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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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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Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, February 11
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K-12 Conference Day (No School for Students PreK-12) | Thursday, February 13
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K-12 Conference Day (No School for Students PreK-12) | Friday, February 14
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Presidents’ Day (Schools and Offices Closed) | Monday, February 17
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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 Students Excel on Clarinet
Fifth-grade students at each elementary school rotate through multiple instruments to learn a variety of new skills. Students at Fernway Elementary School made tremendous progress on the clarinet, and will likely learn a new instrument soon!
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Monitoring Notice for Senate Bill 29
The Shaker Heights Schools are committed to providing students with access to technology for educational purposes within the school environment. To that end, the District may provide students with school-issued devices during the school year. General monitoring is permitted in certain circumstances, and in any year a school district elects to implement general monitoring, parents of enrolled students must be provided notice of such general monitoring per Senate Bill 29.
As a result, the District is notifying you that it implements general monitoring when:
- The activity is limited to a noncommercial educational purpose for instruction, technical support, or exam proctoring;
- The activity is permitted under a judicial warrant or subpoena unless otherwise prohibited by state or federal law;
- The device is missing or stolen;
- The activity is necessary to prevent or respond to a threat to life or safety, and the access is limited to that purpose;
- The activity is necessary to comply with federal or state law;
- The activity is necessary to participate in federal or state funding programs.
This information was previously shared with you in October, but it has been updated as a result of the recent House Bill 432. If you have any questions about the District’s general monitoring practices, please contact John Rizzo, Executive Director of Technology, at rizzo_j@shaker.org.
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Attendance Reminders: Show Up and Shine
Regular school attendance is important for your student’s well-being, learning and long-term success. Review these tips to keep your student healthy and in school. As we approach the midway point in the school year, absences can add up quickly. A student is chronically absent by missing just two days every month. You can login to the PowerSchool Portal at https://ps-sh.metasolutions.net, and click Chronic Absenteeism to view a summary of your student’s attendance data.
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Upcoming Family Nights for Rising Grade 6 and Grade 9 Students
A series of Family Nights for rising Grade 6 and Grade 9 students and families have been scheduled for early 2025. These orientation sessions will provide valuable information for families and students transitioning to the Middle School and High School for the 2025-2026 school year. The Middle School will host Rising Grade 6 Family Nights for the five elementary schools on the following dates (Onaway already took place on January 8):
- Lomond: January 13
- Fernway: January 14
- Boulevard: January 27
- Mercer: January 29
All sessions will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. The sessions will feature an administration-led overview of the Middle School and a tour of the school, as well as games and activities for students. Families are welcome to attend any night if they are unavailable on their school’s designated date. Families new to Shaker are also welcome to attend any date. Additionally, the High School will host a Rising Grade 9 Family Night on February 6 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the SHHS Large Auditorium for parents and their students.
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Informational Meeting for Adults Visiting South Africa
In addition to the student trip to South Africa, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is 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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Upcoming MLK Day Events
Under the theme, “Many Voices, One CommUnity,” the City of Shaker Heights, in collaboration with the Shaker Heights City School District, the Shaker Heights PTO, the Shaker Schools Foundation, and the Shaker Heights Public Library, presents the following events in celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Arts-Inspired Celebration
- On Thursday, January 16, at 7 p.m. in the Shaker Heights Middle School auditorium, 20600 Shaker Boulevard, this soul-stirring event will feature photographer Donald Black and spoken word poet Ali Black performing a commissioned work; live music by Dave Gulley and the Cleveland Chorale; dance performed by the Shaker Heights High School group, Sankofa; recitations; and an intergenerational art exhibit of works by local seniors and Shaker Heights Middle School students.
Community Conversation and Meal Catered by Zanzibar
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On Sunday, January 19, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Saint Dominic School cafeteria, 3455 Norwood Road, the public is invited to “Achieving the Beloved Community: It Starts with Me.” In the spirit of Dr. King’s “beloved community,” residents are invited to share a free meal catered by Shaker Square-based Zanzibar Soul Fusion, and participate in a discussion with neighbors around the question: What can we do to make sure Shaker Heights is a beloved community? Note: while the St. Dominic address is Norwood Road, the parking lot entrance is on Van Aken Boulevard. Free event but registration is required at shakerheightsoh.gov/community-meal.
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Upcoming Sankofa Performances
Would you like to experience an exciting evening with the Cleveland Cavaliers and show your support for Sankofa? We have the perfect opportunity for you! Sankofa will be performing at the Cavaliers vs. Hawks game on January 30, from 6:15-6:35 p.m. on the main concourse level of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, just before the game begins at 7 p.m.
If you can’t attend this particular game, don’t worry — there are two more chances to enjoy a Sankofa performance! You can catch them at the Cleveland Charge game on February 7 at the Cleveland Public Auditorium, or at the Cleveland State Vikings game on February 12 at the Wolstein Center.
Tickets for the Cavaliers game and Sankofa’s performance can be purchased now at this link. Tickets for the Charge and CSU games will be available mid-January. We hope you can join us for these unforgettable performances and support this incredible program!
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Chief DEI Officer Visits Mercer Kindergarteners
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Lawrence Burnley regularly visits the school buildings for his “Substitute for a Day” program. Last week, he visited with a kindergarten class at Mercer Elementary School. Dr. Burnley engaged with the students during their classroom activities, including morning songs and a video with exercise choreography to kick off the day!
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By William Warren, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program Coordinator, Shaker Heights Schools
Happy New Year from the Shaker Heights Schools Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion! We hope that 2025 is off to a fantastic start for you and yours, and we look forward to continuing our From the Margins to the Center (FMC) series. This week and next week’s features will be centered around the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in advance of the observance of Martin Luther King (MLK) Day on Monday, January 20.
If Dr. King was alive today, he would celebrate his 96th birthday on Wednesday, January 15. Since 1986, the third Monday in the month of January has been designated as a federal holiday to commemorate and remember Dr. King’s life, work and legacy as a tireless advocate for civil rights. Congressional support for a day of observance in King’s honor goes all the way back to the days following his assassination in 1968, yet several bills to make such a holiday into law failed to receive the required two-thirds vote in Congress. This prompted the popular singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder to make it his mission to advocate for MLK Day, hosting a rally in Washington, D.C. on King’s birthday in January 1981. Later that year, Stevie released “Happy Birthday” in honor of Dr. King, and the song’s popularity helped to generate public interest in making MLK Day a national holiday. Today, “Happy Birthday” remains one of Stevie Wonder’s most popular songs; he’s performed it for Nelson Mandela, Michelle and President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and most recently, Vice President Kamala Harris. So the next time you hear the Stevie Wonder version of “Happy Birthday,” sung at someone’s birthday party, think about the impact this popular song has had on cementing Dr. King forever in American history.
Additional Resources
CNN interview w/ Stevie Wonder on the importance of MLK Day
How Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” Helped Form Martin Luther King Day Holiday
“Happy Birthday” record sleeve featuring a message written by Stevie Wonder
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Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
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Countdown to A Night for the Red & White | |
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Saturday, March 8 will be an unforgettable evening at the stunning Agora Theater and Ballroom for the 33rd annual A Night for the Red & White at 7 p.m. Broadway star, Michael McElroy, a 1985 alumnus, will be our emcee for the night! This beloved fundraising gala supports the exceptional Shaker Heights City School District and its amazing students. We can’t wait to see you there! Buy your tickets today, and help us continue to make a difference!
Enjoy a night filled with:
- Live music with DJ by Gumbo Dance Party
- Student performances
- K-12 art exhibits
- Silent auction & raffle prizes
- Appetizers, cocktails, and dinner
Proceeds support our mission to Educate, Empower, Explore, and Engage Shaker students!
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Extended Friday Night Skate Session January 17
Start your MLK holiday weekend off at Thornton Park Ice Arena with an extended Friday Night Skate session, featuring a live DJ from 7:45-9:45 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase. Regular public skating admissions fees and policies apply.
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Chat with the Mayor and City Planners January 18
Got a question for Mayor Weiss or City planners? Stop by the Van Aken District Market Hall (between On the Rise and Craft Collective) Saturday, January 18 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for an informal chat. Members of the City’s Planning Department will be on hand to answer your recreation planning questions.
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