Through a unique educational experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, Highland students gained firsthand exposure to professional media production, sports journalism, and digital storytelling. Students explored how content is created, produced, and distributed while learning from professionals working in one of the region’s premier sports and entertainment organizations. The experience provided valuable insight into career pathways in journalism, communications, broadcasting, and media production while reinforcing the real-world relevance of the skills students are developing in Highland classrooms.

Through Highland Buzz, students serve as journalists, videographers, editors, photographers, and storytellers, documenting the people, programs, and events that define the Highland experience.  Foundation support expanded the program’s production capabilities, providing students with enhanced opportunities to create professional-quality content while gaining hands-on experience with digital media tools and technology. More importantly, Highland Buzz empowers students to find and share their voices. In doing so, they are preserving Highland’s stories while building the communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills that will serve them long after graduation.

Over 1,509 elementary students have thoroughly enjoyed their experience for the past seven years with the ODOB program, which engages students in reading with their families on a daily basis throughout one month of the school year. All elementary students in the district read the same book during the same month, fostering a community of reading and shared experiences. 

Using an interactive, hands-on approach, a team of two specially trained actor-teachers visit for five consecutive days. The actors bring scripts, props, costumes, swords daggers and stage blood to turn students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor’s point of view. Each daily lesson, designed to meet state educational standards, involves three components: acting, discussion, and theater exercise.

Using an interactive, hands-on approach, specially trained actor-teachers visited for five consecutive days. The actors brought various tools including: scripts, props, costumes, –even stage blood– to turn students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor’s point of view.

If You Give a Mouse a Coookie author, Laura Numeroff, visited Granger Elementary, and shared her journey to becoming a published author, which included lessons on the creative writing process, working with illustrators, perseverance, and how a student’s impact can create massive change for others.

This grant enhanced the high school’s Digital Media Production class and its capabilities to efficiently produce quality video/audio media projects that highlight achievements of Highland students and staff.  (Watch the video)

At Hinckley Elementary, literacy and creativity came together through Brushstrokes & Bookmarks, an innovative program that encouraged students to engage with literature through artistic expression. Students explored stories not only as readers but also as creators, using art to deepen comprehension, spark imagination, and strengthen connections to the books they encountered. By blending visual arts and literacy instruction, the project provided students with multiple pathways to engage with language, storytelling, and self-expression.

As part of a multi-stage upgrade, this grant will help restore the Black Box Theater—a space designed for creative staging, adaptability, and student-centered learning. With equipment that has not been updated since 2004, the aging technology has limited its use. New theatrical lighting will begin to transform the space once again into a vibrant hub for hands-on learning, artistic expression, and innovative performance.

Private music instruction is a vital part of the Highland Band Program, with many students participating outside of class to enhance their skills with instrument specialists. This grant ensures that no student misses out on this opportunity due to financial hardship. Eligible students will receive partial funding to continue their lessons, supporting both their musical growth and continued engagement in the program.

Building on Highland’s reputation for excellence in the performing arts, Broadway actor and professional performance coach Adam Kaplan will return in the spring to work directly with cast members and directors. Known for his roles in Newsies and A Bronx Tale, Kaplan brings professional-level insight and mentorship to help students refine their craft, build confidence, and deliver a polished, compelling performance in Highland’s celebrated “Fall Musical.”

This year’s Highland High School Musical, Newsies, received a special boost from Broadway actor Adam Kaplan, known for his roles in Newsies and A Bronx Tale. Kaplan spent 2 days at Highland, providing expert coaching on acting, choreography, and performance refinement. His insights helped elevate the show, offering one-on-one feedback to students and directors and enhancing the overall quality of the production. This opportunity not only strengthened this production, but will benefit the program for years to come. 

A member of the world-renowned vocal jazz group “New York Voices,” Lauren Kinhan will work with Vocal Jazz students of Highland High School, Rittman High School (directed by a Highland Alumnus), Kent State University’s Nova Jazz Singers as well as other students able to accept the invitation. After a day of clinics and group rehearsals, there will be an evening concert to include individual school performances, a group performance of all participants as well as a solo performance by our guest artist!

This grant provides a flexible art gallery display that will primarily reside in the HMS Media Center. It will also be mobile enough to be safely transported once a year to HHS for the annual art show. The intent will be to make this a combined event with both HHS and HMS to better serve our students and community.

This grant will create a permanent art gallery in the vestibule between the hallway and the auditorium, bringing exceptional artwork down into the public areas of the building. There is an inherent educational value for the students to be able to display their work and admire and critique their pieces as well as those of others.

A 3-day intensive workshop with the Sanyuka Children’s Choir in October 2023 will increase cultural awareness and allow Highland students to discover firsthand the diversity of world music through the eyes of peer performers. Beyond the music, the interaction among the children will deepen their understanding of culture, poverty/need, perseverance, and joy of the Ugandan children.

A new set of bass pans and another cello were commissioned to provide more opportunities for kids to play in the popular new Highland High School Steel Drum Band.

Assisted the music program with the development of a steel drum band at Highland. Students continue to learn a different range of rhythms and music literacy, increase hand-to-eye coordination and memorization skills.

Fourth, fifth and K-5 intensive needs students at Granger Elementary are submerged in the diverse culture of island music, learning instruments and playing techniques with the University if Akron Steel Drum Alumni Ensemble.

The Foundation approved support for the creation of a Military Honor Wall recognizing Highland alumni who have served in the armed forces. The permanent display will honor generations of Highland graduates while providing opportunities for students to connect with local history, civic responsibility, and the enduring spirit of service.

For many students, visiting a college campus transforms higher education from an idea into a possibility. Through campus visits and guided experiences, students explored academic programs, learned about college life, and gained confidence in pursuing their educational goals.

Foundation support continued Highland’s partnership with College Now, helping students and families navigate college admissions, financial aid, and post-secondary planning. Through personalized advising and support, students gained tools and resources to make informed decisions about their futures.

Students connected with professionals representing government, law, politics, journalism, and public service during a unique career symposium designed to bring classroom learning to life. Through conversations with community leaders and career professionals, students gained valuable insight into civic leadership, public service, and future career opportunities.

Students will be introduced to lacrosse, one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports. Beyond fostering physical activity and teamwork, this initiative plants the seeds for future participation in Highland’s developing lacrosse program.

Funded by the Baker Family, this grant removes financial barriers for students attending five college campus visits by covering the cost of lunch. These trips help students—many exploring college for the first time—envision their futures and make informed decisions about their post-secondary goals.

HIP puts a human face on global learning, enhancing lessons in history, language, government, and art with immersive, real-world cultural experiences. This initiative empowers students to develop global competence and understanding in an increasingly interconnected world.

This project seeks to bring together members of the community serving in various careers within these fields and students who are interested in pursuing similar careers for a luncheon and informational session. Featuring short, informal presentations from guest speakers and a Q & A session, this grant initiative seeks to help students explore opportunities within the career fields and to obtain real world examples of what type of work is involved within these chosen fields. Further, students can gain a concrete understanding of how they can make a positive impact on their local, state and national community by pursuing careers within these fields. 

The Baker Family funded this initiative, now in its eleventh year, of increasing college attainment through college access and success advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship services with appointments at the high school for students and parents.

A unique opportunity brought an otherwise non-traditional PE classroom activity to Hinckley Elementary students, exposing them to the game of golf and its lifelong health benefits. Students learned grip, swing, proper putting stance, golf etiquette, and about local golfing opportunities available to them. Also, students had a “Family Fitness Night” where families played mini-golf with their student.

This project provided CPR and AED certification for all 7th grade students at Highland Middle School in May 2023.

Highland High School welcomed New York Times bestselling author Jeff Selingo for a free parent session offering insights into the college admissions process from his latest book. Selingo also spoke to HHS Counselors and to students on assessing their strengths and matching with their best schools.

Through a newly funded partnership with Hands of Gratitude, Highland Middle School students will design and assemble functional prosthetic hands for individuals around the world. Working alongside Unified Sports peers, students will combine engineering, innovation, empathy, and service as they create devices that can improve another person’s quality of life. The project represents the very best of STEM education—using knowledge and creativity to solve real-world challenges—while helping students understand that technology is most powerful when it serves others.

Taking Learning to New Heights
CoDrone EDU InitiativeBeginning next school year, Highland Middle School students will take flight through the CoDrone EDU program, an innovative learning experience that combines coding, robotics, engineering, and autonomous flight. Using programmable drones, students will explore real-world STEM applications while developing teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. By transforming abstract concepts into hands-on experiences, the program will help prepare students for future opportunities in technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing fields.

This year, every seventh-grade student at Highland Middle School had the opportunity to earn CPR and AED certification through Foundation support. Students gained hands-on experience with life-saving emergency response techniques while learning from healthcare professionals. Beyond certification, the program introduced students to healthcare career pathways and reinforced the importance of service, responsibility, and preparedness. The knowledge and confidence gained through this training may one day empower students to make a critical difference when every second counts.

As a result of the successful grant implementation from last year, all seventh grade students at HMS will have the opportunity to receive CPR and AED certification on-site. This educational event will happen in May and will consist of 4 days of instruction and 1 day of testing. Professionals from “Learn CPR” will be facilitating this learning opportunity. In addition to the certification students will learn critical skills for crisis situations.

Through in-depth exploration of the colors of rainbows as light energy in the form of waves, students gained an understanding of how nanoparticles interact with absorbing photons to produce colors across the spectrum from blue to red.

Useful and effective tools like Arduino electronic development boards, their parts and sensors as well as the 3D printer and its parts cover all the basics needed for a new STEM Club to helps expand students’ interests by building projects that start with the basics and end with complex builds.

Useful and effective tools like Arduino electronic development boards, their parts and sensors as well as the 3D printer and its parts cover all the basics needed for a new STEM Club to helps expand students’ interests by building projects that start with the basics and end with complex builds.

Adding copper tape, mini motors and other specialty markers and materials to the art room challenged students to design and construct their very own art-creating machines.

Foundation support will help sustain Highland’s internationally recognized Intercultural Program during the 2026–27 school year, including the hosting of students and educators from France and Spain and educational travel opportunities for Highland students. The program reaches far beyond the students who participate in international travel. Visiting students and teachers share their cultures, languages, and traditions throughout the district, creating opportunities for learning in Highland’s elementary schools, middle school, and high school. Through these experiences, students develop communication skills, cultural awareness, confidence, and global perspectives that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom setting. They learn to appreciate both the differences and common values that connect people around the world.

Funding is provided to Highland students who need financial assistance with travel expenses. To date, more than 200 Highland students and staff have had the opportunity to travel abroad through the Intercultural Program.

Global learning at HHS high school takes place in World Language, History, Government, Geography, Psychology and Art classrooms as well as lessons our Highland students have had throughout their educational careers. Through this program, students will enhance their global learning and perspectives by participating in multilingual communities at home and around the world. Students will communicate in languages other than English, gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures, connect this knowledge with other disciplines, and develop insights into the nature of language and culture.

Funding is provided to Highland students who need financial assistance with travel expenses. To date, more than 200 Highland students and staff have had the opportunity to travel abroad through the Intercultural Program.