Family Newsletter

Today was STEM 360, and it felt like a huge success. I have to start by thanking Ms. Pam Linxweiler, who partnered with Kinetic West to run this event at Cleveland. She made a logistically complex day run as smooth as a normal school day - a truly remarkable feat. Thank you, Ms. Linx, for taking this on and giving our students such a powerful experience today.

We welcomed dozens of local professionals and organizations in a variety of STEM fields who shared about their professional journeys. They were excellent, and all showed up to this event because they have a genuine desire to inspire students. Alongside our teachers, students also engaged in unique classroom lessons designed to explore how the work they're doing in their classes connects to real world problems they will deal with as professionals. I encourage you to ask your student about their STEM 360 experience today!

Today also happens to be the first day of the 2nd quarter. It feels like the school year just got started, but so much has already happened. Besides the many events that have already taken place, I'm thinking specifically of our seniors who just submitted their applications to the University of Washington. I know it has been a major stressor over the past couple of weeks as they anxiously worked to put their best foot forward before the application deadline. If you are a family member of a senior who applied, I hope you and your student are feeling some relief to be done with that major task.

The turn of the quarter also means that quarter grades will be posted soon. While quarter grades will not show up on a student's transcript (only semester grades are included), they provide students and families with important information about their progress in a course, and whether some course correction needs to be made.

If your student isn't currently earning the grades they're capable of getting, we have a lot of help and support available. I want to spotlight a few resources that your student can access:

• We have a team of Graduation Success Coordinators. Cedric Dennard supports 9th graders, Dale Griffith supports 10th graders, Jacqueline Hardy supports 11th graders, and Bobby Walston supports 12th graders. This team works specifically with students who currently have two or more D/E grades.
• We offer Cleveland After School Help (CASH) from 3:45 - 4:45. CASH support is organized by content area. Scroll down to see the flyer with our CASH schedule.
• We offer BOOST. BOOST is our in-school academic support space available for students during lunch and advisory, and is staffed by teachers and peer tutors. It is available as a drop-in space for students to complete assignments, or to receive additional instruction to deepen understanding of course content.
• We have an amazing teaching staff who are here because they love students and want them to succeed. I encourage students to have the direct (and honest) conversation about what has not been working out up to this point, and how they can work together to turn things around.

Finally, you play an essential part of this work, too. There's no one more qualified to speak to how we can rally behind your student than you. You'll soon hear from your student's advisory teacher about scheduling a Student Led Conference. During an SLC, students share about their progress in classes, highlight what they're proud of, where they need more support, and how their work connects to their future goals. It's a facilitated conversation to make sure we're all working together to help your student learn and grow.

And while checking grades at the quarter is helpful, you certainly don't need to wait to see how your student is doing. Log in to the Source anytime to see how your student is doing.

We hope you restful and restorative weekend.

Jeff Lam, Principal

Jackie Cable, Assistant Principal

Jenn Kekuna, Assistant Principal

• 11/11 | No School (Veterans Day)
• 11/14 | Student Led Conferences
• 11/14 | 9th Annual Seattle Black College Expo
• 11/25 | No School for Cleveland students (CHS has been approved to waive this day for Student Led Conferences - more info coming soon)
• 12/1 | CHS Winter Concert (6:00 pm in Auditorium)
• 12/5 | Open House for Prospective Families (10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.)

Next week, students will begin preparing for their Student Led Conferences in their advisory classes. SLCs are an opportunity for students to share with their families and advisor how they are currently doing in school, what their short term and long term goals are, the steps they will take now to get there, and the support they might need along the way.

Most SLCs will take place on Saturday, November 14th, at Cleveland. Advisory teachers will also schedule SLCs on other days in November, both in person and online. Please look out for communication from your student's advisory teacher over the next couple of weeks to get your SLC scheduled.

Please mark your calendars now - Cleveland will not have school on Wednesday, November 25th. Cleveland has been approved to waive this school day so that we can conduct Student Led Conferences. SLCs are a key strategy that we use to build a collaborative partnership between advisory teachers and parents in support of student success. We will share more about what SLCs will look like this year soon.

Please note that SPS will be operating as normal on this day. If you have students in other schools, they can expect a regular school day.

• Thanks so much to all who attended this week’s meeting. It was great to hear from ASB reps, Principal Lam, and Counselor Napsiyah Sallee. We’ll be sharing the agenda and notes out via our newsletter next week.
• Save the date for our next meeting, January 13th, 5:30-7. We’ll have food, updates from ASB student leaders, and a college counselor come to speak to give advice for students preparing for life after high school!

• December 1st, Giving Tuesday: help us make our biggest fundraiser of the year a success!
• December 2nd Staff/Teacher Appreciation Breakfast: help celebrate and thank our amazing Cleveland staff by donating breakfast goods and/or volunteer time to make this event a success. Signup Genius links will be shared next week.
• December 3rd, 7PM for a Just Chat session. Long-time board member of the Seattle Special Education PTSA, a district-wide, all-volunteer advocacy organization supporting the disability community in Seattle Public Schools, Cleveland parent Jana Parker will hold a space to listen to your needs and experiences; share resources and provide mutual support; foster a sense of belonging and connection among families; and equip families with knowledge to advocate for their kids. Everyone is welcome! Feel free to email Jana with any questions.
• December 5th, Prospective Students and Families Open House: we’re looking for two volunteers to help welcome families and help set up and maintain some snack tables from 10-12. Email us if you are interested: chseaglesptsa@gmail.com!

Discover your future and connect with amazing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), apprentice programs, Seattle Colleges and more at the upcoming Seattle Black College Expo! Bring your family, your big dreams, and your questions for an exciting day designed to open doors for our youth.

This free event is open to students of all ages and offers a unique opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), other colleges, universities, and educational programs.

Students can get accepted on the spot, have application fees waived, and even earn scholarships. High school juniors and seniors should bring their transcripts and ACT or SAT scores; college transfer students should bring transcripts from all colleges attended. The event also features seminars, workshops, entertainment, cash giveaways, and a scholarship presentation.

Please encourage your students to take advantage of this life-changing day of opportunities and bring at least ten copies of their transcripts.

Location Details

Highline College Main Campus
South 240th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
Google Maps Directions

• Student Union Building 8: Check-in for students, vendors and Colleges and Universities.
• South Parking Lot: Designated student dropoff and bus parking.
• Session rooms to be announced.
• Students and families can park in the North and East parking lots or commute via the Link Light Rail to the Des Moines Station.

For more information and to register for free tickets:

Congratulations to Cleveland's Cross Country team and the six extraordinary runners (our largest group going to state since 1975!) who are competing this weekend at the state championship in Pasco, WA! We are so proud of you and we are rooting you on!

Come check out the Short Run Comix Festival this Saturday in Georgetown. If you haven’t gone before, this is hands-down one of the best indie comics festivals in the Northwest. Cleveland students and staff will be peddling their wares (we’ll be at table B:26)! Come out and show your support!

It’s almost time for winter sports at Cleveland!

• Winter sports are: girls and boys basketball, girls and boys wrestling, girls flag football, boys swim, coed bowling
• Students can register for all sports on Final Forms
• Bowling begins 11/2, registration on Final Forms ends 11/9
• All other winter sports begin 11/16, registration on Final Forms ends 11/23
• Students may not practice or compete until they are cleared on Final Forms. Log on to Final Forms ASAP to make sure your student has their forms signed and an updated physical uploaded
• Ask Alison Havran (achavran@seattleschools.org) if you have questions about Final Forms
• Ask coaches if you have sport-specific questions. Click the button below for contact information.

Cleveland's graduation is tentatively set for Friday, June 11th, at 5:30 pm. As soon as graduation is confirmed, we will let you know, and we will share more information about the venue as well.

If your student needs academic support or some space to work on a project, please encourage them to stop by our after school help program, which runs from 3:45-4:45 p.m. after school. Check out the schedule below.

The Seattle Promise is a program launched by Seattle Colleges, Seattle Public Schools, and the City of Seattle through the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy that we believe every Cleveland student should take advantage of, regardless of their current post secondary plans. Whether a student hopes to attend a university thousands of miles away or is unsure if college is for them, completing a Seattle Promise application guarantees they will have the opportunity to graduate with their first degree or credential completely debt-free.

Best of all, this opportunity is available for all of our students, regardless of GPA, income, ability, or country of birth.

***Applications are now open through February 12. Apply Now.***

If your student has questions or needs support with completing an application, we are excited that Jacob Shapiro jrshapiro@seattleschools.org, from Seattle Colleges, will be on campus supporting Cleveland students with accessing this opportunity again this school year. He is a tremendous resource, understands the process inside out, and is great with supporting our students from beginning to end. Students can visit him in the Success Center in Room 1136.