'Bike to School Day' is Off the Chain in Lakewood

Garfield and Harding middle school students — about 200 of 'em — participated in the event as part of National Bike Month.

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Author Spends the Day at Garfield Middle School

The Margaret Warner Education Grant from the Alumni Foundation and the Garfield PTSA help to fund the visit from the well-known children's author Margaret Peterson Haddix.

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Smoke Alarm Evacuates Garfield Middle School

Faulty HVAC fan may be the culprit in Friday’s evacuation of the middle school.

Sometimes, when there’s smoke, there’s no fire. A malfunctioning fan in the ceiling is to blame for a fire alarm at Garfield Middle School — and the evacuation of about 600 students — on Friday morning.  Lakewood City Schools spokeswoman Christine Gordillo said that a faulty fan in the HVAC unit in the ceiling “burnt out and emitted some smoke.” Lakewood Fire Marshal Tim Dunphy called the issue an “electrical fan motor malfunction.” “Everything checked out OK,” he said. The students were evacuated just after 8 a.m., but classes resumed about 30 minutes later. “They checked it and made sure there was no fire,” Gordillo said.  “The fan has got to be replaced.”

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24-Hour Emergency Shelter Opens at Garfield Middle School

County partners with American Red Cross to open several 24-hour shelters in the area.

As the power remains out for thousands in Lakewood — as well as neighboring communities — the county has opened a 24-hour emergency shelter at Garfield Middle School. With assistance from the American Red Cross, the shelter will serve as a place for residents without power to eat, sleep and take a hot shower.  “It’s a safe warm place for people to come,” said Christine Gordillo, the spokeswoman for the Lakewood City Schools.  The shelter opened at 1 p.m. Wednesday and is expected to remain open “until there’s no longer a need for it,” Gordillo said. Cots are set up in the gymnasium, and the shower facilities are available for residents. TVs on the wall provide some entertainment. Dennis Pell, the shelter manager for the American Red Cross…

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Remembering, Honoring Veterans at Garfield Middle School

Veterans sought to participate in the 16th annual Veterans Day Recognition Program.

For the past 16 years, Lakewood students have had the opportunity to learn about veterans, US history and the importance of Veterans Day. Presented in partnership with Help to Others youth volunteer program, Garfield Middle School is hosting the Veterans Day Recognition Program on Nov. 7. The event is free and open to the public. “I think the most compelling reason to recognize and thank our veterans in the school setting is to provide our students the history of our freedom and the faces behind our freedom,” said Garfield Middle School principal Mark Walter.  “This is such a mutually beneficial event for all involved.” The event will feature the presentations of the colors; guest speakers; the Patriot’s Pen student essay; and the sounds …

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Garfield Middle School Awarded $10,000 Grant

Money, from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, to be applied to the school’s bullying prevention program

Tips for New Harding and Garfield Middle School Students

Local principals point out some common pitfalls and share tips for parents and students. The first day of classes in Lakewood is Aug. 22.

For parents with students making the transition from an elementary school to a middle school, these next few weeks can be a challenging time. Students are becoming more independent, but parents still want to help. The local principals who talked to Patch agree that parents should stay involved, but there are ways to help students spread their wings. Here are a few tips. Parents and teachers, add yours in the comments. Keep the lines of communication open Mark Walter, principal at Lakewood’s Garfield Middle School, said parental involvement is critical at the middle school level. Academic standards are higher, and with a team of teachers and family members, students are more likely to succeed. As with the rest of the district, the first day…

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Paddy Eger

8:56 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012

Great ideas for middle schoolers and their families. If families are involved in the school, it help students realize that education s important. Consider starting a Donuts for Dads and Muffins for Moms program to draw in adults and share your goals and latest successes with them. Paddy Eger author of Educating America:101 SDTrategies for Adult Assistants in K-8 Classrooms. Contact www.paddyeger.…   more ›

WATCH: Garfield Students Helping Others … With Their Hair

Students donate their hair to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

About a dozen Garfield Middle School students and a half-dozen of their teachers got a haircut after school at Revelations Salon and Spa on Wednesday. But the idea was to help others. The salon donated their talents and students donated more than 100 inches of their hair to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

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New Residents Welcomed to Lakewood

City meets and greets newcomers to the area in a special event

If you’re new to Lakewood and wanted to meet the mayor, a member of city council or just pick up a few locally-baked goodies with a little fresh coffee on the side, Garfield Middle School was the place to be Wednesday evening. The first “Welcome to Lakewood” event featured 32 community service and public institutions that introduced themselves to new Lakewood residents with two coffee shops and eight food stores donating to the event. The City of Lakewood’s Community Relations Advisory Commission and the Lakewood Family Collaborative hosted the event. April Stoltz, who is the co-chair of the advisory commission and has lived in Lakewood for more than 18 years, said the event was in part inspired by the film, “The New Metropolis” and the …

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Colin McEwen

4:40 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012

Good call April!   more ›

New Lakewood Resident? Come to This Event

Not a new resident? Come anyway.

Are you a new resident? The city of Lakewood wants to welcome you.  If you’re not a new resident, that’s OK. Come anyway. Sponsored by the city’s community relations advisory commission and the Lakewood Family Collaborative, the Welcome to Lakewood is slated to take place in the cafeteria of Garfield Middle School from to 7 to 9 p.m. April 25. April Stoltz, an event volunteer, attended Monday’s board of education meeting, to invite the board and the community to attend the event. “We want to offer a public invitation to someone who moved to Lakewood in the past two years — or people who just want to make some connections,” she said. “Welcome to Lakewood is a fun, new event where residents can learn more about local civic organizations, …

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S. T.

10:41 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Yeah, I heard Lakewood has a problem with dogs based on appearance. If this train of thought was applied to humans we'd call that racism.   more ›