District eNEWS

April 6, 2023

In this Issue

K-12 Gifted Information Night

Neurodiversity Family Network Parent Meeting and Issue 1 Information Session

K-6 Bison Fun Run

Softball Stadium Grand Opening

Department Spotlight: Equity & Community Engagement

Teacher Amy Hazelton Wins National Award

Q & A with SpongeBob Director Johnathan Luster

AQUA Installation

Message from the Board of Education

Josephine Chan

Welcome back! I hope everyone enjoyed their spring break and took the opportunity to get some rest and have fun! It is amazing how quickly time is flying by, and we are in the final stretch of the school year. There is still so much happening in the next two months. We are excited to cheer on the Beachwood girls softball team during the grand opening of their new stadium on April 12. Join us at 3:45 p.m. to celebrate this special milestone for the Beachwood community!

If you didn’t catch the fall musical, be sure to get your tickets for the April 14-16 performance of SpongeBob: The Musical. Also next weekend, the Bison track and field team is hosting on April 15 a Fun Run for students in grades K-6. Scroll down to read more about this exciting event. I also look forward to seeing the unique talents of our students during the White and Gold Talent Show on April 18 at 7 p.m.

In addition to these wonderful end-of-year events, the Board would like to wish all the families well during their Passover, Easter, and Ramadan observances.

Important Dates

APR 12

Softball Stadium Grand Opening

Beachwood High School

3:45 p.m.

APR 14-16

SpongeBob the Musical Beachwood High School

View showtimes

APR 15

Bison Fun Run

Beachwood Schools Calendar

Announcements

K-12 Gifted Program Information Night

The Beachwood gifted teachers are pleased to present a parent information night on Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at Beachwood Middle School. Parents of students in grades K-12 are invited to learn about Beachwood City Schools’ gifted programming. The presentation will provide information on the traits of gifted children, gifted identification, gifted services, and parent resources to support gifted children.

Neurodiversity Family Network Parent Meeting and

Issue 1 Information Session

Please join the Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network for a Parent Meeting and Issue 1 Information Session on Sunday, April 16. The parent meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Immediately following the parent meeting, the Neurodiversity Family Network has invited school board member Wendy Leatherberry to provide information and answer your questions regarding the bond issue. The meeting is located at the Cuyahoga County Public Library - South Euclid/Lyndhurst branch - Meeting Room B, 1876 Green Rd, Cleveland, OH 44121 (between Cedar and Mayfield).

Children can bring a quiet game/activity to play. For Minecraft, please make sure to update to the latest version in order to join the server. RSVP and view the agenda.

K-6 Bison Fun Run

Join the Bison track and field team for the K-6 Bison Fun Run on Saturday, April 15. Students in grades K-6 will compete in a 100-meter dash at the Beachwood Track Invitational. All participants will receive a T-shirt, snack bag, and award. The first place boy and girl in each age group will receive a medal. Check in starts at 9:30 a.m., and the event begins at 10:30 a.m. Pre-registration is $15 or $20 at the door. Sign up!

Softball Stadium Grand Opening

The girls varsity softball team is gearing up for their first-ever home game in the new stadium on Wednesday, April 12! The grand opening kicks off at 3:45 p.m. with free hot dogs, popcorn, and snow ice for fans. The program includes speeches from members of the Bison athletics department, school and city officials, alumni, and team captains followed by a ribbon cutting. Game time starts at 4:45 p.m. The stadium is located at Beachwood High School at 25100 Fairmount Blvd. Rain dates are April 13 and April 14.

Department Spotlight

Featuring updates from the different departments that make

Beachwood Schools thrive

Equity & Community Engagement: Many Cultures,

One Bison Summit 2.0

Supported by the department of Equity & Community Engagement, students from the Many Cultures, One Bison leadership team held the Many Cultures, One Bison Summit 2.0 on March 23 -24. Many Cultures, One Bison was originally started in 2018 by a group of students from Beachwood High School MAC Scholars and Student Council who sought to counter ignorance and bias in school and the community by celebrating and exploring the diversity of the high school student body. The purpose of the summit was to provide students with the opportunity to learn about and engage in meaningful dialogue about the diverse perspectives represented in our school district and the greater community.

Fast forward to the post-pandemic. A new group of students from the Beachwood High School and Beachwood Middle School student councils expressed a desire to explore these topics again. With the assistance of Superintendent Dr. Robert Hardis, Director of Equity & Community Engagement Kevin Houchins, Student Council Advisor Craig Alexander, High School Assistant Principal Aubrei Erkins, High School Principal Paul Chase, Hilltop Principal Dr. Octavia Reid, and Middle School Principal Dr. Tony Srithai, student leaders began meeting before school on Wednesday mornings in December. They listened to speakers, participated in facilitation training, and formed various groups in preparation for the restart of the Many Cultures, One Bison programming.

Brought back for a second time as the keynote speaker was Dr. Terrel Strayhorn, Professor of Higher Education at Illinois State University and CEO of Do Good Work. Dr. Strayhorn kicked off each day with a rousing speech on how to build a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. The keynote was followed by breakout sessions with presenters addressing important topics to help students and staff understand more about each other. The breakout sessions were led by a diverse panel of speakers presenting on a variety of topics that help support improving inclusion:

Dr. James Knight: How can cultural humility serve as a tool to create more civility and inclusivity?
Kelly Fishman: How can Beachwood Schools become a model Anti-Defamation League No-Place for Hate school?
Micheal Tennant: What are the strategies or practices that develop empathy?
Neurodiversity Family Network: What experiences help neurodiverse students feel included in the school community?
Nancy Liang: What actions can students and school staff take to embrace other cultures on a daily basis in school?
Shereen Naser: What can students and school staff do to discuss challenging topics and conflicts with civility?

In addition to the breakout sessions, Many Cultures, One Bison student leaders facilitated small-group student discussions that attempted to help students connect with each other across their varied backgrounds. These sessions were led by students and staff trained on how to facilitate productive group discussions. By building these student leaders’ ability to lead discussions, the foundation has been laid for these students to hold Many Cultures, One Bison activities to build community and inclusion throughout the coming years.

News & Highlights

Math Teacher Amy Hazelton Wins Distinguished Teaching Award

Congratulations to Amy Hazelton for winning the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America. This national education prize is awarded annually to middle and high school math teachers for their outstanding work to increase students’ interest in mathematics through participation in American Mathematics Competitions. Ms. Hazelton was recognized for the dedication she brings to teaching and her passion for helping the next generation understand the impact of mathematics on our world. “This award is amazing to receive,” said Hazelton. “I have loved teaching mathematics for over 20 years and sharing the beauty and fun of math to middle school students.

Q & A with SpongeBob: The Musical Director Johnathan Luster

The Bison Drama Club has been hard at work rehearsing for the opening of SpongeBob: The Musical, April 14-16. We interviewed Director Johnathan Luster about this year’s laugh-out-loud spring performance.

Who are the primary cast members?

The musical stars Eli Ward (grade 7) as SpongeBob, Michael Karas (grade 10) as Patrick, Ja’Niya Rahman (grade 11) as Sandy, Aidan Ward (grade 11) as Squidward, Arielle Epstein (grade 11) as Mr. Krabs, Julian Landes (grade 12) as Plankton/Patchy the Pirate, Rachel Kantarovich (grade 10) as Pearl, Ana Ribeiro Duraes (grade 12) as Karen, and several other extremely talented cast members.

Why did you choose SpongeBob as the spring play?

SpongeBob Squarepants has always stood for something more. The show is filled with valuable themes such as acceptance, positivity, friendship, self-worth, and so much more. It is also a lot of fun!

What is unique about this production?

This production has many unique elements. Our cast is given the task to create meaningful characters rather than caricatures of the sea creatures. The music is also very unique. Each song was written by popular artists, including Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic at the Disco!, David Bowie, and many more! If you are looking for a great story that is timeless, with great music and performances from our cast, this show is a must see!

Purchase tickets and view showtimes.

AQUA Arrives at Pinecrest

Students in the Marketing/Junior Achievement program at Beachwood High School installed massive raindrops in the shopping district today to educate visitors about the importance of clean water for health and well-being. Students talked with a reporter from Spectrum News 1 about the mission of AQUA and the inflatable structures designed by South African artist Neill Wright. The installation will pop up across Greater Cleveland through June 12. Proceeds from this creative fundraising campaign benefit Eriesponsible, a nonprofit that organizes Lake Erie beach cleanups. Read More.