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, December 13
• Winter Recess | Thursday, December 22 through Wednesday, January 4
• Classes Resume | Thursday, January 5

Click on the appropriate link below for school-level and building PTO news:

• Boulevard Bulletin
• Fernway Forum
• Lomond Weekly
• Mercer Messenger
• Onaway Update
• Woodbury Wrap-Up
• Shaker Heights Middle School Memo
• Shaker Heights High School Weekly Roundup
• The Innovative Center Spotlight

Use these Quick Links to access the following District information:

• Weekly Board Packets
• Shaker.org News Feed
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Shaker Heights Schools
• 2022-23 School Year Information
• PowerSchool
• Breakfast & Lunch Menus

November 29 Board Work Session Summary

The Tuesday, November 29, Board of Education Work Session addressed long-term facilities planning. We encourage families and staff to watch the recording of the discussion here. The link includes a video index to highlight the video segments below, which you will see on the right side of the page. Please click on the topic link or scroll to the noted timestamp.

Based on the Board of Education’s consensus and direction, the District will be further exploring the following facilities plans:

• Expanding K-4 elementary schools to include Grade 5. (begins at 02:12:43)
• Locating a new Middle Years Building (Grades 6-8) at the current Woodbury site. (begins at 03:43:17)
• A decentralized model for an expanded PreK program, which would be housed in 2-3 elementary school buildings. (begins at 04:08:57)
• A thorough renovation of the District's elementary schools, equivalent to the recent Fernway renovation, and in alignment with state school construction standards. (begins at 04:17:00)

For additional highlights from the meeting, click here.

Discussions, including plans for the High School, will continue in the coming months with the Board aiming to vote on a master facilities plan in April 2023.

Join the SAY Parent Roundtable

The Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) invites parents to join facilitated roundtable discussions on a variety of topics focusing on raising resilient teens.

This free 3-part series will be held from 6:30-8:30 in the A-building at 22001 Fairmount Blvd on the following dates:

• Tuesday, December 6
• Tuesday, February 28
• Tuesday, April 25

For more details, conversation topics and RSVP information, see this flyer.

YEH Presents a Spaghetti Dinner

Community members are invited to join the Youth Ending Hunger (YEH)/Interact Club on Tuesday, December 13 from 5-7:30 in the Shaker Heights High School Upper Cafeteria for a spagehetti dinner.

An adult meal is $9.50, kids under 12 are $5.50 and a student meal (with ID) is $7.50. A meal includes spaghetti, meatballs and a side.

The family-friendly evening will feature live music from the SHMS jazz band and the SHHS orchestra and a kids zone area with coloring and games!

YEH/Interact focuses and volunteering and benefiting the Greater Cleveland community. All proceeds from this events will go towards YEH and their community engagement. All are welcome to attend!

Assessment News

Assessment Results:

Whole Grade Gifted Identification Results - Grades 2 and 5

Parents with students in grades 2 and 5 received an email this week with their child’s results on the NNAT 3, the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test version 3. There is a summary of next steps here for grade 2 and here for grade 5.   

English Language Arts Results - Grade 3

Students in grade 3 took the Ohio State Test in English Language Arts (OST ELA) in late October. Results are expected to be released this week. Parents should watch for an email with details.  

PSAT/NMSQT Results - Grades 10 and 11 

Results from the PSAT/NMSQT, the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, are expected to be released tomorrow, December 5. If a student provided an email address on their answer sheet on test day, then the student will receive an email directly from the College Board when the scores are available on the student’s personal College Board account. Additional information for creating a College Board account can be found here. Students will receive assistance in accessing the scores during crew this week.

Students will learn more about what their scores mean in an upcoming crew session. There will be a parent session regarding understanding PSAT scores in January.  

Upcoming Assessments:

Grades K-10 MAP - January

The MAP assessment is an ungraded, diagnostic assessment that measures a student’s progress in reading and mathematics. Educators receive immediate results that assist with instructional planning. MAP is also used for screening for gifted identification in reading and mathematics. MAP will be administered throughout the month of January. Specific dates can be found here in the links section on the right.  

High School End of Course Assessments - January

State achievement tests inform families and teachers of how well students are growing in the knowledge and skills outlined in Ohio’s Learning Standards. End-of-course assessments (EOCs) are the state achievement tests that are administered to high school students upon completion of specific courses. Select high school students will be participating in End of Course assessments in Algebra, American Government and English Language Arts 2 in early January. The high school will be sharing more details with families.

Woobury Students are Math MVPs!

District and Woodbury administrators spent time in fifth- and sixth-grade math classes this week to observe Into Math, the District's grades 5-8 math curriculum, in action.

They were able to observe students encouraging one another as a the math MVP for the week is celebrated and stretch their thinking with new problems that get their wheels turning!

MLK Day Celebration and Commemoration

The Shaker Heights Schools, City of Shaker Heights and the Shaker Library are proud to present: Dr. King's Vision of the Beloved Community: Opportunities and Challenges for Shaker Heights Moving Forward Together.

Community members are invited to participate in multiple ways during this celebration and commemoration beginning the week prior to MKL Day 2023. Mark your calendars for the following events: 

• Thursday January 12 at 6:30 p.m.: Attend a public reflection/talk on Dr. King’s legacy presented by Cleveland Civil Rights icon and close associate of Dr. King, the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. at the Shaker Heights High School large auditorium.
• Sunday, January 15 from 3-5 p.m.: Participate in a facilitated dialogue on our theme: “Dr. King’s Beloved Community: Opportunities and Challenges for Shaker Heights Moving Forward Together” at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Center. 
• Monday, January 16 from 12-2 p.m.: Participate in a drive-through donation drive at the Shaker Heights Middle School.

These events are supported by the PTO and the Shaker Schools Foundation.

For additional details as well as more information on personal reflection activities, please visit https://www.shaker.org/MLK.aspx.

#GiveThanks a Huge Success!

Last week we collected close to 70 notes of appreciation for our teachers and staff! They were very grateful for all of the notes submitted on their behalf! Every message was emailed to them in the form of a digital postcard which was shared on our social media on Thanksgiving Day. If you missed it, you can read them here! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to let our teachers and staff know how much you appreciate their hard work and dedication to our students. You are appreciated as well and we are thankful for each and every one of you!

Together We Give on #GivingTuesday!

Thank you to all of our wonderful supporters which have donated to our Giving TWOsDay Campaign! Your gift of $22 or more will support initiatives and opportunities that benefit all our Shaker students.

Forget 2 give? It’s not 2 late! We are still seeking donations of $22 or more for our Giving TWOsDay Campaign! Please donate today!

Save the date for the 31st annual, A Night for the Red & White!  

March 18, 2023 Hilton Cleveland Downtown

This year the spotlight will be on our Shaker students as well as our host David Pogue!  David, Class of 1981 is a CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, New York Times bestselling author, host of NOVA specials and conductor of Broadway Musicals! Without a doubt, David will bring exciting energy to our fundraising gala. Please plan to join us, as we continue to raise much needed funds that will be used to support initiatives that foster inclusion and provide opportunities for all Shaker students K-12!

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.

Sharee Thornton & Erika LoPresti

PTO Council Co-Presidents

2023 Budget Meeting Monday, December 5

The City's 2023 budget meetings are underway and the public is invited to attend. On Monday, December 5 at 7 pm, the following will be discussed: General Fund Operating Budget, Capital Budget, Other Funds Budget. Check the City Council category in Agenda Center for details, including Zoom links.  

Registration Open for Winter Recreation Activities

The Recreation Department’s winter catalog is arriving in mailboxes with options for enrichment, aquatics and sports. Registration for all winter recreation programs is now open. Registration for summer camps opens January 4, 2023. Browse the catalog online.