The Band and Football Boosters are joining forces to host pre-game tailgate parties behind the visitors? bleachers at each home game. Starting on September 16, the party begins at noon, in time for the band and team warmups. The Boosters? tailgate events are free of charge. Participants should bring their own food, picnic supplies (no grills, please), and blankets or chairs. For more information: Ed Hines, 334-4788.

On Homecoming Day, September 30, the Shaker Schools Foundation will host a tailgate party in the South Gym. The admission price of $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12. The price includes lunch, entertainment, and children?s activities. Discounted tickets for the Homecoming game may be purchased for $3 at the party. For more information....

Thirty-seven High School students started this week with a new ?early bird? class in Mandarin Chinese. Under the guidance of visiting teacher Li Luling, students are learning basic conversation and Chinese culture in the 7:15 a.m. class. Ms. Li is working with District educators to develop programming for younger students as the school year progresses.

This Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m., Shaker?s Asian Studies program will be featured on The Asian Hour, a program on WERE-1300 AM radio. James Paces, Executive Director of Curriculum, and Terry Pollack, High School social studies teacher, will be interviewed along with Ms. Li.

The League of Women Voters will honor Shaker Heights High School's Social Studies Department for its contribution to students' civic participation at its Town Hall Meeting on September 26. The Social Studies department infuses civic involvement into the curriculum by encouraging students to vote, to work in political campaigns and polling places, and to participate in civic meetings. Caring Communities Organized for Education, a volunteer parent group that supports families with students in the Shaker schools through education and cultural activities, is also being honored. The League event is free and open to the public. It begins at 7 p.m. at the Shaker Community Building.

The Shaker Schools Foundation kicked off its Silver Anniversary celebration with a naming ceremony at the High School?s refurbished small auditorium, followed by a reception for leadership donors at the home of a Foundation trustee. The small auditorium has been endowed by Foundation trustee Edward Hemmelgarn and his wife, Janice Hammond, the parents of Christopher (SHHS ?01) and Brandon (?06) Hemmelgarn. The auditorium was named in memory of Mr. Hemmelgarn?s father, Richard. The auditorium?s stage was endowed by former Foundation president Marjorie Newman in honor of her husband, Arthur Newman (?61) and her sons, Robert (?98) and Jordan Klimek (?01). Foundation president Nancy Karr and her husband Bernard endowed the auditorium?s ?smart podium,? which contains controls to operate the high-tech audiovisual presentation system in the auditorium. The auditorium is used heavily by the High School faculty to teach classes incorporating multimedia presentations. The Foundation was established in 1981 as the first private foundation in Ohio benefiting a public school district. Its next major effort is fundraising to restore the High School?s large auditorium and equip it as a high-quality performance space.

Shaker students played a prominent role in a local television special, "Making the Grade: Helping Our Kids Succeed." Aired last night on WKYC Channel 3, the hour-long program featured members of Shaker's highly successful Federal Reserve Challenge economics team, as well as young author Bridget O'Dwyer ('06). The program, the third in an annual series, represents a collaboration among WKYC, Voices for Children of Greater Cleveland, KidsOhio.org, The Center for Families and Children, Invest in Children, Chuck and Ilana Horowitz Ratner, and Forest City Enterprises. The program is available in streaming video at www.wkyc.com (high bandwidth required) and will be rebroadcast Saturday, October 28 at 1 p.m. on WKYC-3.

Shaker parents may now pay for student fees and meals online, using a credit card or electronic check. The District is using PaySchools, a web-based system endorsed by the National School Boards Association. Online payment gives parents 24/7 convenience and security, reduces the amount of cash handled in the schools, and reduces expenses and problems associated with returned checks. Since the system went live on August 16, Shaker parents have used it to make nearly $20,000 in payments for fees and meals. More information....

On Monday, October 9, the Shaker Heights schools will open their doors to the community for Tour Your Schools Day. Residents and prospective residents are welcome to drop in at any of the schools between 9:30 a.m. and noon, or between 1 and 2:30 p.m., to see teachers and students in action. Please join us.

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