January 9, 2022
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:

  • Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, January 11
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, No School | Monday, January 17
  • Professional Day, No School for Students | Friday, January 21
  • Board of Education Work Session | Tuesday, January 25
Forward Together

Forward Together is planning a series of opportunities in late January and early February to gather input on concepts that have been developed for the future of Shaker facilities. Please join us at one of the virtual meetings below to see the details of each concept and provide your input.

All meetings are in the same format, so choose the one most convenient for you.

January 27, 7-8pm
February 2, 6-7pm
February 3, 11am-12pm

Please visit ForwardTogehterShaker.com to sign up for a virtual meeting and receive the Zoom link. If you can’t attend a virtual meeting, an online survey will be available beginning January 27.
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines

The Shaker Heights City School District has updated its Health & Safety Guidelines in accordance with the updated Ohio Department of Health quarantining guidelines for school districts. 

Isolation & Quarantining
All quarantining and isolation practices for staff and students will follow Ohio Department of Health (ODH) / Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) recommendations. Please note that quarantine guidance will vary based upon the vaccination status of each individual as well as the location of exposure.

Isolation Guidance: COVID-19 Diagnosis
Vaccinated and unvaccinated students and staff diagnosed with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days (click link for additional details). The CDC recommends that individuals in isolation with a COVID-19 diagnosis should stay in a separate “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom if available. 

If the individual is asymptomatic or their symptoms have improved and they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication), students and staff can follow the 5-day isolation period with 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting other people (Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons). If the individual is unable to wear a mask when around others, the CDC advises continuing to isolate for a full 10 days.
 
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 while asymptomatic but subsequently develop symptoms should contact their school nurse (families) or the Human Resources Department (for staff) for additional isolation guidance.

Quarantine Guidance: Exposure in the Community/Home
The CDC and ODH have also revised quarantine guidance for when individuals are exposed to COVID-19 in the community or in the home. The new quarantine guidance shortens the number of days of quarantine and clarifies the definition for what it means to be fully vaccinated under the quarantine guidance.  
  • All individuals who have been exposed are advised to test 5 days following the exposure regardless of vaccination status. The date of exposure is considered day 0. 
  • Individuals who are less than 6 months out from the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or within 2 months of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or who have received a booster dose are not required to quarantine but must wear a mask for 10 days and monitor carefully for symptoms.
  • Individuals who do not meet the revised definition of fully vaccinated now have the option of a 5-day quarantine period, returning to school on the sixth day. They must wear a mask for the next 5 days and continue to carefully monitor for symptoms. 

Quarantine Guidance: School-Related Exposure
At this time, the District will continue to follow Ohio’s Mask to Stay/Test to Play quarantine guidance for K-12 school settings. This guidance outlines that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals identified as close contacts to a school-related exposure may continue to come to school if they do the following:
 
An unvaccinated or partially vaccinated student or staff member who has been identified as a close contact of a case through an exposure at school may continue to come to school if they do the following:
  • Wear a mask for 10 days after their last date of exposure.
  • Self-monitor, or parent-monitor, for symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Isolate and get tested if they start to experience any symptoms associated with COVID-19 regardless of level of severity.
Vaccination Opportunity

Emerald Direct Primary Care located in Beachwood is hosting vaccination clinics for all those eligible for the vaccination, including booster doses for those aged 12 and up. Vaccinations for children 5-11 are available on January 14, doses for those over 12, including adults, on January 21. Appointment information and booking can be found here.
Shaker Heights Livestream Athletic Schedule:

This week's schedule of livestreamed athletic events includes:
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  • Wednesday, January 12 | Girls Basketball, JV - 5, Varsity - 6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, January 15 | Girls Basketball, JV - 11:00am, Varsity - 12:30 p.m.

All livestream events can be found on the Athletic Department website.
Mercer Second Graders Become Podcasters

Second graders in Ms. Gerstenberger's class at Mercer had the chance to work with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Communication departments to develop questions for an upcoming episode of the District's podcast, Equity Unscripted. In addition to this full class activity, two students were selected to be guest interviewers, and get to record the episode this week of their interviews with Dr. Glasner and Dr. Burnley! They even practiced their interviewing skills with the support of their classmates.

In addition to learning how to curate thoughtful questions that would provoke interesting dialog, students also discussed the idea of educational equity and the purpose of the work being done throughout Shaker Heights Schools! Be sure to tune in to hear this very special episode on January 30!
Equity Unscripted Podcast

Be sure to catch up on all of the episodes of the Equity Unscripted podcast, available for download on all major podcast platforms.

Click here to see all of the topics covered in the first six episodes and be sure to like and subscribe to catch this bi-weekly series that asks students, parents, staff and community members to discuss and reflect upon the Shaker Heights Schools' journey in seeking educational equity.

If you have topics that you would like to share with us please email, dei@shaker.org.
Randi and I hope that everyone had a great holiday and a much-needed break. We are looking forward to a productive 2022.  

PTO Council would like to invite you to join us for a virtual meeting on Monday, January 24, 2022, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. We know you are busy and you care about what is happening in the district. Your input is valued and welcome as a member of the community and the PTO. Updates will be given on PTO activities in the district and plans for the rest of the year. We look forward to seeing you on January 24, 2022.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 954 8327 9154
Passcode: 697528
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Meeting ID: 954 8327 9154
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MLK Day: Monday, January 17, 2022

There are many ways to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this year! Learn more about his 6 Steps for Nonviolent Social Change then reflect on what you can do to help ‘Build a Beloved Community’ right here in Shaker Heights.

Donations Drive 10:00 - 12:00
Help support our fellow neighbors by donating an item in need to family-focused service organizations in our community. Drop off your donations to a volunteer at the Middle School without leaving your car! More details can be found at bit.ly/MLKDonationsDrive2022. 

Be the Change 4:00 - 5:00
You are invited to a viewing watch party from the comfort of your couch! Produced in partnership with the Shaker Schools Foundation, this short video highlights Shaker students and community members to explore what it takes to build a beloved community every day of the year. Tune in for local inspiration followed by a community conversation on how you can get involved! 

More details can be found at www.shakerpto.org/
Do You Know the Story Behind Black Wall Street? 

In 2021, three major documentaries shone a light on one of the worst tragedies in U.S. History: the massacre of an entire African American community in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921. An event that had been hidden to many over the past 100 years was now in plain view. But do you know the story behind the story? Join us on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 7 p.m. for Hidden History Revealed with Hilary Beard, Class of 1980, who will lead an eye-opening and interactive discussion about how recently-enslaved African Americans created the affluent community that became known as “Black Wall Street.” Hilary is an author, public speaker and coach who works with educators and leaders to develop their skills in diversity, equity and inclusion. She is also a member of the Shaker Schools Alumni Hall of Fame. 

The event takes place via Zoom; tickets are $20 per household, with the proceeds benefiting the Educational Equity Fund managed by the Shaker Schools Foundation. Students, parents, alumni, staff and community members are all encouraged to attend. Please register by January 17. 
Computer Electronics and Small Appliance Roundup

On Saturday, January 8 and Sunday, January 9 between 8 am and 4 pm, bring your outdated/broken computer/electronic equipment and small appliances to the Service Center, 15600 Chagrin Boulevard for recycling.  Accepted computer/electronic equipment: CPUs, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, terminals, modems, cables, software, tablets, cell phones, cell-phone accessories, VCR/DVD players, game consoles, and other small electronics. Please, no TVs. More information.
Summer Camp, Pool Passes Now Available

Registration for summer camps and Thornton Park Pool pass sales is now open. A full list of camps and additional information about pool passes can be found in the Winter 2022 Recreation Catalog.