Open House Monday was quite a meaningful night at Chardon High School. Throughout the course of the evening, parents followed their son(s) and daughter(s) schedules to meet the teachers. This was a change in format this year from the typical Open House "meet and greet". Teachers and parents were able to spend nine minutes in each classroom. Each teacher had the time to pace their conversation with each group to cover curricular content, course autonomy, and targeted outcomes for the year. We had great feedback from staff and parents and plan to continue the format in the future. Moving forward, I love the idea of starting the evening at 5:30 (in the gym as a group) to meet the Admin, go over the schedule, school nuances, routines, and procedures prior to heading off to the classrooms to meet the teachers. Thank you for sharing the evening with us, and we look forward to seeing you at the many events that we have scheduled this year! Topper Time This week we started the inaugural Topper Time at Chardon High School. I cannot express in simple words how grateful I am to the students and staff for creating such a seamless transition to this purposeful time. All ninth graders reported to Freshman Mentoring with their advisors, and throughout the building students were engaging in numerous opportunities with the teachers and their peers without the stress of a grade attached. It was awesome to see all the grade levels collaborating during enrichment activities, exploring new opportunities in learning, walking the track with teachers, and digging into complex problem solving with their content teachers. One of the greatest moments was hearing how one of our seniors is interested in creating a Topper Time to start a student centered Ted Talk Room...where students present new ideas to their peers are share topics that most interest them in a presentation style forum. I am so proud of our kids! We have such influential teachers that draw the best out of our students. Soon and very soon, we may see you as a guest speaker at one of our Topper Times! Block Days Block Days are a combination of the creative design of Jackson Pollack meeting the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel. It is a beautiful sound of silence. What do I mean by this? Well, the bells are limited and inside of each classroom, teachers are engaging students deeper into content. It is a breath of fresh air to see quietness within the framework of the day, but what is even greater is to see how the time is being used in the classroom. Walking the halls, you won't be able to see much--yet, inside of the classrooms--students are collaborating, facilitating learning, and teachers are digging deeper into the standards of their curriculum.  The seniors are working on their college application essays--drafting, work-shopping, revising--in their English classes. Guidance is visiting senior English classes to discuss the college application process/Naviance. As part of their preparation for the future, seniors English students also create personal websites.  The picture (above) is from Government (Financial Literacy). Students are using the 7 Principles of Economic Decision Making to make a significant decision, such as what college to attend or what car to buy. Late Start Wednesday It is very important to thank Dr. Kelly Moran, her staff and parents for their assistance in creating a smooth traffic flow every Wednesday morning. The Chardon High School Administration has worked with Chief Niehus, Transportation, and Dr. Hanlon in order to improve transportation and morning procedures each day. Tardies have been minimal at the high school. Students know that they should plan and prepare for their departure each morning and use the appropriate roads and documented speed limits. In order to streamline parent drop off on Wednesday, we are asking parents to follow the enclosed drop-off procedures. CHS Procedures for Wednesday Morning (ONLY) 1. All students who arrive after 8:45 AM should use Canfield to enter the student lot. 2. All parents dropping off their children should enter the main drive and pull forward. After your son(s)/daughter(s) are dropped off---please depart down the Alcan beyond the stadium adjacent to the Middle School. Parents will enter North St via the middle school driveway. CMS is in session during our start time. Mr. Bandiera will stand their to assist parents. What we are noticing are cars driving back into the traffic on Chardon Avenue inadvertently causing some delays for cars turning onto Maple Avenue. 3. Mr. Higham will continue to assist students crossing the student lot. Likewise, Mr. Murray will continue to direct traffic into the main driveway. Thank you for helping us with this adjustment to the morning commute. CHS School ProfileEuropean TourWe are pleased to announce a 2018 European Adventure to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Paris next summer, JUNE of 2018! This 13 day tour includes Munich and Bavaria, Lucerne and the Alps, Venice through northern Italy, and the amazing city of Paris and Versailles. This trip is open to ALL CHS students. An Information meeting will be after the MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT on MONDAY, AUGUST 28th, 2017 in the CHS Learning Center (Library) at 7:35pm. Please email Kristen Niedzwiecki, Tour Leader & CHS Spanish Teacher for more information and click on the links below for details. Mrs. Niedzwiecki´s Web Site TOUR INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION Sport UpdateBoys Cross Country finished 2nd, 15 points behind (59 vs 74) last years DII State Champions at the McDonald Billy Goat Challenge. Nate Kawalec took the individual title, winning by over 30 seconds. Brian Horton (Jr) was our Athlete of the Week finishing 10th overall in the meet.   Conservation Scholarship Applications should include: •A letter expressing interest in being considered for the scholarship including your contact information (address, phone, e-mail). •An essay of 500 – 1000 words that describes how your project or activities demonstrate the importance of conservation to you. •Letter of recommendation from a teacher, student advisor, volunteer coordinator, employer or parent. Applications are due by 5:00 PM Sunday September 17, 2017 Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by Sunday October 15th 2017. Public announcement of the scholarship will take place at the 2017 Protect Geauga Parks Conservation Heroes Reception on November 12, 2017. Those awarded scholarships will be invited to attend the Reception to accept the award. Submit your application via e-mail to: pgpscholarship@gmail.com. Or submit hard copy to: Protect Geauga Parks, PO Box 1064, Chardon, Ohio 44024. Questions? Contact: pgpscholarship@gmail.com before September 15, 2017 A Message from Jan Hoffman: School Nurse Senior Parents: Ohio revised code requires all students entering the 12th grade have two doses of the meningococcal vaccine with the second dose being administered on or after their 16th birthday. A student receiving their first dose after their 16th birthday are not required to receive a second dose. Vaccinations can be obtained by private physician, minute clinic or urgent care center, or the Geauga Health District. They have a vaccination clinic on August 10 and September 14 from 3-6 p.m. You can call them at (440) 279-1950 for more information Proof of vaccination must be provided by September 15, 2017 or the student risks being excluded from school. HB410: Truancy, Attendance, and Hours In December 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 410 to encourage and support a preventative approach to excessive absences and truancy. After careful review, our district is implementing guidelines contained in House Bill 410 in order to help support academic success of our students and partner with families to identify and reduce barriers to regular school attendance. Beginning with our 2017-18 school year the following changes will be taking place.
*Notifications to the family will be sent prior to the triggering absences above through Infinite Campus communications. If a student is “habitually truant” our district will follow these guidelines to work with the student and their families.
These changes are taking place because we know that it is important for every student in Ohio to attend school every day. Missing too much school has long-term, negative effects on students, such as lower achievement and graduation rates. We also know that there are many reasons students miss school and want to make sure we are identifying and supporting students who may need extra support and services. We are sure these changes will help increase attendance rates to help students’ progress in mastering knowledge and skills necessary to graduate from high school prepared for higher education and the workforce. Other changes that are implemented due to House Bill 410 related to student discipline include:
Core Values in Action Chardon understands the importance of solidarity. Over the last several years, our community has benefitted from the charitable acts of kindness from people near and afar. Throughout our most difficult moments, we persevered with dignity, respect, and hope. What transpired from these moments were the pillars of our core values: Community, Humility, Achievement, Respect, Optimism, and Nurture. As a community, we have responded internally, locally, nationally, and globally to the needs of our brothers and sisters. Over the past week, countless students and staff have thought of innovative and impactful ways to respond to our brothers and sisters throughout Houston, Texas and the surrounding communities. What has transpired are many extraordinary ideas that will continue our outreach: Senior Projects, Blood Drives, and potentially adopting a school. One of the greatest ways that we can make the most impact is a league wide focus. WRC Challenge Several CHS coaches have been contacted by coaches in Texas requesting support to help their school programs replace equipment through financial, or tangible outcomes. We are all well aware that this is going to be a long recovery, and will take months to sort through--just like Hurricane Katrina. We also know that Houston is in a State of Massive Emergency and many people are creating ways to support them. In the meantime, we know that creating a sense of normalcy is essential for their recovery. After reflecting, we thought---Let's come together as a league and challenge each other to meet the needs of these programs in Houston and surrounding areas. Remember the impact that CHS received during the Madison v Chardon game when both teams stood in solidarity. That moment helped our students be a kid again, together. Likewise, that moment was just as meaningful for Madison. Coming together, the WRC could adopt schools and help kids be kids again and unite their communities. We are in the preliminary planning with this initiative. There are a lot of details that need to be sorted out. In the meantime, consider ways that you might want to join us in supporting our neighbors. Two Seniors are working on ways to define their Senior Project around organizing this initiative. Please take the time to read the information that was sent out by FEMA this week: HOW TO HELP DISASTER SURVIVORS IN TEXAS August 29, 2017 The compassion and generosity of the American people is never more evident than during and after a disaster. It is individuals, non-profits, faith- and community-based organizations, private sector partners, and governmental agencies working together that will most effectively and efficiently help survivors cope with the impacts of Tropical Storm Harvey. Please follow a few important guidelines below to ensure your support can be the most helpful for Tropical Storm Harvey disaster survivors. TO DONATE TO RELIEF EFFORTS The most effective way to support disaster survivors in their recovery is to donate money and time to trusted, reputable, voluntary or charitable organizations. Cash donations offer voluntary agencies and faith-based organizations the most flexibility to address urgently developing needs. With cash in hand, these organizations can obtain needed resources nearer to the disaster location. This inflow of cash also pumps money back into the local economy and helps local businesses recover faster. Please do not donate unsolicited goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, medicine, or perishable foodstuffs at this time. When used personal items are donated, the helping agencies must redirect their staff away from providing direct services to survivors in order to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors. Donate through a trusted organization. At the national level, many voluntary-, faith- and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are trusted ways to donate to disaster survivors. Individuals, corporations, and volunteers, can learn more about how to help on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) website. In addition to the national members, The Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (Texas VOAD) has a list of vetted disaster relief organizations providing services to survivors. Texas VOAD represents more than three dozen faith-based, community, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. TO PERSONALLY VOLUNTEER IN THE DISASTER AREAS The State of Texas is asking volunteers to not self-deploy, as unexpectedly showing up to any of the communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey will create an additional burden for first responders. The National VOAD has also noted the situation may not be conducive to volunteers entering the impacted zone and individuals may find themselves turned away by law enforcement. To ensure volunteer safety, as well as the safety of disaster survivors, volunteers should only go into affected areas with a specific volunteer assignment, proper safety gear, and valid identification. At this time, potential volunteers are asked to register with a voluntary or charitable organization of their choice, many of which are already in Texas and supporting survivors on the ground. The National and Texas VOAD websites are offering links to those who wish to register to volunteer with community- and faith-based organizations working in the field. Most importantly, please be patient. Although the need is great, and desire to help strong, it is important to avoid donating material goods or self-deploying to help until communities are safe and public officials and disaster relief organizations have had an opportunity to assess the damage and identify what the specific unmet needs are. Volunteer generosity helps impacted communities heal from the tragic consequences of disasters, but recovery lasts much longer than today. There will be volunteer needs for many months, and years, after the disaster, so sign up now. Tropical Storm Harvey is still dangerous, with the potential to impact additional areas of Texas and Louisiana. As the situation changes, needs may also change in these areas. Continue monitoring traditional and social media channels to learn more. In other News...Congratulations to CHS 2017 Homecoming Court: Kelley Bolden & Dylan Hemly Clara Kalis & Jimmy Cicero Ally Malloy & Grant Goodge Kirsten Henry & Connor Prusha Kayla Benjamin & Neil Patel Homecoming Weekend is September 15 (Game) , and 16 (Dance) More details to come... ...continueCongratulations to the new CHS French Club officers: President: Emma Jackson Vice President: Kaitlyn King Treasurer: Antonio Tolo If your children take French, ask them about their opportunity to travel to Quebec in June, 2018, or contact Shannon Dalton for more information: shannon.dalton@chardonschools.org  Congratulations! Freshman Class Officers Louisa Piotrkowski Annie Sweet Catherine Condon Cade McDevitt The Week AheadMonday, September 4: Labor Day (NO SCHOOL) Tuesday, September 5: White Day- Periods 1-3, Topper Time, 4-7 Wednesday, September 6: Red Day (Late Start) Periods 2, 4, 6 Thursday, September 7: Black Day - Periods 1, 3, 5, 7 Friday, September 8: White Day- Periods 1-3, Topper Time, 4-7 Have a wonderful weekend with your families and friends!
Douglas Murray, Principal Comments are closed.
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