April 2023
Superintendent's Message
Dear Rocky River Community:
Welcome back!
I hope your time off during Spring Vacation was restful and that the return to school was met with enthusiasm as we embark on these remaining eight weeks. Let’s make a true effort to conclude this school year with success.
The month of April brings State Testing. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that Ohio students in grades 3-8 take the Ohio State Test (OST) in English Language Arts and mathematics every year. High schoolers must take the OST once while in high school. Fifth and eighth-grade students also take a test in science and our high school students take end-of-course tests in several subjects when required. Please keep in mind these tests are not meant to tell the whole story. By combining teacher feedback, classwork, projects, report card grades, along with state test results, families will have a more comprehensive view of their child’s performance.
The arrival of spring brings beautiful weather and a renewed appreciation for the outdoors. Spring sporting events are a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather. Our students have been putting in hours of practice to ensure they perform their best and these competitions allow our student-athletes to showcase their skills and strive for excellence in their respective sports.
The end of the school year also brings about many exciting end-of-year events and award ceremonies, such as World Language Honors Society and National Honor Society induction, the district art show, band and choir concerts, RRHS spring recognition ceremony, grade 2 clap-out, 8th grade awards ceremony and of course, Commencement for the Class of 2023. I encourage you to attend as many of these programs as you can to support the exceptional achievements of our students.
As I contemplate our students’ recent accomplishments in the classroom and on the field, I am proud of the hard work and dedication that they continuously display. You can read about their many triumphs in this newsletter. Our faculty and staff have been instrumental in their success; however, it would not be possible without the devoted support of our entire district community. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your continued commitment that helps shape each student into the extraordinary individuals they are.
Sincerely,
Michael Shoaf
Superintendent