The flurry of musical activity in May continues as the Lakewood Project takes the stage for its annual spring concert Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic. Then on Sunday, the Chamber Choir and a capella group Vive L'Four perform a free concert at 2 p.m. in the Tryout Theater. The full Spring Choral Concert is Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Civic.

The Lakewood Board of Education at a special meeting on May 18 approved a new contract with the Lakewood Teachers Association (LTA) that will run through the 2013-2014 school year. The new contract replaces the current contract that was to expire after the 2012-2013 school year.

Lakewood Reads is Lakewood High's effort to get the whole community involved in celebrating literacy by reading a book together. All LHS students will be reading "The Other Wes Moore" as part of their summer reading requirements, and like it did last year, the school is asking the community to join in reading the book as well. For more on Lakewood Reads, the book chosen and activities to come, click here and watch the video below.

The students from the C.H.A.M.P.S program at Horace Mann Elementary recently participated in the Art Festival sponsored by VSA Ohio/Cleveland Area Service Division. The festival was a full day of hands-on activities focused on various art media, dance, movement, drama and music for the students at the Berea Fairgrounds. The students were proud to show off their individual pieces of art at the end of the day.

Girls on the Run is helping girls around the district learn to build strong and healthy lives physically, socially and emotionally. The program, which has been around for 15 years, made its debut in the district last school year at Emerson Elementary School and Harding Middle School (where it is called Girls on Track) and this year has expanded to Garfield Middle School and Grant and Lincoln elementaries.

The hard work and perseverance that has paid off in academic excellence for more than 180 sixth- through 12th-graders was honored at the 29th Annual Celebration of Excellence, held May 14 at the Civic Auditorium. The ceremony is the district’s way of honoring those high school and middle school students who have achieved a 4.0 or higher GPA through three quarters this year as well as our National Merit scholars and scholarship winners.

Congratulations to the LHS girls' rugby team, which finished second in the nation with their performance in the USA Rugby National High School Championships held at Stanford University May 11-13. The Rangers fell to last year's champion Fallbrook High School of California in the championship game. Lakewood City Schools and the community are proud of your accomplishment! Check out this Patch article for more on the team and this Rugbymag.com article on their thrilling semifinal upset.

The Lakewood Council of PTAs handed out its annual awards at a ceremony on May 10 at the Ranger Café including $4,000 in scholarships to students. The council traditionally awards an Educator of the Year award to a teacher at the elementary, middle and high school levels. This year’s winners are: Erin Hennessey of Lincoln, Mindy Conway of Harding and Alison Breckel of Lakewood High.

We would like to know what you think about the Title I program services offered to your child. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. The responses will be used to improve the Title I program. This survey link is also available on your child’s elementary building’s homepage. Thank you! This survey will close on Friday, May 25, at 8 PM. Click here for the 2011-2012 Title I Parent Survey.

The Lakewood Board of Education at its May 7 meeting awarded two high-achieving LHS students the annual Mary Louise Beech Scholarship given to two seniors with high academic promise, outstanding character and citizenship and in need of financial assistance. This year, Hannah Gallovic and Elvis Sako were chosen as recipients of the $500 scholarships.

The Board of Education at its May 7 meeting approved two administrative hirings. Current Avon Local Schools Superintendent Jim Reitenbach will be joining the district on Aug. 1 as Director of Human Resources and the Community Education & Recreation departments. LHS House III Principal Brian Siftar (pictured left) will move into the role of Coordinator of State & Federal Programs, Testing and Gifted.

The Lakewood City Schools' summer school program for middle school and high school students will be held in two sessions: June 15-July 6 and July 9-July 27. New this year are four Beck Center summer camps offered through the Credit Flex program. For more information and registration details, click here.