September 11, 2020
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!
Visit our District Calendar online for a complete list of upcoming remote learning student activities, virtual events and athletic competitions.

Please check the calendar frequently as some event dates have changed during this period of remote learning.

Mark your calendars for the following District-wide events and closures:

  • Board of Education Work Session | Tuesday, September 22, 5 p.m.
  • Yom Kippur, No Classes | Monday, September 28
Shaker Heights Schools COVID-19 Dashboard
The Ohio Department of Health has issued an order that requires K-12 schools to report and notify parents/guardians and local health departments when students, teachers, staff members or coaches test positive for COVID-19. The order also states that parents and guardians are encouraged to report positive cases to schools.

Each day at 4 p.m., the District Communications Team posts an updated COVID-19 Dashboard that indicates the number of active and cumulative reported COVID-19 cases among students and staff at Shaker Heights Schools. The Dashboard also shows COVID-19 cases by school building. In compliance with this order, the District will notify appropriate families and staff by email when a staff member, classmate, teammate and/or bus rider (if applicable) tests positive for COVID-19.
Weekend Meal Distribution Begins September 11
On Friday, September 11, the District will begin providing free weekend breakfast and lunch to any student under the age of 18. Please review the meal distribution schedule and pickup locations below:

  • Monday: Distribution of Monday lunch, Tuesday breakfast and lunch, Wednesday breakfast.
  • Wednesday: Distribution of Wednesday lunch, Thursday breakfast and lunch, Friday breakfast.
  • Friday: Distribution of Friday lunch, Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch, and Monday breakfast.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources
Each week, Dr. JeffriAnne Wilder, the District’s Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will share resources with our school community that address the issues around equity and race.

This week, Dr. Wilder invites you to listen or subscribe to these podcasts:
  • Nice White Parents, a five-part podcast that explores the origins and complexities of public school integration since the 1960’s. The podcast was produced by The New York Times and Serial.
  • Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice.

Dr. Wilder invites your feedback and discussion on these resources. You may email her at dei@shaker.org.
Chromebook Repairs, Hotspot Use & Tech Tips
The Shaker Heights Schools IT Department shares this helpful information regarding technology: 
  • If a student’s District-issued Chromebook is in need of repair, only one repair ticket is needed per Chromebook. Our IT team members address Chromebook repairs in the order they are received. We thank you in advance for your patience. 
  • At this time, the District cannot guarantee the availability of a loaner Chromebook to those who have Chromebooks in need of repair. We ask that families work with teachers while a student’s Chromebook is being repaired to make alternate arrangements during remote learning. 
  • The District IT team is working to make repairs as quickly as possible during the start of the school year. The current turnaround time on a typical Chromebook repair is less than one business day. 
  • Families who have District-issued hotspots should avoid keeping the device plugged in all the time. Please fully charge the hotspot and use it until the battery needs to be recharged. Keeping the device attached to a power source may cause it to overheat, which can damage the battery and lead to device malfunction.
  • If your Wi-Fi speed at home seems slow, review these Tips for Improving Your Home Network for Wi-Fi troubleshooting and suggestions.
 
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we begin the school year in this remote setting. If you have additional questions about Chromebook repairs, please visit our Tech Resources & Chromebook Support page.
Selected Raider Games to be Livestreamed
The Athletic Department has created Live High School Games page so that Raider fans can still enjoy watching student-athletes compete via livestream!

Upcoming livestream games include:
  • Monday, September 12: 5 p.m., Girls' Varsity Soccer vs. Aurora

Please note: General admission tickets are NOT available to watch competitions in person and will not be available for purchase at competitions. By order of the Ohio Department of Health, ticket sales are limited to athletes' family members only. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Watch FACE Academy @ Home
Parents/guardians who want to learn more about Google 101, Google Sites, Google Classroom and Clever, Abre can watch our recorded FACE Academy @ Home sessions.
FACE Opportunity: Bellefaire JCB Discussion on Distance Learning
Bellefaire JCB, a Shaker Heights Schools community partner, will present "How Not to Be Distant During Distance Learning," a virtual discussion on Tuesday, September 22 from 7-8 p.m.

The session will include topics such as Zoom etiquette, creating structure, emotional well-being and more.
Champions Enrolling K-6 Students for Child Care Supports
Shaker Heights Schools families who require child care supports during the period of remote learning may now register for supervised remote learning centers provided by Champions, a KinderCare Education company.

Space in this program is very limited to allow for physical distancing requirements. Only students in Grades K-6 who are enrolled in Shaker Heights Schools or children of employees who are in Grades K-6 are eligible.

The Champions program runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Champions caregivers will support students during remote learning for Shaker Heights Schools as well as facilitate activities and curriculum during periods when students are not involved in remote learning experiences. Learn more about Champions.
Sign Up for the Shaker PTO Directory and Email List
The Shaker Heights Schools PTO has a new website: www.shakerpto.org!

Here's how to sign up for the PTO Directory and email:
  1. Visit www.shakerpto.org and click on "Register" to create an account.
  2. Fill in the requested information.
  3. Click "Verify my Email" and then check your email for a link to complete the process.
  4. Once you've verified you email address, log back in to complete your profile and to edit your directory preferences.
PTO Council Virtual Meeting on September 15
The PTO Council will hold a virtual council meeting on Tuesday, September 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. All are welcome to hear reports from individual school building PTOs and to learn more about PTO. Please email questions to: ptocouncilpres@gmail.com.

September 15 PTO Council Zoom Meeting details:
PreK-4 PTO Community Speaker Series Begins September 30
On Wednesday, September 30, all elementary school PTOs will host individual building meetings from 7-7:30 p.m. and then come together at 7:30 p.m. for a presentation by Dr. JeffriAnne Wilder, Shaker Heights Schools Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Stay tuned for more information.
Thank You for Showing Our Students Some TLC!
The Shaker Schools Foundation would like to thank all who donated to the TLC: Tech 2 Learn & Connect fund. Because of your generous donations, we made our $40,000 goal to fund high-quality headsets with microphones and computer mice for all of our K-6 students, to help them stay engaged with remote learning.

Says Mercer parent Kristen Romito, “Having the headphones and mouse have helped my kids to stay productive. The headphones help them hear better, and the mouse helps them navigate online easily, easing some frustrations that they had in the spring.”

The Foundation will continue to collect donations to the TLC fund so that we can provide helpful learning solutions to the ongoing needs presented by this pandemic. Thank you for your kindness and caring for our students! 
How Does the Census Affect You?
Federal allocations from Census results help fund a number of community programs including Head Start and free/reduced school lunches. Have you completed the Census yet? Visit 2020 Census online or call 844-330-2020.