Principal Newsletter: Info For Students & Families

Posted on: May 26, 2025

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Cleveland Family Newsletter

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Important Dates and Events to Know
Some Newsletter Highlights

Cleveland HS Principal Family Newsletters

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Please use the link above to read this week’s family newsletter. As always, be sure to select your home language.

May 23, 2025

Hello Cleveland Families!

We have had an amazing week at Cleveland this past week. Thanks to the many of you who were part of our celebrations this week!

On Tuesday, we hosted Bridge Night for our incoming 9th graders. It was a great opportunity to welcome them into the community, help them get plugged into clubs and sports, and introduce them to their future teachers.

On Wednesday, we had the Talon Awards, a phenomenal event organized by the Cleveland Athletic Boosters. The evening was headlined by keynote speaker Nate Robinson and was a celebration of the achievements, resilience, and hard work of Cleveland’s talented scholar athletes and teams.

On Thursday evening, Cleveland orchestra and band members, along with JV and varsity drumlines, performed and provided inspiration and entertainment for Seattle Southend families as they performed alongside elementary, middle, and fellow high school students in the first ever Soutthend Pathways Concert held at Southshore K8 School gymnasium. Families and future CHS Eagles were impressed with Cleveland’s student musicians.

On Friday, we had the privilege of hosting representatives from schools across the state and Seattle University for the Public Education in Beloved Community Initiative. This event allowed us to share the Cleveland story and showcase the unique work we do with restorative practices and strategize together ways to move our work forward.

I want to extend an invitation to you to join a special Zoom meeting on Thursday May 29, when the CHS PTSA will host a live meeting with School Board members Gina Topp, Brandon Hersey, and Sarah Clark. Come discuss topics such as Cleveland’s enrollment cap, staffing concerns. and anything else you would like to bring up. Please come and have your voice heard and ask questions.

Jeff Lam, Principal
Jackie Cable, Assistant Principal
Laura Roesener, Assistant Principal
Joseph Mingo, Administrative Intern

Important Dates and Events to Know

5/31: Senior Prom (Olympic Sculpture Park)
- Prom Chaperones Needed
6/3: End of Year Music Concert (6:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
6/4: Career Day (see below for more info!)
6/4: SBA Math Testing for 10th Graders. 9 – 2:25 p.m. with breaks.
6/9: Senior Check-out (last day of school for seniors)
6/11: Senior awards night
6/13: Senior breakfast and graduation rehearsal
6/16: Graduation (5:00 – 6:30 p.m., Memorial Stadium)
- IMPORTANT! Seniors need to arrive at 4: p.m.

Read the complete Family Newsletter for May 23, 2025

Some Newsletter Highlights

Career Day is June 4!

Cleveland is looking for speakers from the community to share their career path, and career field with Cleveland students at our Career Day on June 4 from 12:25 p.m.- 1:25 p.m. If you are interested please fill out this speaker sign up form: Career Day Speaker Sign Up.

ASB Needs Volunteers for Senior Prom!

Prom is on May 31 and Olympic Sculpture Park, and our ASB is looking for volunteers to support. If you are able to support. Learn More about volunteering for senior prom!

Nominate a student to join the 25-26 Principal’s Advisory Council

We are looking for students to join next year’s Principal’s Advisory Council. The advisory council will meet with me once a month for students to discuss the school issues and concerns that matter most to them. If you know of students you’d like to nominate for the Principal’s Advisory Council, please fill out our Online Form to nominate a student to join the 25-26 Principal’s Advisory Council.

Info for Seniors

As our Seniors prepare for their last quarter at Cleveland, we want to make sure you know what to expect. We will continue to add dates and information here through the end of the year for your planning purposes.

May 31: Prom at the Olympic Sculpture Park 7 to 10 p.m.
- Prom Chaperones Needed
June 5: Final grades for seniors submitted.
June 9: Senior Checkout in Humanities Class
June 9: Senior Last Day
June 11: Honors awards in the Auditorium after school
June 13: Senior Breakfast in the Cafeteria at 10 a.m.
June 13: Graduation Run Through on the Cleveland Field after the Senior Breakfast
June 16: Graduation Ceremony at Memorial Stadium at 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Important! Seniors need to arrive at 4 p.m.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Senior class advisor, Kacey Campbell: krcampbell@seattleschools.org or your student’s school counselor.

Free Youth Orca Cards Available for Order Online

Student Orca Cards are no longer distributed at school. However, students are eligible to order a free Youth Orca Card pass to ride the metro bus and light rail directly through the Orca Card website. Students will need to upload a copy of their K-12 student ID, state ID, driver’s license, birth certificate or passport to confirm their age. They do not need to add money or a pass to the card. Learn more.

Yearbook Pre-Sales

Pre-order your 2025 Cleveland Yearbook on SchoolPay or have your student fill out an order form in room 1162. Yearbooks will arrive in early June before Graduation. Books cost $60.

May 16, 2025

Hello Cleveland Families!

Thank you for taking the time to complete the principal feedback survey. Your insights help us prioritize for the next school year and better support your students’ needs. I have read every comment shared and am pleased to report that the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many families encouraged us to continue our current efforts and emphasized the importance of maintaining academic rigor in our classrooms.

In responding to your feedback, I am mindful of the larger context we live in and our need to “meet the moment.” The rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are compelling us to rethink lesson plans and the purpose of public education in preparing students for a quickly evolving world and workforce. Many of us are experiencing fear and anxiety due to the local, national, and global political climate.

In light of these challenges, we must consider the kind of community we want to be and the work we must do to prepare students for an uncertain future.

Cleveland’s own history offers a powerful path forward that I believe will help us meet the moment: our focus will be on three interconnected and mutually reinforcing pillars: Project-Based Learning (PBL), Ethnic Studies, and Restorative Practices.

Project-Based Learning (PBL). PBL is central to our instructional strategy. It encourages students to work collaboratively, think in interdisciplinary ways, and tackle real-world problems. This approach is rigorous and engaging, providing students with the experiences they need to thrive in post-secondary life. Through PBL, students will better retain and apply the knowledge they gain from their dual credit courses and STEM classes.
Ethnic Studies. We are increasing the number of Ethnic Studies courses offered. This discipline centers the histories, experiences, and epistemologies of communities of color, empowering students to critically engage with history to create a better future. By understanding the experiences of particular communities, our students will be better equipped to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.
Restorative Practices. Restorative Practices are fundamental to fostering a sense of community and belonging within our school. This “way of being” challenges cultures of exclusion and punishment, promoting a supportive environment where every student feels valued and heard, enabling them to achieve their fullest potential.

Together, these priorities will guide us as we prepare our students for the future. We are excited to continue this journey with you and look forward to the incredible achievements our students will accomplish.

Jeff Lam, Principal
Jackie Cable, Assistant Principal
Laura Roesener, Assistant Principal
Joseph Mingo, Administrative Intern

Cleveland students will get free breakfast and lunch in the 25-26 school year

We are excited to share that our students will receive one free reimbursable breakfast and one free reimbursable lunch each school day, regardless of their individual eligibility.

Students get one free breakfast and lunch that meet program rules. To qualify, they must pick at least three of five items: grain, protein, fruit, vegetable, and milk. Additional items like extra milk, snacks, or second entrees are not included and will be charged at à la carte prices.

Although meals are free for all students, submitting a free and reduced-price meal application helps our school maintain funding for critical programs. We encourage families to complete one online. If you need a paper copy, please contact the main office. Questions? Click here to contact Culinary Services.

Counselors Principal Message Seniors