In the spirit of continuing achievement, the entire Chardon Community congratulates our National Merit Scholarship Finalist--Isabelle Lemaster! Isabelle represents the top of her class not only in achievement, but in her commitment to service, kindness, and athleticism. We are so proud of her!

Last week, the School Counselors collaborated in presenting our course offerings to each grade level during Topper Time.  I am enclosing the course selection sheets that were provided to your child(ren). These documents will create great talking points as the scheduling process begins.

I am so grateful to our School Counselors- Nikki Hetrick, Lacey Jacobs, Tim Hurlbut, and Kyle Kovach for their efforts in refining the presentations. ​

Congratulations to the 43 students who participated in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC 10/12) competition during late start last week on Wednesday, February 13. This nationally recognized test covers a wide range of mathematical topics. All the problems require creativity, analytical thinking and problem solving skills to solve. Results of the competition will be posted in about a month. Congratulations to all student participants who were willing to step up to this challenge: Lauren Alexander, Abby Atchley, Charlotte Bennett, Abby Breznai, Jacob Brown, Emly Brush, Chris Carter, Julia Carter, Logan Coles, Gabby Cross, Luke Danison, Bradley Duchon, Natalie Dumm, Nathan Eads, Mitchell Ewaska, Morgan Fisher, Jeffery Fletcher, Natlie Fullerman, Anna Gerstner, Mitsy Gideon, Mikhail Hall, Charlotte Herbruck, Molly Kosir, Zane Kuhnle, Emily Lingafelter, Hannah Means, Olivia Means, John Mullaly, Jack Myers, Andrew Nelson, Audrey Nelson, Kyle Nelson, Bridget O'Reilly, Ivan Orozco, Peter Robie, Connor Rozic, Noel Rozic, AJ Sacerich, Katie Snyder, Jack Sweet, Jude Taddie, Ashley Tice, Mario Trillo, Blue Veon, and Olivia White. We are all grateful to Alsion Fisher who coordinated this opportunity for our students.

The Chardon School District will be holding a Career Fair for the students on March. 1.

The event which will take place in the gymnasium at Chardon High School, 151 Chardon Ave., is being organized through a partnership with Ohio Means Jobs, the Chardon Chamber of Commerce, RB Sigma Inc., and the Alliance for Working Together.

The event is intended to provide seventh- through 10th-grade students a structured method network for career exploration and to allow 11th- and 12th-grade students the opportunity to network and interview for internships and jobs.

"The Career Fair is the culminating activity of our district's focus on college and career pathways," Ed Klein, Chardon's assistant superintendent, said in a new release. "Students in all grade levels, and in all school buildings throughout the Chardon Local School District, will be exploring the 4 E's: Education, Employment, Enlistment, and Entrepreneurship."
​
Organizations who choose to exhibit at the event will be able to interview students as potential candidates for internships and available job opportunities. They will also be able to network with graduating students as they prepare to enter the workforce and with students who choose to continue career exploration.

​How do I prepare for the working world? 
What are the latest hiring trends? What should I be doing now to prepare for a good job?
How do I choose a career that will make me happy? 

Parents & Students, this event may help you answer some of those questions. Registration today for this FREE event at this link.

Students - Ignite your path toward finding a fulfilling and meaningful career.

HS Seniors & Grads: Bring your resumes for an chance to meet with
employers to practice how to approach and converse.


Parents - Discover multiple ways for funding your child's education and guiding them toward their greatest potential.

6:00PM - Meet, Greet & Eat  (food provided by Auburn Career Center)
6:30PM - Guest Presentations

7:15 PM- Geauga Jobs Market Breakout

> Hear messages from guest speakers. 
> Meet at table tops with businesses and schools. 
> Explore careers in the trades, medical, manufacturing, service & more.

​The University of Akron’s Society of Women Engineers is hosting a high school Shadow Day on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.
 
Shadow Day is a chance for future women engineers to shadow an engineering student at the University of Akron for the day. It is a great way for young women to get a taste of what college life is all about. Last year we had over 40 students participate and it was a huge success.  
 
This event is hosted by The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Chapter at The University of Akron. SWE has been promoting diversity in the engineering field since 1960. Being SWE affiliated we are only accepting young women who are interested in engineering majors to be shadows.
 
The event will be on Wednesday, April 3. High Schoolers will need to arrive at 7:45 am. No transportation is provided by the University of Akron.
 
Tentative Schedule

• 7:45 - Arrive
• 8:00 - Small Breakfast 
• 8:30 - Engineering Classes and/or Campus Tours
• 12:00 - Lunch and SWE meeting
• 1:00 - Depart

Students who are interested and would like to sign up please fill out the survey below. Teachers are more than welcome to bring groups, but all students will need to register individually.
 
Students will need to provide their first and last name (FULL NAME please), their intended major, their personal email, and any dietary restrictions.
 
IMPORTANT! Do NOT use a HIGH SCHOOL EMAIL ACCOUNT - those block my emails and students will not be able to receive any information about Shadow Day.
Students should get a confirmation email. If they do not, fill out the form again using a different email address. 
 
In clicking this link you have agreed to attend 2019 Shadow Day 
*and to not use your high school email account*.
 
2019 Shadow Day High Schooler Sign-Up 
 
The sign-up will be closed Wednesday, March 20, 2019, so don't delay.
 
If you have any questions please email me at hyg1@zips.uakron.edu. 

Thank you again for your support of Chardon Goes to the Musicals.  There has been so much positive feedback and it is amazing at how many people have taken advantage of the tickets! Money is due before Spring Break.

We will have one more flyer with Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, and Lion King all on one, with money due at the beginning of May, as all of these shows will be summer 2019.

​I missed you all. 

This past week provided me with the opportunity to reflect upon many things. I am so proud of all of the work that ALL of our Circuit teachers put into our presentation. The entire process of planning, meeting, and training students for numerous leadership experiences expanded all of our leadership.

The Redesigning for Student Success Conference opened our eyes to many truths:

1. We have a very good schedule
2. Brain breaks are not a trend. They are rich in research and evidence-based models.
3. Creating a system of student choice towards learning competencies (UDL) works.
4. Creating houses or advisories (like our Topper Time) builds relationships and student efficacy.
4. Relationships, Culture, Core Values, and Mission-driven goals change school climate for the better. 

We received just as much as we gave to this conference. I am very proud of our students, and teachers who presented on Friday. We have already received 5 emails and 137 hits to our Circuit tab on our website from last week. The patrons of our presentation shared that Chardon High School is doing amazing work!

I have brought my refreshed energy at full throttle this week. This conference confirmed with me that we are on the right track with not only our schedule and programs, but our mission, vision, and core values. 

We often try to compare ourselves with other districts. As we work towards being the best academically, athletically, emotionally, socially, and service-oriented-- my commitment to you is that our work will be not overshadowed by others. We will be the beacon school that people want to emulate in all of our programs and systems. Regardless of the building that we serve in--our students will be noted for leadership, academic excellence, kindness, and preparedness for life. This work is done out of your love and service to our students, your passion for creating a better world, and our shared commitment to stand beside each other through each process.

Have a great weekend!

Douglas Murray, Principal

Al Herner, Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, and Rob Mizen joined Mr. Higham and I at the Redesigning Schools National Conference at High Tech High in San Diego, California. We were accompanied by (4) 8th-grade students to co-facilitate the presentation over two days: Maysen and Alexis Jahnke, Faith Kilfoyle, and Sydney Murray. We toured High Tech Middle and High School. This school was featured in the film, Most Likely to Succeed. 
​
We have been planning our presentation over the last several months and ran a rehearsal last weekend at Chardon High School.

​We will keep posted from San Diego using Twitter and Periscope. Check out the pictures and the background  that our students created.

We will be presenting LIVE on Friday @ 11:30 AM (EST).

​The focus of this event is to alleviate stress and the lull that comes with the 3rd quarter as well as enforce the Chardon High School Community during the difficult times of February. Kaylie Malloy and a group of 6 students have been organizing this event for the past year and have secured many businesses to be in attendance. We will have free yoga classes, massages, art classes, sport nutrition sessions, personal trainers, therapy dogs and so many more opportunities!Reference Guide for Social Services​During the school year,  we see a number of students who may be struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, self-harming behaviors, substance use, and suicidal thoughts. The Chardon community is fortunate to have a number of local mental health agencies available to serve youth and families who may be experiencing any difficulties.   Please, if your child is experiencing any difficulties reach out to Administration, Guidance or one of the agencies listed below:

Catholic Charities -  ccdocle.org/county-served/geauga  440-285-3537
Family Pride -  familyprideonline.org   440-286-1553
N.A.M.I - namigeauga.org  440-286-6264
Ravenwood Health Centers - ravenwoodhealth.org   440-285-3568
Ubuntu Wellness - Ubuntuwellnessohio.com  440-214-9062

Ravenwood Health has an emergency, walk-in clinic open weekdays till 8 p.m, Friday till 5 p.m.
For after hour emergencies or if you need to talk with someone the hotlines below are available 24/7:
​
24/7 Copeline - 1-888-285-5665 
Crisis Text Line - Text 4hope to 741741
Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

​What you need to know:
What: ACT Test ... Tuesday, February 26th, all Juniors will be taking the ACT at Chardon High School.
Why: Third year of a state requirement to administer ACT or SAT to Juniors as a pathway to graduation. 

Questions about ACT/SAT Requirement

Chardon High School will once again be participating in the State Funded ACT Test for all Junior students on February 26, 2019.   This important college admissions assessment is a great tool to help guide our students in their future decisions and is in line with our district goal to see all of our students Employed, Enrolled, Enlisted, or Entrepreneurs.   All Juniors are required to report to Chardon High School on February 26th at the regular start time (7:26 AM). Pre-Administration and testing will begin promptly at 7:35 AM. Additional information regarding this testing session will be sent directly to Juniors and their families prior to testing.

Core Values Day

Students in grades 8, 9, 10, and 12.   February 26th will be used as a Blended Learning Day with a focus on the Core Values of Charon (Community, Humility, Achievement, Respect, Dignity, Optimism, and Nurture).   Last school year, we were impressed with over 600 students participating in some type of service to their community on this day. Eighth Graders, Freshman, Sophomores, and Seniors will not be permitted to enter school (during testing hours) on Tuesday, February 26.  All Freshman, Sophomores, and Seniors must complete a Google Form (will be sent to students the week of February 20th) documenting their service completed on this date to show attendance. 

The following guidelines can be used to show appropriate activities for this day:

Seniors:

• Students will focus on components of their Capstone Senior Project as part of the pathways to graduation.
• Tasks to be completed include:
  • Meeting with a mentor for a shadowing experience
  • Physically completing a portion of the project
  • Shadow a professional in an area of interest for future employment
  • Complete 1 or more journals with a log of hours
  • Prepare final Capstone Project Presentation
  • Prepare a final reflective essay

Eighth Graders/Freshman/Sophomores:

• Students will focus on community service with a focus on the Core Values.
• Examples of activities are listed here.   Core Value Examples
• Students must reflect on their experience by completing the Google Form

If you have questions about the ACT or Core Values Day, please contact Mr. Bandiera, Assistant Principal, Chardon High School. 

Ryan Bandiera
Ryan.Bandiera@ChardonSchools.org
440-285-4057

​Students in the CHS Ski/Snowboard Club have been having an awesome time on the slopes of Brandywine Ski Resort. This past week was their third trip of the season. Each week the students have the opportunity to take a lesson and then enjoy several hours on the slopes.  Many of the students have learned a new sport and really shown improvement in their skills. Others have been enjoying the terrain park and working to learn new tricks or jumps. What a great group of students!

The Ski/Snowboard Club is excited to announce a day trip to Holiday Valley Ski Resort in New York. The trip is planned for Saturday, March 2 and is open to all students at the high school. Students do NOT have to currently be part of the ski club to participate in this opportunity. If your son/daughter is interested please see the attached flyer for more details, including an overview of the itinerary for the day. Space for this opportunity is limited to just one bus, so please make sure your son/daughter turns in his/her registration to Miss Fisher as soon as possible! If you have any questions, please email Alison Fisher at alison.fisher@chardonschools.org

​The Chardon High School Dance Team is performing Friday, March 8th at Quicken Loans Arena at the Lake Erie Monsters Game. Tickets can be purchased using the link on the flyer.

The Chardon Local School District is a representative on the American Graduate: Getting to Work initiative working with other partner schools and business leaders to prepare students for high-demand career opportunities. As the initiative reaches its mid-point, the task force is hoping to hear from young adults (age 16-26) in our community about their perceptions of high-demand living wage careers and the American Graduate initiative.  This is a nationwide survey that 16 other American Graduate states are gathering input from students (target audience 16-26) as well.  Below is a link to a voluntary survey that is being conducted by the American Graduate Initiative on this topic.  If you like your child to share his/her views on high-demand careers, please have them complete the survey.  Again, participation is completely voluntary, but will assist the group in planning further activities and programs to help link graduates to competitive jobs.

​Survey Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ideastream_YAS
 

This has been a week of mixed emotions. Everyone knows how much I miss being out of the building. Everyone knows how much I love our students and staff. Being away has provided me with the opportunity to grow as a person and educator. Being together with students and staff in San Diego has created wonderful memories that we will share with our school upon our return. The weather here was quite comical. It reminded us Forrest Gump during the rain scenes.  I am forever grateful to Ryan Bandiera who worked so hard lead our building under crazy weather conditions as well...I saw the landscape of leaks and game cancellations. Furthermore, I am grateful to our staff, teachers, and Dr. Moran who supported each other this week.  Stay tuned in the morning to watch our presentation!

Douglas Murray, Principal

This was a great week at CHS! So much has transpired while I (along with Al Herner, Doug Higham, Corine Casalina, Josi Culliton,  Linda Elegante, and Steve Kofol) traveled to Mentor for three days to become Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt trained for our district. Between special appearances, conferences, theatrical experiences, curriculum presentations, vaping seminar, athletic games, and preparing for our Circuit presentation---a ton was going on. Enclosed you will read highlights from the week.

​All of our girls who play basketball in grades 7-12 had a chance of a lifetime on Monday. Chardon High School welcomed  Tamika Catchings - one of the WNBA’s all-time greats: WNBA champ, WNBA MVP, a national champion at Tennessee, and national speaker.

Tamika spoke to the young ladies about handling adversity, writing your own story, dictating your own outcome in life. The message that really hit the coaching staff was when she told the girls “you’re going to be in this spot one day. Talking to a group of young girls. It may not be as a WNBA player - but it may be as a lawyer, doctor, teacher, coach, etc. You have to work hard to make sure that story is a good one for that young lady who is listening.”

It was a memorable experience beyond basketball and the entire staff is so thankful for all who helped make this afternoon possible!

​February 5th - Curriculum Night (CCP information night) presentation above.

February 4-11: Course recommendations/registration entered into IC (this is for teachers to recommend the next level course for students in core classes only) 

February 8,11,12,15:- scheduling presentations to grade 8-11 students during Topper Time (2/8 current juniors, 2/11 current sophomores, 2/12 current freshmen, and 2/15 current 8th 
(CSS)

February 11th:- Course registration open to all students

The Learning Center Newsletter for February is attached. In it please find details about The 2019 Hope and Stanley Adelstein Free Speech Essay Contest. 

The prompt this year directs students to answer the questions "What are the biggest threats to freedom of speech? What should be done to protect this core value of American Democracy?" 

Complete details can be found here.

Encourage your students to enter this local contest for a chance to win up to $1,000.

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation's premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. ​​Congratulations to our inductees to NHS!

In the coming weeks, our students will be taking the ACT. There are a number of resources to help them prepare, including the opportunity to take a practice test, and use free personalized resources with ACT® Academy™.
​
ACT Academy - Free Personalized Practice
Information for Students - Practice Test

The 2018-2019 yearbook staff is once again offering parents of seniors the opportunity to express congratulations to their graduate by purchasing an advertisement in the 2019 edition of the Hilltopper. This has become a very popular tradition in the yearbook. Over the years, the support of parents like you helps us to keep the price of the yearbook constant despite the demand to meet rising production costs.

Enclosed here you will find a form indicating the size options of congratulatory advertisements that are available. Start searching for your son’s or daughter’s most memorable baby pictures to preserve in the yearbook forever. You can put a poem, a message, and/or photos (old or new) in your salute. All you have to do is submit the information you would like included. Then we take care of the rest and design the advertisement for you. 

If you are interested, fill out the next page of this order form and return it to the main office at the high school with your check payable to Chardon Board of Education. Please submit your order no later than Friday, March 29th, 2019 so that we can meet our printing deadlines. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the yearbook adviser, Daniel, at daniel.chenoweth@chardonschools.org

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Daniel Chenoweth
CHS Yearbook Staff  ​

​During the school year,  we see a number of students who may be struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, self-harming behaviors, substance use, and suicidal thoughts. The Chardon community is fortunate to have a number of local mental health agencies available to serve youth and families who may be experiencing any difficulties.   Please, if your child is experiencing any difficulties reach out to Administration, Guidance or one of the agencies listed below:

Catholic Charities -  ccdocle.org/county-served/geauga  440-285-3537
Family Pride -  familyprideonline.org   440-286-1553
N.A.M.I - namigeauga.org  440-286-6264
Ravenwood Health Centers - ravenwoodhealth.org   440-285-3568
Ubuntu Wellness - Ubuntuwellnessohio.com  440-214-9062

Ravenwood Health has an emergency, walk-in clinic open weekdays till 8 p.m, Friday till 5 p.m.
For after hour emergencies or if you need to talk with someone the hotlines below are available 24/7:
​
24/7 Copeline - 1-888-285-5665 
Crisis Text Line - Text 4hope to 741741
Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

The Chardon Athletic Boosters supports all Chardon Middle School and Chardon High School interscholastic sports teams and the football and basketball cheerleaders; helps improve sports equipment and facilities; works cooperatively with other extracurricular support groups, and strives to become a community forum to encourage cooperation, good ideas, and constructive contributions for the general improvement of athletics. 

Thank you to every volunteer, patron, and organizer for making this year's Night at the Races such a huge success.
​
Have a beautiful weekend with family and friends!
Douglas Murray, Principal

PS: I will be out of the state next Friday and will do my best to send a Week in Reflection.

PBIS is an approach schools can use to improve school safety and promote positive behavior. It also helps schools decide how to respond to a child who misbehaves.  Over the last two decades at Chardon High School, we have created programs such as Freshman Mentoring, AC4P, Core Values Teams, #UTopper Club, Intentional Acts of Kindness, School Spirit, and postive relationship building and soft skills focus to help build up our school culture.
​
At its heart, PBIS calls on schools to teach kids about behavior, just as they would teach about any other subject—like reading or math. PBIS recognizes that kids can only meet behavior expectations if they know what the expectations are. A hallmark of a school using PBIS is that everyone knows what’s appropriate behavior.

We are building off our focus on the PBIS Matrix of behaviors that align with our core values and  targeted outcomes that we worked on last school year.  This week students and staff had the opportunity to recognize the positive behaviors and acts of kindness in a Google Form.

We have been blessed to work with local businesses that have been extremely kind to us. Here is the form that students and staff (within the Chardon domain)can fill out. Keep recognizing the good around you!

Curriculum Night

In order to better prepare you and your child to the academic offerings at Chardon High School, we will be hosting a Curriculum Evening on February 5, 2019, at 6:30 PM in the CHS Gymnasium. This evening also coincides with our Parent Teacher Conferences.
 
At this meeting, we will provide an overview of the curricular offerings, and course delivery options (including College Credit Plus), and an overview of the scheduling process.  Several of our high school teachers and counselors will be on hand that evening to share information and answer questions regarding their curriculum and course offerings.  Representatives from local colleges will also be present to answer questions about College Credit Plus.
 
Our School Counselors will be presenting to students about scheduling and course offerings later in February. This evening is for all grades entering 8-12. We will schedule a separate evening to go through the high school experiences for new 8th graders at a later date. 

​Enclosed is the link for parent teacher conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences are for all parents grades 8-12. This is NOT an invitation only opportunity
https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Chardon_High_School

Please show your support for our students by making plans to attend this important event next Thursday evening. 
​
Dr. Ellen Rome, Director of Adolescent Health at the Cleveland Clinic will be speaking on the health hazards of teen vaping.  Following her talk she will be joined for a Q&A panel with High School Administration, Derek Carlson Chardon Police Department SRO, Missy Bell Ravenwood Health Prevention Specialist, and several students.  

Nick Becker, Lexi Corrigan, and Alex Yehl will be sharing their insights on this growing trend among their peers.  Jacob Stephans will be moderating this event with help from other CHS students. 

The CHS Academic Decathlon team traveled to Willoughby South High School on Saturday, January 26th for regional competition. Despite sickness and two members trying to do double duty and get to a swim meet, they persevered and brought home 15 medals in the various subjects. Congratulations! Hard work does pay off.
​
Pictured L-R  Molly Greene, Marko Milic, Meredith McKeon, Hannah Holbert (Not pictured) Kara Connelley and Reese Schneider

​The Chardon High School Dance Team is performing Friday, March 8th at Quicken Loans Arena at the Lake Erie Monsters Game. Tickets can be purchased using the link on the flyer.

​The 8th grade AHLI group completed a design challenge at the Cleveland Art Museum during which they observed art and then created their own prototypes.  

The 2018-2019 yearbook staff is once again offering parents of seniors the opportunity to express congratulations to their graduate by purchasing an advertisement in the 2019 edition of the Hilltopper. This has become a very popular tradition in the yearbook. Over the years, the support of parents like you helps us to keep the price of the yearbook constant despite the demand to meet rising production costs.

Enclosed here you will find a form indicating the size options of congratulatory advertisements that are available. Start searching for your son’s or daughter’s most memorable baby pictures to preserve in the yearbook forever. You can put a poem, a message, and/or photos (old or new) in your salute. All you have to do is submit the information you would like included. Then we take care of the rest and design the advertisement for you. 

If you are interested, fill out the next page of this order form and return it to the main office at the high school with your check payable to Chardon Board of Education. Please submit your order no later than Friday, March 29th, 2019 so that we can meet our printing deadlines. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the yearbook adviser, Daniel, at daniel.chenoweth@chardonschools.org

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Daniel Chenoweth
CHS Yearbook Staff        ​

The application for the 2019 Cleveland Clinic Summer Internship Programs is open and accepting applications from students. Our Destination Application Workshop sessions are accepting reservations to attend.

Attached are two flyers with information about our 2019 Cleveland Clinic Summer Internship Program and information and scheduling information for our 2019 Destination Application Workshop Sessions.
​
Both flyers contain links to the appropriate webpages to apply to our programs and/or RSVP to our workshop sessions.

Between now and the time that I see you again, stay warm!

​Douglas Murray, Principal

I want to begin my Week in Reflection with something to ponder: Action Changes Things.

I designed this logo years ago --spending countless hours working with students and staff to refocus the lens of our culture. Back then, many students and staff were forging their path while the atmosphere was foggy. The atmosphere was foggy not by choice but due to a shared experience that began our journey to rediscover who we were as a school community and a town.

There was no turning back. Through collaborative planning and design we transcended ourselves into the school we always were: high achieving, service oriented, and a culture of caring.

It is almost impossible to document all of the intentional acts of kindness, outreach programs, and academic achievements since this design--but, it is important to go back to our core and sharpen the lens from time to time.

Recently, our administrative team and school resource officer have spent a week working with students to remind them that our choices and our actions changes things wherever we are. 

When we were all kids we played the game of phone. The game was simple and always had a humorous ending. We would tell our first friend one thing and then the next friend would try to tell the next person the same thing without missing a word. By the end of the game, the first statement would be morphed and changed down the chain into something that made no sense.

In a controlled situation, this game can be fun for any student to learn the importance of clear communication and active listening. In the real world, this can cause drama, rumors, and stress for many students and adults depending on the context of the story. 

Unfortunately, the latter happened this week and we spent countless hours to decipher, articulate facts and provide clarity to our school community. Please take the time this week to talk to your son(s) and or daughter(s) about being mindful of what they say, hear, and share. Action can Change Things when we choose how we respond to any situation. However, choosing not to respond or Act can Change Things in ways that we cannot control. The only choice is clear. Be the best version of yourself and choose to act with integrity, honesty, and dignity.

In the spirit of ACTion changing things, enclosed is some very important information to help all our students in grades 8-12 prepare for our ACT/Core Value Day on February 26.

Almost one year ago (during a snow day), I was pressed to design programming to include eighth graders at the high school- not only academically, but into our culture. The stress of coming up with the right idea (with intention) came to a crossroad. I began storyboarding with Mr. Higham and Mrs. Hetrick and had Mr. Bandiera on a conference call. Ideas were being passed back and forth until an idea to create a non-grading period connecting to our unique lunch period arose. Within a few hours the concept of creating soft skill courses that would benefit students in the short and long term titled Principles courses  ensued. 

We storyboarded key ideas that we were talking about all year: creativity, collaboration, design thinking, global connections, leadership, innovation, problem solving, music and art appreciation, entrepreneurship,  and relationships. We thought about our Freshman Mentoring Program, the countless Topper Time experiences that were formed to build relationships and skills, along with our academic courses, the portrait of a Chardon graduate, and Senior Projects. We analyzed our purpose in education and our mission.  From that moment, the birth of the Principles of: Leadership, Communication, Global Awareness, Innovation, Problem Solving, and Entrepreneurship were formed. The work was just beginning.

Designing over 7,000 course selections into 41 rooms with 78 adults became one of the largest tasks that we embarked on in the history of Chardon High School. We were making history and wanted to plan this right. Essential to the design of the Circuit was inviting and selecting teachers to join the creation process. We selected 10 teachers from various areas to co-create and program the foundational experiences for our students at Chardon High School. The work of our assistant principals, secretaries, counselors, along with our selected teachers for the Circuit: Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, Amber Yeager, Kristen Niedzwiecki,  Heather Biernacki, Scott Brown, Dan Chenoweth, Rob Mizen, Al Herner,  and Mitch Hewitt commenced. Their vision, along with the vision and support of their colleagues was essential.

Last May and leading into the summer was our essential planning time. As we met with parents, students, and teachers we saw the plan coming together. Let's be honest, this was not easy and the anxiety of working with grade levels that we weren't used to was a real stress....then the first day of school began. Quickly we saw the plan coming to fruition. Students were collaborating, solving problems, innovating ideas and marketing them. Students were learning our core values, breaking barriers in communication,  connecting cultures... and the best part was there was no grade attached. Kids were learning because learning mattered more than a grade.  

In early October, Mr. Higham saw an opportunity to share our program at the EdExcellence Conference in San Diego, California. He proposed the idea to our Circuit teachers and they quickly jumped right on board to the idea. Our teachers worked over a few weeks to write the proposal. 

In December, our proposal was accepted! Then came the difficult part. We have ten teachers in the Circuit. We have previously received grant money...but only a portion of the group could present based on the guidelines that we received. The EdExcellence Group requested student presenters on top of a select group of presenters. I am so appreciative of all of our teachers who collaborated on this initiative and will be forever documented as the authors of the Circuit.

As I have shared in previous communications, the Circuit of Success was born out of the mission of Edleader21 and the reality of reconfiguration. The work that our teachers are sharing with the 8th graders is paying off. The students LOVE these courses and the experiences that they are applying. The students shared that the most memorable moments of the Circuit thus far are the job and life skills that they are learning, the relationships that are developing with new peers and teachers, and the skills that they are applying to their day-to-day classes. All of these experiences, projects, and applied lessons are without academic credit. The students know this and quite frankly are putting more effort and pride into their learning. It really makes you think about education and the societal emphasis on grades. I am very proud of our teachers and the support everyone is providing to each of them.

This February, I have asked Al Herner, Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, and Rob Mizen to join me and Mr. Higham to attend and present at this conference. We will be taking (4) 8th-grade students to attend and co-facilitate the presentation over two days: Maysen and Alexis Jahnke, Faith Kilfoyle, and Sydney Murray. We will also visit High Tech High. This school was featured in the film, Most Likely to Succeed. 
​
We have been planning our presentation over the last few weeks and will be meeting after school twice a week until our presentation. We are planning on presenting a dry run rehearsal on Sunday, February 10 at 1:00 PM at Chardon High School that is open to our school community. All are welcome. Just a warning, it is going to be an active presentation with guest involvement to experience our circuits.

If you see Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, Amber Yeager, Kristen Niedzwiecki,  Heather Biernacki, Scott Brown, Dan Chenoweth, Rob Mizen, Al Herner or Mitch Hewitt-- give them some kudos for awesome recognition!

GGP’s Internship Program is helping high school students prepare for the workplace by offering a real-world work experience. Hear from several interns as they share their experiences.
The Internship program is open to all Geauga County resident Junior and Senior high school students. The paid internships are awarded through a competitive application process and in-person interview experience.

The application for the 2019 Cleveland Clinic Summer Internship Programs is open and accepting applications from students. Our Destination Application Workshop sessions are accepting reservations to attend.

Attached are two flyers with information about our 2019 Cleveland Clinic Summer Internship Program and information and scheduling information for our 2019 Destination Application Workshop Sessions.
Both flyers contain links to the appropriate webpages to apply to our programs and/or RSVP to our workshop sessions.
​
Your assistance in distributing this information to all is greatly appreciated. please help us by making your students, co-workers and educators aware of our summer programs and application assistance workshop.

Enclosed is the link for parent teacher conferences

​This past weekend, we sent 11 wrestlers to the Top Gun tournament, in Alliance, Ohio. This tournament is notoriously tough. Out of 43 teams, Chardon placed 14th, which is a record high. 
Out of our 11 wrestlers, 3 made it to the podium, in their weight class

Junior Jake Hamulak, went 4-1, placing 2nd
Sophomore Jaden Farris, went 7-2, placing 5th
And Junior Jaret Hall, went 5-3, placing 6th

Great job, Gentleman!!

Come see our team in action, this Saturday, January 26, in The Barn. Wrestling begins at 9

Stay warm,

​Douglas Murray, Principal

The core values of Community, Humility, Achievement, Respect, Dignity, Optimism, and Nurture fully weave throughout this edition of the Week in Reflection! I am so PROUD of our students and staff!

It truly was moving to see the support, love, and kindness as we celebrated the reveal of Katherine Lessick's Make-A-Wish in the choir room. No words can describe the joy, gratitude, and passion shared by the guests, workers, donors, Mr. Streiff, and Katherine.

Katherine lives our core values on point. She embodies the mantra of "it is in giving that we receive." We are a better school for celebrating her life and lasting legacy. Her faith and passion for music gave her hope during such a difficult moment in her life. Check out the beautiful footage shared from area journalists!

Maia Belay of Fox 8 writes:

The Chardon High School Choir is singing a new tune thanks to huge upgrades to the choir room, courtesy of a selfless classmate and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Senior Katy Lessick says she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2016 that forced her to miss nearly two years of school. When she was granted a wish, instead of keeping it for herself, she decided to do something that would improve her school and help future students for years to come.

"I hope it makes our music program more attractive," said Lessick. "I hope it makes people go, 'Hey, that’s a cool place to be. Let me see if that’s right for me. Oh wow this really great.' Let’s keep it up; let’s make this program the best that it can be."

Talking with her choir director, she decided to "wish" for fresh paint, updated risers, new posture chairs, acoustic paneling and a piano that stays in tune. Monday, the updated room was revealed and celebrated along with family and classmates in an intimate performance by the choir.

"She is an amazing individual and it doesn’t surprise me she would do something like this but we are certainly deeply honored by the fact that she wanted to pay it forward," said choir director Fritz Streiff.

Streiff says he has been helping Lessick find her voice since she was in middle school and they have made lots of musical memories together. While music brings so much happiness to Lessick it also brings pain.

"It’s incredibly painful for her to sing," said Stephanie Lessick, Katy's mother. "She’s got nerve damage in her face since her brain surgery, so it’s been very painful for her but it brings her so much joy."

Yet, it did not stop her from joining the choir with her peers and singing with a smile. Lessick is currently in remission but says she realizes her road to recovery will be a process. She says giving back to her community was driven by her faith and determination to give the gift of music to others to enjoy.

"I have a lot of deep faith in Jesus Christ and he’s helped me a lot on my journey and getting sick and dealing with everything that comes with that; Jesus says to love your neighbors more than you love yourself," explained Lessick.

Lessick says she hopes to continue singing when she goes to college next year; she is currently waiting to see where she has been accepted.

She was given a baton, music books, six months of voice lessons and a keyboard to round out her extraordinary day.

Maia Belay. "Chardon student pays it forward with Make-A-Wish Foundation dream come true." fox8.com. 14 Jan. 2019. Web. 14 Jan. 2019. <https://fox8.com/2019/01/14/chardon-student-pays-it-forward-with-make-a-wish-foundation-dream-come-true/>


Fox 8

Cleveland.com

Cleveland.com YouTube

WKYC

Entire Presentation Via Periscope

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank (GCFB) is the largest hunger relief organization in Northeast Ohio having provided more than 57 million meals in 2018 to hungry people in Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Ashland and Richland counties.

Last Friday, students in Chardon Academy learned about the many programs that GCFB offers along with participating in servant leadership. We are so proud of the work that Mr. Dinko and Mrs. Zdesar provides our students in earning credit and learning life skills to better equip all of our students with life lessons to serve our local community!

Chardon High School students: Grace Powell, Cam Holt, Ryan Brown, Catherine Condon, Blue Veon, Anne Sweet, Will Piotrkowski and Ellie Ramos along with teachers -Scott Brown and Rob Mizen ventured to Jonesville, Virginia, to participate in service learning. The students spent from December 31st until January 4th working to build a deck and side a house for a family in need.  This is the second time our students have participated in this project hosted by the Appalachian Service Project.  
​
Numerous other schools were involved in this philanthropic venture.  Additional schools that were involved included Willoughby South, Painesville Riverside, Kenston, and Wickliffe.  This experience was led by Joseph Spiccia and Julie Ramos of Wickliffe Schools.

​We are so grateful to Mr. Mizen and Mr. Brown who supported our students on life-changing service experience!

Almost one year ago (during a snow day), I was pressed to design programming to include eighth graders at the high school- not only academically, but into our culture. The stress of coming up with the right idea (with intention) came to a crossroad. I began storyboarding with Mr. Higham and Mrs. Hetrick and had Mr. Bandiera on a conference call. Ideas were being passed back and forth until an idea to create a non-grading period connecting to our unique lunch period arose. Within a few hours the concept of creating soft skill courses that would benefit students in the short and long term titled Principles courses  ensued. 

We storyboarded key ideas that we were talking about all year: creativity, collaboration, design thinking, global connections, leadership, innovation, problem solving, music and art appreciation, entrepreneurship,  and relationships. We thought about our Freshman Mentoring Program, the countless Topper Time experiences that were formed to build relationships and skills, along with our academic courses, the portrait of a Chardon graduate, and Senior Projects. We analyzed our purpose in education and our mission.  From that moment, the birth of the Principles of: Leadership, Communication, Global Awareness, Innovation, Problem Solving, and Entrepreneurship were formed. The work was just beginning.

Designing over 7,000 course selections into 41 rooms with 78 adults became one of the largest tasks that we embarked on in the history of Chardon High School. We were making history and wanted to plan this right. Essential to the design of the Circuit was inviting and selecting teachers to join the creation process. We selected 10 teachers from various areas to co-create and program the foundational experiences for our students at Chardon High School. The work of our assistant principals, secretaries, counselors, along with our selected teachers for the Circuit: Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, Amber Yeager, Kristen Niedzwiecki,  Heather Biernacki, Scott Brown, Dan Chenoweth, Rob Mizen, Al Herner,  and Mitch Hewitt commenced. Their vision, along with the vision and support of their colleagues was essential.

Last May and leading into the summer was our essential planning time. As we met with parents, students, and teachers we saw the plan coming together. Let's be honest, this was not easy and the anxiety of working with grade levels that we weren't used to was a real stress....then the first day of school began. Quickly we saw the plan coming to fruition. Students were collaborating, solving problems, innovating ideas and marketing them. Students were learning our core values, breaking barriers in communication,  connecting cultures... and the best part was there was no grade attached. Kids were learning because learning mattered more than a grade.  

In early October, Mr. Higham saw an opportunity to share our program at the EdExcellence Conference in San Diego, California. He proposed the idea to our Circuit teachers and they quickly jumped right on board to the idea. Our teachers worked over a few weeks to write the proposal. 

In December, our proposal was accepted! Then came the difficult part. We have ten teachers in the Circuit. We have previously received grant money...but only a portion of the group could present based on the guidelines that we received. The EdExcellence Group requested student presenters on top of a select group of presenters. I am so appreciative of all of our teachers who collaborated on this initiative and will be forever documented as the authors of the Circuit.

As I have shared in previous communications, the Circuit of Success was born out of the mission of Edleader21 and the reality of reconfiguration. The work that our teachers are sharing with the 8th graders is paying off. The students LOVE these courses and the experiences that they are applying. The students shared that the most memorable moments of the Circuit thus far are the job and life skills that they are learning, the relationships that are developing with new peers and teachers, and the skills that they are applying to their day-to-day classes. All of these experiences, projects, and applied lessons are without academic credit. The students know this and quite frankly are putting more effort and pride into their learning. It really makes you think about education and the societal emphasis on grades. I am very proud of our teachers and the support everyone is providing to each of them.

This February, I have asked Al Herner, Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, and Rob Mizen to join me and Mr. Higham to attend and present at this conference. We will be taking (4) 8th-grade students to attend and co-facilitate the presentation over two days: Maysen and Alexis Jahnke, Faith Kilfoyle, and Sydney Murray. We will also visit High Tech High. This school was featured in the film, Most Likely to Succeed. 

We have been planning our presentation over the last few weeks and will be meeting after school twice a week until our presentation. We are planning on presenting a dry run rehearsal on Sunday, February 10 at 1:00 PM at Chardon High School that is open to our school community. All are welcome. Just a warning, it is going to be an active presentation with guest involvement to experience our circuits.

If you see Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, Amber Yeager, Kristen Niedzwiecki,  Heather Biernacki, Scott Brown, Dan Chenoweth, Rob Mizen, Al Herner or Mitch Hewitt-- give them some kudos for awesome recognition!

Spanish IV and V students spent the day cooking typical dishes and desserts from Spanish speaking countries.  It is always nice to put into practice what we study in class.  They did great, we learned and had a fun day! Thanks, Mrs. Korenke for sharing this with us!

Vaping has become a trend in high schools nationwide including Chardon High School.  Please join us for this important conversation on vaping and the health risks for teens.  

We are pleased to have Dr. Ellen Rome as our speaker. Dr. Rome has been the Head of Adolescent Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic since 1994. She received her BA from Yale, her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, and her Master's in Public Health from Harvard University.  She is a local, national and international speaker on a variety of topics impacting youth.  She is also the co-author of two books with Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen, You: The Owner's Manual for Teens and You: Raising Your Child from First Breath to First Grade. ​

Please make plans to attend this important event on Teen Vaping at CHS.  Officer Carlson, Chardon Police Department, and Missy Bell, Ravenwood Health Center will be on the Q &A panel to answer your questions about vaping.  Officer Carlson has been with the Chardon Police Department for 3 1/2 years. Prior to this, he was on the police force at Bowling Green State University.  Missy Bell is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant with Ravenwood Health Center and has worked with youth and parents in the drug and alcohol prevention field for over 14 years. ​

Sloths, monkeys, and zip lining, oh my! There will be an informational meeting for parents of C.H.S. students that are interested in traveling to Costa Rica in the summer of 2020. The meeting will be Thursday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m., at C.H.S. in room 209.  Learn about this exciting trip to the tropics and the opportunity of a lifetime to experience a new culture. Email Mrs. Korenke at carrie.korenke@chardonschools.org for more information. See you then!

The Hilltopper Bands have the honor of performing at Severance Hall on Sunday, January 27, 3:00 PM, as part of the Northeast Ohio Band Invitational. Symphonic Band will be performing:
​
Pan American by Karl King,
Chorale and March by Clifton Williams,
New Era Fanfare by Randall Standridge,
and Selections from The Sound of Music.

Wind Ensemble will be performing:
Entry March of the Boyars by Johan Halvorsen,
Risk Everything for a Dream by Richard Saucedo,
Four Dance Episodes by Gary Gilroy, and Mancini Magic.

Tickets are available in the high school band room and are $10 each. Checks payable to Crescendo Club.

Hundreds of tickets have been sold this school year to Chardon families taking advantage of the Chardon Goes to the Musicals group sales for Playhouse Square.  As a reminder, it is not a fundraiser, simply a courtesy to the community.  Please contact Elizabeth Fullerman at efullerman@hotmail.com with any questions or to reserve upcoming tickets.  After School of Rock, remaining shows for the 2018-19 school year include:
​
A Bronx Tale - Sunday, April 28 at 1pm
Dear Evan Hansen - Thursday, June 27 at 7:30pm
Come From Away - Sunday, July 28 at 6:30pm
Lion King - Thursday, August 8 at 7:30pm

From The NFHS: A Message to Parents of Ohio High School Athletes
January 14, 2019

DEAR MOM AND DAD: COOL IT
 
By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, and Jerry Snodgrass, Executive Director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
 
If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in Ohio, this message is primarily for you. 
 
When you attend an athletic event that involves your son or daughter, cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the camaraderie that high school sports offer and have fun. But when it comes to verbally criticize game officials or coaches, cool it.  
 
Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, and your support of the hometown team is needed. But so is your self-control. Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you, embarrasses your child’s school and is the primary reason Ohio has an alarming shortage of high school officials.  
 
It’s true. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Sports Officials, more than 75 percent of all high school officials say “adult behavior” is the primary reason they quit. And 80 percent of all young officials hang up their stripes after just two years of whistleblowing. Why? They don’t need your abuse.
 
Plus, there’s a ripple effect. There are more officials over 60 than under 30 in many areas. And as older, experienced officials retire, there aren’t enough younger ones to replace them. If there are no officials, there are no games. The shortage of licensed high school officials is severe enough in some areas that athletic events are being postponed or cancelled—especially at the freshman and junior varsity levels.  
 
Research confirms that participation in high school sports and activities instills a sense of pride in school and community, teaches lifelong lessons like the value of teamwork and self-discipline and facilitates the physical and emotional development of those who participate. So, if the games go away because there aren’t enough men and women to officiate them, the loss will be infinitely greater than just an “L” on the scoreboard. It will be putting a dent in your community’s future.
 
If you would like to be a part of the solution to the shortage of high school officials, you can sign up to become a licensed official at HighSchoolOfficials.com. Otherwise, adult role models at high school athletic events here in Ohio are always welcome. 

Well, if you made it this far, congratulations! You won a core values bracelet! The Week in Reflection was created as a means to communicate school from the lens of the principal to all of our stakeholders. I cannot even count the volume of words typed over the last several years. I created this because as a parent I wanted to know what goes on in my kids' school when we often get "eh, school was K" from our little lovelies. The more we collaborate and serve each other--the better we will be. Today, January 18th,  I turn 41. It is hard to believe that this bald guy started back in the Fall of 2000. I have the same energy today that I did back then...just less hair and an Italian glow. 

Jump in the snow this weekend! Keep in mind the life and legacy of why we have Monday off as a holiday.

Much love, 

Douglas Murray, Principal 

​Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
Evelyn Allen and Maddie Downs (representing Bolivia)
Topic A: Loss of Human Rights in Conflicts Across the Middle East
Topic B: Progress on the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances


International Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Halle Hemly and Faith Kilfoyle (representing the United States)
Topic A: Increasing Safeguards for Children of Disability
Topic B: Preventing Violations of Childhood Labor Laws


Development Program (UNDP)
Sydney Murray and Julianne Sweet (representing the United States)
Topic A: Preparing for Natural Disasters and Preventing Sustained Fallout
Topic B: Improving Access to Clean Water and Medical Supplies in Developing Nations


General Assembly (GA)
Chloe Cathan and Maddi Chollett (representing Chile)
Topic A: Addressing the Occupation of Ukraine
Topic B: Preventing Illicit Arms Trade
​

Purposeful Life

Anyone that knows me can share that I wear my emotions on my sleeves. Whether it is a blessing or a curse, there is complete transparency to my emotions.  People who live a life of purpose have core beliefs and values that influence their decisions, shape their day-to-day actions, and determine their short and long-term priorities. They place significant value on being a person of high integrity and in earning the trust and respect of others. The result is that they live with a clear conscience and spend more time listening to their inner voice than being influenced negatively by others.

Make the Right Stuff, the Right Stuff

I learned the value of hard work from my parents, and definitely from my wife who is the ultimate multi-tasker. People who live a life of purpose identify those activities that matter most to them and spend the majority of their time and effort in those areas. Otherwise, it’s too easy to drift away in the currents of life. There is a clear connection to the statement: How we spend our days parallels to how we live our lives. They work hand in hand---reminding us of the important marriage of choices and priorities. 

Passion

My entire life I have found value in pursuing what my passions were. From working outdoors at Sand Ridge to Kirtland Country Club, to teaching, and coaching...I have always loved pursuing areas in my life that I enjoyed. People who live a life of purpose wake up each morning eager to face the new day. They pursue their dreams with fervor, put their heart into everything they do, and feel that they’re personally making a difference. 

Balance

Finding balance is essential and challenging. The key is reflecting weekly about those that you love and if you have given as much to family as you have to your passion. People who live a life of purpose put their heart into their career and into building relationships with friends and family. They also reserve adequate time to satisfy their personal needs. Achieving balance means living up to one’s potential in all facets of life.

Happiness 

Happiness is a choice – not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you. – --Ralph Marston 

I have lived by this mantra my whole life. People who live a life of purpose have inner peace. They’re satisfied with what they have and who they are. To them, the grass is greener on their own side of the fence because of the time spent nurturing and cultivating their purpose. 

Serving

Living a life of service has taught me so much about myself. It has humbled me, guided me, and grounded me in my values. People who live a life of purpose make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life. They do things for others without expectation of personal gain, serve as exemplary role models, and gain as much satisfaction witnessing the success of others as witnessing their own. As the old proverb says, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

Seizing Moments

Remember that scene in Dead Poet's Society where Robin William challenges the students to Carpe Diem- Seize the day and make their lives extraordinary? He was changing the students perspective and experiences to live beyond the status quo. People who live a life of purpose cherish every moment and seek to live life without regret. They take joy in the experiences that life gives and don’t worry about keeping score. ​

​Vaping has become a trend in high schools nationwide including Chardon High School.  Please join us for this important conversation on vaping and the health risks for teens.  

We are pleased to have Dr. Ellen Rome as our speaker. Dr. Rome has been the Head of Adolescent Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic since 1994. She received her BA from Yale, her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, and her Master's in Public Health from Harvard University.  She is a local, national and international speaker on a variety of topics impacting youth.  She is also the co-author of two books with Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen, You: The Owner's Manual for Teens and You: Raising Your Child from First Breath to First Grade. 

​With winter here, and a very wide open lake, we want to remind you of our procedures for school closing or delayed start in the event of dangerous conditions.

The decision to call off school due to inclement weather begins at approximately 3:30 AM and includes analysis of the following information:

• Weather and radar reports
• Personal observation of road conditions
• Input from local law enforcement and road crews
• Input from district maintenance and snow removal personnel
• When necessary, school personnel drive the roads to determine the conditions
• Input and discussions with superintendents from neighboring districts

When all of this information is gathered, the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Business Affairs, and Transportation Supervisor jointly make the decision to close the schools or keep them open for students. Our objective is to make this decision no later than 5:45 AM as school buses are beginning to depart for their morning runs at that time. However, it may become necessary, in isolated cases, to make the decision after that time.  Weather conditions can change abruptly, for better or for worse, but our intent is to determine that it is safe for students and staff to attend school as early as possible.

The district uses a delayed start rather than canceling school should weather conditions allow for this option. In order to ensure greater safety during a delayed start, the opening of schools will be delayed two hours. The following is information concerning how the delayed opening will be implemented and a school-specific schedule:

• Once the decision has been made to close schools or delay the opening, the Superintendent will activate our Blackboard Communication System and update via Twitter @chardonsupt and @chardonschools, our district website and local television stations. It is strongly suggested that parents subscribe to the text/email notification systems now offered by the major Cleveland television stations in order to receive school closing information as soon as it becomes available.
• All parents will receive an automated phone call indicating that school has either been canceled or will open using a delayed start of two hours.  If school is closed and you did not receive a call it is necessary for you to confirm your telephone contact information with your child’s school as we use the most recent telephone numbers on file for sending automated messages.
• Under a delayed start, all buses will arrive at their morning stop locations exactly two hours later than normal schedule within the constraints of weather and road conditions. Students (including non-public school students that receive transportation through Chardon Schools) should plan to arrive at their assigned stops approximately 10 minutes prior to that time.
• Under a delayed start, all schools will open for operations exactly two hours later than their normal schedule. Students that walk to school, drive, or receive rides to school should plan on arriving two hours later unless directed otherwise for special programs.
• Under a delayed start, all schools will offer a lunch program with options that meet school nutrition standards.
• Under a delayed start, all schools will dismiss at the usual time.
• Under a delayed start, there will be no transportation to/from Auburn Career Center for AM classes. These students should plan to arrive at CHS for their afternoon classes following the modified schedule for that day. The bus for PM Auburn Career Center Classes will depart CHS at 11:00 AM.
• Under a delayed start, Lake Academy/LEADS will be picked up exactly two hours later than their normal time.
• Under a delayed start, there will be no morning preschool class. Afternoon class will report at noon.
• Under a delayed start, morning Latchkey programs at all schools will be canceled for that day.
• Under a delayed start, all private, parochial and special education schools that receive transportation services from Chardon Schools will be picked up exactly two hours later.

​
Again, safety is our highest priority and we strive to make the best possible decision with the information available at the time.  Parents can always choose to keep their children home if they truly feel there is a weather-related safety risk.  These absences will be recorded as excused, with make-up work provided to the student if the Superintendent designates the day as a Severe Weather Day in the school district.
Please do not hesitate to contact the district if you require additional information in this regard.

​Attached is the latest edition of the Learning Center Newsletter. 

In January's edition, you will learn about a $1500 grant the library was awarded thanks to the generosity of the State Library of Ohio and the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). 

Charon High School was awarded the maximum amount of a Celebrating Ohio Book Awards and Author (COBAA) Grant. The money will be spent to purchase 71 books that are award winners or nominees, all with an Ohio connection. 

Please read the newsletter for details on the grant and some of the titles that will be added to the library very soon.

We are now one week deep inside of using the new system. Last Wednesday, we spoke about the functionality of the system with the staff.  As I shared earlier, this system was created by our students trained in LEAN to create accountability, timestamps, and to standardize the system. 

It has been absolutely eye-opening to actually document how many students are using this system each day. In the past, each teacher had their own system and it was hard to identify (each period) who was out. Passes where misplaced due to all of the traffic and students sometimes just grabbed the pass without signing out. 

Now, it is our expectation that every student uses this system in the classroom using their Chromebook, or mobile device.  The student walks the hall wearing or carrying their ID. All staff members have access to the form and can sort student traffic.

We will continue to refine the system and make it more feasible for all users. The hall pass system has caught the eye of surrounding districts and I have taken the time to talk with Mayfield and Mentor Administration about how this system is working. Right now, we couldn't be happier. In the case of drills, emergencies, or even tracking weekly data--we can identify students in seconds.

Hundreds of tickets have been sold this school year to Chardon families taking advantage of the Chardon Goes to the Musicals group sales for Playhouse Square.  As a reminder, it is not a fundraiser, simply a courtesy to the community.  Please contact Elizabeth Fullerman at efullerman@hotmail.com with any questions or to reserve upcoming tickets.  After School of Rock, remaining shows for the 2018-19 school year include:
​
A Bronx Tale - Sunday, April 28 at 1pm
Dear Evan Hansen - Thursday, June 27 at 7:30pm
Come From Away - Sunday, July 28 at 6:30pm
Lion King - Thursday, August 8 at 7:30pm

Monday, January 14, 2019; 7-8:30 PM at 
Kent State University at Geauga, 14111 Claridon-Troy Rd, Burton

Student & Parent Registration: http://bit.ly/InternEventFamilies 

Our Multi-Media Design class creates and posts the announcements each day for students and staff. Each student and staff member receive the link directly to their email. The announcements ​are played in 5th period. The class has created a YouTube page and Twitter account to help parents with knowing the day-to-day information. Thanks to Mrs. Eby and Mr. Herner for all of their work with our students in this course.

Have fun this weekend and go play outside!

Douglas Murray, Principal

See you soon!

​Douglas Murray, Principal

​How to Study Infographic

Experiencing test anxiety is natural. In fact, most people – even those who have prepared extensively – experience some level of anxiety before and during tests. While a certain level of test anxiety is beneficial (as it motivates students to adequately prepare), too much can be detrimental if it prevents them from studying, preparing properly, or concentrating during a test.

These following strategies can help you control extreme test taking anxiety:

• Develop good study habits. One of the most effective ways to handle test taking anxiety is through proper preparation. Besides preparing you for the questions on a test, studying will also build your confidence. As your confidence increases, your test anxiety will decrease.


• Be prepared. If you're completely prepared for a test to the point of being familiar with any question that could be asked, anxiety will dramatically decrease. There is little reason to experience anxiety for a test you've prepared for. 


• Don't cram! Cramming for an exam the night before is a major cause of test anxiety. Students who take their time to regularly study for an exam throughout the term will experience less anxiety than those who decide to study a day or even hours prior to one. If you're studying a difficult subject (ie. chemistry, biology, math, etc.) it's imperative that you start studying early on in the semester, as you're likely to come across concepts, topics, and subjects that require outside help. Cramming can leave you not only pressed for time, but unable to get the help you in time.


• Get adequate exercise. Exercise relieves stress and increases mental function. It can also increase energy. If you take time to take care of your body, you'll experience far less anxiety all around.


• Get plenty of sleep. Not only is receiving adequate sleep necessary for good health, it's also an effective way to decrease anxiety. This is why it's recommended to get plenty of sleep the night prior to a test. It is recommended that you get plenty of sleep the entire week before a test. If you do not get enough sleep prior to a test, you will be fatigued, less able to concentrate, unable to remember everything, and more anxious.


• Get plenty to eat. Never take a test on a hungry stomach. Not only do you need the nutrients necessary for proper brain function and physical energy, taking a test on an empty, grumbling, stomach will make it more difficult for you to concentrate on the test. Some students neglect to eat prior to a test because they don't want to take time away from last minute studying. You don't have to eat a four course meal before every test, but at least grab an apple or some other healthy snack.


• Stay positive. Do not allow yourself to get overly pessimistic. Remain positive and concentrate on doing well on the test. If you dwell on negative thoughts, it will increase your anxiety and make it more difficult to perform. If you think you're going to perform poorly on a test, chances are you will. If you're confident in your ability, you're much likely to be less anxious and perform better.


• Stay relaxed. Take a few minutes to relax before taking a test. If you're struggling to relax, take deep breaths. Take a moment and clear your head. Focus on something completely unrelated to the test, or even school. Think about something fun you're planning later during the week, or maybe a fun trip you'll be taking. Once you're calm, go in and do your best!


• Focus on the learning experience. Do not be too hard on yourself if you do not perform up to your expectations on a test. Instead, learn from the experience, so you can make the necessary changes for the future. Nothing is accomplished by getting all stressed out over something that has already past.

Thank you for all who helped support Jeremy's kids. This was another successful year. Students, staff, and families were able to raise over $8,000! Thank you, Mr. Mizen, for leading another successful example of our core values in action! This is the most amount of money we have collected in over 10 years.  Thanks to the 8th grade teacher for really stepping up.  Your effort really helped to push our totals to the top.  The students will shop for over 30 families on Monday and wrap the present on Tuesday afternoon.

1st Place     Room 408 Mitch Hewitt's class with $1659.13
2nd Place    Room 300 Mrs. Ricci's class with $995
3rd Place     Room 110 Mrs. Kaiser's Class with $547

​Thank you for being such an inspiration to our children!

​Need a Christmas present for your son/daughter? Give the gift of snow before it’s too late and allow your son/daughter the opportunity to join the CHS Ski/Snowboard Club!  
 
Does your child already like to ski/board? Perfect - our club is a great chance for your child to improve his/her skills.
 
Your child doesn’t know how to ski/board yet? No worries - it’s a great chance to learn. Lessons and rentals are included for everyone at no additional cost.
 
Your child already has a season’s pass to Alpine/Brandywine? No worries - we can accommodate that too!
 
To register, go online to https://www.bmbw.com/club-program/. After submitting the online registration your child needs to turn in the emergency medical forms and the bus fee to complete registration.If your son/daughter already has a season pass to Alpine Valley SKIP the online registration and just turn in the emergency forms and the bus fee. Paperwork/bus fees can be turned into Miss Fisher in room 307 or to the main office (directed to her attention).
 
Remember the FINAL DAY for the ONLINE SKI CLUB REGISTRATION is at midnight on Wednesday, December 19. This deadline is set by BMBW and is not something that can be changed, so please be mindful of the deadline if your child plans to join the club. The club is open to all students grades 8 through grade 12. We will be skiing on Tuesday evenings in January, leaving CHS around 4:10.

If you have any questions, please contact the adviser (Alison Fisher) at alison.fisher@chardonschools.org or have your child see Miss Fisher during the school day in room 307. Hope your son/daughter considers joining us on the slopes in January! It will be so much fun!  

​There is still time to join us this summer to Spain, southern France, and Italy!  If you are interested, please contact Senora Tekavec at stacy.tekavec@chardonschools.org or Casey Ptasznik at casey.ptasznik@chardonschools.org
​
This is an unforgettable experience for your son/daughter!  

The high school has a new way to process students as they enter after the day begins. Checkmate plus is an attendance tracking system that uses a barcode that is applied to every student ID. Now, as students enter the building (late) they will walk into the main office or student services and scan their ID and receive a ticket that allows them to enter class--while entering their attendance automatically. 

Likewise, students who return back from open campus will no longer have to sign in on a clipboard. They will enter the main office and use their ID to "check-in" from open campus. Students returning from open campus will then report to the cafeteria (periods 1-4, 6-7) and the gym for period 5.

Guest who enter the building will have their license barcode scanned, and take a picture which will print on a badge for our staff to easily identify who is in the building.

Students are receiving their ID's on Friday. The system will fully be integrated on January 3, 2019. In the meantime, we will continue to practice this system during midterm week. Enclosed are a few highlights of the system.

Obtain a pre-application for minor work permit in the school office.

1. Student/Applicant Information:  this is to filled out by the student and signed by parent or guardian.
2. Pledge of Employer:  this is to be filled out by the employer.  We must have the Employer’s Tax ID Number (9 digits).  The number of days per week, hours per day, starting time and quitting time can NOT say varies.  Employer needs to sign and date.
3. Physician’s Certificate for Minor Work Permit:  this is to be filled out by the physician.
4. All sections of the form need to be filled out before processing.
5. You must present one of the following valid forms of ID when you bring the form in for processing:  Birth certificate, Driver’s license, Passport. A copy will be made to keep with the work permit.
6. Mrs. Sprinzl or Mrs. Thompson can process the application.  Work permits are then processed through the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Please allow 24 hours turn around on permits.

Follow us on Twitter for the latest about Chardon High School:

Mr. Murray, Principal: @chs_dmurray and  @chardonhs
Mr. Bandiera, Assistant Principal: @Mr_Bandiera 
Mr. Higham, Assistant Principal: @CHS_AP_HIGHAM 
Mr. Snyder, Athletic Director: @toppernation

Next week's publication of the Week in Reflection will be sent on Thursday, December 20th due to winter break.  Thank you for sharing your children with us! Stay Warm!

​Douglas Murray, Principal