February 6, 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 Regular Meeting | Tuesday, February 8
  • Conference Day, No School for Students | Friday, February 18
  • President's Day, Schools & Offices Closed | Monday, February 21
  • Board of Education Work Session | Tuesday, February 22
  • Sankofa | Friday & Saturday, February 25 & 26
Forward Together Engagement Sessions Scheduled

The Shaker Heights Board of Education, Shaker Heights Library Board of Trustees and the Shaker Heights City Council will hold a joint meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15, in the Shaker Heights High School Large Auditorium to review proposed concepts for a communitywide master facilities plan. The meeting is open to the public and will also be livestreamed and available at the following locations:

 
This event will kick off a series of engagement opportunities including in-person and virtual meetings, as well as an online survey, available beginning February 16.

Each event will cover the same content, including a presentation of the concepts and steps taken to arrive at this point, followed by small group discussions and an opportunity to provide individual feedback. The engagement sessions are scheduled as follows:

  • February 22 | 7-9pm at the High School's upper cafeteria
  • February 23 | 11am-1pm at the STJ Community Building
  • February 25 | 12-1pm virtual session via zoom (register at ForwardTogetherShaker.com)
Shaker Heights Livestream Athletic Schedule:

The full high school athletic schedule can be found here.

All livestream events can be found on the Athletic Department website.
High School Students from First Ring Schools in Cleveland Partner with Columbus Area Students to Work on Becoming Leaders in their Schools

The First Ring Student Leadership Institute met virtually for its fifth session during the 2021-22 school year on Thursday, January 27. This was a joint meeting with the Ohio State University Student Research Consortium. Working on becoming leaders in their own schools, each high school team has spent the year working on an issue in their community that they have chosen to investigate and research. Four sophomores (pictured above with District leader Dr. Nicole Patterson) represent Shaker Heights High School for this year's Student Leadership Institute.

The five-hour session was a mixture of everyone together and breakout rooms. The breakout sessions gave the students opportunities to have interactive discussions about their research while learning more about research methods such as data analysis and identifying key findings. 

Both groups listened to speaker Clark Kellogg talk about leadership. Kellogg has spent 14 years as a CBS Sports NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Analyst. His overall message to the group focused on personal growth and the three things he thinks are necessary for it: Grace, Truth, and Time. Kellogg said, “personal growth is foundational to who we are and who we can be as leaders.” After his presentation, the students were able to ask questions and then they were given thought-provoking prompts to come back to later in the day.
Feast of Success
by Danielle Tall, DEI Department Intern

I like to think of success as a metaphorical dinner table. Diversity seeks to make sure everyone and everything, no matter how similar or different, is represented at that table. The guests, along with the food served, come from places all around the world. Equality would make sure every food option is evenly distributed among the guests, disregarding potential allergies. In contrast, equity would ensure every guest gets to choose the food they are served, and is provided with the necessary amount of food to satisfy their individual hunger needs. Inclusion seeks to make sure every category of food is an option, and every guest is invited, despite any differences that may be present.
Those three core values come together in our educational system to create the biggest and best feast our District has ever seen. How a guest shows up to the table is not important; it’s about how they leave. Diversity, equity, and inclusion seeks to make sure each guest is served and leaves the table feeling the same way; satisfied and prepared to take on what life has to offer. How can our DEI Department better support you? What would you like to see offered at our Feast of Success?
MLK Day: Building a Beloved Community

A huge thank you to all who donated to the MLK Day Donations Drive benefiting local non-profit organizations! If you would like to watch the virtual event It Starts With ME! or obtain your family’s copy of the Dr. King’s Life & Lessons Learning Guide, please visit bit.ly/BelovedShaker2022.
Staying Connected

We want you to stay connected. In order to receive PTO emails and access to the directory, faculty/staff and families are asked to create an account on Membership Toolkit. There are no fees to join the PTO. A Membership Toolkit account will give you access to the district family directory. Once you are registered, you will have the opportunity to decide what, if any, of your family information is included in the directory. Visit www.ShakerPTO.org to register.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars for the next PTO Council meeting scheduled for May 16, 2022. Have a wonderful week!
 
Michelle Jones and Randi Nathenson
PTO Council Co-Presidents
Introducing AIM (An Intentional Meeting) - A New Community Builders & SAMS Program

In partnership with SHS CommUnity Builders, SAMS is launching a new endeavor open to all parents/caregivers/adults in Shaker! AIM facilitates events on various days and at various locations. Its intent is for Shakerites to expand their social circles so look over the options HERE and sign up for an activity with someone you have yet to meet. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to get to know someone new in our community!
Students and Alumni Will Shine at the Red & White  
 
Tickets are now on sale for the 30th annual A Night for the Red & White! Join us on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 7 pm at the newly-renovated Landerhaven. This year’s event will support our Commitment to Wellness & Success for all students, PreK - grade 12. 
 
Returning to emcee this year’s event is Michael Tate, Class of ‘85. He will be joined onstage by host Mariama Whyte, Class of ‘93 and student hosts Alina Roach and Brendan Zbanek. Guests will also be entertained with performances by the jazz band, Sankofa, a cappella and string ensembles, plus amazing student artwork.
 
Stay tuned for an exciting announcement about this year’s two amazing raffle packages! Follow the Shaker Schools Foundation on Facebook and Instagram for more details.
Winter Parking Restrictions

Remember, there is no parking on residential streets when snow accumulation exceeds two inches. This enables our plows to clear the streets effectively and efficiently. Learn more.
Sensible Salting

Salt is an effective way to de-ice stairs and walkways, but using too much salt is detrimental for our environment. Specifically, over salting pollutes our regional waterways — and harms the fish and insects living there — and can also damage plants, grass and even the quality of your yard's soil. Learn more about sensible salting practices.
Lee Road Action Plan public meeting

In February, the City of Shaker Heights will launch a community engagement process to help create a visionary reinvestment plan for Lee Road south of Chagrin Boulevard. This process will help to transform the area into a commercial district that is more vibrant, walkable, bikeable and transit-friendly. The first meeting will be held Thursday, February 24 at 6:30 pm. Get more details.