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:
-
President’s Day (Schools and Offices Closed) | Monday, February 16
-
Mercer Meet the Architects Night | Tuesday, February 17
-
Superintendent's Series on Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement | Wednesday, February 18
-
Board of Education Work Session | Tuesday, February 24
-
Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, March 10
-
Superintendent’s Series on International Baccalaureate Programme | Wednesday, March 11
-
A Night for the Red & White | Saturday, March 14
| | |
Click on the appropriate link below for school-level and building PTO news:
| | |
Use these Quick Links to access the following District information:
| |
Boulevard Hosts Around the World
The Boulevard community showed out last week for Around the World! This annual event provides a fun opportunity for students and families to explore many cultures in our school community and celebrate diversity. Families shared their culture through food, music, dance, sports, arts and crafts and more!
| | |
Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
| |
A Night for the Red & White is One Month Away
Can you believe our 34th annual A Night for the Red & White is less than a month away? We can’t either! Don’t miss this unforgettable night of creativity, community, and Shaker pride!
We have an amazing evening planned for you! Join us for a cocktail reception, Center Stage Showcase performance, PreK-12 artwork exhibit, exciting European Rhapsody raffle and amazing silent auction items, tasty food, and non stop dancing with Gumbo Dance Party, all while supporting Shaker students.
Invite your family, friends and neighbors! All are welcome to join us for our 34th A Night for the Red & White on Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at The Agora Theatre & Ballroom.
Purchase event tickets here! Discounted tickets are available for staff, first-time attendees, and young alums!
| |
Ready for a “European Rhapsody”?
Imagine yourself sipping espresso in a Roman piazza, exploring the historic streets of Prague, or catching a sunset in Athens. The choice is yours, and the odds have never been better! For just $100, you could choose your dream getaway for two. Select your destination from the following options: Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Paris, Rome, Madrid or Athens!
Your 5-day journey (Value: up to $5,000) includes:
- Airfare: Round-trip for two
- Luxury Stay: 4 nights in a 4-star Superior Hotel
- Seamless Travel: Private airport transfers included
- Authentic Dining: A signature dinner at a traditional local restaurant
The raffle is $100 per ticket. Only 250 tickets will be sold. The raffle closes on Saturday, March 14 at 10 p.m. EST. The winner will be announced at A Night for the Red and White. Need not be present to win. Must be 21 & over. Proceeds benefit all students at Shaker schools. Get your tickets today!
| |
Support Shaker Schools Foundation at March 3 Cavaliers Game
Join us for Shaker Schools Foundation Night at the Cleveland Cavaliers game on Tuesday, March 3 vs the Detroit Pistons. The Shaker Heights Middle School Step Team will be performing on the court during the pregame. Come out and support the Shaker Schools Foundation and cheer on our Cleveland Cavaliers. Purchase your game tickets here!
| |
Superintendent’s Series on the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement on February 18
Join us on Wednesday, February 18 for the next installment of the Superintendent’s Series on the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement! Learn about how this department supports equity and inclusivity in the District. This event begins at 6 p.m. in the Fernway Room at the Main Branch of the Shaker Heights Public Library. A recording will be available on shaker.org/superseries following the event.
| |
Join us for Meet the Architects Night at Mercer
Lomond and Mercer are the next schools to be renovated as part of our Long-Term Master Facilities Plan. Please join us for an upcoming event to kick off the design phase at Mercer! Architects from Robert P. Madison International will present information on the scope of work. A member of the District Buildings & Grounds crew will provide a guided tour of the buildings to show opportunities for improvements through the renovations. This event is open to the community, so bring your family and friends! Thanks to the Lomond community for joining us at the Lomond Meet the Architects event last week!
Mercer: Meet the Architects
Tuesday, February 17
6-7:30 p.m.
Mercer Cafeteria/Auditorium
| |
Updates to BusRight App
Shaker Heights Schools families who use the BusRight Parent App will soon notice helpful updates designed to provide clearer, more accurate transportation information. Parents will now receive notifications when live tracking becomes available for their portion of the route, including an alert when the bus leaves the final school stop and is headed to their child’s stop. At that time, families can view real-time location updates and a live ETA specific to their route segment — making arrival times more precise than ever.
All existing features remain the same, including viewing routes and stops, scheduled pickup times, real-time bus locations, driver information, and transportation announcements. To access the latest improvements, families should check the iOS App Store or Google Play Store to ensure their BusRight app is updated to the newest version.
| |
Join Session for Summer Job Search Assistance
The Shaker Heights Public Library is partnering with Y.O.U. (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) and the Shaker Youth Center to provide three application sessions to help teens get jobs this summer. Secure the Bag: Shaker Y.O.U. Summer Jobs 2026 will meet on Thursday, February 26 and Thursday, March 12 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Shaker Main Library, 16500 Van Aken Boulevard. These sessions are for teens ages 14-18. Attend a session to learn more about how to score a job this summer and get help with the application. Snacks will be provided. The earlier you apply, the better luck you’ll have securing the job you want! Applications close May 1.
Please be prepared to provide the following information for your application:
- Mailing address
- Personal phone number for you and your guardian
- Personal (non-school) email address for you and your guardian
| |
SHMS Presents “Into the Woods Jr.”
Students at Shaker Heights Middle School are excited to present “Into the Woods Jr.” next weekend! Come out to support Shaker theatre arts students at performances on Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 21 at 2 p.m. Free admission for all attendees.
| |
Give & Take Day for Sports Equipment on March 14
Give and Take Day invites families to donate gently used, clean baseball, softball, and soccer equipment, and help those items find a new home with another member of our community. Give and Take Day takes place on Saturday, March 14 in the North Gym at Shaker Heights High School. Drop off items from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and take items you need from 12-2 p.m. This event is sponsored by Shaker Heights Recreation, Shaker Sports Boosters, Shaker Youth Soccer and the Shaker Youth Baseball League.
| |
French Students Visit Edwins for Hands-on Learning
Thanks to the generous support of the Shaker Schools Foundation, all Middle School French I students enjoyed a hands-on culinary experience at Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute!
Students explored French language through cooking terminology, learned about French chefs and regional cuisine, and made a few dishes! They made vinaigrette, blanched green beans, and fondue au chocolat with chocolate-covered strawberries. Several students said it was the best meal they’ve ever had!
This experience was an incredible way to bring language, culture and learning to life. Merci to the Shaker Schools Foundation for making this experience possible!
| |
From the Margins to the Center, Vol. LXVII — Discovering Ida Alexander Gibbs Hunt and The Hidden Figures of Pan-Africanism
February 15, 2026
By Lawrence Burnley, Ph.D., Chief Inclusive Excellence and Engagement Officer, Shaker Heights Schools
Since its inception in the late 1800s, Pan-Africanism has served as a powerful call for unity and solidarity among the global African community. By championing a shared cultural identity and political cooperation, the movement seeks to overcome the deep-seated scars of inequality and colonial rule. Names like Kwame Nkrumah and W.E.B. Du Bois, Edward Wilmot Blyden and Julius Nyerere as staples of this history, yet the stories of the women who built this movement are frequently left in the shadows as “hidden figures”.
This week, we are proud to feature Ida Alexander Gibbs Hunt (1862-1957). Hunt was not just an associate of the movement’s most famous men; she was a driving force behind the Pan-African Congresses that challenged global oppression. In 1884, this brilliant scholar shattered racial and gender ceilings at Oberlin College, securing her place as one of the first Black women in the nation to earn a degree.
In celebration of Black History Month, we pay tribute to the indomitable spirit of Ida Alexander Gibbs Hunt. Alongside other women leaders of Pan-Africanism, she shattered systemic barriers, anchoring a global movement in the pursuit of justice, liberation and collective strength.
Additional Resources
The Great Civilizations of Africa
Blackfacts.com
Blackpast.org
African American History Timeline (Visual)
Sources for Discovering Hidden Historic Figures
| |
Chat with the Mayor February 21
Got a question for Mayor Weiss? Stop by the Van Aken Market Hall Saturday, February 21, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to discuss neighborhood concerns, current City projects, or anything else on your mind.
|
Friday Night Skate Extended Session February 22
Start the weekend with an extended skate session featuring a live DJ at Thornton Park Ice Arena, 7:45-9:45 p.m. Regular public skating admissions fees and policies apply. Concessions will be available for purchase.
| | | | |
