Dear CHS Community, 

This past Monday was Groundhog Day, and Ohio's official groundhog, Buckeye Chuck, did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring. His forecast directly conflicts with Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, who did see his shadow and promised six more weeks of winter. I suppose we will need to wait and see which prediction proves accurate.

Next week brings two important events. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for our middle and high school students and families. These conversations provide valuable opportunities to discuss academic progress and strengthen the partnership between home and school. Our elementary school will host the CHES GALA celebration, formerly known as Family Game Night and Art Show. This event promises an engaging evening of games, art, literacy activities, and student achievement for the whole family.

As a reminder, students have an upcoming extended weekend. There will be no school next Friday (2/13) because of staff professional development, and no school the following Monday (2/16) in observance of Presidents' Day.

I want to thank our families and community for continuing to choose and support Cuyahoga Heights Schools. Your commitment to education and active involvement in our students' learning makes a meaningful difference every day.

Reaching New Heights Together,

Matt Young
Superintendent

Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of our daily lives, from voice assistants and recommendation systems to educational tools and search engines. Understanding AI basics helps students become informed users of technology and prepares them for a future where AI will play an even larger role. Developing AI literacy empowers students to use these tools responsibly while understanding both their capabilities and limitations. Here are some strategies for introducing AI concepts:

Preschool-5th Grade:

6th-8th Grade:

9th-12th Grade:

For All Students:

Remember, AI is rapidly changing our world. Helping students understand and thoughtfully engage with these technologies prepares them to be informed citizens and future innovators.

Cuyahoga Heights Middle School intervention specialists work closely with students to support both academic and personal growth during an important stage of development. They build strong relationships, provide meaningful instruction, and create a supportive environment that encourages accountability, humility, and respect.

Through structured support, hands-on learning, and intentional guidance, they help students develop organization, reflection, critical thinking, and confidence. By setting goals, celebrating progress, and motivating students to keep improving, intervention specialists make a positive impact on students, families, and the entire school community.

Leanne Candow
Intervention Specialist
FUN FACT

Rebecca DelRosa
Intervention Specialist
FUN FACT

Lyndsey Piotrowski
Intervention Specialist
FUN FACT

As in years past, Cuyahoga Heights Schools anticipates hosting the District Track Meet each spring and has now been provided the official dates and times. This year, we have also been selected to host the Regional Track Meet. Please note that this will require a schedule change on both of the Thursday meet dates.

Meet Dates:

District Track Meet: Thursday, May 21 & Saturday, May 23

Regional Track Meet: Thursday, May 28 & Saturday, May 30

To accommodate event setup and operations, students will be released early on the Thursday meet dates:

Early Release Times:

Middle School and High School (Thursday, May 21 & 28): 1:35 PM

Elementary School (Thursday, May 21 & 28): 2:35 PM

Families are asked to plan transportation and after-school arrangements accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation and support as we host these important events.

Please join us!

Cuyahoga Heights Elementary School (CHES) students, parents, siblings, and other family members are invited to a GALA (Games, Art, Literacy, and Achievement) on Thursday, February 12, from 6:00-7:30 PM. In light of the school's recent achievement as a National ESEA Distinguished School, the name of the event was changed from a focus on "games" and "art" to include "literacy" and "achievement". CHES was one of 63 schools nationwide selected as a 2026 National Distinguished School for significant achievement gains among economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities.

The "literacy" and "achievement" portion of the GALA will celebrate books, reading, and the district’s love of learning. Families can shop at the Book Fair, enjoy story time with staff members, and see students bring their favorite stories to life during a “Dress as Your Favorite Book Character" contest. Student artwork will be on display as part of the "Art" portion of the event.

Technology teacher Gary Miller is coordinating the GALA with assistance from Kelly Cummins, SLP/ preschool coordinator; Sean Garrow, art teacher; and Melissa Meadwell, librarian.

Guests can enjoy a variety of family-friendly games, explore student art displays, and take part in several raffles and fundraisers, including the PTO 50/50 raffle, themed raffle baskets, and a game board raffle.

The evening will also feature special opportunities to connect with the Independence Librarian and shop at the PTO Book Fair, making it a perfect event for readers of all ages.

We hope you’ll join us for this special night where learning, creativity, and community shine!

Cuyahoga Heights students demonstrated exceptional civic knowledge on December's American Government State Test, with 95% of the 56 test-takers earning proficient or higher, significantly outpacing the statewide average of 65%.

This achievement puts our students in a strong position to earn Ohio's Citizenship Seal, one of twelve diploma seals designed to show post-graduation readiness. Students who earn proficient or higher on both the American History and American Government state tests automatically earn this seal. Under Ohio's graduation requirements, students must earn at least two seals to graduate, with one being state-defined like the Citizenship Seal.

The results reflect outstanding preparation by our students and effective instruction by their teacher, Dr. Johnny Roy. These scores demonstrate not only mastery of American government and civics, but also the critical thinking skills students will need as engaged citizens and informed participants in our democracy.

Congratulations to our students and staff on this impressive achievement.

February 18, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.

Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools will host a Vape Awareness parent presentation titled Vaping: What’s in the Mist featuring national speaker Robb Holla on February 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Baumgardner Auditorium at Cuyahoga Heights High School.

In addition to the evening parent session, students in grades 6–12 will participate in a student-centered presentation during the school day on February 18. These presentations are part of the district’s ongoing efforts to ensure students, families, and staff are informed about the dangers of vaping and the importance of making healthy, informed decisions. Parents who sign in during the evening presentation will be entered for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card, courtesy of the CHS PTO.

These presentations align with Board Policy 5530, which emphasizes proactive education and prevention while maintaining clear expectations that our schools remain drug-free environments.

The Cuyahoga Heights High School (CHHS) National Honor Society (NHS) and Cuyahoga Heights Middle School (CHMS) National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) inducted their newest members in a joint ceremony on February 2 in the high school auditorium. 

The day began with “tapping” the new inductees during classes, thereby informing them of their selection. Each inductee was presented a badge signifying their accomplishment, followed by a celebratory luncheon. 

The joint induction ceremony was held later that evening in the Paul L. Baumgardner Auditorium. “This membership opens doors to developing leadership skills, engaging deeply in intellectual pursuits, expanding your horizons, and building relationships with like-minded peers,” Principal Scott DeTray told the new inductees in congratulating them on their accomplishment. “It is also an asset as you apply for colleges, scholarships, and future careers by helping you stand out not only for what you achieve, but for who you are.”

Read the full article HERE

William Watts, Jr. represented Cuyahoga Heights Schools at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) Regional Competition held at CVCC on January 23, 2026.

William earned second place in Computer Programming Concepts, demonstrating strong technical skills, problem-solving ability, and dedication to his coursework.

Congratulations to William on this outstanding achievement. We are proud to celebrate his success and wish him continued accomplishments in future competitions.

Support the Cuyahoga Heights High School Class of 2026 After Prom by dining at Cozumel Mexican Grill on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Community members are invited to participate during the following times:

Cozumel Mexican Grill is located at 5555 Brecksville Road in Independence.

Guests may dine in or order take out. The fundraiser flyer must be presented at the time of purchase for Cozumel to donate 20 percent of all food and beverage sales to support the CHHS Class of 2026 After Prom celebration.

Thank you for supporting our students while enjoying a great meal.

Download the After Prom Fundraiser Flyer

There’s trouble in River City! Cuyahoga Heights Drama Club proudly presents Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. Tickets are now on sale for the school musical, The Music Man, which will be performed on March 13, 14, and 15, 2026. All tickets will be sold online. Please follow the instructions below to purchase your tickets.

Want to advertise your business in the Cuyahoga Heights Schools Spring Musical Program? Or are you a parent who wants to give a shout out to your student performer? Purchase an ad today to show your support.

Click the link below to purchase your ad. A black and white camera ready advertisement should be sized to fit the appropriate dimensions. PDF files should be e-mailed to gbrown@cuyhts.org.

Deadline to be included in The Music Man program is March 6, 2026.

Thank you for your help and support of our talented drama-loving students!

Advertisement / Student Shout Out Form

Welcome to River City, Iowa! We are looking for the following items for our upcoming production, The Music Man. If you have something from this list you are willing to donate to the CHS Drama Club, please email Mrs. Brown: gbrown@cuyhts.org

Prop List of Items Needed - The Music Man

This week, our students had a sweet time in Occupational Therapy and Speech as they decorated their very own candy hearts! While the activity was festive and fun, it was also packed with meaningful learning opportunities. In Occupational Therapy, students worked on fine motor skills such as coloring, cutting, gluing, and hand coordination as they carefully designed their candy hearts.These tasks helped strengthen hand muscles, improve control, and build independence with classroom-related skills. At the same time, Speech sessions incorporated language and communication goals into the activity. Students practiced following directions, expanding vocabulary, answering questions, and expressing their ideas as they talked about their designs and the messages on their hearts. The candy heart project was a great example of how learning can be both engaging and purposeful. The students were proud of their creations and we were proud of the hard work, focus, and creativity they showed throughout the week!

Please join us in celebrating our Youth Wrestlers who earned placements at the Sectional Tournament, were selected to compete in the All-Star Tournament, and qualified for the State Tournament. Congratulations on these outstanding achievements!

1st Place: Jase Prater

5th Place @ 60lb: Cody Kaliszewski

5th place @ 95lb:  Anthony Travaglianti

6th place @ 100lb: Hunter Pejanovic

6th place @ 150lb: JJ Huffman

1st Place: Reece Conte

3rd Place: Krue Kirchner 

3rd Place: Xander Loch 

3rd Place: Kaden Mauer

The CHS Music Boosters are excited to host a Valentine’s Day Crumbl Cookie-Gram Fundraiser, and we’d love your support.This delicious fundraiser is the perfect way to treat someone special while helping our talented music students.

Order Valentine-themed Crumbl Cookies with the following options:

Combo 1: 4-pack for $20 
Combo 2: 6-pack for $30 
Single Cookie: $6

Order by February 6. Cookies will be distributed during lunch or picked up after school on February 12.

All proceeds directly benefit the CHS Music Booster, helping support programs, performances, and student opportunities.

Simply scan the QR code on the flyer or click HERE to place your order today.

For questions, please email cuyhtsmusicboosters@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting CHS Music Boosters—and making Valentine’s Day a little sweeter! 💕🎵

Due to the forecast of inclement weather this weekend, the CHS Music Boosters have made the decision to postpone CHS Got Talent to ensure the safety of our performers, audience members, and volunteers. While we were looking forward to celebrating the incredible talents of our community, safety must come first.

We are excited to announce that CHS Got Talent has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 6:00 PM, and will still take place in the CHS High School Auditorium. All the fun remains the same, an evening filled with singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, musicians, and more. Admission will continue to be $5, with free entry for performers & volunteers. We will also have basket raffles, a 50/50, concessions, and more!

If you already signed up to perform or volunteer, your spot will carry over to the new date. Additional performers and volunteers are still welcome, and sign-ups remain open via the QR code on the event flyer or by clicking HERE to register your act. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We can’t wait to see you in February for a fantastic night of talent at CHS!

Looking for a fun night out while your kids enjoy an evening of activities with friends? Parent’s Night Out 2 is back, and it’s all for a great cause.

This pajama-themed event is a fundraiser supporting the Class of 2026 After Prom. Parents can drop off their children in their coziest PJs and enjoy a worry-free evening while students are supervised by approved volunteers.

Event Details

Date: Friday, February 13
Time: 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Valley View Recreation Center
Cost: $35 per family

What’s Included?

*Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot soon.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping make After Prom a safe and memorable experience for the Class of 2026.

Registration for the 2026-27 school year opened Monday, January 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. on the Cuyahoga Heights Schools website, where families can find all required forms, step-by-step instructions, and details regarding necessary enrollment documentation.

We encourage families to register as early as possible to help ensure a smooth and successful start for our future Red Wolves. Registration will close on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. 

2026-27 Tuition Rates

PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN registration is open to NEW resident and NEW tuition families

*IMPORTANT NOTE Regarding KG

GRADES 1–12 registration is open to NEW tuition families ONLY

4820 East 71st Street | Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44125 | 216-429-5700 | www.cuyhts.org