 I want to begin my Week in Reflection with something to ponder: Action Changes Things. I designed this logo years ago --spending countless hours working with students and staff to refocus the lens of our culture. Back then, many students and staff were forging their path while the atmosphere was foggy. The atmosphere was foggy not by choice but due to a shared experience that began our journey to rediscover who we were as a school community and a town. There was no turning back. Through collaborative planning and design we transcended ourselves into the school we always were: high achieving, service oriented, and a culture of caring. It is almost impossible to document all of the intentional acts of kindness, outreach programs, and academic achievements since this design--but, it is important to go back to our core and sharpen the lens from time to time. Recently, our administrative team and school resource officer have spent a week working with students to remind them that our choices and our actions changes things wherever we are. When we were all kids we played the game of phone. The game was simple and always had a humorous ending. We would tell our first friend one thing and then the next friend would try to tell the next person the same thing without missing a word. By the end of the game, the first statement would be morphed and changed down the chain into something that made no sense. In a controlled situation, this game can be fun for any student to learn the importance of clear communication and active listening. In the real world, this can cause drama, rumors, and stress for many students and adults depending on the context of the story. Unfortunately, the latter happened this week and we spent countless hours to decipher, articulate facts and provide clarity to our school community. Please take the time this week to talk to your son(s) and or daughter(s) about being mindful of what they say, hear, and share. Action can Change Things when we choose how we respond to any situation. However, choosing not to respond or Act can Change Things in ways that we cannot control. The only choice is clear. Be the best version of yourself and choose to act with integrity, honesty, and dignity. February 26: ACT/ Core Value DayIn the spirit of ACTion changing things, enclosed is some very important information to help all our students in grades 8-12 prepare for our ACT/Core Value Day on February 26.
What you need to know: What: ACT Test ... Tuesday, February 26th, all Juniors will be taking the ACT at Chardon High School. Why: Third year of a state requirement to administer ACT or SAT to Juniors as a pathway to graduation. Questions about ACT/SAT Requirement Chardon High School will once again be participating in the State Funded ACT Test for all Junior students on February 26, 2019. This important college admissions assessment is a great tool to help guide our students in their future decisions and is in line with our district goal to see all of our students Employed, Enrolled, Enlisted, or Entrepreneurs. All Juniors are required to report to Chardon High School on February 26th at the regular start time (7:26 AM). Pre-Administration and testing will begin promptly at 7:35 AM. Additional information regarding this testing session will be sent directly to Juniors and their families prior to testing. Core Values Day Students in grades 8, 9, 10, and 12. February 26th will be used as a Blended Learning Day with a focus on the Core Values of Charon (Community, Humility, Achievement, Respect, Dignity, Optimism, and Nurture). Last school year, we were impressed with over 600 students participating in some type of service to their community on this day. Eighth Graders, Freshman, Sophomores, and Seniors will not be permitted to enter school (during testing hours) on Tuesday, February 26. All Freshman, Sophomores, and Seniors must complete a Google Form (will be sent to students the week of February 20th) documenting their service completed on this date to show attendance. The following guidelines can be used to show appropriate activities for this day: Seniors:
Eighth Graders/Freshman/Sophomores:
If you have questions about the ACT or Core Values Day, please contact Mr. Bandiera, Assistant Principal, Chardon High School. Ryan Bandiera Ryan.Bandiera@ChardonSchools.org 440-285-4057 Hilltoppers at Severance  The Hilltopper Bands have the honor of performing at Severance Hall on Sunday, January 27, 3:00 PM, as part of the Northeast Ohio Band Invitational. Symphonic Band will be performing: Pan American by Karl King, Chorale and March by Clifton Williams, New Era Fanfare by Randall Standridge, and Selections from The Sound of Music. Wind Ensemble will be performing: Entry March of the Boyars by Johan Halvorsen, Risk Everything for a Dream by Richard Saucedo, Four Dance Episodes by Gary Gilroy, and Mancini Magic. Tickets are available in the high school band room and are $10 each. Checks payable to Crescendo Club. Melissa Lichtler and guest director, Tracy Paroubek from the CMS Bands will lead the bands that day. Here is the schedule: 2PM - Willoughby South HS Band 3PM - Chardon HS Bands 4PM - Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony (Anna Gerstner representing CHS!) 5PM - Lakeland Civic Band (these from CHS play in this group:Tracy Paroubek, Melissa Lichtler, Brigit Morgan, Ronan Baker) 6PM - Orange HS Bands 7PM - Shaker HS Bands There is a 10-15 break in between each group. We hope you can attend!! One Acts is Friday, January 25!
Chardon High School Yearbook Parent Advertising Agreement for Seniors  The 2018-2019 yearbook staff is once again offering parents of seniors the opportunity to express congratulations to their graduate by purchasing an advertisement in the 2019 edition of the Hilltopper. This has become a very popular tradition in the yearbook. Over the years, the support of parents like you helps us to keep the price of the yearbook constant despite the demand to meet rising production costs. Enclosed here you will find a form indicating the size options of congratulatory advertisements that are available. Start searching for your son’s or daughter’s most memorable baby pictures to preserve in the yearbook forever. You can put a poem, a message, and/or photos (old or new) in your salute. All you have to do is submit the information you would like included. Then we take care of the rest and design the advertisement for you. If you are interested, fill out the next page of this order form and return it to the main office at the high school with your check payable to Chardon Board of Education. Please submit your order no later than Friday, March 29th, 2019 so that we can meet our printing deadlines. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the yearbook adviser, Daniel, at daniel.chenoweth@chardonschools.org Thank you in advance for your support. Sincerely, Daniel Chenoweth CHS Yearbook Staff ICYMI: The Circuit of Success Goes National Almost one year ago (during a snow day), I was pressed to design programming to include eighth graders at the high school- not only academically, but into our culture. The stress of coming up with the right idea (with intention) came to a crossroad. I began storyboarding with Mr. Higham and Mrs. Hetrick and had Mr. Bandiera on a conference call. Ideas were being passed back and forth until an idea to create a non-grading period connecting to our unique lunch period arose. Within a few hours the concept of creating soft skill courses that would benefit students in the short and long term titled Principles courses ensued. We storyboarded key ideas that we were talking about all year: creativity, collaboration, design thinking, global connections, leadership, innovation, problem solving, music and art appreciation, entrepreneurship, and relationships. We thought about our Freshman Mentoring Program, the countless Topper Time experiences that were formed to build relationships and skills, along with our academic courses, the portrait of a Chardon graduate, and Senior Projects. We analyzed our purpose in education and our mission. From that moment, the birth of the Principles of: Leadership, Communication, Global Awareness, Innovation, Problem Solving, and Entrepreneurship were formed. The work was just beginning. Designing over 7,000 course selections into 41 rooms with 78 adults became one of the largest tasks that we embarked on in the history of Chardon High School. We were making history and wanted to plan this right. Essential to the design of the Circuit was inviting and selecting teachers to join the creation process. We selected 10 teachers from various areas to co-create and program the foundational experiences for our students at Chardon High School. The work of our assistant principals, secretaries, counselors, along with our selected teachers for the Circuit: Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, Amber Yeager, Kristen Niedzwiecki, Heather Biernacki, Scott Brown, Dan Chenoweth, Rob Mizen, Al Herner, and Mitch Hewitt commenced. Their vision, along with the vision and support of their colleagues was essential. Last May and leading into the summer was our essential planning time. As we met with parents, students, and teachers we saw the plan coming together. Let's be honest, this was not easy and the anxiety of working with grade levels that we weren't used to was a real stress....then the first day of school began. Quickly we saw the plan coming to fruition. Students were collaborating, solving problems, innovating ideas and marketing them. Students were learning our core values, breaking barriers in communication, connecting cultures... and the best part was there was no grade attached. Kids were learning because learning mattered more than a grade. In early October, Mr. Higham saw an opportunity to share our program at the EdExcellence Conference in San Diego, California. He proposed the idea to our Circuit teachers and they quickly jumped right on board to the idea. Our teachers worked over a few weeks to write the proposal. In December, our proposal was accepted! Then came the difficult part. We have ten teachers in the Circuit. We have previously received grant money...but only a portion of the group could present based on the guidelines that we received. The EdExcellence Group requested student presenters on top of a select group of presenters. I am so appreciative of all of our teachers who collaborated on this initiative and will be forever documented as the authors of the Circuit. As I have shared in previous communications, the Circuit of Success was born out of the mission of Edleader21 and the reality of reconfiguration. The work that our teachers are sharing with the 8th graders is paying off. The students LOVE these courses and the experiences that they are applying. The students shared that the most memorable moments of the Circuit thus far are the job and life skills that they are learning, the relationships that are developing with new peers and teachers, and the skills that they are applying to their day-to-day classes. All of these experiences, projects, and applied lessons are without academic credit. The students know this and quite frankly are putting more effort and pride into their learning. It really makes you think about education and the societal emphasis on grades. I am very proud of our teachers and the support everyone is providing to each of them. This February, I have asked Al Herner, Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, and Rob Mizen to join me and Mr. Higham to attend and present at this conference. We will be taking (4) 8th-grade students to attend and co-facilitate the presentation over two days: Maysen and Alexis Jahnke, Faith Kilfoyle, and Sydney Murray. We will also visit High Tech High. This school was featured in the film, Most Likely to Succeed. We have been planning our presentation over the last few weeks and will be meeting after school twice a week until our presentation. We are planning on presenting a dry run rehearsal on Sunday, February 10 at 1:00 PM at Chardon High School that is open to our school community. All are welcome. Just a warning, it is going to be an active presentation with guest involvement to experience our circuits. If you see Jill Carpenter, Holly Mihalek, Amber Yeager, Kristen Niedzwiecki, Heather Biernacki, Scott Brown, Dan Chenoweth, Rob Mizen, Al Herner or Mitch Hewitt-- give them some kudos for awesome recognition! GGP Internship Program GGP’s Internship Program is helping high school students prepare for the workplace by offering a real-world work experience. Hear from several interns as they share their experiences. The Internship program is open to all Geauga County resident Junior and Senior high school students. The paid internships are awarded through a competitive application process and in-person interview experience. 2019 Cleveland Clinic Summer Internship Program and Destination Application WorkshopThe application for the 2019 Cleveland Clinic Summer Internship Programs is open and accepting applications from students. Our Destination Application Workshop sessions are accepting reservations to attend. Attached are two flyers with information about our 2019 Cleveland Clinic Summer Internship Program and information and scheduling information for our 2019 Destination Application Workshop Sessions. Both flyers contain links to the appropriate webpages to apply to our programs and/or RSVP to our workshop sessions. Your assistance in distributing this information to all is greatly appreciated. please help us by making your students, co-workers and educators aware of our summer programs and application assistance workshop. Parent Teacher Conferences/ Curriculum Night and CCP Evening Enclosed is the link for parent teacher conferences Top Gun Tournament
This past weekend, we sent 11 wrestlers to the Top Gun tournament, in Alliance, Ohio. This tournament is notoriously tough. Out of 43 teams, Chardon placed 14th, which is a record high. Out of our 11 wrestlers, 3 made it to the podium, in their weight class Junior Jake Hamulak, went 4-1, placing 2nd Sophomore Jaden Farris, went 7-2, placing 5th And Junior Jaret Hall, went 5-3, placing 6th Great job, Gentleman!! Come see our team in action, this Saturday, January 26, in The Barn. Wrestling begins at 9  Art Show Core Value Team Presents: Teen Vaping, It's Not What You Think  Vaping has become a trend in high schools nationwide including Chardon High School. Please join us for this important conversation on vaping and the health risks for teens. We are pleased to have Dr. Ellen Rome as our speaker. Dr. Rome has been the Head of Adolescent Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic since 1994. She received her BA from Yale, her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, and her Master's in Public Health from Harvard University. She is a local, national and international speaker on a variety of topics impacting youth. She is also the co-author of two books with Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen, You: The Owner's Manual for Teens and You: Raising Your Child from First Breath to First Grade. Please make plans to attend this important event on Teen Vaping at CHS. Officer Carlson, Chardon Police Department, and Missy Bell, Ravenwood Health Center will be on the Q &A panel to answer your questions about vaping. Officer Carlson has been with the Chardon Police Department for 3 1/2 years. Prior to this, he was on the police force at Bowling Green State University. Missy Bell is an Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant with Ravenwood Health Center and has worked with youth and parents in the drug and alcohol prevention field for over 14 years. A Night At The Races Summer SoftballGeauga County Maple Festival Topper Bistro
We Are Back!  Sometimes we choose the way the world sees us. Black box - indestructible. Jewelry box - plain on the outside, shiny on the inside. Sometimes our box is defined by others - our parents, our friends, our enemies. A box built by others can feel small, confined, impossible. How do we handle the boxes imposed upon us because of our gender? Our race? From peer pressure? From parent pressure? Do we have to live with our box for the rest of our lives? Can we change? Meeting Thursdays at CHS after school to 4:30 Shows at Geauga Theater May 9 at 7pm and May 11 at 2pm Possible Travel Performances at CMS – TBD Cost :$100 ( includes tee shirt, use of theater, staffing, scripts, royalties) Registration forms/fees to CHS office by Feb. 8 / Start Feb 14 Instructors: Julie Douglass and Karen Porter Contact:kadoug@windstream.net FORMS AVAILABLE CHS OFFICE JAN 23 Chardon Goes to the Musicals  Hundreds of tickets have been sold this school year to Chardon families taking advantage of the Chardon Goes to the Musicals group sales for Playhouse Square. As a reminder, it is not a fundraiser, simply a courtesy to the community. Please contact Elizabeth Fullerman at efullerman@hotmail.com with any questions or to reserve upcoming tickets. After School of Rock, remaining shows for the 2018-19 school year include: A Bronx Tale - Sunday, April 28 at 1pm Dear Evan Hansen - Thursday, June 27 at 7:30pm Come From Away - Sunday, July 28 at 6:30pm Lion King - Thursday, August 8 at 7:30pm Upcoming FundraiserStay warm,
Douglas Murray, Principal Comments are closed.
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