assignments can be accessed early next week in Infinite Campus. Students will need to know their homeroom teacher's name the morning of the first day of school so they know where to meet their class on the playground. Staff members will assist students in finding their class if they do not know their homeroom teacher's name or where to line up on the playground. New students who do not have a homeroom must report to the office to get scheduled.

Kindergarten Staggered Start: kindergarten students will come to school following the schedule below based on their last name. Teachers will meet families in the cafeteria prior to taking them to a classroom. We are asking that parents plan to stay for the 1st hour of their staggered start day to learn about the start of kindergarten! At the conclusion of the last staggered start day, the kindergarten team (Ms. Salone and Mr. Lauber) will develop class lists and notify parents which classroom their child has been assigned.

• August 19th Staggered Start for Kindergarten (last names A-I)

• August 20th Staggered Start for Kindergarten (last names J-R)

• August 21st Staggered Start for Kindergarten (last names S-Z)

Daily Pick Up Plan for Students: Mrs. Higham, our school counselor, creates check out lists for the bus riders, car riders and walkers. Teachers supporting these dismissal areas will record when students leave so we have an accurate record for safety purposes. Please complete this form to let us know what your family's plan is for dismissal. We want ensure that all students make it home safely!

Attendance: Teachers take attendance each morning at 9:00 am. It is important that your child is on time so we do not send you an absence call. If your child will be absent from learning you will need to call 216-371-6515 so the absence can be recorded. Attendance is crucial to student academic success. The parents of students who regularly miss school may be required to meet with the school team to develop an attendance improvement plan. Students who are on time and in attendance every day of the week will be entered into a weekly perfect attendance raffle sponsored by our PBIS team.

School Nurse: If your child needs medical support at school, please reach out to Ms. DeLambo, the school nurse, at 320-4854 or via email at l_delambo@chuh.org for assistance.

School Visitors: Our 1st priority is the safety of our students. To ensure a safe campus, we would like to limit access to our building to students and staff. Parents are encouraged to meet with teachers about academic or social/emotional concerns. You have the option to meet virtually. If you would like to come to the building to meet, we ask that you schedule an appointment and sign in at the office to get a visitors pass prior to going to a classroom.

You are always welcome to drop off items your student forgot to bring to school in the office. You can also come to the office to pick up a child for appointments or if they are ill.

Communication with Families: Gearity staff members are committed to working in partnership with our families to support our learners. Open communication is the best way to ensure everyone is working as a team. Staff members will share their contact information on Curriculum Night and we expect that they will respond to messages within 24 hours on work days. I will be sending weekly family updates via text and email so please make sure your contact information is up to date in Infinite Campus. All teachers use Class Dojo to keep families informed of important class information and will let you know how to register for the program at Curriculum Night.

Communication with Students: Families are encouraged to call the office if you need to get a message to your student. Cell phone use by students is prohibited during school hours. If your child needs to contact you, they can ask their teacher for permission to use the classroom phone or for a pass to call from the office. We understand that some families may provide their students with cell phones for safety reasons when coming to or from school, but use during the school day will result in confiscation of the phone.

Behavior Expectations: Gearity students are expected to meet our PAWS expectations at all times. PAWS stands for Personal Best, Acting Responsible, Working and Playing Safe, and Showing Respect. Teachers will work with students to create agreed upon norms for their classroom and reach out to you if there are any issues that need to be addressed.

Student Day

• Students should arrive at school between 8:20 and 8:45 am Monday - Friday unless participating in the Right at School Program.

• All bus riders and walkers will enter through the front entrance. Staff members will be available to greet your student(s) as they enter the school and direct them to their arrival spot.

• Car riders will be dropped off at the back turn around off Bromley Road. The car rider door will be monitored by a staff member and opens at 8:25.

• Students may eat breakfast in the cafeteria or report to their homeroom lineup spot. Lineup will either be on the playground when the weather accommodates or in the hallway outside their homeroom when the weather is inclement.

Class time:

• Instructional time is precious so please make sure that your student is in class on time. Each morning we will begin the day with a community building circle prior to starting instruction.

• Students may have a water bottle and we have fountains that fill water bottles.

• Water and bathroom breaks will be scheduled by the teacher. Please let your student’s teachers know if they have any medical conditions that need attention.

• All students will be assigned a chrome book for classroom use and they do not leave the school.

Lunch & Recess:

• Students will have 20 minutes to eat lunch, 20 minutes of reading & hand washing time in the classroom and 20 minutes of playground time.

• Recess will be by grade level.

• Lunch will be provided daily or students can choose to bring lunch from home.

Specials:

• Students have Art, Music, Spanish, PE and STEM specials. Each class meets once a week.

What I Need (WIN) Time:

• Students will continue to have intervention and enrichment activities daily to support student growth and development.

School Supply Lists: Gearity Elementary

Food Service: You can see the monthly menus by clicking on this link.

Registration Information: New student registration can be completed online or in person. Find instructions, required documents, and contact information here. Please share the registration link with new neighbors or friends who may need help getting their children registered for the start of the school year.

Student Code of Conduct: Link to the Student Code of Conduct and Anti-Bully forms.

The District has adopted a plan for communications with persons with disabilities, which is available at the following link: Communication Plan. The plan establishes procedures to ensure that the District's communications with persons with disabilities, including applicants, participants, members of the public, and companions with disabilities, are as effective as its communications with others.

August 11th - Kindergarten Kickoff @ Heights High from 6-8 pm

August 15th - Back to School Resource Fair

August 19th - 1st Day of School 1st through 5th Grade

August 19th - Kindergarten Staggered Start Last Names A-I

August 20th - Kindergarten Staggered Start Last Names J-R

August 21st - Kindergarten Staggered Start Last Names S-Z

August 24th & 25th Preschool Orientation

August 25th - Curriculum Night from 5:30 - 7:00

August 26th 1st Day of Preschool

September 4th - Ice Cream Social (Pre-K to 5th Grade Families) on the Playground 6-8 pm

September 7th - Labor Day (No School)

Personal Best

Acts Responsible

Works and Plays Safe

Shows Respect

Email: p_mcnichols@chuh.org
Website: https://gearity.chuh.org/
Location: 2323 Wrenford Road, University Heights, OH, USA
Phone: 216-371-6515