Shaker Heights Schools eNews | February 11, 2024

February 11, 2024

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:

Facilities Webinar | Tuesday, February 13, noon
Board of Education Meeting | Tuesday, February 13, 6 p.m.
No School for Students (Conferences) | Thursday-Friday, February 15-16
Schools & Offices Closed (President's Day) | Monday, February 19
Sankofa | Friday-Saturday, February 23-24
A Community Conversation on School Safety, Security & Belonging | Monday, February 26

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

Use these Quick Links to access the following District information:

Facilities Webinar on Tuesday, February 13

Tune in to a District facilities webinar on Tuesday, February 13, at noon. Hear updates on the timeline, decisions to date, ask questions and receive information on the working process for this exciting and transformative project for the Shaker Heights Schools!

Join here: https://shaker.zoom.us/j/94524342669#success

This webinar will be recorded and shared via a facilities update email with all families and staff.

Community Conversation on School Safety, Security & Belonging

Save the date for ‘A Community Conversation on School Safety, Security & Belonging’ on the evening of Monday, February 26.

More information will be coming soon!

Update Your PowerSchool URL

The District has moved to a new PowerSchool hosting provider. This change will impact parent/guardian access to the PowerSchool portal.

The PowerSchool Public Portal will be accessed via this new URL: https://ps-sh.metasolutions.net/public/
You will need to update any bookmarks with this new URL. Your PowerSchool username and password will remain the same.

Accessing PowerSchool and the PowerSchool Mobile App:

If students or families experience any issues accessing the Portal, email powerschool@shaker.org for assistance. Please note that some information found on the web version of the Portal is not available on the mobile app, so it is always preferable to login via a browser on your laptop or smartphone.

MAP Results Available in PowerSchool

January MAP results are now available in the Test Results section of the PowerSchool parent portal.

No Classes for April 8 Solar Eclipse; Faculty and Staff Report That Morning

The Shaker Heights City School District will be canceling classes April 8, 2024, during a full solar eclipse of the sun. Students and families are invited to join the Shaker Heights Recreation Department and Shaker Heights Public Library for a “Planetarium in the Park” Solar Eclipse Watch Party from 1-4 p.m. that day at Thornton Park.

The decision to cancel classes was based on a variety of factors:

The timing of the eclipse will occur during some end-of-day dismissal windows.
The event is expected to draw large numbers of tourists and traffic is expected to be heavy.
Communication capabilities such as cell service and internet bandwidth could be diminished.

Athletics and other after-school events will also be canceled or postponed. Teachers and staff should report to work in-person from 8:30-11:30 a.m. to work on building-level transition planning and other professional learning opportunities. More information will follow.

SAY Winter Forum on Recreational Marijuana

Shaker Heights Schools has joined in partnership with Bellefaire JCB to present a SAY Winter Forum on what parents need to know about recreational marijuana. The event is on February 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Shaker Heights Middle School. This free event is geared towards parents of teens, those who work with teens and teens. Free 1.5 CEUs are available for for counselors, social workers and psychologists

RSVP here.

A Night for the Red & White, Comes Home to Shaker!

Saturday, March 2, 2024, Shaker Heights High School, 7 pm

5 Frequently Asked Questions about the Red & White!

1. Where should I park?

Valet parking is included in your ticket price! Just pull up to the front door of the High School!

2. What should I wear?

Dress in casual cocktail attire, like you’re going out for a night on the town with your friends!

3. What is a Student Showcase?

SHHS cheerleaders, K-12 art show, jazz, string and choral ensembles, theatre and Sankofa performances!

4. What happens after the Showcase?

We will head to the newly transformed North Gym to drink, dine, and dance. Two talented Shaker DJs will play your favorite tunes as we enjoy tapas, drinks, and dessert!

5. How does the Shaker Schools Foundation use funds raised?

All funds raised will support- Every student, Every grade, Every school!

We will also feature an online Silent Auction and three Raffle packages! Only 200 tickets will be sold for each package so your odds of winning are great!

Raffle Tickets are on sale now! The Online auction opens one week before the event so look for it soon.

Buy your tickets for A Night for the Red & White today!

Watch a video message here from Keith Langford, Family & Community Engagement Coordinator inviting you to join him at the Red & White!

Boulevard Students Meet Author Connie Schultz

Students at Boulevard Elementary School had the opportunity to meet Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Connie Schultz last week as she shared her first children's book, Lola and the Troll.

Students shared their thoughts and asked great questions of Ms. Schultz, who was excited to visit Shaker Heights, a place she once called home.

Lola and the Troll is a story about bravery, kindness and understanding, themes the students connected to their Boulevard essential agreements!

From the Margins to the Center

Celebrating and Acknowledging African American History, Vol. 2

Lawrence Burnley, PhD

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

African American History Month is not only about the celebration and critical examination of the experiences of Black people in the U.S. It is also a time to reexamine and correct some of the traditional western views that have distorted the history, cultures, experiences, contributions and challenges faced by people on the continent of Africa and throughout the African Diaspora.

Many of us, both here and abroad, have perceptions and images of African history and culture shaped by Tarzan movies and other forms of popular and mainstream media. European explorers, and those claiming to offer scholarly opinions dating back to the 19th century, have presented African cultures, history, and its people as the dark continent, uncivilized, and savage; making no contribution to humanity worthy of teaching or learning about. Examples of such assertions include the 19th century British explorer Henry Stanley's reference to Africa as the “darkest continent”, and German philosopher George Hegel's assertion that “Africa is no historical part of the world; it has no movement or development to exhibit.” Even well into the 20th century such distorted and demeaning descriptions of African history, culture and its people were expressed by scholars. In 1963, British historian, Hugh Trevor-Roper, put forward this opinion, “Perhaps in the future there will be some African history to teach. But at present, there is none; only the history of Europeans in Africa. The rest is darkness.”

In affirmation of the Shaker Heights School’s commitment to inclusive excellence and educational equity, and in the tradition of Sankofa, I invite you to view these videos to learn about the rich history of African Queens and African Kings. Take a moment to consider a very different perspective on African history and the ancient world as shared by Dr. Henry Louis Gates of Harvard University. Join us in celebrating African American History Month by moving the hidden figures From the Margins to the Center of our education.

“We will not be able to understand and confront the problems of today unless we are honest about how we arrived at this point.” - Kamala Harris

Additional Resources for African American History

Stay up to date by following the Shaker Schools Foundation on our social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!

Nominate a Deserving Alum Today!

The nomination period for the 2024 Shaker Schools Alumni Hall of Fame is open through April 8, 2024! Anyone may nominate a Shaker alum for this meaningful honor. Please start working on your nomination today!

NOMINATION FORM: https://bit.ly/3RSJaD6

PTO Council Meeting

Mark your calendar for the next PTO Council meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2024! Links to meeting notes and the approved budget from the previous meeting on November 12, 2023 can be found below.

Approved Budget 2023-24

Notes

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.