Gearity PDS

* You will be able to see who your student's homeroom teacher is in Infinite Campus early next week, but you must complete the Infinite Campus Annual Update to access the information online Read below for details on how to complete the Annual Update process.

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We hope you and your family had a relaxing and fun-filled summer. We are so excited to welcome our students to Gearity and begin another year of learning, growth, and discovery. All 1st - 5th grade students report August 20th by 8:45. Review the information below to determine when your kindergarten students 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 if your annual update is completed. 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 where to line up. 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 and perform basic assessments. We are asking that parents plan to stay for the 1st hour of their staggered start day! 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 20th Staggered Start for Kindergarten (last names A-I)

• August 21st Staggered Start for Kindergarten (last names J-R)

• August 22nd Staggered Start for Kindergarten (last names S-Z)

Daily Pick Up Plan for Students: Mrs. Higham 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.

School Nurse: If your child needs medical support at school, please reach out to Ms. Ice, the school nurse, at 320-4854 or via email at d_ice@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: The Gearity Staff is 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. Most 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.

• K-2 students will be issued touch screen chromebooks that will only be used in school.

• 3rd grade students will have chromebooks that will stay at school. 4th and 5th grade students will take their devices home at the end of the school day, and must charge their chromebooks prior to coming to school as we have limited loaner devices. Chromebooks are issued to students at the Delisle Center, Door 7.

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.

Dear CH-UH Families,

Ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, parents and guardians must complete the Parent Annual Update (PAU) for each of their children in grades K-12. The PAU allows you to:

• Update/confirm your email address and phone number, which your child's school and the District use to contact you about emergencies, school closings, and general information

• Update your child’s Emergency Contacts

• Add or update your child’s Emergency Medical Authorization

• Sign off on state-required forms, such as technology permissions

• Sign off on your child’s District photo/media release

You must complete the PAU in order to access your child’s teacher/classroom assignment and/or schedule in Infinite Campus. Additionally, until your child's PAU for the 2025-2026 school year has been completed, they will not be permitted to participate in field trips, sports*, or extra-curricular activities. It’s extremely important that we have the most up-to-date emergency contact and medical information for your child when they are participating in such activities. To avoid these consequences, please complete your child’s PAU by August 19. Parents/guardians who do not complete their child’s PAU by this date will continue to receive reminders via email, mailed letter, phone call, etc. until this is complete.

*Please note that the PAU is separate from the information that parents/guardians submit through FinalForms for student athletes. The PAU is still required for student athletes.

1. Log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

• All CH-UH parents/guardians have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal account. Parents/guardians have either self-registered or have been issued an account. Newly enrolled families receive account information via email within a few business days after their student is enrolled. If you are experiencing login difficulties or need a password reset, please contact your school’s front office staff or the Data Department at icportal@chuh.org.

2. Navigate to the Online Registration tab. This can be accessed in two places:

• Shortcuts: Online Registration & Required Annual Update, OR
• Main Menu > More: Online Registration & Required Annual Update

3. You will see REQUIRED in red on the Annual Update. Click Start. A new window will

open that will allow you to complete the Annual Update.

Find a PDF of these instructions here.

Staff will be on hand at the August 16 Back to School Resource Fair to assist families with logging into Infinite Campus and completing their PAUs. Please see the original message from the communications department for more information.

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 12th - Kindergarten Kickoff

August 16th - Back to School Wellness and Resource Fair Delisle Options Center

August 20th - First day of the 2025-2026 School Year 1st - 5th Grade

August 20th - Kindergarten Staggered Start (Last names A - I)

August 21st - Kindergarten Staggered Start (Last Names J - R)

August 22nd - Kindergarten Staggered Start (Last Names S - Z)

August 25th & 26th Pre-K Orientations

August 26th - Elementary Curriculum Night 5:30 - 7:30

August 27th - 1st day of Pre-K Classes

September 1st - Labor Day (No School)

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