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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Board of Education Work Session | Tuesday, February 24
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Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, March 10
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Superintendent’s Series on International Baccalaureate Programme | Wednesday, March 11
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A Night for the Red & White | Saturday, March 14
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Board of Education Work Session | Tuesday, March 17
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Eid al-Fitr (Schools Closed) | Friday, March 20
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Spring Break (Schools Closed) | March 23-27
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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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SHHS Senior Isaiah Bady Competes in Accelerate
Shaker Heights High School Senior Isaiah Bady will compete in the Teen Accelerate competition sponsored by the Young Entrepreneurship Institute for a $1,000 grand prize! Isaiah will share his idea for Sensory Safe Cuts. Sensory Safe Cuts is a mobile barber shop that provides calm sensory friendly haircuts for children/adults with sensory sensitivities. It would bring professional grooming directly to clients' homes to create a safe, comfortable experience.
Congratulations to Isaiah for making it to the last round of finalists who will pitch at Accelerate, and best wishes on your pitch!
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Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
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Don’t miss our 34th Annual A Night for the Red & White!
Our incredible co-hosts, Shaker alum and Broadway performer Betsy Werbel (SHHS ’92) and beloved SHHS counselor David Peake, are ready to take center stage alongside our talented student performers.
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating Shaker pride! You will enjoy a lively cocktail reception, our inspiring Center Stage Showcase, a PreK-12 student artwork exhibit, the exciting European Rhapsody raffle, amazing silent auction items, delicious food, and non-stop dancing with Gumbo Dance Party, all in support of Shaker students.
View our latest video featuring our students and staff inviting our entire community to join us for this unforgettable night! A Night for the Red and White takes place on Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at The Agora Theatre & Ballroom. Purchase your tickets today! *Discounted tickets are available for staff, first-time attendees, and young alums!
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Check out the Shaker Heights Schools App
A new mobile app, complementary to the District website shaker.org, is now available for Apple and Android devices through the App Store and Google Play.
The app allows families, students and staff to follow the District and individual schools to receive news updates and view upcoming events through an integrated calendar.
The app also includes a comprehensive staff directory and direct access to frequently used resources, including breakfast and lunch menus, PowerSchool, PaySchools Central and FinalForms. In addition, the app provides streamlined access to the Staff Intranet, Safe Schools Helpline and more resources for Shaker families, students and staff.
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Take the Student ViewPOINT Survey on School Meals
Aramark Student Nutrition is excited to present the Student ViewPOINT survey, which collects feedback from students about their overall dining experience. The insights gathered will help Aramark enhance its food service program to better meet student needs and expectations. For the first time, Aramark is introducing the survey for not only high school and middle school, but also elementary students, which will be communicated and completed alongside their parents. Click here to take the survey. The survey will close on Friday, February 27. Please support this important initiative to help Aramark improve the service it provides to Shaker Heights students. Please contact Food Service Director Maureen Dunn at dunn_m@shaker.org with questions or concerns.
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Assessment Update
Students have completed the following assessments. For more information, click on the name of the assessment. This help doc may assist families with viewing students’ test results in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
The following assessments are either currently in progress or are scheduled to be administered soon:
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Swim Coach Eric Peterson Receives Larry Lyons Award
Eric Peterson, Head Coach for Boys & Girls Swimming & Diving at Shaker Heights High School, was selected to receive the Larry Lyons Award for service by the Ohio High School Swimming Coaches Association (OHSSCA). Coach Peterson will be recognized and presented this prestigious award at the upcoming OHSAA State Championship Meet in Canton, OH.
The Larry Lyons Award is presented each year by the OHSSCA to a member coach in memory of one of Ohio’s most dedicated coaches, Larry Lyons. Larry served the OHSSCA tirelessly in many capacities. To be nominated, a member must have served on the executive committee and volunteered service to the coaches association in the same spirit as did Larry Lyons.
Coach Peterson is in his 23rd year as Head Coach of the Boys and Girls Swimming & Diving programs at Shaker Heights High School. Congratulations, Coach Peterson, on this outstanding and well-deserved recognition!
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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
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Lomond Celebrates Black History Month
Lomond Elementary School recently held a Community Meeting for Black History Month! This was organized by Grade 3 Teacher Alesha Edwards and Education Support Specialist AJ Jennings, and led by our MAC Scholars! The assembly featured a performance from the Middle School Step Team, a vocal performance from Mrs. Edwards and the MAC Scholars, and African drumming by Mr. Jennings and Lomond students!
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From the Margins to the Center, Vol. LXVIII — Discovering The Hidden Figures of the Black Studies Movement
February 22, 2026
By Lawrence Burnley, Ph.D., Chief Inclusive Excellence and Engagement Officer, Shaker Heights Schools
Editor’s note: Missed last week? Due to Google email formatting, our previous edition required an extra click and was missed by some readers. For your convenience, here is Vol. LXVII. We encourage all readers to click “View entire message” when they receive the weekly eNews.
We are celebrating Black History Month at a time when we’re witnessing government-sponsored efforts to remove Black History and Black Literature in various K-12 districts and other institutions across the nation. Even national programs, like AP African American Studies, have faced pressure to remove contemporary topics like Black Lives Matter and the works of Black feminist scholars.
Historically, Black/African American youth have been the vanguard of civil and human rights in the U.S. as well as in countries throughout Africa and the African diaspora. We see this in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s (SNCC) nonviolent struggle to dismantle racial segregation and fight for voting rights. Students who sacrificed everything in Soweto, South Africa in their protest against apartheid provide another example of student agency.
This week, “From the Margins to the Center” highlights a group of “hidden figures;” courageous students whose activism led to the establishment of various Black Studies departments at colleges and universities across the United States. This Black Studies Movement played a significant role in sparking other student-led movements that brought the histories, cultures and scholarship of other minoritized communities from the margins towards the center of curriculum at every level of formal education.
It is critical for all students to see their own history and culture at the heart of the core curriculum. This is not just about academics; it is about the right of every student to see themselves reflected in their learning, fostering the positive self-esteem necessary to lead. We celebrate the 1960s and ’70s student protesters who understood this truth, sparking the movement that gave birth to Black Studies.
Additional Resources for African American History
Black Studies: Its Origin and Place in the Twenty-First Century (2025)
Ethnic Studies: A Movement Born Of A Ban
Black Consciousness Movement: South Africa
Association for the Study of African American Life & History
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Sources for Discovering Hidden Historic Figures
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Don’t miss your chance to sip espresso in a Roman piazza, explore the historic streets of Prague, or catch 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: 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. Good luck! The raffle closes on Saturday, March 14 at 10 p.m. EST. The winner will be announced at the event. Need not be present to win. Must be 21 & over. Proceeds benefit all students at Shaker schools.
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Support Shaker Schools Foundation at Cavs Game
Join us for Shaker Schools Foundation Night at the Cleveland Cavaliers game on Tuesday, March 3 vs 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!
| Quick Links: Opportunity Assistance, Enrichment Grants, Donations, More Info! Please follow the Shaker Schools Foundation on our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. | |
Friday Night Skate Extended Session February 27
Kick off the weekend with an extended skate session featuring a live DJ at Thornton Park Ice Arena, 7:45-9:45 pm. Regular public skating admissions fees and policies apply. Concessions available for purchase.
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Black History Month via the Shaker Life Archives: Donna Whyte
This week for Black History Month, we spotlight longtime Moreland resident/Cleveland State University professor Donna Whyte, who, along with John Dutton, has co-hosted the Witness to History Zoom talks for nearly six years.
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