Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Lakeland Jazz Fest Friday, 2/22

The High School Jazz groups will be performing at the Lakeland Jazz Fest at Lakeland Community College on Friday, February 22.  Performance times are:

Jazz Ensemble- 11:00 AM
Jazz Band- 12:30 PM
Jazz Combo- 1:00 PM

Call time for all students is 8:30 AM in the band room.  Students will board the buses at 9:00 AM and return to Shaker some time around 3:45 PM.  The concert is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Shaker Alumni Musicians Return for Concert

The Shaker Schools Foundation will present a special percussion concert at Shaker Heights High School on March 5 featuring music for the keyboard-percussion instruments, marimba and vibraphone. Professional musician and Shaker graduate, Luke Rinderknecht, is organizing a performance of pieces for one, two, three, and four percussionists. It will benefit the Charlotte Braverman Music Enrichment Fund of the Shaker Schools Foundation.  Please see the flyer for soloist and ticket information.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Trip Update from Michael Griffith

The following is an update on the Turkey trip from SHHS Principal Michael Griffith.
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Dear Shaker Band Tour Participants and Parents:


Recent events in Turkey have raised questions about safety and security on the band trip. As principal, (and as a trip chaperone and parent of a band member who will be on the tour), I share those concerns. Nothing is more important to me than the safety of our students, staff, and other tour participants.

I want to bring you up to date on the status of the trip, the information we have gathered, and the measures we are taking.

At Superintendent Freeman’s direction, the staff is continuing to monitor and research the advisability of going forward with the trip. Based on what we have learned to date through considerable research, we believe the trip should proceed. We are consulting frequently with the tour operators in the U.S. and in Turkey, with the U.S. State Department, and with the headmaster of Robert College, the school we will be visiting in Turkey. (He is a U.S. citizen.) We have spoken with staff members at a private school in New York that has decided, after doing its own research, to proceed with sending students and faculty members on a similar itinerary later this month. We are also reaching out to U.S. universities that have students currently in the Istanbul area.

The band trip and shadow trip are concentrated along the Bosporus and the Aegean Sea, more than 200 miles from Ankara and more than 500 miles from the Syrian border. At this point, all indications from multiple sources are that tourism is proceeding normally in the areas we will visit. The State Department has not found it necessary to change its recommendations with respect to travel in Turkey. On February 1, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey issued a statement about the attack on the embassy that read, in part: “All of us feel we are among friends in a country that is safe for Americans, and stable.” There has been no announced change in that position.

Local governments have issued permits for the performances and will have a police presence. If there are safety concerns, the authorities will cancel the performance or change the venue.

If the situation in Turkey changes for the worse, or we receive new information leading us to conclude that the trip should be canceled for safety reasons, families will be notified immediately so that they can make alternate plans for spring break.

We understand that there will be disappointment if the trip must be canceled. That is always a risk with travel. As with all international trips, the School District and tour operator were very clear up front that there could be a cancellation and that families could incur some financial loss. Arranging an alternate trip with this many people is not feasible.

The District believes firmly in the value of international travel, particularly travel that exposes students to cultures that are very different from our own. There is always some risk, whether we are traveling overseas or across town. But I assure you that the safety of our students, staff, and other travelers is our first priority. This is why we are undertaking a thorough, ongoing assessment of the situation.

I recognize that some of you may still have misgivings. Each family must make its own decision. At the District’s request, the tour operator has offered to modify its refund policy. If you wish to withdraw from the trip and receive a partial refund, you have until February 14 to notify the school and tour company. Rather than forfeit the entire amount, you will get all but $1,000 of your money back if you withdraw by the 14th. (The $1,000 will cover expenses that have already been incurred by the tour operator, including air and land portions of the program.) After the 14th, the tour operator will have to complete the purchase of airline tickets and make final payments for all services, so a refund will not be possible for anyone withdrawing after that date. If you withdraw, you will not be able to rejoin the tour, because your airline seats and hotel reservations will be released.

If your decision is to withdraw, please send an e-mail to Lisa Gibson (gibson_l@shaker.org), Tom Deep (deep_t@shaker.org), and Jeff Goldsmith (jgoldsmith@grandtoursinc.com). This will ensure that the proper arrangements can be made expeditiously.

I continue to believe that this trip will be a wonderful experience. We have capable and experienced staff members and chaperones on the trip to supervise students. The band staff and Dr. Stokes’s office will keep you apprised of trip preparations, meetings, packing reminders, etc. Safety and security issues are being handled by the administration, so please contact me directly with any related questions or concerns.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we all work toward a safe, educational, and enjoyable tour. I look forward to traveling with you.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Griffith
Principal
216-295-4201
griffith_m@shaker.org

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Severance Hall Concert and Ticket Information

Both the Shaker Heights High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will be performing at the prestigious Severance Hall this Sunday, January 27.  Both groups will be rehearsing Friday morning, January 25, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. 

Plans for January 27 are as follows:

Wind Ensemble
-Rehearsal: 12:15-1:00 p.m. at SHHS
-Call time: 3:30 p.m. at Severance Hall
-Perform: around 7:00 p.m.
-Dismiss following performance, around 8:00 p.m.

Symphonic Band
-Call Time and Rehearsal: 2:00 p.m. at SHHS
-Board busses to Severance Hall, arrive 3:30 p.m.
-Perform: around 6:30 p.m.
-Make arrangements for rides home following the concert (around 8:00 p.m.)

We have sold our allotted 300 tickets. Additional tickets will be available at the concert at the box office.  Students should be sure to plan accordingly for meals, no food should be taken into Severance Hall.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Helping the Reynolds Family

Our deepest sympathies are with the Reynolds family who suffered a tragic fire and the loss of two family members early Tuesday morning.  Two of the surviving members of the family are band members at the high school and Woodbury, respectively.  The following information has been put together by the school district for those interested in helping in their time of loss.
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Our deepest condolences to the Reynolds family, who lost their father, Jance, and daughter, Mary Paige, in a fire yesterday at their home on Daleford Road. Mrs. Reynolds and the two surviving daughters, Lauren Grace (WO-6) and Sarah Rose (HS-9), are recovering from their injuries. They lost all their belongings in the fire.


As always, Shaker parents and staff members are asking how they can help. For those who wish to make a financial contribution, the Reynolds Family Memorial Fund has been established for the family's benefit. Checks may be sent to Cedar Hill Baptist Church, 12601 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, 44106, made payable to Cedar Hill Baptist Church with “Reynolds Family Memorial” noted in the memo.

The church is also accepting donations of clothing for the family.
• Women’s shoe size 9, clothing size 14
• Female, junior size 9
• Male size 30 waist pants, medium or large shirt
• Female shoe size 11, junior size 11 or women’s size 8
• Girls' size 12/14 clothing

For drop-offs: The church is located on the north side of Cedar between Fairmount and Coventry.

The church office is overwhelmed with offers of help. These are very much appreciated, but the staff is having trouble keeping up with the calls. Please call the church only if necessary.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

This Week's Concerts

All five Shaker Heights High School bands will be performing their Winter Concerts this week.  All three concert group's, Mr. Clemens, Mr. Kulikowski's, and Mr. Pocaro's bands, will be performing on Monday, 12/17.  The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, Mr. Deep's and Mr. Hughes' bands, will be performing on Tuesday, 12/18.  Both concerts will begin at 7:30 PM in the Large Auditorium.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Uniform Issues for those going to Turkey

Those band students going on the trip to Turkey, should double check the fit of your uniform.  If you have any issues, please contact Sandy Seballos at 780-6296 before December 14 to arrange an exchange.