Preparing for the Season
It is hard to believe that we celebrated Thanksgiving a few weeks ago. Preparing for the holiday season can deploy so many emotions: excitement, beauty, new beginnings, and stress. Our response to the season often can act as an amalgamation of all of these feelings all at one time. So, how can you take time this December to prepare for the season?
Excitement: Recall the emotions that you had as a child. You were filled with wonder and awe. Life was very simple in your eyes and everything was pure. These feelings remind us that this time of year is about spending time in the comfort of family and friends while celebrating traditions. Recreate these traditions with your family and celebrate each other. Your time together is so precious. As a child, we cherished these moments. Our children need traditions and memories to pass on these celebrations with their families someday. Stop for a moment to reflect on how quickly your time has come and gone with your children. These moments can never be replicated. We all need to pause and be reminded that certain things at work can wait in order for us to celebrate our children. Beauty: This season is filled with beauty in Ohio. Yes, not all of us love snow. Yet, we cannot ignore its glory around us throughout this season. We know that our lives do not surround the obvious plot twists on the Hallmark channel, but we can pause to see the beauty in the simple things of life. I preach all of the time that we all have a story and together our stories make our community. Take time this month to create new habits for yourself, or even break some tough ones. One of the hardest tasks that dwell deep inside of humanity is being at peace with yourself. As hard as it can be---reduce the noise around you to see the beauty in you. Your life is a gift to be shared and nourished. Take time for yourself to breathe, slow down, and live in the moment. New Beginnings: Celebrate your relationships. This is nothing new to your vocabulary. Many people are uncomfortable this time of year because of failed relationships, mourning, and hardships. I have learned through my father that life is a gift. A year ago, my father was very sick and almost lost his battle with a bone infection and diabetes. Instead of living in fear, he removed the fear---literally. First in his mind, and second in removing the infection in his lower leg permanently. He now is moving and shaking in some new hardware and living life just as he always did. Many of us have a hard time letting go of the past, of feelings, and tough memories. How will you ever grow? Will you run from it or learn becomes of it? Seize every positive moment as an opportunity to expand your humility and every difficult moment as an opportunity to expand your territory and influence. Life is too short to hold on to the past as an ornament. Rather, seize the moment and polish your choices from it. Stress: Without a doubt, this time of year can cause stress. A simple example is to look at our mothers and spouses this time of year. They are stressed because they want everything to be perfect. That's all fine, but if you want your mother or spouse to experience fully the above stated---HELP THEM. This time of year is not to be burdened on the shoulders of one. It is an opportunity to show our love to those that care for us. Besides the stress that our families have during this season, we have our own personal stress. Students have the stress of exams, finals, and projects on top of their job and athletics. Of course, our children love to schedule (without telling us) social gatherings with their friends. Students, take time to check your phone in at the door and converse with your family. The latest post on Snapchat is certainly not as important as talking to a human face-to-face. Likewise, this time of year is a stressful time for staff as they attempt to do all of the above: preserve the excitement with their families, seeing the beauty in themselves, creating new beginnings, and grading all of their exams and projects. I am grateful to each of them as they work together to create new routines in new places while serving our mission. With the time constraints of my job, it so important that I practice what I preach. The students and staff know that they are an extension of my family...but my faith, family, and friends are mission critical to the daily energy and tasks asked of me as one of the building leaders. Be the best version of yourself to those that matter most and live today with a focus on tomorrow. 
Midterm Schedule
Chardon High School Schedule: December 14; 17-20
Friday: December 14, 2018 Mr. Strieff and Ms. Lichtler are excited to bring back the Holiday Concert for all students during a split school assembly. The concert will be performed during two assemblies: one for grades 9-12, and one for grade 8. This will provide the opportunity for all grades to see our students perform and help curtail distractions. Jazz Orchestra (approx. 20 min) Big Band Holiday Mary, Did You Know? Jingle Bell Boogie Let It Snow! Trans Siberian Orchestra Free Harmony (approx. 20 min) Most Wonderful Time of the Year There is a Santa Claus Rockin' Holidays Five Favorite Holiday Songs Don't Save It All for Christmas Day Friday Assembly Schedule Chardon High School Schedule December 17th-20th Enclosed Schedule (Please see the attached schedule for further clarity) Midterm Week: The purpose of this week is to meet the educational needs of our students as they prepare for midterms, finals, and project presentations. ALL classes will meet during midterm week. If a class does not have a midterm or a final, they will commence a class period. The only non-mandatory period is study hall. Students do not need to sit in study hall. We will provide supervision in the cafeteria for a silent study hall as needed, but attendance is not mandatory. Parents, please see this form. Will will work with the Special Ed department to allocate accommodation rooms for the week. Important Notes:
Monday: December 17, 2018 7:20-9:20 AM (1st Period) 9:30-11:30 AM (5th Period) Dismissal A la carte lunch available Auburn Juniors return 12:00-2:00 PM (ACC Students-5th Period) Room 1 12:00-2:00 PM Make-up Tests (Periods 1, 5) Room 1 12:30-2:40 PM Teacher Based Teams Tuesday: December 18, 2018 7:20-9:20 AM (2nd Period) 9:30-11:30 AM (6th Period) Dismissal A la carte lunch available Auburn Juniors return 12:00-2:00 PM (ACC Students-6th Period) Room 1 12:00-2:00 PM Make-up Tests (Periods 2, 6) Room 1 12:30-2:40 PM Teacher Based Teams Wednesday: December 19. 2018 7:20-9:20 AM (3rd Period) 9:30-11:30 AM (7th Period) Dismissal A la carte lunch available Auburn Juniors return 12:00-2:00 PM (ACC Students-7th Period) Room 1 12:00-2:00 PM Make-up Tests (Periods 3, 7) Room 1 12:30-2:40 PM Teacher Based Teams Thursday: December 20, 2018 7:20-9:20 AM (4th Period) 9:30-11:30 AM (Make-ups with Teacher) Dismissal A la carte lunch available Auburn Juniors return 12:00-2:00 PM (ACC Students: Make-ups) Room 1 12:30-2:40 PM Faculty Meeting- Cafeteria Parental Acknowledgement Form Suesspeare: Hamlet Hears A Who
I had the wonderful opportunity to watch our 8th and 9th graders in the production: Suesspeare- Hamlet Hears a Who. It was the production that was created by synthesizing the Drama Club for 8th/9th graders after reconfiguration. The cast absolutely nailed this production. The cast and Mrs. Douglas have met once a week for approximately ten weeks--yet, the outcome was fascinating. Imagine Dr. Suess writing Shakespeare. Everything rhymes and is sequenced between whimsical humor and dramatic characters.
This is definitely something that connects with our current ELA themes. I highly recommend seeing the performance. The play is at the Geauga Lyric Theatre and runs for approximately an hour straight. The cost is $5 and helps support future programs. The final show is this Saturday at 3:00 PM. Model UN
December 5-6, 2018: Lorain-Winter Conference at Lorain County Community College – High School
OPENING DAY OF THE CONFERENCE
8:00-8:30 Registration 8:30-8:45 Opening Ceremony 8:45-11:00 Committee Session I 11:00-11:30 Lunch Break (students should bring lunches) 11:30-1:15 Committee Session II CLOSING DAY OF THE CONFERENCE 8:30-10:30 Committee Session III 10:30-10:45 Break 10:45-12:15 Committee Session IV 12:15-12:45 Lunch Break (students should bring lunch for some conferences-check specific conference for details) 12:45-1:15 Closing Ceremony
Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation and/or academic competition in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. MUN involves and teaches researching, public speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities.
Participants in Model UN conferences, known as delegates, are placed in committees and assigned countries, or occasionally other organizations or political figures, where they represent members of that body. They are presented with their assignments in advance, along with a topic or topics that their committee will discuss. Delegates conduct research before conferences and formulate positions that they will then debate with their fellow delegates in the committee, staying true to the actual position of the member they represent. At the end of a conference, the best-performing delegates in each committee, as well as delegations, are sometimes recognized with awards. Chardon High School has grown over the last several years under the direction of Mr. Mosnik and the leadership and vision of CHS Senior, Grace Kilfoyle. We are so proud of the work and passion that Grace has put into sustaining Model UN for generations of Hilltoppers. Lean Training gets really LEAN
Continuous Improvement: Lean Training Reflection by Justin Bloyd
Hi, I am Justin Bloyd, President of RB Sigma and together with my business partner John Gaul we have designed a Lean Six Sigma; Continuous Improvement training program for High School Students. Over the last two weeks, we have had the privilege of training over 30 Chardon Hilltoppers in the Continuous Improvement Methodology known as ‘Lean”. Lean is widely used in all industries and is a set of tools that the students will take with them for the rest of their lives. Once your ‘Lean Eyes’ are opened, you cannot help but see ‘waste’ everywhere you go and want to eliminate it.
Hilltoppers are the first students to go through this training in the State of Ohio and a number of area companies have supported their effort. PCC Airfoils in Mentor, OH has developed a Co-Op program specifically for Hilltoppers and has committed to hiring 2-3 students who have gone through the training with a starting wage of $21/hr. Kurt Struab, Procurement Officer from NASA Glen Research Center spoke with the students about how NASA uses Lean and met with Dr. Klein on how NGRC could be more involved with the Chardon students. As a training company that has focused on adult & industry training, we were uncertain how training today’s youth would go. However, by the end of Day 1, we realized that this group of students was going to be unlike any adult group we have trained. To understand how Lean is applied in manufacturing and transactional industries the training model is a hybrid of lecture and case studies, with the primary focus being on the “Captain Zach” simulation. A hybrid factory that makes sailboats for the Navy out of bristle blocks. As students learn lean topics such as: 5S, 8 Types of Waste, Pull, Value Stream Mapping, Spaghetti Diagrams, and how to run a Kaizen event amongst other tools. They take these problem-solving tools and apply them to the non-value-added process steps required to manufacture a sailboat. Their goal is to manufacture a sailboat at a cost of less than $20 per unit. Roles and responsibilities are assigned to the group and as a team. The students need to work together to decide how to create a more efficient manufacturing process. In a training of adult students half the group thinks they need to be the leader, others want their opinion heard, and a few arguments break out about the best approach to building sailboats. After all, building sailboats is serious business. Students from both sessions did not argue about the approach once. They broke into groups, methodically went through the tools they learned in lecture and were determined to apply them to the next round of the simulation. They were determined to beat the record set by their district administrators in October, of $13.70/unit. I am proud to say that they did just that. The current record of $8.79/unit is now held by Hilltoppers! This is a significant record, as hundreds of adult students from a number of industries have gone through this same training, but without the same results. I believe the reason for this, is that as adults, we try to solve problems at a blazingly fast speed. Without slowing down to think about all the steps and personalities that should be considered along the way. John and I told students in both sessions, that we would be honored to give each student a recommendation for employment, military, college, or help them strategize on how to become a young entrepreneur. Which there were already a few of. Mr. Murray encourages the students every day to know your ‘purpose’ and consider which of the ‘4E’s’ is best for you. Going into this training I was not a Hilltopper, but certainly feel like I am one now! AIR Re-Take Schedule
Students taking an EOC AIR test must report to the media center promptly at 7:20 am. All of these have been notified by their school counselors. Testing will commence approximately at 7:30 am at Maple Elementary in rooms that we have set-up as testing locations and will conclude approximately at 10:30 am. Our building bell schedule WILL NOT be altered on these dates. Students will take these test(s) with their proctors and report to their regularly scheduled classes upon completely the test.
The Learning Center
Attached is the December issue of the Learning Center Newsletter.
This issue contains information on the teaching license renewal process. Many teachers have licenses that expire in June of 2019. Please see the article for information on this important, yet infrequent task. There is a second article that restates some of the services provided by the staff at the Learning Center. Please take a look to see the many ways staff and students can be helped when visiting the library. Topper Bistro
Spain, France, Italy
There is still time to join us this summer to Spain, southern France, and Italy! If you are interested, please contact Senora Tekavec at stacy.tekavec@chardonschools.org or Casey Ptasznik at casey.ptasznik@chardonschools.org
This is an unforgettable experience for your son/daughter! 
Have a beautiful weekend with family and friends!
Douglas Murray, Principal Comments are closed.
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