Parent Portal

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION >

All School Calendar: The All School Calendar includes all major school events, like athletic events, field trips, vacation dates, and more. You can download or view the calendar on the parent portal, or see a public-facing version of the calendar on the events page (please note this version only shares public-facing events).

Calling in About an Absent Child: Please call or email Nurse Julia, 978-927-1064 x176 to report absences. Teachers also always appreciate an email.

School Cancellations + Notifications: If school is closed due to inclement weather or for any other reason, or if there is an urgent message from GUS, parents will receive notification via an automated email, text, and/or phone call.

Accessing Enrollment Agreements + School Forms: Families receive an email with a login and password to access our GUS PlusPortals system. Parents are asked to use this system to complete required information and forms for school. Families can access and update their information at any time throughout the year. If you have any questions please reach out to Emily Ahearn.

Email Communications: Learn more about our weekly and monthly email communications, and important contacts to add to your address book, here.

PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK >

Parent/Student Handbook 2023-2024: To access the Parent/Student Handbook please log into GUS PlusPortals. Scroll to the bottom of your home page and click the link in the "School Links and Files" section. If you have any questions please reach out to Emily Ahearn.

DROP OFF, PICK UP + AFTERCARE >

When does the school day begin? All students should be in their classrooms, prepared to begin their day at 8:15 a.m. Before care is offered daily beginning at 7:30 a.m. in Braemar. Registration is not required.

Where do I drop off my child?

Lower School: Join the carpool line with a right-hand turn from Hart Street into the Lower School parking lot. We ask drivers from the direction of Beverly Farms toward 128 to pass the school and turn around. A left-hand turn blocks traffic on both sides of Hart street, creating dangerous or impossible passing for non-GUS drivers. Staff members will open your right side door, greet your child, and assist your child in exiting with his or her belongings. Please do not cross between cars or allow your child to cross between cars. If you need to get out of your car, please park in a designated parking spot.

Upper School: Join the carpool line as you enter Upper School from Greenwood Avenue. The line begins at the double doors. Please pull all the way up to the car in front of you. Staff members will welcome your child into the upper school building. Cars proceed left toward Braemar and exit out the back driveway. To respect our neighbors driving to and from the North Shore Nursery School, please drive slowly and come to a complete stop before turning left out of our parking lot. If you need to get out of your car, including to load or unload bicycles, please park in a designated parking spot.

What time does school end? School ends at 3:00 p.m. for students in pre-K through grade 5, and 4:00 p.m. for students in grades 6-8, unless otherwise noted on the All School Calendar.

Where do I pick up my child?

Students in pre-K through grade 3 - Lower School: Join the carpool line, beginning at 3:00 p.m., with a right-hand turn from Hart Street into the Lower School parking lot. We ask drivers from the direction of Beverly Farms toward 128 to pass the school and turn around. A left-hand turn blocks traffic on both sides of Hart street, creating dangerous or impossible passing for non-GUS drivers. Pull up to the “Dismissal line begins here” sign or directly behind the car in front of you. Do not leave spaces between cars.

Students in grades 4 + 5 (and younger siblings) - Upper School: Join the carpool line, beginning at 3:00 p.m., entering the Upper School parking lot accessible from Greenwood Avenue. We ask that you do not enter the carpool line from Webster Ave. Please pull all the way up to the car in front of you.

Students in grades 6, 7 + 8 - Upper School: Join the carpool line, beginning at 4:00 p.m., entering the Upper School parking lot, accessible from Greenwood Avenue. We ask that you do not enter the carpool line from Webster Ave. Please pull all the way up to the car in front of you.

Please note:

• No cell phone use allowed (including hands-free) once your vehicle is in the pick up line.
• Please stay in your car at all times. Our staff will help with bags and securing students into their vehicle seats. If you need to get out of your car, including to load or unload bicycles, please park in a designated parking spot.
• If you do not have the pick up card displayed, a faculty member will ask you for a photo ID
• If you are early, we ask that you turn off your car and avoid idling. We are trying to help the environment and every bit counts!

Late Arrival + Early Dismissal? All late arrivals must check-in at the health office. Please utilize the upper school parking lot off Greenwood Ave, for all late arrivals and early dismissals.

After Care: Glen Urquhart offers an after care program five days a week, from 3:00 PM until 4:00 or 5:30 p.m. You can register for aftercare through the auxiliary online registration portal. To reach the Aftercare Program please, call 978-816-6533 or email aftercare@gus.org. During school day hours, please contact Joe Jean-Mary, Director of Auxiliary Programs, at 978-927-1064 x131.

Early Release and P/T Conference Days: After Care is available on early release days, except for Grand Friends Day, Winter Solstice, and the last day of school. On those days, school is dismissed at noon and no After Care is available.

After school enrichment programs: Each semester GUS offers after school programs, EXPLORE@GUS for different age groups. These may include LEGO robotics, sewing, chess, art workshops, and SSAT prep classes. For fall 2020, our programming will be offered remotely. Watch for emails and forms with course descriptions and instructions for signing up.

Does GUS offer transportation? GUS provides routes across the North Shore to provide families with morning and afternoon transportation options. Please visit the Transportation page for more information and to sign up.

CLASS SCHEDULE >

Upper school classes have an A week and B week. Assemblies are scheduled on Wednesdays or Fridays and can be either an upper school or lower school assembly, a combined assembly, or an activity organized for partners.

Lower school operates on a regular Monday through Friday schedule.

LUNCH OPTIONS >

Students may bring a packed lunch from home or can take advantage of our partnership with Root Catering to have lunch delivered to school. Please be sure to bring your own utensils.

Nut Policy: In order to provide a low-risk environment for our students and community members who have serious nut allergies, peanuts, tree nuts, and foods containing nut products are not allowed on the GUS campus. Examples of foods with nut products, in addition to nuts themselves, include granola bars, trail mix, peanut butter crackers, peanut butter cups, muffins containing nuts, and any other food made with peanuts, tree nuts, nut milks, nut oils and/or nut butters.

Foods brought to school and intended to be shared on special event days, such as birthdays, Bread Day, or Advisory lunch must include a list of ingredients and be approved by the parent/guardian of the child with the allergen and/or the school nurse before consumption. Food will not be served if the ingredient list is not provided.

If the label states “made in a facility that processes nuts”, it can be served, but students with nut allergies will not eat the food due to the risk of cross contamination. If a food label states “processed on the same equipment as nuts” or “may contain traces of nuts”, the food will not be served as may be unsafe and may contain the allergen.

While every reasonable accommodation will be made to reduce the risk of exposure to nuts in the school setting, the School cannot guarantee a completely risk-free environment.

Ordering Lunch: Root Catering provides locally-perpared lunch delivery to GUS students. You can order through the Toast Takeout App daily as late as 9:00 a.m. You can browse the menu and learn how to order here.

Wednesday is pizza day, when students may order individual slices of pizza for lunch.

ATHLETICS, PE + OUTDOORS >

At GUS sports are not an extracurricular activity, they are part of the school program just like every other subject. Our goal is to develop teamwork, good sportsmanship, and the skills and knowledge of each sport or activity in which we participate. We compete inter-scholastically with other area schools with games and meets both at GUS and at the other schools. For away games we will travel by chartered school bus, or the GUS van. All students are expected to be in attendance and prepared for all practices and games every day they are in school. Students are evaluated in sports based on their attendance, punctuality, preparedness, attitude, participation and effort. If a student has a planned absence, the coach and/or athletic director needs to be informed in advance (at least the day before but hopefully earlier), otherwise it is considered unexcused.

7th & 8th Grade Sports Monday through Thursday from 2:50 - 4:00 p.m.

5th & 6th Grade Sports Mondays through Thursdays from 1:55 - 2:45 p.m.

Gym sneakers All children need to keep a pair of sneakers at school for gym class. They do not have to be new sneakers, but they do need a clean tread. This allows us to preserve the gym floor and maintain a welcome surface for morning meetings and sports competitions.

Outdoor Apparel We spend much time outdoors, and it’s important that students are prepared. Students should wear closthing that is safe, clean, and respectful at all times. Please be sure to bring additional footwear and outerwear appropriate for the season.

GUS SCHOOL STORE >

Shop the GUS school store to show your school spirit - and support the Parent's Association. Stay tuned for more information for the 2023-2024 school year.

SPECIAL EVENTS + HAPPENINGS >

The following is a list of special events we traditionally host on campus. These events will be scheduled in accordance to safety and health recommendations and are subject to change:

Parents Association Events for Students and Families: A few times a year, the Parents Association (PA) hosts a family event for GUS students and families. These events are a great way to get to know other members of the GUS community and are fun for all!

In the fall, class parents organize potluck dinners, hosted by GUS families. These events offer a nice opportunity for returning parents, new parents, classroom teachers, and the head of school to meet and celebrate the start of the school year.

Twice a year, on the half-days of the lower school parent/teacher conferences, the PA hosts off-campus parties that might involve swimming, skating, or other activities. The PA hosts other informational and fundraising events throughout the year such as family Bingo Night and monthly PA meetings with guest faculty and outside speakers. All parent are welcome and encouraged to attend the PA meetings each month as they are one of the best ways to learn more about what is happening at GUS.

Lower and Upper School Back to School Nights: These evenings are scheduled in the early fall for parents to explore their child’s classroom, meet specialist teachers, and hear from classroom teachers about plans for the academic year.

Holiday Book Fair: The library hosts a holiday Book Fair fundraiser in the Nance Assembly Room each year, which is open to the GUS community. Permission slips are sent home for parents to indicate either a dollar amount or the number of books a child can purchase.

Annual Meeting: Each spring, the Head of School and the Board of Trustees invite all parents to attend a “state of the school” dinner.

Wild Boar Classic Golf Tournament: In the fall, a golf tournament is hosted at a local country club. Funds raised support teacher-directed projects and financial aid. Learn more.

GUS TRADITIONS + EVENTS >

The following is a list of GUS traditions we traditionally host on campus. These events will be scheduled in accordance to safety and health recommendations and are subject to change:

Bread Day On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the GUS community comes together to celebrate bread as a symbol of world unity and ethnic diversity. Families in odd-numbered grades (1, 3, 5, and 7) are asked to bake nut-free breads from their heritage or family tradition to share.

Winter Solstice Assembly On the last day of school before winter break, the children perform songs and dances and play music from different regions in celebration of winter and the significance of light in all cultures. Friends and family are encouraged to attend.

Grand Friends Day On this half-day in the fall, grandparents and special friends are invited to visit their child host’s classroom, meet faculty and friends, learn about what goes on in school, and enjoy an assembly of music and songs performed by the students.

May Day On May 1st or as close to that date as the school calendar allows, students, faculty, and staff come together to celebrate spring, beginning with a breakfast of strawberries and baked goods. Student partners write poems together, decorate May flower baskets, and deliver the poems and baskets to doorsteps in the surrounding neighborhood. Families in even-numbered grades (K, 2, 4, 6, and 8) are asked to bake nut-free tea breads, muffins, and favorite breakfast goodies. The celebration culminates in the 8th grade’s performance of the Maypole Dance. Families are encouraged to attend both the procession and Maypole Dance.

Boar Cup Conceived of and organized by Bruce Emerson, the Boar Cup is a series of competitions between the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades held on the Monday through Thursday before spring break. Activities include sports competitions, a teacher look-alike contest, lip sync performances, a mural contest, and an academic trivia game show. Families are welcome to attend.

Evening with the Graduates Evening with the Graduates occurs the night before graduation. Each eighth grader delivers an original speech about something they have come to believe in deeply. At the end of the evening, the Urquhart tartan and the leadership it symbolizes are passed from the outgoing graduates to the incoming eighth grade in a traditional candlelit ceremony.

All School Meeting Every Friday morning at 8:15 a.m. students, teachers, staff, and the head of school gather in Braemar to review the week’s happenings, look forward to coming events, and celebrate birthdays. Parents are always welcome.

PARTNER PROGRAM >

Younger and older students are paired—for example, 4th graders pair with 7th graders—and throughout the year they come together to do simple activities, such as on May Day. These partnerships enhance our community, letting the younger students feel part of the older students’ lives and giving the older students opportunities to nurture and mentor.