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 Conferences (No School for Students) | Monday, November 3
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Election Day (Schools Closed) | Tuesday, November 4
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Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, November 11
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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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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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Onaway Students Study Natural Resource Management
Onaway’s third-grade scientists have been busy exploring how to clean and protect one of our most valuable resources — water!
As part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Unit of Inquiry, Who We Are, students designed and tested their own water filters. They even got to use the water that Grade 3 Teacher Mr. Gillette collected from Lake Erie. Way to go, third-graders!
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Update on School Meals
In the midst of the government shutdown, the District would like to provide more information on the school meal program.
The District expends its own funds on school meals, then receives a reimbursement from the government at a later date. Please know that breakfast and lunch will continue to be provided at all of our school buildings with no interruption.
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Community Resources for Food Distribution
For families in need of assistance, there are various community organizations providing food at this time. Please see the list below for resources:
- Access 2 Equity provides free food at the Shaker Heights Main Library on Wednesdays from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Boulevard Room. The remaining dates are as follows - November 5, 19, 26, and December 3, 10, 17.
- United Way 211 provides free and confidential referral services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, connecting neighbors to almost 1,700 agencies. Simply call 211.
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The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has an interactive map for finding food distribution sites near you. Click the link or call 216-738-2067.
- In Shaker Heights, Little Free Food Pantries, outdoor pantry boxes with 24/7 access, are located at Christ Episcopal Church, 3445 Warrensville Center Road; East View United Church of Christ, 17300 Van Aken Blvd.; and Plymouth Church United Church of Christ and Heights Christian Church, both at 2860 Coventry Road.
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South Pointe Hospital, at 4180 Warrensville Center Road, has a food pantry available weekdays by appointment. Walk-ins are welcome on Thursdays, 1-3 p.m.
- Our Lady of Peace Church, just off Shaker Square, distributes pre-packed food bags on Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the church office, 12503 Buckingham Ave., Cleveland.
Please visit this food support list and the City of Shaker Heights website for additional locations throughout Greater Cleveland. If you have questions or need additional assistance, please reach out to the Office of Family and Community Engagement at 216-295-6268.
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Update from #FinanceFriday
Let’s hear it for the…faculty and staff! In this week’s installment of #FinanceFriday, we’re celebrating all of our faculty and staff. Each person who works for the Shaker Heights Schools, ranging from teachers to bus drivers to school counselors to support staff, works hard every day to support our students.
Personnel makes up approximately 80% of the District’s expenditures from the general fund. The general fund is funded in large part by operating levies. The Shaker Heights Schools are grateful to recruit and retain many talented professionals to provide an unparalleled education for our students.
Swipe through the photos to see a few familiar faces!
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Donate to Warm Clothing Gifting Drive
The Warm Clothing Gifting Drive, hosted by the Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE), is returning this year.
As the temperatures change and you head to your coat closets, please place aside any gently used coats, hats, mittens/gloves, boots and snow pants that may no longer fit or are no longer needed. FACE will conduct a collection for new and gently used items for infants through adults beginning the week of November 3. Please ensure items are clean and in giftable condition. More details regarding drop off times and locations will follow. This year, FACE will also collect non-perishable food items.
The Warm Clothing Gifting Drive will take place on Saturday, November 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at East View United Church of Christ, 17300 Van Aken Blvd. in Shaker Heights.
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Disrupter University Climate Assessment Update
Three years ago, the Shaker Heights Schools contracted with Disrupter University (DU), a professional coaching organization designed to improve the climate and culture of organizations through engagement, ongoing learning and collaboration. The District contracted with DU to assess the experiences reported by Black/African American women leaders within the District. DU’s report was completed this spring.
A diverse staff group is now working to identify strategies and recommended action steps to implement in response to the DU report. The group expects to have some recommended action steps to implement in the coming months.
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Report Cards for Middle and High School
Report cards for the 1st grading period will be available this week on the PowerSchool Portal. Families of students in Grades 6-12 may login on Thursday, November 6, after 12 p.m., to view the report cards from the 1st grading period. Click this Help Doc for step-by-step instructions; email powerschool@shaker.org for assistance with PowerSchool access. Students in our K-5 elementary schools use a trimester calendar, so their report cards will be available in early December.
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SHHS Students Explore Careers in Construction
Shaker Heights High School students recently attended the "I built this" event hosted by ConstructReach! “I built this!” is an innovative program that provides a platform for construction companies, educators, students, household brands, and the surrounding community to gather for a day filled with learning, fun, and promise.
ConstructReach travels across the country each year to connect students with hands-on learning opportunities, ranging from real-life construction tasks to internships to site visits — anything from carpentry and fixturing to site framing. These high-energy, hands-on experiences get students excited about the possibility of a future in construction!
Thank you to the Shaker Schools Foundation for their support to make this event a reality for our students!
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By William Warren, Student Program Coordinator, Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement, Shaker Heights Schools
November 2, 2025
Native American Heritage Month has been observed in the month of November since 1990, when President George H.W. Bush issued a proclamation declaring November as a time to “recognize the achievements and accomplishments of Native Americans.” As we have covered in previous editions of FMC, the history of Native Indigenous tribes in America has long been misrepresented, even in educational settings. The story of “The First Thanksgiving” is often told without the Native Indigenous perspective, which portrays a much different picture but should be included in understanding how Native tribes and peoples have persevered throughout time.
This week’s “Hidden Figure” in Native American history is Mary Golda Ross, a member of the Cherokee Nation and the first Native Indigenous female engineer in the United States. Mary was the great-granddaughter of Chief John Ross, who helped to found the Cherokee Nation settlement in Oklahoma after the Civil War. After graduating college with a degree in Math in 1928, Mary taught math in Oklahoma for nine years, received her Master’s degree in Math and was hired by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in 1942. A brilliant engineer with a keen interest in astronomy and space, she earned a certificate in aeronautical engineering from UCLA in 1949, and contributed to several top-secret Lockheed aircraft projects as the only woman in the “Skunk Works” division. Mary retired in 1973, and continued to advocate for women and Native Indigenous youth to become engineers until her passing in 2008.
Additional Resources
2022 article honoring Mary Golda Ross with a statue at the First Americas Museum in Oklahoma
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
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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Explore the Universe Right Here at Shaker!
Get excited, our planetarium is getting a major upgrade!
The Shaker Heights High School Planetarium will feature the SkyExplorer projector with the new 2025 SkyExplorer software, bringing breathtaking visuals, a wider field of view, and interactive navigation for an even more dynamic journey through the stars.
For more than 50 years, the planetarium has inspired curiosity, wonder, and a lifelong love of science. Each year, more than 10,000 students, from PreK through Grade 12, experience hands-on, immersive STEM learning.
Here’s a look at Mrs. Brinza’s Grade 4 class from Fernway, discovering the wonders of the universe during their planetarium visit!
Interested in learning more? Contact us at foundation@shaker.org. Your support keeps this tradition of exploration shining bright! Every gift from $100 to $5,000 helps our students reach for the stars.
Donate today to help us continue our mission to Educate, Empower, Explore, and Engage!
| | Quick Links: Opportunity Assistance, Enrichment Grants, Donations, More Info! Please follow the Shaker Schools Foundation on our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. |
Warrensville West Cemetery Tour November 8
Did you know Warrensville West Cemetery is the final resting place of veterans from five wars? Join the Shaker Historical Society, Shaker Heights Public Library, and City of Shaker Heights on Saturday, November 8 at 10:30 a.m. for a cemetery tour to hear the stories of local veterans and to learn more about the Warrensville West Cemetery Historic Preservation Master Plan. The cemetery is on Lee Road, immediately south of the Heinen’s parking lot. Please register.
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Van Aken Bikeway Open House November 13
On Thursday, November 13, from 5:30-7 p.m., the City of Shaker Heights will host an open house about new bicycle facilities that will connect the Van Aken District to Lee Road. Make plans to join engineers and city planners at St. Dominic School (19000 Van Aken Blvd.) to learn about these new facilities coming to Van Aken Boulevard and share your feedback. A brief presentation will precede the open house.
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