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| Bee Reminder |
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Be part of the 18th Annual Reaching Heights Spelling Bee, Thursday, April 23, in the Heights High auditorium. We're  looking for spellers and can always use sponsors. The Bee supports our teachers through our School Team Grant program.
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| Now Accepting Online Donations |
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While you're at our website, you'll notice that you can now make secure online donations to Reaching Heights through PayPal, by clicking on the Donate button. If you haven't given to our 2008 Annual Fund campaign, here's a quick and easy way to show your support for public education in our community. Just click on this PayPal button to go to our donation page:
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| Middle School Honors Concert March 9 |
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 The public is invited to the 6th Annual Middle School Honors Concert, March 9, 2009, 7:00 PM, at Wiley Middle School. Admission is $3.00 for adults, free for students. The concert features performances by the 2009 Honor Band and Honor Orchestra composed of middle schools students from Monticello, Roxboro, and Wiley Middle Schools. Reaching Heights is proud to sponsor this event.
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| Heights Summer Music Camp - Sign Up Now! |
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 Apply now to secure a spot for your budding musician at Heights Summer Music Camp, June 8-13 at Wiley Middle School. Students enrolled in grades 5-8 who reside in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district and have two years of experience in their school's instrumental music program are invited to participate.
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| Scholarship Honors Deb Delisle |
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The Cleveland Heights High School Alumni Foundation and Reaching Heights are working together to raise funds for the Deb Delisle Scholarship Fund. This scholarship honors Deb's achievements as Superintendant of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, with gratitude for all she's meant for our community.
The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating Heights High senior who is a first-generation college student, as Deb was.
Donations, payable to CHHS Alumni Foundation, with DDSF on the memo line, can be sent to the CHHS Alumni Foundation, 2155 Miramar Blvd., University Hts., OH 44118. | |
Helping Students Avidly Aim for College
Complaints and Compliments: The Class Meeting
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by Joy Henderson, Reaching Heights
Jill Pompei's classroom is unlike others at Roxboro Middle School: all the students are girls (boys meet separately), twenty college pennants adorn the walls, and four college students lead study groups.
Mrs. Pompei's class is part of a nationally recognized program called AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination). The CH-UH District was the first in Ohio to introduce AVID, an in-school academic support program that prepares academically middle-performing students for college eligibility and success.
The program places students in advanced classes and works to level the playing field for minority, low-income, and other students without a college-going tradition in their families. The AVID model is based on research suggesting that all students can learn challenging material if proper support is provided; and that low-performing students do better when given accelerated learning opportunities rather than remedial material.
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| Fairfax Does the Merengue! |
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by Katie Snow, Fairfax parent
The 4th and 5th graders at Fairfax Elementary School just can't stand still. They aren't fidgeting in the hallways, they're moving to a Latin beat as they dance the merengue.
Inspired by the movie Mad Hot Ballroom, a documentary about children in New York City schools who learn ballroom dance, physical education teacher Alice Stratton decided to try a similar program at Fairfax. Besides its obvious physical benefits, Mrs. Stratton felt it fit nicely with the theme of civility adopted by the city of Cleveland Heights.
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| What to Expect in College: Voices of Experience |
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Heights High Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN) alumni returned to the Social Room on December 18 and January 8 to talk about college - getting in and staying in. The eight alumni attend different types of schools-Ivy League, Historically Black College or University (HBCU), large and small colleges, and law and medical school-and they all had different advice. About 110 sophomores and juniors attended the first assembly, and 25 seniors attended the second one. This is the seventh year the MSAN advisors have invited alumni to the school to encourage and support students. The Heights High MSAN advisors are Michael Dixon, Jacqueline Harris, and Falanda Collins.
Here's some of their advice:
Ghanansam Bey, '06, Ecology and evolutionary biology major, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
He was looking for an academic challenge and he found it at Princeton. "I learned right away that that you can't let up for even a minute at Princeton - I work hard all the time to keep my grades up."
Kevin Golden, '05, Business administration major, Mississippi Valley State University, West Itta Bena, Miss.
He went to college on an athletic and academic scholarship. "I consider myself a student first-that's why I'm here." He advised students to get to know their professors because they can really help you. "Don't slack off too much your senior year."
Christopher Ivory, '05, President of the OSU Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, biology major, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Oh. "OH" and "IO." "The reason I am successful in college is because I was in this room six years ago, just where you are now." He encouraged younger students to position themselves for success by taking advantage of scholarships, internships and relationships with others who can help.
Amirah Saffir, '08, Psychology major, Howard University, Washington, DC
She always wanted to go to an HBCU, and she loves the atmosphere. "It was a little humbling - everyone else at Howard was also the president of everything in high school and at the top of their class." She encouraged students to find a group or club and get involved, contribute.
Rebecca Sharp, '06, Music education major, Capital University, Columbus, Oh.
She loves the small campus and knowing all her professors, and likes being in a big city to enjoy the attractions. "One thing you can do now to get ready for college is to begin to take responsibility for yourself - like get yourself up for school in the morning."
Khalida Sims, '04, OSU '08, Wayne State Law School, Detroit, Mich.
"I started out at a small liberal arts school and then transferred to OSU - I loved it there." She advised students to make their decisions based on practical issues - cost and the culture of the school. Developing and using your networks is really important and can help you on your way.
Alicia Taylor, '00, BGSU, '04, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
She will graduate from medical school in June. She attended BGSU on a track scholarship and advised students to "jump over hurdles you find in your path." The first time she took the MCAT she did not do great so she took more classes and took it again. Now she is being recruited by family practice clinics all over Ohio.
Victoria Williams, '08 - Urban studies/economics major, Washington University, St Louis, Mo.
She likes the urban setting of the medium sized school - 6,000 students with about 300 African American students. "We look out for each other." Her classes are really hard, but she felt prepared. She recommended taking the AP classes-those classes really prepared her for college. |
| RoxArts Annual Benefit, March 6, 7 p.m. |
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| RoxArts will hold its annual fundraiser March 6 at 7 PM at the Heights Rockefeller Building, corner of Lee and Mayfield Rds. The Adult Auction and Benefit will feature a buffet dinner, drinks, music, a silent and live auction. Auction items include a Viktor Schreckengost signed Centennial Edition of the New Yorker Plate, tickets to museums, sporting events and vacations.
The evening's theme is Don't Worry, Be Happy, with food and music from Jamaica. Tickets are $25/person or a package of 6 for $125. RoxArts, formerly REAP, the Roxboro Enrichment Art Program, is a non profit that brings additional arts education to Roxboro Elementary and Middle Schools. Each school receives approximately $8,500 a year.
To reserve a ticket, call Toni Heller at 421-8229 or mail your check (payable to REAP) to Toni Heller, 2176 Delaware, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106.
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| Mini Parent Centers at All Elementary Schools |
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Heights Parent Center (HPC) has opened mini parent centers in each CH-UH elementary school. The centers are staffed by HPC Family Liaisons assigned to each school and contain a resource library for parents. Each center offers a place for parents to gather, share a cup of coffee or tea, and chat. The centers will be open the following hours: Boulevard - Family Liaison: Ceceil Davis Mon.- 10:00 a.m.-Noon; Thurs., Noon- 2:00 p.m.
Canterbury - Family Liaison: Charone Edwards
Thurs. & Fri., 8:45-9:30 a.m.; Fri., 3-4 p.m.
Fairfax - Family Liaison: Keesha Tolliver
Wed. & Thurs., 9 a.m.-Noon
Gearity - Family Liaison: Sharon Bowen
Tues., 3-6 p.m.; Thurs., 8-10 a.m.; Fri., 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Noble
- Family Liaison: Ceceil Davis
Tues., 1- 3 p.m.; Wed., 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Oxford - Family Liaison: Keesha Tolliver
Mon. & Tues., 9 a.m.-Noon
Roxboro - Family Liaison: Charone Edwards
Mon., 8:45-9:30 a.m. & 3-4:00 p.m.; Tues., 8:45-9:30 a.m. & 2-3 p.m.
Parents can schedule an appointment during off-hours to check out materials by calling Tracy Hill-Adognravi, at Heights Parent Center at (216) 321-0079. |
| ArtWorks Is Back - Summer Jobs for Students in the Arts |
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ArtWorks is back for its fifth summer! Do you know a high school student who is interested in a paid summer internship in the arts? For six weeks this summer, ArtWorks apprentices will create visual and performing art and learn workforce skills in the areas of music, dance, visual arts and theater.
Students entering 10th, 11th and 12th grades may apply. No previous arts experience is necessary. Deadline to apply is March 20, 2009. More information is available at http://yaneo.org/what/artworks.php |
| Strickland Proposes Education Overhaul |
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Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland offered an education reform plan in his annual State of the State message on Jan. 28. The plan is built around six themes: 21st Century Learning Environments; Expanded Learning Opportunities; High Quality Educators; Measure Ohio Students Against the World; School District Accountability; and Effective Funding for a 21st Century System of Education. Details are available at http://www.ohiochannel.org/multimedia/programs/about_107678.cfm?program_id=107678&site_display_mode=2
According to Columbus Dispatch public affairs reporter Jim Siegal, "key elements of the plan are based far more on best guesses than studies. That includes decisions on how to phase in the total funding, teacher pay, inflation-linked salary increases and a central part of the Instructional Quality Index - the linchpin of Gov. Ted Strickland's entire formula."
Siegal's story from the February 15 issue of the Dispatch can be found at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/15/copy/edbudgeting.ART_ART_02-15-09_A1_G6CTP7O.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
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