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. | | |
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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Superintendent's Series on Generative AI | Tuesday, February 3
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PTO Council Meeting | Tuesday, February 3
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Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, February 10
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Lomond Meet the Architects Night | Thursday, February 12
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K-12 Conferences (No School for Students PreK-12) | Friday, February 13
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Grades K-5 Sweetheart Dance | Friday, February 13
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President’s Day (Schools and Offices Closed) | Monday, February 16
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Mercer Meet the Architects Night | Tuesday, February 17
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Superintendent's Series on Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement | Wednesday, February 18
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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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Boulevard Students Recognized as Excellent Communicators
January’s featured International Baccalaureate (IB) trait was Communicator! Boulevard students in every grade were recognized by faculty and staff for displaying excellent communication skills with their families, friends and educators every day. Well done, Boulevard Bobcats!
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Kindergarten Eligibility Update for 2026–2027
Ohio law has changed the kindergarten eligibility cutoff date. Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, students must be 5 years old on or before the first day of school to enroll in kindergarten. For Shaker Heights Schools, that date is August 18, 2026.
Learn more and review answers to Kindergarten Enrollment Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions.
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Superintendent’s Series Begins on February 3
The 2025-2026 Superintendent’s Series invites families, staff and community members to engage in timely conversations about the ideas and initiatives shaping Shaker Heights Schools. This four-part series explores how our District advances learning, innovation and Inclusive Excellence through thoughtful discussion and shared understanding.
Each session highlights an important topic impacting our schools, from generative artificial intelligence and inclusive practices to the International Baccalaureate Programme and detracking. Together, these conversations offer insight into how we support the whole child and strengthen our school community. All Superintendent’s Series sessions are free and open to the public. Events take place from 6-7 p.m. and do not require registration. While sessions are not livestreamed, recordings will be posted on shaker.org/superseries following each event.
See below for upcoming event details:
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Generative AI: Learn how Artificial Intelligence is enhancing learning and teaching.
- Tuesday, February 3, 6-7 p.m., Shaker Heights Middle School Library
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Office of Inclusive Excellence & Engagement: Learn how the department supports equity and inclusivity in the District.
- Wednesday, February 18, 6-7 p.m., Shaker Heights Public Library Main Branch, Fernway Room
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International Baccalaureate Programme: Learn how the International Baccalaureate Programme teaches the whole child.
- Wednesday, March 11, 6-7 p.m., Shaker Heights Public Library Main Branch, Malvern Room
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Detracking: Learn how integrating students into inclusive classrooms benefits all learners.
- Tuesday, April 21, 6-7 p.m., Ludlow Early Learning Center
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Join us for Meet the Architects Nights at Lomond and Mercer
Lomond and Mercer are the next schools to be renovated as part of our Long-Term Master Facilities Plan. These renovations are slated for the 2027-2028 school year. Please join us for two upcoming events to kick off the design phase for Lomond and Mercer! Architects from GPD Group and Robert P. Madison International will present information on the project timeline and scope of work. Members of the District Buildings & Grounds crew will provide guided tours of the buildings to show opportunities for improvements through the renovations. These events are open to the community, so bring your family and friends!
Lomond: Meet the Architects
Thursday, February 12
6-7:30 p.m.
Lomond Cafeteria/Auditorium
Mercer: Meet the Architects
Tuesday, February 17
6-7:30 p.m.
Mercer Cafeteria/Auditorium
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Review the Strategic Plan Annual Report
The Shaker Heights City School District is proud to release the 2025 Strategic Plan Annual Report. The District’s annual reports use detailed measurements to determine progress toward intended outcomes mapped in the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. These annual reports are essential to the District’s commitment to continuous improvement. They ensure transparency, provide valuable insights to the school community, and hold the District accountable for meeting its ambitious goals and objectives. Click here to review the 2025 Strategic Plan Annual Report.
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Class of 2026 Raffle Baskets Fundraiser
This is your last chance! Enter now to win: Tickets to a Cavaliers game, Great Lakes Science Center, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just to name a few; Evening at Severance Hall with the Cleveland Orchestra; Cooking Class for 4; Date Night at Kiln and so much more! Click here to review the full list of prizes. The drawing will be on Saturday, February 7, so buy your tickets by Friday, February 6 to win! Proceeds support beloved traditions for Shaker’s graduating seniors such as AfterProm, Senior Clap Out, and Black & White Photos. To learn more about the Senior Celebrations, please visit shakerpto.org/seniors.
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SHHS Students Visit Game Design Exhibit
Freshmen and sophomores who are on track to complete their Personal Project for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP), recently explored the Cleveland Institute of Art! They visited an exhibit entitled “Free Play: Innovative Ohio Game Design” and met two of the featured designers! Davionne Gooden, SHHS Class of 2016, met Shaker students at the exhibit and showcased his game “She Dreams Elsewhere”. Students had fun playing Davionne's game, as well as all of the other games in the exhibit. Students also toured the CIA campus and had hands-on experiences with different media.
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From the Margins to the Center, Vol. LXV — Hidden Figures of Black History Month: Brown Chapel AME Church
By William Warren, Student Program Coordinator, Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement, Shaker Heights Schools
February 1, 2026
The month of February is a time to acknowledge and observe Black History Month, created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson as “Negro History Week” 100 years ago. Through FMC, we will bring the stories and contributions of “hidden figures” of Black History Month from the margins to the center.
The Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopalian (AME) Church was founded in a hotel basement in Selma, Alabama in 1866. The present church building in Selma was constructed in 1908 and designed by AJ Fairley, a formerly enslaved local Black architect. The church’s congregation grew significantly during Reconstruction and became one of the most important landmarks of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. Brown Chapel became host for Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) meetings and activities. In advance of the 1964 election, SCLC, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) along with local activist organizations worked to register Black voters in Selma at Brown Chapel. When Governor George Wallace enforced a law banning churches from participating in voter registration, the leaders of Brown Chapel defied that law under threat of violence to continue their work. Civil rights activists like Malcolm X, Coretta Scott King & Dr. Martin Luther King spoke at Brown Chapel to support the campaign for voter rights legislation. On March 7, 1965, John Lewis and nearly 600 SNCC and SCLC activists marched from Brown Chapel through Selma in protest of the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson. Originally planning to march from Selma to Montgomery to meet with Governor Wallace, they were met at the Edmund Pettus Bridge by Alabama state troopers — a confrontation forever known as “Bloody Sunday.”
Brown Chapel was named a National Historic Landmark in 1998, and is currently undergoing restoration and due to open again to the public sometime in 2026.
Additional Resources
Sources for Discovering Hidden Historic Figures
Blackpast: Brown Chapel AME Church
History - Historic Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church
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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 & White: Meet Our 2026 Co-Hosts!
We are thrilled to announce that this year’s gala will be co-hosted by Shaker alum and Broadway performer Betsy Werbel (SHHS ’92) and beloved SHHS School Counselor David Peake! Betsy has appeared on Broadway in Wicked and Les Misérables, toured nationally across the U.S. and Canada, and continues to inspire through her work in the arts and nonprofit community. David is known across the High School for his positivity, humor, and strong relationships with students, making this duo the perfect blend of talent and school spirit!
Don’t miss this unforgettable night of creativity, community, and Shaker pride. Enjoy inspiring Center Stage Showcase, PreK–12 artwork, exciting raffle and silent auction items, great food, and dancing with Gumbo Dance Party, all while supporting Shaker students. Invite your friends and neighbors, all are welcome!
A Night for the Red & White is Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 7 p.m. at The Agora Theatre & Ballroom. Together, we Educate, Empower, Explore, and Engage! Learn more and buy tickets here!
*Discounted tickets are available for staff, first-time attendees, and young alums!
| | Quick Links: Opportunity Assistance, Enrichment Grants, Donations, More Info! Please follow the Shaker Schools Foundation on our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. |
Fresh New Look for City ENews
In case you haven’t seen it, the February City ENewsletter has a fresh, new format! Enjoy a quicker read as you stay informed about key City news. Find info on the newest members of City Council, how to submit nominations for the 2026 Preservation Awards, and more.
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Extended Friday Night Skate session February 6
Meet up with friends Friday, February 6 and skate to a live DJ at Thornton Park Ice Arena during an extended session from 7:45-9:45 pm. Regular public skating admissions fees and policies apply. Concessions available for purchase.
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