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

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

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

Curriculum Night

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

​Enclosed is the link for parent teacher conferences

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Daniel Chenoweth
CHS Yearbook Staff        ​

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

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

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

​Douglas Murray, Principal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enclosed is the link for parent teacher conferences

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

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

Great job, Gentleman!!

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

Stay warm,

​Douglas Murray, Principal

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

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

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

Maia Belay of Fox 8 writes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Fox 8

Cleveland.com

Cleveland.com YouTube

WKYC

Entire Presentation Via Periscope

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Much love, 

Douglas Murray, Principal 

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


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


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


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

Purposeful Life

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

Make the Right Stuff, the Right Stuff

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

Passion

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

Balance

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

Happiness 

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

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

Serving

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

Seizing Moments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have fun this weekend and go play outside!

Douglas Murray, Principal

See you soon!

​Douglas Murray, Principal