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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Rosh Hashanah (Schools and Offices Closed) | Tuesday, September 23
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Yom Kippur (Schools and Offices Closed) | Thursday, October 2
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Alumni and Community Band Day | Friday, October 3
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Tag Day | Saturday, October 4
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Board of Education Meeting | Thursday, October 9
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Raider 5K and Fun Run | Saturday, October 11
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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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Lomond Students Win Local Essay Contest
Congratulations to Lomond Elementary School students Lucas Catalogna and Anandi Patel! These students were honored in the 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest, hosted by East View United Church of Christ in Shaker Heights. Lucas earned 1st place and a $150 scholarship in the Grade 4-6 division, while Anandi took 2nd place and a $75 scholarship in the same category.
Their thoughtful essays explored how we can build a more equitable and inclusive Greater Cleveland community — a reflection of Dr. King’s enduring legacy. Well done, Lucas and Anandi!
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Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement
As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our school community, we’re updating the name of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Moving forward, it will be known as the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement, which reflects our mission and the work we do in partnership with students, staff and families. To better align with the new name of the office, there are two updates titles:
- Dr. Lawrence Burnley, Chief Inclusive Excellence and Engagement Officer
- Will Warren, Student Program Coordinator, Office of Inclusive Excellence and Engagement
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SHHS Alumni/Community Band Returns on October 3
The SHHS Alumni/Community Band returns on Friday, October 3, under the Friday night lights! We’ll also have our first ever Alumni Raiderette Feature. Anyone with a connection to “The Pride of Shaker Heights” can join. Alumni, band parents, staff members, Shaker residents, you name it! All musicians in our extended community are welcome, including SMS students if they are accompanied by a participating adult or current band member.
For alumni and community members joining the Raiderettes, a choreography video from our current Raiderettes will be shared for you to learn on your own before the rehearsal. For alumni and community band participants, band directors will follow up with links to the sheet music, audio recordings and videos.
Alumni and community members are welcome to hang out with the band after half time. Click here to sign up for this event, and wear your Shaker gear!
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Check on Student Attendance Records During Attendance Awareness Month
As we continue to recognize Attendance Awareness Month, we encourage students to Show Up and Shine in Shaker. Our attendance goal for each student is to be absent 5% or less in the 2025-2026 school year; we are aiming for 8 days or less, but exemplary is best! The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce defines this as “satisfactory” attendance.
Now that school has been in session for about a month, how is your student doing? You can check your student’s attendance records in the PowerSchool Portal at https://ps-sh.metasolutions.net/. Click the Grades and Attendance button or the Chronic Absenteeism button along the left sidebar for details.
Use your attendance tracker magnet to record and monitor attendance. Contact your school office if you need a magnet for a student in grades K-12.
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Youth Players Invited to SHHS Boys Soccer Youth & Senior Night
All Shaker Heights elementary and middle school students are welcome to the SHHS Boys Soccer Youth & Senior Night on September 30 at 7 p.m. The game and event will take place at the Shaker Heights High School stadium. Free admission for youth players in soccer jerseys. Please arrive by 6:30 p.m. if you’d like to watch the Senior Ceremony and learn more about our senior players and their soccer journeys. Please arrive by 6:50 p.m. to walk out with a player during pre-game announcements (look for a volunteer by the field after the ceremony concludes.) Youth players are invited to play soccer on the field at half-time.
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Register Now for the Shaker Raider 5K & Fun Run!
Get ready to lace up your running shoes and join us for the Shaker Raider 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run — a fun-filled event for students, staff, families, alumni and community members of all ages and fitness levels!
Whether you’re racing to beat your personal best or enjoying a leisurely walk with friends and family, this event is a fantastic way to show your Shaker spirit and support our community. The PTO units from each of our eight school buildings have worked together, and alongside the Shaker Schools Foundation and School District to bring this event to reality. All money raised will go directly to the schools!
Shaker Raider 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run: Saturday, October 11
Location: Shaker Heights High School Football Stadium
Race begins at 9:30 a.m. (check-in starts at 7:30 a.m.)
Register by Sunday, September 21 to guarantee your preferred t-shirt size! If you are unable to participate, you can still support the cause by donating to the cause via the link as well. Register HERE!
Bring your energy, enthusiasm and Raider pride! Every step helps support a great cause, and we can’t wait to see you out on the course. Go Raiders!
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SHHS Students Attend Activities Fair
Hundreds of students attended the Activities Fair at Shaker Heights High School this week! Students in numerous extracurricular activities packed the North Gym on Thursday afternoon to showcase their clubs and recruit new members. All students have the opportunity to find something they are interested in, as the High School offers clubs ranging from esports to dance to engineering, and so much more. Students signed up for clubs, hung out with their friends, and enjoyed ice cream treats during the activity fair!
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From the Margins to the Center, Vol. LII — Discovering the Hidden Figures of Hispanic Heritage Month: Sylvia Mendez
By William Warren, Student Program Coordinator, Office of Inclusive Excellence & Engagement, Shaker Heights Schools
Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) is a nationally recognized time to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of Hispanic/Latinx Americans. Originating as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, HHM is observed from September 15 to October 15 on purpose, as several Latin American countries celebrate the anniversary of their nation’s independence from colonization. In keeping with this year’s FMC theme of “Discovering the Hidden Figures in our History,” we present a feature on Sylvia Mendez.
Sylvia’s parents, of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, moved their family to Orange County, California in 1944. Her parents sought to enroll their children in the nearby Westminster elementary school, which was majority white. The school refused to admit any Hispanic children, and advised Sylvia’s parents to enroll her at Hoover Elementary, a segregated school for Mexican-American students. The Mendez family hired civil rights attorney David Marcus, and filed a lawsuit arguing that segregation on the basis of ethnicity was a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The Mendez family won their lawsuit in 1946, which led to the state of California banning segregation in public schools in 1947. Mendez v. Westminster set legal precedent for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Sylvia went on to become an activist in her adult years, sharing her story and advocating for Mexican American civil rights. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.
Additional Resources
Sources for Discovering Hidden Historic Figures
KCAL News feature on Sylvia Mendez
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Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on the following social media platforms:
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Six Months Away from A Night for the Red & White
A Night for the Red & White returns on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Agora Theatre & Ballroom. Now in its 34th year, this event shines a spotlight on our students with inspiring performances, vibrant PreK-12 artwork, and a true celebration of Shaker pride, featuring:
- Inspiring student performances
- Vibrant PreK-12 artwork
- Dynamic raffle
- Delicious food
- Silent auction
- A packed dance floor featuring Gumbo Dance Party
Let’s celebrate, connect, and make a lasting impact together, as we continue our mission to Educate, Empower, Explore, and Engage! We can’t wait to see you there!
Are you interested in volunteering on our event committee? We’re always looking for new ideas and fresh energy! Contact Erica Verderber at verderber_e@shaker.org. For more information, visit shakerschoolsfoundation.org/events/.
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Shaker Speaks Featuring Producer/Director George Veras ’68 on September 24
George Veras takes us on his journey, from his beginnings right here in Shaker Heights to an extraordinary career around the world! George is a ten-time Emmy Award-winning producer and director, whose career has spanned sports, music, and global entertainment.
- From CBS Sports to the History Channel
- From Aerosmith to Kid Rock
- From Yanni concerts across the globe to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- From hosting PBS specials to CWRU Adjunct Professor of Sports Business
- From Shaker Heights to NYC!
The event is hosted by a Shaker family in their lovely home on Wednesday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. Donations from the tickets will benefit the Shaker Schools Foundation Level the Playing Field fund, which provides scholarships for students seeking assistance to participate in youth sports. Join us! Purchase your tickets 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.
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Heights Bicycle Coalition Bike Ride September 23
Make plans to join the Heights Bicycle Coalition Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. outside the Shaker Heights Public Library Main Branch (16500 Van Aken Blvd.) for a fun, 8- to10-mile group bike ride at a casual pace (no riders left behind). Volunteer ride leaders and ride support will be on hand to keep everyone safe and help with minor tune-ups. Ride begins at 7 p.m.
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Grow Not Mow Event September 27
On Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., celebrate National Public Lands Day with the City of Shaker Heights, The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes by volunteering to plant native trees and plants, and remove invasives at a site adjacent to the Doan Brook. Tools, gloves and great company will be provided. Come dressed for the weather. Click here to register.
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