The 17th Annual Reaching Heights Spelling Bee - April 23
Looking for a way to get over your
Ortographobia, Logophobia, or
Sesquipedalophobia? (Those would be the
fears of spelling mistakes, words, and long words,
respectively.) We've got the perfect cure: The 17th annual Reaching Heights Spelling Bee!
The Bee will take place Wednesday, April 23,
at 7 pm in the Cleveland Heights High School
Auditorium.
Save the date!
Reaching Heights Neighborhood Newletters
The Reaching Heights Neighborhood Newletters have
a new look for 2007-08. See an example at http://www.reachingheights.org/Newsletters/Fa
irfax.pdf
2008 Heights Summer Music Camp June 16-21
Apply Now!
The Heights Summer Music Camp welcomes
students between the ages of 10 and 15 who want to
increase their musical skills while they make music
and new friends. During this fun-filled week campers
will receive expert instruction on their instruments from
Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district
music teachers and local musicians, while preparing
for an end-of-camp performance. The camp day
includes two daily orchestra rehearsals, chamber
group and sectional practice, and music theory.
Campers will also participate in a jazz or guitar
workshop, or the Heights Summer Music Camp
Chorus.
Applications and $25 deposit toward the $130
tuition are due by May 15, 2008. Space is
limited. Early applications are appreciated. Families
with more than one camper may request a $25
discount. Full payment is expected by the first day of
camp.
Scholarships are available so that any motivated
musician can participate. See the scholarship section
of the application, which is available at h
ttp://www.reachingheights.org/Newsletters/HEIGHTS_
SUMMER_MUSIC_CAMP_APPLICATION.pdf
In the District
Heights High Student Named Candidate in Presidential Scholars Program
Congratulations to Cleveland Heights High School
senior Alexander Kraus, named one of more
than 2,600 candidates in the 2008 Presidential
Scholars Program, from among nearly 2.8 million high
school seniors from across the nation. Scholars are
selected for this high honor on the basis of superior
academic and artistic achievements, leadership
qualities, strong character, and involvement in
community and school activities.
A National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, Kraus was
among a select group of students in the country to
score a perfect 36 on his ACT. Kraus was also
named a National AP Scholar for scoring the highest
possible score on 10 Advanced Placement tests. Only
10 students in Ohio earned this honor by the end of
their junior year. The senior in the Legacy Small
School has attended the Cleveland Heights -
University Heights City School District his entire
school career.
State of the Schools Address
Superintendent Deborah S. Delisle
delivered the District's annual State of the Schools
Address on
February 7 at Heights High. Superintendent Delisle
highlighted the previous year's successes and the
process and progress leading to improved student
achievement.
For airing dates on Channel 22, check the schedule at
http://chuh.or
g/district_ch22.shtml
Join RoxArts! for an Evening in Venice March 7
RoxArts, the Roxboro Enrichment Art
Program, holds An Evening in Venice benefit on
Friday, March 7 at the Heights Rockefeller Building.
The auction and benefit will feature a buffet
dinner, drinks, music, a silent and live auction. The
theme: An Evening in Venice features food and music
from Italy.
Tickets are $25/person; 6 tickets for $125. RoxArts
(formerly known as REAP) is a non-profit group that
raises funds to bring additional art education to
Roxboro Elementary and Middle Schools. Each school
receives approximately $8,500 a year. This year,
artists such as Jonathan Graham and Verb Ballet will
visit the elementary school. The middle school
students will attend performances at the Cleveland
Playhouse and host another exciting jazz week.
For reservations to An Evening in Venice, call Julie
Namy at 397 9264 or mail your check (payable to
REAP) to REAP c/o Julie Namy, 2288 Chatfield Road,
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106. If you have questions,
or an item to donate, call Chesca Hadden at 932-7169.
Kindergarten Information Night Welcomes New Families
The Cleveland Heights - University Heights
City School District will host its annual Kindergarten
Information Night Wednesday, March 19, at
Boulevard Elementary School (1749 Lee Road)
from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for
parents to meet CH-UH kindergarten teachers and
have questions answered about the kindergarten
program and the school District.
Topics to be discussed include kindergarten
readiness, kindergarten curriculum, and related
services. Parents will learn more about the
before/after school program, student services, food
service, transportation, and more.
Due to the format and time of this meeting, please
limit attendance to s only. For more information,
please contact the Early Childhood Center at 216-371-
7356.
In the Community
Feb. 21 Cleveland Heights Tax Forum at the Community Center
Please note that the location of the Cleveland
Heights Income Tax Forum on Thursday, February 21
at 7 pm, has been moved to the Cleveland Heights
Community Center. The event will include
discussion of the Library levy as well as the income
tax issue. FutureHeights will co-host the Forum with
the Heights Chapter of The Cuyahoga Area League of
Women Voters. If passed, the income tax would
increase from 2.0% to 2.4%. If the library levy passes,
the CH-UH Library system would receive 1.9 mils in
new and continuing funding. For more information
about the forum, please call 320-1423 or 932-8733.
Post your comments on the income tax issue and get
information at
http://futureheights.org.
Hip Hop For Dummies: Demystifying the Culture and Closing The Generational Gap!
Heights Community Congress Presents:
The
Perception vs. Reality Dialogue Series on
Race, Class & Diversity,
Wed., Feb. 20, 7-9
PM,
Cleveland Hts. Community Center, 1
Monticello Blvd.
Well, maybe we're not all dummies, when it comes to
hip hop culture, but we may all be able to gain some
insight, as it relates to issues of race, class and
diversity. Join us for a frank, honest and interactive
public discussion.
Moderated by Dan Moulthrop, host of 90.3
WCPN's Sound of Ideas, featuring Patricia
Anderson Ballard, CAUSE, Inc.; Ronnie
Dunn, Assoc. Professor, CSU College of Urban
Studies; Annemarie Grassi, Executive Dir.,
Open Doors, Inc.; and Susan Oehler, Dir. of
Education, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum.
This program is free and open to the public. For more
information contact Heights Community Congress,
216-321-6775.
Know Any Award-Worthy Buildings?
The
Cleveland Restoration Society and Cleveland AIA
are accepting nominations for their annual
Historic Preservation Awards. If you know of any worthy
properties, please consider nominating them.
Nomination form is available at http://www.clevelandrest
oration.org/PreservationAwards/nominationform.htm.
Nominations are due Feb. 15
Don't miss this important discussion.
In Education News
Strickand Wants to Restructure Dept. of Education
In his State of the State Address, Ohio Gov. Ted
Strickland proposed creating a new position, director
of the Department of Education. This office would be
appointed by the governor, subject to approval by the
Senate. The director would have oversight over all
Department of Education efforts. The existing
structure, including the State Board of Education and
the State Superintendent of Schools, would remain in
place in advisory and additional roles as determined
by the director. The Governor said, "The most
important duty of the state should not be overseen by
an unwieldy department with splintered accountability.
This change in organizational structure will ensure,
like higher education, that there is a direct line of
responsibility and accountability in K through 12
education. It will ensure that our elected and
appointed leaders are working together to strengthen
education in Ohio." The change requires legislative
approval.
Strickland said that his vision for Ohio's public
schools is that they "create learning environments that
foster and nurture creativity, innovation, and global
competency," and listed six core principles that he
said would guide efforts to achieve that vision in an
effort to reform school funding next year:
- We cannot address our education challenges
without strengthening our commitment to public
education. As a practical matter, the vast majority of
Ohio children are and always will be educated in the
public school system.
- A modern education must be directly linked to
economic prosperity. Ohio cannot thrive without
understanding that world class schools will produce a
talented workforce, and a talented workforce will attract
and create jobs.
- We need to identify the great strengths of our
schools. There are features in our education system
that the rest of the world seeks to emulate, and we
must build on these triumphs. We excel internationally
in our ability to foster creativity and innovation. These
skills fuel a lifetime of success, especially in an
evolving global economy.
- Our best teachers can show us what works best in
the classroom. We need to consult them and follow
their lead.
- We must strive to develop a specific, personalized
education program that identifies how each individual
student learns and use the teaching methods
appropriate to that student's needs and
abilities.
- Testing and assessment will continue to answer
accountability questions. But their most important role
will be to guide personalized and individualized
education through a comprehensive and ongoing
understanding of a student's capabilities and
weaknesses and growth in the educational
process.
Full text of the governor's speech is available at http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Default.aspx?
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