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 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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SHHS Students Work at Polling Locations
Democracy in action! On Election Day, several Shaker Heights High School students lent a hand at polling locations, supporting our community and learning firsthand about the civic process. We’re so proud of their commitment to service and citizenship!
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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 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 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
We’re back with another #FinanceFriday! This week, let’s take a look at the operating levy that passed on Tuesday!
Before looking at the numbers, we would like to say thank you to our Shaker Heights community. Your continued support of the District gives us the ability to continue to provide a world-class education to our community’s most cherished asset: our children.
Like public school districts across Ohio, we have been navigating rising costs, flat local revenues and state and federal cuts. Funds from this operating levy will help us maintain the following:
- Staff salaries and benefits
- Transportation
- Utilities
- Building maintenance
- Classroom supplies
- Extracurricular activities
Collections for the levy passed on Tuesday will begin in January. The District will receive approximately $12.5 million per calendar year from this operating levy. Thank you for your ongoing support!
As we head into the winter, we will shift gears on #FinanceFriday. You may not see it every week, but we will continue to feature how we use our resources to benefit Shaker students. Stay tuned!
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Renaissance Fundamentals Student Survey
After Thanksgiving break, all Shaker students in Grades 3 through 12 will be taking the Renaissance Fundamentals Survey. This is a computer-based survey composed of multiple choice questions. The survey identifies non-academic barriers to student learning and success, such as lack of confidence, motivation, and connectedness to school. It is administered to students in Grades 3-12 and takes about 15 minutes to complete. If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, you have the option to opt-out by completing the Testing form in the PowerSchool Portal by November 21. Use these directions for help with the online form.
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SHHS Spanish Students Celebrate Day of the Dead
Spanish teachers Sr. Cohen, Dra. Fogerty, Sra. Mazzie, and Sra. Ponce de Leon recently celebrated Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with their students!
Students created sugar skulls, papel picado, paper flowers, skeletons, and masks, and enjoyed beautifully decorated sugar cookies and Mexican candies. Día de los Muertos is a meaningful celebration that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed, reminding us of the importance of family, memory, and tradition. Cultural experiences like this are an essential part of learning a language and living the mission of an International Baccalaureate (IB) education.
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By William Warren, Student Program Coordinator, Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement, Shaker Heights Schools
November 9, 2025
This upcoming week, Veterans Day will be observed on Tuesday November 11. The holiday originated as Armistice Day: at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month at 11:11am in 1918, World War I officially ended. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill into law officially renaming Armistice Day to Veterans Day, as a way to honor all veterans who have currently or previously served in any branch of the armed forces. While the spirit of FMC “celebrates and recognizes historical and current lived experiences and contributions of marginalized and minoritized communities,” military veterans in America are also of a community in which people of color, women and differently abled persons have experienced discrimination and inequitable treatment. In celebration of their contributions to defending our freedom, we present this week’s “hidden figure”— retired Major General Angela Salinas.
Maj. Gen. Salinas enlisted in the US Marine Corps in May 1974 and spent 39 years in the service, rising to the rank of captain in 1985. In 1989, she became the first woman in the Marines to command a recruiting station at Recruiting Station Charleston in South Carolina. In 2006, Salinas was promoted to brigadier general and officially retired from active service in 2013 as the longest-serving woman in the history of the Marines. Salinas credited role models like Gail Reals, the first-ever woman to command a US Marine base, for inspiring her and trailblazing a path for women in leadership within the USMC. After retirement, Salinas became CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, and continues to advocate for women and others of color within military leadership.
Additional Resources
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Sources for Discovering Hidden Historic Figures
AARP feature on Major General Salinas’ military career
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Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
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To Infinity and Beyond: Help Keep a Shaker Treasure Shining!
We are upgrading our Planetarium and looking for your support to keep this Shaker treasure at the forefront of science exploration. Our goal is to give students access to cutting-edge technology, taking their learning to infinity and beyond!
Take off with us! Check out this video created by Bryan Child, SHHS Planetarium Director, a stunning flight from our SHHS football field to the Milky Way!
With your help, the Planetarium will continue to provide immersive STEM experiences for Pre-K through Grade 12 students for years to come. Every gift, from $100 to $5,000, helps our students Educate, Empower, Explore, and Engage. Donate Today!
| | Quick Links: Opportunity Assistance, Enrichment Grants, Donations, More Info! Please follow the Shaker Schools Foundation on our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. |
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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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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