I spend a lot of time talking with students.  There is so much joy when a student leaves the office feeling better than when they came in.  This week, we saw many students coming in the office to talk about classes, situations, and relationships.  After reflecting about the themes that the students were sharing with us, my inner voice kept saying, kindness can be contagious., spread it! 

When you think about it, kindness can be contagious. 

Every person that we encounter is living within their own story. They walk the halls consumed with thoughts about themselves, school, home, and general life ups and downs. What if we just stopped and for a moment told someone how we liked their hair, their style, or anything simple. Kindness is so simple and it's free. 

This pandemic world has caused so many of us to guard ourselves and others. We have become at times physically distant. This distancing  does not force us to be socially distant or selectively distant to those around us. Relationships are precious, and we should be mindful  of how others feel--especially with the current state of our world. Including others, saying hello, calling, facetime, a simple snapchat message may make someone's day. Being present is even more important.  When we are actively present we seek to understand a friend's needs and we listen. Being physically present is the start---being emotionally present can change your relationships.

We have been truly blessed with so many in-person days. So many educators and students are jealous of the time that we have been safely given. It is so important to spend your time wisely not only in the classroom but when you are able to connect with your feelings. When you look in the mirror do you hear your voice or others? The mirror reflects beauty. The mirror reflects character. The mirror reflects you. 

When we take the time to add beauty to someone's day we are actually mirroring that beauty in us. The more that we do it, the more that it becomes a habit. Kindness becomes the transferable agent that we want to be passed on within the building. It reflects our true self and our core values. 

Spread kindness everywhere and let it become the change that you want to see in your world and others. It is free, simple, and changes more than you can know! 

Around a year ago, I was watching Songland on TV. The show sets out to give undiscovered songwriters a chance to create a hit. It gives the viewers a look at the creative process in action. Contestants are selected to work with producers and a well-known recording artist to release a song. In this episode,  WIll I AM of the Black Eyed Peas was so moved by the beat and lyrics of a song titled, Be Nice. This song encapsulates what my message is really trying to say this week. 

"So, be different...BE NICE!"

A service project lead by Marijke Mendezoon

​2020 has been a very difficult year for everybody due to Covid-19. People have lost jobs, businesses have gone out of business and the financial base for families to afford things has not been easy. As a small gesture, one way I feel I can help out is by having a shoe drive. In everything you do, it is essential to have the proper gear. Growing up, my lifestyle has been surrounded by running. My parents own running stores and I am a runner. I’ve seen the impact of people wearing improper shoes which causes orthopedic problems. I’ve noticed shoes being donated overseas, but I think it’s essential that we start taking care of our own community first. I have been collecting gently worn running shoes for those who are seeking some. My goal for this school year is to have 2,020 shoes, for the year 2020. I ask people of the community or anywhere in Geauga County to donate any shoes that are not being used. These shoes will go to great use, instead of sitting around. There are a variety of sizes available, along with them being cleaned and sanitized. Anyone's help in making this happen would mean the world! If you are interested in finding out more contact ​mm.5446@chardon.us 

Over three days, our Executive Student Council Panel held interviews asking a sequence of questions to gauge the insight, leadership skills, and preparation of our Executive Student Council candidates. Using a high profile rubric with weighted scales, the panel prepared and assessed candidates. The students recorded speeches, and ballots were prepared for staff and students. The electoral percentages were tallied between the 40% interview process, 40% student body vote, and the 20% staff vote. Late on Wednesday, the results came in to indicate who the 2020-2021 Executive Student Council Presidents would be for this school year. Here are our presidents.

Mackenzie Morrison
​Kenzie Morris
Campbell Tierney
Paige Lucic

​Alexis Jahnke
Molly Evans
Abigail Carson
Meghan Hoynes

​Alivia Perfetto
Mia Goodwin
Aubri Johnson
Mason Mundis

​October 22, 2020
​
Dear Chardon Schools Parents/Guardians:

The health and safety of students, staff and community are the highest priorities in Chardon Schools.  The Ohio Department of Health elevated Geauga County from an Orange Level 2 to a Red Level 3 this afternoon as a component of the Ohio Public Health Advisory Alert System. 

Local Superintendents and school officials consulted with Geauga County Health District Director, Tom Quade, concerning our response plans in relation to the elevated risk level.  At that time, he noted that, “The red level should and has triggered further communication with the superintendents and principals but it does not automatically trigger a need to go remote.”  A complete press release from the Health District was issued to parents in a separate communication today.

As a result of this discussion, Chardon Local Schools will continue our current instructional models and schools will remain open.  There are no changes planned for students participating in either in-person or virtual learning models. 

As mentioned yesterday, Geauga County is seeing "minimal spread of COVID-19 in school buildings." As of this writing, we are aware of only one confirmed COVID-19 (student or staff) case within our school district since the start of the school year.  We credit this minimal spread in our schools to the health and safety protocols we have implemented and, most importantly, the work of our students and staff to minimize the risk of exposure. 

It is important to emphasize that we need to continue the implementation of the following protocols in order to slow the transmission of the virus:

• Required use of face coverings for all staff and students in grades K-12
• Personal portable desk shields for all students to place on top of their desk
• Hand sanitizer located throughout all school buildings, classrooms and buses
• Physical distancing to the greatest extent possible
• No sharing of supplies or materials
• No large group gatherings or assembly of students.
• Limited classroom transitions
• No classroom visitors 

We also rely heavily on the home as a partner is minimizing the risk of exposure.  Please continue to assess your child for symptoms before coming to school each day.  Additionally, if you or your child are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home and seek guidance from a primary health care provider.  

Thank you for your support and assistance as we continue to address this pandemic together.
Sincerely,

Michael P. Hanlon, Jr., Ph.D.
Superintendent

Friday, October 23, 2020: End of the 1st Quarter
​​Friday, October 23, 2020: Picture Retake Day: Starting at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, October 27, 2020: Parent Teacher Conferences (Round 2)

Attention Seniors and Parents:
It is time to order your Cap & Gown, Graduation Announcements and Senior Ring. Unfortunately this year, no orders will be taken in school.  Please see the attachment for all the information you need to get your order placed online or by phone. Be sure to place your order on time to avoid any late fees.
 
Attention Sophomores & Juniors
It is time to order your Chardon HS Class Ring! See the attachment for important order information and Special promotion for ordering before the deadline.

46 consecutive days.
1,104 hours
66, 240 minutes
3,974,400 seconds
1/4 of a (pandemic) school year

From your perspective, how did your son(s) or daughter(s) succeed and make strides in their performance this quarter? What worked? What struggles did you notice? How was their time used?

Chances are if you are reading this...you truly care about the performance of your children. We all do. 

So as you reflect on the closure of one quarter, let's reflect on a few essential questions.

Describe your goals for the quarter, how you made them visible, and how they were communicated to others?
Articulate the steps that you managed your time for school, sports, work, family and family time.
Reflect on how you communicated to your teachers when you were stuck, confused, or needed help.
How did you celebrate success?

Goals are critical. They keep you focused on what’s important, and allow you to make the best use of your 24 hours each day. When tackled correctly, they force you out of your comfort zone and help you grow more than you would without them.

Just by setting a goal, you are taking an active role in driving new and better results in your life. What could be more important than that?

Teaching our teenagers to set goals effectively can be life-changing. However, as we teach goal-setting to our children, we need to make sure we’re showing them how to use goals to have the greatest possible positive impact on their lives.

Here are six strategies adapted and annotated from an article- 7 Mindsets: Goal Setting for Teens for smart goal setting for teens that can help them maximize the potential of their lives:

1. It must be on their terms

The most important thing to remember is that these are their goals, not yours. One of the biggest mistakes we can make as parents is wanting our children to live in their images and in alignment with their definitions of success. In doing so, parents can unconsciously push their children down disingenuous paths that can result in reduced success and meaning from their goals.

2. Connect their goals to the ultimate currency… happiness!

What we want for our children is happiness on their terms. Happiness can be defined as finding joy, gratitude, love, or pleasure in the simplest of things...to the most luxurious things. Simplifying happiness comes down to the most sacred thing that we all experience: Time.  Finding time is based upon organizing our day in simple things: breaking down barriers to learn, finding success, and celebrating life. 

3. Help them frame their lives

Every year, we ask students to share their dreams and goals. We can hear it now..."what do you want to be when you grow up". To fully encapsulate we have to refine the lens to our goals, purpose, talents, and passions. Due to the world that we all live in, it’s easy to get very narrow with our vision for life and lose sight of some crucial components to our happiness. One of the first things you want to do is help your children frame and shape life in simple ways. As the first teacher, we should help define their priorities, which might include things like family, friends, faith, health, education, profession, wealth and social impact. We should ask them to consider all these areas as they think about and plan for the future, so they can set goals that will provide the greatest benefit to them. 

4. Teach them to dream big but play small

Teaching our children that goals are steps that we take on the path to our dreams is very important. The things we measure most often improve in our lives, so we must help our children set goals that are specific and measurable. For example, setting a goal to get straight A’s is much less powerful than a goal to use Cornell note-taking to prepare for each course... Remember that success is never one huge leap. It is almost always a succession of hundreds or thousands of tiny steps forward… and most likely with a few steps backward along the way. The greatest replicator of success is success. It’s both easy and common to give up on goals – and, therefore, dreams – if they’re too lofty or far away. It is really important to set goals that are attainable. The sense of gratification that students get from accomplishing small yet meaningful goals will help sustain the energy and belief as they move towards greater accomplishments. 

5. They need to take stock along the way

Setting goals can be a double-edged sword. It can drive purposeful action in our lives and allow us to achieve more over a shorter period of time. However, we need to be careful with ourselves and with our children, because goals can also be a source of anxiety.

All of us have the tendency to create a hyper-focus on future circumstances.  This can produce an “I’ll be happy when…” mentality, when what we want is to find inner happiness in this moment. With this awareness in mind, try to intertwine the process of goal-setting with an ongoing habit of recognizing existing successes and accomplishments. The present should never be sacrificed for the future, and goals should simply be tools to get the most out of the time we have.

6. Make goal-setting as engaging as possible

We all know that, when working with teens, we’re competing with a constant barrage of distractions – video games, social media, and high school relationships. This process is predicated on patience and self-discipline, but we need to change it up a bit sometimes to help get the process started.

We all want what’s best for our kids. Teaching them to think in terms of setting and accomplishing goals will help them become their own best sources for fulfillment, and provide the recognition that they control the outcomes in their lives. Through smart goal setting for teens, we can give our children the most important gift any parent can give: the ability to thrive in life without us.

7 Mindsets. "Goal Setting For Teens." 7 Mindsets. 7 Jun. 2016. Web. 17 Oct. 2019. <https://7mindsets.com/smart-goal-setting-for-teens/>  ​

Have a beautiful weekend with your family,

​Douglas Murray, Principal

​Parents and Guardians - 
 
With the end of the first grading quarter approaching (Friday, October 23), we want to take the opportunity to review enrollment in our virtual classes.
 
If you are requesting for your child to be considered for a transition from virtual classes to in-person classes, please use THIS FORM.
 
If you are requesting for your child (grades K-7) to be considered for a transition from in-person classes to virtual classes, please use THIS FORM.  (This is a continuation of the same form the District used this summer, and as such, is dated August.  We are using this as an on-going list for virtual class requests.)  For High School students (grades 8-12), please contact Dawn Tupaz (school counselor for virtual classes) at dawn.tupaz@chardonschools.org.
 
Each request to return to in-person classes will be considered along with programming, physical space, and class enrollment considerations.  Not all classes are available in both virtual and in-person classes.  A principal and/or school counselor will be in contact to discuss class scheduling scenarios.

Monday, October 19: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Tuesday, October 20: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Wednesday, October 21: Reminder- Class Begins 8:58 AM Periods 2, 4, 6 (red schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Thursday, October 22 : Periods 1, 3, 5, 7 (black schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Friday, October 23: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS ​

2020 “Fall in Geauga County” Teen Photography Contest 

1. Theme: Fall in Geauga County
   
2. Eligibility: Grades 6 – 12 in Geauga County  
3. Submission Period: October 14 – November 10, 2020
   
4. Voting Period: November 11 – December 2 (photos will be posted on Facebook and Instagram for the public to view and vote for the finalists)  
5. Prizes First place winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Second and third place prizes will also be awarded.
   
6. How to Enter: Send your photos to: photocontest@geaugalibrary.net

Include photos as an attachment (files accepted are jpg/jpeg and png)
Include your name, home library branch, grade, and title of photo in the body of the email.

Contest Rules: You may submit up to three entries per person, but a participant may not win more than one prize. Geauga County Public Library (GCPL) staff or its guest judges shall determine the winners from the finalists. The decision of the library is final. Prizewinners will be notified via email by December 7, 2020.  

1. Original Work: You hereby warrant and represent that (a) you own all rights to all Entry Materials submitted by you; and (b) all such Entry Materials are original works of authorship on your part and have not been copied, in whole or in part, from any other work and do not violate, misappropriate or infringe any copyright, trademark or other proprietary right of any other person or entity. You hereby verify that you will provide full written permission of any recognizable person, and their guardian if they are a minor, who are depicted in your Entry Materials. Obscene, provocative, or otherwise questionable content will not be considered.
   
2. Library Use of Entries: By entering your work, you acknowledge that GCPL shall have the right to use, modify, reproduce, publish, display, distribute, or make derivative works of Entry Materials for promotional or any other purposes.  
3. Disclaimer: All images and text related to photographs submitted do not indicate sponsorship by or affiliation with GCPL. GCPL assumes no liability to the copying and use of photographs by third parties. GCPL reserves the right to refuse a submission or remove photographs from its website and social media sites for any or no reason.

School fees are due to Chardon Local Schools. Please look at your student's Infinite Campus account under “Fees” to see what is owed for each child.  When you are looking at the fees, if something does not look right or your student has dropped a class and it is still showing, please call so that it can be corrected.
 
Direct all of your calls to Mrs. Koehler
erin.koehler@chardonschools.org ​
​440-285-4057 x. 1441

Friday, October 23, 2020: End of the 1st Quarter
​​Friday, October 23, 2020: Picture Retake Day: Starting at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, October 27, 2020: Parent Teacher Conferences (Round 2)
​

Will Piotrkowski of Chardon (Second from right in the video) is a member of Miami University’s Soul2Soul musical troupe that was recently selected to take part in UpStagedAID: One World, Every Student Voice, an international college a cappella competition.

Soul2Soul was one of only 32 groups throughout the U.S. chosen to participate in the contest that is organized by brackets modeled after NCAA’s March Madness. Winners are chosen via online voting. Will's voice keeps shining!
​
Read More

Have a beautiful weekend and stay warm!

​Douglas Murray, Principal

PS. Shoutout to my Volleyball readers--#32, #33, and #10 who reminded me to finish the Week in Reflection  while we played Kenston Thursday night.

This is big time! Two of my closest buds are the Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year in Ohio! I have known Jeff Legan for nearly eight years. Jeff and I became friends through our daughters (who we coached) on a Pixie Softball Team in Chardon....in which we won the Pixie Championship. From that season, Jeff and I were close. He was always one of my biggest mentors when I was becoming a principal. Jeff is a close friend of Chardon High School. His daughter is in our building, and we are great allies in the Western Reserve Conference. What a great honor for a great man! We are proud of all of his accomplishments and his support for students, and staff. Jeff can be seen wearing Christmas Red and Mayfield Green at many events in our neck of the woods. Congratulations!

Like I said before, we are also blessed to recognize and give thanks for all of the amazing ideas, support, and kindness that our own Ryan Bandiera provides each day at Chardon. He is an amazing friend to all of us, and a great leader for our students and staff! This is unprecedented in awards to think that we have the Principal and Assistant Principal in our own conference! Congratulations!

Executive Elections

• Students interested in the Executive Student Council will fill out the online application completely. Presidents and Officer Candidates will be interviewed by Executive Student Council Moderators/Advisors, an administrator, and a counselor during a panel interview. The panel will score the interview using a rubric. Members at Large will not be interviewed. 
• The Executive Panel will evaluate the interview and rubric and receive a 40% electoral vote. 
• The Chardon High School Staff will vote in the selection process and receive a 20% electoral vote.
• The Students of Chardon High School will vote by grade level and receive a 40% electoral vote. 
• The Executive President of each grade level is elected first.  The remaining candidates will then run for the remaining three Executive office positions.  The three students receiving the highest scores will be elected and actual offices will be determined based on individual preference and talents.

Wednesday, October 14th at 2:30 PM

• All applications are due

.
Thursday, October 15th at 2:30 PM

• Senior Presidential candidates and Senior Executive Officers interviews will commence.
• Recording of Speeches

Friday, October 16th at 2:30 PM 

• Junior Presidential candidates and Junior Executive Officers interviews will commence. 
• Recording of Speeches

Monday, October 19th

• 10th, 9th, 8th Presidential candidates, and 10th, 9th, 8th Executive Officers interviews will commence.
• Recording of Speeches

Tuesday, October 20th

• Speeches sent to each Gmail account. Faculty Vote Commences 

Wednesday, October 21st

• Grade Level Voting--ends at 1:30 PM

An Executive Student Council meeting will be held shortly after elections. The first task will be discussing and planning the 2020 Homecoming Court process. The Dance will be held at a later date once restrictions soften.

Monday, October 12: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Tuesday, October 13: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Wednesday, October 14: Reminder- Class Begins 8:58 AM Periods 2, 4, 6 (red schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Thursday, October 15 : Periods 1, 3, 5, 7 (black schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Friday, October 16: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS 

We used to laugh and fall into each other, careless to the breath passing our lips
Careless to the air in our lungs
No care at all. 
No paranoia. 
No fear. 
We’d circle together, passing bottles or cards
We’d pass remotes, foods, smiles
We’d hold hands, hug, poke each others’ ribs
We’d take each other in, fully.

Today we distance. 
Today we take steps back, today we put up barriers. 
We call, we text, we no longer hold each other like we would
There is no passed anything. Sanitizer after an accidental brush.
Today we are separate, yet we are still connected, as we always will be.
We are connected no longer by our hands, or our elbows, but by our efforts, our words, our late night calls. 
Today we are connected by love. ​

7th/8th grade Boy's Basketball
​​
Chardon is looking forward to kicking off the 2020 middle school boys basketball season!
Open Gyms & Tryouts @ Chardon Middle School Gym

7th Grade (**Please see Covid-19 screening information below.**)

• Open Gym  
  • Thursday, Oct. 15, 7:30pm-9:00pm
• Tryouts
  • Monday, Oct. 19, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20, 5:30pm - 7:00pm

8th Grade (**Please see Covid-19 screening information below.**)

• Open Gym
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14, 7:30pm - 9:00pm
• Tryouts
  • Monday, Oct. 19, 7:15pm - 8:45pm
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7:15pm - 8:45pm

Covid-19 Screening
Upon entry into each workout, a coach/director or other trained personnel member will administer a screening. Student athletes will wait in a socially distanced queue to participate in the screening. The screening will assess the following:

• Temperature:  Must be lower than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Screening Questions:
  • Cough?
  • Shortness of breath?
  • Student in contact with Covid-19?

Students who pass the screening with an acceptable temperature and "No" to all questions are admitted to that evening's open gym/tryouts session, while students who DO NOT pass the screening are sent home, followed by a phone call to their parents to explain.

In addition to the Covid-19 screening information presented below, the following requirements are also in place for open gym & tryouts: 

1. Students must wear a face mask when entering and leaving the gym.
2. Students must bring their own water bottle.​

For questions regarding the open gyms and tryouts, please contact Coach Dan Dinko at daniel.dinko@chardonschools.org or 440-231-3282. 
​
For questions regarding the Covid-19 screening, or high school tryouts, please contact Athletics Director Doug Snyder at doug.snyder@chardonschools.org or 440-286-0414.

Friday, October 23, 2020: Picture Retake Day: Starting at 8:00 AM
Tuesday, October 27, 2020: Parent Teacher Conferences (Round 2)

This was another beautiful week with our students that we do not take for granted. With so many schools being impacted by COVID-19, every second that we have with students is a blessing. Keep being mindful this weekend. Be mindful of your space, masks, and be kind to everyone. 

With gratitude,
Douglas Murray, Principal

Below is the information for Chardon seniors and their parents regarding the Financial Aid Night virtual presentation which took  place on Monday, September 28th. The presentation focused on all aspects of the financial aid process. Topics that are covered include the FAFSA form, CSS Profile, scholarships, grants, loans and other items related to college access. Click on the image to watch the video.

A $3,000 grant, the largest amount possible, was awarded to Chardon Local Schools from the federal appropriation made to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funds received will be split between all the Media Specialists in the district. Chardon High plans on spending their portion of the proceeds by starting a collection of online eBooks. With more students taking classes virtually, the need to offer electronic books is greater than ever. The teachers in the English department have been asked to compile a list of titles they think will be the most beneficial to students. Information on how to access the eBooks will be communicated once the titles are available to borrow.

A new opportunity is being offered to students in grades 9-12.  The C.R.E.W. (Creating Reliable Educated Workers) is an industry driven, work based model that prepares students for the 4 E’s that they will encounter after graduation; Employability, Education, Enlistment and/or Entrepreneurship.  Students are learning about career options that would enhance their interest and skills, industry credentials required for specific jobs, skills for their future endeavors, soft skills for the workplace, financial literacy, post secondary education and/or licensure required for a career of their choice as well as many other skills related to independent living and career development.  The C.R.E.W. also offers opportunities to participate in service learning activities that give back to the community at local and national levels.  Some of our current activities are: Ryan’s Case for Smiles, blankets for the Military Honor Flights, serving breakfast at Maple, packing lunches for CLSD food services, Jeremy’s Kids and many others throughout the school year.  If you, or someone you know, is interested in assisting the students with a project, we welcome any ideas.  The C.R.E.W. is currently looking for community sponsorships for our following upcoming projects:

• Project Linus - Fabric
• SOAP Project - Kits
• CHS Courtyard - Assistance with clearing out and remodeling the outside courtyard for student use.

One of the fundamental goals of the C.R.E.W. is to prepare students for the workforce by providing them with hands-on experiences.  If you know of a local company in need of hard workers, please have them contact Tracey Britt at tracey.britt@chardonschools.org or Kim Butala at kim.butala@chardonschools.org. 

Chardon Boutique
​
As we begin our 4th season of sharing, we want to introduce the Chardon Boutique at Chardon High School.  The boutique started as a thought that grew into a conversation about how to recycle clothes.  The idea then expanded into an all school clothing swap where students could donate their “old” clothes or add “new” clothing items to their closet for free.  The clothing items have been made available through generous donations from the community over the past 3 years.  The boutique offers students everything from t-shirts and sweatpants to homecoming/prom dresses as well as suits/ties.  Accessories are not excluded nor are the comforts of home (i.e. socks, pajamas, blankets).  The boutique also offers personal hygiene items that have been donated by individuals as well as Fairmount Minerals/ Best Sand of Chardon.  We can’t begin to thank all who have so generously donated to our boutique over the past 3 years, but we can share that hundreds of students have benefited from their kindness.  

If you would like to donate to the boutique, or have any other questions, please contact tracey.britt@chardonschools.org or kim.butala@chardonschools.org.  ​

Students in Chardon Service Learning have spent countless hour building the first stages of a Community Garden at CHS down by the Tennis Courts!

It is hard to believe that we crossed over the mid point of the first quarter.  With the adjustment to the school calendar, the end of the first quarter is October 22, 2020. We learned a lot about ourselves during this pandemic--the one that stands out right now is how we value time and being present in the moment. 

Time constantly moves. Time is inevitable. How we use it is our choice. When life is broken down into small parts, it really is measured in how we use our time to accomplish what we want to accomplish. Many people ask how I can manage the many things that I am involved in and still accomplish things. It boils down to time management and prioritizing people and moments, over things. We have three weeks to refine ourselves this quarter- academically. Maximize on prioritizing on the little things and big things will happen by the nature of how we use our time. 

Being present is mission-critical to how we use our time. Sure, I can accomplish all of these things in a day but if my wife and I miss out on our kids activities or experiences, we would place things over people. In the world that we live in, it it through people that we feel connected and part of something bigger. Be present in the little things and great things will happen in your relationships. In this COVID-19 year, nothing is guaranteed so seize every moment in front of you and be the person that you are called to be: BE YOU

Have a wonderful weekend!

​Douglas Murray, Principal

Just a little over two weeks ago, I nominated Ryan Bandiera as a candidate for the OASSA Assistant Principal of the Year. My job was easy--nominate and write a letter of recommendation. Mr. Bandiera had to fill out the application, write an essay, provide some data, and get letters of recommendation. Well, on September 23rd, Ryan received the phone call from OASSA naming him  the OASSA Assistant Principal of the year. One of the hardest things was keeping quiet all day about the news that was shared with me earlier in the day.

For those that don't know, Ryan's road to Chardon High School was not simple. Initially, Ryan wasn't selected as an assistant principal. However, after I was named principal of Chardon High School--one month after he applied---I knew who I wanted to replace the position that I left vacant. I wanted Ryan. He just had all of the qualities that we needed at Chardon High School. Ryan was an Intervention Specialist and one of our biggest needs was someone well versed in special education to support all of our students and teachers. From that moment on, Ryan grew and developed--expanding his knowledge and experiences.  We are blessed with great leaders at Chardon High School and I am so grateful to both Mr. Bandiera and Mr. Higham for EVERYTHING that they do to support students and staff.  Please see the press release from OASSA below. 

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Ryan Bandiera on being named the OASSA Assistant Principal of the year.  Ryan has been the assistant principal at Chardon High School since 2016.  Prior to his time at Chardon, he was a teacher in the Twinsburg City School District.

A passionate leader, Mr. Bandiera has sought to always look for ways to improve himself, the school building he is working in, and those with which he comes in contact.  Mr. Douglas Murray, the principal at Chardon High School, describes him as the “first to step in when someone needs help” and one who meets the social emotional needs of his students.  “He truly believes in all students.”

Staff members describe him as someone who “…will look beyond what’s best for himself, but rather what’s best for each individual person.”  His focus is on serving those he comes in contact with each and every day.
Mr. Bandiera’s most notable accomplishment might be the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) journey that Chardon has undertaken.  With a team of teachers, Mr. Bandiera helped lead the professional development needed to move a large high school to a successful adoption of UDL.  Under his leadership, UDL tenants are found throughout the building and students are being given opportunities to show their knowledge beyond traditional assessments.

OASSA is proud to have Mr. Bandiera represent Ohio as the Assistant Principal of the Year.

The Autumnal Equinox fell on September 22. Fall is a time that generates so much beauty in Northeast Ohio. Lately, we could feel the brisk reminder of summer waiving goodbye. Each year, I find myself transitioning from summer music to more autumnal sounds.

The Beatles classic song, Obladi-Oblada...is quite catchy and either loved or hated by those who listen. Some say it has meaning, while others struggle to find it...yet for all, life goes on. This week we entered the Autumnal season. Just as the meteorological season has quite a story...so do we.

Life is full of opportunities.  These moments come and go and we have to ask ourselves --do we ever seize the opportunities? More than ever, we have to take the time to seize opportunities before they are taken away. Autumn is an opportunity to pause and reflect on all of our blessings that surround us. It an opportunity to give thanks, and it an opportunity to prepare for the "Long and Winding Road."

How has the first three weeks been for you? Are you still on track for your goals? Have you built the capacity for success? Questions like this are meant to make you pause. Whether you are a parent, student, or teacher reading this---you might have to reflect on your purpose and your place in the story.  Without a doubt, the last three weeks have been an adjustment for all of us with the new routines.

In school, we have bells to create start and end times--but the fluidity of life constantly flows for parents, teachers, and students.  I have lived inside of bells my whole life- but, what matters most to my story is how I spend my time between the bells; more importantly, how I spend my time with the priorities that I have established. Time is inevitable- how we use it matters so much in every quarter--especially the first quarter.

Students, many of you are on point. You have adapted and created new habits along the way. Take this Autumn to refine, re-fuel and re-set timelines and priorities toward those areas in your life that are not only strengths but also your weaknesses. Make the time to refine one area of your life that you want to be more successful in...the quarter ends next month. Look in the mirror and see your beauty and share your gifts in and out of the classroom. Live your Purpose!

Parents, you sacrifice so much for your children. As they grow older, many of them develop both a natural and unnatural independence. Take this Autumn to remind your children of their self-worth, and your unconditional love for them. They need you more than ever in this everchanging world.

Teachers, you are the extensions of the family. You spend so much time with students helping them along their journey. Take this Autumn to build your self-efficacy. Many times more than not, you are the catalyst that can change a child's world. Keep up your great work and take time for yourself! WE APPRECIATE YOU!

...more importantly, this year is an opportunity to create memories regardless of the barriers in front of us-so,  if you want some fun --sing ob la di bla da ​

On Thursday, October 1, Chardon High School will conduct our first parent teacher conference session. This evening will take place from 5:00-8:00 PM. As we continue to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, and to secure our custodial staff's ability to disinfect and sanitize the building each night, this session will be 100% virtual.  Office secretaries, Jen Sprinzl and Diana Norris are working on the system for parents/guardians to sign up for time-slots. The times for the evening will be in ten minute intervals with a buffer time built between for our teachers to transition from family to family.  The system should be LIVE by this weekend. Once we are able activate the site, we will send a separate email. We will use Google Meet as the platform to meet teachers...similar to the Open House night. Once a parent/guardian signs up for a time and submits the form, an email will be sent back directly to the email address that signed up for conferences with further directions, times, and links to the Google Meet.  Thank you for patience as we rebuild each system throughout this school year. 

On Saturday, October 17th, Chardon will be offering the PSAT/NMSQT to interested 10th and 11th grade students. Please see the attached registration form for more information.

Questions/Concerns: 

Please reach out to Mr. Hurlbut or Mrs. Tupaz at (440) 285-4060 or
Timothy.Hurlbut@chardonschools.org
Dawn.Tupaz@chardonschools.org

​Dear [Online] Students and Parents,

I am Mrs. Tupaz, one of the counselors helping online students this year. Myself, along with counselors Timothy Hurlbut (A-G), Nicolle Hetrick (H-O), and Kyle Kovach (P-Z) are here to help you in any way we can! 

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns...like internet connection issues, class struggles and expectations, scheduling or graduation considerations, personal issues, or just to say hello!

Additionally, please use this code nfpskig to join my google classroom, Virtual Guidance 2020-2021. This is a newly constructed and evolving google classroom to connect students with our guidance department. DON'T WORRY - there is no extra work!! This is simply a way to connect with a counselor and access information that will help you along the way. Periodically, I will be posting helpful tips, etc. There is also a google form to fill out if you have any concerns and would like to meet virtually with myself or another counselor. Please do not hesitate to use your resources, including reaching out to your teachers if you are struggling.

Good luck as you continue your virtual learning. I look forward to connecting with you!

Sincerely,
Dawn Tupaz

Our students in all models have done an extraordinary job adjusting back to school. It is important to note (after replying to several emails) that all students -whether in the building, hybrid, or in the blue model, follow the regular (yellow) bell schedule. In one of my first videos, I share that three systems needs to work like gears aligning and moving together. With that in mind, whatever schedule we are running in the building is the schedule that students at home need to follow. We do not have teachers earmarked solely for online learning; therefore, all students need to follow the schedule that we are running in the building. 

​Please continue to stay tuned in to district communications pertaining to any adjustments to the schedule based on county levels.

Monday, September 28: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Tuesday, September 29: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Wednesday, September 30: Periods 2, 4, 6 (red schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Thursday, October 1: Periods 1, 3, 5, 7 (black schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Friday, October 2: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL AND ATTENDANCE - Regular attendance and promptness to class are necessary for the continuity of learning and the development of good habits.  The following are considered legitimate absences from school:  personal illness, illness in the family, quarantine of the home, religious holiday, legal obligation, medical appointment, death of a relative, or emergency circumstances which, in the judgment of school authorities, constitute sufficient cause for absence.  Doctor’s notes may be requested by school authorities if a student accumulates excessive absences.  Parents must call the school when children are absent.  State law requires that the parent be contacted at home or work if the school is not called.  An unexcused absence will be treated as a truancy offense and dealt with accordingly.  Please call the high school at 440.285.4057 (press #1) prior to 8:00 a.m. to report absences.  This is available 24 hours a day.

Last Friday, Chardon faced a very opponent in Riverside.  Below is the highlight reel that I made for our families. 

Click on the image below to see all of the great things from Jostens--including buying yearbooks.

Have a beautiful weekend!

​Douglas Murray, Principal

​For the past eight years, I have served on the administrative team. I love every second of what I do at Chardon High School and I am deeply humbled at the direction we are moving. Every day is a new experience for us with 1,200 students and 100 staff members in the building and a day to get better and be better. The focus on our mission is the heart of our daily decisions through a lens of our core values. The flexibility and adjustments that our team organized and prepared for to return to learn simply was outstanding. I am proud of every student, staff, counselor and administrator for their flexibility to these new times. 

We have accomplished so many extraordinary tasks that build upon and refine the treasured traditions and outcomes of being a graduate of Chardon High School.  Yet, the best experiences are the ones that take me back into the classroom. 

This week, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in classrooms.  Seeing students and staff collaborate, problem solve, and create-- energizes me each day. Our students enjoy when we see them demonstrate their learning in the classroom. Over our time at Chardon High School-  Mr. Bandiera, Mr. Higham, and I can walk into a room and the students and staff treat us like a class member--not an observer.  The mission of our school lives within the lessons that we share each day.

We also had the opportunity to meet our teachers in a virtual open house. Although our numbers were lower than in previous (in-person) years, the opening videos were very helpful for our parents and even our staff members to hear about the curriculum. If you missed the videos, you may watch them here. 

Working each day with a compass and a purpose drives the standards that we teach and the climate that we create at Chardon. We have something special here...and it didn't happen by chance.  We are a family, and a community of learners. Leadership is organic. Leadership is intentional, shared, and reciprocal. The teachers work so well together and the students share in the construction of their learning.  It is hard work that truly prepares students for the 4E's that we preach: Employment, Enrollment, Enlistment, and Entrepreneurship.

Teaching is my passion. My purpose is to serve and inspire others to find theirs in any capacity that I can encounter students and staff.  Wow, do I love what I do --and completely love the shared vision that our educators present in their arenas of learning.  

Teachers encapsulate so many roles each day. They are not only licensed educators--they are counselors, caretakers, facilitators, leaders, guides, planners, collaborators, statisticians, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters; a vessel of knowledge and experiences who serve and are often underappreciated. 

Learning is so important to effective leadership. Last year, I have headed back to school. I have joined some of my principal friends in a superintendent cohort program at Ursuline College. Somehow, I am in my last class and need to complete sixteen projects to earn my superintendent's license. Between the day to day work hours, activities, coaching, teaching, COVID school planning, and a student...organization is critical. I look forward to use the lessons that I am learning to continue the work of leading our students and staff at Chardon High School.

As I shared in previous years, one of the ways that we record our mission driven outcomes is through our school profile. Each year, our counselors collect information and document data points that work as a companion to the state report card. Although, data from the report card is not being fully completed this year due to emergency remote learning---our school profile was updated.  Take some time to see the great information enclosed.

In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist.  

​Congratulations to Jeffery Fletcher, and Brendan Sarbach for being recognized for this extraordinary accomplishment!

Jeffery is interested in Chemistry and the medical field. He is still considering his college options but has narrowed his search to Duke, Stanford, Ohio State  University, and the University of North Carolina.

Brendan is interested in studying English. He is still considering his college options but has narrowed his search to Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Ohio State University.

This is just the beginning of many accomplishments from these exceptional young men! We are so proud of you!

Below is information for Chardon seniors and their parents regarding the upcoming Financial Aid Night virtual presentation which will take place on Monday, September 28th 7:00 pm. 

LEAF will be presenting a virtual Financial Aid Night presentation to Chardon School seniors and their parents on Monday, September 28th at 7:00pm. The presentation will focus on all aspects of the financial aid process. Topics to be covered will be the FAFSA form, CSS Profile, scholarships, grants, loans and other items related to college access.

Please join LEAF for this virtual presentation by visiting meet.google.com/zox-cymq-jfa or Join by phone
‪(US) +1 920-461-1934‬ PIN: ‪102 565 505‬#

The following list of FAQs is designed to help answer parent/guardian questions we have received regarding the FREE (through *December 31, 2020) USDA-approved breakfast/lunch program, which is being offered to all Chardon Schools students as part of an emergency relief plan. Information about this exciting free breakfast/lunch program was emailed to all families via the September 12, 2020 Blackboard Email.  Please click this link to review the email in full if you have not yet had the opportunity to do so.
​
(*Note:  Chardon Schools expects the free meals to all district schools program to extend through *December 31, 2020 unless funding becomes no longer available from Congress prior to that date - in which case the free program would end sooner.)

For 100% Virtual students, when is the deadline for parents/guardians to register for 5 days' worth of meals in order to receive meals on the first meal distribution day (Wednesday, September 23)?

The deadline for registering for Wednesday, September 23, pickup is by 12:00PM (noon) on Thursday, September 17. Please complete the following Sept 23 100% Virtual Student Free Meals Registration Google Form prior to this Thursday's deadline in order to reserve your spot for September 23. After 12:00PM Thursday, September 17, the Form will be closed to responses for the September 23 distribution date.

For 100% Virtual students, how do parents/guardians register their students for 5 days' worth of meals in order to receive meals on the second meal distribution day (Wednesday, September 30)?

The Google Form (same url) will be re-posted to the Food Service page of your school's website every Thursday evening with the following Thursday's 12PM deadline and Wednesday distribution date. We will send out an email reminder each week as the new deadline approaches.

For 100% Virtual students, is 12:00PM on Thursdays the set deadline for meal pickup on the following Wednesday? 

Yes. At this time, we have set in place a 12:00PM Thursday deadline - each week - for the following Wednesday's food pickup. If at any time, there are changes made to that deadline, families will receive advanced notice via email.

Are there qualifying criteria that a family of a 100% Virtual student(s) or In-Person student(s) must meet in order for their student(s) to receive a free breakfast and/or lunch through the USDA program that ends *December 31, 2020?

No. There is no criteria to be met, and that includes no analysis of financial status, in order for Chardon Schools students to participate in this open-to-all free meal program that became effective September 14, 2020 and is expected to end *December 31, 2020. 

Really?  Free food?

Yes! In sum, for a limited time (runs through *December 31, 2020), there really is such a thing as a "Free Lunch" (and Breakfast!) for all interested students at Chardon Schools.

For 100% Virtual students and In-Person students, are families required to complete a Free and Reduced application in order to qualify for the current program of free meals for students?

No. This is not a requirement, but it is highly recommended (see additional information below on benefits) if you think you may qualify.

​Where can I find a hard copy or online version of the Free and Reduced application?

​Please visit the Food Service Department page of our district website or go to the Food Service tab of your school's web page to locate the links to the applications.

If I think I may qualify for the Free/Reduced program when the Free Meals program ends in December, what are the benefits of completing a Free/Reduced application for my children at this time?
​

1. At the conclusion of the free meals (for all students) program, meal statuses will then return to their Regular Free, Reduced, or Paid rates. Rates are determined based on information provided on the Free and Reduced Meal Applications.
2. When the free breakfast/meal program ends *December 31, 2020, we want to ensure your child has a seamless transition and can receive future meals at school at reduced rates or no-cost, depending on specific approval granted to your free/reduced application.
3. We encourage all Chardon Schools families to fill out an application at the start of each school year as all qualifying families will also have their children’s instructional fees waived (this excludes athletics, extracurriculars, etc.). This waiver is provided to you regardless of whether your child chooses to use the district's food services.
4. Also regardless of whether your child will be using our food services at any point during the school year, approved applications still generate funding for the broader Chardon Schools community by increasing access to Title 1 funding, thereby providing an added benefit for all district students.

​
Questions?  Please contact  josephine.culliton@chardonschools.org.

​Last Thursday, the Chardon Service Learning Class volunteered at Gearity Elementary's monthly food bank. They repackaged and helped distribute 4000 lbs of fresh produce donated by the Cleveland Food Bank. Social distancing, mask, gloves, hand sanitizer were all utilized in this outdoor volunteer project.

Last Friday was the first week that I could make a highlight video from the football game. Enclosed is Chardon v. Kenston

Family Reference Guide

Chardon High School Student Handbook

Teacher Resources for CHS Students (Updated Soon)

Student Acceptable Use Policy

Chardon Athletics

Twitter- Follow @chs_dmurray and @chardonhs

Remind 101- Text @chardonhs- to the following number 81010

Chardon High School Google Calendar

Chardon Athletics Sports Calendar

Please see the district site for COVID-19 updates

Have a wonderful weekend! 

​Douglas Murray, Principal

Work is one of the greatest ways that we can give back to our community, state, country, and the world. What we do can be looked through various lenses. Regardless of our perspective, our work matters. This past Monday we took time to pause our 'work' as a simple reminder of the value of our contributions. More importantly, Labor Day was an opportunity to spend quality time with our family.

The work that everyone put forth to prepare our re-acclimation to school took countless hours and adjustments. This monumental task parallels your countless patience while you worked. This year, our students are working differently. Our classrooms look different, our cafe looks different, and system of learning looks different. Regardless of all of these needed changes, our commitment to serve and lead our students and community have not changed.   

Soon we will see the change of scenery and be reminded how short summer is in Northeast Ohio. Yet, for most people in Chardon, we become acclimated to the upcoming season and shortened days. We remember that this is nature's way of nurturing itself after a long year. After this year, we could all appreciate a change in scenery.

This is a perfect time for each of us to remember the simple things in life: Faith, Family, and Friends.  For many people in Chardon, these reminders come in all shapes and sizes.  They emulate stories, memories, and a reminder of how short our time can be with people. 

Faith can remind us of our own humanity, or even trusting another person. Having faith gives us a sense of hope and optimism in demonstrating our dignity to all people. The new season can provide us the opportunity to rekindle our belief and hope in humanity by the actions and responses that we demonstrate to others.

Family is the root of our own autonomy. Growing up, we depend so much on our own parents and relatives to nurture and guide us through good and bad times. As we get older, we begin to develop independence from our family and we begin to gain--and sometimes-- lose their trust.  CHS students aren't immune to these changes.  We value that every student has their own story, values, and routines ---but what is essential is that our children take the time to recognize the importance of how family time allows for their independence to guide their choices and behaviors.

Friends are essential to our development regardless of our age.  We value the beauty of authentic communication that allows us to grow in our abilities in and out of school. Technology is a wonderful tool that allows us to communicate. It can become a double-edged sword in our ability to develop meaningful and long lasting relationships. Sending a quick message may suffice for a moment, but what interconnects us as humans is our ability to talk, share, and think in meaningful discussions.

Transitioning to school life: Faith, Family, and Friends can connect us to a bigger story; a community. I am proud to see how our community has grown and transformed our values into something bigger than words on paper.  As we quickly move into this new season, seize the opportunities to spend more time with the simple things in life...because we all are experiencing how life goes in the fast-lane.  ​

Our students in all models have done an extraordinary job adjusting back to school. It is important to note (after replying to several emails) that all students -whether in the building, hybrid, or in the blue model, follow the regular (yellow) bell schedule. In one of my first videos, I share that three systems needs to work like gears aligning and moving together. With that in mind, whatever schedule we are running in the building is the schedule that students at home need to follow. We do not have teachers earmarked solely for online learning; therefore, all students need to follow the schedule that we are running in the building. Please continue to stay tuned in to district communications pertaining to any adjustments to the schedule based on county levels.

Monday, September 14: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Tuesday, September 15: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Wednesday, September 16: Periods 2, 4, 6 (red schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Thursday, September 17: Periods 1, 3, 5, 7 (black schedule) ALL STUDENTS
Friday, September 18: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS

On Monday, September 14, (6:00-7:10 PM ) Chardon High School is providing a VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE for all families. Initially, we attempted to run this evening over multiple days- splitting groups. It was recommended to us that we transition this evening to a virtual event in order for our second shift custodians appropriate time to disinfect and sanitize the building. Teachers will be available between 6-7:10  pm to answer questions regarding class.  We have a general schedule that the teacher will use to answer questions pertaining to each class within a 10 minute period. However, the link is open for you to pop in when you are free.  We understand that many of you are trying to navigate several student schedules and would like to at least meet the teacher.

1st Period 6:00
2nd Period 6:10
3rd Period 6:20
4th Period 6:30
5th Period 6:40
6th Period 6:50
7th Period 7:00

Parents may go to the FlipGrid site and select their son(s)/daughter(s) teachers. Our teachers are creating a brief introduction along with providing a link to teacher's Google Meet. See below for an example. Mr. Bandiera is working on a quick reference Google Sheet that will go out on Monday to help you expedite the process.

Chardon High School
For students at Chardon High School (grades 8-12) being dropped off and/or picked up, the procedures remain the same as last year.  Parents dropping-off/picking-up at Chardon High School enter the school campus via Maple Avenue, drive in front of the high school, and exit the campus via Memorial Drive onto Chardon Avenue.

Students at Chardon High School (grades 8-12) riding the school bus will enter the school building via the 200 hallway entrance (via the transportation compound).  School buses will be staged for students in the afternoon in front of the high school, on Memorial Drive, and in the Alcan; and will exit the campus both via North Street and Memorial Drive.

All Parents/Guardians
Please be mindful of the following:

• Students (grades 8-12) at Chardon High School will be dismissed at 2:25 PM.  Parents picking up high school students will stage behind the busses between 2:25-2:30 PM. When the busses leave at 2:30 PM, traffic flow will proceed through the main drive. Parents may NOT enter Maple Elementary while waiting to enter the main driveway. Student drivers will use the east exit (4 doors) through the staff lot to the student lot.  Parents will not use this drive for afternoon pickup for student safety. 

• Student drivers will use the north gate and exit towards Canfield after school. The South gate will be closed for students who are walking across the crosswalk. Students must have a parking pass. Students will receive warning tickets, followed by citations beginning next week.
• Read this document separately in a google document.

One of the events that our students long for each year is our school dances. With all of the orders placed before us, along with one regular season home game left this fall for high school football, the 2020 Homecoming Dance has been postponed. This does NOT mean that it has gone away. It means that we have been asked to move this date to mitigate risks of COVID-19. The administration along with our student council moderators are looking at creative ways to celebrate our homecoming in the safest manner possible at a later date.

September 11, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

The USDA released a statement earlier this week regarding free meals for students. On Saturday, they clarified further what that means for districts. This extension will allow the Chardon Local School District to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to each student during school days. The meals are free regardless of financial status. To view the monthly lunch menu for your school and/or breakfast service information for your school, please visit your school website and click on the Food Service tab to access menus and more.
Effective Monday, September 14, all interested students, whether remote or in-person, at all buildings, will have breakfast and lunch provided to them at no cost through December 31, 2020. This ruling could change at any time, based on funding from Congress. Currently the program is scheduled to end on December 31, 2020, or when funding is no longer available. At that time, meal statuses will then return to their Regular Free, Reduced, or Paid rates. For families with meal funds currently in their children’s MySchoolAccount, this money will be held in the account for use after December 31, 2020 or when the FREE meal lunch program ends. 

Rates are determined based on information provided on the Free and Reduced Meal Applications that are sent home at the beginning of the year. If you have not yet returned your online Free/Reduced application OR hard copy Free/Reduced application for the 2020-2021 school year, please do so as soon as possible to avoid any gap in benefits. This will also make for a more seamless transition in January. We encourage all families to fill out an application as any approved family will have their child(ren)’s instructional fees waived (this excludes athletics, extracurriculars, etc.). 

We will be distributing meals to remote learners on Wednesdays from 8:00am – 8:30 am at Chardon High School - 151 Chardon Avenue. A reservation is necessary to ensure your remote students will get their meals on distribution day. The Google form is located on the food service page of your school website (under the Food Service tab), and it needs to be submitted each week by Thursday at 12:00 p.m. for Wednesday pick-up. If you show up without filling out the form, they will not have meals prepared for your students.

The Food Service Department appreciates your patience while we work through policy and government changes. Our primary goal remains providing your students with healthy, satisfying meals. 
If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact my office at 440-286-0425 or josephine.culliton@chardonschools.org.

Sincerely,
​
Josephine Culliton
Director of Food Service 
Chardon Local Schools

The mighty eagle is quite striking to see soaring. Their presence, eyes, and awareness makes them an indelible part of our country. 

Today is a day where we pause and reflect on patriotism. Today is Patriot's Day. The last several months have been very trying for all of us.  Through good and difficult times we must look to the sky and see the eagle soaring and be reminded of it's vision, courage, and perseverance. 

It is hard to even fathom that over a  generation of  learners have crossed the halls across our nation never fully experiencing our response as a country to the events of September 11, 2001. During the PA and morning announcements, our school will take the time to personally reflect on our call as citizens to stand for each other as a greater community.  ​Many of you might have visited the 9/11 Memorial.  I am sharing a powerful example of our response to nurture, heal, and stand strong against the winds of change.

9/11 Memorial: A Callery pear tree became known as the "Survivor Tree" after enduring the September 11, 2001 terror attacks at the World Trade Center. In October 2001, the tree was discovered at Ground Zero severely damaged, with snapped roots and burned and broken branches. The tree was removed from the rubble and placed in the care of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. After its recovery and rehabilitation, the tree was returned to the Memorial in 2010. New, smooth limbs extended from the gnarled stumps, creating a visible demarcation between the tree’s past and present. Today, the tree stands as a living reminder of resilience, survival and rebirth.

Ethan Peterson will be representing CHS this coming Sunday night at 7:00 PM as a part of the Shining Star CLE.  This is a singing competition/ scholarship opportunity.  Ethan has made it into the top 10 singers in Northeast Ohio.  The event is being held virtually this year.  Similar to sports voting opportunities.  This is a great opportunity for our community to support Ethan.  He can receive up to $10,000 scholarship and bring home $2,500 to CHS Music department.  Any way that you could get the word out would be greatly appreciated!  Voting will take place live (via texting) during the event.  Ethan will be singing an amazing song from the musical "Dear Evan Hanson".

Sunday, September 13, 2020 at 7 p.m. 
LIVE-STREAMED & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
3 easy ways to watch the performance:

1. Open the YouTube app on your smart TV, computer, tablet or phone. On your search icon, type in Shining Star CLE. The top result might still be "Behind the Scenes..."--- but at least 24 hours before the show, you will see "Shining Star CLE 2020 Performance".  

Note: You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel in advance of the show.  On your internet browser, type: shiningstarcle.org/youtube in the search bar and when the page comes up, click "subscribe".  On the day of the show, open YouTube on your TV, sign in with your email and password, and go to subscriptions - Shining Star CLE will pop up there. 

2. Watch on your laptop, tablet or phone on the Shining Star CLE website.

3.  Follow Shining Star CLE on Facebook to watch on Facebook Live.

Performance will start promptly at 7p.m., so please tune in early!
​

Family Reference Guide

Chardon High School Student Handbook

Teacher Resources for CHS Students (Updated Soon)

Student Acceptable Use Policy

Chardon Athletics

Twitter- Follow @chs_dmurray and @chardonhs

Remind 101- Text @chardonhs- to the following number 81010

Chardon High School Google Calendar

Chardon Athletics Sports Calendar

Please see the district site for COVID-19 updates

​

Have a beautiful weekend!

​Douglas Murray, Principal

Schedule for the week of September 7-11, 2020

Monday, September 7, 2020: Labor Day (No School)
Tuesday, September 8, 2020: white schedule (All Periods)
Wednesday, September 9, 2020: red schedule (2, 4, 6)
Thursday, September 10, 2020: black schedule (1, 3, 5, 7)
Friday, September 11, 2020: white schedule (All Periods)
​

Monday, September 7:  Labor Day (NO School)  Enjoy the extended weekend.

Tuesday, September 8:  K-12 in-person students shift to the 100/100 (also known as Yellow) response model. Please follow the usual start and end times for Chardon High School. 

September 8-9        All School Picture Day 

• September 8: 8th, 9th, 10th  (7:15 AM- 1:00 PM) 

​

• September 9: 11th, 12th graders not taking senior photos, (8:00- 11:00 AM)

​                                              Blue Model Students, Make-ups (11:00 AM-1:00 PM​)
                                              CHS Order Form: https://www.pastorphoto.com/school-photo-order-form
                                              Code :99745

What is the 100/100 (yellow) response model?

In the 100/100 yellow response model, K-12 in-person-enrolled students do not follow a Group A and Group B Hybrid schedule like we did last week.  Instead, both Group A and Group B students attend school in the building together on the same days for a full day of school, each day of the week.  We call it 100/100 because it is 100% of the in-person-enrolled students in the school buildings 100% of the school days of the week. Face masks are still required as are social distancing and additional precautions.  Social distancing will be somewhat reduced with more students in the building - but our multi-layered precautionary approach (face masks, desktop barriers, frequent handwashing, and frequent cleaning and sanitation in the buildings) continues.

Does the shift to 100/100 impact where 100% Virtual (Blue Model) students attend school?
No. K-12 100% Virtual Blue Model students continue on with their 100% virtual classes each day and continue to not attend school in the school buildings. Students can expect to continue to be assigned to a combination of synchronous (real-time - e.g. live instruction) and asynchronous (independent) activities.

How does the shift to 100/100 impact Chardon High School students who take a combination of Virtual and In-Person courses?

Chardon High School students who have chosen a hybrid schedule will continue to attend their virtual courses virtually or offline (combination of live instruction and independent assignments).  In contrast to last week, they will now attend their in-person courses in the building 100% of the time (not according to an alternating Group A/Group B schedule in-school / at-home rotation).  If you have questions, please reach out to your guidance counselor at Chardon High School. 
 
FAQ:  Chromebook Repair / Tech Support 

• 8-12 - Chardon High School 100% Virtual, 100% In-Person, and Virtual-In-Person Hybrid Students

Essential Return to Learning Resource:
We invite all families to review the Return to Learning - District Communications page at any time as you will find resources to assist you any time you need a refresher on the 2020-21 school year's response models. Furthermore, please continue to refer to the CHS Family Reference Guide for school news. Please refer to the video that we created in our earlier guide to help you best understand our schedules.

Family Reference Guide

Family and Friends, 

We are excited to reopen school in a few weeks and welcome all of our high school students to the 2020-2021 school year.  This document outlines important information on our first steps.  We will continue to adjust and revise plans based upon needs of students, district decisions and guidance from authorities.  The ability to adapt and modify our procedures is inherent in our planning.  Our planning follows educational best practices guided by medical and scientific safety precautions to minimize risk to all. If you have a question that is not covered in this document, please review our district-wide FAQs document, which is updated daily.  Likewise, please see the communication sent in July for further information.
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Take Care!

Douglas Murray, Principal ​

CHS Quick Reference 8/13
This document can be viewed as a screencast.