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Many Cultures, One Bison Summit
SpongeBob: The Musical
PTO Read-a-Thon Update
Reminder: K-12 Art Show Open House
Department Spotlight: Treasurer’s Office
Curriculum Additions 2023-2024
Bison Staff Spotlight
Aladdin Star Gives Broadway Theater Master Class
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Message from the Board of Education
Megan Walsh
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Dear Beachwood Families:
On behalf of the Board of Education, I am thrilled to announce that we have nearly completed the process for hiring the District’s next treasurer. After a rigorous interview process that included two community and staff input sessions, we have selected candidate Matthew Brown. The Board will vote on the hiring of Mr. Brown during our regular meeting on Monday, March 13, at 7 p.m.
One of the main functions of a school board is to hire and evaluate the superintendent and treasurer. Beachwood’s Board of Education has not had to hire a treasurer since Michele Mills began her tenure in 1989. We are incredibly grateful for Ms. Mills’ steadfast dedication to Beachwood City Schools. I am confident that Mr. Brown will build upon her legacy and continue to uphold our reputation for strong fiscal responsibility.
The Board began the process of choosing a successor to Ms. Mills last August with the hiring of K-12 Business Consulting, Inc. to assist with the search. At the Board’s request, K-12 met with various stakeholder groups to develop a profile of qualities for Beachwood’s next treasurer. The Board interviewed seven candidates and selected four finalists for community and staff input sessions. During the input sessions, community and staff members asked the finalists questions and provided feedback to the Board on anonymous comment cards. Community engagement is a priority of the Board, and the input from these sessions weighed heavily in our decision making. At the end of the process, it was clear that Mr. Brown’s experience, professionalism, and demeanor are the best fit for Beachwood. He brings a wealth of experience in school finance that will ensure a smooth transition in the treasurer’s office.
I appreciate everyone who participated in this process, and I hope you will join me in welcoming Mr. Brown when he begins as Beachwood’s treasurer on August 1, 2023.
Thank you,
Megan Walsh, President
Beachwood Board of Education
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Many Cultures, One Bison Summit
Students from Beachwood High School, Middle School, and Hilltop Elementary will gather for the Many Cultures, One Bison Summit on March 22 and March 23. This student-run summit aims to celebrate the diversity of our students and staff while building unity among us as “Bison.” Students will hear from a diverse group of presenters and participate in small-group discussions led by our trained student facilitators with support from teachers and administrators. On behalf of all of us who have been involved in planning the Many Cultures, One Bison Summit, we thank you for encouraging your children to be active and engaged participants. Learn More.
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Bison Theater Presents SpongeBob: The Musical
Tickets are on sale for the Beachwood Bison Theater’s spring performance of SpongeBob: The Musical, April 14 - 16. The family-friendly production features the beloved characters from the hit animated series SpongeBob SquarePants created by Stephen Hillenburg. The musical will plunge audiences into the zany world of Bikini Bottom where SpongeBob, Patrick, and friends emerge as unlikely heroes. Showtimes for the Bison Theater production are Friday, April 14, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 15, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $5 - $30. Purchase Tickets.
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Beachwood Schools PTO Read-a-Thon Fundraiser Update
The Beachwood Schools PTO read-a-thon fundraiser has raised more than $17,000 with one more day to go! Special thanks to our families and community members for your generous donations and, of course, our students for being busy readers these past two weeks. Proceeds from this fundraiser will support student achievement incentives, teacher and classroom requests, and fun programming. Throughout the read-a-thon, students have been reading as much as they can at home and school, recording the minutes they read, and earning prizes! There’s still time to make a pledge per minute or a flat donation. Learn More.
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Reminder: Beachwood Schools K-12 Art Show
Open House
The Beachwood Schools K-12 Art Show opens next Wednesday, March 15, with an open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Beachwood Community Center. The open house will feature music from our talented student musicians in addition to a collection of student art that includes collages, paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Sponsored by the Beachwood Arts Council, the exhibition is open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On weekends, call (216) 292-1970 for available hours.
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Featuring updates from the different departments that make
Beachwood Schools thrive
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Treasurer’s Office: Ensuring a Smooth Transition
The Treasurer’s office is busy as we gear up for the end of the school year. We hired two new staff members and are in the process of training and cross training our team. Assistant Treasurer Kathleen Stroski and I have been planning our upcoming retirements on July 31. We are developing transition plans so the District remains in excellent financial shape and our successors are well informed as they begin their new roles in Beachwood Schools. I am extremely grateful to our outstanding staff and for the confidence the Beachwood community has bestowed on me and my department. It has been a privilege to serve our students, staff, and community in a fiscally responsible manner. I appreciate the dedication this community has placed on the importance of educating our greatest assets–our children, our collective future.
–Michele Mills, Treasurer/CFO
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Curriculum Additions for 2023-2024
Beachwood Schools will introduce several exciting additions to our rigorous, student-centered curriculum starting in the 2023-2024 school year. Elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade will learn Chinese and Spanish as part of the unified arts rotation next year. Students will gain exposure to both languages through a semester of Chinese and a semester of Spanish on a rotating basis. In addition, when Beachwood students enter middle school, they will have the opportunity to select Chinese, Hebrew, or Spanish as sixth graders and progress through all three years studying that language before advancing to Beachwood High School with a terrific foundation. Research shows that children gain many cognitive advantages from learning a world language, including improved critical thinking, increased listening and memory skills, and enhanced literacy in English. Learning world languages also increases students’ cultural awareness, allowing them to build connections with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
At Beachwood High School, the social studies department is adding three new courses: Women’s Studies, Criminal Justice, and Financial Literacy. These courses are being added after surveying students and parents about their academic interests and educational goals. In addition, the high school English department will add a College Credit Plus course for juniors that will enable students to earn credits at both Beachwood High School and Cleveland State University. The college credits are accepted at any public university in Ohio after a student graduates. The English department is also expanding its menu of options for juniors and seniors to earn their final English credits. Full-year options include AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, and American Literature. Semester courses include Journalism & Media Literacy, Creative Writing, Film as Literature, African American Literature, and Contemporary Literature. These new additions will offer students even more opportunities to access rich, challenging, and culturally relevant classroom learning experiences that will help them succeed in 21st-century college, careers, and civic life.
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Bison Staff Spotlight: Raymond Johnson
This week’s Bison Staff Spotlight is Raymond Johnson. As a driver in the transportation department, Mr. Johnson has been a warm and caring presence in Beachwood Schools for two years. He makes a positive difference in the lives of students by going the extra mile to form a connection with each child on his route. He puts nervous riders at ease with his gentle demeanor. Having spent many years coaching football, Mr. Johnson relates easily to children and their interests, whether they enjoy sports, cartoons, video games, or playing outside. “I have a great understanding of kids,” said Mr. Johnson. “I’m still a big kid at heart.” Read More
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Aladdin Star Adi Roy Gives Broadway Theater Master Class at Beachwood Middle School
Shining, shimmering, splendid…That’s how students in the Beachwood Middle School choir felt today when they received a visit from actor Adi Roy, star of Disney’s musical Aladdin, which is playing at Connor Theater March 8 - 12. Roy gave a solo performance for students in grades 6-8 during a Broadway theater master class and discussed what it was like to land the leading role in Aladdin’s North American Tour. When it comes to performing on stage, Roy advised choir students not to let fear hold them back. “If you’re feeling scared about it, ask a friend to join you. That’s how I got started,” he said. “I auditioned and did shows with friends. It was an amazing experience.” Read More
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Preschool & Kindergarten Registration
To register your child for the Fairmount Early Childhood Learning Center, please complete the paperwork on the preschool registration page. Families with a child entering kindergarten in the 2023-2024 school year should complete the online registration form. For questions about registering for kindergarten, please contact district registrar Grace Perryman at gperryman@beachwoodschools.org or (216) 464-2600, ext. 2107.
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25100 Fairmount Blvd
Beachwood, OH 44122
Phone: 216.464.2600
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