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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Presidents’ Day (Schools and Offices Closed) | Monday, February 17
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International Families and Friends Activities Night | Wednesday, February 19
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Board of Education Work Session | Tuesday, February 25
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Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, March 4
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A Night for the Red & White | Saturday, March 8
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Spring Break | March 24-28
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Eid al-Fitr (Schools Closed) | Monday, March 31
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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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Elementary Families Attend the Sweetheart Dance
Elementary school families descended on the Middle School Friday night for the Sweetheart Dance! Parents and children dressed to the nines to celebrate their loving families and friends. They took professional photos, donned corsages, and danced the night away!
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Staggered Start for 2025-2026 School Year
In order to provide for intentional start-of-school orientation time for students, particularly for those students who are transitioning to new buildings or who are new to the District, Shaker Heights Schools is planning to continue the use of a staggered start for the 2025-2026 school year. Click here for the schedule of start days.
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Board of Education Approved Contract with SHTA
The Board of Education approved a new, three-year contract between the District and the Shaker Heights Teachers’ Association (SHTA). The tentative agreement, which was reached in December, was ratified by 96 percent of SHTA members who voted.
The District bargaining team listened and was responsive to feedback from SHTA. The agreement that resulted is good for students, is fiscally responsible and will help us to continue to attract and retain a talented teaching staff, an invaluable asset to our District.
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Upcoming Programs from Bellefaire JCB
Bellefaire JCB, a partner of the Shaker Heights Schools, will soon offer two free presentations from Dr. Deborah Gilboa, popularly known as Dr. G! Dr. G will help attendees at both events learn how to transform children’s fear, stress and anxiety into resilience, productivity and innovation. Dr. G is a well-known physician, author and TV guest who frequently appears on top television programs, including The TODAY Show and Good Morning America. Bellefaire’s Begun Center for Resiliency organized talks from Dr. G on Wednesday, March 5.
“Building Resilience: Strengthening Mental Health Through Skills” will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. at the John Carroll University Dolan Science Center, 1 John Carroll Blvd. in University Heights. This workshop is for educators, mental health clinicians and other professionals who work with youth. CEUs will be available for social workers, counselors, psychologists and educators. “From Stressed to Resilient: For Our Kids and Ourselves” will take place on March 5 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the same location. This event is for parents and caregivers.
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11th Annual St. Baldrick's Event on March 13
Shaker Heights High School will host its 11th Annual St. Baldrick's event on March 13! Participants donate funds and shave their heads to support finding a cure for childhood cancer. Interested individuals may also donate funds in lieu of shaving their heads. The shave will take place at 4 p.m. at the High School. For more information, visit the Shaker Heights High School team website or their Facebook page.
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Onaway Students Study Music from The Gambia
Second-grade students at Onaway Elementary School were excited to learn about music from The Gambia! Students from Case Western Reserve University will be visiting Christine Fader's music classes for the next few weeks to teach students about West African music. The kids were excited to practice new beats, then sing and play drums as a class!
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From the Margins to the Center, Vol. XXXVIII — Sharon Craig's Literature of the Black Experience Class
By William Warren, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program Coordinator, Shaker Heights Schools
“The Boy Who Painted Christ Black” is a short story written by Pan-African author and professor John Henrik Clarke, from Black American Short Stories: A Century of the Best, a collection of short stories from Black authors, released in 1993. Written from the first-person perspective, Clarke eloquently narrates the story of Aaron Crawford, “the smartest boy in the Muskogee County School - for colored children.” Clarke was a scholar of Pan-African history, even without the completion of a formal post-secondary education, and spent his career writing, teaching and advocating for a shift in the way Black/African studies was traditionally taught in academia.
I learned all this thanks to a visit to Sharon Craig’s Literature of the Black Experience class at the High School. During this particular class period, students were analyzing themes from “The Boy Who Painted Jesus Black,” making connections to concepts like colorism and internalized racism. Senior Quinn Coggins detailed the story to me by telling me the end, and when I asked what he thought about it, he remarked that he “wasn’t surprised.” This year, students remarked that their favorite topic that they had studied so far was the Harlem Renaissance.
Several students remarked how much they enjoyed Ms. Craig’s class, from her teaching style to the way she challenges them to think critically. Ms. Craig, in her 10th year at Shaker Heights High School and in her 4th year teaching a course she created, remarked that the students are the drivers of what is taught. “This year, the students expressed they wanted to explore colorism, and I provided several examples and they picked the John Henrik Clarke short story.” I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Craig and her class welcoming me into their space — I learned just as much as they did!
Additional Resources
New York Times article profiling John Henrik Clarke in memorandum
“Black-ish” Dre’s History Lesson on colorism in minoritized communities
Blackpast.org
Blackfacts.com
Blackthen.com
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Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
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Raffle Packages Revealed for A Night for the Red & White
Raffle #1: Embark on the European Adventure of Your Dreams — Value of up to $5,000! Picture yourself strolling the romantic streets of Rome or immersing yourself in the vibrant culture of Madrid. This raffle offers:
- Airfare for two to your choice of Rome or Madrid (economy, with optional upgrades)
- 3 nights in a luxurious 4-star hotel, complete with transfers for seamless travel
- In Rome: An unforgettable dinner at a specially selected restaurant, a feast for all the senses
- In Madrid: A farewell flamenco evening that will ignite your passion for Spain
Raffle #2: Ride Around Town With E-Bikes for Two — Value of up to $5,000!
- 2 Denago Commute Model 2 Step-Thru E-bikes
- $200 gift card for Eddy’s Bike Shop
- E-bike features: 62+ mile range, speeds of up to 28 mph, and free tune-ups!
Tickets are $100 each – there are only 200 tickets available for each raffle.
The raffle closes on Saturday, March 8 at 10 p.m. EST. Anyone can buy raffle tickets. Winners will be announced at A Night for the Red & White, but the winner does not need to be present to win. Get your raffle and event tickets today to support Shaker students!
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No Trash Delay for Presidents’ Day Holiday
Reminder: There is no trash delay for Presidents’ Day (February 17). Trash collections will be on a normal schedule all week. View the Holiday Trash Pick-up Schedule.
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Shaker Again Named A Bicycle Friendly Community
For the third consecutive cycle, Shaker Heights has been designated a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by the League of American Bicyclists. The City has held this distinction since 2016. Shaker Heights is one of 460 communities across the country — and just 19 in Ohio — to be recognized by the BFC program for a strong commitment to bicycle friendly policies, education and infrastructure.
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