The @chs_dmurray: Week in Reflection

The week in an image

Photo: courtesy of Maya Pedersen

It is really hard to express (in simple words) what a phenomenal week that we all experienced at CHS. We had a solar eclipse, class meetings, scheduling Topper Time, our first late start, Teacher Professional Learning Communities, our first block schedule experience, Leadership Camp, our first home games, Freshman Mentoring, a motivational speaker, and Topper Dogs...oh yeah, and extraordinary depths of learning in the new time that we have at CHS. This week, I choose to make a video to highlight the week.

A Video Week in Reflection

Topper Time

Open House: Meet the Teachers

Open House: Meet the Teachers/Mini-Class Night

The purpose of this evening is for meaningful interactions with our parents. Parents will follow their student's schedule. Parent's, please follow your student's schedule by logging into Infinite Campus and clicking on the schedule tab. We are encouraging students to write down their schedules or having their parents print a copy. Adults, and students will assist parents navigate the building.

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 (4) minute passing time. Parents will follow their son(s) and/or daughter(s) schedule. Throughout the evening, parents many head to the cafeteria to enjoy refreshments, and learn more about clubs and activities. 


6:00-6:03 (In 1st Period) PA Announcements
1st: 6:03-6:12
2nd: 6:16-6:25
3rd: 6:29- 6:38
4th: 6:42-6:51
5th: 6:55- 7:04
6th: 7:08- 7:17
7th: 7:21-7:30

Cafeteria Open during all OFF periods. See you, Monday.

European Tour

We 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.
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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.
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 Mrs. Niedzwiecki´s Web Site
TOUR INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION 

Conservation Scholarship

How to apply for a 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.
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Questions?   Contact: pgpscholarship@gmail.com before September 15, 2017

A Message from Jan Hoffman: School Nurse

Senior Parents!
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Ohio revised code requires all students entering the 12th grade have two doses of the meningococcal vaccine with thesecond 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.

1. Changes in the Definition of Truancy and Excessive Absences*

• The definition of ‘habitual truant” will be changed from days to hours.  The new definition is:
  • Absent 30 or more consecutive hours without a legitimate excuse (5 days for both elementary and secondary);
  • Absent 42 or more hours in one school month without a legitimate excuse (7 days for elementary, 6 days for secondary) ;
  • Absent 72 or more hours in one school year without a legitimate excuse (12 for elementary, 11 for secondary);
• Definition of “excessive absences”
  • Absent 38 or more hours in one school month with or without a legitimate excuse (7 days for elementary, 6 days for secondary);
  • Absent 65 or more hours in one school year with or without a legitimate excuse (11 days for elementary, 10 days for secondary)
• Definition of “chronic absenteeism”
  • Absent 92 or more hours with or without a legitimate excuse (16 days or elementary, 14 days for secondary)

*Notifications to the family will be sent prior to the triggering absences above through Infinite Campus communications.
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If a student is “habitually truant” our district will follow these guidelines to work with the student and their families.

1. Within seven calendar days of the triggering absences, our absence intervention team will notify the family in writing.  
2. Within ten calendar days of the triggering absence, the student will be assigned to an absence intervention team that will include two district representatives and the child’s parent or guardian. If families are not responsive to at least three good faith attempts by the district to engage them in the absence intervention team process, the district may file a report to the county children services agency for abuse or neglect.
3. Within 14 school days after the assignment of the team, a student-centered absence intervention plan will be developed with and for the student containing an agreed-upon strategy for getting the student to school every day and may provide supportive services to families that could include counseling, education and parenting programs, mediation, or intervention programs available through juvenile authorities.
4. If the student does not make progress on the plan within 61 calendar days or continues to be excessively absent, the district will file a complaint in the juvenile court.

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:

• Students cannot be expelled or suspended out of school due to excessive absences or truancy.
• Students are permitted to make up missed work due to out-of-school suspensions
• Students may be required to participate in community service or an alternative consequence for the number of hours equal to the time left on a suspension in a school year.

Change is Hard; Our Response shouldn't be

If it is not broken, why fix it? We have heard this line over and over again growing up. Outsiders looking in may ask this question when seeing the structural changes that we have made with our new bell schedule at Chardon High School. You may say, or even talk amongst your circles about this very topic. You may even be a multi-generational graduate of the school wondering the same thing. Change can be hard at any time, or at any place.

Working the "trenches" everyday provides educators constant realities. Over several decades we have graduated thousands of students who have become successful. The real underlying question remains: How have we met the needs of all of our students, all of their skills, and all of our teachers targeted outcomes for students? This is not a trick question. We are good, but we strive for greatness.

Over sixteen months of evidence based research, field studies, and preserving Chardon's most autonomous attributes became the vision of our hybrid bell schedule.  The work of our task force is now in full action research mode. 

Gauging students and staff becomes the lens that impacts the events, behaviors, and outcomes that we define at Chardon. Our values are strong and our commitment to provide high achievement for all students--where learning is our most important work-- becomes the verb that defines the behaviors that we choose.

Recently,  many administrators had the opportunity to listen and engage with Tim Kight.  

Tim Kight is the Chief Executive Officer of Focus 3, which focuses on helping organizations align the power of leaders culture and behavior to achieve results. He has worked closely with leaders like Urban Meyer of Ohio State University to maximize their results.

Tim's energy, insight, and clarity provided a lot of insight to what we are currently establishing with the Leadership---Behaviors----Culture---and outcomes at Chardon High School. He talked about change and how to choose our response to the events that we are faced in life and the outcomes that we long to receive from them. 

The equation is simple: E+R= O.   An event + our response (positive/ or negative)= our outcomes. This simple equation is not new. Yet, when we really reflect on any event in our life...any positive or negative moment...and really choose to be proactive with our responses...the outcomes are extraordinary.

As we transition into the first full week of the year...pause...reflect...and respond. Choose your response and the outcomes are endless towards making meaningful memories or creating reactive responses.

Be the best version of yourself today, and make someone's day brighter. 

Douglas Murray
​Principal