Cheetah Mail - Weekly Update 3.13.26

Good afternoon, Cherokee Families.

Happy Friday! It has been a wonderful (and busy!) time here at Cherokee. Even with this being a short four-day week, there has been a LOT to celebrate across our school community!

First, we were thrilled to recognize one of our outstanding staff members this week. Leslie King was surprised in her classroom by Central Office staff, Dr. Whitely, members of the Board of Education, Cherokee staff, and her family as she was presented with not one - but two Lakota GEM Awards! Leslie received the Sapphire of Student Support, recognizing her commitment to building strong relationships and meeting students’ academic, social, and emotional needs, and the Clear Cut Expert Award for being a true master of her craft who leads by example and adds exceptional value to our school community. Congratulations, Leslie, and thank you for your many years of dedication to Cherokee students!

You’ll also see photos below of our Winter WordMasters Contest winners. The WordMasters Challenge is a national competition for students in grades 3–8 that promotes growth in vocabulary and verbal reasoning. Unlike many language arts competitions that focus on spelling or grammar, WordMasters challenges students to think analytically by solving analogies based on relationships between words. Our students worked hard to study advanced vocabulary and apply thoughtful reasoning, and we are proud of their impressive accomplishments.

We also want to congratulate 6th grader Arshneet Kaur, who recently competed in the Regional Spelling Bee and tied for runner-up with last year’s Cherokee winner, Rujva Patel, who is now a 7th grader at Plains Junior School. What are the chances of that? We are so proud of both girls for their dedication, drive, and determination, and for representing Cherokee so well. Their success is also a reflection of the many teachers who have supported and encouraged them along the way.

Wednesday evening was another wonderful example of the strength of our Lakota community as many Cherokee families participated in Light Up Lakota. Cherokee had the opportunity to spotlight our Celebration of Cultures Day, and it was so fun to share this special event with the larger community. Families were able to see how our students learn about and celebrate cultures from around the world while building understanding and appreciation for one another. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped highlight the importance of inclusion and connection across our district.

Next week we will also celebrate Cherokee Awareness Spirit Week, an opportunity for students and staff to learn about and show support for a variety of disabilities and medical conditions that impact members of our school community. We encourage students and staff to participate by wearing the designated color each day:

💙 Monday, March 16 – Wear BLUE for diabetes, epilepsy, and juvenile arthritis awareness
💚 Tuesday, March 17 – Wear GREEN for hearing impairment/sensory disability and mental health awareness
💜 Wednesday, March 18 – Wear PURPLE for alopecia, port wine stain, and cleft palate awareness
🌈 Thursday, March 19 – TIE-DYE Shirt Day for autism and cerebral palsy awareness
🐆 Friday, March 20 – Cherokee Spirit Wear Day to support ADHD and learning disability awareness

Awareness Week is a meaningful way for our students to learn about empathy, kindness, and inclusion while celebrating the uniqueness of every member of our school community. We look forward to seeing our Cheetahs show their support!

As a reminder, please be sure to mark your calendars for these important future dates:

Mrs. Dorff invites you to attend Colors of Creativity: Lakota Art Showcase and celebrate the incredible talent of our Cherokee artists. Join us at the Foundry at Liberty Center to support and experience the creativity of our Cheetahs and other amazing artwork from Lakota students from across the district.

 

🥧 Pi Day: Friday, March 20th

Join Lakota LEADS and the Lakota community to celebrate Pi Day the best way we know how – with awesome hands-on STEAM activities! Come see what UC Neuroscience, Cool Critters, Scientific Mayhem, Lakota Robotics, and many more exhibitors have in store. You can make seed-growing necklaces, try spin art, design with Legos, and get hands-on with activities like CPR demonstrations, dry ice experiments, exploring animal pelts, archery, and even touching a real human brain if you're brave enough! With over 80 stations and food options available, there will be something for everyone.

 

🍔 Dine to Donate: Tuesday, March 24th

Take the night off from cooking and support Cherokee at the same time!  Join us for a Dine to Donate Night at Wendy’s on Tuesday, March 24 from 4:00–8:00 PM at the Hamilton Middletown Rd. location in Liberty Township. When you present this flyer, 20% of sales will be donated to the Cherokee PTA.

 

🌷Spring Break: Monday, March 30th - Friday, April 3rd

There will be NO SCHOOL for staff and students.

 

🎉Cherokee Fanfare: Monday, April 6th
We’ll welcome students back from Spring Break with Cherokee Fanfare! Staff and volunteers will cheer on our Cheetahs and get them excited as they start student testing. (More info to come).

 

As always, our AP, Mr. Stapleton, the Cherokee staff, and I appreciate your continued partnership in making Cherokee such a strong and caring school community. If you have any questions, concerns or good news to pass on please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We love to hear from you! 

 

Hope all of you enjoy the three-day weekend and take the opportunity to relax, recharge, and spend some quality time with family.

 

Valerie Montgomery, Principal

 

 

 

 

 

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