Dear CHS Community, 

As we approach Fall Break next week, I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a restful and safe time with family and friends.

This season naturally invites us to reflect on our blessings and express gratitude for what truly matters. I encourage all of us - students, staff, and families - to focus our appreciation on the people in our lives rather than the possessions we have. The relationships we build, the connections we maintain, and the love we share are what give our lives meaning and purpose.

As you gather around tables and spend time with loved ones, take nothing and no one for granted. Cherish each moment you have together. Make new memories that will last a lifetime. Show kindness, respect, and compassion to others, including strangers who may need it most. And remember to extend that same grace and kindness to yourself.

These days with family and friends are precious. Use this time to rest, to reconnect, and to remember what matters most. Whether you are celebrating traditions, creating new ones, or simply enjoying the quiet moments, I hope this break brings you peace and renewal.

To our entire Cuyahoga Heights community, thank you for all you do to make our schools and communities such special places. Your care for one another and commitment to our students is something for which we can all be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Reaching New Heights Together,

Matt Young
Superintendent

As we enter Thanksgiving week, taking time to reflect on our blessings helps students develop perspective and contentment. Being thankful goes beyond a single holiday—it's about recognizing the abundance in our lives, from basic necessities to special opportunities. This week offers a perfect opportunity to pause from our busy routines and focus on what truly matters. Here are some strategies for cultivating thankfulness:

Preschool-5th Grade:

6th-8th Grade:

9th-12th Grade:

For All Students:

Remember, a thankful heart is a happy heart. This Thanksgiving week, let's focus on counting our many blessings and expressing appreciation for all we have.

Our Teacher Assistants play an essential role in supporting, teaching, and learning across all grade levels. Whether working with small groups, guiding independent learners, or helping keep our libraries running smoothly, they make a meaningful difference in our students’ daily experiences.

At the elementary school, our three Teacher Assistants provide targeted support to students in grades K–5. They work in small groups throughout the day, offering both enrichment and intervention to help students strengthen skills, build confidence, and stay engaged in their learning.

At the middle and high school, our Teacher Assistant keeps the Library Media Center thriving. She maintains and updates the book collection, searches for new titles, and assists students with book selection, printing, and copying needs. She also supervises study halls, offers a supportive listening ear when students need it, and provides lamination services for both buildings. In addition, she joins District Librarian Melissa Meadwell in the Elementary Library, helping our youngest readers check out books, shelve materials, and explore a well-organized, welcoming library space.

Together, these dedicated staff members enrich our school environment, support students academically and emotionally, and strengthen the daily operations that help our buildings run smoothly. We are grateful for their care, versatility, and commitment to our Red Wolf community.

Molly Clay
Teacher Assistant
FUN FACT

Patti Conte
Teacher Assistant
FUN FACT

Amy George
Teacher Assistant
FUN FACT

Rebecca Rehlender
Teacher Assistant
FUN FACT

Congratulations, Jim Zurbola!

Sohir Soliman has nominated Maintenance Supervisor Jim Zurbola as November’s Staff Spotlight recipient. Please join us in congratulating Jim when you see him.

Learn more about Jim HERE.

Cuyahoga Heights Schools proudly announces the May Students of the Month. Each month, nine students are selected based on teacher nominations: one from each grade 6th-12th, and two from a particular grade level in the elementary school. These exemplary students, chosen for their outstanding achievements, were recognized at the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, November 19. This monthly recognition highlights our students' diverse talents and dedication throughout the school year. Congratulations to all! Read the full article HERE.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

5th Grade
Julie Liu

5th Grade
Michael Kadas

MIDDLE SCHOOL

6th Grade
Evangeline West

7th Grade
Wesley Barrett

8th Grade
Nickolas Zody

HIGH SCHOOL

9th Grade
Isabella Diaz

10th Grade
Hunter Andrews

11th Grade
Tyler Meadwell

12th Grade
Christian Kummerlen

First graders have been diving into the magical world of fiction in the library, learning how different genres help us understand the stories we love. This past week, we focused on folktales and fairytales, stories full of wonder, adventure, and just a little bit of “once upon a time.” We also had a fun surprise up our sleeve: a special guest reader! Our principal, Mr. Melvin, stopped by to share a fairytale from a very unique time and place, the 80s! Students were all smiles as they listened to him read a Bluey Fairytale written by Joe Brumm. It was such a treat to see their excitement and hear their thoughtful discussions throughout the story. A big thank you to Mr. Melvin for joining us in the library and helping make our fairytale week extra magical.

Students from the First Ring Student Leadership Institute traveled to the Columbus Convention Center on Tuesday to collaborate with peers from across the greater Columbus area. The event offered a meaningful opportunity to broaden perspectives, strengthen leadership skills, and connect with students who share a passion for making a positive impact in their schools.

Erin Gruwell—best known as the teacher portrayed in the film Freedom Writers—served as the keynote speaker. She shared powerful stories about the challenges today’s students navigate and reminded attendees that, regardless of race, economic background, age, or ability, they share far more similarities than they may realize on the surface.

Throughout the day, our students engaged in thoughtful discussions with their Columbus-area counterparts, identifying real issues within schools and exploring ways they can address them through their year-long leadership project. The experience was both energizing and inspiring, leaving students motivated to return home and continue their work as leaders in our community.

Spanish Club will be hosting a “pulsera” sale to raise funds for Central American artisans. The Pulsera Project is a nonprofit organization that works with over 200 artisans in Guatemala and Nicaragua to sell beautiful, handwoven bracelets (“pulseras” in Spanish) as well as small “bolsitas” (purses).

Each $5 pulsera and $15 bolsita sold will help create fair trade jobs, support communities in Nicaragua and Guatemala, and fund a number of programs that help improve the lives of hundreds of Central Americans.

The Pulsera Project creates sustainable jobs in vulnerable communities where there are few other options to achieve the dream of creating a better life for themselves and their families. By supporting our pulsera sale, you help keep families and communities together and in control of their own futures.

Mrs. Loncar and Mrs. Russell's 6th grade science students recently completed an engaging hands-on laboratory investigation of the rock cycle using an innovative approach that brought geological processes to life in the classroom. Using Starburst and Mamba candies as rock simulators, students experienced firsthand how the three major rock types form and transform through Earth's dynamic processes.

Lab Highlights

Students worked through a comprehensive multi-step investigation that demonstrated:

Sedimentary rock formation by breaking candy pieces into "sediment," layering them in bags, and applying pressure using textbooks to simulate compaction and cementation.

Metamorphic processes through continued heat and pressure application, observing how existing "rocks" transform under changing conditions.

Igneous rock formation as the culminating experience, where students used an egg poacher to apply heat and steam, watching their candy samples melt and then cool to form new "igneous rocks."

Student Engagement & Learning

The hands-on nature of this lab captured student attention while reinforcing key geological concepts. Students observed and documented changes throughout each stage, connecting their candy transformations to real-world rock cycle processes. The final step with the egg poacher was particularly impactful, as students could directly observe the melting and cooling processes that create igneous rocks in nature.

Educational Impact

This laboratory investigation successfully bridges abstract geological concepts with concrete, observable phenomena. Students left with a deeper understanding of how rocks continuously cycle through Earth's systems, transforming from one type to another through processes of weathering, heat, pressure, and cooling. The visual and tactile elements of the lab ensure these concepts will remain memorable and meaningful as students continue their earth science studies. Our 6th graders demonstrated excellent scientific observation skills and enthusiasm for learning about Earth's dynamic processes through this creative and effective laboratory experience.

Congratulations to seventh grader Madison Hawthorne, whose artwork—created using marker as her medium—was selected as this year’s district holiday card design. Her piece will be featured on the card sent to our vendors, partners, and community contacts this season. Madison also earned a $100 Amazon gift card and was recognized at the November 19 Board of Education meeting. Well done!

This week in the library, our 3rd and 5th graders jumped into a creative STEM challenge that blended storytelling, teamwork, and real-world problem solving. Mrs. Meadwell kicked off the activity with a read-aloud of Our Table by Peter H. Reynolds. Students reflected on the importance of spending quality time with loved ones and discussed how meaningful memories are created around the table.

From there, we shifted into the world of carpentry and design. Students explored woodworking tools, looked at different types of tables, and connected these ideas to math concepts they’ve been learning, like perimeter and area. They even watched a short video showing how a table is made from start to finish, which sparked a lot of curiosity.

Working in groups, students used dominoes and craft sticks to build their own miniature tables. The challenge? Their table had to hold all of their cut-out Thanksgiving dishes without the dishes touching each other or hanging off the edge. Once their designs were complete, each group measured their tables to calculate perimeter and area.

It was a wonderful mix of creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and gratitude, perfect for this season of thankfulness.

Seven outstanding musicians from the CHHS choir program took part in the OMEA District 4 & District 7 Honor Choir on November 13-15. Daniel Cichocki, Emma Gasper, Julia Havlin, Hannah Jasany, Isabela Melendez, Tristan West, and Arianna Wittingen represented Cuyahoga Heights among 30+ other Cleveland-area schools at this prestigious event. Congratulations to these students on a spectacular performance!

Over the past several weeks, Mr. Robinson's 1st period Environmental Science Class had been creating Animal Short Story books for children as part of their current unit on Community Ecology. Through deep understanding and the complexities that play a part of food webs and food chains, these students had an opportunity to share their knowledge across the district to the current Kindergarten class over at the CHS Elementary School. Students were grouped together into 9 teams and choose to write about the wonders of a variety of animals. Some animals were chosen because of their negative perception by society and were highlighted to showcase their overall great benefit to nature and to people. Spiders, bats, ants, and even cockroaches were presented and given friendly names as the students captivated the younglings! Coloring pages, word searches, stuffed animals, and informative videos were also presented to all of the Kindergarteners in Mrs. Cichocki's, Mrs. Rex's, and Dr. Luginbill's classes. A special thanks also goes out to Molly Clay for being instrumental in helping the high-schoolers laminate and print all of the wonderful books that were made! Nothing beats sharing knowledge!!

What is PBIS?  

PBIS is a framework for creating school environments that are more predictable and effective. A proactive approach to setting consistent positive expectations for student behavior so ALL students can experience social, emotional, and academic success. It includes visual reminders throughout the building, recognizing & rewarding students for using positive behaviors, and enforcing consistent meaningful consequences when violations of the expected behaviors occur.  

What does this look like at CHS? 

Cuyahoga Heights Schools has a PBIS Committee made up of teachers, interventionists, specialists, parents/guardians, aides, and other team members. This committee focuses on behavioral expectations and intervention needs in each building.

Cuyahoga Heights Schools have created themes that identify our key values.           

Parents seeking assistance for their student in these areas can contact the student’s teacher or school counselor who will put in a support request to the team. 

The CHS Recycling Club is collecting new and gently used shoes throughout October and November to benefit those in need. Our goal is to fill the donation boxes before Thanksgiving break — and we can’t do it without you!

If you have shoes you or your family no longer wear, please drop them off in one of the yellow collection boxes located in the Main Office or outside the High School Auditorium.

Let’s make a difference together this fall — one pair of shoes at a time!

Four members of the Cuyahoga Heights Schools community took the stage at Severance Hall on Tuesday, November 11, as part of the choir performing with the Cinematic Symphony Orchestra in “Heroes in Harmony,” a special tribute concert honoring Veterans on Veterans Day.

Representing CHS were:

Tracy (Cerovski) Hawthorne ’97

Derek Malicki ’03

Melissa (Toler) Griffie ’95

Michael Carney, former CHS Choir Director (long-term substitute in 1990; full-time from 1991–1998)

The performance brought together vocalists and musicians to celebrate service members through powerful musical selections, creating a memorable and meaningful evening inside one of the region’s most iconic venues.

Pictured L to R: Tracy (Cerovski) Hawthorne ’97, Derek Malicki ’03, Melissa (Toler) Griffie ’95, and Michael Carney.

Rachel Meffe, School Social Worker, is available to assist with finding food and other resources needed. Contact her at 216-429-5722 or rmeffe@cuyhts.org.

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