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pril is a very important month in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.  Many of our schools are busy preparing for spring concerts and community events and our senior high students are eagerly anticipating prom season.

As always, CMSD teachers are working hard to ensure the academic success of the 52,000-plus students we serve. I thought I would share some special dates coming up this month for our parents and community supporters:

• Tuesday, April 8, 2008:  Principal for A Day
  Dozens of community leaders will participate in a community engagement project that pairs a guest from a Cleveland area company or organization with one of our school buildings. For that day, the guest will serve as the school’s top administrator.  The Principal for a Day will see the type of decisions that must be made to keep the school moving toward academic success.  At the end of the day, our guest will have a greater appreciation of the excitement and challenge of educating students in Ohio’s largest school system.  The Principal for a Day event is by invitation only.

•  Thursday, April 10, 2008:  Building Program Community Forums
  Parents and community leaders are invited to learn about and offer their thoughts on the building projects that are being developed for their neighborhood schools.  CMSD administrators and building architects will be on hand from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at each academic neighborhood high school to answer questions and solicit input aimed to creating the kind of school building or renovation project that will provide the best educational environment for our children.

• Saturday, April 19, 2008:  Victory Starts Early
  Victory Starts Early is a wonderful opportunity for parents to come and hear about the exciting programs that will occur in CMSD when school starts in the fall.  Come talk to teachers and administrators about what can be done to provide students with the best possible academic experience and techniques as children learn in the 21st century.  We also will be presenting dozens of workshops and showcasing student talent, providing free school supplies and breakfast and lunch.  Please plan to attend the location closest to you: —it will be a day of learning and fun for all ages!

• Ongoing – Safety and Security Update
  To ensure that our children experience a positive learning environment,  our Safety and Security teams will continue to patrol our schools before and after dismissal. We encourage parents and caregivers to talk to children about responsible behavior.  The primary goal of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District is to become a premier school district in the United States of America.   

I continue to invite the input of the community and parents to ensure the success of the District.

Remember, we are all in this together!

Sincerely,

Dr. Eugene T.W. Sanders

CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District