Approximately 100 residents participated in the first community meeting for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District facilities master plan on Nov. 30.
The meeting was an opportunity for the district to share its educational vision and explain the planning process to the community. It also provided residents with a means to communicate their priorities and goals.
During the 2010-2011 school year, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District reviewed its resources to ensure that all children experience a challenging curriculum. The district's goal is to have every student reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade.
Teddy bears make kids feel good. That’s why students at Noble Elementary are collecting stuffed toys for Providence House, the nation’s oldest crisis nursery.
Committed to child abuse prevention and family preservation, Providence House provides emergency shelter for children in crisis who are experiencing homelessness, child abuse or neglect, or who face a family medical or mental health emergency or domestic violence.
Every child receives a stuffed animal toy upon arrival.
Heights High orchestra teacher Dan Heim teaches students to read and play orchestral music, but he also wants them to learn contemporary music. “We want to encourage students to create music spontaneously and creatively,” said Heim. To help teach students to improvise, Heim invited master jazz violinist Christian Howes to lead three master classes culminating in an informal concert on Nov. 30.
Heights High students in Olivia Fatica’s Spanish classes spend several days each year learning the traditional dances from Spanish-speaking countries. A dance instructor from Cleveland Swing and Salsa recently taught students the merengue. “When students learn a culture’s dance traditions, they learn more about the people and history,” Fatica said. “The dances tell a story and express emotions between the dancers.”
John Carroll University alumnus Frank Schilling and his wife, Helen, have pledged a total of $16 million to endow scholarships for undergraduate students at the university. The Schillings had previously agreed to give $10 million to create the Schilling Endowed Scholars Program in 2004, but they now have increased their gift to $16 million. Rev. Robert L. Niehoff, president of John Carroll University, made the announcement at the university’s 125th Anniversary Gala, held Dec. 2. The gala capped a year-long celebration of John Carroll’s history and Jesuit educational tradition (see www.jcu.edu/125).
“The Schillings are among our most generous benefactors and the additional funding will be transformational for John Carroll University,” said Father Niehoff. “Their generosity has given—and will continue to give—the best students the opportunity to earn a John Carroll degree and make a positive difference in the world.” Currently, there are three Schilling scholars enrolled at John Carroll. The Schillings’ endowment will eventually fund more than 20 scholarships each year, which are renewable with continued academic achievement.
Some teachers say that they learn as much from their some of their students as the students learn from them. Kyle Dodson, senior at Cleveland Heights High School is one of those students.
An offensive lineman for the Tigers, Dodson will play in the U.S. Army All-American Football Bowl game on Jan. 7, in the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas. He is one of 90 high school seniors who were chosen to play in this prestigious game.
It sometimes takes a lifetime to learn the skills Kyle Dodson possesses. “Kyle is a gift from God,” said Jeff Rotsky, head coach for the Heights Tigers football team. “He is a kid who has battled so much adversity and never gave up. He’s one of the finest young men I’ve ever had the privilege to coach. If he continues to progress, and I believe he will, we will be proud to watch him on Sundays.”
Do you have opinions about the Cleveland Heights-University Heights middle schools that you’d like to share? Have you ever found yourself thinking, “If I were the superintendent, I would . . . ”?
Now is your chance to share those thoughts and ideas, and help improve the public schools.
The CH-UH City School District invites parents and community members to attend a Middle School Parent and Community Feedback Night at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Cleveland Heights High School Social Room.
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District's annual Winter Concert, Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the Heights High School auditorium, will once again feature some of the most talented singers from Heights High School. This year's show will also feature younger voices. The Canterbury Elementary Honors Choir and the Noble Elementary Select Choir will also perform.
The Cleveland Heights High Gospel Choir will perform its 34th annual winter concert, “Celebrate the Wonder,” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, at the Dina Rees Evans Performing Arts Center at Cleveland Heights High School.
This year’s performance is dedicated to the memory of the late Minister Eric Wright, a Cleveland musician and former member of the Heights High Gospel Choir, who died in June.
Wright graduated from Heights High in 1982. Following his graduation, he lent his musical talents to the choir until his death. Wright most recently joined the choir for its April production of “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God.”
All CH-UH students in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to register for the Elementary Chess Championship. The tournament will be held from 4–7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, in the Canterbury Elementary School gym. Adults may register their children in advance or from 3:20–3:55 p.m. the day of the tournament. Advance registration is $12; registration on the day of the evnt is $15.
Students may play in the kindergarten-through-second-grade or third-through-fifth-grade division. Trophies will be awarded to the top five students per division.
A team of accountancy students in John Carroll University’s Boler School of Business recently traveled to Dallas, Texas, to compete in the Deloitte FanTaxtic case competition, where it earned third place in the national competition. Each team member won $500, in addition to $2,500 for JCU's accountancy department.
Deloitte FanTaxtic, held November 18-20, was an issues-based tax case study competition that focuses on a hypothetical, real life scenario. This year’s competition required student teams to engage in a simulation exercise, role-play with Deloitte professionals and make a presentation in Deloitte’s telesuites. The event was held at Deloitte University—Deloitte’s new learning and leadership development center outside of Dallas.
Heights High senior Geoffrey Golden (L) and Cleveland native Dominick Farinacci at the Nov. 16 Young Visiting Artists Concert at Tri-C. Farinacci invited Golden to join him on stage for the concert encore. Golden and vocalist Charenee Wade performed a call and response scat piece. Farinacci is the resident artist with the Young Visiting Artists program and brings several other jazz musicians to Heights High for periodic jazz workshops. Farinacci currently lives in New York City. The concert marked the official Cleveland CD release of Farinacci’s new recording, "The Dawn of Goodbye."
All board members were present.
OCTOBER 18, 2011
All board members were present.
When it comes to young people, it often seems the bad news travels fast, while good news seldom travels beyond home or school. A neighbor’s daughter could be a merit scholar or captain of the basketball team, and one might never know it. One grassroots organization, Go Public! Great Schools are Everybody’s Business, thinks it’s time to spread the pride—Tiger Pride, that is.
Go Public!, in collaboration with Heights High, is celebrating the vast array of extraordinary students in our district by highlighting 20 stellar students, one face at a time, with a poster campaign in community storefronts.
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Social Room at Cleveland Heights High School, 13263 Cedar Road. The district invites all community members to attend and provide input to the next phase of its facilities master planning process.
This fall, Roxboro Elementary School offered a new after school activity, Girls on the Run, a 10-week program that trains girls to run a 5K while increasing their self-esteem and teaching them to make positive choices in life. It was offered to girls in the fifth grade. The girls were coached by Roxboro Elementary teachers Holly Dzurko, Monica Rogers, Jen Steiss and Karen Willmitch.
The teachers were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming interest and had to hold a lottery to create the team. The group met on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch.
The training paid off and the girls had an amazing time at their race on Nov. 13. Team member Glennis Covault said, “Girls on the Run is probably one of the best programs I’ve ever been to. It was a time to get together with friends, exercise, and learn some life lessons. It helped me learn how to handle life.”
Last summer, Heights High senior Cameron Herring worked two internships, giving him a view of natural history research and the engineering side of First Energy electric company. While he enjoyed helping in the research labs at the Natural History Museum, his first love is engineering.
Herring is enrolled in the engineering technology program, and instructor Yvonne Schiffer suggested that he apply for the Future Connections summer internship.
“I really liked seeing how the engineers evaluate each problem,” said Herring. “And it was great to see what it takes to be an engineer at First Energy.” He spent time with the external affairs manager and learned about the big and small problems that need to be solved every day. He also spent time learning from several engineers who design substations for corporate clients, and accompanied others on pole checks where engineers remotely check the operations of each electric pole.
The Heights High swim team spent the morning of Nov. 5 raking leaves for Cleveland Heights senior citizens. For the last several years, the team has worked on the project with Amy Jekins, supervisor of the Cleveland Heights Office on Aging, who identifies residents who could use the help. Samantha Espenschiel, Juliana Soreo and Madison Androsko (shown left to right in photo) participated in the project this year.
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights elementary physical education teachers are partnering with the Cleveland Heights bicycle police officers and the Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition to teach bicycle skills to elementary students. On Nov. 8, CH-UH professional development day, PE teachers Fiona Conner Kuntz and Alice Stratton arranged for Ohio City Bicycle Co-op instructor Jim Sheehan to train PE teachers to teach elementary students basic bike skills and safety.
On Thursday, Nov. 10, from 6:30-8 p.m., elementary schools in the CH-UH City School District will hold open houses. Prospective families will have an opportunity to visit kindergarten teachers and their classrooms, meet the principal, tour the building, and learn more about the school.
Historic football game and sold-out performance of The Sound of Music
expected to draw crowd of more than 5,000 to high school
The first ever undefeated Heights Tigers face perennial football power Lakewood St. Edward at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at home, in the first-round matchup of the state football playoffs. Kick-off for the game is at 7 p.m., but gates will open at 5 p.m. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a black and gold tiger nation rally towel.
Ohio Schools Council, a consortium of 157 school districts that use cooperative purchasing to “save” school dollars, recognized the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District as an “Exemplary Saver” district.
OCTOBER 4, 2011
All board members were present.
The Cleveland Heights High School Tigers football team continued its historic, unbeaten season with a dominating win over perennial powerhouse Warren G. Harding High School on Friday night. The Tigers won 28-0. The team is now 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Lake Erie League.
The Tigers' next game is this Friday night, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. against (and at) Maple Heights High School. This game will be broadcast on www.ohiosportsnet.tv and it is also the "Game of the Week" on Time Warner Cable. The game will be shown on NEON Channel 23 on Friday evening at 11 p.m., with replays Saturday at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 8 p.m.
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District’s Homecoming events got off to a great start with a parade from the Delisle Center to the football stadium. Lots of fans came wearing black and gold to help lead the Tigers to a 28-0 victory over Warren G. Harding High School.
Click on the link to view photos from the parade:
http://www.chuh.org/multimedia/slideshows/detail/homecoming-parade-2011
Three Cleveland Heights High School seniors have been named semifinalists in the first round of the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program and 48th annual National Achievement Scholarship Program. The National Merit semifinalist is Madeline Pollis. The National Achievement Scholarship semifinalists are Geoffrey Golden and Abria Marshall.
Cleveland Heights High School seniors Abria Marshall and Geoffrey Golden have been named semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. Semifinalists will compete to qualify as one of 1,300 National Achievement Finalists. Next spring, approximately 800 finalists will be selected to receive more than $2.4 million in National Achievement Scholarships.
More than 600 Cleveland Heights-University Heights students will perform in The Sound of Music, Heights High’s major musical production taking place Nov. 3, 4 and 5, at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 6 at 4 p.m.
The production includes 200 high school vocal music students, 75 instrumental students in the pit orchestra, 30 stage crew members, and 120 middle school and 250 elementary students in the chorus. It features two casts, each performing two shows. Tickets are $6 and $10. Call 216-320-3105 to order.
Homecoming festivities kick off with a Pep Rally on Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. in the South Gym at Heights High School, followed by a Homecoming Parade beginning at 6 p.m. "Everyone is encouraged to wear black and gold and support Tiger Nation!" said Doug Heuer, CH-UH superintendent.
Reaching Heights is hosting a community conversation with Superintendent Doug Heuer regarding the need for the school levy, along with major educational initiatives such as the K-12 Pathways.
This is an opportunity for all of our stakeholders to ask questions and participate in the discussion about the future of our schools and community.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
All board members were present.
It has been nearly a half-century since John F. Farinacci directed instrumental music programs at Cleveland Heights High School. Yet many who played in his bands and orchestras from 1949 until 1964 still celebrate this dynamic teacher and tough, but fair, taskmaster who demanded excellence from his musicians—and got it.
Boulevard Elementary School in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District is a recent recipient of a competitive grant from the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education Program (GAMTTEP). The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration awarded the school $100,000 to implement its Discovery pathway for the K-5 students. Discovery is an educational pathway that focuses on learning from a perspective of interacting with the physical world, which is structured around the proven STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) model.
Last spring, three Heights High students told their school stories--about their lives as students and how the school staff made a difference to them. The short video stories are available on the CH-UH website www.chuh.org/multimedia/videos and were shown to CH-UH staff at the Convocation gathering on Aug. 29, before school started for students.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
All board members were present.
We’ve just learned some terrible news for our Tiger family. Last evening CHHS Assistant Football Coach Mario Houston suffered a stroke at his home. He is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
Canterbury Elementary School in the Cleveland Heights–University Heights City School District is hosting a health fair on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. “Grow Healthy, Get Fit” is the theme of the fair, which will promote healthy eating and outdoor fitness activities.
"As the new head tiger here at Canterbury Elementary, I see this as just another part of our transformation," said Stacy Stuhldreher, Canterbury principal. "We are improving in all areas. To be our best academically, we have to take care of our bodies, mind and spirit. I'm expecting our families to participate in full force. It will be fun."
The Deborah S. Delisle Options Center at the corner of Taylor and Superior roads is designed to give students an alternative to Heights High. “Our goal is to reach students who have not achieved their greatest success in a traditional setting and help them graduate,” said Brain Williams, building coordinator. “The students here can succeed in school, and we think we can offer the right environment and structure to make that happen.”
The Heights High "Tiger" Marching Band will be featured on the Fox 8 morning show, “Kickin’ it with Kenny,” from 7 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 23. The band will play both short and extended segments throughout the program, and several students will be interviewed.
The band is directed by Brett Baker and Robert Adamson, with percussion assistance from Dan Allie and Larry Smith. The band is conducted by student drum majors Sean Robinson (senior) and Caroline Holt (junior).
The performance will air live from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Afterwards, the students will watch a class presented by the Rock Hall titled "Fight the Power, Music as a Social Force" and tour the museum.
The Cleveland Heights–University Heights City School District has won a National Award of Merit from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for the quality of the district’s website.
Fifteen Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District teachers have earned the State of Ohio Master Teacher designation.
A master teacher demonstrates excellence inside and outside the classroom through consistent leadership and focused collaboration to maximize student learning as specified by The Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession. A master teacher also strives for distinguished teaching and continued professional growth.
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District continued to build momentum as it retained its rating of Continuous Improvement for last school year.
“In 2009, we had one school rated Effective. This year we have three Effective and one Excellent with Distinction. We always want to improve, and according to the state test results, that’s exactly what our schools have done,” said Superintendent Douglas Heuer. “We’ve instituted programs and initiatives in recent years that are producing results at every level. We’ve added additional instructional reading and mathematics time at the elementary and middle school levels. This year we’re changing how we’re doing instruction and working with staff on how to best teach in double block classes.”
AUGUST 2, 2011
This summer, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District hosted two Chinese camps under the direction of Grace Chen. It was an exciting adventure—for the program's teachers, and for the more than 50 campers who explored and learned about Chinese language and culture. Both camps were hosted at Boulevard Elementary School.
The summer camps focused on immersing students in the Chinese language and culture in a variety of ways. “My nine-year-old daughter, Ava, participated in a CH-UH Chinese camp this week, and it was phenomenal,” said Jennie Collyer, a Fairfax parent. “Ava was not looking forward to the camp because it sounded too much like school, but after the first day, she was completely won over.”
Scott Gainer, Chief Financial Officer for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).
Gainer earned the award for the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the 2010 fiscal year, which marks the 10th consecutive time Gainer has received the award.
When 2011 graduate Joseph Young began the two-year interactive media program at Heights High, he said, “I had more stories than technique.” But with solid instruction, access to sophisticated editing programs and several talented peers, he wrote and acted in a short movie, “Friend Zone,” that was produced by the school's Interactive Media Department. It is available on the Reaching Heights website; the organization gave a $1,500 grant to fund the Script to Film after-school club.
That’s where Young began the script for his movie. “I knew that the setting should be a location that would be easy and cheap to actually produce,” he says. That location was the high school. The story revolves around two students, a boy and a girl, who have different views of the world— she’s optimistic, he’s pessimistic—and he would also like to be more than friends with her.
JULY 12
All board members were present.
JULY 5, 2011
All board members were present.
After more than a year of research and planning, Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District’s facilities committee made a five-point recommendation to the board of education on how to renovate the district’s facilities.
The committee stated that renovation must occur rapidly as it will be more costly the longer structures are given to deteriorate. The July 12 meeting was held in a nearly empty Wiley Middle School auditorium.
Do you have a child entering kindergarten in the CH-UH City School District this fall? If so, you are invited to join Family Connections and other kindergarten families at the annual Kindergarten Kick-Off.
"How children and their families experience the first days of kindergarten, and even the days leading up to that first day, can have a significant influence on whether they feel comfortable with their new school and their new role as learners," said Ellen Barrett, program director. "Kindergarten Kickoff will help make sure the beginning of the elementary school experience is a positive one for both children and parents."
Tensions were high at a meeting of parents, teachers and administrators to discuss the new procedures for identifying and educating gifted students in the Cleveland-University Heights City School District.
In the fall, students who qualify may enroll in closed, gifted-only classes in Roxboro and Boulevard elementary schools beginning in fourth grade. Selection will be based on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test that students take in 2nd and 4th grades. To qualify, students must score in the top five percentiles.
As economic issues command attention across our nation and the world, the next generation of leaders is already being trained and educated in the foundations of our economy. Julia Gay, a senior at Cleveland Heights High School, has been recognized as one of those future leaders. She spent part of her summer participating in Economics for Leaders, an elite program at the College of Wooster. Gay was one of just 32 students from the entire country to be identified as a future leader and invited to attend.
After months of close study and analysis, the lay finance committee of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District recommended that the board of education place an operating levy on the November 2011 ballot. Jayne Geneva, chair of the six-member committee, stated to the board that a 7.2 mil levy in November would sustain the district’s current programming. Scott Gainer, chief financial officer, described additional scenarios to the board that would lower the millage amount, but require cuts. After careful consideration and debate, the board agreed on 6.9 mils, an amount that will require $250,000 in additional cuts, but at the same time, protect educational programming.
Joseph Nicklos will join the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District in September as the new principal of Oxford Elementary School.
As parks, pools, camps, and libraries keep students busy this summer, “Go Public! Great Schools are Everybody’s Business” encourages all parents and community members to stay become involved our CH-UH district schools.
In late June, Go Public!, along with Reaching Heights, hosted a discussion with Stacy Stuhldreher, coordinator of elementary curriculum, to discuss the district’s plans for elementary curriculum. Jeff Talbert, assistant superintendent, also addressed questions and concerns from an audience of about 30.
All CH-UH elementary schools continue to be open each Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. through August 11 for Books A Go-Go. The district invites families to enjoy crafts, games, stories and book check out. There is no charge for the program, and no advanced registration is needed.
Cleveland Heights High School held its annual Senior Awards Night on June 1. Among the seniors receiving scholarships—which totaled more than $60,000 in local awards and millions in state and national awards—was Kamille Harris, this year’s recipient of the Officer Jason D. West Memorial Scholarship.
Harris, a member of the Heights High marching band and symphonic winds, will attend Wright State University in the fall. She hopes to become an attorney, help people who have experienced life challenges similar to hers, and offer them different options and new possibilities.