All the news. All in one place. Every Friday morning.
Forward it to a friend.
News From Your School
Stay in the know on what's happening at school and read your student's school newsletter by clicking on the appropriate link below: 

News For All Families
Upcoming Events for the
2019-2020 school year! 

There is a lot going on in the PTO this year. All parents/caregivers of Shaker students are automatically members, and we encourage you to get involved with each school's PTO, or at the Council level that encompasses all Shaker schools. We welcome your ideas and involvement. For individual school newsletters and events, please click on the links included in this email. 

Kim Harris and Nicol Coxon
PTO Council Presidents


PTO Council Officers for 2019-20 School Year

President: Kim Harris and Nicol Coxon
Co-1st Vice Presidents: Stacey Hren and Sarah Divakarla
VP Communications: Cara Berg
VP Educational Enrichment: Dana Howard
VP Financial Management: Schen Griest
Vp Outreach/ Angel Chapman: Dalia Elimam
VP Parent Education & Advocacy: Jonida Morelli/ Linnette Ellison
Secretary: Laurie Pogel
Treasurer: Susan Armstrong
Nominating Chair: Anthony Peebles
PTO Mission Statement

The Shaker Heights Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is dedicated to facilitating the active and informed involvement of all parents and families to achieve the educational success and well-being of all children.
Dr. Glasner Releases 2019-20
Priority Areas of Focus

At the September 10, 2019 Board of Education Meeting, Shaker Heights Schools Superintendent Dr. David Glasner shared the District’s Priority Areas of Focus for the 2019-20 school year. 

These two priority areas of focus are:
Black student excellence
School culture and climate

These two areas have been identified through multiple data points and they align with our recently adopted equity policy, and with our District core values and mission statement.

Watch this video of Dr. Glasner , as he explains these priority areas of focus in more detail, as well as the District’s five areas for change and example action steps we can take to move toward these goals. You can also read about the priority areas of focus online .

Families Encouraged to Purchase the $25 One2One Chromebook Protection Plan
Families with students in Grades 5-12 are encouraged to purchase the optional $25 One2One Chromebook Protection Plan in their PayForIt accounts. Learn more about the plan .   

For $25 per Chromebook per year, a student’s Chromebook is covered for the following issues:
Broken glass screen
Charger port failure
Theft
Broken LED/LCD displays
Accidental damage
Power surge, fire and flood
Water damage
Loss
Vandalism
Touchscreen failure
Electrical failures 

Although not required, the District strongly encourages families to purchase the protection plan for each student Chromebook each school year. Review the fee schedule for Chromebooks not covered by the One2One Protection Plan. Please note: the plan does not cover AC adapters or the protective cases ( learn more ). The protection plan can be purchased at any time during the school year and only covers completed repair claims made AFTER payment has been received. 

Families may purchase the One2One Protection Plan in their PayForIt accounts. The optional fee is listed under “Fees” for each student who has been issued a Chromebook. Upon payment, the device issued to the student for whom payment was made will be covered for one academic school year. The $25 fee will not be prorated if paid after the start of the school year.
Opt-in to Receive Emergency and School Closure Text Messages from the District

Using SchoolMessenger, the District’s messaging system, our Communications Team can send parents and guardians text messages in the event of an emergency or school closure. 

If you would like to receive emergency and school closure text messages from the District, text “Y” to 67587 from the mobile device you’d like to receive texts on. Please note: you must text from the mobile number on record with the District (this is the number you provided to the District in your annual online student update).

It may take up to 24 hours for numbers to be updated from the District’s Student Information System database.

Thank you for helping us to ensure that you receive important information from the District.
Don’t Miss the SMS Rainbow Run
Today September 20th!
  Opening Ceremony 3:45 p.m. Run 4:00 p.m.
ALL Shaker students are welcome to attend!

All staff, students and families are invited to participate in our Fifth Annual Middle School Rainbow Run on Friday, September 20th. The color run is sponsored by our PTO and is our major community event and fundraiser of the year. The run concludes with a festival that includes food trucks and music. The route is a flat, easy run under two miles through the Shaker Middle School neighborhood. Register your runner or secure a sponsorship   here  and volunteer to help.
Celebrate Shaker Athletics at
Raider Hall Ribbon Cutting!

Shaker families, friends, and alumni: join us for a special ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate Raider Hall, located in the North Gym lobby at Shaker Heights High School, on Homecoming Weekend: Saturday, September 28 at 10 a.m. We will be unveiling a new photo mural that celebrates athletic excellence at Shaker over the decades - you’ll want to come and see who you recognize! Also, many individual and team awards, such as state and conference championships, will be on display.

The ribbon cutting event “kicks off” homecoming weekend, followed by the family-friendly Pre-Game Festival on the Oval at 11 a.m. and the Big Game vs. Solon at 1 p.m. We hope to see you all there. Go Raiders!!
Shaker Speaks: Intimate Conversations with Unique Voices

Shaker Speaks: Intimate Conversations with Unique Voice s

Join us on Sunday, September 29 at 2 pm, as Jamie Babbitt, ‘89, will share tales of her experience as a Los Angeles-based producer and director, including her work on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “GIRLS,” “Looking,” and “Silicon Valley” among other hit series and movies. 

Tickets are $50 each with proceeds benefiting the Shaker Schools Foundation. Each event takes place in a private Shaker home and details will be provided a week prior to the event. Seats are limited and selling fast, so reserve yours now! 
Boulevard MAC Scholars Cancer Awareness Fundraising Event

Help the Boulevard MAC Scholars Take action to support
The American Cancer Society!

Purchase Raffle Tickets Online October 1st-October 16th, 2019
20% of all proceeds will benefit The American Cancer Society
Go to Payforit to purchase!
Special Education News


Please click here to read the latest Special Education Updates .
Join the Chamber Orchestra for a fundraiser

Save the date!!! Monday, October 7th. Join the Chamber Orchestra for a fundraiser at Dewey's Pizza at 2194 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights from 4 pm -10 pm. Dewey's will donate 20% of each purchase to the Chamber Orchestra's trip to NYC in March where they will compete in the Orchestra Cup.  Flier must be shown for your purchase to count towards the fundraiser!
Get the Shaker Schools App for Calendar Alerts and News 

Download our free Shaker Schools app , available at the  Apple App Store  or at  Google Play . It's got the most up-to-the-minute event information and all the school and District news that's been posted to social media. Even better, you can  sign up for notifications and get daily or weekly alerts  on what's going on at your student's school. 
 
Read the   Calendar FAQ  for instructions on enabling push notifications on our app.
Shaker Schools
PTO Family Directory
 
One way we build community in the Shaker Schools is by connecting our families with a district-wide directory. The Shaker School Family Directory is convenient and user-friendly, accessible either online or on a smartphone. Shaker families maintain their own directory information and your information is encrypted and password protected. 

New Users :  click here   to sign up.
  • When you click on "Don't have an account? Signup Now" you will be prompted for the Zip Code. Use 44120.
  • If you already have an account, you will get a screen showing the emails associated with your account and an email will be sent with login information. Once you log in you can update your family's information as needed.
  • If you do not have an account, follow the prompts to create one. Once you login you can input your family's information, including as much or as little detail as you want. The program can accommodate various family arrangements.
  • Your information will go into a queue to await approval. Please allow a week for our PTO volunteer to approve your entry.
  • Once approved you will receive an email from ShakerSchools.FamilyDirectory@gmail.com with your login information and instructions how to connect.

Current Users: All your information carries over from last year. Once you login, you can change any information as needed. 

Smartphone Users: A to Z directories changed the smartphone app. When you open the app you will be prompted to connect to their new software through the website. You can save an icon to your home screen for easy access. Follow their prompts. 

Questions?  Contact  ShakerSchools.FamilyDirectory
Submissions
Each week, the PTO Council publishes The Weekly Update, highlighting school and district events for our families. Submit  proofread, unformatted items by noon on Wednesdays.
Stay Connected