September 3, 2010
Dear Gearity Families,
What an exhilarating first week!! The students and teachers have so much positive energy to share. Thank you for setting the tone for your children about the importance of being “school ready”; on time at 8:45 a.m. with supplies ready to start the day!! Please note that the District website indicates an 8:50 a.m. start but that actually refers to instruction beginning. To clarify, if your child arrives at 8:50 a.m. or later, he/she will be marked tardy. We are striving for tardy-free days for all students so that they do not miss any important instructions of the day or the opportunity to greet their classmates and teachers. We appreciate your partnership in providing our students an excellent education.
We hope that you will meet some of our new staff this year. Ms. Kimberly Woods, a Heights High graduate is our new child services specialist; Mrs. Coyne is working part time this year as an intervention specialist and Mrs. Kotnik will be serving Gearity as our school age K-5 psychologist. Mrs. Enid Gurney, who comes to us from Fairfax Elementary, will be joining us part time as our preschool psychologist with Ms. Finizia. Mrs. Molly Brunner is our new librarian/media specialist and she will be with us for a full week, every other week, as she is also on the staff at Fairfax Elementary. Mrs. Julie Soroka joins the Gearity staff as our student population is growing in the first grade; we are fortunate to have Mrs. Soroka with us from Boulevard Elementary. Mrs. Ellen Liss, is our new second grade teacher, who has been at Fairfax previously, and is a familiar colleague to many of our staff members. Mr. Robert Adamson is our orchestra teacher and he has served as an accompanist to Mrs. Adamson and knows many of our students already. Mrs. Tamar Gray is our third grade music teacher who has shared her talents with us before; she is the full time music teacher at Fairfax. Also returning to Gearity is Mrs. Beth Goldberg, an experienced Title I reading specialist. Joining our intervention team is Ms. Sarah McCann who will be teaching with the fourth grade team and in the preschool. Ms. Kim Bischof joins our staff as the science specialist and will be with us for a full week, every other week, and working with students in the math/science lab. Mrs. Jessica Fiutem is our new physical therapist and will be serving all of the elementary students. Ms. Jennifer Gill and Mrs. Tamara Sims are both experienced intervention aides assisting our students and staff this year. We are fortunate to have so many caring and dedicated educators join the Gearity Family.
Please remember that Monday, September 6, our schools will be closed for Labor Day and on Thursday, September 9, in observance of the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Our Curriculum Night (Open House) for parents/guardians is on Thursday, September 16th from 7:00-8:15 p.m. Please mark your calendars now and plan on being with us for this very important, informative evening. We start all programs at Gearity on time, so please know that we will honor your time here. The following Thursday evening, September 23 is our family ice cream social from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and this is a fantastic opportunity to join PTA and learn about the many ways to support your child in our school. We are so thrilled to begin this school year with our goal of increasing all student achievement and providing a nurturing, safe and stimulating school environment for each and every student! Together, with YOU, we can do this for our students.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend. Please know that my door is always open and if I am unavailable for any reason, we will schedule a time to meet or talk. We all appreciate your partnership in supporting each and every student in our Gearity Family.
Every student, every day, some success, some way. College ready, life prepared!!
Sincerely,
Sherry Miller
Principal