August 2018
Students take a break from cooking in Shaker Schools' Summer Exploration Learning and Fun Program AVI Culinary Camp in July. This was the District's third summer for the program.
The Shaker Schools Connection

A Message from the Interim Superintendent
Thank you to everyone for your support of Shaker Schools. Everything that I know about the strength of the Shaker Heights community and its neighborhoods, the top-notch service of the City's emergency response teams, and the capacity and professionalism of our District staff was confirmed in so many extraordinary ways this past month. I can't overstate the District's appreciation for the Shaker Heights and broader Northeast Ohio community's response to the Fernway fire.

We have worked hard to develop a shared-school plan for Fernway School at Boulevard, Onaway and Woodbury. Those four schools are collaborating at an extraordinary level that we all can be proud of. Please know that District staff are working on a plan to improve available parking spaces around these schools, which we expect to announce in a few weeks. This is just another hurdle in our journey together, but if history is an indicator of how this community and the District handle a challenge, then we'll come through to the other side of this stronger.

Looking ahead, I'm eager to start the 2018-19 school year! Over the summer, we've put the finishing touches on several new initiatives this school year, including a new system for families to update student information, online report cards for Grades 5-12, a new sports and athletics website and more. Construction crews were busy at most of our schools, ensuring that our buildings continue to be warm, safe and dry for students, faculty and staff. On August 22, our District will be ready to deliver another year of a high-quality, Shaker education for all of our students.

I hope that all Shaker families, students and staff enjoy these final days of summer. We'll see you on the first day of school!

Sincerely, 

Dr. Stephen M. Wilkins
Interim Superintendent of Schools



Back-to-School Checklist
Make sure you're prepared for the first day of school with our interactive Back-to-School Checklist online. Use the checklist to:
Keep an eye out for our Back-to-School messages online, in your inbox and on social media starting this Wednesday, August 8!
NEW for the 2018-19 School Year
Update Your Student's Information Online
All families have received a notification by mail and email to update student information prior to the start of school in our new online system. This system replaces the traditional "goldenrod" form previously sent home the first day of school with students. Now, parents/guardians can update contact information (including phone numbers and email address to receive school news and alerts), medical information and annual permissions online. Visit update.shaker.org to update student information before the first day of school. Login credentials are based on the youngest enrolled student attending Shaker Schools:

Username: Student ID number of youngest Shaker student in household (Contact the Registration office for student ID numbers, 216-295-4321, registration@shaker.org)

Password: Youngest Shaker student's 8-digit date of birth without spaces or marks (mmddyyyy)
Biometric Finger Scanning
This year, Shaker Schools will implement a biometric finger scanning identification program in school cafeterias. This new system will improve security for your child's cafeteria account, eliminate clerical errors and provide students an easy and fast way to identify themselves when using the cafeteria. This technology has been in use for 10 years in Ohio and in more than 1,000 school districts across the country. Learn more about this program.
Online Report Cards for Students in Grades 5-12
Families with students in Grades 5-12 will access student report cards online via ProgressBook. Sharing report cards electronically streamlines the process of receiving final grades for families and represents significant savings in postage and service contracts for the District.

At the end of each grading period---every nine weeks at the High School and Middle School, and every 12 weeks at Woodbury---families will receive an email and text notification that report cards are available for viewing. Simply log in to your family's ProgressBook account as you would to view your student's grades and click on the new "Report Card" tab.

Families with incoming fifth graders will receive a letter that explains how to set up a family account in ProgressBook at the start of the school year.

The District will mail report cards home for students in Grades 5-12 by request only. Contact your building office if you would like a printed copy of your student's report card.
New Athletics Website
The Athletics Department is sporting a new look online and we think the changes will leave you cheering! There's a new up-to-date Athletics Calendar (sortable by Middle School and High School), space for news from our sports teams, a listing of our athletics venues, links to Final Forms and a link to buy yourself some Raider merch to show off your Raider pride. It's got a clean look and best of all, it's easy to navigate. Have a look around the new site and get ready for a winning 2018-19 Athletics season! Visit the new site: www.shaker.org/athletics
Lunch Menu Kids
Shaker Heights Schools is introducing video lunch menus starring PreK-Grade 4 students! (We'll still offer downloadable menus online for your reference.) Videos will be posted on social media each Sunday to help you and your student plan for the week. Does your PreK-Grade 4 student want to recite one of the daily menus on camera? Submit your information to Shaker's Lunch Menu Kids here

Shaker's Lunch Menu Kids will be named by August 10. Instructions on recording students will follow to those families.
The District Calendar is Available on Your Phone and Online!
For the most up-to-date calendar and the latest news from the District, be sure to download the free Shaker Schools App. It's available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. Enable push notifications to receive building- or District-level news and emergency alerts.

You can also add the calendar to your phone. Subscribe to your building calendar and events will pre-populate your iCal/Google Calendar. No more hand-recording your events! It's easy and paperless! Questions? Visit our FAQ.

Still like a paper calendar? Download a copy of our print calendar (please note that dates change, so be sure to check in with our calendar online) or pick up one of our limited number of print copies, which will be available for pickup at all school buildings and the District Administration Building later this month. We'll post on social media and on the District website when the calendars are delivered!
Reading Lists
For students in Grades 5-12, there's still time to finish up required reading. View book options, as well as assignments:
Curriculum Nights
Be sure to attend your student's Curriculum Night for an opportunity to meet teachers and to learn more about your student's year ahead.

Boulevard
Grades 1 & 2: August 30, 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Grades 3 & 4: August 30, 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Boulevard ELL/New International Families: September 6, 6:30-8 p.m.

Fernway
Mr. Hayward and Fernway staff are coordinating revised dates for Fernway Curriculum Nights with host schools. The District will share those new dates as soon as they are available.

Lomond
Grades K-4: August 30, 7-8 p.m.

Mercer
Grades K & 1: August 30, 6-7 p.m.
Grades 2-4: August 30, 7-8 p.m.

Onaway
Grades K-4: August 28, 7-8 p.m.

Middle School
Grades 7 & 8: August 29, 7-8 p.m.

Woodbury
Grade 5: September 5, 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Specials, Enriched Language Arts and Enriched Math: September 5, 7:15-7:45 p.m.
Garde 6: September 5, 7:45-8:30 p.m.

High School
All grades: September 6, 7-9 p.m.
News from Shaker.org
Fernway School Information
Fernway Update
Stay updated on the Fernway shared schools plan for 2018-19, as well as progress on cleanup at the school in our special Fernway Update section of shaker.org. You'll find information on:
SHHS Band Fundraiser for Fernway School
Come out and clap along to the Shaker Heights High School Marching Band's preview-halftime show performance at noon on Friday, August 17! The performance is free. The band will also have buckets available for those who wish to make goodwill donations to the Shaker Schools Foundation Fernway Fund. 
Mr. Berger, Mrs. Davis and Mr. Konopinski Win Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Award
High School Individuals & Societies teachers Brian Berger, Sarah Davis and Joseph Konopinski won the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Team Teaching Award for their work with Shaker Heights Schools' Bridges program.

Bridges is a cohort of students, supported by their classroom teachers, to increase the number of diverse students as well as student success in our Advanced Placement, Honors and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme courses. The Bridges program employs summer sessions plus all-year supports to enhance students' abilities to actively apply their learning on tests and academic projects. The ultimate goal is to create a pipeline of increasing numbers of African American, Hispanic, English Language Learner and students identified with specific learning needs into our highest level courses. Over three summers, the Bridges program has grown from serving students only in Grade 10 AP US History, to include four grade levels of Math Honors, Grade 9 English honors, two Grade 11 AP and DP History courses. Read more about the award.
Summer Construction Update
Several school buildings were under construction this summer for improvement and maintenance projects. Several projects are expected to be completed in the next two weeks, weather permitting and barring any other delays. Some highlights:
  • Paving on the High School's front parking lot was delayed when crews discovered that the base layer of the lot was deteriorated and required replacement. Crews expect the lot to be completed mid-month.
  • The retaining wall behind Onaway is nearing completion and is on schedule.
  • The parking lot replacement between Onaway and Woodbury is on schedule. The new parking lot will include 16 additional spaces.
  • The High School boiler repair project is on schedule and the elevator project is nearing completion.
  • Custodial crews continue to clean the buildings in preparation for the start of school.
Crews work to rebuild the Onaway retaining wall.
New Staff Appointments
Joseph Hernan Named High School Assistant Principal

Joseph Hernan, a former math teacher at Shaker Heights High School, was named Assistant Principal at the High School. Mr. Hernan replaces former Assistant Principal Ramsey Inman.

Mr. Hernan joined Shaker Heights Schools in 2013 as a math teacher and served as the Interim Assistant Principal for the first semester of the 2017-18 school year.

Earlier this year, he was named Middle Years Programme Coordinator for the High School's International Baccalaureate Programme. He also had served as a Coordinator for the District's Summer Exploration Learning and Fun program and was a coach of the High School's junior varsity baseball team.

Mr. Hernan earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education with a focus on Integrated Mathematics from Ohio University and his Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Ursuline College.
John Harlow Named Middle School Assistant Principal

John Harlow has been named Assistant Principal at Shaker Heights Middle School. He succeeds Miata Hunter, who was named Principal at the Middle School.

Mr. Harlow began his teaching career as a Corps Member Advisor at Teach for America in New York City. As an Advisor, he coached Corps Members to develop their skills as 21st Century teachers. Mr. Harlow also worked at the Renaissance High School for Musical Theater and Technology in New York City, where he taught social studies and served as a coordinator of student activities. Most recently, he was the Dean of Academics at Cleveland School of the Arts and was responsible for supervising and evaluating 18 full-time teachers, instructional coaching and professional development.

Mr. Harlow earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., and earned his Masters in Teaching from Pace University in New York.
District Team Attends International Baccalaureate Global Conference in San Diego
PYP Coordinators Shifa Isaacs, Denise Brown, Jennifer Goulden and Maria Baker at the IB Global Conference.
A team of Shaker Schools International Baccalaureate coordinators and two Instructional Coaches joined Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Terri Breeden and Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction David Glasner at the IB Global Conference in San Diego July 26-29.  More than 2,000 educators
from all over the world attended the conference. 

Instructional coaches Jocelyn Dietz and Ben Lehman were invited to present at the conference. Their presentation, "The ABC's of the QFT and SOLE: Frameworks for developing student questions into action," shared classroom-questioning strategies Shaker teachers use to promote inquiry-based learning across our District.

Employee Spotlight: David Boyer, Director of Operations
David Boyer, Director of Operations for Shaker Schools, was only ten days into his new job at the District when the Fernway roof caught fire. But Mr. Boyer, a U.S. Army veteran with more than 25 years of experience in public school operations, stayed calm and focused on planning for next steps at Fernway and ensuring that the rest of the District's seven schools and grounds would be ready to go for the first day of school. Learn more about Mr. Boyer.


Community Engagement: High School Summer Academy
For six weeks of summer break, a group of rising freshmen and sophomores participated in the seventh annual Summer Academy program at Shaker Heights High School. The program was started by a gift from the Classes of 1950 and 1951 and is offered to rising minority ninth and tenth graders with a GPA of 2.5 or below. The program runs from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and splits the days: mornings for academics and afternoons for personal enrichment. Enrichment opportunities include teaching disabled youth to ride bikes, packing boxes at the Cleveland Food Bank and taking trips to area universities. 

"This program helped me grow over the past two years," said rising Sophomore Zakir Waggoner. "I've learned more about values and good life lessons and we talk about what we can do to benefit and improve our lives."  Read more about the Summer Academy .

Summer Academy students perform a poem on stage at the Summer Academy Showcase.

FROM THE CITY OF SHAKER HEIGHTS

Moreland Roll 'N Stroll
Saturday, August 4, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

History comes to life at the Moreland Roll 'N Stroll, a neighborhood-centered, self-guided, walking/biking tour and scavenger hunt in southern Moreland. Everyone is invited to this fun, interactive, intergenerational event to learn about the history of this remarkable neighborhood. This free event begins and ends at The Dealership (3558 Lee Rd.). Registration 9:30 a.m.; tour starts at 10 a.m. Stay until 2 p.m. for live music, games, art, and other activities following the tour.
We Want your Feedback
Have a comment, suggestion or concern? Share it with us using our new Feedback form on the District's website, www.shaker.org . Simply choose the "Contact" drop-down menu at the top of the website and click on "Feedback." You can select the particular department you want to receive your message.  

QUICK LINKS
LEARN MORE AT  SHAKER.ORG
Stay Connected
15600 Parkland Drive, Shaker Heights OH 44120
 shaker.org ยท 216-295-1400