The @chs_dmurray: Week in Reflection

We Define Our Story

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. --Helen Keller

Character defines the very essence of who we are, where we are, and demonstrates the pureness of our choices. At Chardon High School, we recognize the beauty of every student and every staff member's' story along with seeing the value of the human spirit. Our staff emulates compassion and love to the children that they encounter each day. People often ask me, "what makes Chardon unique", and I immediately tell them that our school community epitomizes excellence in every deed, word, and lesson. Our staff teaches students to understand the value of developing meaningful relationships and ways to pay their lives forward. These lessons transcend the curriculum to develop young men and women not only for college, and careers---but for life.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree. “ Our teachers express that character is much more than just reputation...it is who we are even when nobody's watching. Having a good character means doing the right thing just because it is right to do. This is the fabric that creates our outreach programs in Project Linus, Great Pal's, AC4P, FMP, NHS Tutoring, and other acts of servant leadership.

Every family has their own story. As you reflect upon this- you may think about those inside of your circles that hurt or may be suffering from emotional or physical ailments. Just as your own capacity for handling situations vary---the person next to you is experiencing their own story. It is so important to recognize those who might need your patience and understanding with their situation.

Just as every family has their own story, so do we at CHS as a larger family. Together, we define the paths set forth before us. We are Hilltoppers. As Hilltoppers, we climb higher than others, and model with humility our values as a beacon of hope for those that look up to us. The paths that we have faced have not been easy. There have been moments of difficulty, moments of sorrow, along with defining moments of integrity.

We are not defined by a calendar. We are Chardon, born and raised. Defined by consistency in action and the determination to succeed by living the truth and leading the way with dignity.

Kindness resonates into every fiber of who we are. It changes us to strive towards being better, it helps us to slow down and really pay attention to who we are and what our purpose in life actually is.

Life is a journey up the side of a mountain, but we are 'Toppers. We love to live, and live to love. As Principal, it is important for me to tell you how much that you are loved.

Anniversary Reactions: by JOHN C. FLANAGAN LCSW

Heart-2-Heart Dance

I just want to take a moment to thank Mr. Mizen, his Leadership class, and our amazing students for such a meaningful Valentine's Dance! 

​Hosted by Chardon High School students, University Hospital Geauga Medical Center and the Geauga County Department on Aging, the party was a celebration for golden-agers and a means of connecting generations.

A beautiful lady from the Senior Center said, "please tell the school, Thank you!" she continues, "sometimes we feel forgotten and disconnected with the youth and today reminded me of the beauty of humanity...it is the best feeling that I had in decades."

If that doesn't give you goosebumps. WOW.

Free Harmony: Mentor Show Choir Festival

​On Saturday, February 18th, Free Harmony, Chardon High School's show choir participated in the Mentor Show Choir Festival hosted by Mentor Top 25.  The festival featured a variety of top groups from Mentor, Perry, Madison, Aurora, and Mayfield.  It was a great program attended by over 1,000 audience members.  Free Harmony brought high energy to the stage as they presented modern songs of Broadway including "Step One", "Brand New You", "Stronger", and "Dancing Queen".  Congratulations to Free Harmony for an outstanding job representing themselves and CHS on the big stage!

Emergency Medical Authorization Forms

Chardon Schools uses an Online Forms platform that allows you to verify the directory information we have on file for your child(ren), make changes if necessary, and submit beginning of the year forms electronically (Emergency Medical Authorization (EMA) Internet usage, photo permission, athletics, etc…). This electronic submission takes the place of the paper forms.

Your child’s directory information, along with the district and athletic forms are ready for your review.

For families who already have an Online Forms:

• The link can be found here.
• If you have forgotten your username or password please call your child's building secretary.

Ignite Your Career!

Today’s students are facing very difficult choices as they graduate from high school.  Most people believe that without a college education, students will not be able to get the jobs they want and need in order to support themselves.   Yet, the amount of debt that these students face is staggering – and sometimes students are still not able to find good jobs that are satisfying and supporting of a reasonable life style.  AND - there are many good jobs available that need a different kind of training.   These jobs can appeal to students who are not interested in college - at least right now - they can offer good pay and benefits and good opportunities for growth.  

Geauga Growth Partnership and the Geauga County business community is working on this issue and there are some exciting possibilities right here in our county.  We believe this can be a help to you in meeting State-mandated career education opportunities. We’re offering food, some great speakers, and an opportunity to meet individually with local business leaders to discuss options that will benefit your students.  We’re hoping you will continue to help us get the word out to as many people as possible so that they can take advantage of this opportunity.

Ignite Your Career! is more than a symposium, more than a job fair, and it can give students and their parents some crucial information as they consider options in this increasingly complicated world of work.

The flier contains registration information which will help us with our planning.   We appreciate your help with this and look forward to meeting local students and parents. 

​Stress relievers: Tips to tame stress

Is stress making you frustrated and irritable? Stress relievers can help restore calm and serenity to your chaotic life. You don't have to invest a lot of time or thought into stress relievers. If your stress is getting out of control and you need quick relief, try one of these tips.

Get active

Virtually any form of physical activity can act as a stress reliever. Even if you're not an athlete or you're out of shape, exercise can still be a good stress reliever. Physical activity can pump up your feel-good endorphins and other natural neural chemicals that enhance your sense of well-being. Exercise can also refocus your mind on your body's movements, which can improve your mood and help the day's irritations fade away. Consider walking, jogging, gardening, housecleaning, biking, swimming, weightlifting or anything else that gets you active.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating a healthy diet is an important part of taking care of yourself. Aim to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Avoid unhealthy habits

Some people may deal with stress by drinking too much caffeine or alcohol, smoking, eating too much, or using illicit substances. These can affect your health in unhealthy ways.

Meditate or Pray

During this mindfulness , you focus your attention and quiet the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. Meditation can instill a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Laugh more

A good sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but it can help you feel better, even if you have to force a fake laugh through your grumpiness. When you laugh, it not only lightens your mental load but also causes positive physical changes in your body. Laughter fires up and then cools down your stress response. So read some jokes, tell some jokes, watch a comedy or hang out with your funny friends.

Connect with others

When you're stressed and irritable, your instinct may be to wrap yourself in a cocoon. Instead, reach out to family and friends and make social connections. Social contact is a good stress reliever because it can offer distraction, provide support and help you tolerate life's up and downs. So take a coffee break with a friend, email a relative or visit your place of worship.

Got more time? Considering volunteering for a charitable group and help yourself while helping others.

Assert yourself

​You might want to do it all, but you can't, at least not without paying a price. Learning to say no or being willing to delegate can help you manage your to-do list and your stress. Saying yes may seem like an easy way to keep the peace, prevent conflicts and get the job done right. But it may actually cause you internal conflict because your needs and those of your family come second, which can lead to stress, anger, resentment and even the desire to exact revenge. And that's not a very calm and peaceful reaction.

Try yoga

​With its series of postures and controlled-breathing exercises, yoga is a popular stress reliever. Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines which may help you achieve peacefulness of body and mind. Yoga can help you relax and manage stress and anxiety. Try yoga on your own or find a class — you can find classes in most communities. 

Get enough sleep

Stress can cause you to have trouble falling asleep. When you have too much to do — and too much to think about — your sleep can suffer. But sleep is the time when your brain and body recharge. The quality and amount of sleep you get can affect your mood, energy level, concentration and overall functioning. If you have sleep troubles, make sure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, listen to soothing music, put clocks away, and stick to a consistent schedule.

Keep a journal

Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a good release for otherwise pent-up emotions. Don't think about what to write — just let it happen. Write whatever comes to mind. No one else needs to read it, so don't strive for perfection in grammar or spelling. Just let your thoughts flow on paper — or computer screen. 

Music

​Listening to or playing music is a good stress reliever because it can provide a mental distraction, reduce muscle tension and decrease stress hormones. Crank up the volume and let your mind be absorbed by the music. If music isn't one of your interests, turn your attention to another hobby you enjoy, such as gardening, sewing, sketching — anything that requires you to focus on what you're doing rather than what you think you should be doing.

Seek counseling

If new stressors are challenging your ability to cope or if self-care measures just aren't relieving your stress, you may need to look for reinforcements in the form of therapy or counseling. Therapy also may be a good idea if you feel overwhelmed or trapped, if you worry excessively, or if you have trouble carrying out daily routines or meeting responsibilities at work, home or school. Professional counselors or therapists can help you identify sources of your stress and learn new coping tools.

Conclusion

We are so grateful for your kindness, thoughts, and intentions as we transition into next week. Keep in mind the needs of our staff, students, and community.

Likewise, take care of each other. Be together.

Douglas Murray, Principal