Cuyahoga Heights Middle and High Schools

December, 2017 Volume 3, Issue 4

The Monthly Update

PLANNING AHEAD

December 1

Division VII State Championship

Game at 10:00 a.m.

December 5

8th Grade Field Trip

HS Winter Choir and Orchestra

Concert at 7:00 p.m.

December 7

HS/MS Winter Band Concert at

7:00 p.m.

December 8

Music Department Field Trip

December 9

Wrestling Redskin Invitational at

10:00 a.m.

December 11

After Prom Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

December 13

Scarlet Angels on Fox 8 at 7:00

a.m.

Winter Sports Photos

Board of Education Meeting at

7:00 p.m.

December 14

HS Winter Choir and Orchestra

Concert at 7:00 p.m.

December 15

6th Grade Field Trip

December 18-21

HS Exams; MS/HS Early Release

at 12:20 p.m. (18, 19, 20) and

11:20 a.m. (21)

December 22

Teacher Records Day, No School

for Students

December 23—January 7

Winter Break

It’s hard to believe that December is here and that the semester ends in three weeks! With

the holiday season upon us, students and staff will soon be on Winter Break and looking

forward to the new year.

With the month of December comes a full schedule of athletic events as most winter

sports teams are in full swing. In addition, we have three winter concerts this month that

highlight seasonal instrumental and vocal arrangements. Further, semester exams for high

school students will occur the week of December 18. Please check the school calendar for

dates and times of all CHHS and CHMS events.

I would like to wish all students, parents and community members a safe Winter Break,

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. I cannot express how fortunate I feel to be part

of an excellent school district and an outstanding community. The opportunities to

celebrate our school seem endless. I hope you all find time to reconnect with family and

friends, to get some much needed rest, and to look ahead to the exciting opportunities in

2018.

Principal’s Message

During the holiday season, students in our music program will be performing at many

locations in our community and throughout Cuyahoga County. The best opportunity to

see a performance by the Scarlet Angels, orchestra, band and choir is to attend one of our

Winter Concerts. Here is a listing of events:

12/3 - Valley View Tree Lighting; Chamber Strings, Jazz Band and Scarlet Angels

12/5 - HS School Orchestra/Vocal Concert

12/7 - MS/HS Band Concert

12/8 - Cleveland Botanical Gardens; Chamber Strings, Jazz Band, Scarlet Angels

12/10 - Brooklyn Heights Santa Breakfast; Various musicians

12/11 - Marymount; Chamber Strings

12/13 - Fox 8; Scarlet Angels

12/14 - MS Orchestra/Vocal Concert

12/15 - 4th Grade Winter Holiday Showcase

12/15 - Nuts, 1st Grade Musical

12/19 - ES Band/Orchestra Concert

Please visit our school website and view the “Calendar” for more details on most events.

Music in the Community

The inspired student is filled with confidence and the desire to do something positive for himself/

herself and others. Inspired students often inspire greatness in others.

This month, four students were recognized for demonstrating respect:

Week of November 6—Kyle Novak, nominated by Mr. Pesicka

Week of November 13—Jacob Artino, nominated by Mr. Manfredonia

Week of November 20—Brooke Wilson, nominated by Mrs. Croftcheck

Week of November 27—Kaelib Graaf, nominated by Mr. Sokol

November Pride Tribe—Inspired

Page 2

The Monthly Update

Selected students in grades 6 – 12 were honored as being our Students of the Month. These

students perform exemplary in the classroom and are positive role models to their peers.

Congratulations to the following students:

12th Grade—Ryan Polk

11th Grade—Kelly Orlowski

10th Grade—Roman Jisa

9th Grade—Monica Menkhaus

8th Grade—Hannah Morrow

7th Grade—Jacob Casey

6th Grade—Danielle Mach

November Students of the Month

During November, high school student-athletes nominated by their coaches were recognized as

athletes of the week for excelling in athletic performance, leadership and sportsmanship. Those

student-athletes were:

Jennifer Grabel, Senior, Cheerleading and Volleyball

Jon Teter, Senior, Football

Ryan Polk, Senior, Football

Athletes of the Week for November

Empowering Students to Reach New HEIGHTS by being “Helpful, Engaged, Inspired, Grateful,

Honest, Tolerant, and Successful.”

* Reece Frank * Becca Schuster * Brooke Krajewski * Ava Galek

* Sam Kiriazis * Chris Costo * Madison Stepka * Emily Zorc

* Matt Connors * Jason Bartosik * Hannah Trusso * Richie Crane

* Anthony Fovozzo * Nate Glinka * CarahLynn Burns * Frankie Ross

* Tyler Del Valle * Jason Davis * Luke Berzins * Sydney Dyer

HEIGHTS Students of the Week during November

Congratulations to the football players and coaches on their OHSAA Division VII State Runner-Up season.

Ohio has just over 700 football teams and only 14 play on the final weekend of the season. I am so proud of

the hard work, effort, dedication, and character our players and coaches demonstrated in this hard fought game

and throughout the entire season. Over the past two seasons, the accomplishments of the football program are

nothing short of remarkable.

I also want to recognize the tremendous support and efforts of our marching band program, cheerleaders, and

directors/advisors. We have played three seasons of football over the past two years, and these programs

played a vital role every step of the way. Finally, I want to thank the student body, staff, parents, alumni, and

community members who supported the team and programs throughout the playoff run. The school/

community spirit, pride, excitement, and energy created an atmosphere that will never be forgotten.

OHSAA Division VII State Runner-Up Team!

The Monthly Update

Page 3

Opponent Score Record

Garrettsville Garfield 28-13 1-0

Brookfield 29-6 2-0

Gates Mills Hawken 35-6 3-0

Middlefield Cardinal 55-35 4-0

Richmond Heights 42-12 5-0

Fairport Harding 47-13 6-0

Burton Berkshire 39-12 7-0

Kirtland 35-42 7-1

Independence 28-21 8-1

Opponent Score Record

Warren John F Kennedy 40-12 9-1

East Canton 46-14 10-1

Dalton 42-41 11-1

Danville 38-8 12-1

Minster 7-32 12-2

Page 4

The Monthly Update

Cleveland holiday experiences for the whole family:

Holiday Circlefest: December 2 (12:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.) & 3(1:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m.)

University Circle hosts: A holiday market, ice skating, horse drawn carriage rides, and a tree lighting and lantern

festival at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday

FREE Entrance, prices vary per activity

Glow—November 24 through December 31

Cleveland Botanical Gardens takes on a new life with the amazing tree displays and holiday music

FREE for Members, $12 for kids, $16 for adults

Scuba Claus at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium

November 24—December 24 (10:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.)

Watch Scuba Claus dive into exhibits and ask him questions about his aquatic friends (12:00 p.m.—1:30 p.m.

daily)

Entrance fee: Adult: $19.95, Children 2—12: $13.95

Tobogganing at Cleveland MetroParks Chalet in Mill Stream Run Reservation

November 24—March 4 (Fridays & Saturdays 12:00 p.m.—10:30 p.m., Sundays 12:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.)

Get some fresh air while racing down the tallest toboggan ice chutes in the state. 700 feet long! Operate all

season long with or without snow

All day tickets: Adults $12, children 11 and under $10

Festival of Trees @ Allen Theatre Playhouse Square

November 21—December 23: Tuesday through Thursday 5:00 p.m.—11:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:00 a.m.

—11:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m.

Get into the holiday spirit by viewing some of the most masterfully decorated trees

FREE

We all know that the holidays are a stressful time of year, but it can be even more stressful for kids because their routine

is changed. Below are some holiday break tips and tricks to keep the melt downs to a minimum and the smiles coming.

1) Plan ahead whenever possible. Have activities available to help fill time wherever you go.

2) Keep an eye out for signs of anxiety or distress, including an increase in behaviors (i.e. humming, rocking or

arguing), they may indicate it's time for a break.

3) Designate a “quiet place”: With the overstimulation of people and noise, upon ar r ival you and your child

should choose a safe, quiet place to escape to if overwhelmed.

4) Give child a job. Help your child shine by asking him/her to assemble toys after a gift is opened, hand out gifts

to each guest, cook something or photograph the event.

5) Take part of home on the road. Comfor t items from home may help your child acclimate to different

environments.

6) If needed, prepare relatives and guests for possibility of unusual behavior by your child. Take this precaution

so guests do not misinterpret your child’s actions. You can also give an update on ways your child has improved

since last year and topics/ activities that your child would enjoy sharing with relatives and friends.

7) Keep expectations reasonable: We tend to have high expectations for the holidays and want our families and

activities to be “perfect”. Don’t get frustrated when things don’t go as planned, just enjoy the time spent together.

8) Make sure sleep and eating schedules are a priority. Lack of sleep and too much sleep can make children

more irritable. Eating on a set schedule will help regulate child’s mood to help maintain energy and blood sugar

levels.

9) Don’t forget your routine. Make sure the normal routines remain the same. Routines are harder to re-

establish after the holiday season has passed.

10) Don’t over schedule. Kids are easily burnt out and need some down time for quiet activities to get re-energized

and re-focused.

December Tips from Our School Social Worker

Page 5

The Monthly Update

In Ohio, district and community schools must administer a state-funded College Entrance Exam to juniors in

Spring, 2018, as one of their three graduation options. Last year was the first time school districts in Ohio

were required to select and administer a college entrance exam during the school day for the Junior Class. Last

year, our school district chose the ACT as our college entrance exam; however, for the 2017-18 school year,

Cuyahoga Heights will switch to the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) for the State-Funded College Entrance

Exam. This test administration will be at no cost to our students and families. The test will be given on April

10.

Along with providing college entrance scores that are accepted at all colleges and universities across the

country, the SAT also offers many additional benefits for our students and families. The SAT assesses

students in reading, writing, language, and mathematics. Ohio’s “remediation free” scores for graduation are

530 in mathematics and 480 in evidence-based reading and writing.

Reflecting on the academic culture and history of our school district, it is very obvious that the ACT college

entrance exam is an embedded focus of instruction and preparation for our staff and students. Our school

district feels that we need to continue to support students in their preparation of the ACT college entrance

exam. This tradition has always provided our students with opportunities to be successful after high school

and we wish to continue to service our students in an area that they have traditionally excelled.

That being said, the Cuyahoga Heights School District has offered our Junior Class the opportunity to

participate in the ACT college entrance exam at no cost to our families and students. We feel that this

additional testing opportunity gives our students the best chance to expand their potential for success as they

prepare for their post-secondary life. Registration has been completed with Mrs. Douglas.

We are excited about these college entrance opportunities for our students and the new direction in which we

will serve our students and families. As we get closer to the actual test administration dates, you will receive

information on both the SAT and ACT college entrance exam administrations directly from the guidance

office.

SAT and ACT Testing for Juniors

Upcoming ACT Test Dates and Deadlines

ACT Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration ACT Scores Available

February 10, 2018 January 5, 2018 January 6-19, 2018 February 21, 2018

April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 March 10-23, 2018 April 24, 2018

Upcoming SAT Test Dates and Deadlines

SAT Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration SAT Scores Available

March 10, 2018 February 9, 2018 February 23, 2018 March 29, 2018

May 5, 2018 April 6, 2018 April 20, 2018 May 24, 2018

As communicated regularly over the past six months, Ohio school districts must comply with the new attendance law, House Bill

410. This requires schools to track student attendance in hours and places a 65-hour limit on student absenteeism, regardless of

reason. I want to take this opportunity to thank you and your students for working with us through this transition, and, most of all,

for improving attendance at CHS! With the direct correlation that exists between attendance and achievement, I am proud of our

attendance through the end of November. In addition, HB 410 requires schools to have an attendance rate of 95% to fall within

compliance. Based on the data below, we are currently above that mark. Well done and keep it up!

Attendance Report—Keep It Up!

Page 6

The Monthly Update

HS Exam Week

First semester exams will take place on December 18, 19, 20, and 21. Students will take exams or complete a performance/project-

based assessment in each class on his/her schedule—this includes electives. Students will follow the exam schedule listed below.

Cuyahoga Heights High School operates on an “open campus” schedule in which students may report to school only when they have

exams. Students who have the ability to follow this format must complete the Dismissal Authorization Form and return it to the

Main Office no later than Wednesday, December 13, 2017. Students who require school transportation will remain in school until

dismissal each day. In addition, students must take their exams during the scheduled times and must attend mandatory review

sessions scheduled by specific teachers. Only absences due to medical or legal emergencies will be excused during exam periods.

The form will be distributed the week of December 4.

* Students who require a make-up exam will take his/her exam on December 21 from 10:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Please note that the

students who take the make-up exam at this specific time will be required to find his/her own transportation home because school

dismisses for all other students at 11:20 a.m. Please make every effort to take exams at the regularly scheduled times.

# Review sessions may be required by specific teachers for the benefit of student achievement. In these instances, “open campus” is

not an option. These sessions will be communicated to students prior to exam week.

Grade October Grade October November November

12 96.9% 8 97.4% 97.0% 97.1%

11 97.4% 7 97.1% 97.3% 96.8%

10 97.3% 6 96.8% 97.0% 96.8%

9 97.6% 97.5%

HS Overall = 97.2% MS Overall = 96.8%

12/18 Exams 12/19 Exams 12/20 Exams 12/21 Exams

7:30 a.m. –

9:00 a.m.

1st Period 7:30 a.m. –

9:00 a.m.

3rd Period 7:30 a.m. –

9:00 a.m.

5th Period 7:30 a.m. –

9:00 a.m.

8th Period

9:10 a.m. –

10:40 a.m.

2nd Period 9:10 a.m. –

10:40 a.m.

4th Period 9:10 a.m. –

10:40 a.m.

7th Period 9:10 a.m. –

10:40 a.m.

9th Period

10:50 a.m. –

12:20 p.m.

Review Sessions #

OR Make-Up

Exams

10:50 a.m. –

12:20 p.m.

Review

Sessions #

OR Make-Up

Exams

10:50 a.m. –

12:20 p.m.

Review

Sessions # OR

Make-Up

Exams

10:50 a.m. –

12:20 p.m.*

Make-Up

Exams

Cuyahoga Heights Middle and High School

Ohio's College Credit Plus program allows students in grades 7-12 to earn college and high school credits at

the same time by taking college courses from community colleges or universities. The purpose of this program

is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wide variety of options to college-ready students.

If you are interested in learning more about the College Credit Plus program, please attend an information

session on Thursday, February 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the Cuyahoga Heights High School Auditorium prior to

Parent-Teacher Conferences. All interested parents and students are encouraged to attend. Students may

choose to attend any number of universities; however, a representative from a local college will present

information regarding College Credit Plus (CCP) and how to enroll in appropriate coursework both at the

home district (Cuyahoga Heights), as well as in the Admissions Office of the college.

Planning Ahead - College Credit Plus

Students in grades 8 through 11 will have access to their score reports for the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT

8/9 online during the week of December 11 by signing in to their College Board accounts. When students view

their online score reports, they will get summaries of their performance on each test and content area. They can

also filter results and drill down to see how they performed on easy, medium, and hard questions or on

questions that measure different skills. Percentiles will show how they did compared to their peers.

In January, Mrs. Douglas will meet with high school students to discuss the accessed information in specific

detail, beginning with the junior class. At the same time, Mrs. Labenz will meet with eighth-graders to help

students understand their scores. Prior to this, parents and students should do the following:

1. Access the student’s score report by logging into his/her College Board account. If a student does not have

a College Board account, he or she can create one by clicking the following link: https://

account.collegeboard.org.

2. Watch the video “Understanding Your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report”

3. Watch the video “How to Link Your College Board Account + Khan Academy” to get free, personalized

practice based on your student’s test results.

If you have any questions, please contact your school guidance counselor.

PSAT Score Reports Release

Page 7

On Wednesday, December 6, we will be conducting a District-wide Evacuation Drill in cooperation with

Cuyahoga Heights, Brooklyn Heights, and Valley View safety forces. This drill will be conducted between

9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Students will not be permitted to leave or return to school during that time. Please

plan appointments accordingly.

An evacuation drill of this magnitude is part of our District’s Safety Plan and in compliance with Ohio

Department of Education requirements. As always, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our students

and to implementing the best procedures possible. Thank you for your cooperation.

District-wide Evacuation Drill on December 6