The Alumni Newsletter for Shaker Heights High School | Visit us online
April 2018
In This Issue
Where Are You Now? 
Class of 1966 Reunion
Every few years, we conduct a formal outreach to update our alumni contact information so that we can let you know about class reunions, homecoming celebrations, and other important news from your alma mater. If you have received a postcard, phone call, or email, thank you for responding. We appreciate your patience with this process, and we want to let you know that your contact information is only used for the purpose of keeping in touch with you and for inclusion in the alumni directory. Purchasing a directory is optional, and the proceeds do not support Shaker; however, we offer the service because many alumni enjoy having the directory as a way to keep in touch with one another. If you would prefer to share your information directly with the alumni office, you can do so online or by contacting us at shakeralumni@shaker.org. Thank you for helping us keep in touch with you!
Raiders Run in the Family: Hockey Senior Night
Senior players:  Colin Conn, Ben Greenberg, Geoffrey Grossman-McKee, Asher Pollack, Stephen Straffon and Owen Tafe are the children of  Shaker alumni parents : Jason Conn, '89, Michael Greenberg, '76, Doug Grossman-McKee, '78 and Anna Grossman-McKee, '78, Beth Cohen Pollack, '81, Jon Straffon, '77 and Gretchen Hess, '82. Shaker alumni grandparents : Janet Reiter Greenberg, '53, Jane Blau Grossman and Ronald Grossman, '51, Betsy Nebel Cohen, '50 and Cary Straffon, '48

This year's Hockey Senior Night celebrated six amazing senior hockey players and their families. The power play: Never before have we seen so many senior athletes in one sport being cheered on by so many Shaker alumni parents and grandparents.
The icing on the cake: Doug Grossman-McKee and Jon Straffon also played for the Raiders Hockey team! Shaker hockey clearly runs and skates in the family!
Last Chance for Street Signs! Online Sale April 16 - 20
Kathleen Pierce, Special Education Aide, Shaker Middle School, and her husband, Roy Schechter, '76
In fall 2017, the City of Shaker Heights replaced its street signs - and generously donated the retired signs to the Shaker Schools Foundation. Response to the Foundation's online auction was amazing, grossing $100,000! Shaker street signs that are still available will be offered through an online sale on a first-paid basis beginning at 9 a.m . EST on Monday, April 16 and ending at 3 p.m. EST on Friday, April 20 . Here is how to participate in the online sale .
 
Please limit your purchase to no more than 5 signs. Signs will be priced at $50 each, and shipping and handling charges remain $18 per sign for those who cannot pick up locally. Everyone else can retrieve their signs on Saturday, April 21, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the District Warehouse, 3620 Lee Road. The entrance is on Hampstead. Be sure to visit shaker.org/foundation prior to April 16 for further details on how to purchase signs. Thank you for showing your Shaker pride and supporting the Shaker Schools Foundation!
My Shaker: Rebecca Entel, Class of 1995
The Love of Words
Where are you now and what are you doing?
Rebecca Entel, Class of 1995
I am an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. I teach African-American and Caribbean literature and direct the Center for the Literary Arts. I received my BA at the University of Pennsylvania and my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After publishing many short stories and essays, I recently published my first novel, Fingerprints of Previous Owners , which was inspired by my yearly visits to the island of San Salvador where I taught Bahamian Literature to our students. I was inspired by my surroundings of resort life and island life and the story took off from there.
Tell us a little bit about your Shaker experience.
I entered the Shaker Schools in the 7th grade. While at Shaker Middle School, I still remember fondly meeting author Gordon Kormen. From the beginning, I loved to write. I gravitated to the Power of the Pen creative writing program and then spent my high school career with the Shakerite learning from our journalism teacher, Ms. Sally Schwartz, and serving as Editor in Chief. Mrs. Rosemary Merchant, my 9th grade English teacher, introduced me to the play, A Raisin in the Sun , by Lorraine Hansberry, which I now teach in my own college class!
How did the Shaker schools prepare you for the your future? Any advice for current students?
Shaker teachers expected a lot and encouraged us to become independent thinkers and writers. I took wonderful research and writing courses at Shaker so I was ready for the demands of college. While working on the Shakerite, I even gained experience with publishing software. Shaker taught me how to take risks and to take advantage of opportunities that came my way. As a college professor, I see some students who did not have the opportunities we all have in Shaker. They may have trouble with tough conversations about race and other big issues, but at Shaker we had these conversations in and out of the classroom.
Don't be afraid to speak up and know that we sometimes make mistakes. Enjoy a wide range of studies and activities and be an active learner. This will serve you well after graduation. I know that my involvement on the Shakerite taught me how to work with a team and to meet serious deadlines. Go out and do things that really interest you!
My Shaker is all about you! Share your story with us at shakeralumni@shaker.org or by phone at 216-295-4877.
Innovating Shaker at the Red & White
A Night for the Red & White, Shaker Schools Foundation's 26th annual gala, hosted 700 guests at the Cleveland Hilton Downtown on March 10, 2018.

This year's focus was the launch of the Shaker Schools Foundation's new Innovation Fund, which will provide hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) for grades Pre-K through 12. Thanks to a generous Shaker family, all donations to the Innovation Fund will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000. For more information on how to donate online a nd to preview a full photo gallery of the event, visit  shaker.org/redandwhite .
Alumni, parents, community members, f oundation donors and staff enjoyed the silent auction, live band and dinner at the Red & White!
Help us Meet the Shaker 100 Challenge!
To honor 100 years of Shaker graduates, the Shaker Schools 
Foundat ion   initiated the Shaker 100 Challenge to receive 100 donations of $100  each to achieve a goal o f $10,000. To date, 71 donors have contributed $8,210! (Some liberally interpreted the definition of $100.) Thanks to our generous participants, we need only 18 additional gifts to reach our goal. Just visit  shaker.org/foundation  to help bring the Challenge to completion. Thank you!  


Upcoming Reunions and Events
Class of 1966
Visit our  reunion page to learn more about upcoming reunions. Also, please be sure to  update your contact information so that we can keep you posted on each of our alumni events. 

Questions?  Email us.

 
Shaker Heights City Schools
15600 Parkland Drive
Shaker Heights, OH 44120