 5+5+5+5+1= Finish lineTime. This is one thing that is always inevitable. Yet, this one thing can be experienced differently by each of us. It is hard to believe how quickly our time has passed. Every second inside of every minute can pass how we choose to use it. If we chose to stare at a clock, time would feel like forever. The more we are all actively involved with tasks, events, and enjoyment--the faster time is experienced by each of us. The old adage, "Time flies when you are having fun" rings a persistent tone this time of year. Why, mostly due to the constant movement, experiences, events, and activities that happen inside of the time that we are given. The last three months have been packed with events each week. Recently, I spoke to the senior class about all of the memories that they are making and how these moments should be cherished and remembered. These are great days for our class of 2018! Seniors: 21 school days can seem like a lifetime or can be a flash in front of you. The choice is yours. Seniors, it seems like the finish line has already come and gone...but there is still essential time left. Time for yourself, Time for each other, Time for learning, and memories to be made. You only graduate high school once, Embrace it, live each moment, be active in your choices. The choices that you make today can become the person that you become. Be true to who you are and keep your eyes on the goal--you are too close to let go of your dreams. Juniors Your 21 school days are going to be relentless. Focus on managing your time on what you can control. Your job is your academics. Your job is transitioning into the leaders of our school. Your job remains clear; YOU matter, YOUR grades matter; YOUR decisions matter. Learn from those that have gone before you and seize little opportunities that arise. We believe in you. Sophomores Your 21 school days linger with a reminder that you are about to transition into a challenging year. Many of you are learning the difference obetween dependence versus independence. The time is now to walk the talk. You are just coming out of your shell, and wondering what is up, down, and around you. You have seen so many challenging moments with relationships, coursework, and leadership but you are wondering if anyone notices you. We do, but we are not going to hold your hand through this--it is time to choose. We will always be there for you. Freshman Your 21 school days are determined by the habits that you have made. So many people have walked beside you, guided you, and assisted you. You recognize that you are a part of a bigger family but sometimes feel like the little sibling. You have an essential role. You are the key to the transition to our incoming 8th graders. What you say---they believe. What you do---younger students follow. In reality, your task is enormous in living our core values not only for yourself but for your classmates. Believe in YOU! Staff You are the conductor of the music that we hear each day. Sure, the sound may resonate well from a distance, but only you see what needs to be refined. Continue to coordinate the sound with the beauty that sets the tempo of our pulse as a whole. After most performances, the conductor bows while the orchestra receives the accolades. WE see your influence. WE appreciate your countless preparation. WE see your impact- especially after a long tour. Families of the Class of 2018: A Reflection It is hard to fathom how fast our time has come and gone this year. Where did our time go? Did I do enough, say enough, or even prepare you enough for this moment? I look at you and see me. I look at my own struggles, joys, and moments of excitement (when I was your age) and wonder how quickly our time has come and gone. Do you I am your biggest fan? Do you know that I will always be there during good times and bad? Do you know how much my love is unconditional for you? I am so proud of you, and I know that these 21 school days are going to be tough for you. I know that you are spent, exhausted, and ready to move on...but, never forget how you got to this moment. Never forget the failures and success that refined you. Never forget the support that each of us provided for you and always will. So, in these last 21 school days live every moment in the present. Love every celebration, and know that journey only begins when you cross the finish line. You are almost there! Hang on, push forward, dig deeper, and know that my embrace is a door away. We believe in you--BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITY-- your journey is a moment away!  Your Life, Your Choice "Your Life, Your Choice," an awareness program for local students with the intent of educating them regarding the dangers of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, was presented in dramatic fashion using real-life scenarios and testimonies of people whose lives have been forever changed by crashes caused by drunken drivers. On Tuesday, April 24, students at Chardon High School attended Your Life, Your Choice and Parkside Church in Bainbridge. This program was first initiated in 2006 by Chagrin Falls Police Officer, Dick Goldsmith. Officer Goldsmith lost his daughter, Emily, in a tragic accident caused by a repeated drunken driving offender. The quiet, somber atmosphere permeated a gathering of more than 1,100 Geauga County high school seniors. Students came back to school moved by this presentation. We are grateful to the Geauga County Sheriff's office who sponsored this moving presentation. Safe Driving Week Officer Shaw is once again hosting Safe Driving Week at Chardon High School. Between April 30th and May 4th, he will provide several opportunities for students to become educated and more aware of safe driving tactics. Officer Shaw will be sharing a presentation with our Juniors on the importance of seat belt use and the dangers of distracted driving. In addition, the students will have the opportunity to interact with some special guests The guests are representatives from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Kelli's CRUSADE, and the Geauga County Safe Communities Coalition. The BMV will have educational materials available to the students as well as licensing and testing information. Kelli's CRUSADE is an organization out of Medina County that promotes proper education, road improvements, and driving skills awareness to better equip our young drivers. The Safety Coalition promotes educational awareness on safe driving issues and studies local crashes for possible road and signage improvements suggestions. In addition, Officer Shaw has some surprises in store for our students - with some help from local sponsors: Bean's Coffee Shop & Bistro, Wendy's, Sheetz, Dairy Queen, and Dunkin Donuts! NIX OpiatesNow is the time to have a conversation about opioid use with someone you love. Summer is approaching, students have more free time for grad parties, hanging out and just being with friends. Seniors are graduating and many will be leaving for college, have this conversation with them before their roommate does. Please join Chardon resident Dr. John Queen of the Cleveland Clinic and Chardon High School for this very important event. In response to our community event, Inside My Head: The Pressure on Teenagers hosted last month at CHS, many parents inquired about ways that they can reach out to their teenagers. Approximately 1 in 5 teens (21.4%) ages 13-18 are impacted by a mental health illness. Only half (50.6%) receive treatment. https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-by-the-numbers Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14, and the 2nd leading cause for those ages 15-34. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicide-datasheet-a.pdf On Friday, May 4th Ravenwood Health is offering a free, confidential mental health screening for any interested Chardon High School student at Chardon High School. Signing up is easy using one of the following ways:
Please bring the signed permission form with you. If you forget the form, please see Mrs. Blackburn. Parental permission is required for students under the age of 18. For more information, please contact Joan Blackburn at joan.blackburn@chardonschools.org or 285-4057 ext. 1439. You must have the permission form with you at the time of your meeting. 51 Donors: Blood Drive
On Monday, April 23rd, Chardon High School hosted the second blood drive of the year. The American Red Cross asked the students at Chardon High to host the second event this year due to the extreme shortage of blood. Since the students of the Actively Caring Leadership class did such an amazing job last November organizing the collection of 48 pints of blood, the American Red Cross has set a higher goal of 50 units of blood, an amount that has never been accomplished at the high school before. This year, our students met their goal and collected 51 pints of blood. Great job, Mr. Mizen and his students! Maple Festival Queen On Wednesday, April 25, 2018, the queen of the 89th annual Geauga County Maple Festival was crowned. The judges had a tough job. Not only was each candidate a strong competitor, but the bond between the girls became so strong over their time together. At the end of the night, sophomore Kaity Nimmo was crowned the 2018 Geauga County Maple Festival Queen. The honors of the first attendant went to senior Jennifer Vandenberg, second attendant to Abby Harvey from Newbury, and court member sophomore Brigit Morgan. The girls all had a great time and look forward to this weekend.  Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society for high school theatre students. It is a division of the Educational Theatre Association. A few famous ITS alumni include Tom Hanks, Val Kilmer, James Marsters, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Stephen Schwartz. Membership currently stands at approximately 100,000 student members across 3,900 schools. The one millionth thespian was inducted in 1976 and the two millionth thespian was inducted in 2009. Last night, students were inducted into the Thespian Society.
AIR: It's the final countdown! Wednesday Testing will begin promptly at 7:30 AM, and it is imperative that your student is at school on time on their assigned testing day. AIR Tests this week :
To maximize learning while administering the AIR exams, students will test during late-start. The bell schedule for those testing dates have not changed: AIR Testing - 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM 2nd period - 10:34 AM - 11:39 AM 4A period - (Lunch 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM) 12:17 PM - 1:21 PM 4B period - 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM (Lunch 12:17 PM - 12:47 PM) 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM 4C period - 11:43 AM - 12:47 PM (Lunch 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM) 6th period - 1:25 PM - 2:30 PM The bell schedule for May 3 will be as follows: 1st period - 7:30 AM - 8:35 AM 3rd period - 8:39 AM - 9:44 AM 5A period - (Lunch 9:48 AM-10:18 AM) 10:22 AM - 11:26 AM 5B period - 9:48 AM-10:18 AM (Lunch 10:22 AM - 10:52 AM ) 10:56 AM - 11:26 AM 5C period - 9:48 AM-10:52 (Lunch 10:56 AM-11:26 AM) 7th period- 11:30 AM-12:35 PM Transportation will continue to operate at the normally scheduled times. If a student is not testing on a particular day and needs transportation to school, they will be picked up at their normal time and report to school (students not testing and who arrive before their first class will wait in the cafeteria). Students taking AIR exams should bring their Chromebook (fully charged), as well as a pair of headphones. We will provide extra sets of headphones if students are unable to procure them. Thank you for your patience and attention as we continue our preparations for the upcoming AIR exams. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Chardon High School Guidance Department at (440) 285-4060. Senior InformationEach year, I share this information with students, and parents to help families prepare for this extraordinary time of the year. Links: Senior Handbook End of the year calendar: March/April/ May Here is the link to the online signup for the senior picnic. School Fees When you check your student's grades in Infinite Campus also check their School Fees. Statements will not be sent to grade 9 or 10. It is your responsibility to monitor your student's fees. All Spring Sports adjustments have been made and the process of recording payments that have come in previous to the fee was posted in Infinite Campus takes a while. You may see a surplus recorded for your student. This can be from a class fee or workbook fee canceled, changed or an adjustment for 2nd or 3rd sport has been made. If you have any questions please call Mrs. McBride 440-286-0441.
Envirothon: Moving on! The Envirothon team, who named themselves Chardon Core Values, scored 2nd place out of 50 teams at the Area II Envirothon at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in sunny but mucky conditions. They were awarded $300 toward the state competition expenses. First place was the Brecksville Bees. The top 4 teams advance to the state Envirothon June 10-12 at Cedarville College in SW Ohio. 20 teams statewide compete to be the one to advance to the North American Envirothon in Pocatello, Idaho, in July. The qualifying team is comprised of Co-Captains Emily Munoz and Jason Tysl, supported by Heather Humbert, Asher Vokoun, and Kyle Gessel. Chardon's additional team, the Chardon Rats, came in 11th place. This is a great finish for- Alex Schragal, Neil Patel, Jackson Selent, Drew Williams, and Brad Knez.    Attention ALL CHS STUDENTS & PARENTS! Announcing an amazing travel and learning/leadership opportunity... 2019 London & Leadership Global Summit - THE POWER OF COMMUNICATION JUNE 6th-15th, 2019 Journey to London, England & Davos, Switzerland for an experience of a lifetime! This is a chance for our Chardon Student Leaders (that means YOU!) to tour London and work with students from around the world to discuss a Global Issue - ¨The Power of Communication¨ in Davos, Switzerland. There is CHS & College credit available for this exciting adventure. Contact Mrs. Niedzwiecki - kristen.niedzwiecki@chardonschools.org with questions. Chardon Library Book Buddies The Chardon Library is looking for Book Buddies volunteers for the summer. You can encourage a student who has just finished 1st or 2nd grade to keep reading over the summer by meeting with him or her for 6 – one hour sessions at the Chardon Library. This program wouldn’t be possible without the help of Chardon Schools student volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved in your community and would like to be a Chardon Library Book Buddy, please call the Chardon Library @ 285-7601 ext. 1 to volunteer. This is also an opportunity to earn Community Service hours! Please plan to attend one mandatory informational meeting at the Chardon Library on Monday, May 14 at 7:00 OR Tuesday, May 15 at 3:00.   ICYMI: 2018-2019 Bell Schedule2018-2019: CHS Bell ScheduleThroughout the course of this year, our bell schedule has created many opportunities for staff and students to expand upon the educational experiences at Chardon High School. Throughout this year, the Schedule Task Force met to refine the implementation of this schedule. As the year progressed, staff and students shared their feedback regarding the schedule. The feedback was extremely positive and poignant aligning to the purpose of the outcomes of this original committee. As the Reconfiguration process commenced this year, the team came back together to once again look at the schedule to meet the essential needs of adding a grade level. The building administration and school counselors built over twenty-six schedules based upon the principles set forth by the task force and the feedback that we received throughout the year. After careful consideration for consistency and to maximize upon the time in which we are given, the task force recommended the following schedule to the staff and board of education. This schedule aligns closely with the times that our students are used to while maintaining the integrity of Topper Time, and additional lunch period, and scheduling the Circuit of Success. Enclosed are some highlights of the schedule:
  Have a great weekend with family and friends! Douglas Murray Principal 2018-2019: CHS Bell ScheduleThroughout the course of this year, our bell schedule has created many opportunities for staff and students to expand upon the educational experiences at Chardon High School. Throughout this year, the Schedule Task Force met to refine the implementation of this schedule. As the year progressed, staff and students shared their feedback regarding the schedule. The feedback was extremely positive and poignant aligning to the purpose of the outcomes of this original committee. As the Reconfiguration process commenced this year, the team came back together to once again look at the schedule to meet the essential needs of adding a grade level. The building administration and school counselors built over twenty-six schedules based upon the principles set forth by the task force and the feedback that we received throughout the year. After careful consideration for consistency and to maximize upon the time in which we are given, the task force recommended the following schedule to the staff and board of education. This schedule aligns closely with the times that our students are used to while maintaining the integrity of Topper Time, and additional lunch period, and scheduling the Circuit of Success. Enclosed are some highlights of the schedule:
 CHS Academic Decathlon  The CHS Academic Decathlon team has received a commendation from Representative John Patterson and the State House of Representatives for their hard work this year. Team members are Molly Greene, Michael Lobosky, Casey Mezerkor, Doug Mulford, Johnathan Brandt, Noah Bena, Kyle Gessel, Marko Milic, Meredith McKeon, Kara Connolly and Paige Steffen. CCP Business On Thursday evening, the CCP Business classes hosted a live watch party in the media center for a program called "The Hatch". They cheered on their favorites as Bowling Green State University student entrepreneurs presented their business ideas to alumni investors in a format similar to the popular television show “Shark Tank. What sets The Hatch apart from similar events is that the alumni investors make equity investments providing real money for students to launch real businesses This event was streamed live to Hatch Watch parties across the country and to several countries throughout the world. Leading out of Love On Monday, April 23rd, Chardon High School will host the second blood drive of the year. The American Red Cross has asked the students at Chardon High to host the second event this year due to the extreme shortage of blood. Since the students of the Actively Caring Leadership class did such an amazing job last November organizing the collection of 48 pints of blood, the American Red Cross has set a higher goal of 50 units of blood, an amount that has never been accomplished at the high school before. The deadline for permission slips is Friday, April 20th. Please see Mr. Mizen for a permission slip or get one in the front office. AIR Testing The American Institutes for Research (AIR) had a computer glitch on Wednesday that prevented some students across Ohio from taking state tests online. In all buildings across our district, student login issues were intermittent with accessing part II of testing. Our testing administrators worked quickly to troubleshoot ways around the issues after contacting the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). This was not a remote situation to Chardon. This was a statewide issue as reported by ODE and Cleveland.com. A handful of students were unable to complete all sections of the test. These students were informed of their options to make-up this portion of the test. As a reminder, the bell schedule on each Thursday after AIR exams will be adjusted, with classes concluding at 12:35 PM on April 12, 19, 26, and May 3. The bell schedule for Thursday, April 26 will be as follows: 1st period - 7:30 AM - 8:35 AM 3rd period - 8:39 AM - 9:44 AM 7th period - 9:48 AM - 10:53 AM 5A period - (Lunch 10:57 AM - 11:27 AM) 11:31 AM - 12:35 PM 5B period - 10:57 - 11:27 AM (Lunch 11:31 AM - 12:01 PM ) 12:05 PM - 12:35 PM 5C period - 10:57 PM - 12:01 PM (Lunch 12:05 PM - 12:35 PM) Wednesday Testing will begin promptly at 7:30 AM, and it is imperative that your student is at school on time on their assigned testing day. The administration of the AIR Test has NOT changed :
To maximize learning while administering the AIR exams, students will test during late-start on April 11, 18, 25, and May 2. The bell schedule for those testing dates will be as follows: AIR Testing - 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM 2nd period - 10:34 AM - 11:39 AM 4A period - (Lunch 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM) 12:17 PM - 1:21 PM 4B period - 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM (Lunch 12:17 PM - 12:47 PM) 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM 4C period - 11:43 AM - 12:47 PM (Lunch 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM) 6th period - 1:25 PM - 2:30 PM Transportation will continue to operate at the normally scheduled times. If a student is not testing on a particular day and needs transportation to school, they will be picked up at their normal time and report to school (students not testing and who arrive before their first class will wait in the cafeteria). Students taking AIR exams should bring their Chromebook (fully charged), as well as a pair of headphones. We will provide extra sets of headphones if students are unable to procure them. Thank you for your patience and attention as we continue our preparations for the upcoming AIR exams. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Chardon High School Guidance Department at (440) 285-4060. Sincerely, The Chardon High School Guidance and Administrative Team Download this file.   Each year, I share this information with students, and parents to help families prepare for this extraordinary time of the year. Links: Senior Handbook End of the year calendar: March/April/ May Here is the link to the online signup for the senior picnic. School Fees When you check your student's grades in Infinite Campus also check their School Fees. Statements will not be sent to grade 9 or 10. It is your responsibility to monitor your student's fees. All Spring Sports adjustments have been made and the process of recording payments that have come in previous to the fee was posted in Infinite Campus takes a while. You may see a surplus recorded for your student. This can be from a class fee or workbook fee canceled, changed or an adjustment for 2nd or 3rd sport has been made. If you have any questions please call Mrs. McBride 440-286-0441.  Topper Bistro
 
   Chardon Library Book BuddiesThe Chardon Library is looking for Book Buddies volunteers for the summer. You can encourage a student who has just finished 1st or 2nd grade to keep reading over the summer by meeting with him or her for 6 – one hour sessions at the Chardon Library. This program wouldn’t be possible without the help of Chardon Schools student volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved in your community and would like to be a Chardon Library Book Buddy, please call the Chardon Library @ 285-7601 ext. 1 to volunteer. This is also an opportunity to earn Community Service hours! Please plan to attend one mandatory informational meeting at the Chardon Library on Monday, May 14 at 7:00 OR Tuesday, May 15 at 3:00. Thank You!  Another week has departed...I think the seniors are either messing with the clocks or their intentions are working. If you recall back in my mid-February reflection, I shared how time will move as Spring approaches...even if the weather doesn't show it. Well, with all of the tasks that I have been working on the reconfiguration plan, facilitating the possibilities for the master schedule, AIR Testing, district meetings, evaluations, closing out the year, planning events, and maintaining the daily rush--each second counts. Outsiders would never know if I was going gray, or bald...but this time of year there is a glow to my dome. Unfortunately, it is from running--not from having a providential presence.
Regardless of the day, I LOVE everything about my job and the people that I encounter each day. We have the best educators and students one could ever ask for. I am so grateful to each of you for your support. I will continue to live my purpose, and will continue to run the marathon all of the way through the finish line! Have a great weekend! Douglas Murray, Principal 4/11/2018 The @chs_dmurray: Week in ReflectionExtra, Extra, Read all about it! One of my first jobs was working as a paperboy. This job was often underappreciated, yet always expected on time. The hardest part of the week was receiving all of the advertisements that needed to be filled in the Sunday edition. Yet, the one thing that this job taught me was the value of hard work. Hard work and dedication is one variable that you will always receive from me. Each week, I spend hours gathering information to share with you. Years ago, I spent each week communicating with students on the morning announcements. Over the last year, with no fault assigned to anyone, the announcements have been played intermittently due to moving them later in the day. The reason simply was to assist the work aligned with the course that we created that recorded, edited, published and posted the announcements. With that in mind, I took it upon myself to write this newsletter posted each week. Over the last two years, the Week in Reflection has become a key element to communicate essential information to students, parents, staff, and community members all of the amazing things that we accomplish along with distributing information relative to the week to come. This newsletter is written on Weebly and posted to the internet. The next step is to send this information to staff and students using Gmail, followed by posting the information to Infinite Campus, ConnectED, and an application called Hootsuite to disseminate the newsletter to the multiple twitter accounts that I manage. This week, in order to reach a deeper audience of students and parents on the go, I created a Remind101 account to send this information each Friday. Remind 101 is a great tool to safely communicate information to large groups that will send notifications to your phone. I am hoping that this will continue to build upon my mission of clear communication. I do not mind the additional step. There is one thing that makes me shake my head...having someone say that they had no idea what is going on. As a parent, I want to know what is going on in my child's school. With the volume of tasks that we work on each day, if we can alleviate the "Gomer Pyle" surprise reactions to dates, events, and activities --we will create more time to collaborate with students and staff. If you would like to join the Remind101 account, please follow the steps below.  AIR Testing: Week 2 (Please Read To See Adjustments for Thursday's) This week, we commenced the AIR testing beginning with ELA. Special thanks to Mr. Higham, School Counselors, Tech Support, Teachers and our students for creating an arena for success. We are continuing our preparations at Chardon High School for the upcoming AIR exams. The AIR exams are end-of-course exams mandated by the state of Ohio, and students earn graduation points regarding their results. Over the last week of exams, we have worked hard to meet the many needs of all of our students and their personalized schedules. During each day, we are not only executing our bell schedule, but also two Auburn schedules, and numerous CCP schedules with students. We built the AIR schedule based upon minimizing the most discrepancies in scheduling. Our teachers have worked with individual cases and we have communicated with parents, Auburn, and our CCP schools. Yet, several students could have missed one of their courses on Thursday up to four times. Therefore, through many conversations and collaboration, we have made some adjustments to our Thursday schedules during the month of April to mitigate scheduling issues. The bell schedule on each Thursday after AIR exams will be adjusted, with classes concluding at 12:35 PM on April 12, 19, 26, and May 3. The bell schedule for Thursday, April 12, and April 26 will be as follows: 1st period - 7:30 AM - 8:35 AM 3rd period - 8:39 AM - 9:44 AM 7th period - 9:48 AM - 10:53 AM 5A period - (Lunch 10:57 AM - 11:27 AM) 11:31 AM - 12:35 PM 5B period - 10:57 - 11:27 AM (Lunch 11:31 AM - 12:01 PM ) 12:05 PM - 12:35 PM 5C period - 10:57 PM - 12:01 PM (Lunch 12:05 PM - 12:35 PM) The bell schedule for Thursday, April 19, and May 3 will be as follows: 1st period - 7:30 AM - 8:35 AM 3rd period - 8:39 AM - 9:44 AM 5A period - (Lunch 9:48 AM-10:18 AM) 10:22 AM - 11:26 AM 5B period - 9:48 AM-10:18 AM (Lunch 10:22 AM - 10:52 AM ) 10:56 AM - 11:26 AM 5C period - 9:48 AM-10:52 (Lunch 10:56 AM-11:26 AM) 7th period- 11:30 AM-12:35 PM No changes have occurred to AIR Testing Wednesday Testing will begin promptly at 7:30 AM, and it is imperative that your student is at school on time on their assigned testing day. The administration of the AIR Test has NOT changed :
To maximize learning while administering the AIR exams, students will test during late-start on April 11, 18, 25, and May 2. The bell schedule for those testing dates have not changed: AIR Testing - 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM 2nd period - 10:34 AM - 11:39 AM 4A period - (Lunch 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM) 12:17 PM - 1:21 PM 4B period - 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM (Lunch 12:17 PM - 12:47 PM) 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM 4C period - 11:43 AM - 12:47 PM (Lunch 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM) 6th period - 1:25 PM - 2:30 PM Transportation will continue to operate at the normally scheduled times. If a student is not testing on a particular day and needs transportation to school, they will be picked up at their normal time and report to school (students not testing and who arrive before their first class will wait in the cafeteria). Student Example 1: A freshman student enrolled in Algebra 1 and English 1 will report to CHS by 7:30 AM on April 11 (for the ELA 1 exam) and May 2 (for the Algebra 1 exam). He/she does not need to report to school until 10:34 AM on April 18 and April 25 because he/she will not be taking the US Government, US History, or Biology exams. Student Example 2: A senior student currently enrolled in second semester US Government (not first semester US Government) will report to CHS by 7:30 AM on May 2nd (for the US Government exam) . He/she does not need to report to school until 10:34 AM on April 11, 18, and 25 because he/she will not be taking an ELA, Algebra 1, or Geometry exam. Students taking AIR exams should bring their Chromebook (fully charged), as well as a pair of headphones. We will provide extra sets of headphones, if students are unable to procure them. Thank you for your patience and attention as we continue our preparations for the upcoming AIR exams. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Chardon High School Guidance Department at (440) 285-4060. Sincerely, The Chardon High School Guidance and Administrative Team The enclosed images illustrate what the schedules would look like for students. Download this file.
Choir70 CHS Choir students had a great "Staycation" in Akron, OH on Tuesday, April 10th. The day featured various cultural activities, supporting our love of the arts. We started the day at Stan Hywet Hall, a tudor estate built by the founder of Goodyear. In the afternoon we enjoyed a tour at the Akron Art Museum. We were able to sit in on a rehearsal with the top Chamber Choir from the University of Akron followed by a master class provided by the university choral director. We found that 40% of the singers in the top choir do not major in music. There are many opportunities for our students to keep singing beyond their time at CHS. Our students did an outstanding job representing our school and community as well as sharing their gift and love of choral music. We had a catered "Lazy Summer Barbecue" meal at the University of Akron Student Union along with a dinner performance by pop a cappella group NUANCE. We finished off the day by attending a hysterical Broadway series show "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at EJ Thomas Hall. The day was a fun and full! Thank you to all that took the time to join us for this cultural adventure! CCP Business with Mr. HernerThe CCP Business classes have been busy this week. On Wednesday, the CCP Introduction to Entrepreneurship class attended a forum at University School where they participated in a Q & A session with keynote speaker Krystal Persaud. Ms Persaud is the Director of Product Design for littleBits, a New York based company that makes electronic building blocks.  On Thursday, the CCP Business Communications class gained valuable experience through a video conference with Mr. Mark Brody. (CHS '79) Mr. Brody is a CFO who works from his home office approximately 60% of the time. The video conference took place in the CHS media center via our IVDL platform.  Senior Information Each year, I share this information with students, and parents to help families prepare for this extraordinary time of the year. Links: Senior Handbook End of the year calendar: March/April/ May School Fees When you check your student's grades in Infinite Campus also check their School Fees. Statements will not be sent to grade 9 or 10. It is your responsibility to monitor your student's fees. All Spring Sports adjustments have been made and the process of recording payments that have come in previous to the fee was posted in Infinite Campus takes a while. You may see a surplus recorded for your student. This can be from a class fee or workbook fee canceled, changed or an adjustment for 2nd or 3rd sport has been made. If you have any questions please call Mrs. McBride 440-286-0441. Cap and Gown There are about 70 Seniors that have NOT purchase a cap & gown. If you have not ordered on please see or call Mrs. McBride. These need to be ordered A.S.A.P. If you are planning not to participate in the commencement let Mrs. McBride know that also. Thanks for your attention to these important matters. Follow Up: Community Event Huge Hilltopper thank you to the students who planned last Thurday's Community Event-Inside My Head: The Pressures on Teens. Approximately 70 students and adults benefited by attending workshops facilitated by CHS students, Lake/Geauga Recovery Center, Family Pride, NAMI, Ravenwood Health Center, the Geauga Educational Service Center, the Chardon Police Department and Ubuntu Wellness. Parents have asked for additional resources throughout the survey that they filled out. Please read the articles attached. CNN: Vaping now an epidemic among US high schoolers KNOW: Empowering Parents to Raise their Children to Be Substance Free Topper Bistro
 Upcoming Information  Tag Day
 Chardon After Prom is busy decorating for this year's after prom! We meet every Monday and Wednesday from 7-9pm in the high school cafeteria. Our purpose is to provide our students who are going to prom with a fun and safe after prom experience. We could use your help! Come and join us while we create and have a good time together! For more information contact Marijana Benjamin at 440-829-7309.
 What: Chardon Spirit Day - to show off our schools and students and the importance they have in our community - Sponsored by Chardon Tomorrow, with Chardon City, --Chardon Library also involved -Everybody wears school colors, there is free ice cream, popcorn, hot dogs, fun activities -The whole town is encouraged to be there. -Discounts from local establishments. -Rocket Car (from Euclid Beach) will take people up to the polls for early voting When: May 5th from 1:00 - 4:30 Where: Chardon Square  Students can NOW** upload their video auditions to shiningstarcle.org with the chance to win a $10,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP! *Must be from Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage or Summit counties and have a 2019-2022 graduation date; includes home-schooled students. **Through July 1, 2018. Free to Enter and All Genres of Music are Welcome! College Scholarships: 1st Place Winner $10,000 and the chance to perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severance Hall 2nd Place Winner $5,000 3rd Place Winner $2,500 4th Place Winner $1,000 Bonus Prize $2,500 to the high school music department of the 1st Place Winner On Sunday, October 7, 2018 at 7 pm, the Top 10 Finalists will perform at the renowned Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square and be judged by the audience and well-respected professionals in the entertainment industry. For questions, or to learn more, please visit our website shiningstarcle.org or call 216-910-2652. Well, I hope my last edition of the Week in Reflection was heard...the weather has changed...for a few days!
Celebrate and enjoy this time with family and friends, Douglas Murray CHS Principal 4/4/2018 @chs_dmurray Week in Reflection: 4/6Oh Spring, Where Art Thou?
After celebrating this past break with my family on a trip to Disney to see our band perform...I was hoping that the 16-hour drive would have created a jet stream on the back of our vehicle. Most educators would share that having inclement weather in the fourth quarter would help keep our students inclined to be more on task. Yet, the winter blues have set in. Most of us are used to the long winter, but this year seems relentless. I believe that even most of our skiers and snowboarders are ready for short sleeves and shorts. We all know that our spring coaches are sick and tired of being sick and tired of wearing hoodies and rain gear. Yet, like every year...this too shall pass...until the Maple Festival.
Moments like this remind us of the importance of patience and perseverance. Being patient creates opportunities for growth inside of us which will help us nurture our response to difficult moments. The next seven weeks are going to pass us by in a blink of an eye. It is so important to pause and reflect on each moment in front of us. Likewise, demonstrating patience will expand our ability to persevere through moments in our lives that impact us at school, sports, our jobs, and even relationships. As we have shared numerous times throughout this year, our response to any event creates the outcome that we expect. So, to model this for you I am going to end this portion with the Week in Reflection by exclaiming that it is a beautiful day to be the best version of ourselves and seize the opportunities in front of us during this beautiful time of year! There is no better way to transition into this newsletter than to share some awesome news from our proud new papa! A Message From The Bandiera's
Dear Chardon Families,
On March 22nd my wife and I were woken up to the surprise of her going into labor with our first child. The surprise was that our baby was not due until May 2nd. After debating if we should both go to work that morning (my wife teaches Health and PE in Garfield Heights), we decided we should head to the hospital as a precaution. By 4 that afternoon, we were holding our son, Anderson Jaxson Bandiera! Being 6 weeks early, we were extremely blessed to find out that Anderson was an overall healthy baby. Anderson was first treated in the NICU at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland to help with his lung development and feeding. Anderson did great and within 48 hours, he was breathing room air with no assistance. The next challenge has been eating. Anderson is eating through a bottle, but he struggles with fatigue. He initially was receiving nutrients through an IV, but we were lucky enough to have that pulled on Sunday when we moved to the Step Down unity at Rainbow. Anderson now just needs to eat a little more consistently without the help of the feeding tube. Once that happens, he can go home! My wife and I have been incredibly blessed with the love and support we have received from our family and friends. As we make the 40 minute commute to the hospital daily, our family and friends have cleaned our house, prepared meals for us, and taken care of our dog. We have not been given an official release date yet, as this is all dependent on Anderson's progress. We cannot wait to bring our baby home and start our new role as Mom and Dad! I would like to take a moment to say thank you to all of the Chardon High School staff members and families who have sent out well wishes. These encouraging notes are so helpful to my wife and I. I am also thankful to all of those who are helping cover many of my responsibilities at Chardon High School as I am out of the office. Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and encouragement. ~The Bandiera's AIR Test Information: The 4 Week Journey Starts
As we enter April, we are continuing our preparations at Chardon High School for the upcoming AIR exams. The AIR exams are end-of-course exams mandated by the state of Ohio, and students earn graduation points regarding their results. Students will take the AIR exams as described below:
To maximize learning while administering the AIR exams, students will test during late-start on April 11, 18, 25, and May 2. The bell schedule for those testing dates will be as follows: AIR Testing - 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM 2nd period - 10:34 AM - 11:39 AM 4A period - (Lunch 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM) 12:17 PM - 1:21 PM 4B period - 11:43 AM - 12:13 PM (Lunch 12:17 AM - 12:47 PM) 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM 4C period - 11:43 AM - 12:47 PM (Lunch 12:51 PM - 1:21 PM) 6th period - 1:25 PM - 2:30 PM Testing will begin promptly at 7:30 AM, and it is imperative that your student is at school on time on their assigned testing day. In order to accommodate schedules of CHS, Auburn, and CCP students, the bell schedule on each Thursday after AIR exams will be adjusted, with classes concluding at 12:35 PM on April 12, 19, 26, and May 3. The bell schedule for Thursday, April 12, 19, 26, and May 3 will be as follows: 1st period - 7:30 AM - 8:35 AM 3rd period - 8:39 AM - 9:44 AM 7th period - 9:48 AM - 10:53 AM 5A period - (Lunch 10:57 AM - 11:27 AM) 11:31 AM - 12:35 PM 5B period - 10:57 - 11:27 AM (Lunch 11:31 AM - 12:01 PM ) 12:05 PM - 12:35 PM 5C period - 10:57 PM - 12:01 PM (Lunch 12:05 PM - 12:35 PM) Transportation will continue to operate at the normally scheduled times. If a student is not testing on a particular day and needs transportation to school, they will be picked up at their normal time and report to school (students not testing and who arrive before their first class will wait in the cafeteria). Student Example 1: A freshman student enrolled in Algebra 1 and English 1 will report to CHS by 7:30 AM on April 11 (for the ELA 1 exam) and May 2 (for the Algebra 1 exam). He/she does not need to report to school until 10:34 AM on April 18 and April 25 because he/she will not be taking the US Government, US History, or Biology exams. Student Example 2: A senior student currently enrolled in second semester US Government (not first semester US Government) will report to CHS by 7:30 AM on May 2nd (for the US Government exam) . He/she does not need to report to school until 10:34 AM on April 11, 18, and 25 because he/she will not be taking an ELA, Algebra 1, or Geometry exam. Students taking AIR exams should bring their Chromebook (fully charged), as well as a pair of headphones. We will provide extra sets of headphones, if students are unable to procure them. Thank you for your patience and attention as we continue our preparations for the upcoming AIR exams. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Chardon High School Guidance Department at (440) 285-4060. The enclosed visual will help our students understand the day. 
Community Event: Inside My Head
Huge Hilltopper thank you to the students who planned Thursday's Community Event Inside My Head: The Pressures on Teens. Approximately 60 students and adults benefited by attending workshops facilitated by CHS students, Lake/Geauga Recovery Center, Family Pride, NAMI, Ravenwood Health Center, the Geauga Educational Service Center, the Chardon Police Department and Ubuntu Wellness. A special thank you to Beth Williams from the Geauga Mental Health Board for her opening remarks. Program evaluation indicated a high level of appreciation for all of the presentations. The involvement and leadership shown by the high schools students was consistently noted as being a highlight of the night. Another consistent theme was the disappointment that with so many wonderful presentations attendees could only pick two to attend. Thank you to all who participated in this event by coming out to support our students!
Senior Information
Each year, I share this information with students, and parents to help families prepare for this extraordinary time of the year.
Links: Senior Handbook End of the year calendar: March/April/ May
School Fees
When you check your student's grades in Infinite Campus also check their School Fees. Statements will not be sent to grade 9 or 10. It is your responsibility to monitor your student's fees. All Spring Sports adjustments have been made and the process of recording payments that have come in previous to the fee was posted in Infinite Campus takes a while. You may see a surplus recorded for your student. This can be from a class fee or workbook fee canceled, changed or an adjustment for 2nd or 3rd sport has been made. If you have any questions please call Mrs. McBride 440-286-0441. Cap and Gown There are about 70 Seniors that have NOT purchase a cap & gown. If you have not ordered on please see or call Mrs. McBride. These need to be ordered A.S.A.P. If you are planning not to participate in the commencement let Mrs. McBride know that also. Thanks for your attention to these important matters. The Learning Commons
Attached are the latest editions of the Lav Report and LC Newsletter.
In the Lav Report, students will find an article that covers where to find links they can use to access valuable resources such as Noodletools and INFOhio. Spoiler alert: links are located at www.chslearningcenter.weebly.com. Another article explains the Geauga Park District Writing Contest, which is open to both students and adults.
In the Learning Center Newsletter, part one of a two part series covers the first four of 11 tips for protecting your privacy on Facebook. Anyone using Facebook should take a look at their settings to make sure they are not revealing too much information.
Remember the John Fogarty song from the mid 80's? The instant classic about playing Centerfield is now enshrined in Cooperstown. For over a century, baseball has been hailed above all other sports as America's National Pastime. No other game during the regular one-hundred sixty-two game season has been as eagerly anticipated as Opening Day. Ask any fan what the "official" start of Spring is. Chances are their answer will be Opening Day. It is much more than just an event, it is an experience.
In a society that places so much emphasis on events, activities, programs, and sports...wouldn't it be exhilarating if we placed the same emphasis on academic achievements? Being actively involved in high school is an essential part of growth and maturity. We cannot dilute the essential values learned from extracurriculars, but must place a mutual value on the essential fabric which holds us together as a society---literacy. As we enter into the "crunch time" over the next seven weeks, working together towards the same goal should be our mantra. As parents, we long for what is best for our children. We encourage our children to be kind even when it is hard, to work hard even when no one is noticing, and to never quit. But, beware...there is an epidemic that enters the vocabulary of of seniors this month. For those of you who have yet to experience the devastating and immobilizing effects of this dangerous disease, senioritis is a common affliction that reduces a senior’s focus, ability to finish an assignment and drive to do anything but sleep and watch Netflix. Symptoms include: aversion to studying, reduction in academic performance, and ongoing procrastination. Second-semester seniors are the most frequently diagnosed, but even first-semester seniors can be susceptible. Juniors: Beware! You even have a chance of premature infection. Seniors – the poor, poor victims – are the students who most need to avoid such oppressive side effects. The list of to-dos is endless: visiting colleges, applying to scholarships, filling out online loans and grants, getting senior pictures taken, ordering graduation caps, gowns, and announcements, organizing a graduation party, homework, projects, and studying for finals and AP exams.
Check out this great list composed by Julie Spangler of the Wichita Eagle, a TeenTalk board which is made up of teens who write columns and features for their local paper in Kansas.
1. Make a list: Write down all of the things you need to get done. Be sure to include the sub-steps for getting each thing done (e.g. under “grad party,” list all the things that entails such as photos, invitations, decorations, etc.). Getting all of your responsibilities down will help you stay organized and more easily break each task down into more manageable bites. 2. Create a calendar: Either create or buy a calendar, and write down all due dates, tests, exams and events. This could include simple tasks, such as how many pages to read each evening to finish that book report on time, to more important events, such as, oh, I don’t know, graduation?! 3. Focus on the now: What task are you focusing on right now? Tackle that one, and only that one, first. Then, when you’re completely finished with it, move on. Dwelling on how much you have to do will only worsen your feelings of barely disguised panic, anxiety and overload. It also feels great to mark something off your list and know you won’t have to deal with it ever again. 4. Stay busy: This sounds like the opposite of what you want to do, I know. As a survivor of senioritis, trust me. It’s better to stay busy than to be idle. Whenever you’re idle, you’re more prone to amplifying symptoms, such as compulsive tweeting and marathon watching of “The Office.” Also, the busier you stay, the faster you get your infinite responsibilities taken care of. 5. Brainstorm: Stuck on that scholarship essay or research paper? Get out a sheet of paper and brainstorm. Write down your main points, and then branch off from there. Not sure how best to tackle a big history project? Brainstorm the most efficient way of getting it over with while still maintaining the quality of your work. Brainstorming is a great way to stay focused while also giving yourself a needed change of pace. 6. Take a break: This is exactly what your senioritis is telling you to do. But honestly, there comes a point where you’re maxed out and the only thing left to do is take a break. It doesn’t have to be a long one to be effective; even 5 minutes will help. You can also use this break time to go out and breathe some of the fresh, spring air. 7. Remove temptation: Back. Away. From. The. Phone. Or the computer, or the TV. Everyone has a vice. Separate yourself from it when possible. Try tucking your phone away or going into another room where a TV connected to Netflix and the world of entertainment does not have the chance to entice you in your senioritis weakened state. 8. Create a Study Group: Gathering together with other victims can combine strengths and combat your weaknesses. Get a group together who all need to study for a test or get those pesky lab write-ups done, and lay down some ground rules: no phones, no gossiping, etc. Hopefully, the added pressure to focus and having others to help you with difficult concepts will help finish off some of your tasks. 9. Isolate yourself: Get away from distractions---because even though you love them, they may be an enabler. Your friend might miss your company during the game, but you need to get stuff done! Move to your office to the kitchen table. Focus. You can do this! 10. Treat yourself: You did it. You finished something. OK, so you finished a lab – and you have five more to go. But you still did it! Reward yourself with a small piece of candy or a short break. But be careful. Don’t reward yourself too much, and stay focused. The ultimate reward is getting everything done, so you’re in for the long haul.
All humor aside, I do not believe that Senioritis is contagious. The epidemic of lethargy is something that can be controlled. Everything that we do in life is a choice: what we think, what we say, and how we behave. Likewise, our attitude, effort, and approach is something that we can control.
It would be unacceptable for any of us to just stop working just because our co-worker was in the months of April and May. School, especially at this time, refines us for the next phase of our life's journey--regardless of the grade level. Our time is so short before we reach the finish line. Seize every opportunity to refine your purpose! Stay Warm! Douglas Murray, Principal
In closing, congratulations to Dean Coso who committed to play soccer for Mount Union University. Watch this great video with some amazing footage of Chardon Memorial Stadium!
Dean Coso from Shooting Stars Videography on Vimeo. Coming Up in April
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