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10/26/2017 The @chs_dmurray Week in Reflection: 10/27A Video ReflectionThis week has highlighted our purpose as educators. Please watch the video enclosed to see all of the great examples of what makes CHS such a great school. Before you proceed, check out this data! 1004 Students Avg GPA for Q1= 3.26 Seniors Avg =3.24 Juniors Avg= 3.22 Sophomores Avg= 3.42 Freshman Avg= 3.16 I am so proud of our students and our teachers efforts to focus on the eminent core value of achievement. Together, we will continue to refine what we do by analyzing how we can continue to move from good to great! The Best Band in The LandThursday evening, the Chardon Middle and High School band shared their talents in the high school gym . Tracy Paroubek (CMS Band) and Melissa Lichtler (CHS Band) collaborated to share the beautiful sounds of the seasons. We are truly blessed by their talents and abilities to work with hundreds of students in the performing arts. Shared in this Week in Reflection are examples from the night. Periscope TV Great Lakes Theatre: The Crucible Launched in 1981, Great Lakes Theater's in-school residency program is now one of the most successful artist-in-residence programs in the country. Each year over 16,000 students in over 100 schools experience the pleasure, power, and relevance of classic literature brought to life right in their own classrooms. Using an interactive, hands on approach, a team of two specially trained actor-teachers visited Chardon High School this week for five consecutive days, teaching five classes per day; the same five classes for the entire week. The actors bring scripts, props, costumes to turn the students into an acting troupe, exploring classic literature from an actor's point of view. Designed to meet the common core education standards, the residency program is hands on, creative, and interactive. Each day of each lesson plan, regardless of age level, involves three components: acting; discussion; theater exercises. There are days when the students do all of the acting and our actor-teachers serve as their directors. There are days when our actors perform for your students and they are the audience. There are other days when the actor-teachers and students rehearse then perform side by side, with one another. In my years observing this at CHS, each opportunity gives me chills, thrills, and a warm heart knowing that Project Based Learning is allowing the breathe of the curriculum live in the minds of our students. Congratulations: Kirsten HenryOn Sunday, October 22, 2017, 10 high school finalists put on the performance of their lifetimes in pursuit of winning a $10,000 college scholarship. WKYC Reporter Monica Robins hosted this exciting evening. More than 800 audience members, along with a panel of judges, watched and voted for the 2017 Shining Star CLE winners.  School Lunch Menu Monday Chicken /Mashed Potato Bowl Popcorn Chicken Whipped Potatoes/ Home-style Gravy Shredded Cheese Dinner Roll Steamed Corn Fresh Side Bar Choices Sausage Pizza Cheese Bosco Sticks Tuesday Asian Fusion Bar General TSO Chicken (Sweet and Spicy Chicken) Fried Rice Steamed Broccoli Fortune Cookie Fresh Side Bar Choice *Baked Fries in Deli Pizza Hut Day!! Cheese Bosco Sticks Wednesday Chipotle Bar Fajita Chicken, Taco Meat, Mexican Rice, Flame Roasted Veggies, Black Beans or Refried Beans Salsa, Sour Cream, Lettuce Cheese Fresh Side Bar Choices *Baked Fries Bistro line Buffalo Chicken Pizza Cheese Bosco Sticks Thursday American Classic Baked Potato Bar With All the Trimmings Baked Fries Seasoned Baked Beans Fresh Sidebar Choices BBQ Chicken Cheese Bosco Sticks Friday Hot Soup And Sandwich Bar Tomato Soup Grilled Cheese Steamed Cauliflower Fresh Sidebar Choices Meat lovers Cheese Bosco Sticks Ski Club Calling all those snow lovers out there to consider joining the new club at CHS; a Downhill Ski/Snowboard Club. This club program will run for five consecutive Tuesdays beginning January 9th. The club will be traveling to Brandywine Ski Resort. No experience is necessary to join; both rentals and lessons are included in the club price. If your son/daughter is interested or already has a season's pass, please see the attached form for more details about registration. If you have any questions, please have your child come see Miss Fisher during the school day in room 307 or email the adviser (Alison Fisher) at alison.fisher@chardonschools.org. First registration deadline is November 20th, so act quickly. 
Parent Teacher Conferences Save the Date: Thursday, November 2 (4:30-8:00pm) As you prepare your schedule, please click on the link below to sign up a timeslot for parent teacher conferences for Session 2. https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Chardon_High_School Emergency Medical FormsChardon Schools uses an Online Forms platform that allows you to verify the directory information we have on file for your child(ren), make changes if necessary, and submit beginning of the year forms electronically (Emergency Medical Authorization (EMA) Internet usage, photo permission, athletics, etc…). This electronic submission takes the place of the paper forms. Your child’s directory information, along with the district and athletic forms are ready for your review. For families who already have an Online Forms:
For families new to the Online Forms:
Halloween Tuesday, October 31 is Halloween. However, with all of the excitement leading into the week- the Chardon Crazies and the CHS Administration are moving the traditional costume day to Friday, October 27 to align with the theme for the night. Our students have traditionally dressed in appropriate costumes at school for the day. Students will be permitted to dress this year, as long as the outfit properly follows the guidelines below. Staff and administration will be extremely diligent to ensure that all costumes are school appropriate and not a distraction to other students in their classes. Some things to consider when creating your costume:
 Chardon HS will be offering the ASVAB Career Exploration assessment on Wednesday, Nov. 15th at 8:00am. Please sign up in Guidance. If you have any questions/concerns, please contact Tim Hurlbut at timothy.hurlbut@chardonschools.org or call the Counseling office. Promotional Video https://www.asvabprogram.com/videos/asvab_cep_overview.m4v www.asvabprogram.com News You Can UseQ/A: Issue 26Q11. How does charter school funding affect our district? A11. Charter schools, also referred to as community schools, should not be confused with parents that opt to homeschool their children. Charter schools, authorized by the Ohio Legislature, are publicly chartered alternatives to the traditional public school. Charter schools are often advertised as tuition-free because parents do not pay tuition for their child to attend a charter school. However, the public school district where the student resides is charged for their attendance at the charter school. The amount of money that a school district pays per pupil for students attending charter schools varies by district. In 2017-18, the Legislature uses a per pupil funding amount of $6,010 per pupil to provide a public education. However, most school districts do not see $6,010 - some receive more and others less depending on the calculated wealth of the local community. How does the State of Ohio determine the wealth of a school district? In simple terms, the total tax valuation of the community divided by the number of students returns a per pupil tax valuation. The higher that number, a district receives less than $6,010. Conversely, a lower number and a district receives more than $6,010. Chardon is considered to be a “wealthy” district by this standard, ranking 555 out of 609 districts. As a result, in 2017 Chardon received $1,270 per pupil, not $6,010, and that amount continues to decline each year. When a student from Chardon chooses to attend a charter school, the full $6,010 is deducted from our state funding and is directed to the charter school. If we are receiving only $1,270 per pupil, where does the remaining $4,740 come from to make up the difference? It comes from our General Fund and, ultimately, our local taxpayers. Q12. My property tax reappraisal notice shows that my property value increased this year. Doesn’t that mean I pay more in taxes to the schools and the schools get more money automatically? A12. NO. Public school districts in Ohio are essentially on a fixed income. House Bill 920 passed in 1976 ensures that a levy that had been previously-approved by taxpayers does generate more dollars for the school district because of property value increases. If the overall property valuation increases, the millage rate is decreased by the County Auditor to ensure that the schools receive only the revenue that was generated by the levy when it was originally approved by the voters. The only increase in revenue that schools realize is when new construction becomes eligible to pay taxes. It is possible that individual taxpayers can see an increase in property taxes as a result of reappraisal if their valuation was more than the average increase in property values across the entire community, but only on the amount above the average increase. Likewise, if a property value increased, but not up to the amount of the average increase across the community, that taxpayer would see a decrease in property taxes even though their property valuation increased. The key points associated with reappraisal are:
For a more detailed explanation of the impact of reappraisal, view the YouTube video clip below. Impact of Property Tax Reappraisal Q13. I have some specific questions that I would like to ask. How can I do that? A13. The Superintendent, Michael Hanlon, and Treasurer/CFO, Ashley Brudno, are always available to answer questions. Feel free to contact us at any time at 440-285-4052, or by email at: michael.hanlon@chardonschools.org ashley.brudno@chardonschools.org  Mrs. Ricci's 1st Quarter Topper Time Have a great weekend with family and friends,
Douglas Murray Principal 10/17/2017 The @chs_dmurray Week in Reflection: 10/20Fall Concert The CHS Choir Department held its fall concert on Wednesday, October 18th. The concert themed "Celestial Peace" was inspired by the recent eclipse experience and the calming skyscapes. The Chamber Ensemble, CHS Chorale, and Woman's Ensemble all did an amazing job, uniting their voices in song. The musical selections provided respite, intrigue, and inspiration for the listeners and the singers. The Woman's Choir sported new concert dresses and pearls, sponsored by Crescendo Club Music Boosters. The Woman's Ensemble featured several dynamic and dreamy pieces as they celebrated the change of "Seasons" and the wonder of the stars. The CHS Chorale shared pieces from the Renaissance and Romantic musical periods as well as a lovely "Lullaby". The elite CHS Chamber Ensemble presented a piece from the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton as well as two contemporary choral works titled "Spheres" that takes you out of this world and "Cell Planets" which featured soloist Madeline Houser. The combined chorus of 120 singers finished the concert with an argentinian tango and an uplifting arrangement of "Let the River Run" by Carly Simon. The concert brought the packed house to their feet in support of the program. The CHS singers did a wonderful job! Their hard work paid off and they gained and shared much joy in the process. With all of the beauty surrounding the audience, we want to make sure we take the time to thank Mr. Streiff for his time, passion, dedication, and care for all of our kids. Periscope A Midsummer Night's DreamMany students in the Senior class and AP Language juniors went on a field trip on Oct 19th. This meaningful class trip was lead by our ELA Department who has been analyzing themes this quarter. For those who do not know--This story is a tale of midsummer madness, a memorable comedy filled with mistaken identity, mismatched lovers and mischief-making fairies. Shakespeare's charming comedy ensnares myriad lovers and a rustic troupe of would-be actors in a joyful celebration of love lost, transformed and restored – casting a powerfully pleasing spell on audiences of all ages. Model UN CHS Students participated in the second annual Mentor MUN Crisis Conference. Mr. Mosnik took 15 students to last year's inaugural event and the students had such a great time and were very much looking forward to this year's event. So much so, that they convinced an additional 11 students to join Model UNB this year! That's right, CHSMUN brought 26 students this time around. Out of the six competing schools, Chardon brought the most delegates. Mr. Mosnik's"founding fathers" of Kyle Gessel, Connor Prusha, and Jason Tysl have done an excellent job in recruiting new members. The theme for this year was the growing tension in the Pacific region in Asia. Chardon delegates participated as members of Cabinets from North Korea, South Korea, Japan, the United States, China, Russia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Topics included rules for international waters to help resolve issues in the South China Sea, ongoing tensions regarding the use of cyberwarfare by Russia and North Korea, North Korea's determined efforts to develop a nuclear weapons program, and a potential decision by Taiwan to vote for independence. Students were confronted with issues in real time and responded in real time. The activities called for careful collaboration and critical thinking. For two days, cabinets and the Security Council discussed these issues, wrote press releases, created news videos, held summit meetings, and built friendships with their fellow delegates from other area schools. With some very stiff competition, Chardon managed to bring home six awards. Each committee issued three awards - honorable mention (bronze), outstanding delegate (silver), and best delegate (gold). While facing some great competition in Solon, St. Ignatius, Laurel, Ashtabula St. Johns, and St. Edwards, the following Toppers brought were rewarded for their hard work: Best Delegate Awards - Kyle Gessel, Jason Tysl Outstanding Delegate Awards - Connor Prusha, Emily Fuerst, and Hannah Holbert. Also, this was Emily and Hannah's first conference ever! Honorable Mention - Will Piotrkowski...also his first conference ever! Mr. Mosnik is very proud of the effort of CHSMUN in preparation and execution at the Mentor MUN Crisis Conference II. We are so grateful to Mr. Mosnik and his awesome group of students who are truly learning life skills and networking with the peers! End of the 1st Quarter 64 consecutive days. 1,536 hours 92, 160 minutes 5, 529,600 seconds 1/4 of a school year From your perspective, how did your son or daughter succeed and make strides in their performance this quarter? What worked? What struggles did you notice? How was their time used? Chances are, if you are reading this...you truly care about the performance of your children. We all do. According to recent studies, only 20% of the population sets goals, and as many as 92% of those goals are never achieved. That said, I’ve never met a highly successful person who doesn’t regularly set personal goals. Goals are critical. They keep you focused on what’s important, and allow you to make the best use of your 24 hours each day. When tackled correctly, they force you out of your comfort zone and help you grow more than you would without them. And, perhaps most importantly, they give us control of our destiny. Just by setting a goal, you are taking an active role in driving new and better results in your life. What could be more important than that? Teaching our teenagers to set goals effectively can be life-changing. However, as we teach goal-setting to our children, we need to make sure we’re showing them how to use goals to have the greatest possible positive impact on their lives. Here are six strategies annotated from 7 Mindsets: Teaching Minds, Changing Lives for smart goal setting for teens that can help them maximize the potential of their lives: 1. It must be on their terms The most important thing to remember is that these are their goals, not yours. One of the biggest mistakes we can make as parents is wanting their children to live in their images and in alignment with their definitions of success. In doing so, parents can unconsciously push their children down disingenuous paths that can result in reduced success and meaning from their goals. 2. Connect their goals to the ultimate currency… happiness! What we want for our children is happiness on their terms. Now, what does happiness mean? Is it financial success, simply having fun, or is it much deeper than that? The first part of happiness is defined by high emotions such as love, gratitude and joy. The second aspect of happiness involves actions that seem to make time stand still- because they are finding their way and their purpose. The final component of happiness is finding meaning in what is accomplished in life. As we teach them the value of goal-setting, we should orient them toward this authentic life. A great way to do this is to support their process of self-discovery. This could be as simple as a discussion about their interests and strengths, or as involved as applying and sharing their strengths in the service of others. 3. Help them frame their lives Every year, we ask students to share their dreams and goals. Almost invariably, they focus on planned professions, from athletics to music and medicine to law. Because of the extrinsic nature of our society, it’s easy to get very narrow with our vision for life and lose sight of some crucial components to our happiness. One of the first things you want to do is help your teens frame their lives. Walk them through a simple list of life priorities, which might include things like family, friends, faith, health, education, profession, wealth and social impact. Ask them to consider all these areas as they think about and plan for the future, so they can set goals that will provide the greatest benefit to them. I suggest having them identify their top two or three to get started. This will help them stay focused on a few areas, get some early wins, and set themselves up for larger and greater successes in the future. 4. Teach them to dream big but play small I see goals more as the critical steps we take on the path to our dreams. The things we measure most often improve in our lives, so we must help teens set goals that are specific and measurable. For example, setting a goal to get straight A’s is much less powerful than a goal to use Cornell note-taking to prepare for each course.. Remember that success is never one huge leap. It is almost always a succession of hundreds or thousands of tiny steps forward… and most likely with a few steps backward along the way. The greatest replicator of success is success. It’s both easy and common to give up on goals – and, therefore, dreams – if they’re too lofty or far away. That’s why it’s essential that goals be discrete and achievable. The sense of gratification they get from accomplishing small yet meaningful goals will help sustain the energy and belief as they move towards greater accomplishments. Help them learn the benefits of keeping goals small, manageable and short-term. 5. They need to take stock along the way Setting goals can be a double-edged sword. It can drive purposeful action in our lives and allow us to achieve more over a shorter period of time. However, we need to be careful with ourselves and with our children, because goals can also be a source of anxiety. All of us have the tendency to create a hyper-focus on future circumstances. This can produce an “I’ll be happy when…” mentality, when what we want is to find inner happiness in this moment. With this awareness in mind, try to intertwine the process of goal-setting with an ongoing habit of recognizing existing successes and accomplishments. The present should never be sacrificed for the future, and goals should simply be tools to get the most out of time we have. 6. Make goal-setting as engaging as possible We all know that, when working with teens, we’re competing with a constant barrage of distractions – video games, social media, and high school relationships. This process is predicated on patience and self-discipline, but we need to change it up a bit sometimes to help get the process started. We all want what’s best for our kids. Teaching them to think in terms of setting and accomplishing goals will help them become their own best sources for fulfillment, and provide the recognition that they control the outcomes in their lives. Through smart goal setting for teens, we can give our children the most important gift any parent can give: the ability to thrive in life without us. Topper Time: 2nd Quarter Over the last five days, Mr. Bandiera has been communicating to staff and students about the various Topper Time options for the second quarter. Staff made recommendations during the last week and students filled out an EventBrite ticket to schedule their next opportunities in enrichment and intervention. Options for this quarter include: Intramurals Chemistry Remediation Art and Design Algebra II Help Healthy Snack Time Physics Remediation Geometry Help Civil War Battles and Technology French Language Lab Girls who Code Precalculus Help Critical Thinking Through Chess History of Disney Film Spanish Lab Fantasy Sports/Sports Debate Rest and Relaxation Strategies Rock Band Live Classic Action Movies Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Algebra I Help Holiday Games, Parties, and Videos Literature Through Film Geometry AIR Help Physics and Physical Science Help Chemistry Help and lab Makeup AP Statistics Help Solo and Ensemble Prep AIR Government Prep Silent Study Hall Parent Teacher Conferences Save the Date: Thursday, November 2 (4:30-8:00pm) As you prepare your schedule, please click on the link below to sign up a timeslot for parent teacher conferences for Session 2. https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Chardon_High_School Emergency Medical Forms  Chardon Schools uses an Online Forms platform that allows you to verify the directory information we have on file for your child(ren), make changes if necessary, and submit beginning of the year forms electronically (Emergency Medical Authorization (EMA) Internet usage, photo permission, athletics, etc…). This electronic submission takes the place of the paper forms. Your child’s directory information, along with the district and athletic forms are ready for your review. For families who already have an Online Forms:
For families new to the Online Forms:
Halloween HalloweenTuesday, October 31 is Halloween. However, with all of the excitement leading into week- the Chardon Crazies and the CHS Administration are moving the traditional costume day to Friday, October 27 to align to the theme for the night. Our students have traditionally dressed in appropriate costumes at school for the day. Students will be permitted to dress this year, as long as the outfit properly follows the guidelines below. Staff and administration will be extremely diligent to ensure that all costumes are school appropriate and not a distraction to other students in their classes. Some things to consider when creating your costume:
Crescendo ClubThanks to all who supported our Crescendo Club Cheese and Sausage Fundraiser! Including our generous Patron Form Donations, this fundraiser was a huge success! Our delivery is next Wednesday October 25th so please mark your calendars! Pick-up will be at CHS for the high schoolers who ordered items from after school until 7 pm. Of course, with pick-up we need volunteers to ensure this goes smoothly. Please email (scerbos.oh@netzero.net) with your availability. Many thanks again for all of your support which keeps our music programs alive and strong in all our Chardon Local Schools!!  Click on the image to enter the newspaper Vote for the Chardon CraziesThe Top 9 School Spirit high schools have been determined after more than 23,000 votes from cleveland.com readers. Congratulations to the schools that have advanced to the semifinals. Now it's time to vote for which two schools advance to the Spirit Showdown finals. Vote in the poll below until Monday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. These are the 9 schools competing for the ultimate bragging rights:
Lunch Menu for Next Week Monday Chicken /Mashed Potato Bowl Crispy Chicken Whipped Potatoes/ Home-style Gravy Dinner Roll Steamed Peas Fresh Side Bar Choices Italian Style Paninis Sausage Pizza Tuesday Pasta Bar Cheese Ravioli in a marinara sauce or Homemade Pasta And Meatballs Garlic Bread Steamed Broccoli Italian Ice Pizza Hut Day!! Italian Style Paninis Fresh Side Bar Choice *Baked Fries in Deli Wednesday MEXICAN Walking Taco Taco Meat, Mexican Rice, WG Nacho Cheese Chips, Flame Roasted Veggies, Black Beans, Salsa, Sour Cream, Lettuce Cheese Buffalo Chicken Pizza Italian Style Paninis Fresh Side Bar Choices *Baked Fries Bistro line Thursday Breakfast Time French Toast Belgium Waffles Strawberry or Blueberry topping Sausage links Warm Cinnamon Apples BBQ Chicken Pizza Italian Style Paninis Fresh Side Bar Choices Friday Backyard BBQ Home-style BBQ Pork Patter or on Bun or Mac and Cheese Baked Beans Peas and Carrots Italian Style Paninis Meat lovers Pizza Fresh Side Bar Shining Star Cleveland: This Sunday
ASVAB
 click to learn more With so many outstanding achievements this week, be certain to take the time to share in the success stories of your children this weekend!
Douglas Murray Principal 10/10/2017 The @chs_dmurray Week in Reflection: 10/13One Day At A Time This week was another opportunity to grow at Chardon High School. It is hard to believe that we are rounding third and heading home at the end of a quarter. As Principal, one of the most essential responsibilities is to be an instructional leader. Managing my time is essential. Everyday, I have a list of mission-driven tasks and goals to accomplish. There is always the plan, and then there is the reality of the undocumented needs that arrive in my office any given day. We all know that this is all apart of the master plan of leadership. Finding the time to multi/multi-task becomes an essential task in the life of a building administrator. A few years ago, I was teaching students and trying to make a difference in the lives of students through learning, service, and athletics. Today, I am blessed to serve nearly 1000 students, and 70 adults in living our mission. I have always been a progressive thinker in education. I am a reflective learner that strives to refine my practice all the time. I am certainly a player to a greater team, but I am never content with second. Oh...I accept the outcomes, but I work tirelessly to strive for more, be more, and live more. Everything surrounds my personal mission statement, and individual purpose which connects to the vision of Chardon Local Schools. Our choices are one thing that we can control. Our actions emulate our choices, and our character defines our lives. This mantra helps define our purpose. I am a big advocate of empowering students, and adults all of the time. One of the biggest questions that our children asked at an early age was "why!?" Why does this happen, Why does this do that, or Why are we going here...to a simple-- why does why, why! Asking probing questions enhances our curiosity throughout life. Many years ago, you chose Chardon as a place to live. You valued the beauty, community, safety, opportunity, and education. There are many other factors that played a role in your decision to choose Chardon Schools, and you entrust us in preparing your children for college, career, and life readiness. We have a shared responsibility in this rearing. In this Week in Reflection, I will share several ways that makes the Chardon Way, the Better Way. Dynamic TeachersOver the last three weeks, I have observed seven teachers formally and informally. As I scribe and document the countless activities that are going on in the lesson, I think to myself...we have phenomenal educators and students. Our teachers plan purposefully to align the academic standards in unique and creative ways. Our teachers have utilized their PLC Meetings to define the clarity of outcomes, refine common assessments, and prepare for high yield instructional strategies. The hard work that our educators are putting in are being modeled and facilitated by our students throughout the activities and assessments that they are learning. Content mastery is a key lens that has lead to many creative outlets for student achievement. Family and Consumer Science Students in the Family and Consumer Sciences class, Living on Your Own (LYO), are studying the use of credit. LYO students Jeni Bender and Katie Zmarzly invited Mrs. Sonya Kaser and Mrs. Cheryl Radvansky to our classroom to cover some important basics. Mrs. Kaser and Mrs. Radvansky, both from Key Bank, discussed the importance of understanding how credit works and knowing how to use credit wisely. They explained what credit scores are, how an individual's score is compiled, and the importance the score plays when applying for credit. They concluded their presentation with suggested steps a young adult might take to begin establishing good credit. Next week, LYO students will analyze and compare annual fees and interest rates of various credit cards offered by different companies. Students will do this analysis using authentic credit card applications donated by various local businesses. Students will also examine how each type of credit determines the finance charge. This unit on credit equips LYO students with important and valuable knowledge as they plan their transition into the real world after high school. ASAPThis week the CHS student-led Active Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) group kicked off the second year of teaching Project Alert to the entire 8th grade student body at Chardon Middle School. In preparation for teaching, some of the ASAP students attended a field trip at Camp Asbury focusing on team building. Upon returning to CHS, students reflected on their takeaways from the day and identified a personal goal they would like to achieve through this experience. A freshman summarized his take away from the day as “I learned how all the small pieces contribute to make the big piece stronger and able to work better”. During Wednesday late start, 55 students walked to Chardon Middle School to begin teaching Project Alert. The lesson this week focused on getting to know one another through a variety of ice breakers. Future weeks will focus on lessons designed to motivate non-use among middle school youth, recognizing both internal and external pressures, and practicing resistance skills. A Hilltopper shoutout goes to senior Chelsea Brickman for her leadership in organizing the Project Alert teams and activities. Schedule Change For NEXT WEEK Most of the senior class and AP Language juniors will be on a field trip Oct 19. Unfortunately, the only performance day they could accommodate a group of our size was on a Thursday. Therefore, we agreed to switch Oct 17 to a Black Day and Oct 19 to a White Day. This way the kids aren't missing a block day to attend the play. This DOES NOT impact the start and end times of the school day. Class begins at 7:30 AM. Monday, October 16: White Tuesday, October 17 Black Wednesday, October 18 Red Thursday, October 19: White Friday, October 20: White (End of Q1) Emergency Medical Forms Chardon Schools uses an Online Forms platform that allows you to verify the directory information we have on file for your child(ren), make changes if necessary, and submit beginning of the year forms electronically (Emergency Medical Authorization (EMA) Internet usage, photo permission, athletics, etc…). This electronic submission takes the place of the paper forms. Your child’s directory information, along with the district and athletic forms are ready for your review. For families who already have an Online Forms:
For families new to the Online Forms:
School Pictures - Retake Day School pictures were delivered to those students who ordered them. Picture retake day will be held on Friday, October 20th. If you are having your picture retaken you need to return your pictures packet as well. If you missed the original school picture day now is your chance to get your picture taken. Picture order forms are available in the office. All students and staff need to have their picture taken for ID badges. Student Lot Closed This Weekend Beginning Thursday, October 12, the Chardon High School student parking lot will be closed at 3:00 PM for sidewalk and apron replacements. It will not re-open until Monday (October 16) morning for regular scheduled school hours. If you have any event that you need to attend at the Chardon High School during this time, please park at either the Chardon Middle School or Maple Elementary. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank you for your patience and cooperation. Steven Kofol Assistant Superintendent Business Affairs Next Week's Lunch Menu Monday Chicken /Mashed Potato Bowl Popcorn Chicken Whipped Potatoes/ Home-style Gravy Shredded Cheese Dinner Roll Steamed Corn Fresh Side Bar Choices, Turkey Cheddar Paninis, Sausage Pizza, Tuesday Asian Fusion Bar Sweet & Sour Chicken with Pineapple or Orange Chicken Steamed Rice Asian Vegetables Fortune Cookie Fresh Side Bar Choices *Baked Fries in Deli Line, Turkey Cheddar Paninis, Buffalo Chicken Pizza Wednesday Chipotle Bar Fajita Chicken, Taco Meat, Mexican Rice, Flame Roasted Veggies, Black Beans or Refried Beans Salsa, Sour Cream, Lettuce Cheese Fresh Side Bar Choices *Baked Fries Bistro line, Turkey Cheddar Paninis, Thursday Italian time Chicken Parmesan W/ Side of Pasta Garlic Bread Seasoned Cauliflower Fresh Side Bar Choices, Turkey Cheddar Paninis, BBQ Chicken Pizza Friday Panera Style Bread Bowl with choice of Broccoli Cheddar soup, Vegetarian Creamy Tomato Soup,BBQ Shredded Pork Turkey Cheddar Paninis, Meat lovers pizza, Fresh Side Bar The Learning CenterIn the Lav Report, students will see 15 life hacks specifically for teens, but adults might find them useful as well. This month's Learning Center Newsletter contains information about ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education. ISTE writes the standards by which students, teachers, administrators and technology coaches should strive for when using technology in the classroom. In addition, the 3D printers recently received at CHS are pictured.  Student applications should be submitted by October 15, 2017 and be approved by the student’s parents and High School Advisor. Meetings will be held once a month on Monday evenings plus one day during the week in Spring 2017. More information and the application can be found on our web site www.uwsgc.org/yfdc. For questions contact Betsy Covington at 216-436-2046 or bcovington@uws.org.  ISSUE 26 FAQ’s - WEEK 2 Q4. I just received my property value reappraisal notice from the Geauga County Auditor and my property values went up. Doesn’t this mean the schools see more revenue? A4. NO. Public school districts in Ohio are on a fixed income. House Bill 920 was passed in 1976 to ensure that school district revenue from property taxes would not increase due to growth in property values. Consider this simple example: Suppose that a property tax levy was passed in the Chardon School District in 1987 that generated $10 in revenue to the school district. In 2017, that same tax levy would still generate only $10 for the school district even though property values have increased since that time. HB 920 adjusts the millage that is charged against property values so that the levy continues to generate $10 in property taxes for the school district - no more and no less. Analysis of HB 920's Impact on School District Revenue (click here to learn more) Here is another example. Suppose a school district only had four property taxpayers and only one tax levy that generates $3,500 for the school district. The graph below shows property taxes paid before and after reappraisal.
Why? Because HB 920 keeps school district on a fixed income. The taxpayers do not see an increase in their property taxes due to the increase in property value. But all property values don’t increase by the same amount. What happens in that case? Consider the chart below. Same school district with only four property taxpayers and only one tax levy that generates $3,500/year for the school district.
Q5. Why is the school district replacing fluorescent lights with new LED lighting if there is an operating levy on the ballot? A5. Work began last week on a district-wide LED lighting retrofit project that will affect every school in the district. Hambden ES was the first to see the installation of new LED fixtures in classrooms, offices, hallways and gymnasium spaces. The lighting replacement will see dramatic improvements in the quality of lighting, minimize light fixture maintenance, as well as dramatically-reduced electricity consumption. This project is NOT funded from our General Fund, but from our Permanent Improvement Fund designated for capital repairs. This is a separate fund source from our general operating monies and legally cannot be used for day-to-day operating expenses. The payback period for the lighting upgrade is estimated at 2.8 years. This means that after 2.8 years, we will have saved enough money through reduced electricity/maintenance costs to cover the entire cost of the project. Every day after that 2.8 years, we are saving the district money. Work is beginning at CHS this week and will progress through all district facilities over the next 6-8 weeks. We are excited about the opportunity to improve the quality of lighting in our schools, as well as reducing our utility and maintenance costs. A few frequently-asked questions… We are considering new facilities. Why upgrade lighting now? Two considerations. First, it is the right thing to do. The LED lighting being installed will significantly improve the learning environment for students and staff. Second, the projected payback period is only 2.8 years. Even if we proceed with a construction project for new schools, the lighting project will have paid for itself before any new facilities could be completed and will actually be saving the district money. Learn More About the Benefits of LED Lighting (click here) Why are we doing this now rather than before? First Energy, our electricity supplier, offered double rebates for energy savings projects that began by the September 15, 2017 deadline. Chardon Schools qualified for these rebates and took advantage of the program. These rebates helped make the payback period much shorter for the district and will save our school district money on the costs of electricity, light bulb replacement and maintenance. Again, this project is funded through our Permanent Improvement Fund which has no connection to our day-to-day operating expenses of Issue 26. Q6. I missed the Week 1 FAQ’s. Where can I review this information? A6. Here is a link to last week’s FAQ’s. We will also begin posting these on the district website for quick reference. Q7. Where can I get more information on Issue 26? A7. Operating levies are often complex. I am committed to ensuring that parents and stakeholders have all of the information necessary concerning Issue 26. Below is a link to our YouTube Channel CLSD TV and a 30-minute video presenting a factual overview of Issue 26. Issue 26 Overview Video (click here to view video) Halloween Tuesday, October 31 is Halloween. However, with all of the excitement leading into week- the Chardon Crazies and the CHS Administration are moving the traditional costume day to Friday, October 27 to align to the theme for the night. Our students have traditionally dressed in appropriate costumes at school for the day. Students will be permitted to dress this year, as long as the outfit properly follows the guidelines below. Staff and administration will be extremely diligent to ensure that all costumes are school appropriate and not a distraction to other students in their classes. Some things to consider when creating your costume:
Take the time to work on all of the little things this weekend,
Douglas Murray Principal 10/4/2017 The @chs_dmurray Week in Reflection: 9/6Goal Setting and Outcomes We talk about setting goals all of the time in our classes, team activities, and athletic/extra-curricular settings. Goal setting is fundamental to any type of achievement. As one of our core values, achievement can take on a light of academics or personal goal setting. Likewise, we tell our students that If they want to live a life of purpose, setting goals will increase their odds of reaching a desired outcome. The process of setting goals helps bring clarity to the things that are truly important to anyone setting goals. Without a clear vision of what our students want to achieve in their life, they will be left wandering aimlessly through life without a compass that moves them to the right direction. When students set clearly defined goals and create a plan to achieve them, they will begin to live their life by design, not default. They will feel motivated and empowered. Your son(s) and daughter(s) self-confidence will grow and they will begin to feel like they are in control of their life. Take this quarter as an example. It is important to reflect, and self evaluate at many points along the journey. It is important to evaluate these questions: 1. Did I set any goals? 2. Am I on track for my goals or do I need to change direction? 3. Have I taken to the time to celebrate achievements along the way? 4. Are my goals specific? 5. Did I write my goals down? These are just a few questions to analyze along the way towards setting goals. Goals are just words without having a plan, and without writing them down. Often times, students can become quite distracted on their path by how they choose their response to the events that unfold to them. Their choices to their responses vary for a number of events that they face. Let me provide a few examples for you: Parents, Schoolwork, Friends, Social Media. Parents: Well, since the majority of my audience are parents, I would like to let you know that I understand the selective listening process that generally leads to all of us losing hair, turning gray, and taking medicine. Children hear noise. They are developmental mammals that have a prefrontal cortex that is still growing...that is, of course, until we rip off the earbuds--take the phone (which steals from the prefrontal cortex) and clearly articulate into the ear canal what we want these young mammals to know. Honestly, not all of our children are that selective to hearing...although we blame the genes of the spouse. But, our kids are filled with noise....so much noise and information that there can be, at times, information overload. It is so important for all of us to realize that in order to change the culture; we need to change our response. Parenting is key. It is OK to take the phone. It is OK to ground. It is OK to set boundaries. It is OK to turn off devices. It is OK to parent and say NO. This is not novel, it is just important to be reminded that we are in this together. Just like there are books to help you with what to do when you are expecting...there are countless grandparents, parents, and inspirational people that helped us through the ages of 14-18. Schoolwork: Students, the key to your success is time management. The majority, yes the majority of all of you have a study hall---some more---to get your daily work started and even completed. Use your time wisely. Write things down. Prioritize your work and set timelines for yourself. Topper Time provides for you the opportunities to maximize on your learning. Some of you are in some well needed enrichment, and many of you are in a specific Topper Time. Flex your pass to get help. I will continue to collaborate and work with all departments to assess the purpose of any given assessment--especially for homework. If you feel overwhelmed in your classes, see your teachers. They truly care for your well being. They want you to be successful...but remember, you are in high school. You have to take responsibility for what you know and do not know. Your teacher wants you to take initiative in your learning. Will they check on you? Absolutely...they will help you through each finish line. Be conscientious of your role as a young learner. In a world that is so stuck on grades...I care more about your learning. I care more about you mastering the content then the end mark. If you learn, then you will succeed and receive the mark that you earn. Friends: We spend so much time focusing on our values--be sure to value yourself. You matter. I take the time each week to write to you for a purpose. Please Listen. Your actions offline, and online matter. Your integrity matters. How you act on Saturday night...should emulate how you act on Tuesday morning...but, does it? What you say in text messages and social media is how you should speak on the daily...but...does it? Our values do not end on Friday at 2:31pm. Values are measured by the sum of your actions. There is no specific situation that I am writing about....so conspiracies can end. Often times, I have conversations with young leaders about what they are saying online that I know is not how they act offline. Or, there is the typical parent teacher conference that a teacher shares how a son or daughter is "such a joy in class" and the parent says..."you should see them at home... " Students, at Chardon, we act differently, expect honesty, and model values. Every person has a story. Respect that. Just like your story is respected. Social Media: What was meant for goodness can become the enemy of clear communication. How would you like my Week in Reflection to read: LOL ICYMI TGIF #RallyTogether #ThisIsUS <3 #ROTFL Not only would I lose my mind translating--parent's would give me #WTH and students would unfollow me. Students, it is OK to unplug. It is healthy. You will not lose your vision. Play outside, walk, read, or even better --open your mouth and communicate. You will be just as relevant tomorrow. In the words of Kendrick Lamar, Be humble. --end of preaching Welcome to Chardon! The Actively Caring Leadership class decided that they needed to give the 66 "new to the district" high school students a grand welcome. The guests of honor were invited to join the Actively Caring Leadership students for games, ice breakers and lunch. By reaching out to these new Chardon High School students these leader servants felt they could help smooth the transition into our community. Developing relationships with caring and compassionate leaders help build our community by emphasizing our core values! Thank you, Mr. Mizen and our amazing students for welcoming our new Hilltoppers! You Rock! NHS ServiceOn Sunday, October 1st, members of the Chardon High School Chapter of National Honor Society helped members of the greater Chardon community prepare for the winter ahead. The students were appreciative of the opportunity to give back to the community (and of the cookies and treats provided by the grateful community members)! What is Issue 26? Q1. What is Issue 26? A1. Issue 26 is a 3.9 mill operating levy to fund day-to-day operating expenses for the school district. The revenue from Issue 26 will not be used for school construction. Q2. Why is an operating levy necessary at this time? A2. The primary reason the district to seek an additional operating levy is budget reductions in our state funding over the last two biennial budgets. Every two years, the legislature adopts a budget to fund all departments funded at a state level. In general, while the legislature points to increasing funding for PK-12 Education across Ohio, districts like Chardon have seen significant reductions in their funding from the State. The legislature classifies our district as a “wealthy” district with more ability to support education at the local level.
A3. In a recent survey conducted by the school district:
Freshman MentoringOur Freshman are truly amazing. Check out one of the icebreaker activities that our seniors organized during a Friday session! Ring Orders Josten's will be at the high school on Tuesday, October 10 to take ring orders during lunch periods. Ring packets were handed out to Sophomores this week in English class. Extra packets are available in student services. Yearbook: Senior Pictures SUBMISSION DEADLINE for senior pictures are Thursday, JANUARY 11, 2018Requirements for your senior picture:
Note: Digital submissions are much preferred and strongly recommended in order to preserve quality of the photos. Illness at school If the situation arises in which a student needs to use their cell phone for any reason, they may do so with administrative permission and supervision. If a student feels ill at school, they must follow procedures and go to the nurse. Students cannot have parents call them out of school for personal illness without seeing the nurse. Preventative Actions to Keep You SafeRecently, we have been seeing an increase in students and staff members impacted with the common cold and flu-like symptoms. Our staff has taken great precautions with sanitizing areas of the building, but the greatest defense against fighting germs is taking precaution. Tuesday, the stomach bug hit me hard...something that I wish on no one. To combat against the changing weather, please read the three-step approach for fighting the flu. VOTE VOTE VOTE Nominating the Best: The Chardon CraziesCleveland.com is sponsoring a spirit contest. Last week, I shared the following note with the committee selecting the most spirited school. I want to nominate Chardon High School's premier student section in Northeast Ohio, The @chardoncrazies has the most spirited high school student section around. Chardon is known for its loving community, top notched educators, excellent academic outcomes, and inclusive student section. We are known for our simplicity, innovation, core values, and outreach in servant leadership. At Chardon, we have faced adversity. We have defined our outcomes and will continue to refine our values to continue our mission as emulating what complete education is meant to serve. The students entrust our educators as an extension of their families. In doing so, our educators empower our students to live their lives with a purpose. In Chardon, we understand the beauty of humility and outreach. Our cheerleaders spend countless hours creating an arena of school spirit that has redesigned an older structure into a culture of pure imagination. The main floor is covered with a scaled football field. Signs hang from all over the building encouraging all of our athletes. The pride of the red and black, #TopperUP, and our culture reminds the students of who we are...for WE ARE CHARDON. We are a little bit country and a whole lot of soul. We understand the values instilled by our families, community, and treasured tradition. What has transpired over the past several decades is the one and only premier student section that all conferences look to: The Chardon Crazies. Oh, and we are Crazie...Crazy for our school. We believe that Topper Dogs are what energizes the spirit at 7:00 AM on game days. We are the school that has the drumline pounding through the halls on Fridays. We are known for dressing alike...often times to raise awareness for diseases, school outreach, patriotism, and school pride. We are known for wrapping our arms with other student sections, surrounding our team and band during the alma mater, raising the roof in the gym know as "the barn"...and our focus on unity. We are the Chardon Crazies. We are flattered and humbled that other schools want to be like us. Come and see us and at a game near you. WE WERE NOMINATED! NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE Good afternoon, Congratulations! You are in the running for our Best School Spirit contest. Voting is now under way for the first round. The top 9 schools will then move on. Polls are open until Oct. 12 at 7 a.m. You are invited to vote once per hour in each poll. http://www.cleveland.com/best/2017/10/vote_in_three_regional_best_sc.html Spread the word to your students, parents, alumni and friends. Good luck! Weekend Highlights #RallyTogether with family and friends!
Douglas Murray Principal |
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