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10/3/2016 @chs_dmurray: Week in ReflectionMondayThis 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. Five 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. I believe in reflecting on our "Why" before I assess our"How" and our "What". 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. This week, I am taking the time to share some of the ways that makes the Chardon Way the Better Way. Theater Arts Highlights One of the most popular electives at CHS is Theater Arts. This week, Students were working with improvisational skills. Working unrehearsed, students learned to focus more fully on the motive in each improvised situation. Students developed scenes creating their made up dramatic conflict. The students have been creative, thoughtful, and hilarious. They cannot wait to put on their show for the students and staff at the end of the semester.  Schedule Task Force On Monday- 14 Teachers, 3 Administrators, and 2 Guidance Counselors met to discuss ways that we can look at the time that we have at CHS to meet the needs of all students and all learning outcomes. This Task Force will meet 8 times- looking at specific school data, assess our needs, create surveys, go on site visits, and make any recommendations to the students, staff, and parents by December 14, 2016. I am very proud of this team and their professionalism in participating in this essential task. With all of the advancements in education over the years, it is best practice to look at why we do what we do. The last time that any adjustment was made to our bell schedule was 1999, and before that, 1983. Further communications and parent forums (evening meetings) will be upcoming in November. Tuesday Physics Class It's a bird, it's a plane... What the heck is Mr. Robertson doing on the roof? The answer is physics. Students in Physics were implementing their egg drop lab. The egg drop experiment is perfect for learning about gravity and about how materials interact with one another. The end goal of the experiment is for students to create packaging around an uncooked egg to ensure that the egg can be dropped from a height without breaking. The egg drop project involves several physics concepts that the students have studied in class and other concepts that they will have to research. This is one of 11 events in a year long competition in Honors Physics. Students must construct a device using only paper and scotch tape that keeps an egg dropped from the library roof from breaking. The winner is the team with the lowest mass. This year the team of Ryan Connally, Henry Martin and Dan Eierman took first place with a mass of 6.6 g (about 1.5 sheets of paper!) English Classes English Students had the opportunity to expand upon their learning outside of the classroom this week. These students were able to go downtown the watch the play- Twelfth Night. TWELFTH NIGHT Shakespeare's Enchanting Romantic Comedy By William Shakespeare Hope seems lost when a violent shipwreck separates young Viola from her boat and twin brother. However, tragedy quickly turns romantic when she washes ashore in Illyria –an exotic island that is about to be turned topsy-turvy by love. To survive in her strange new world, she disguises herself as a boy messenger and enters the employ of an island inhabitant. Activities Fair Chardon High School is home to dozens of student-run organizations. The students and moderators organized an Activities Fair that showcased many of our student organizations. Groups span a wide variety of interests and passions representing leadership/ community service/ student council/ performance/artistic/technology/ athletics and general interest opportunities. Activity Fairs are a great way for student organizations to showcase their group, recruit new members, and publicize upcoming programs and initiatives. If you are interested in joining a club, activity, or sport- please see your Guidance Counselor who will point you in the right direction for contacting the right adult. Girls Tennis The varsity girls tennis team finished their season on a high note at sectionals with all team members advancing through the first round and Singles players Kaylie Malloy, Lauren Nichols and doubles Claire Hammer and Josie Cremeans made it to the quarterfinals. Varsity team ended the season 12-3 7-2 in the WRC Girls Golf  WednesdayThe Hilltop Echo The 2016/17 Hilltop Echo staff has enjoyed it's highest numbers in years as 27 talented young writers are set to produce the official student newspaper of Chardon High School. Having just finished study on an introduction to journalism, the class is ready to publish weekly via our electronic newspaper. Back for his second year as Editor-in-Chief is Owen Vodopivec. Team editors are Austin Arnold and Tyler Palesh working with assistant team editors Allison Wilson and Mitch Bojec. Rounding out the leadership team is Joey Dinko, Director of Social Media. Check them out at www.thehilltopecho.org for the best in Hilltopper news! Below is the Hilltop Echo--- A Throwback from 50 years! Thank you, Dave Jevnikar for sharing this awesome document. Thursday Students in the ABC’s of Investing have begun the Ohio Stock Market Competition, which runs through December 9th. With the Presidential election in the middle, it should be interesting for them to see how politics influences the stock market. Enclosed is a picture of the students investing. The Learning Center Each month, Mrs. Eby (Media Specialist) sends out newsletters and reports for the staff about the news happening out of The Learning Center. Check out her two reports: The Monthly Newsletter, and the Lav Report. Project Love Over 50 students between CHS and CMS went to Mentor High School with Ms. Ann Grantham and Mrs. Blackburn to participate in Project Love. Project Love® programming empowers teens to take the lead in building a culture of kindness, caring and mutual respect in their schools.
It's Playoff Time Not only are the 'Toppers having a historic season, are local teams have a lot to be excited about as the Cleveland Indians are preparing for an October to remember. You gotta believe! Cleveland hasn't won World Series since 1948, but following Cavaliers' NBA title in June, Indians don't feel pressured to end city's championship drought. The students and staff participated in wearing Spirit Wear today. FridayIt's #HighFiveFriday! As we prepare for a huge week for Topper Football, an even more powerful story is emulated in the love of family. We are so proud of Tommy, and Nick. They teach us who to live, love, and cherish the simplest things of life. John Kampf, of the News Herald came to CHS to interview the brothers and their inseparable bond. Read More Follow-up from last week: Are you interested in learning more about GAFE? Let us know and we will prepare a GAFPE (Google Apps for Parent Education) Forum all for you! Contact ryan.bandiera@chardonschools.org if you are interested in a parent night this. Like always, I appreciate you and your insight about ways that we can become a beacon for public education. Thanks for all your support. We look forward to seeing you at an event very soon! Douglas Murray, Principal Next Week Events:
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