The Weekly Words
April 26, 2026
Team,
Thank you for an outstanding week of Science OST testing! Our students showed strong focus, and it was clear that our collective effort as a building made a meaningful impact. As we head into our final push, we’ll be supporting our Grade 3–5 students with Math OST small group testing from Tuesday, April 28 through Friday, May 1. The finish line is in sight, and it’s important that we maintain the same level of focus, structure, and energy that we brought to ELA and Science. Our students deserve our very best through the end.
I also want to extend a special thank you to everyone who has supported make-up testing and those continuing to work behind the scenes preparing for end-of-year Acadience and MAP assessments, your efforts do not go unnoticed.
Let’s stay focused, stay positive, and finish strong. We’ve got this, together!
Mr. Walker, M.Ed.
Principal
Hi Team,
I am absolutely loving the Lemonade spirit bubbling throughout the building, it truly feels like a Lemonade Wonderland! Huge thank you to Kim, Kimberly, Dana, Erik, and Gabriella for bringing this vision to life and creating such a positive, joyful environment for our students and staff. I also appreciate everyone’s continued effort and teamwork during OST testing!
As we head into Math OST this week, please help maintain a quiet testing environment by using alternate routes near Grades 3–5 hallways during testing hours and limiting support calls to true emergencies. Don’t forget to check the Daily Discipline Log each morning and ensure students assigned to ALC arrive with meaningful work. We are continuing to make strong progress with attendance, thank you for your outreach and commitment to getting students here each day.
Please take a moment to complete the April staff survey, and continue sharing highlights for our weekly reel, I love celebrating the great things happening across Noble! Let’s keep the energy strong and finish this stretch together!
Ms. Barrett
Assistant Principal
PTA Team – for staffing the lemonade stand in the lunchroom and supporting students!
2nd Grade Team/Students – for the creative and engaging lemonade-themed hallway displays!
Mrs. Holyk – for reinforcing strong reading habits by emphasizing tracking text while reading!
Ms. Murray & Ms. Steplight – for their outstanding work and being celebrated on Administrative Professionals Day!
Mrs. Boyles & Mr. Horter – for leading an engaging readers theater that built fluency, expression, and student joy!
Mr. Johnson – for a standout moment captured as the “favorite picture of the week!"
Mrs. Futchi’s Class – for being the first winners of the Golden Ticket challenge!
Mrs. Ruddy is an experienced Intervention Specialist with 31 years in education, currently co-teaching 4th and 5th grade. She earned her undergraduate degree in Special Education from Ohio University and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix, and she is passionate about continuous learning and collaboration. Mrs. Ruddy is deeply committed to supporting her students’ growth and bringing new strategies into the classroom. She has been married for 31 years and is the proud parent of four grown children, and she values time spent traveling and making memories with her family.
Last summer, she enjoyed a unique experience serving as an extra in a Superman movie filmed in Cleveland alongside her daughter and sister. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, staying active, attending sporting events, relaxing by the ocean, and appreciating simple joys like coffee, ice cream, sunsets, and time with her dogs, Teddy and Tully.
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
Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Boyles on advancing to the CH-UH Teacher of the Year Finalist stage and Ms. Murray on advancing to the CH-UH Helping Hand of the Year Award Finalist stage. This is an outstanding accomplishment, and we are proud to see their impact recognized at the district level.
As next steps, both will be contacted shortly to schedule time with a panel of district staff members. The panel will then select the overall award recipients, which will be announced at the Staff Recognition Awards Ceremony on May 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Marriott East. Congratulations again to both; well deserved recognition for the difference you make each day.
Mr. Johnson is the 2026 recipient of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union Ellen Krebs Award. Ellen Krebs was "the heart and soul of the union" in the 1960's before the CHTU was the bargaining agent for the teachers in the district. This award is given to only one CHTU member each year for their service to students and staff.
Mr. Johnson was selected for this award for his role on the contract negotiating team representing the security monitors as well as his participation in the 2026 OFT Convention in Columbus this year. It was an honor to get to present Mr. Johnson with his award this week!
It's not too late for classrooms to "win" their extra recess or popsicle; we still have 4 school days left in the April Challenge. So far, there are 6 classes ahead of Team Nalepa - but anything can happen in 4 days!
We can’t let April slip by without acknowledging all of our amazing volunteers! 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐏𝐓𝐀! Thank you to everyone who serves our school community by volunteering their time and resources!! Happy National Volunteer Month!
The Noble Elementary Reading Rally was a huge success; our students and staff did an awesome job, and the energy was outstanding!
Thank you for the support and encouragement around our fundraising efforts. We raised a final amount of $4,514! We will be sending out a special thank you to our various donors who were so generous in their giving and celebration of reading!
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.
ELA and Science testing went well overall, and we have already identified a few small refinements that will help Math run even more smoothly. Nothing major, just thoughtful adjustments to strengthen consistency and reduce disruptions for students and staff.
As we continue, a few key expectations will help us stay aligned and protect instructional/testing time:
- Daily OST Communication - ALL STAFF: Please make it a priority to read OST emails daily. Even brief updates may impact schedules, movement, or building logistics, and we want to ensure everyone has the same timely information, regardless if your students are tested.
- Time Stamps Outside Testing Rooms:
Start and end times must be posted outside each testing room. This supports clear communication, ensures consistency across all sessions, and helps us maintain accurate, organized testing procedures building-wide. - PA System Use:
The PA system will be used only in the minutes leading up to testing each morning for any brief and essential updates. Once testing begins, the PA system will remain off unless there is an emergency. This is to preserve a calm, focused testing environment for students. - 5th Grade Hallway (Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30–12:30):
If your normal route takes you through the 5th grade hallway during this time, please use an alternate path (cafeteria or media center). This small adjustment will make a big difference in maintaining a quiet and supportive testing space for our students.
Thank you for your flexibility, your attention to detail, and the steady presence you bring to our building. OST always asks a lot of us, and your work is making a difference for students.
Acadience and MAP testing windows are quickly coming up. This is an important opportunity for us to capture student growth and finish the year strong, so your preparation and attention to detail will be key. Over the coming days, we will be finalizing testing schedules and sharing additional details to ensure a smooth process. Please be ready to support with flexibility and maintain the strong systems and routines that have helped our students be successful all year.
If you need specific support with planning, scheduling, or student needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our admin or Title team—we are here to support you.
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.
Applicable teachers and intervention specialists will receive an automated message from MCOECN to inform them of the Teacher Phase of the Roster Verification process. The process is open from April 8 to April 28.
Permits for the 2025–2026 school year will expire on June 30. Please begin preparing to apply for your 2026–2027 paraprofessional permits, which are due on the first day of the new school year.
