Newsletter for parents and families of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District April 2019

Lincoln-West School of Science and Health

3202 West 30th Street Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 838-7100

Message from Principal Kirkwood-Hughes

During the week of April 8th, all LWSH math teachers, intervention specialists, and paraprofessionals spent two days with Mr. Fred Dillon, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). He facilitated a hands-on workshop that provided all involved with evidence-based teaching practices to best support mathematical discourse in their classrooms.

Upcoming Events

[04/16]

[04/19]

[04/22]

[04/24]

First Day of State – Mandated Testing (OSTs)

Good Friday – All School Facilities Closed

Easter Monday – All School Facilities Closed

Early Dismissal at 12:30 and Parent-Teacher Conferences (1:10 – 5:30)

Mathematical Discourse

The month of April marks the beginning of the end of the year testing window. We will begin administering Ohio end of course exams beginning the week we return from Spring Break on April 16th. The testing window will run through the beginning of May.

It is very important that your child is at school to participate in this testing. Past experience has shown that students who take the assessments with their class perform at a higher level than those who take a make-up assessment at a different time. If you need to schedule a medical appointment for your child in the next month, please check with your child’s advisor to find out what days to avoid when scheduling the appointment.

As always, our LWSH community appreciates your continued support!

Sincerely,

Michelle Kirkwood-Hughes

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Newsletter for parents and families of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District April 2019

Bilingual Paraprofessionals Supports Academic Growth

Lincoln-West School of Science and Health serves families from all over the city of Cleveland. 270 scholars come from nine different countries and speak seven different languages. With so much culture and diversity, some LWSH students need support when it comes to their personal immersion and understanding of the English Language.

Bilingual Paraprofessionals Students on both campuses are fortunate enough to have just that.

Over 40% of the students at LWSH speak multiple languages which may require additional support.

Mr. Felix Acuna and Ms. Lynnette Lozada were specifically hired at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year because of their deep understanding and practical command of both the Spanish and English Language. Each day, our bilingual paraprofessionals help students at all grade levels with daily learning tasks, long-term assignments, and all types of formative, summative or state mandated assessments. Their daily schedules also provide time so they

can provide small group tutoring to any student on an as needed basis.

In and Out of the Classroom Lincoln-West Science and Health’s Spanish-speaking population has also had multiple opportunities throughout the school year to participate in community events that focused specifically through a cultural lens. These have included events that have focused on engineering, journalism, and other college and readiness experiences.

AVID is the acronym for an organization that is shaping today’s youth and future leaders of tomorrow. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) fosters a safe, open culture, has high expectations for teachers and students alike, and places a strong focus on collaboration in all classrooms. Teachers are inherently

passionate about education. AVID helps teachers shift from delivering content to facilitating learning, resulting in an inquiry based student-centric classroom.

Over 6000 schools across the country recognize collaboration, inquiry, and organization as AVID strategies that help situations come alive without being scripted. AVID

shifts the manner with which teachers facilitate learning. This is done without just layering on a new curriculum. With AVID, teachers have the flexibility to add tools from AVID to augment and strengthen learning of any standards in all content areas. AVID teachers know that all students are capable of learning, often challenging many core beliefs.

Lifelong Learners

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Newsletter for parents and families of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District April 2019

On Monday, March 18, a group of 9th grade students chaperoned by Ms. Imber (Freshman Teacher) and Ms. Lawson (College and Career Success Manager), headed to Quicken Loans Arena for a learning experience like no other. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and our Cleveland Cavaliers partnered up for their annual College Fair. Students had an opportunity to talk with local college admissions representatives, gaining resume tips and crucial advice on their journey towards college and career readiness. This event also

allows AVID students a chance to learn and understand the responsibilities of the business behind a sports organization such as the Cavaliers. Students also had conversations surrounding what professionals look for in interns and potential employees. Students heard from Fan Development and E-Sports, Corporate Sales, Building Operations and Events. Ultimately students had an opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt at the “Q”, winning CAVs T-shirts. Every student that participated also received 3 tickets to the CAVS game that night.

AVID College Fair

9th grade students visited Quicken Loans Arena, joining hundreds of other freshman from throughout the Cleveland Area, participating in the AVID College Fair, which was co-sponsored by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

LWSH students’ view as they walked into the Quicken Loans Arena for the College Fair.

Why I Do What I Do – Bridget Imber, Educator

I always knew I wanted to teach. Like many young girls, I played school with my sisters. I would always be the teacher, and they were always my students. I would use my Mom’s bells to start and stop class, and we would use the bedroom walls to write on with marker. Obviously, this didn’t go over too well with my Father! In high school, I had a history teacher named Mr. Mercer, who prior to teaching, worked on Capitol Hill. He always

made our classes entertaining and had such a passion for teaching. This really inspired me to want to teach others.

I find teaching most rewarding when I see students excited about learning something new or figuring out the answer to something they didn’t know. When students tell me that I have high expectations for them, it makes me realize that I am helping prepare them for future academics and career paths. Just a few weeks ago, one of my classes

said they appreciated that I hover over them, walk around them and make sure that they are working, asking them questions. These same students said they have the highest scores in my class!

I think what is most important about how I teach is to help students learn the fundamentals in and outside of the classroom. I want students to learn the standards, but they also need to learn about respect and team-building.

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Newsletter for parents and families of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District April 2019

School planning meetings scheduled in April

CMSD will engage the community in planning the future of academic programs and buildings.

The Board of Education is revisiting the District’s master facilities plan. Cleveland’s population patterns have changed since the plan was last updated five years ago, and the board wants to ensure that the taxpayers’ investment matches community needs.

The independent Bond Accountability Commission has called for a fresh look, citing trends in enrollment and construction costs. The BAC was created to monitor a building and renovation program that has been funded by the state and local bond issues.

The District is responding to this call and taking the opportunity to better align its academic and facilities decision making.

"We are seizing this moment in time to plan not only new buildings but the improving academic programs that will inhabit those buildings," said Christine Fowler-Mack, the District's chief portfolio officer.

The public is invited to join the long-term planning process, which will explore data reflecting academic quality, enrollment trends and forecasts, and building use and conditions across the city. The data is contained in a comprehensive fact base called the Citywide Analysis.

The Citywide Analysis will allow the community to use the same information considered by District and charter school leaders when assessing how best to plan for quality schools in every neighborhood. It provides data at three different levels — citywide, by region and at the school level — for both District and charter K-8 and high schools.

While the report presents data analysis, it does not make recommendations. The analysis will enable educators, community members and families to work from the same set of facts and engage together in thoughtful planning.

"We are presenting this without a point of view," CEO Eric Gordon said. "We were very deliberate in holding ourselves accountable to not saying, 'This is what we should do.' "

The Citywide Analysis is available at QualitySchoolsforCLEkids.org. The website also includes an interactive tool that will allow visitors to explore their own region, a user guide, a schedule of public meetings, frequently asked questions and a

All-City Arts to present ‘42nd Street’

CMSD students will hit the stage at Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre when the District’s All-City Arts program presents “42nd Street” from April 26-28.

The classic musical tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a small-town girl who travels to New York in hopes of starring on Broadway. The lead breaks her ankle before the opening, and Peggy gets the role.

Performances of the 20th annual All-City Musical are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 28.

Audiences will see the immense talent of CMSD students at a bargain price. All tickets are general admission and cost $15 each.

To buy tickets online, visit ClevelandMetroSchools.org/42ndSt-Tickets

Gordon will lead a series of public meetings in April, beginning Tuesday, April 2 at East Tech High School. For a complete schedule, visit

ClevelandMetroSchools.org/MeetingSchedule. The schedule is also on a postcard that is being mailed citywide.

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Newsletter for parents and families of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District April 2019

Report shows need for Say Yes

Students to use email

A new report on CMSD graduates’ college readiness and enrollment shows why Cleveland decided to join Say Yes to Education.

The Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland’s annual report, released March 26, highlighted familiar patterns. Students are graduating in larger numbers, but in a trend widely attributed to cost, fewer are going on to postsecondary studies.

To view the full report, visit ClevelandMetroSchools.org/HEC-AnnualReport

In January, Say Yes to Education designated Cleveland as its fourth U.S. chapter. The organization, founded by philanthropist George Weiss, helps communities provide scholarships that fill gaps in tuition for college and other postsecondary education; it also helps align services to keep students and families on track to success.

CMSD’s graduation rate has reached a District record of 74.6 percent and is up 22 percentage points since 2011. Yet, the proportion of graduates enrolling within one year after leaving high school has dropped from 61 percent in 2012 to 45 percent. And the rates of those who stay in college longer than a year and graduate in four years have dipped recently.

While readiness indicators show more work remains to be done, the proportion of students requiring remediation in math or English fell from 76 percent in 2012 to 58 percent last year.

The arrival of Say Yes Cleveland has stirred interest: The last statistics available showed that 1,947 seniors, 83 percent of the current class, had filled out an initial Say Yes application and 1,451 had applied to

CMSD is piloting student use of Office 365 and an array of Microsoft applications, making it easier for classmates to share work and collaborate on projects.

The pilot involves sixth- through 12th-graders and 14 schools. Eventually, the District would make the Office 365 suite available to students across the District.

Besides email, students will have access to applications like Word, PowerPoint and Excel that their families also can download. The tools will allow the students to work together on school assignments in real time using home computers and mobile devices. Software will monitor the content in projects and messages round the clock to guard against inappropriate use.

a college, almost all of those to colleges, universities and certificate programs eligible for Say Yes funding.

Only 1,073, slightly less than half, had completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Say Yes scholarships help pay the cost of tuition minus federal and state aid.

Mayor Frank G. Jackson founded the compact in 2011 to better equip CMSD graduates for college and career. The group brings together a number of educational institutions, community partners and funders.

For more information on Say Yes, go to SayYesCleveland.org.

“This helps us meet the growing challenges and real-world needs of education,” said Shawn Braxton, CMSD's executive director of instructional technology. “And it is in keeping with our belief that learning is not limited to the classroom.”

Schools participating in the pilot include 11 elementary schools (Adlai Stevenson, Artemus Ward, Case, Euclid Park, Kenneth W. Clement Boys' Leadership Academy, Mound, Robinson G. Jones, Sunbeam, Tremont Montessori, Wade Park and Wilbur Wright), one K-12 school (Thomas Jefferson International Newcomers Academy) and two high schools (Cleveland High School for Digital Arts and Ginn Academy).

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Newsletter for parents and families of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District April 2019

Lincoln-West School of Science and Health

3202 West 30th Street Cleveland, OH 44109 Michelle Kirkwood-Hughes 216-838-7100 Michelle.Kirkwood-Hughes@ClevelandMetroSchools.Org

Students at four CMSD high schools will receive $1,000 grants for proposals that help address health and wellness problems in their schools or communities.

The schools were among 10 that were announced as winners after participating in a five-hour workshop that UnitedHealthcare and GENYOUth’s AdVenture Capital hosted at Case Western Reserve University.

The CMSD schools and their projects included:

• Bard Early High School College East Campus: Build an app to track physical activity and encourage students to exercise and earn nutritious smoothies.

• Campus International High School: Work with the school’s nutrition staff to install a salad bar and encourage more healthy options during lunch.

Students receive grants for healthy living projects

• Garrett Morgan High School: Increase

breakfast participation from 25 percent 70 percent by starting an interactive open mic breakfast club.

• John Adams College and Career Academy: Increase student interest in nutritious smoothies by purchasing a “smoothie bike” and starting to plan installation of a vending machine with healthy products.

United HealthCare employees volunteered to mentor the students as they designed their concepts and developed the pitches they made to judges.

AdVenture Capital is a social entrepreneurship program of GENYOUth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to child health and wellness.