The Heights Magazine Spring/Summer 2023

Black&Gold SHINING BRIGHT

IN THIS ISSUE

4 | Kelce Bowl

For the first time ever, two brothers competed against each other in the Super Bowl...and they hail from Cleveland Heights! Our Tiger Nation responded with overwhelming excitement and support.

6

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Lessons of the Holocaust

Hundreds turned out to honor our district’s commitment to teaching the lessons of one of the darkest chapters in world history. For more than 50 years, Heights High has been a leader in educating students about the Holocaust.

8 |

Alumni Voices

Learn about what some of our recent grads are doing.

12 |

Heights Sports Changes

The past year saw a lot of changes in Heights High sports. After 95 years in the Lake Erie League, our Heights Tigers joined the Greater Cleveland Conference. New sports teams have started at Heights including Girls Wrestling and Boys Volleyball.

DEPARTMENTS

14 | State of the Schools

16 | District News and Updates

18 | Hall of Fame Days

19 | Reunion Info

ON THE COVER | During the days preceding the Super Bowl, CH-UH neighborhoods were lit up in gold in support of our own Kelce brothers playing against each other in the Super Bowl. This photo was submitted by the Hall family - Margaret Hall, M. Ed., ’83, CH-UH Department of Student Services, Phil Hall ’79, Aidan ’12, Lillian ’14 and Claire ’21. SPRING

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EDITORS

Laura Schwartz Loebl ’87 Executive Director laura@HeightsSchoolsFoundation.org

Wesley Williams ’12 Development & Marketing wesley@HeightsSchoolsFoundation.org

Cathan Cavanaugh CH-UH Supervisor of Communications c_cavanaugh@chuh.org

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Krissy Dietrich Gallagher ’91

Betsy Friedlander ’90

Abbie Nagler Sender

DESIGN BY Drew Dallet, Boom Creative

www.boom-creative.com

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City School District.

Heights Schools Foundation Trustees

PRESIDENT

Dr. Susan D. Carver ’78

VICE PRESIDENT

Steven Haynie ’91

VICE PRESIDENT

Shanice Settle ’06

TREASURER

Meghan Zehnder McMahon ’90

SECRETARY

Peter Shriver ’90

Rachael Collyer ’11

Krissy Dietrich Gallagher ’91

Dan Heintz ’85

Timothy Jones ’92

Kathryn T. Joseph ’78

Hank Kornblut ’81

Scott Pennyman ’97

Margaret Rothschild Slesnick ’79

Jennifer Thomas

Kelly Thomas ’83

Elizabeth Kirby, Superintendent

THE HEIGHTS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION DEAR HEIGHTS

HIGH ALUMS AND SUPPORTERS

I’d like to take a moment and reflect on my first months here as Executive Director of the Heights Schools Foundation. I am so grateful for all the support from the Board of Trustees, Superintendent Kirby, the Staff at the Board of Education building, our Foundation Marketing and Development Associate Wesley Williams and all of you across the Tiger Nation! I am so impressed by the deep commitment we all feel to our Cleveland Heights - University Heights community.

What an incredible time for the Heights Schools Foundation!

Over the last six months, we have created and implemented a community-wide program celebrating our own Kelce brothers and their appearance in Super Bowl LVII. Heights High School swept the News Channel 5 Nordson Academic Challenge Championship with a record-breaking score and gave a strong performance at the National Academic Challenge Tournament in Atlanta. So many of you, our alums, contributed to our Foundation, which enabled the Heights School Foundation to present the Class of 2023 graduates with more than $65,000 in scholarships and to provide grants for elementary students to visit COSI in Columbus, transportation for students to attend after school programming and funding for a district-wide dance for students with special needs. We also were able pay tribute to all of the educators who for the last 50 years have educated our students about the atrocities of genocide through our Holocaust Education programs.

Additionally, more than 25 alumni tours of the High School were conducted by our dedicated tour guides.

I cannot thank my predecessor, Juliana Johnson Senturia, ’87, enough. I am grateful for her guidance and continued dedication to this organization.

If you would like to make a donation or if you need information about upcoming events or alumni swag, visit our website at heightsschoolsfoundation.org or call us at 216.397.3871.

I am looking forward to celebrating with you all this Fall at the Homecoming parade and game and at our annual Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony.

Until then, Go Tigers!

Laura Schwartz Loebl, ’87 Executive Director

by Krissy Dietrich Gallagher

For several weeks in January and February, it felt like the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district was at the center of the universe. And that was all thanks to the praise heaped upon this community by Jason and Travis Kelce, the first brothers in the history of the NFL to face off against one another in a Super Bowl.

It wasn’t just the fact that the brothers hailed from our fair city. It was the frequency and sincerity with which they both cite growing up in the Heights as critical to their success. From the New York Times to Good Morning America, the community and the schools got the credit they deserve.

On Super Bowl Opening Night, Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and a 2006 Heights grad, said, “Cleveland Heights is such a beautifully unique area. It’s got incredible diversity of culture, incredible diversity of income. We were truly blessed to go to school at Cleveland Heights High School. We loved growing up in the Heights.”

Travis, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and a 2008 Heights High grad, is as outspoken if not more so about his love for the Heights. Choked up with emotion, he professed his love for the Heights during his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2018. “Every single thing that I do, is for this city. I know it sounds cliché, but I promise you: every single thing I do out there.”

In an NPR feature, he was quoted as saying,

“The people of Cleveland Heights, I love them so much. They’re in my heart.”

The Heights community gave the love right back to the brothers in the lead-up to their historic Super Bowl showdown. For weeks prior, the high school was lit up in green to the east for the Eagles, red to the west for Kansas City, and gold at the center “where their heart is.”

Local business owner, longtime barber for the brothers, and 1991 alum Alex Quintana worked with Athletic Director Joe D’Amato, the Heights Schools Foundation and the local business community to distribute gold lightbulbs for people to use on their front porches. Even the Terminal Tower lit itself up gold for Super Bowl Sunday, in honor of Heights High.

It wasn’t just porches that dressed up for the brothers. Alumni, teachers and district friends and fans from across the globe donned the new Heights Kelce Bowl t-shirts designed and sold by the Foundation. With both brothers’ jersey numbers on the back, more than 1,200 t-shirts were sold as far west as Bellevue, Washington, as far east as Newton, Massachusetts and to Virginia, Wyoming, Texas and countless cities in between. One t-shirt was even spotted in Roatan, Honduras.

When Jason strolled into the stadium for the big game in a Heights High t-shirt of his own, the Heights community could rest assured that we were never far from their thoughts during this incredible journey.

Heights High Commemorates YEARS OF HOLOCAUSTTHEMED EDUCATION

by Abbie Nagler Sender

Cleveland Heights High School has always been innovative. In the 1970s, the school offered more than 60 different English classes. Yet trailblazing English Language Arts teacher Dr. Leatrice B. Rabinsky knew the school needed one more.

In 1973, Heights High became the first public high school in the state, and among the very first in the nation, to offer a Holocaust education class. Dr. Rabinsky, a beloved instructor, created new curriculum entitled “Literature of the Holocaust,” based on a class she taught at Wiley Junior High School before joining the staff at the high school. Since then, approximately 2,500

to the world by standing up for what is right when faced with hatred, intolerance, otherness, racism and antiSemitism.

CHHS’ educator Mark Sack ’76, the current teacher of the Lessons of the Holocaust class, conceived the idea for the program a year ago. (Class content and title changed in 1999 to reflect curricular changes when social studies teacher Sol Factor took over the class following Dr. Rabinsky’s retirement. The course name endures to this day.) Sack, who was among the students in the earliest Literature of the Holocaust classes, was determined that the 2022-2023 school year include a meaningful event that would not only pay homage to an indomitable educator, but also set the stage for another five decades of Holocaust instruction at CHHS.

from this remarkable extra-curricular course.

On Sunday afternoon April 16, 2023, 200 people, including an overwhelming number of alumni, gathered in-person inside the Dina Rees Evans Center for the Performing Arts to commemorate 50 years of Holocaustthemed education at Cleveland Heights High School. Hundreds more—locally, nationally and internationally— watched the milestone presentation via live-stream. Even though celebratory, the commemoration had a deeper and more reflective purpose—to serve as public platform to illuminate the ever-present need for ongoing Lessons of the Holocaust education. The unique class is an essential component of the District’s vision to develop compassionate, critical thinkers who contribute positively

While the event alone could not possibly do justice to the class creator and topic at hand, the program spotlighted how powerful in-class instruction, accompanied by firstor second-hand Holocaust Survivor testimony, along with transformative out-of-classroom experiences—such as trips abroad, nationally and locally to historically significant places and museums—indeed leaves indelible impressions on high school students. No one can refute that this class shaped lives and careers—in ways obvious and not so obvious. The class clearly remains a testament to the power of innovative education.

Sack reflected, “These personal encounters are among the most meaningful experiences thousands of Heights’ students have while in high school. The lessons of resilience, faith, hope, empathy and messages of ‘speaking out against injustice’ and of being kind and compassionate toward others resonates in the lives of all who have the honor of meeting and listening to a living Holocaust Survivor as they share their story.”

A highlight of the program was a moving video, narrated by local sportscaster Andy Baskin ’88, that served two purposes. The first was to reflect upon how Dr. Rabinsky shaped the Literature of the Holocaust class through a compilation of edited footage of two filmed Journey of Conscience trips. The first was from a 1981 WVIZproduced documentary, “Tomorrow Came Much Later,” narrated by the late actor Edward Asner, which followed the very first Journey trip from December 1975-January 1, 1976 led by Dr. Rabinsky and her dear friend and Holocaust Survivor Bertha Lautman, and the other from a WUAB television news story by reporter Eric Greene that followed a 1995 trip led by Dr. Rabinsky and Holocaust Survivor Gita Frankel. The second half of the video presented interviews with two groups: first, local Holocaust Survivors who have spoken to Heights students, Erika Gold ’52 and HOF 2019, Roman Frayman, Al Hersh and George Kronenberg, followed by interviews from the three social studies educators who followed Dr. Rabinsky, Factor, Adrienne S. Yelsky, ’65, and Sack.

The culminating component of the event was a panel comprised of seasoned Holocaust educators, including three Distinguished CHHS Alumni Hall of Fame members, effectively spotlighting the pressing need for ongoing Holocaust education today. Attorney and former journalist Ken Myers ’76, who took the Literature of the Holocaust class during his junior year and participated in the very first Journey of Conscience trip during his senior year and went on to earn a BA and MA in Holocaust Studies from Northwestern University, served as moderator.

Panelists included:

Irving Berkowitz ’69, PhD, a son of Holocaust survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau, who taught and advocated for service in relation to racism, antisemitism, hatred and discrimination, throughout his 42-year career in higher education as a professor, dean and academic vice president of universities around the country;

Karen Zauder Brass ’82, a daughter of Holocaust survivor David Zauder (a long-time trumpeter with The Cleveland Orchestra), who is an internationally recognized Holocaust educator, author and founder of Standupsters®, a nonprofit dedicated to emotional education;

Marc Pollick ’71, Founder of the Giving Back Fund. As a young educator, Pollick accompanied Dr. Rabinsky on several Journeys of Conscience trips to Poland and Israel. Prior to entering the philanthropic world, Pollick had the honor of working extensively with 1986 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel; and

Harriette Watford Lowenthal, an African American woman, Jew by choice, and certified facilitator for the antiDefamation League, whose executive leadership coaching career has been dedicated to anti-bias, inclusion and diversity education.

Engagement of current CHHS students enhanced the powerful program. The Heights High String Quartet, comprised of violinists Sophie Muller and Nathaniel Tisch, violist Clara Lyford, and cellist Celia Lyford performed the theme from Steven Spielberg’s 1993 Oscarwinning movie Schindler’s List before the video. At the program’s reception, attendees viewed a commemorative wall mural concept created by CHHS visual art students with guidance from their teachers, Marc Baker, Sarah Cooper, Nancy Jerome and HOF 2022, and two community Ralph , born to two Holocaust Survivors, and Nancy Schwartz Katz ’83 The event was indeed impactful. Those who put the program together are confident that those who attended or joined via live-stream will do their part to spread the day’s ever-important message: Holocaust education, which includes a meaningful examination of the consequences of rising hate and the nurturing of respect and empathy for others, must be effectively taught in all schools.

For those of you who could not join or watch live, please use the link posted on our website to view the short and long versions of the video presentation. 1) watch the taped live-streamed video presentation, which includes the short version (23 minutes) of the video presentation, and then 2) watch the full version of the commemorative video (running time 43 minutes). Afterwards, we hope that you, too, will want to do your part to share the same message with those you know and in your communities.

JAMYA TERRY Class of 2018

Bachelor of Business Administration, Bowling Green State University, Class of ’21 Attending Cleveland State University College of Law, Class of ’24 Law Clerk at McDonald Hopkins, Cleveland, Ohio

What makes a Heights High School education stand out? Look no further than Jamya Terry, Class of 2018. Terry is currently pursuing a Law Degree from Cleveland State University, while clerking for the distinguished Cleveland law firm, McDonald Hopkins. Terry credits a Heights education for her ability to handle the fast paced, high stakes environment of a law firm and the rigorous schedule and academic challenges of law school. “Not only did the rigorous program prepare me for college… The program taught me valuable lessons that I still use today and allowed me to learn discipline at an early age.”

Before she was earning her law degree, Terry participated in both the AVID Program and DECA while at Heights HIgh. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a global non-profit dedicated to closing the achievement

gap and DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is an association that encourages the development of business/leadership skills through academics. Crediting AVID and DECA for preparedness during college, Terry says, “Mrs. Washington (AVID) is still one of my biggest supporters and she helps many students including myself become college ready”. Adding, “Through DECA, I had the opportunity to compete in marketing competitions to even travel to Anaheim, California to attend the national DECA competitions. Mrs. Parker helped to prepare us for these competitions and the competitions allowed me to become more comfortable with speaking. Overall, Heights has teachers that care for students and ensure that we go on to become successful.”

Also a student in the early college program, Terry was able to attend John Carroll University during her Junior and Senior years. Grateful for the excellent staff at Heights, she proudly admits, “I gained a wide range of experiences that helped me navigate future schooling and jobs.”

MARKUS HAWKINS Class of 2012

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, class of ’17

Master of Science in Psychology of Movement, Temple University, Class of ’19

Mental Performance Coach for High Performers and Athletes

It is often echoed in our alumni community that one of the greatest gifts of a Heights education is the environment in which we were taught. Markus Hawkins agrees and has built a career on that. In Hawkins’ words, “Heights provided me access to a wealth of experiences and relationships that have allowed me to relate to people on all levels, from various walks of life.”

Hawkins began his career consulting with Temple University’s Women’s Gymnastics Team before becoming the first ever Mental Health, Performance, and Wellness intern at Temple. He continued his career with IMG Academy as the Mental Conditioning Coach for 4 football teams, 4 varsity basketball teams and the track and field program. This year, Hawkins took the exciting step of creating his own mental performance company, The Mental Endurance Academy. By creating the company virtually, Hawkins is able to have a greater impact in the field and is able to travel for support as necessary.

Markus Hawkins has combined his experiences as a collegiate football player (Ohio Dominican Univ./ Hampton Univ.) and a performance expert for the United States Army with his extensive education to truly become an expert in his industry. So if you’re wondering where one develops such an empowering and beneficial career path, just ask Markus, “Attending Heights High has prepared me in more ways than one for the career path that I’m currently walking. I realized that it was cool to be a good person, but it’s more cool to be good to people. People wake up everyday striving to be a better person, yet they pass by daily opportunities to be better to other people.”

by Betsy Friedlander

Scan the QR code to visit The Mental Endurance Academy

2022 LEWITT MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT ISABELLA BRADLEY

We have a proud tradition at Heights of honoring our graduates as they prepare to embark on college, trade school or begin their careers.

Heights Schools Foundation has been proud to recognize our distinguished graduates by awarding over $65,000 dollars in academic scholarships annually. With the generous support of donors like you, that number continues to grow.

I had the pleasure of catching up with last year’s recipient of the Lewitt Music Scholarship, Isabella Bradley. Awarded in recognition of exceptional music achievement for students pursuing a professional career in vocal or instrumental fields, this scholarships honors the memory of Ralph Lewitt (Jan. ’65) and Kaarlo Mackey (former Band and Orchestra Director).

Isabella Bradley, class of ’22, is a first year student in the prestigious Theater Arts Department at DePaul University in Chicago. Bradley credits the Vocal Music Department

(VMD) at Heights as the reason for her success in high school and now at DePaul as she continues her studies. Her fondest memories are time spent with the VMD, beginning freshman year as part of the Acapella Choir and continuing as she also joined; the Women’s Barbershop, Gold Rush, Singers, stage crew and the drama club.

According to Bradley, “Each of these activities were so entwined and connected that I couldn’t do one without the other. It was due to this kind of mentality that when it came time to apply for colleges I applied under a theater major. I wanted to continue to be surrounded by the arts by any means.” Now studying directing and performance, Bradley says she could not be happier. “Knowing that I can get to do what I love everyday and learn new aspects of theater bring me so much joy. Without Heights and the VMD I wouldn’t have been nearly as prepared and as confident as I was.”

As for the scholarship funds she received from Heights Schools Foundation, Bradley says they have helped her purchase the textbooks required for her classes.

“My textbooks for the Theater School are filled with plays that will hopefully help and inspire me throughout my years here.” To contribute to the Lewitt Music Scholarship or any other scholarships for graduating seniors, visit heightsschoolsfoundation.org/ scholarships.

Heights High School has always been a place where students start building their professional and personal networks. Students continue to develop leadership skills and the soft skills required for life beyond Heights through their experiences on sports teams, in the music programs or through clubs and extracurricular activities that are offered at Heights and within the community. The CH-UH City School District is looking to expand networking and mentoring opportunities available to high school students and is looking to engage the Alumni Foundation in this worthwhile endeavor.

If you are interested in sharing your time and talents with the next generation of Heights alumni, please complete the brief survey at tinyurl.com/Heightsnetwork23

www.CHUH.org

216-371-7171

hrdocs@chuh.org

HEIGHTS SPORTS CHANGES

by Krissy Dietrich Gallagher

A Conference Change

Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools have participated in the Lake Erie League Athletic Conference since its inception in 1928. But as enrollment in member schools has decreased, so too have their sports offerings and competitiveness. Heights High, on the other hand, has continued to grow both in terms of programs offered and success, earning the League’s coveted President’s Cup in three of the past four years.

While everyone likes winning, Athletic Director Joe D’Amato knows that some of our district sports would benefit from facing a higher level of competition. So with the future in mind, both CHUH and Shaker Heights Schools will be leaving the LEL at the end of the 2022-23 school year to join the Greater Cleveland Conference, which currently consists of Brunswick, Euclid, Medina, Mentor, Solon and Strongsville.

While the move will come with increased travel time and some challenges on the field and court, AD D’Amato says, “This is the appropriate step for Heights Athletics to move forward.”

New Sports Added

Certain sports stand the test of time – Heights High football has been active for more than a century and baseball nearly as long; but others change with the times. The Ohio High School Athletic Association recently made girls’ wrestling and boys’ volleyball official state sports, with Heights High following suit. Add girls’ flag football to the mix and there’s a whole new landscape of options for our student-athletes.

Future New Programs

Athletic Director D’Amato takes multiple factors into account when adding programs to the department. He checks for student enthusiasm and listens to input; he considers coaching and facility availability; he ensures that adding a new sport won’t put an existing one in jeopardy. He’s also looking for ways to be more inclusive, such as with his hopes to add adaptive sports for students with special needs. His next big goal is to create a Sports Information Club, where students would travel with varsity teams to assist with broadcasting, photography, keeping stats and managing teams’ social media accounts.

“I think this would give us a more collegiate feel,” said D’Amato. It would also open the Athletic Department up to more students, especially those who love sports but may not have a talent for them, while providing young people with valuable, marketable real-world skills.

Girls’ Flag Football

Chelsea Gipson placing 8th overall.

Gipson not only made history as the first girl to advance that far, but she was the first Heights Tiger to place in the State Wrestling Tournament in 22 years. She was joined at the meet by senior Sa’Keena Hudgin, as well as the only Heights boy to qualify in 19 years, senior Darion Thompson.

“It was a surreal moment. A lot of coaches around me had been working for years to bring just one wrestler this far,” said the 21-year old. “And I brought two in my very first year.” Now that the sport has been sanctioned by OHSAA, the State Meet was held on the same day and in the same arena as the boys’ competition. “It’s groundbreaking … to be in the same space as the boys.”

When head football coach Mac Stephens agreed to lead a girls’ flag football team in the spring of 2022, he had twelve girls sign up. This year, he had so many that he had to field both an A team and a B team.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said, despite the challenge of learning brand new skills. While OHSAA is still considering sanctioning flag football as an official sport, Heights hasn’t had trouble finding teams to play, with at least 20 options across Northeast Ohio.

His approach for the girls is the same as for the boys: compete hard and don’t quit. “Just like in everyday life, you can’t give up on yourself,” said Coach Stephens. “My main focus is wanting them to have fun and learn how to play the right way.”

His players are thrilled to be engaged in something new and have asked him to host football clinics over the summer like he does for boys. “I definitely think this will continue to grow.”

Girls’ Wrestling

The year hasn’t been without its struggles, from the far distances they’ve had to travel to find teams to the toll the aggressive nature of wrestling took on some of the girls. But Coach Kemp was thankful to boys’ wrestling coach Willie Newton for all his support and has high hopes for the future.

Boys’ Volleyball

Girls’ wrestling is also poised for success after its inaugural season. Coach Sumayyah Kemp, who wrestled on a boys’ team during her senior year in high school, wears a t-shirt that says it all: “Grow girls’ wrestling.” She is doing just that at Heights High, where two of her wrestlers made it all the way to the Division 1 State Tournament this winter, with freshman

Sometimes new sports are about the boys following in the girls’ footsteps. That’s the case with boys’ volleyball, which was added to the books just this spring. Coached by boys’ wrestling Coach Willie Newton, a 1999 Heights graduate, the team has attracted players from all different sports who are excited to try something new.

Admittedly new to the sport himself, Coach Newton has been helped by girls’ volleyball coach Jasmine Harper, a 2012 Heights graduate. “She knows everything and is teaching them (and me!) the game.” It seems to be working as, at the time of this writing, the team had won five of its first six games.

Coach Newton was so excited by the large cross section of kids that tried out that he decided not to cut anyone and instead carries a Black team and a Gold team, with each playing half of each match. Five of the players came from the wrestling team but the others represent “every walk of life. It’s been so cool to see some kids who I know not through sports but through my work in the building,” said Newton, who also serves as Dean of Students.

State of Our Schools

Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby delivered the annual State of our Schools Address on February 1, 2023, sharing accomplishments of the CH-UH City Schools during the past year, as well as the new District initiatives taking shape in 2023 and beyond.

Ahead of the presentation, student musicians shared their talents with event guests. Heights High School jazz combo Floor 3 welcomed the attendees into the auditorium. A cappella group Gold Rush performed on stage prior to the Superintendent’s speech. Elected officials in the audience included Board of Education members, Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren, University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan, State School Board members Meryl Johnson and Tom Jackson, and several city council members.

Superintendent Kirby started her speech by sharing that all five employee bargaining units secured contract agreements through June of 2025.

“This is a reflection of strong union and Board of Education leadership, and a universal commitment to student success,” Kirby said.

Kirby went on to acknowledge Heights graduates and Alumni Hall of Fame members Jason and Travis Kelce, who were 11 days away from making history as the first brothers to face off in a Super Bowl.

“I know that there are many Heights teachers and role models who have impacted the Kelces over the years, but I especially want to shout out their football coach, Mike Jones. There’s no doubt that Coach Jones greatly influenced the Kelces’ success and even more importantly, their commitment to giving back,” Kirby said.

Kirby then shared the District’s theme for the school yearBelieve - and the history behind it.

“I always like to ask our staff: What is your vision for your school community this school year? And, what skills will we need to possess to realize this vision? There were so many attributes that our staff came up with, and all of them are important. Perseverance. Grace. Flexibility. Humor. Engagement. Reflection.”

“But what does it all come down to? There is something that our community must do, so that our students achieve success. Without this action, nothing else matters. We must believe. We must believe in our students. We must believe in our community, and we must believe in ourselves. We have the collective capacity to deliver on the promises embedded in our District’s mission and vision.”

The District’s mission is to provide a challenging and engaging education to prepare all our students to become responsible citizens and succeed in college and career.

The District’s vision is that our schools will educate students by embracing diversity, ensuring equitable experiences and fostering outstanding teaching and learning to develop academically prepared, critical thinkers who contribute positively and compete successfully in the world.

The work in getting there is spelled out in the 2026 Strategic Plan. There are 5 overarching goals that guide the District’s direction. As is tradition for the State of the Schools Address, Superintendent Kirby shared highlights from the past year as they fit into the District’s five goals. Here is an overview:

GOAL 1: “Every student graduates ready to pursue college and career.”

• The 4-year graduation rate for Class of 2022 was 88.9%, up from last year and greater than the state average of 87%. The 2026 goal is 95%.

• The Class of 2022 reported $17.3 million in scholarships and were accepted to nearly 200 post-secondary institutions and the military. 15 senior athletes from 7 different sports earned nearly $700,000 in college scholarships and signed letters of intent to 15 different colleges and universities. The seniors helped lead three sports teams to take the title of Lake Erie League Conference Champion.

• 51 members of the Heights High School Classes of 2022, 2023 and 2024 were recognized by the CollegeBoard as AP Scholars for earning high marks on their AP tests.

• In May of last year, Heights High inducted 63 new members to the National Honor Society. The National Technical Honor Society, which recognizes high achieving Career Tech students, welcomed 9 new members from Heights High.

• In December, CH-UH launched our Associate Degree Pathway program with Tri-C. Beginning with the current eighth grade class, Heights students can earn an Associate’s Degree by the time they graduate from Heights High. Funding for this program comes from GEAR UP and College Credit Plus.

• Eighth graders at Monticello Middle School are already taking advantage of earning college credits by taking a robotics class. As part of the district’s College Credit Plus program, students in the Robotics class will earn 4 college engineering credits from Tri-C for their work this year.

• CH-UH has strengthened its partnership with College Now of Greater Cleveland through the GEAR UP and Educational Talent Search grants. Both grant programs are designed to assist low income or disadvantaged students with applying to and affording college.

GOAL 2: “Excellent education is provided to each student in every District school and classroom.”

• In the fall, all CH-UH staff and Equity Task Force members participated in an intensive training led by Integrated Comprehensive Systems for Equity. The training ties directly to the ongoing implementation of our Equity Policy.

• The District welcomed a team of Academic Success Tutors who provide learning support during the school day at all buildings. We have also added additional counselors, social workers and teachers to support students’ needs.

• All three of the District’s preschools have retained their 5-star ratings, which is the highest possible ranking for a preschool program in Ohio. The most recent award was given to Oxford Preschool in November.

• Roxboro and Noble elementary schools are 2022 recipients of the Ohio PBIS Bronze Recognition Award. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

• CH-UH held the second annual Tiger Summer Camp at Heights High School in 2022. Around 400 kindergarten through fifth grade students attended the camp. The entire program was provided at no cost to families.

• The Fall musical at Heights High was Sister Act. The performance featured students from multiple grade levels and showcased their many combined musical talents.

GOAL 3: “Families and community partners are welcomed as equal partners in student learning.”

• MetroHealth continues to provide students with basic healthcare services right at school as part of our years-long partnership. Just a few weeks prior to the State of our Schools Address, the District cut the ribbon on the new Heights Wellness Center at Heights High School.

• Noble Elementary School began serving as a pilot Community Learning Center for our District last school year. The CLC combines extracurricular support with enhanced family engagement and partners. The next Community Learning Center site will be Oxford Elementary School.

• The Heights Family Academy made its in-person return in September. More than 150 attendees came to the annual event at Heights High.

• The Heights Schools Foundation, the District’s fundraising partner, celebrated its six-year anniversary in the Fall. They have raised more than $1.5 million to support classroom grants, scholarships, after school programs and more. The Foundation awarded more than 60 scholarships to the Class of 2022.

• The Communications Department earned the Mark of Distinction Award for the 2021 Quality Profile in the Ohio School Public Relations Association’s annual awards. Furthermore, the Heights Digital Video Production students won the OHSPRA “Best of the Best” Student Video award for their piece highlighting a fellow CTE program, Science Medicine & Exercise Science.

• The District is in its final year of a three-year model program for the National Network of Partnership Schools, with Monticello and Noble serving as pilot schools. NNPS is a framework to connect schools, families and community partners in support of student achievement.

GOAL 4: “CH-UH attracts and retains highly-qualified and dedicated staff members who have experience working with diverse communities.”

• In 2019, the Human Resources department launched a program called Grow Your Own. In 2022, 10 CH-UH employees were awarded a combined total of more than $43,000 in scholarship money to pursue their educational degrees through Cleveland State University.

• Three educators in the District successfully renewed their Ohio Department of Education Master Teacher designation in 2022.

• In the 21-22 school year, our food service vendor, AVI Fresh, served nearly 1 million meals to our students and all at no cost to families thanks to our participation in the Community Eligibility Program.

• More than 700 Ohio schools, including all CH-UH schools, are set to receive grant funding from the state to install security upgrades.

• The Educator’s School Safety Network, our partner in safety and security-related work, delivered threat assessment training to all safety teams at our schools. This training helps building leaders better identify and mitigate potential security risks.

GOAL 5: CH-UH has the necessary finances and infrastructure to provide an outstanding 21st century education, and keeps the community well-informed about how resources are being used for school and student performance.

• The District’s finance department was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. The award was given by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).

• The District continues to maintain a strong financial picture. ESSER funds are being used for academic and mental health supports, educational technology, and continuity of services, and the funds have also allowed us to extend our levy cycle.

• Our Information Technology team led a Chromebook refresh for all 3rd and 4th graders in the 2022-2023 school year.

• More than 120 SMART Interactive Panels have been deployed to four elementary schools with the remaining three slated for next year.

• All families have access to Wifi Hotspots as needed for home Internet, with 260 Hotspots currently issued.

• This past year the District has accomplished more to maintain and improve school facilities than any other time in the past 22 years with more than $12 million worth of work. A few of those projects include:

Relocation of the Bus Depot back to the Wiley site.

– Renovation of the Rox Mid cafeteria serving line.

– Canterbury and Fairfax playground renovations.

After the speech, guests stayed to watch Travis’s and Jason’s acceptance speeches from the 2018 Heights High Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on the screen.

The State of our Schools Address is typically held at the beginning of the calendar year and is an opportunity for the Tiger Nation community to celebrate the past 12 months of achievements.

BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY Interactive Playground Enriches Classroom Learning

Students at Boulevard Elementary School have a whole new way to learn and it’s more fun than ever. The Lü Interactive Playground is an audiovisual gaming system that projects onto the wall of the gym and can be used for everything from math and spelling games to learning dance moves. Students can throw balls at the correct answer to a math equation or move a ship across a map to visit specific destinations in the Voyager game. Because there is no screen, the system requires no specialized equipment and can respond to touch or even shadows on the wall.

The Lü has become a coveted station during physical education classes. Adapted Physical Education teacher Dr. Fiona Connor uses the system with her students with multiple disabilities. “They love the dance app and have been following the model without any of the self-consciousness that comes from just mirroring me or making up their own moves.”

CANTERBURY ELEMENTARY Book Battle Captures Joy of Reading

The Gruffalo versus Fluffy McWhiskers. Pete the Cat versus Mo Willems’ Pigeon. I Need A Hug versus Ruby Finds A Worry. Things are really heating up in Canterbury kindergarten classrooms.

The Battle of the Books, launched by teachers Andrea Briggs and Lisa Stewart during March Madness, was designed to capture the joy of reading with friendly competition. Students and their families were asked to recommend some of their favorite books from home, which were then paired off into categories. Each teacher would then read two books to their classes, who would vote for their favorite. The winning book of each pair moved forward to the next round. As the classes moved through to the next round, they summarized each winner and continued to pick their favorite until there was one book remaining.

To add even more excitement to the project, parents and family members were invited as Mystery Readers. “I loved seeing the kids’ faces light up when they realized their parent was the Mystery Reader,” said Ms. Briggs.

FAIRFAX ELEMENTARY Reading Inspires Students to Help Animals

Literature can do a lot of things, including entertain, educate and inspire. For Mindy Hamilton’s multi-age class at Fairfax, the experience of reading books about animals in need has led them to take action.

After immersing themselves in several novels, including The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob, and the children’s classic Shiloh, the class has embarked on an International Baccalaureate Exhibition project to benefit local animal shelters. And they got a big boost in the form of an IB Primary Years Programme Scholarship worth $500 from the Ohio Association of IB World Schools. They used that money to buy basic items that animal shelters rely on such as dog and cat food, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies. And after appealing to the school and community for donations, they collected an additional batch of more than 300 pet necessities.

The 5th graders in Ms. Hamilton’s room will use this project as their 5th Grade Exhibition, a culminating activity for IB World Schools.

NOBLE ELEMENTARY Teachers Use Tech to Engage Students

For years, educators, parents, and the general public debated the pros of cons of technology in the classroom. But following at-home learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, most people have accepted that technology is here to stay and are hard at work to make the best use of it.

That’s what’s happening in classrooms at Noble and across the district, where teachers are constantly finding new and innovative ways to engage their students with technology. In Debra Elwell’s 2nd grade class, that might look like using the Lumio app through the district’s SMART Boards to conduct math review.

As students worked in small groups pulling math questions out of plastic eggs, they used their Chromebooks to type in their answers, giving their teacher instant access to everyone’s response. “This gives me data I can use later,” said Ms. Elwell. “And also it protects kids’ privacy.”

Academic Success Tutor Robin Koslen described how engaged the students were during the math review. “It could have been drudge work,” she said. “But there was so much laughter and excitement.”

OXFORD ELEMENTARY Preschool Earns Highest Rating from State

The preschool program at Oxford Elementary School has once again been awarded a five-star rating by the Ohio Department of Education’s Step Up To Quality division.

According to the official documentation: “Step Up To Quality is a Five-Star Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System created to recognize and promote early learning and development programs that meet quality standards over and above the health and safety licensing requirements.”

“Our team at Oxford really deserves this recognition! They work everyday to create a warm, welcoming environment that meets the needs of both the children and their families,” said Danielle Foran, CH-UH Early Childhood Specialist.

The District’s other two preschool programs at Gearity and Noble elementary schools also hold five-star ratings.

ROXBORO ELEMENTARY

Siblings Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Boston Univ.

District parent and professor of Communication Studies at Cuyahoga Community College Dr. Derrick Williams describes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights work as a family affair. So it was only fitting that he invited his children to speak during his keynote address at Boston University’s 2023 Annual Celebration of the Lives and Legacies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Roxboro Elementary School 3rd grader Ella and her brother, Rox Mid 7th grader Meldrrick, were both honored to join their father on the stage at BU’s George Sherman Union on January 16.

Meldrrick read an original essay that he’d written about Dr. King’s superpower: curiosity.

“Instead of casting webs, you can cast very interesting and important questions … Curiosity can lead to innovations, discoveries and strategies for social justice and peace.”

Not to be outdone, his younger sister took the microphone and asked, “But Mel, what about Coretta?” She then went on to read a poem describing the civil rights leader using the letters of his first name. “C is for Courageous …” complete with vigorous nodding from the women in the audience when she read, “R is for Respect … Ms. Coretta Scott King deserves just as much respect.”

GEARITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL Second Graders Explore Paleontology

What do chocolate chip cookies and dinosaur bones have in common? Just ask the second graders at Gearity. Angela Hoang and Libby Retherford’s 2nd grade classes dug deep into paleontology and fossils this fall. With special kits and a virtual field trip from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the students were able to explore fossils and see examples of mastodon bones and even the petrified brain of a T-rex.

The classes’ initial foray into paleontology and archeology included carefully extricating chocolate chips from chocolate chip cookies using two toothpicks and a popsicle stick. Students were not allowed to touch the fossil with their hands and had to do as little damage as possible to the chip as they broke it away from the rock. They were rewarded for their hard work with, unsurprisingly, cookies.

MONTICELLO MIDDLE Club Grows Confident Young Women Leaders

Teacher Angela Kirkland believes in self-fulfilling prophecies. She has recruited 6th graders to join her Leading Ladies club in the hope that they will indeed become leaders - and her intention has proven successful.

While some variation of the Leading Ladies had existed at Monticello for years prior to Covid, this new iteration of the club is based on the current needs of teens.

The group meets once a week after school. The girls are given the first ten minutes to catch up and unwind before launching into whatever project they’re working on. They’ve collected toiletries and new socks to donate to a women’s shelter, created an Attitude of Gratitude wall for teachers and classmates to celebrate all they’re thankful for, and have a series of guest speakers lined up, primarily women of color from a variety of fields. But mostly, they’ve formed relationships with one another and with an adult who cares about their emotional well-being and development.

ROXBORO MIDDLE Power of the Pen Team Demonstrates Creative Writing

For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Rox Mid fielded a Power of the Pen team this year, and they’re having a lot of success. They placed 2nd out of 20 teams at both the District and Regional levels, and are sending two students to the State Tournament in May. The large weekend competitions involve roundrobin sessions where young writers have 40 minutes to craft cohesive and creative stories out of random prompts.

“Unlike at a sports event, you have no idea how you’re doing compared to the other schools,” said teacher Suzanne Nelson. The winners of the contest are announced at the end. In her first year as a Power of the Pen adviser, she said, “We’ve all learned through this experience together and we’re so excited by how well we’ve done.”

The full group continues to meet each week to practice and support one another. As Elliott says of their impressive team finishes, “It’s nice. I like succeeding. And I love watching my friends win.”

HEIGHTS HIGH

Governor’s Art Exhibition Features Junior’s Artwork

Juliet Duffy’s art piece, A Promise, was selected to be part of the 2023 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition in Columbus. The AP Studio Art student’s piece is one of 326 works of art by 9th through 12th grade students from across the state of Ohio and was selected by a jury of college educators and artists. In total, more than 8,000 entries were submitted to the contest. The digital illustration depicts sisters making a pinky promise to each other as they are in bed at night.

“She is brilliant in her ability to think through a concept and develop imagery that clearly communicates her vision,” said Juliet’s art teacher, Sarah Cooper. “It is exciting to see her work through an idea because her thoughtful approach to the concept is matched by her refined skill and unique approach.”

Other pieces of Juliet’s artwork received a Gold and Silver Key at the annual Greater Cleveland Art & Writing Competition this past January.

DELISLE OPTIONS CENTER Student Garden Offers Change of Pace

The Delisle garden was the brainchild of Heights High intervention specialist and English teacher Steven Warner and the Environmental Club. Students spent several springs and summers designing and building the eight sections that make up the garden. The group chose a circular design so math classes could study the geometry of the space. The sections hold a variety of native flowers including milkweed, a plant that is critical for migrating butterflies and a staple in pollinator gardens across the Midwest.

Fellow intervention specialist and science teacher Elizabeth McDonald has taken her students with special needs to study the garden and collect milkweed to donate to the Cuyahoga County Soil and Water Conservation District. Students also made observations and tracked plant growth.

Mr. Warner frequently brings his students and hopes that other teachers will incorporate the garden into their lessons. “Working outdoors with the garden always makes learning fun for students. The students enjoy being outside so much and they appreciate the change of pace of being out of the classroom.”

HALL OF FAME CEREMONY OCTOBER 5 AT 4:30 PM

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

Honorees will visit classrooms on October 6, 2023 followed by a salute to our honorees at the Heights High Football game at 7:00 pm.

REUNITE WITH OLD FRIENDS

Check

CLASS of JAN. 1963

60TH CLASS REUNION

October 6-8, 2023

For more information

Laura Grushcow

E: lgrushcow@aol.com

CLASS of 1973

50TH REUNION

September 8-10, 2023

For more information

Janice Rinaldi

E: janicerinaldi@hotmail.com

W: Clevelandheights1973.com

CLASS of 1974

50TH REUNION

September 21-23, 2024

For more information

Brent Routman/Sally Zalben

E: broutman@merchantgould.com

E: sally.zalben@att.net

Tips for a Successful Reunion

FORM A COMMITTEE

Gather a diverse group of motivated peers to brainstorm, make decisions and divide and conquer. Schedule your first meeting as soon as possible. The more diverse the planning group is, the better the attendance.

CHOOSE A LOCATION(S)

Downtown or in the Heights? If you are planning a weekend of events, it is nice to offer free option(s). Consider a cookout at Forest Hills or ‘Pub Crawl’ down Lee Road. Not everyone will want to buy a ticket, no matter how great the event may be. The informal gathering are often some of the most meaningful for people, so don’t think that the only way to do a reunion is with a sit-down formal dinner.

SELECT LEADERS

Chairperson and Treasurer are common roles. These positions are crucial in planning, so should be held by responsible and organized committee members. We recommend co-treasurers, so there are always two people checking and supporting each other if you will be collecting money or managing tickets in advance. Co-Chairs can also be great, as long as it’s clear who is doing what (and the two work well together!). Having someone in charge of communications / notes is also extremely helpful. Sometimes people use the titles “secretary” or “communications chair.” Finally, an overall “planning team” without specific titles can work as well, as long as everyone knows their roles.

CLASS of 1978

45TH REUNION

October 6-8, 2023

For more information

Betsy Poduska Gruttadaurio

E: heights1978@gmail.com

PICK A DATE

Whether your reunion will be one night or a weekend, the sooner you narrow down a date and get the word out, the larger the turnout will be. One great option is Homecoming Weekend. With an impressive parade down Lee Road, alumni watch parties, Friday night football game and Saturday open house at the high school, your class can re-live the experience all over again.

UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA

Start a Facebook group for your class and encourage others to locate classmates. Use Instagram to drive people to your page.

below to see if your class has reunion plans. In addition, many classes have Facebook Groups or websites, which are the easiest and most up-to-date way to stay connected. Planning a reunion event? To update us on the details, send a note to info@HeightsSchoolsFoundation.org.

CLASS OF 1952

CLASS OF 1962

CLASS OF 1982