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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PreK-12 Professional Day (No School for Students) | Monday, November 24
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PreK-12 Professional Day (No School for Students) | Tuesday, November 25
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Thanksgiving Break (No School, Administrative Offices Open) | Wednesday, November 26
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Thanksgiving Break (Schools and Offices Closed) | Thursday, November 27
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Thanksgiving Break (Schools and Offices Closed) | Friday, November 28
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Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, December 9
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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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Mercer Students Collect Items for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
In recognition of Veterans Day earlier this week, Mercer students came together to support the Sub Zero Mission, collecting shoes, winter clothing, sleeping bags, and other cold-weather essentials to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness stay warm this winter.
Students also made heartfelt cards to show appreciation for veterans. From writing messages of gratitude to stuffing the bus with donations, our students demonstrated compassion and enjoyed participating in community service. This project also helped our students learn to be "Reflective," one of the traits of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile!
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New Text Number for Shaker Heights Schools
As of Friday, November 14, the Shaker Heights Schools are using a new number for non-emergency text messages. General outreach texts will now come from 216-946-5030 instead of 53291. In the case of an emergency text, that would still come from 53291. Please save these numbers in your contacts so you will recognize messages from the Shaker Heights Schools.
Please note that recorded voice messages (such as school closure alerts or attendance calls) will continue to come from our main school phone number, 216-295-1400, as they always have.
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Work Underway on 2026-2027 School Year Calendar
The District is currently developing a proposed 2026-2027 school year calendar, which will be presented to the Board of Education at its December 9 meeting. Please note that any calendars previously discussed by the Board or posted on BoardDocs are inaccurate and should be disregarded. The calendar will be finalized and approved in early 2026.
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Improved Special Education Rating
On November 12, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce released the 2025 Special Education Ratings for all districts and community schools. The Special Education Rating for the District has improved from “Needs Assistance Year 2” to “Meets Requirements,” which is the highest rating. This improvement is grounded in the District’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) work. The significantly improved rating reflects the hard work educators have done to improve the District’s compliance and graduation rates.
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Attendance Data Update
Average daily attendance for Middle School and High School students improved during the first quarter (Q1) of the 2025-2026 school year, compared to the first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year. Conversely, chronic absenteeism dropped at both schools during that same period. The latest data show:
Shaker Heights Middle School
- 94.1% average daily attendance rate for Q1 (compared to 2024-25 Q1 = 93.4%)
- 16.8% chronic absenteeism for Q1 (compared to 2024-25 Q1 = 18.1%)
Shaker Heights High School
- 92.0% average daily attendance rate for Q1 (compared to 2024-25 Q1 = 90.2%)
- 25.8% chronic absenteeism for Q1 (compared to 2024-25 Q1 = 34.9%)
Research shows a clear connection between regular school attendance and academic achievement.
Beginning September 30, 2025, state law shifted from focusing on unexcused absences to supporting early intervention for students at risk of becoming chronically absent. Ohio law defines Chronic Absence as missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason. Students only need to miss 2-3 days per month to be chronically absent by the end of the year.
Last year, the District began including attendance data in its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The District has developed the KPIs to determine progress to intended outcomes articulated in the Five-Year Strategic Plan.
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IDEA-B and Title 1-A Meeting on December 3
The District will hold an annual federal funding meeting for IDEA-B and Title 1-A funds on Wednesday, December 3. The meeting will take place at Lomond Elementary School, 17917 Lomond Blvd., from 6-7 p.m. There will be an opportunity for public comment.
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Shaker Theatre Arts Presents Chicago November 20-22
Shaker Theatre Arts proudly presents Chicago: Teen Edition! A company of more than 40 students and adults is bringing the classic vaudeville-style musical to life on the SHHS Main Stage. Directed by Scott J. Sumerak, this co-curricular production engages students enrolled in multiple areas of the Performing Arts Department!
Support Shaker students by attending a show November 20-22 (each show begins at 7 p.m.) in the Large Auditorium at Shaker Heights High School, 15911 Aldersyde Drive. Tickets are $13 for adults, $8 for students and seniors. Click here to buy your tickets!
Shaker Theatre Arts is a proud member of the Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards community.
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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 being administered to select students in December.
Information about all of the assessments and our district assessment calendar can be found on the testing page of shaker.org.
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Onaway Scientists Test Design Skills with Egg Drop
Onaway’s fourth-grade scientists recently put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test by designing containers to protect eggs dropped from a second-story window! Using everyday materials, students explored how to cushion and support their fragile cargo while keeping weight — and cost — under control.
This project emphasized the "Inquirer" trait of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile. We're so impressed with our young scientists!
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From the Margins to the Center, Vol. LVIX — Squanto: The Hidden Figure of the “First Thanksgiving”
By William Warren, Student Program Coordinator, Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement, Shaker Heights Schools
November 16, 2025
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, FMC continues to acknowledge the “hidden figures” of Native Indigenous heritage who have contributed greatly throughout history. As Americans nationwide prepare to come together and observe Thanksgiving, we must acknowledge the historical inaccuracy often associated with Thanksgiving; it was not a sit-down meal between the English settlers known as “Pilgrams” and the Wampanoag tribe, incorrectly referred to as “the Indians.” It more than likely was a multi-day celebration of the first harvest by the Pilgrims, and a few Wampanoag members attended. However, traditional stories of the first Thanksgiving accurately mention a Native Indigenous man who showed the Pilgrims how to farm the land and harvest crops – his name was Tisquantum, better known as Squanto.
Squanto was a member of the Patuxet tribe and in 1614, he and several other Wampanoag tribe members were kidnapped by Thomas Hunt, an English slaver and sold into captivity in Spain. Catholic priests took custody of Squanto, taught him English and brought him to England. He managed to make his way back to the “New World” in 1619 to find his entire tribe decimated due to an epidemic of disease. Squanto took refuge with the Wampanoag and in 1621, moved to the Plymouth colony and served as an interpreter and a guide for colony leaders until his death from illness a year later.
Additional Resources
NBC News story on the factual story of Thanksgiving by Indigenous scholars
Sources for Discovering Hidden Historic Figures
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Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
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See the Impact of Your Generosity!
We’re excited to share our Fall 2025 Donor Appreciation Report, celebrating the incredible difference your support makes for every Shaker student. Be on the lookout, coming to your mailbox and inbox soon!
Last year, the Shaker Schools Foundation invested over $600,000 back into our schools, providing direct support for students, teachers, and programs across the District.
This year, we celebrate 44 years of service. As the first private foundation formed in Ohio to support a public school, we continue to forge our own path, building community resources that expand access and create meaningful opportunities in and out of the classroom.
Celebrate this milestone with us as we continue the legacy of investing in Shaker’s future. The Shaker Schools Foundation stands ready to meet new challenges, strengthen opportunities, and champion every student’s education.
Your gift to the Advancing Shaker Annual Appeal helps us respond to emerging needs, support teacher innovation, and open doors for Shaker students.
Want to see how we Educate, Empower, Explore, and Engage? Visit shakerschoolsfoundation.org or click the link in our bio to watch our mission video and see the impact of your generosity.
| | Quick Links: Opportunity Assistance, Enrichment Grants, Donations, More Info! Please follow the Shaker Schools Foundation on our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. |
Free Smoke Alarm & Installation
Smoke alarms save lives. Shaker residents who need a smoke alarm can sign up with the American Red Cross to get a free alarm installed by the Shaker Heights Fire Department. Need help installing an existing alarm? Call the Fire Department at 216-491-1200 to schedule an appointment.
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Open Call for Community Empowerment Grant Applications
Community Empowerment Grants of up to $2,500 are available for initiatives that foster engagement and belonging in Shaker. Recently funded programs include Skatefest; youth lacrosse clinics; and a community design workshop. Submit your application no later than December 31.
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