August 16^th, 2021

Dear CMSD Students, Parents and Caregivers:

I am writing with an important update as we prepare to begin the 2021-22 school year!

School starts for most students next Monday, Aug. 23, and when we return to school this year, a lot of new and exciting things will be waiting for our students.  Beginning this year:

• All CMSD students will have an assigned tablet, Chromebook or laptop with Internet support for their homes. 
• Every CMSD school campus will have a full-time health professional to support the health and wellness of our scholars and our educators. 
• CMSD is expanding art, music, physical education, after-school sports and extracurricular activities and out-of-school time partnerships districtwide. 
• We are converting our high school libraries into Community, College and Career Hubs and will be launching a 6^th- through 12^th- grade career planning curriculum to connect CMSD students to living-wage careers after high school.  
• We have introduced more inclusive dress expectations for students to replace the District’s prior uniform and high school dress code.

You can see a complete list of the new investments that CMSD is making this year on our District website at ClevelandMetroSchools.org/GetMore.

While we’re excited to return to five-day full-day classes this year, it is still important that we maintain our COVID-19 health and safety protocols.  All students, staff, and visitors to CMSD schools will be required to wear their masks while inside school buildings.  Students and adults will continue to socially distance at least 3 feet when it is possible to do so, and we will continue frequent sanitation and handwashing breaks as well.

Academic Calendars and back-to-school transportation assignments have been mailed home, and schools have begun communicating school-specific information to families.  Please watch for these communications, which will include start and end time information, back-to-school meet and greets, and more.  

If you haven’t yet enrolled in CMSD to take advantage of these new opportunities, visit our enrollment website – chooseCMSD.org – or call our enrollment hotline at 216-838-3675.  Find all your back-to-school information on the CMSD website at ClevelandMetroSchools.org/BacktoSchool.

Welcome back, CMSD scholars!  Your teachers, principals and other educators can’t wait to see you next week!

Sincerely,

Eric Gordon

CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan School District