Shaker Heights Schools eNews

August 28, 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:

First Day of School, PreK | August 29
Labor Day, Monday, September 5 | Schools and Offices Closed
Curriculum Nights:
All Grades 1-4 | Wednesday, September 7
Middle School | Thursday, September 8
PreK | Tuesday, September 13
High School | Thursday, September 15
Woodbury | Tuesday, September 20
Kindergarten | Wednesday, September 21

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

Use these Quick Links to access the following District information:

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications

The USDA has announced that free meals will no longer be offered to all students beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Lunches at Shaker Heights Schools will only be provided for free or reduced cost to families that are deemed eligible after submitting an application for free- and reduced-price eligibility.

Families may also qualify for fee waivers for the ACT, PSAT, SAT and AP tests if qualified for free and reduced-price meals. If you have additional questions about free and reduced-price meals or the application process, contact Deirdra Storms at 216-295-5593. Refer to Free/Reduced-Price Meal for more information, frequently asked questions and a link to the online application.

Shaker Heights Schools will continue to provide breakfast to all students at no cost for the 2022-2023 school year.

PaySchools Central Update

Fees paid in PaySchools Central may not be reflected in a student's PowerSchool account. We are aware of this issue and are working to address it.

Shaker Youth Garden Party In the Park

All are invited to the Youth Garden Party in the Park on Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. at the green space between the Shaker Library & the Shaker Community Building (The Colonnade), 3450 Lee Road, Shaker Heights, OH 44122.

Join your Shaker neighbors for an afternoon of music from The Love Bus, learning, delicious food and sharing of resources! Free produce will be available from the Greater Cleveland Foodbank.

A collaboration of the Shaker City Schools Family and Community Engagement Office,

City of Shaker Heights and Shaker Heights Public Library

Important Transportation Information

The Shaker Heights City School District is facing a severe shortage of bus drivers. As a result, the District is presently considering a variety of ways to address this urgent issue for the 2022-2023 school year.

As you may have seen, “Here Comes the Bus” went live last week with route and time information. These routes will continue to be adjusted as we approach the start of school, so please check the app and website often. In addition, the District will monitor our student transportation and may need to make adjustments to routes or stops after the start of the school year.

While this is an urgent issue, we are hoping to minimize this disruption for our students and families, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

Outside of School Independent Study

Students interested in earning PE credit though the Outside of School Independent Study Program:

Semester 1 Outside Independent Study class opened Aug. 26, 2022. The Google Class code is tvbnvpv

Summer Outside Independent Study class is due September 16, 2022.

Affordable Internet Services for Low-Income Families

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new federal program that helps low-income households offset the monthly cost of a new or existing internet service and connected devices like a laptop or tablet.

The ACP may provide families:

Up to $30/month discount for broadband service;
Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands; and
A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward the purchase price.

There are several ways that a household can qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP):

If an adult or dependent participates in certain federal assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, WIC or other programs
Based on their household income
If someone in the household already receives a Lifeline benefit

For a full list of qualifications and to apply, visit affordableconnectivity.gov or call 1-877-384-2575 to request an application.

First Week of School Concludes for Students in K-12

The first week of school welcomed back students in Grades K-12 over the course of three days. The staggered schedule allowed for a calm, welcoming start in all our buildings, while staff helped students acclimate to the new year.

Monday will begin a regular, full-day of classes at the High School and also begin the year for our PreK students.

Welcome to the 2022-23 School Year!

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! We hope everyone had a good start to the school year. The PTO is excited to return to a more normal environment for school activities this year as we continue to work to support the students, teachers and staff. The PTO works hard to help make the school year both enjoyable and exciting for the students, teachers and parents. Our purpose is to aid the students and staff by providing support for educational and recreational needs, to promote open communication between all members and to encourage school spirit and pride.

By having a student in the Shaker Heights School District, you are already a member of the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). Please review the district calendar and don’t forget to sign-up as a PTO volunteer at your school. We want everyone to volunteer for PTO.

Thank you in advance for your support in the success of our students!

PTO Council Co-Presidents

Sharee Thornton & Erika LoPresti

Shaker Schools Foundation

Shaker Schools Foundation is excited to support our Shaker Heights City School students and teachers this 2022-2023 school year!

If you’re not yet familiar with the Shaker Schools Foundation, we invite you to learn about our mission: to support all

Shaker students by cultivating community resources to advance equitable access and enhance opportunities in and out of the classroom.

The Foundation manages funds raised from individual donors, corporate sponsors and grants. We use these resources to fund projects, experiences and initiatives for every student K-12. Please see a few examples of the Foundations outreach below!

STEM

Woodbury Innovation Lab

Machining Course

VEX Robotics

Motogo- Middle School & High School

EXPERIENCES

Beyond The Desk Scholarships

International Orchestra & Band Travel

Service Learning Trips

Visiting Artists and Authors

Entrepreneurs and Leadership

POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS & SUPPORTS (PBIS)

Facing History

Mentoring Programs

Building Community

ATHLETICS

Level The Playing Scholarships

Raider Athletic Center

Athletic Corporate Sponsorships

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more examples of how the Foundation supports our students, and to learn about the exciting programs and opportunities we’ll be supporting this coming year!

Shaker Recreation is pleased to offer a variety of athletic programs and enrichment activities for residents and non-residents of all ages. Browse the Fall 2022 Recreation Catalog online now. Registration is available in person, online or by phone.

Touch A Truck Event

On Saturday, September 24 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. bring the whole family to the Van Aken District to touch and explore a variety of City trucks and vehicles from the Recreation, Public Works, Police and Fire Departments. Also, learn if an electric vehicle will work for you by exploring the latest EV models. Members of the Drive Electric Northeast Ohio local EV car club will be on hand to share their experiences. This is one of several National Drive Electric Week events in our region.