Dear CH-UH Staff and Families,

As we continue into Quarter 2 of the school year, and with the holidays just around the corner, I write to share recent updates and reflections on the past few months. First, I wish to thank the staff members who worked hard to put on successful Fall Parent-Teacher Conference Nights the past couple of weeks, as well as our families for attending these important meetings.

The Heights Fall Musical, The Addams Family, heads into its second and final weekend run with shows tonight, November 10, and tomorrow, November 11. Both shows are at 7 p.m. You’ll be blown away by the high caliber of talent on the Heights High stage, not to mention the incredible musical accompaniment and behind-the-scenes work. Purchase tickets for the musical here.

Heights varsity football takes on Medina at Strongsville High School tonight in the regional semifinals. Purchase tickets for the game here (Division I/Region 1). This is a historic game for Tiger Nation, as it’s the farthest the Tigers have ever gone in football playoffs.

This is the District’s first year in the Greater Cleveland Conference, and our fall sports teams and players have earned multiple GCC awards, including football conference champion. Our students, staff, and alumni continue to show the world that unmistakable Heights greatness!

Climate & Curriculum
I’m proud to share that PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) and climate metrics have been improving across the District, most notably a 21% reduction in incidents leading to Out of School Suspensions compared to this time last year.

Our K-12 students have been engaging with the newly adopted ELA/English curriculum, as well as our pilot math curricular materials, with enthusiasm and curiosity. Our students are engaging in a variety of learning experiences, earning college credit in our schools, connecting with students across the country as a part of their participation in MSAN, and learning from leaders across a variety of professions through field trips and guest speakers in our classrooms.

Students grades 3-12 recently took MAP Assessments. MAP stands for the Measure of Academic Progress. This test helps teachers check for understanding across the state’s learning standards or “map” a student’s academic progress. It is adaptive, so it responds according to how students answer the different types of questions in Reading, Math & Science. The results of recent assessments and evaluations reflect the progress they have made and help to inform academic planning. Watch this video for more information on the MAP tests.

Safety & Security
You may be aware that several of our schools have dealt with online threats this year, all of which have been ruled not credible by law enforcement and were pranks. We will always take threats seriously regardless of their true nature, and the consequences for students involved in making threats are extremely serious. The students who made social media threats against Monticello Middle School and Heights High School on October 20 are now facing various criminal charges in addition to consequences in line with the Student Code of Conduct.

Unfortunately, this is an issue that schools across the state and the country are facing. I encourage you and your students to watch this new video from the Ohio Department of Public Safety about the repercussions of joking about violence in schools and lasting consequences for making threats, even as pranks. I want our students to always make good choices so that opportunities for success remain open to them.

Annual Updates Due November 26
All CH-UH K-12 parents and guardians must complete an Annual Update for the 2023-2024 school year through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The Annual Update must be completed by November 26 to ensure your child can participate in sports, field trips, and extracurricular activities. The District will continue to send email, phone, and mailed reminders to parents/guardians who have not completed their Annual Updates. More

Every Minute Counts - Attendance Nudges Coming Soon
Beginning November 14, you may receive text messages about your student’s attendance, as well as mailed letters starting around November 27. These updates provide information about the number of days your student has missed. They can also help connect you to resources. For questions about these attendance updates, please call the EveryDay Labs Family Support Team at 530-453-0411.

Annual Holiday Card Contest Deadline Extended to November 10
Tiger Nation students from preschool through 12th grade are encouraged to participate in the third annual CH-UH Holiday Card Contest! Any student who is currently enrolled in CH-UH is eligible to participate. The deadline for submissions is today, November 10. Details

Finally, but certainly not least of all, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to our military service members ahead of Veterans Day. We enjoy many freedoms thanks to their service and sacrifice.

I hope you enjoy your weekend as well as our last full week before Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
Superintendent Liz Kirby