School's out for Summer! We hope everyone has a safe and fun summer!

Kindergarten graduation was a great day! We are so proud of all the growth the students made this school year! Big thank you to the Kindergarten staff for making the day a special memory for the students and families!

Tenth grade students and Mrs. Manson found a creative way to congratulate Dr. Elliott-Thomas on her recent accomplishment! Congratulations on your 'duck'torate!

Lakewood campus Drama Club led by Mrs. Puma, put on a fun show from the musical "A Year with Frog and Toad" They had lots of fun, worked hard to memorize lines, created a set, and entertained the audience! I'm sure there will be more to come from this group!

The 8th graders at AEA Lakewood wrapped up their ELA unit on The Diary of Anne Frank with a visit to The Maltz Museum in Beachwood. They took a Lessons of the Holocaust tour and participated in an Interactive Biography with Holocaust survivor, Stanley Bernath. Here is a little about the interactive biography that The Maltz Museum offers: Holocaust survivors and great humanitarians have recounted their stories, providing invaluable insights that shape and inform perspectives. But what happens when they pass on? How can we ensure that their stories reach the next generation? The Maltz Museum has worked with StoryFile and Dimensions in Testimony, an initiative of the USC Shoah Foundation, to preserve these stories using advanced filmmaking techniques, specialized display technologies, and AI for natural language processing.The result is an intimate and unique experience, where visitors can ask questions about the life experiences of Holocaust survivors and civil rights heroes, and hear their responses in a real-time, lifelike conversation. Questions are answered naturally, as if the person is in the room, and through artificial intelligence, the technology becomes as more questions are asked.

Congratulations to Luna Kime, 8th grader from AEA Lakewood, on her recent accomplishments at Power of the Pen State Tournament. Nearly 300 schools from all over Ohio participated in Power of the Pen, a writing competition split into three 40 minute rounds of writing based on prompts the writers have no time to prepare for. The state tournament took place at Ashland University and featured 1-½ days of activities for qualifying young writers from throughout Ohio, usually about the top 20% of students from regional. We are so proud of Luna for this amazing accomplishment!

All AEA offices will be closed today in observance of Memorial Day

Senior Spotlight: Steven Grondolsky

Favorite Quote: "When there's rain there's thunder"

Favorite Class: English

Advice for Freshman: Do your wok at school

Shoutouts: Ella, Mrs. Banka, Mr. Rebner, Ms. Fleming

Plans after Graduation: Not sure, get some higher education

Glisten Ohio: Northeast Ohio Hub just donated 19 books to our school as part of their Rainow Library iniative. Glisten's Rainbow Library centers intersectional literacy and learning by providing free LGBTQ+ inclusive books and curriculum for teachers and schools. THANK YOU for helping our students see themselves in what they read and learn!!

Annmarie Leasure is the recipient of the 2026 Rocket Award. This school year Annmarie displayed a true example of dedication, teamwork, and stepping up when it matters most. Thank you for continually going above and beyond for your students!

Congratulations to our May Teacher's of the Month: Mr. Kish at the Strongsville building and Mr. Rader at the Lakewood building. While we appreciate all the effort our staff puts into teaching everyday, we are especially grateful for these staff members this month. Congratulations!

Summer Camp and Kindergarten Immersion Camp are open!
Summer Camp for Reading and Math are for incoming students in grades 1-5 and the KG Immersion is for any enrolled AEA students for the 2026-2027 Kindergarten program. See more information on the website under the more tab or in the app under documents. Make sure to fill out the registration Google Form!

Congratulations to the Literacy Luau Spelling Bee Winners!!! Meghana Kundur: Kindergarten Divan Shanthakumar: Grade 4 Dhishaan Vigness: Grade 2 Anaya Singh: Kindergarten Research indicates that students who spell exceptionally well typically possess superior phonological awareness, orthographic knowledge, and morphological understanding. Let's give all our participants a STANDING OVATION!!!

Today was Picnic Day for AEA Strongsville’s ABC countdown! Elementary students enjoyed their lunches outside by having a picnic with their class.

Lakewood Seniors spent their last week of High School celebrating their achievements with staff, friends, and family. Activities included Senior Breakfast, the honor of adding their handprint to the Senior Wall, and the week's finale, the Senior Picnic and Awards. We are so proud of our 2026 Senior Class!

Senior Spotlight: Jayson Andrews

Favorite Quote: "If you aim for the starts and miss, you're still in the sky."

Favorite Class: Mr. Rebner's Class

Advice for Freshmen: Focus on grades and making friends.

Shoutouts: Rebner, Puma, Manson, Banka, Lucas, Liam G., Yadi, my mom, my dad

Plans for after Graduation: Tri-C, Auto-Tech Program

Last week, Lakewood 6th-9th-grade students got to celebrate their big Quarter 3 Rocket Race wins for best attendance and highest GPA at Malley's for an Ice Cream Party! Way to go to all of our Rockets for their hard work in Quarter 3!

Senior Spotlight: Liam S. Gossett

Favorite Quote: "Don't attribute to malice what can be explained by ignorance."

Favorite Class: Government

Advice for Freshmen: Please be quiet and respectful

Shoutouts: Mrs. Banka is always ready and willing to help any student with whatever they need.

Plans after Graduation: I plan to learn to be a welder after I take a year to build a savings account and gather the relevant tools.

Students stepped into prom night filled with excitement, laughter, and unforgettable memories. From dancing with friends to capturing moments in photos, the evening was a celebration of hard work, friendship, and milestone achievements. It was a night where students truly got to relax, have fun, and enjoy the experience together one they’ll remember long after the music fades.

Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Good Life Ambassadors visited Lakewood and Strongsville campuses during the month of April. Good Life Ambassadors are adults with developmental disabilities who promote inclusion and advocacy. The GLA's spoke about their experiences and provided examples on how we all can promote inclusion and kindness. Additionally, AEA will be hosting a Different Powers One Team Day on May 7th. We are encouraging everyone to wear their best superhero costumes!