Opening Day Information

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The wisdom of Charles Dickens in the timeless treasure, A Tale of Two Cities, renders many emotions as we dawn on a new day. It is hard to believe that after all the Summer sports and activities-- many parents and students are transitioning in the Fall.  It certainly was a beautiful summer. As we tirelessly prepare for Opening Day, many students are trying to turn the dial of the clock and some parents are trying to speed it up. Soon and very soon, the bells will be singing a new sequence at Chardon High School.

I am truly blessed to enter my fifth year at Chardon High School. I love everything about our students, staff, and community. Chardon is my home, my family, and my foundation. Many of you have met me and read the hundreds of communications within the Week in Reflection. This Fall, we are welcoming over 250 Freshman into the treasured history of Chardon.

I have spent most of my life writing and speaking in metaphors, analogies, and parables. Empowering people to reach beyond the surface of knowledge is one key to the success of any organization. Furthermore, cultivating a community that thrives and nurtures students to define themselves within their story is what makes us so strong at Chardon.

Together, we have carried the yoke of many blessings and burdens in the past year. Simmering to the surface is the reality that your influence matters, your words matter, and your efforts are the key elements that make us so strong.

As we plan and prepare for the dawn of a brand new academic year, we have so many things to look forward to at Chardon High School. We have such strong educators and wonderful students that walk the halls here every single day. We are embarking on a whole new experience that can naturally cause anxious tendencies. The new bell schedule, Topper Time, new class rosters, and a fresh group of excited educators are just a few snapshots of the exciting energy that we will embrace this August.

We are excited to welcome to the team Dan Chenoweth (Math), Christina Blaschke (Art), Adam Kriwinsky (English), Julie Moeschberger (Math), Tanya Deszczkiewicz (IST), JJ Laseak (IST), Doug Higham (Assistant Principal), Don Reed (Custodian) along with the transition of our new Academy with Dan Dinko and Sharon Zdesar. It is a rarity to have so much movement within one year to the next in Chardon, yet we will continue to live the values instilled with us to nurture our new friends.

Cultivating is an essential task of any person working the land. In a like manner, we cast many seeds of learning amongst various ‘hill’toppers. What becomes essential in the art of educational cultivation is preparing students to see that the harvest may come various times within their high school days. The benefits of the hard work is what can help change the culture of fixed mindsets towards more of a growth mindset and goal setting.

My continued vision for this year is to cultivate and continue to build upon the rich traditions and academic rigor set forth by our strong staff and wonderful students. We have many new adjustments to the structure of our schedule and the time that we spend with your children.
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To best prepare for the new year I would like to share with you some important dates:

August 10th and 11th             Chromebook Distribution
August 11th                                   Meet the Toppers (Fall Sports) 7pm
August 11th and 14th:             New Teacher Orientation
August 15th:                                  Welcome Back Convocation for our Staff
August 15th:                                      Freshman Orientation 3:00-4:30 pm (Students Only)
August 17th:                                 1st Day for Students (White Day- Periods 1-7)
August 18th-August 22nd:    White Day: Periods 1-7
August 22nd:                                 All School Picture Day
August 23rd:                                  First Late Start/First Block Day: Red-Periods 2,4,6 (Class begins at 9:10)
August 24th:                                  First Block Day: Black-1,3,5,7
August 25th:                                  Opening Night: West Geauga @ Chardon 7 pm

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Key Date and Details

Key Details
Chromebook Distribution

August 10, 2017     (4:30-7:30 PM)
August 11, 2017     (11:00AM- 3:30PM)

During the days of August 10-11, students will have the opportunity to pick-up their Chromebooks in the Learning Center with the purpose of having them to start the year off without any interruption to the academic calendar.

August 15, 2017: Freshman Orientation 3:00-4:30 pm (Students Only)

9th graders will come to school and meet the administration and 9th grade teachers. The meeting will follow the same format: Admin information, Guidance info, and students being escorted by CHS students to meet their teachers, classrooms, etc.

August 17, 2017 1st Day Of School: Welcome Back! Note the schedule for the day.

White Day

(1st)                                                 7:30-8:17   (47)
(2nd)                                                8:20-9:07  (47)
(3rd)                                                 9:10-9:57  (47)
(Grades 9-12 Meeting)         10:00-10:30  (30)
(4th)                                                 10:33-11:20 (47)

(5th)                                                Lunch A (30)          11:23-11:53    
                                                           Class (56)              11:57-12:53   w/ Announcements
                  
                                                           Class (27)              11:23-11:50    w/ Announcements
                                                           Lunch B (30)          11:53- 12:23  
                                                           Class (27)              12:26- 12:53

                                                           Class (56)              11:23- 12:19     w/ Announcements
                                                           Lunch C (30)          12:23-12:53


(6th)                                               12:56-1:43  (47)
(7th)                                               1:46-2:33   (47)

August 18, 2017 Schedule for the Day

We are running another White Day Schedule with an adjusted Topper Time period so that the Seniors can begin scheduling for this time. Freshman will head to their first day of Mentoring; 10th and 11th grade will remain in 3rd period for 30 minutes to go through the handbook, organize their lockers, and get acclimated with the schedules.

(1st)                                                7:30-8:17   (47)
(2nd)                                               8:20-9:07  (47)
(3rd)                                                9:10-9:57  (47)
(Grade 12 Meeting)                       10:00-10:30  (30)
(FMP Day 1)                                        10:00-10:30 (30)
(Grades 10/11: Extended 3*)    10:00-10:30 (30)

(4th)                                                10:33-11:20 (47)

(5th)                                                 Lunch A (30)          11:23-11:53    
                                                            Class (56)              11:57-12:53   w/ Announcements
                  
                                                            Class (27)              11:23-11:50    w/ Announcements
                                                            Lunch B (30)          11:53- 12:23  
                                                            Class (27)              12:26- 12:53

 Class (56)                                     11:23- 12:19     w/ Announcements
 Lunch C (30)                               12:23-12:53


(6th)                                                  12:56-1:43  (47)
(7th)                                                  1:46-2:33   (47)

August 21, 2017: Schedule for the Day

We are running another White Day Schedule with an adjusted Topper Time period so that the Juniors can begin scheduling for this time. Freshman will head to their second day of Mentoring; 10th and 12th grade will remain in 3rd period for 30 minutes to go through the handbook, organize their lockers, and get acclimated with the schedules.

(1st)                                                   7:30-8:17   (47)
(2nd)                                                  8:20-9:07  (47)
(3rd)                                                  9:10-9:57  (47)
(Grade 11 Meeting)                        10:00-10:30  (30)
(FMP Day 2)                                         10:00-10:30 (30)
(Grades 10/12: Extended 3*)    10:00-10:30 (30)

(4th)                                                   10:33-11:20 (47)

(5th)                                                     Lunch A (30)          11:23-11:53    
                                                                Class (56)              11:57-12:53   w/ Announcements
                  
                                                                Class (27)              11:23-11:50    w/ Announcements
                                                                Lunch B (30)          11:53- 12:23  
                                                                Class (27)              12:26- 12:53

                                                                Class (56)              11:23- 12:19     w/ Announcements
                                                                Lunch C (30)          12:23-12:53


(6th)                                                     12:56-1:43  (47)
(7th)                                                      1:46-2:33   (47)

August 22, 2017 Schedule for the Day/ Picture Day

We are running another White Day Schedule with an adjusted Topper Time period so that the Sophomores can begin scheduling for this time. Freshman will head to their third day of Mentoring; 11th and 12th grade will remain in 3rd period for 30 minutes to go through the handbook, organize their lockers, and get acclimated with the schedules. Furthermore, Seniors will be called down for school photos.

(1st)                                                        7:30-8:17   (47)
(2nd)                                                       8:20-9:07  (47)
(3rd)                                                        9:10-9:57  (47)
(Grade 10 Meeting)                        10:00-10:30  (30)
(FMP Day 3)                                         10:00-10:30 (30)
(Grades 11/12: Extended 3*)    10:00-10:30 (30)

(4th)                                                        10:33-11:20 (47)

(5th)                                                         Lunch A (30)          11:23-11:53    
                                                                    Class (56)              11:57-12:53   w/ Announcements
                  
                                                                     Class (27)              11:23-11:50    w/ Announcements
                                                                     Lunch B (30)          11:53- 12:23  
                                                                     Class (27)              12:26- 12:53

                                                                     Class (56)              11:23- 12:19     w/ Announcements
                                                                     Lunch C (30)          12:23-12:53


(6th)                                                           12:56-1:43  (47)
(7th)                                                           1:46-2:33   (47)

August 23, 2017: Red Day Schedule

This will be our first late-start of the year. School Transportation runs at the regular time. The cafeteria and gym areas will be monitored by staff. We have worked with transportation to expedite a holding pattern for Maple Elementary as two school stagger start times. Student drivers will use the north entrance (pool side) for entering the student lot. Parents, please pull all the way up the main drive to drop of car riders. Students may be dropped off throughout the entire length of the sidewalk. This will expedite the morning flow.

7:15-9:00                                              Teacher Meetings
7:15-9:00                                              Test Make-up

(2nd)                                                         9:10-10:40  (90)

(4th)                                                          Lunch A (35)        10:45-11:20  
                                                                     Class (90)            11:25-12:55   w/ Announcements
                 
                                                                     Class (45)             10:45-11:30  w/ Announcements
                                                                      Lunch B (35)         11:34-12:09  
                                                                      Class (42)            12:13- 12:55

                                                                      Class (90)              10: 45-12:15  w/ Announcements
                                                                       Lunch C (35)          12:20-12:55


(6th)                                                            1:00-2:31   (90)

August 24, 2017: Black Day Schedule


(1st)                                                              7:30-9:05  (90)


(3rd)                                                              9:10-10:40 (90)

(5th)                                                               Lunch A (35)        10:45-11:20  
                                                                          Class (90)            11:25-12:55   w/ Announcements
                 
                                                                          Class (45)             10:45-11:30  w/ Announcements
                                                                           Lunch B (35)         11:34- 12:09
                                                                           Class (42)             12:13- 12:55

                                                                           Class (90)             10:45-12:15  w/ Announcements
                                                                           Lunch C (35)          12:20-12:55


(7th)                                                                1:00-2:31  (90)

August 25, 2017     White Day with Topper Time

August 28, 2017: 6:00-7:30 PM

Meet the Teachers/Mini-Class Night

The purpose of this evening is for structure and meaningful interaction with parents. Parents will follow their student's schedule. Teachers will have (9) minute classes to go through expectations, curricular goals, and answer questions within a controlled environment. The bell will ring with a (3) minute passing time. Parents will follow the schedule and teachers will follow theirs. The cafeteria will have refreshments, spirit wear, club info.

I am looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks. We are busy preparing the building for a new year and I am very grateful for the work that our custodial, and maintenance staff have put it. In the meantime, enjoy the comfort of this weather with your family and friends! See you soon.


Links

Bell Schedule Info
Annual Calendar
Early Dismissal/Late Arrival/ Open Campus Info
Student Handbook
Google Doc of this letter

Douglas Murray
​Principal