August 8, 2025

Dear CHS Community,

It's beginning to look a lot like the start of another school year! The anticipation is building for what promises to be an incredible 2025-26 school year.

Our campus is howling with activity as various groups prepare for the upcoming year. Athletes and coaches are busy prepping for competition, with some teams already competing. Band camp is in full gear with students playing, marching, and enjoying spirit-themed days. Behind the scenes, our administrative and office staff are working hard on their preparations to ensure a smooth start to the year.

Our elementary summer school program wrapped up this week, and I am grateful to both the students and staff who participated in this important program. For families still completing back-to-school preparations, Ohio's sales tax holiday continues for one more week.

Next week brings several important orientations to help students transition into the new school year. On Monday, we welcome 6th grade, 9th grade, and new middle and high school students for their orientations. Wednesday features both the new elementary school student orientation and our Kick Off to Kindergarten meeting.

Please check the district and building calendars for complete details on all upcoming events, including times and locations. The excitement continues to build as we approach the start of what will be another outstanding year at Cuyahoga Heights Schools.

Reaching New Heights Together!

Matt Young
Superintendent

Building Excitement for New Learning Adventures

Creating enthusiasm for learning at the beginning of the school year sets a positive tone that can last throughout the entire academic experience. When students are excited about discovering new things, they become more engaged, curious, and motivated to participate fully in their education. Building anticipation for learning adventures helps transform the school year from something students must endure into something they eagerly anticipate. Here are some strategies to foster excitement for the learning journey ahead:

Preschool-5th Grade:

• Explore books and videos about topics they'll study this year

• Create a "learning wish list" of things they hope to discover

• Plan fun educational outings related to upcoming curriculum

• Share your own excitement about what they might learn

6th-8th Grade:

• Research interesting careers connected to their favorite subjects

• Set up a "discovery journal" to track cool things they learn

• Connect with older students who can share positive experiences

• Explore online resources that make learning interactive and fun

9th-12th Grade:

• Connect coursework to real-world applications and future goals

• Research colleges or programs that align with their interests

• Seek out documentaries or podcasts related to their classes

• Plan to participate in academic competitions or clubs

For All Students:

• Share stories about your own favorite learning experiences

• Celebrate curiosity by encouraging questions about everything

• Connect learning to their personal interests and hobbies

• Model your own enthusiasm for discovering new things

Remember, excitement for learning is contagious! When families show enthusiasm for education, students catch that same spirit of discovery.

Our administrative assistants are the first smiles you see when you walk through our doors and the friendly voices you hear when you call the school. They keep our day-to-day operations running smoothly — answering questions, helping families navigate school procedures, coordinating schedules, and ensuring important information reaches the right people.

From greeting visitors to supporting teachers, administrators, and students, they’re the behind-the-scenes problem-solvers who make sure our school community stays connected and organized. Quite simply, they are the heart of our front office and a key part of what makes Cuyahoga Heights feel like home.

📸 Click on the fun fact under each assistant’s photo to learn something about them!

On Monday, we were excited to welcome our new team members for orientation. They learned about important processes and procedures, enjoyed a catered lunch from Subway, and took part in our annual “bus tour” of the Cuyahoga Heights community. Former Superintendent Tom Evans, who grew up in Brooklyn Heights, returned to lead the tour, sharing his knowledge and fun-filled stories along the way. It was a great start to their journey with us!

Back Row:  Nikolas Mormile, Anthony Zahtilla, River Williams, Lauren Glenn, Joellen Podoll, Bill Nichols; Front Row:  Abby Neidert, Mary Ann Ulmschneider, Annamarie Loncar, Sean Garrow

Ohio Senate Bill 29 requires school districts to provide annual notifications to parents and students regarding the use of technology that affects student educational records. This includes identifying technology providers with access to these records and outlining any monitoring of school-issued devices.

All other Annual Notices can be found HERE.

In accordance with Ohio law, we are providing this annual notice regarding student data privacy protections established by Senate Bill 29 (as modified by House Bill 432), which took effect on October 24, 2024. This legislation ensures the protection of your child's education records and establishes guidelines for the use of technology in our schools.

Technology Providers & Education Records

We are required to inform you of all technology providers with access to your child's education records. For the 2025-2026 school year, the following providers have contracted with our district:

• CHS Software List

As required by law, all education records created, received, maintained, or disseminated by these providers remain the property of our school district. These providers are prohibited from:

• Selling, sharing, or disseminating your child's education records

• Using these records for any commercial purpose, including marketing or advertising

• Retaining records beyond 90 days after their contract expires (unless renewal is anticipated)

All contracts include security safeguards for education records and restrictions on unauthorized access.

School-Issued Devices

Our district provides school-issued devices for dedicated student use. State law restricts when and how the district or technology providers may electronically access or monitor these devices. Access is permitted only in the following circumstances:

1. For non-commercial educational purposes (instruction, technical support, exam proctoring)

2. Under judicial warrant or subpoena (unless prohibited by state or federal law)

3. When a device is missing or stolen

4. To respond to threats to life or safety

5. To comply with state or federal law

6. To participate in federal or state funding programs

Your Rights as Parents/Guardians

You have the right to:

• Inspect the complete contracts between our district and any technology provider

• Receive notification within 72 hours if your child's device is accessed under specified conditions

• Review district policies regarding student data privacy

Educational Support Services Data

The law provides additional protections for educational support services data related to programs designed to eliminate disparities and advance equities in educational achievement. This data is prohibited from release except in limited circumstances and is exempt from Ohio's Public Records laws.

Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about this notice or wish to inspect any contracts mentioned above, please contact:

Mr. Matthew Hartman, (216) 429-5813, mhartman@cuyhts.org 

You may also find our complete student data privacy policy HERE.

This notice is provided in compliance with Ohio Senate Bill 29 (as modified by House Bill 432), effective October 24, 2024, which regulates the use of educational records by technology providers and establishes protections for student data privacy.

Current: Freshman | Sophomores | Juniors

The teachers at Cuyahoga Heights High School are donating their time to offer ACT Prep Classes for current Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors.

In the spring sessions, students will get test taking tips by subject, take a practice test in that subject, and then review the test.

In the summer sessions, students will receive more extensive test taking tips by subject, take a practice test in that subject, and review the test.

On August 10, students will take a full-length practice test (all 4 subjects) and get scaled scores.

These courses are free but require the purchase of the book. You can purchase it on Amazon by clicking here: The Princeton Review 2025 ACT Review.

Please call Mrs. Connors in the main office at 216-429-5708 to register your child for one or all of the available dates.

Einheit Electric Company has completed the system’s pre-testing and is now in the process of removing the old wiring. The final inspection is scheduled for August 14. The photos above show a side-by-side comparison of the old and new fire alarm panels.

Saturday - In-House Learn to Play Hockey Program
Ice Skating Lesson Program - Fall Sessions

Ford Philanthropy, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office are partnering to provide free teen driver training at the I-X Center on August 9-10, 2025. The attached flyer contains more details. Scan the QR code to register.