The Shaker eNews is a weekly roundup of important information including District events, school newsletters and District, PTO Council, Shaker Schools Foundation and City news. Be sure to read the entire Shaker eNews each week to stay informed! | |
The Shaker eNews is published weekly on Sundays. | |
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Visit our District Calendar online for a complete list of upcoming activities, events and athletic competitions.
Please note the following upcoming important dates:
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FACE Warm Clothing Regifting | Saturday, December 21
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Winter Break | December 23 to January 3
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The HBCU Experience | Wednesday, January 8
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Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, January 14
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Schools and Offices Closed) | Monday, January 20
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PreK-12 Professional/Clerical Day | Tuesday, January 21
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Coffee with the Superintendent | Tuesday, January 28
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Click on the appropriate link below for school-level and building PTO news:
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Use these Quick Links to access the following District information:
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Fernway Third Graders Visit Art Museum
Third grade students at Fernway Elementary School visited the Cleveland Museum of Art on Friday. They were excited to visit the museum and learn about different periods of history through art. The Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Armor Court was a class favorite!
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2025-2026 Pending Calendar Updates
The 2025-2026 calendar is under review with revised dates. The Board of Education is expected to approve the revised calendar at the January 14 board meeting. If approved, the new start and end dates would be August 20, 2025 and June 4, 2026. Winter Break would be December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026 and Spring Break would be March 23-27, 2026. The District is also closed for Eid al-Fitr on March 20, 2026.
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HBCU Experience on January 8
Middle and High School families are invited to learn more about Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) through a keynote address, alumni panel discussion, and breakout workshops. The HBCU Experience takes place on Wednesday, January 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Shaker Heights High School in the Large Auditorium. Click here to register.
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Assessment Update
Students have completed the following assessments. For more information about an assessment, click on the name of the assessment. Results for each of these assessments are available in the Test Results section of the PowerSchool Parent Portal. This help doc may assist families with viewing students’ test results.
The following assessments are being administered to select students in December.
Information about all of the assessments and our district assessment calendar can be found on the testing page of shaker.org.
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Registration Open for South Africa Cultural Exchange (SACE)
The South Africa Cultural Exchange (SACE) over Spring Break 2026 gives Shaker students the opportunity to learn about the beauty, diverse historic and contemporary cultures of South Africa while also learning research-based truths about African contribution to humankind from the times of pre-colonial Africa in antiquity to the present day.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is also planning a Spring Break 2026 trip to South Africa for adults in the Shaker Heights community. There will be an informational meeting for the adult trip on January 15 at 6 p.m. in the Small Auditorium at Shaker Heights High School. Contact Kim Davis at 216-295-6219 or davis_k@shaker.org to register for the student or adult trip to South Africa.
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Mercer PTO Hosts Popcorn Spirit Day
Mercer Elementary School PTO hosted a Popcorn Spirit Day, when families can eat lunch with their children. The PTO volunteers offer popcorn as a tasty treat while the students and families spend quality time together. Many parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends came out for this event!
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By Lawrence Burnley, Ph.D., Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Shaker Heights Schools
As I approach the completion of three years serving as Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Shaker Heights Schools, I pause to reflect and celebrate the creation of “From the Margins to the Center” (FMC) as one of many ways the District strives to exemplify its commitment to achieving and sustaining educational equity and inclusive excellence in everything we do in order provide the very best learning opportunities and working experiences for students and staff throughout the district.
During the month of December, many people throughout and beyond the Shaker community celebrate and/or identify with the religious holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah. A more recent secular holiday that has gained popularity within the Black/African American community since its creation in 1966 is Kwanzaa. In this moment of reflection and celebration, and in the spirit of FMC and inclusion, I invite you to look back with me to peek at a portion of a presentation I delivered at Gonzaga University in 2012. The presentation is entitled “Deconstructing Kwanzaa”. Be sure to open the link (Why Kwanzaa?) on slide #3 to hear the words of Dr. Maulans Karenga, the creator of the Kwanzaa celebration.
Please join me by ending this calendar year by recognizing the myriad of cultural – secular and religious – festivals, holidays and observances that are deeply rooted in and expressed by persons of diverse identities, cultures, ethnicities, faith traditions, and nationalities.
Additional Resources:
List of Cultural and Religious Observances, 2023-2026
List of Secular Multinational Festivals and Holidays
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Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
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A Night for the Red and White on March 8 | |
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Check your mailbox for our save the date postcard; You are invited to our 33rd Annual Fundraising Gala: A Night for the Red & White!
Our entire community is welcome to join us on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the Agora Theater and Ballroom. For three decades, our parents, community members, alumni, and friends have gathered and raised funds in support of our Shaker students. Our mission and funding focus for this year’s event includes initiatives from preK-12 to Educate, Empower, Explore, and Engage.
Join us for an enjoyable evening with appetizers, cocktails, dinner, and live music from Gumbo Dance Party. Highlights include an online silent auction, two raffle packages, and a K-12 art show featuring student performances.
Tickets are on sale now! To learn more and purchase tickets, please click here. Discounts are available for first-time guests, young alums, and employees of the Shaker Heights Schools.
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First CALL Mental Health Response Program
First CALL (Crisis Assistance and Local Linkage), Shaker’s mental health response program, now serving five east-side suburbs, assists individuals experiencing mental health distress and substance use disorders. Learn more about First CALL.
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Give a Shaker Life Gift Subscription
Give the gift of Shaker to out-of-town friends and family by purchasing a subscription to the quarterly magazine, Shaker Life. A one-year subscription is $21. Questions? Call Kim Golem at 216-491-1419. Note: Shaker residents receive a complementary copy of the magazine each quarter. If you haven’t received your copy, contact us at the phone number listed above.
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