Family Newsletter

This week, I want to reaffirm our school's commitment to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment that is worthy of the South End and Beacon Hill. In this moment, my reaffirmation is particularly for Cleveland’s immigrant and transgender students.

I have spoken often of my vision for Cleveland to be a beloved community. This begins with ensuring that every student feels safe, supported, and experiences a genuine sense of belonging. It is essential that all students can engage in their learning without fear.

Considering recent federal actions, we know that members of our community have experienced significant fear over the past couple of weeks. In response, Cleveland’s staff have been learning about the changes in law enforcement and updating our internal protocols to ensure the safety of every member of our school community. We continue to act in alignment with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and district leadership to keep us safe.

To better understand how we are prepared to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions at school and support the needs of Cleveland’s trans community, please take some time to read the following resources:

• Superintendent Procedure 4310SP.B Limiting Immigration Enforcement at Schools
• SPS Protocols Responding to Immigration Enforcement Requests QRD
• Immigration Guidance Review FAQ
• Superintendent Procedure 3211 – Gender-Inclusive Schools: Transgender and Gender-Expansive Student Rights and Supports

The immigration-related guiding documents empower me to deny immediate building access to federal immigration authorities, to not share student records, and to take additional actions I believe are necessary to keep students safe - even if I am presented with a court order or judicial warrant. SP 3211 affirms the steps we can take to ensure the safety and protection of all transgender and gender-expansive students at school, which includes the general rule that students may fully participate in the life of our school as their gender identity.

To further enhance safety on campus, we have implemented an important immediate change: all exterior doors will be locked during instructional time to ensure that our school remains secure. Doors will only be unlocked during passing periods and lunch. While we understand this may cause some inconvenience, we ask for your patience and understanding as we take these necessary steps to protect everyone on campus and meet our responsibility to deny federal immigration authorities immediate building access. All visitors are required to check in at our main entrance and be “buzzed in” for entry.

We recognize that this is a challenging time for many families, and we are here to support you and your child. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Principal Jeff Lam

Assistant Principal Jacklyn Cable

Assistant Principal Laura Roesener

Admin Intern Joseph Mingo

• 2/8 | Open house for Prospective Students & Families
• 2/8 | Winter Formal Dance (7:00 - 10:00 pm, at Cleveland)
• 2/11 | Eagle for a Day (for prospective 8th grade students)
• 2/11 | PTSA (6:00 - 7:00 pm on Zoom)
• 2/17 | Semester 1 grade are live on the Source
• 2/17 | President's Day (No school)
• 2/18 - 2/21 | Mid-winter break (No school

Our weather forecast calls for cold temperatures next week with the chance of snow. If we have a snow day, all Seattle Public Schools will switch to a remote learning day.

Here is what students need to know and do to be prepared for a remote learning day:

• The first snow day will run on a 2-hour delay bell schedule with no advisory (see schedule below).
• Subsequent snow days will run on our normal building bell schedule.
• Our teachers will post their Teams meeting link on their Schoology pages.
• If your student is unable to find their Teams meeting link for class, they can reach out to their teacher or any administrator for a link.

We are interested in helping students develop a healthy relationship with their technology, and we would love to partner with you in this work. Please take a moment to fill out this survey to share with us your experience with our current cell phone policy. Our Building Leadership Team will review the feedback you share and determine next steps.

The online class registration portal in the Source will open January 29th where students will pick their courses for the 2025-2026 school year. On Wednesday 1/29 counselors will be giving a registration lesson in advisory to help students learn to use the portal and select classes for next year. The attachments and links below are guides to help students pick and register for classes. Counselors will be meeting with students individually in Humanities from Feb 3- Feb 14, to help ensure that all students have filled out the online class registration and it is aligned with their High School graduation requirements.

Registration Materials and Steps:

1. The online registration directions link: Course Registration Directions 2025-2026
2. Here is the Registration Handbook 25-26 so that you can read more about courses that are available.
3. Watch the SPS Online Registration Video: https://vimeo.com/410821529 presentation. Please note that this is the SPS video and students actually will need 8 credits at Cleveland instead of the 6 mentioned in this video. Also note that students are only picking their elective classes and science (current 10th and 11th graders). Required courses (humanities, pathway, math, 10th grade science will be added in for them by Ms. Tagupa)
4. Students log in to the Source and complete course registration with a guardian prior to Feb 3rd, or at the latest, on the day counselors will go into their humanities class. If a course is yearlong, make sure to select both A and B or 1 and 2 to ensure they are registering for both semesters. Example: for Chinese 3, select Chinese 3a AND Chinese 3 B. Or for AP Chemistry, Select AP Chem 1 AND AP Chem 2

Cleveland High School PTSA is excited to support students as they plan the annual Winter Formal dance, which will be Saturday, February 8th from 7:00pm-10pm at the school. Students need our help to make it a successful event and here are 3 ways to get involved.

1. Volunteer at the event. We need PTSA volunteers to help set up, act as chaperones, staff coat check, and serve food so students can fully enjoy Homecoming. If you would like to join us in person to help, please sign up here.
2. Bake or buy a sweet treat for students. Cleveland PTSA is providing sweet treats for students at the Winter Formal dance, and we're looking for contributions of cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts, candy, etc. Learn more and sign up here.

The PTSA needs your help with planning the upcoming spring fundraiser, if you are interested please sign up here.

You are invited to the February 11th PTSA Member Meeting on Zoom at 6pm

https://zoom.us/j/6766049258

Meeting ID 676 604 9258

Please take a moment and complete CNEEP form here. We need all families to complete this form, regardless of your income level.

As we enter into a challenging budget season, the data collected from this form will have a significant impact on how much funding receive. We appreciate you taking the time to fill out this survey today!

Are you interested in having your child be in confidential, free counseling groups this semester? Cleveland is offering several different counseling groups which will take place on a rotating schedule during the school day starting in February with mental health counselors through Therapeutic Health Services, Atlantic St. Counseling, as well as Cleveland counseling and social work interns. Parents/guardians can refer on the child's behalf and counselors will check in with student. Students can also self refer to a group.

Running Start is an optional program that allows students in 11th and 12th grade to take college courses at Washington’s 2-year and technical colleges and receive high school and college credit at the same time. Running Start tuition is free. Students will need to pay for books, class fees, and transportation to the college. Fee waivers are available for students eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch. Click here for more info.

Current 10th and 11th grade students interested in joining Running Start should attend the mandatory information session:

• Thursday February 27th during lunch (11:40-12:10) in the Auditorium

Please share with your networks, Our School Open house for prospective students will be Feb 8th, 2025 from 10:30-12:00pm. More information and how to RSVP can be found on this link.

Both applications are due February 14, 2025. We strongly encourage ALL seniors to complete both applications as soon as possible to guarantee access to two FREE years of college. It also ensures students have ample time to complete additional steps in the enrollment process.

Click here to view the Seattle Promise Application

Interpreted Application Workshops - Happening Now!

To support students and families with the Seattle Promise and Seattle Colleges applications, Seattle Colleges are hosting virtual Application Workshops with interpreters for a variety of languages available. These sessions are designed to walk students through the application process and answer any questions they may have.

We encourage your senior to attend one of these workshops if they need guidance on completing their applications.

Click here to view our November Application Workshops

Click here to learn more about Cleveland athletics opportunities, contact information, athletics registration, and game schedules.