Cuyahoga Heights Middle and High Schools

January 2018 Volume 3, Issue 5

The Monthly Update

PLANNING AHEAD

January 1

Happy New Year!

January 7

HS Football

Awards Night at

5:00 p.m.

January 8

Winter Break ends

and Classes

Resume

After Prom Meeting

at 7:00 p.m.

January 10

Board of Education

Meeting at 6:30

p.m.

January 15

MLK Day, No

School

January 22

Student

Recognition

Ceremony at 6:00

p.m.

Alumni Association

Meeting at 7:00

p.m.

January 25

BEST Committee

Meeting at 5:30

p.m.

January 28

Community Open

House at 1:00 p.m.

Happy New Year to all of our CHS families! I hope that your winter break is

going well and that you have enjoyed time with family and friends.

As you know, when we return on January 8, we will begin the second semester.

Semester two is packed, to say the least. Guidance counselors will meet with

students in Grades 6 through 11 in late-January/early-February to begin the

scheduling process for next school year. I encourage parents and guardians to take

an active role in this process so that you have an understanding of your child’s

pathway to graduation and beyond.

In March, our 8th grade students will travel to Washington, D.C. in our annual

trip to the Nation’s Capital. This educational trip leads into spring break, which is

the last week of March.

In April, we begin state testing across the district. Our students have performed

well on these assessments in the past, and I am very confident that our teachers

are preparing them for another successful spring. Our students’ achievement on

recent state tests has ranked CHS schools in the top 8% in the state. Well done!

In May, our students will complete AP Testing. Last year, our increase in

achievement and participation on AP tests, as well as the expansion of our

programming, landed CHS on the 8th Annual AP Honor Roll. This is encouraging

because it highlights our commitment to offering a rigorous curriculum that places

our students on par with the best students across the nation.

Finally, we end the semester with the Commencement of the Class of 2018 and

8th-Grade Promotion. This will be an exciting time for these students and families

and one that I am sure is eagerly anticipated.

As always, I want to thank you for your support of our district and our students.

When we all work for the benefit of our students, their accomplishments are both

numerous and impressive. Have a great January and be safe.

Principal’s Message

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 inspiration:

Week of December 4—Kaelib Graaf, nominated by Mr. Sokol and Mr. Kovitch

Week of December 11—Kelly Orlowski, nominated by Mr. Robinson

Week of December 18—Alexandria Bryk, nominated by Mrs. Neville

December Pride Tribe—Inspired

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The Monthly Update

The following students have been selected in grades 6–12 as 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—Emma Lipkowski

11th Grade—Brooke Wilson

10th Grade—Tyler Del Valle

9th Grade—Jaxson Williams

8th Grade—Madison Stepka

7th Grade—Zoe Revay

6th Grade—Rocco Perconti

December Students of the Month

During December, 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:

Anthony Baraona, Boys Bowling

Jon Teter, Boys Basketball

Monica Menkhaus, Girls Swimming

Please visit the Cuyahoga Heights Calendar on our website for dates and times for all events and

for an opportunity to see our student-athletes in action.

Athletes of the Month—December

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

Tolerant, and Successful.”

* Ryan Arnold * Matthew Connors * Makayla Hizak * Seth Kucia

* Alyssa Bartosik * Tyler Del Valle * Gabriella Holesovsky * Hannah Morrow

* Nolan Borowy * Rachel Ewelt * Beau Horky * Emily Zorc

* Janasia Bridges * Colin Germann * Andrew Juhnke

* CarahLynn Burns * Emily Germann * Brandon Kilton

HEIGHTS Students of the Week during December

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The Monthly Update

On Thursday, February 15, at 5:15 p.m. in the HS Auditorium, I will host an 8th Grade Transition to High

School Meeting for Parents prior to Parent-Teacher Conferences. At this meeting, I will provide

information on course scheduling, graduation requirements, high school testing, co-curricular activities

and planning beyond high school. This will be a very beneficial meeting for parents to not only provide

guidance on future planning to their students but also to make the most informed decisions as parents of

2022 graduates. See you then!

8th Grade Transition to HS Parent Meeting

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.

College Credit Plus Meeting

The 8th Grade Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg Trip is less than three months away. As a reminder, the

final payment is due to Nowak Tours by January 26. In addition, the Roommate Request Form is due

February 1 and all other forms due March 1. Please contact Mr. Tartara with questions.

8th Grade Trip—Final Payment Due in January

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!

Grade October Grade October November November December December

12 96.9% 8 97.4% 97.0% 97.1% 96.0% 97.7%

11 97.4% 7 97.1% 97.3% 96.8% 97.2% 96.6%

10 97.3% 6 96.8% 97.0% 96.8% 97.3% 95.4%

9 97.6% 97.5% 96.9%

HS Overall = 97.2% MS Overall = 96.9%

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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

Our schools implemented Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in 2016. A team in each building created a set of

expectations, shared them with the students, shared them with parents in the student handbook, and then taught them to students the

first week of school. We continue to review the expectations as needed throughout the year. These expectations remain the same for

students on the playground, in the classroom, and on the bus. But, what about at home? Using PBIS at home can help students

maintain those expectations. The system involves:

“The Rules” or a set of simple expectations, developed by the school, to communicate what is expected of all students in all

areas of the school.

Rewards used to reinforce positive behavior.

Consequences of choosing to go against the rules.

As parents, this provides you with a great tool! You can review the information in the student handbook with your child so both of

you understand what is expected at school. Ask your child, “Do you understand these rules? Do you think you can follow these rules

at school?” This is also an opportunity to talk about your expectations at home. Consider posting the expectations on your

refrigerator door and use them for reference. Or create your own behavior matrix for your expectations at home! For more tips and

ideas go to pbis.org and read Getting Behavior In Shape at Home by Laura Riffel and Anne P. Turnbull.

January Tips from Our School Social Worker

Cuyahoga Heights Schools

4820 71st Street

Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44125

Phone: 216-429-5700

Fax: 216-341-3737

E-mail: myoung@cuyhts.org

The mission of the Cuyahoga Heights Schools is to provide a safe, secure, and

nurturing learning environment that graduates students who are college and

career ready, are critical thinkers, are culturally aware, and are prepared to

be successful citizens of the 21st century.

Cuyahoga Heights Middle and High School

Empowering students to reach new

HEIGHTS!

Cuyahoga Heights Local School District

We’re on the Web!

www.cuyhts.org

Community Open House

Student Recognition Ceremony

CHS Earn Spot on the 8th Annual AP Honor Roll

I am proud to announce that the Cuyahoga Heights Local School District is one of 447 school districts in the U.S. and

Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 8th Annual AP® District Honor Roll. To be included

on the 8th Annual Honor Roll, the Cuyahoga Heights Local School District had to, since 2015, increase the number of

students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3

or higher. To read more about the AP Honor Roll, please click here.

This is the second time in four years that our district has been recognized with this honor – repeat selection of this

national recognition is a rare occurrence. Congratulations to our AP teachers, students and families, as well as all who

support efforts of excellence in academics, arts, and athletics in our district. This award is, in large part, the result of the

PreK through 12 student-centered focus by our entire school community of Empowering Students to Reach New Heights.

Congratulations and thank you!

Please join us on Sunday, January 28 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the second annual Community Open House.

Although this event aims to attract new tuition families to the district, the event is open to all community members who

want an up-close look at the high quality opportunities and traditions we offer is academics, arts, co-curricular programs,

technology and innovation, and community engagement. For more information, please visit us online or call 216-429-

5700.

On Monday, January 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium, a student recognition ceremony will be held by the Cuyahoga

Heights Board of Education. At this ceremony, Students of the Month from the elementary, middle and high school

levels will be honored for their selection during the first semester. In addition, students who received special honors or

recognition during the fall in academics, arts and athletics will be recognized for their special accomplishments.

Students will be notified by mail during the week of January 8 of their participation in the event.