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1/30/2018 The @chs_dmurray Week in Reflection: 2/2Curriculum Night
Chardon High School hosted a Curriculum Evening on February 1, 2018 at 6:30 PM in the CHS Gymnasium. This evening coincided with our Parent Teacher Conferences.
Throughout the evening, we provided 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 were present to share information and answer questions regarding their curriculum and course offerings. Representatives from local colleges were available to answer questions about College Credit Plus. Our School Counselors will be presenting during grade-level assemblies regarding scheduling and course offerings later in February. Enclosed is the presentation. GTV:Actively Caring Presentation
Last Friday, over eighty students participated in a workshop to align their club/group within a streamlined planning for short term and long term goals for this year and next. The students discussed the following areas:
As we move forward with many unknown outcomes, my vision continues to build upon our core values, behaviors, and outcomes. I know that if we, collectively, work towards exposing and educating more students with the "Chardon Way"-- the work that we will put into establishing the educational experiences will only enhance the present and future students at CHS. Below, you will see the main words that the students wrote while in sessions. As you can see, the focus was how we can continue to build upon the foundation of our community. 
click to watch the video
Ski Club
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 fourth 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 3 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 file 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 HamELAt
Launched in 1981, Great Lakes Theater's in-school residency program is now one of the most successful artist-in-residence programs in the country. Each year over 16,000 students in over 100 schools experience the pleasure, power, and relevance of classic literature brought to life right in their own classrooms.
Using an interactive, hands-on approach, a team of specially trained actor-teachers visited CHS for five consecutive days bringing the curriculum into action. The actors brought scripts, props, and costumes to turn the students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor's point of view. It was an unbelievable week of students breaking out of their shell to magically bring the words on paper into live action. Enclosed are some photos from the focus on Hamlet.
Math Department
Does your son/daughter like problem solving? Does he/she enjoy a challenge? If so, your child might be interested in participating in the 69th annual American Mathematics Competitions 10/12 (AMC 10/12). This nationally recognized test is being administered by the math department during late start time next week on Wednesday, February 7th. The test will begin at 7:30 and will end around 8:50 (before first block). The test covers a wide range of mathematical topics. All the problems require creativity, analytical thinking and problem solving skills to solve. There are already more than 50 kids signed up to participate in this opportunity so if your child is interested, please make sure he/she sees Miss Fisher as soon as possible to reserve one of the final spots available. If you have any questions feel free to email the Math Club advisor, Alison Fisher at alison.fisher@chardonschools.org
Art Show
CHS Music Department Happenings…
Band & Choir members representing CHS had an awesome day at Ohio Music Education’s Solo and Ensemble Contest at Mayfield High School this past Saturday. Students prepared solos or ensembles and were rated by adjudicators 1-5, with one being Superior:
Mackenzie Brown – 1/Superior Anna Gerstner-1/Superior Jacob Moses-1/Superior Jennifer Vandenberg-1/Superior Mitchell Ewaska-1/Superior Darcy Maas-2/Excellent Ann Maire Evans-1/Superior Anna Solo-2/Excellent Cam Holt-1/Superior Cassandra Leach-1/Superior Connor Prusha-1/Superior Emily Lingafelter-1/Superior Emily Fuerst-1/Superior Emma Jackson-1/Superior Hugo Onate-1/Superior Isabelle Marinchik-2/Excellent Karen Landies-1/Superior Katarina Schneider-1/Superior Katie Lessick-1/Superior Samantha Hess-2/Excellent Molly Kosir-1/Superior Dawson, Houser, Myeroff, Pederson Ensemble-1/Superior Paterson, Landies, Beard Ensemble-1/Superior Lingafelter, Marinchik, Hess, Beorn Ensemble-1/Superior
The Learning Commons
In the Lav Report this month students will find an article that details the Hope and Stanley Adelstein Free Speech Essay Contest. This is an essay contest offered every year by the City Club of Cleveland. Students in grades 9-12 can submit an essay dealing with a pre-chosen free speech topic for cash awards of up to $1,000. The subject this year is the controversy playing out on college campuses, and elsewhere, when protesters prevent a radical speaker from appearing in public. This begs the question, Are these protests inconsistent with the values of free speech?
The second article explains the Read Harder Challenge, which is sponsored by Libby, an app students can access through the Geauga Public Library using the library cards they got in English class. The challenge is to read 24 different, and hopefully, new genres, or types, of literature in 12 months. Follow the link found in the Lav Report for the complete list of genres. The Learning Center Newsletter contains information on reliable resources for students. With all the talk of fake news, and incorrect information on the web, students need guidance when finding fact-based and fact-checked work. The list is from Common Sense Education, and contains sources from trustworthy and student-friendly news sources, along with links to primary and secondary sources. Check out the partial list in the newsletter, links are included! Topper Bistro
Work Permits
Obtain an application for minor work permit in the school office.
A message from Jan Hoffmann, RN
Parents of Junior students-
This is a reminder that incoming seniors for the 2018-2019 school year are required by law to be vaccinated against meningitis. Please keep this in mind as you make your child's annual physical exam appointment and ask them to provide you with documentation that you can give the school. Ohio Revised Code states:
Please contact your school nurse to check your child’s immunization record if you are unsure whether your child has met this requirement or if you have any questions. Spain/France/Italy
Got the winter blues? Interested in traveling abroad? Come travel with us to Spain, southern France, and Italy in June of 2019! Yes...that's 18 months away but plenty of time to save your pennies!! Not only will you have a trip of a lifetime, meet new friends, learn about different cultures, but it will also look great on your college applications! If you are interested, please see Mrs. Ptasznik (room 400) or Senora Tekavec (room 204) for more information! Spring informational meeting will be announced at a later date.
LEAF NCAA Session
Sophomores and juniors, do you plan on playing sports in college? Do you know the requirements to be able to play in college? Join us for an informative session and get all your questions answered.
Cleveland Clinic Summer Internships
Spend your summer at theCleveland Clinic, one of the nation's leading healthcare systems, where you'll gain knowledge, make relationships and earn hands-on professional work experience. Internship opportunities will be available for students to apply starting on February 17th through February 27th. Students are encouraged to sign-up for job alerts to be notified when the opportunities are available. See Guidance for any questions. Learning About Business Since 1980, Learning About Business (LAB) has provided an award-winning, total-immersion, interactive business experience for high school students on the Lake Erie College campus in Painesville, Ohio. LAB students get a taste of college life away from home during LAB week. See Guidance for any questions Geauga Growth Partnership 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. See Guidance for any questions
Have a great weekend!
Douglas Murray, Principal Core Values Training Begins
"Live an actively caring life serving others with a purpose." The message was clear to nearly one thousand students on Tuesday, January 23. "Who are you in this complex world?" The lived message encapsulated an hour of engagement that surrounded several stories from Shane McCarty, Kyle Pacque, and Justin Graves. Their stories were honest testimonies of when they lived their values and moments in which they failed to "walk the talk." The assembly is one of many mini-lessons that the CorFoundation will bring to CHS to educate our student leaders through a leadership curriculum. On Friday, over eighty students are actively engaging in short term and long term goal planning for Chardon High School.
Throughout the last several years, we have been collaborating with Shane McCarty and Kyle Pacque from the CORFoundation. For those who do not know Shane and Kyle--they were instrumental in guiding CHS since February of 2012. As men of purpose, Shane and Kyle's passion for cultivating a culture of sustainable actively caring students became the vision of our core values and culture of caring. Goals for Friday's initiative include:
As we move forward with many unknown outcomes, my vision continues to build upon our values, behaviors, and outcomes. I know that if we, collectively, work towards exposing and educating more students with the "Chardon Way"-- the work that we will put into establishing the educational experiences will only enhance the present and future students at CHS.
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 1, 2018 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 during grade-level assemblies regarding scheduling and course offerings later in February. Parent Teacher Conferences As you prepare your schedule, please click on the link below to sign up a timeslot for parent-teacher conferences for Session 3: February 1, 2018. https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Chardon_High_School Classroom News
Check out the latest news from CHS!
Academic Decathlon
On Saturday, January 20th, the CHS Academic Decathlon team competed in regional competition at South High School where they were crowned Division II Regional Champions. In addition to their Championship trophy, team members garnered a multitude of individual medals including 14 gold! Team members pictured are(L-R) Molly Greene, Michael Lobosky, Casey Mezerkor, Doug Mulford, Johnathan Brandt, Noah Bena, Kyle Gessel, Marko Milic, Meredith McKeon, and Kara Connolly. (not pictured, Paige Steffen). Special thanks to Mr. Al Herner who spends so much time preparing all of our students!
Theatre Arts
Photos courtesy of Cindy Nells
Maple Elementary had a special visit just before Winter Break when Chardon High School students taking Theater Arts visited the third grade classrooms to perform children’s books as plays. Some of the high school performers just happened to be former Maple Elementary students. High school students taking Holly Mihalek’s class, need to perform a play as their final exam. Performances involve acting out a children’s book with costumes, props, audience participation, and sound as necessary to make the story come to life. A few of the plays performed were: Curious George, The Gingerbread Girl, Elf, Matilda, Put Me in the Zoo, and A Christmas Carol. The third graders were able to volunteer for parts in each performance. High schoolers then instructed the third graders of what needed to be done to perform the role.
Art
Come check out the student art show now up at Lakeland Community College. It's an amazing gallery of pure talent which includes a number of our own CHS students!
ELA in ACTion
Launched in 1981, Great Lakes Theater's in-school residency program is now one of the most successful artist-in-residence programs in the country. Each year over 16,000 students in over 100 schools experience the pleasure, power, and relevance of classic literature brought to life right in their own classrooms.
Using an interactive, hands on approach, a team of specially trained actor-teachers visited CHS for five consecutive days bringing the curriculum into action. The actors brought scripts, props, and costumes to turn the students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor's point of view. It was an unbelievable week of students breaking out of their shell to magically bring the words on paper into live action.
One Acts
The annual Chardon High School production of the student-directed One Acts is this Friday, 7pm, at Park auditorium. Proceeds support the drama program.
Science Olympiad
Photo courtesy of Laura Vokoun (click on photo for more images)
The Chardon Science Olympiad competition season has begun. Students in grades 6-9 compete in Division B, and students in grades 9-12 compete in Division C. Here are the results from the first competitions and there is also a link to the photos below.
The students also participated in an internal competition for our Division B team on Martin Luther King Day, and most of the older students volunteered to help. Chardon Science Olympiad thanks you for your support and encouragement! Westlake Invitational – Division C (grades 9-12) 5th Place Rocks and Minerals Asher Vokoun and Tyler Mothersbaugh Kenston Invitational – Division C (grades 9-12) 8th Place Trophy overall 1st Place Game On – Drew Williams and Christen Niedzielski 1st Place Remote Sensing – Alex Schragal and Drew Williams 2nd Place Dynamic Planet – Drew Williams and Emily Munoz 2nd Place Rocks and Minerals = Asher Vokoun and Christen Niedzielski 4th Place Experimental Design – Drew Williams, Heather Humbert and Serena Gromack 5th Place Herpetology – Josh Campbell and Megan McCartney 6th Place Disease Detectives – Asher Vokoun and Heather Humbert 6th Place Mousetrap Vehicle – Alex Schragal 7th Place Dynamic Planet – John Meleski and Will Kurtz 8th Place Disease Detectives – Hannah Romanoff and Reagan Halford 8th Place Materials Science – Asher Vokoun and Heather Humbert 8th Place Optics – Alex Schragal and Drew Williams 8th Place Towers – Alex Schragal and Heather Humbert Kenston Invitational – Division B (grades 6-9) 2nd Place Crime Busters – Evan Germ and Joseph Joaquin 2nd Place Herpetology – Brady Williams and Nathan Eads 2nd Place Thermodynamics – Daniel Brill and Zane Kuhnle 3rd Place Towers – Daniel Brill and Jason Watson 4th Place Rocks and Minerals – Owen Vokoun and Nathan Eads 4th Place Solar System – Daniel Brill and Sebastian Marker 5th Place Microbe Mission – Matthew Brown and Lailah Pugh 5th Place Optics – Daniel Brill and Jason Watson 6th Place Meteorology – Alex Reed and Brady Williams 6th Place Potions and Poisons – Zane Kuhnle and Paige Yamamoto 7th Place Experimental Design – Brady Williams, Owen Vokoun and Nathan Eads 7th Place Potions and Poisons – Evan germ and Joseph Joaquin 7th Place Road Scholar – Ian Quinn and Brady Williams 7th Place Solar System Lillian Husek and Jillian Morrison 7th Place Wright Stuff – Joseph Joaquin and Michael Oh 8th Place Crime Busters – Zane Kuhnle and Paige Yamamoto 8th Place Experimental Design – Tim Meleski, Grace Fullum and Noah Munoz 8th Place Hovercraft – Ethan Fuerst and Sebastian Marker 8th Place Mystery Architecture – Evan Germ and Tim Meleski Wrestling
Coutesy of @chswrestling21
Wednesday night the CHS wrestling team traveled to Aurora to compete in the State Regional Duals. Chardon beat NDCl 66-18 with wins by Jaden Farris, Jake Hamulak, Charlie Borsch, Ethan Ducca and Sam Eldridge. Chardon wrestlers Jake Hamulak, Jake Grantham and Sam Eldridge also took home wins against Aurora. This Saturday is the Narrah Graham Tournament starting at 9:00 at home. Go Toppers!
Topper Bistro
Work Permits
Obtain an application for minor work permit in the school office.
A message from Jan Hoffmann, RN
Parents of Junior students-
This is a reminder that incoming seniors for the 2018-2019 school year are required by law to be vaccinated against meningitis. Please keep this in mind as you make your child's annual physical exam appointment and ask them to provide you with documentation that you can give the school. Ohio Revised Code states:
Spain/France/Italy
LEAF NCAA Session
Sophomores and juniors, do you plan on playing sports in college? Do you know the requirements to be able to play in college? Join us for an informative session and get all your questions answered.
Cleveland Clinic Summer Internships
Spend your summer at theCleveland Clinic, one of the nation's leading healthcare systems, where you'll gain knowledge, make relationships and earn hands-on professional work experience. Internship opportunities will be available for students to apply starting on February 17th through February 27th. Students are encouraged to sign-up for job alerts to be notified when the opportunities are available. See Guidance for any questions.
Learning About Business
Since 1980, Learning About Business (LAB) has provided an award-winning, total-immersion, interactive business experience for high school students on the Lake Erie College campus in Painesville, Ohio. LAB students get a taste of college life away from home during LAB week. See Guidance for any questions
Geauga Growth Partnership
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. See Guidance for any questions In Case You Missed It: A Message from Dr. Hanlon
Our school district reconfiguration planning continues at a very high level. Over the past few weeks, district administrators, teachers and other personnel have been actively engaged in all aspects of what this transition could look like for our school district. I am excited about some of the opportunities for students that have grown out of this process.
We continue to make every effort to communicate our progress related to the planning effort. Below please find links to the G-TV site where you can view the latest presentation concerning this important work. Please note that there is a longer format that goes into greater detail and a summary format that addresses the key points of where we are in the process. Reconfiguration Planning Full Presentation (42 Minutes) Reconfiguration Planning Summary Presentation (10 Minutes) Our Board of Education recognizes that this is an important decision for the future of our school district. It is critical for us to understand that this is not a matter of restructuring vs. not restructuring, but rather a question of restructuring while trying to maintain an outstanding educational program vs. trying to maintain the current system with significant budget cuts that will certainly affect the quality of education we offer. We are not alone in the need to consider restructuring our school district. Neighboring school districts are all experiencing declining school enrollment and many are restructuring the format of their school system to achieve greater operational efficiency as budgets continue to steadily decline. As always, we remain committed to sharing information regarding the possible district reconfiguration as soon as it becomes available. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices if you have questions in this regard. Sincerely, Michael P. Hanlon, Jr., Ph.D. Superintendent In Closing
It has been an extremely busy week at CHS, and we are looking for the many opportunities coming up to engage in conversations with students and parents about our course offerings for next year. Have a great weekend!
Douglas Murray, Principal You Matter You matter. In this moment, in this place, regardless of your last name, your status on the team, the letter at the top of the exam. You matter. A history will be written in your steps, eyes and ears will see and hear the beauty of who you are. Trust in tomorrow, believe in the story, and hear me now: You Matter. Five weeks ago, I wrote several optimistic viewpoints to close out 2017. Today, I am recycling these words for a purpose, especially during a time when it applies the most. Recently, many surrounding districts have been impacted by the tragic passing of students. Take some time to re-read, and consider the resources available to students. Relationships Matter. When you look at your life and the people that you surround yourself with--it is mission critical to live and love in the moment. Life is too short not to say words of encouragement...a simple thank you or love you will make the biggest difference in your day. Think positively. Where your attention goes, so goes your emotional energy. When you think of negative things, your energy and productivity drop. Maintaining a positive attitude is one of the most essential ingredients to your productivity. Focus on what you can control. Don’t waste time worrying or thinking about things you can’t control. The negative energy and time spent is a huge time waster. Instead, focus your time on the things you can control that lead you on the path to achieving your goals. Structure your time according to your goals. Your time should always be spent doing things that help you achieve your goals and bring fulfillment to your life. Plan your days and determine how you will use your time most productively to accomplish your goals. Take time to recharge. A constant state of stress and overwork slows you down. Make sure you schedule time to refresh and recharge your batteries. This includes making the time each week so that you can rest and do what you enjoy with the people who are most important to you. Mental health is always a priority and we cannot stress enough how much we care about each and every one of our students. As news unfolds about teen suicide, we wanted to share some helpful resources for you and your teen. Lifeact NAMI Geauga The Copeline - 440-285-5665 or 1-888-285-5665 (toll free). Copeline provides 24-hour linkage for mental health, child/elder abuse and neglect, domestic violence, or substance abuse related emergencies in Geauga County. Staff is also able to provide information on other social services concerns such as counseling sources, food banks, and national hotline numbers. You are always welcome to contact any school counselor, administrator, or our social worker for anything that you are concerned about with your son(s) and daughter(s). CORFoundation: Assembly Throughout the last several years, we have been collaborating with Shane McCarty and Kyle Pacque from the CORFoundation. For those who do not know Shane--he was instrumental in guiding CHS since February of 2012. As a man of purpose, Shane's passion towards cultivating a culture of sustainable actively caring students became the vision to our core values and culture of caring. After graduating from Virgina Tech, Dr. Shane McCarty established the COR Foundation which is a systematic extension of the work that he did with AC4P. If you would like to see his mission--click the link. If you would like to hear him speak, check out his TEDTalk. On Tuesday, January 23rd we will schedule on All-School Assembly from 9:42 - 10:42 am. See the schedule here. The assembly will be 45 minutes. On Friday, January 26th, we will have a follow-up workshop for approximately 80 registered students from 7:30 to 1:45 in the gym. Goals for this initiative include:
As we move forward with many unknown outcomes, my vision continues to build upon our values, behaviors, and outcomes. I know that if we, collectively, work towards exposing and educating more students with the "Chardon Way"-- the work that we will put into establishing the educational experiences will only enhance the present and future students at CHS. 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 1, 2018 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 during grade-level assemblies regarding scheduling and course offerings later in February. Parent Teacher Conferences As you prepare your schedule, please click on the link below to sign up a timeslot for parent-teacher conferences for Session 3: February 1, 2018. https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Chardon_High_School Geauga Growth Partnership Intern Opportunities We are excited to share the Intern Application information for 2018 along with the current Job Opportunity Listing through the Geauga Growth Partnership. This is a great opportunity for Juniors and Seniors to expand their knowledge, experiences, and networking opportunities. 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. For more information, please visit www.geaugagrowth.com. Monday: January 22, 2018 Kent State Geauga Campus 14111 Claridon Troy Rd Burton, Ohio 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Please come and bring your parents. Hear information about the program and information about the opportunities being offered for the summer by Geauga County Businesses. Stay after the program, meet with the sponsors and talk about the position (s) they will be offering Geauga County resident juniors and seniors for the summer. Please register at the link below: https://geauga-intern-program-registration.eventbrite.com Classroom Updates Over the next three weeks, we have the Great Lakes Theatre Festival actors conducting workshops for theatre arts and English classes, Patrick Culliton from the Geauga Public Library instructing on the use of the "Three for Me" library cards, a "Language Arts Live" panel of parents and professionals discussing the use of language arts skills in the workplace with our seniors, and the One Acts on January 26 at 7 pm in Park!
 Laser engraving into an old skateboard deck....designed by Devan Moses!  CCP Business Communication class watching a live-stream of a business leader forum at The City Club of Cleveland  Combs ‘83 (1,221 career points) Alex Sulka broke record Sat 1/13 with 25 pts at Hawken. Now has 1254 and counting. Scott Mackar ‘99 is 3rd with 1,131 On Friday, December 8th, the members of the CHS Chapter of National Honor Society collected food items and monetary donations for the Geauga County Hunger Task Force through our "Caroling for Canned Goods" event in the Woods of Burlington neighborhood. The members of NHS (as well as a few members of the CHS Choral Program and Interact Club) bundled up on that chilly evening, dawning their most festive cold-weather accessories, and traveled door-to-door, sharing their lyrical talents with the community. In return for their holiday cheer, the gracious residents donated 287 non-perishable food items and $38 to the cause. A special thank you to the community members of the Woods of Burlington for donating! PSAT Results Attention any Sophomore or Junior who took the PSAT in October: The physical copy of your results, along with your personal test book will be available for pick up in the Presentation Area of the Learning Center, next Wednesday, January 24th at 7:45 AM. There will also be an explanation of how to read your results and the tools that are available to you to improve your test scores at that time. Any student who took the PSAT this past fall needs to plan to attend! If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Jacobs in Guidance. Topper Bistro
Work Permits Obtain an application for minor work permit in the school office.
Spain/France/Italy Got the winter blues? Interested in traveling abroad? Come travel with us to Spain, southern France, and Italy in June of 2019! Yes...that's 18 months away but plenty of time to save your pennies!! Not only will you have a trip of a lifetime, meet new friends, learn about different cultures, but it will also look great on your college applications! If you are interested, please see Mrs. Ptasznik (room 400) or Senora Tekavec (room 204) for more information! Spring informational meeting will be announced at a later date. A Message from Dr. HanlonOur school district reconfiguration planning continues at a very high level. Over the past few weeks, district administrators, teachers and other personnel have been actively engaged in all aspects of what this transition could look like for our school district. I am excited about some of the opportunities for students that have grown out of this process. We continue to make every effort to communicate our progress related to the planning effort. Below please find links to the G-TV site where you can view the latest presentation concerning this important work. Please note that there is a longer format that goes into greater detail and a summary format that addresses the key points of where we are in the process. Reconfiguration Planning Full Presentation (42 Minutes) Reconfiguration Planning Summary Presentation (10 Minutes) Our Board of Education recognizes that this is an important decision for the future of our school district. It is critical for us to understand that this is not a matter of restructuring vs. not restructuring, but rather a question of restructuring while trying to maintain an outstanding educational program vs. trying to maintain the current system with significant budget cuts that will certainly affect the quality of education we offer. We are not alone in the need to consider restructuring our school district. Neighboring school districts are all experiencing declining school enrollment and many are restructuring the format of their school system to achieve greater operational efficiency as budgets continue to steadily decline. As always, we remain committed to sharing information regarding the possible district reconfiguration as soon as it becomes available. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices if you have questions in this regard. Sincerely, Michael P. Hanlon, Jr., Ph.D. Superintendent Thank youI want to personally thank the students, staff, and community members that sent birthday wishes as I turned forty years old. For over eighteen years, students have kept me feeling so young...while helping me lose my hair. I am blessed to be an educator at my alma mater and look forward to making even more memories with current and future Hilltoppers!
Douglas Murray, Principal Finding your Purpose
Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey all had a purpose in the tale Snow White. Each character's personality added to the richness of the story.
Over the past ten days, CHS Administration have meticulously worked to prepare conceptual plans for the high school. As the calamity days entailed, it was truly "off to work we go" (whistles included). Over the next several weeks, detailed communications will continue with our staff, community members, along with formal and informal presentations. Just as the Brothers Grimm tale was brought to life through the vision of Walt Disney, we work hard to unveil the purpose of all of our students and staff members. One of the biggest mantras that Dr. Klein and I articulate is living a life of purpose. Throughout the year, we are reminded of the sheer volume of the various ways we connect purpose to life, academics, and our choices. You see, some people measure success by the wealth they’ve accumulated, the power they’ve attained, or the status they’ve achieved. Yet, even though they’ve reached success beyond their wildest dreams, they still have an empty feeling — something is missing from their life. In order to fill that void and be completely fulfilled in life, they may be searching for something more. Although everyone is different, there are common threads that bind a life with purpose. Live by your beliefs and values 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. Set priorities 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 the important marriage of choices and priorities. Follow your 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. Achieve 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. Feel content 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 an 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. Make a difference 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.” Live in the moment 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. So, regardless if you are Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, or Dopey within the tales of your story---live your purpose in the moment and seize today! Service Learning
Service-learning is an approach to teaching and learning in which students use academic knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs. Over the first week of the new year, Mr. Mizen, Mr. Brown, Marcus Chauby, Myles Metz, Josh Kelly, and TJ Harmon traveled on a journey to Virginia to serve the needs of families in Virginia. Their purpose was to build a porch, but their journey lead them to discovery who they are as men. This week, the students were able to share thier remarkeable epiphanies to the staff at CHS. Check out the slides below, and download the presentation to watch some of the videos. On Tuesday, January 16, the students will present their service experience during the monthly board meeting.
Work Permit Instructions
Obtain an application for minor work permit in the school office.
Athletics: Snapshots of the Week
It has been a busy time for the wrestling team over break! On December 21, Chardon beat Kirtland 60-10 with impressive pins by Jaden Farris, Ethan Ducca, James Bender, Andrew McNaughton and Dylan Friend. Days later, on December 23, Chardon took 1st place in the Mentor JV Mega Tournament with Hayden McBean, Noah Carlozzi and Dylan Friend taking first place and Colin Perz, Nick Becker, and Ellis Dillon taking third and Charlie Brosch earning fourth place. The last weekend in December, Chardon took fourth place against 39 schools at the Kenston Invitational with Jake Hamulak taking first place, Sam Eldridge and Ethan Ducca taking 2nd place, Mike Lobosky earned 4th and Nick Becker earned 6th. As we entered 2018, Chardon competed in Perrysburg Invitational Tournament against 26 teams with Sam Eldridge taking 3rd, Jake Hamulak taking 6th and Mason Dannison earning 7th place. Awesome job, team!
Topper Bistro
From Chardon to Marine Recruit
We are so proud of Matthew Wilson who scored a 124 in Math and Science on his ASVAB. This score was the third highest in all of Ohio.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On the third Monday of January, Americans celebrate the life and achievement of one of our most respected citizens -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King was a leading force in the drive for civil rights in the United States, and he showed through words and actions that non-violent, persistent activism can achieve tremendous results by appealing to the moral conscience of Americans. 
Save the Date
Upcoming Week
Monday, January 15: NO School
Tuesday, January 16: White Day Wednesday, January 17: Red Day Thursday, January 18: Black Day Friday, January 19: White Day Stay warm with family and friends, Douglas Murray, Principal Video ReflectionA New Year with New Opportunities A New Year. New Opportunities. At the beginning of anything new, we have the opportunity to reflect on moments from the past year and make meaningful resolutions for the upcoming year. In order for any resolution to come to fruition, we need to make changes to our routines or habits. Research states that it takes 21 days to create new habits. Creating new habits, or breaking old ones is challenging but the outcomes can be transformative to the person making meaningful changes. Often times, we make resolutions for our health and by the time that Spring Break rolls around, we are back to our old habits. This year, I challenge everyone to look at one way that you can make an impact in your life. For students, it could relate to organizational effectiveness--study habits, homework, test prep, etc. It could also connect to putting down technology each night at a certain time. For Parents, it could relate to wellness, or it could relate to scheduled dinners, or even putting your work away at a certain time to be with your children. For staff, it could relate to trying something new within instructional practices each unit, or finding extra patience in the classroom. This year is up to us. Live it to the fullest. Every single day is an opportunity to seize the day to the fullest. Make today great! The Learning Commons In this issue of the LC Newsletter, readers will find an article describing the recent announcement from the Ohio Department of Education on the addition of the OhioMeansJobs-Readiness Seal available to high school graduates. Students can earn this formal designation indicating they have what it takes to be successful in the workplace. Additionally, there is information on free professional development opportunities from KQED Teach that focus on Digital Media skills. KQED Teach is a project of KQED, which is the PBS and NPR affiliate for the San Francisco Bay area. In this month's Lav Report, you will find an article detailing the dangers of social media as illustrated by recent events that occurred when a young man posted an inappropriate picture of his high school teacher on social media. The poor choice made by this young man affected his life in a very negative way. The lesson to learn is that one mistake made on social media can impact numerous lives. There is a second article that explains how INFOhio is using Geolocation to aid students when using the valuable resources found at INFOhio.org. Geolocation will recognize when someone is logging into INFOhio using internet anywhere in Ohio. If so, access is granted without needing an user name or password. YOU AND THE FLU—Your Best Defense Is To Be Proactive It is especially important this school season to be proactive against the flu. Taking preventative measures is your best defense against the ‘seasonal’ flu. The seasonal flu outbreak usually occurs between mid-fall thru early spring. Each year a vaccine is developed to target the type of virus that is anticipated. The seasonal flu spreads mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. You can also become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it such as a doorknob, computer keypad, gym weights, classroom desk, and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth. Everyday Steps to Protect Your Health Common sense to avoiding germs is the best approach, such as not sharing sports bottles or drinking from friend’s glass or pop can. The Center for Disease Control [CDC] recommends the following: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay away from an ill and contagious person until 24 hours after their fever has broken. Their fever should be completely gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine [i.e. Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin, etc.] Wash your hands OFTEN! Use lots of soap and scrub your hands by counting to 15 slowly before rinsing with water. If you do not have access to water, alcohol-based hand cleaners and disposable wipes [antibacterial] are effective—rub hands vigorously until hands are dry. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth—this is how the germs are spread. Practice good health habits to keep your immune system strong—get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy nutritious foods. Next WeekMonday, January 8: White Day Schedule Tuesday, January 9: White Day Schedule Wednesday, January 10: Red Day Schedule Thursday, January 11: Black Schedule Friday, January 12: No School for Teacher Professional Development Monday, January 15: No School -MLK Day It was a certainly a short week! Stay warm!
Douglas Murray, Principal |
