The Weekly Words
April 12, 2026
Team,
This weekend, I re-watched a powerful documentary, TEACH, which originally aired on CBS over a decade ago. It offered a compelling and honest look at what it means to be a teacher — the challenges, the passion, and the deep commitment it takes to make a difference in students' lives.
While the film was impactful then, watching it now hit even harder. In many ways, the climate in education has only grown more complex — from the lasting impacts of COVID-19 to the shifting landscape of our world, politics, and communities. Still, one thing remains clear: the importance of relationships. The documentary reaffirmed the belief we hold deeply — that meaningful connections with students are at the heart of helping them grow and achieve.
If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.
Mr. Walker, M.Ed.
Principal
Hi Team,
As we head into OST testing this week, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work you are doing. I know the pressure is real, but so is the care, preparation, and intentionality you bring to Noble students each day, and that matters far more than any single test. You have already done the hard work by building relationships, creating strong learning environments, and supporting students in meaningful ways.
This week and those that follow are simply an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know. Let’s remain focused on maintaining calm, steady, and supportive classrooms, knowing our students will take their cues from us. We will lead with confidence, reassurance, and grace, for our students and for ourselves.
I am truly excited to see our students shine and grateful to be part of a team so deeply committed to their success. We’ve got this.
Ms. Barrett
Assistant Principal
Ms. Hui, Ms. Clay, and Mr. Stern were observed practicing a new breathing technique to support preschool students—“blow a big, big bubble and let it all out in a whoosh!” What a great strategy to build self-regulation skills!
Welcome back to Brianna Rashad! It was wonderful to see the thoughtful and welcoming signs displayed on Ms. Beckles’s door!
The Lemonade War launch at the All-Star Assembly was a huge success! Kudos to Ms. Nalepa, Mr. Walker, Mr. Rozsa, Ms. Salvatore, Ms. Holyk, and Ms. Bogus for their leadership and collaboration on this special initiative!
Ms. Cencic’s ESSP class enjoyed a field trip to the front office, where students sang a song to show appreciation for the main office team, Ms. Steplight and Ms. Murray! What a meaningful moment of gratitude!
The building team recently installed a new door, eliminating the need for a cone during dismissal—#ItsTheLittleThings! Thank you to district facilities and the custodial team for their continued support in maintaining the building!
Students and staff had a great time during last week’s attendance incentives! This quarter’s celebration included movie shorts and a treat, made possible by the support of Ms. Burkey, Ms. Threatt, and Ms. Oh—along with all the students who demonstrated strong attendance!
Fifth grade students were full of joy during lunch, engaging in hand games that brought back fond childhood memories! It was wonderful to see such positive energy and connection!
Students are increasingly taking ownership of their environment, as demonstrated by AK volunteering to help clean tables during lunch! This is a great example of student leadership in action!
One of the highlights from last week was Ms. Maddie, a member of the lunch team, diving to catch a football while playing with a fourth grade class! Her enthusiasm and willingness to engage with students is a powerful way to build relationships—“she has quite an arm,” as one student shared! Go Ms. Maddie!
Mr. Mark Johnson is a highly respected security monitor whose presence has made a lasting impact on generations of students and staff. With decades of service in the Cleveland Heights–University Heights School District, he is widely recognized as both a steady leader and a trusted mentor. In addition to his role in maintaining a safe and supportive school environment, Mr. Johnson is a dedicated coach who has guided and inspired countless students through athletics.
Known by many as a legend within the CH-UH community, he builds strong relationships grounded in respect, consistency, and care. His ability to connect with students and hold them to high expectations has made him a positive influence throughout the building. Mr. Johnson’s commitment extends beyond supervision—he plays a key role in shaping school culture and supporting staff each day. His legacy is defined by his unwavering dedication to students and his deep roots in the community.
Don't See you name? Please be sure to complete our Staff Interest Survey!
April Birthdays
Sra. Romina - April 2
Mrs. Cohen - April 3
Mrs. Beckles - April 7
Ms. Ward - April 7
Ms. Threatt - April 15
Mr. Cohen - April 16
Nurse Lacey - April 20
Ms. Harrington - April 28
Below are the attendance rates for the month thus far. Please make sure to share information with your students and parents to encourage attendance through the remainder of the school year.
So far, the following classrooms are ahead of Team Nalepa (94.1%):
- Futchi
- Hagan
- Larson
- Monroe
- Elwell
- Windham
- Woofter
- Cohen
- Boyles
We are excited to share that we have now raised $3,821 toward our $10,000 goal—what an incredible show of support! Contributions have been coming in strong and more rounded across Grades Pre-K - 5!
As we enter the final days of the Reading Rally, let’s keep the momentum going and see how far we can push toward our goal! Students can continue logging reading minutes each day by accessing their donation pages, watching kickoff and daily challenge videos, and checking in both at school and at home.
💡 How you can support:
- Encourage students to participate in the daily reading challenges
- Remind students to share their pages with family and friends
- Celebrate participation, effort, and progress in classrooms
Let’s finish strong and make these final days of the Reading Rally our best yet! Thank you for your continued support in making this such a meaningful experience for students.
Families, caregivers, educators, and community members are warmly invited to join us for an engaging and eye opening evening focused on understanding dyslexia. This interactive Dyslexia Simulation offers participants the opportunity to experience learning challenges similar to those faced by many students with dyslexia, helping build awareness, empathy, and practical insight.
This evening is for families who want greater understanding, practical insight, and meaningful ways to support children with dyslexia.
Participants can earn 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Monday, April 20, 2026
Dinner served at 5:30 PM
Simulation from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Delisle Options Center
14780 Superior Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
Supervised Childcare will be available so families can fully participate.
The simulation will be presented by the International Dyslexia Association, Northern Ohio Branch, offering a powerful learning experience for our community. Together we are creating space for learning, understanding, and stronger support for students who learn differently. Please register https://bit.ly/walkinshoe or use the QR code on the flyer.
Creative Heights 2025-2026 Art Show
April 11- May 8
Mark your calendars for the opening reception
Where: Lee Road Library
When: April 14 7-8 PM
Award presentation at 7PM
This year, you will continue to submit your Noble TAP concerns using a secure Google Form. You may be asked to include your name, which will be visible only to Daniel Hershman-Rossi and Kimberly Holyk, our 795 Building Stewards.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, simply indicate this in your submission. However, please keep in mind that providing your name allows for more effective follow-up and resolution of your concern. Thank you for your attention to this process. Please be on the lookout for the updated form below.
Mrs. Holyk
Mr. Hershman-Rossi
Noble Elementary
Building Stewards
The District has adopted a plan for communications with persons with disabilities, which is available at the following link: Communication Plan. The plan establishes procedures to ensure that the District's communications with persons with disabilities, including applicants, participants, members of the public, and companions with disabilities, are as effective as its communications with others.
Spring testing season is underway. Educators can utilize this Before, During, and After + FAQ resource for key steps for each phase of testing, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. It can also be found in Clever under Assessments for easy access.
For support during any phase of the Spring OST administration process, please reach out to your Building Test Coordinator or sign up for an Instructional Data Support Session with Becky McDonald.
This week, our building will enter a testing zone beginning Tuesday, 4/14. The schedule can be found here. A few key reminders:
- 3-5 Teachers are responsible for planning activities for non-testing groups. Please communicate with your cooperating teacher/staff member to start the conversation about this.
- Grades 3-5 Teachers - don’t forget to populate groups in this document.
- The Library schedule for ELA testing has been updated here.
- It is possible we may make some shifts to the math/science OST schedule if we encounter challenges during ELA testing.
- Grades K-2 - Please join us in ensuring the building is in a “testing zone” even though your classrooms are not testing. Thank you!
- All Staff - Support Calls - Note that the full support team will not be available for support calls on testing days. We encourage you to utilize paras and student teachers (if applicable), calming corners, and buddy classrooms on state testing days.
We are excited to kick off our schoolwide reading experience, One Book, One School, featuring The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies!
Here are some additional items:
Grades are to be updated in Infinite Campus every two weeks. The following posting schedule has been created for the 2025-2026 school year for all teachers to follow.
All instances of the CH-UH Infinite Campus website and app (Parent Portal, Student Portal, & Staff Portal) will be offline and unavailable to access for 12 hours beginning Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. through Thursday, April 16 at 6 a.m. This downtime has been requested by Infinite Campus in order to perform upgrades to the database server. Any updates or additional information about this process will be shared.
MetroHealth will offer dental services to CH-UH students at the Heights Wellness Center, located inside Heights High School, April 13-17. Services include cleanings, x-rays, exams, sealants, fluoride treatments, and restorative care.
As with all of the services provided by MetroHealth at the Heights Wellness Center, there is never any out-of-pocket expense for students. Families can fill out a consent form here and make an appointment by calling 216-957-1303 or emailing shpschedule@metrohealth.org.
