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3/26/2021 The Week in Reflection: 3/264th Quarter: It is time to finish what we started
Three fourths, the fourth, rounding third and heading home, crunch time, the finish line. Down the stretch they come...the list goes on to ways that we can describe the transition to the fourth quarter. On one hand, it feels that we just started...on the other hand, it feels like things never ended. It's all about perspective.
As you already know, the Week in Reflection provides the lens of my perspective. The school is my second home. Since last March, I have spent more time in this home making sure that we were prepared for every single pivot like preparing for a rodeo dance. This year has been challenging and every checklist was erased and rewritten to new checklists. I used to absolutely hate checklists. Bare with me as I reflect on why checklists have prepared me in my life. I am the youngest child with siblings who are five and eight years older than me. Growing up in a household with two working parents created many moments for mom and dad to leave a list of tasks to do. Sure, they would get done, but usually after 5 hours of backyard baseball. College, marriage, career, and children taught me the underline value of a good checklist. Now, I live by them and usually can be found with a list to a list in both written and digital formats. Taking care of long-term details comes with the territory of someone who is an idealist thinker and worker. Transitioning into the fourth quarter is an exciting time for every grade level. We have all of the senior events, all of the activities, and opportunities. It is a time when many details can slip in the midst of taking your kids to numerous activities, preparing for the week, or making sure that our own children don't walk out of the door without all of the things that they need for the day. For the past two decades, I have used a three-month calendar to finalize the school year. As much as our calendar is posted online and can be viewed in weekly segments, having the freedom to see all the events in a printable format is extremely useful for all our educators, students, and parents. This can be used as a checklist for each day for the big ideas of the academic calendar. As we walk together this quarter, other checklists are important to survive the wear and tear of the quarter. I have put together a suggested list of 12 important things to check off your to-do list to create new habits in your life. 1. Say, I love you to those you embrace each day. This simple task can speak volumes to your parents, spouse, children, and siblings and has no age limit to express. Our brain fire so many neurons which release dopamine causing you to feel happy. What a wonderful way to start your day! 2. Actively listen to others When we actively listen, we pause. Listening allows us to seek the depth of any story and allows us to respond with empathy, understanding, and kindness. Take the time to really listen to your friends, parents, and siblings and watch your relationship change for the better. 3. Read something that engages you every single day We are always reading. Whether we are perusing signs, billboards, articles, posts, or messages...reading becomes a habit that we often can take for granted. When we read things that engage us we not only become a better reader-we become a diplomat to literacy. Read something that engages you each day and experience a new you that can articulate in ways that you never thought you could. 4. Walk or be physically active for 20 consecutive minutes Physical activity is so beneficial for our physical, social, and mental well-being. Scheduling the time each week to walk, workout, and a little fresh air can provide more energy and positivity to your own outlook on living. 5. Remove fear by thinking more positive about YOU We can control three things in life: What we think, what we say, and how we behave. Furthermore, these three things can allow us to control our attitude, effort, and approach to everything that we aspire to be or do. Do not be afraid to fail. Face your fears with what you can control and watch parts of your life grow in positive ways. 6. Meditate, Pray, or Journal You do not have to be religious to reflect on the simple things in life. A sunrise, sunset, smile, a moment of kindness. These moments can allow you to reflect on all of the good that surrounds you in your life and ground you to things bigger than ourselves. 7. Unplug without a device for 1 hour or more each day. When we unplug, we communicate in natural ways that can simplify life. Disconnecting for periods of time can re-center relationships and actually can lower our blood pressure as we live in the present. 8. Never give up If at first, you don't succeed... we all have heard the story. However, through the trials of losing the battles of our day- we expand our territory to do more and be more. Never give up. 9. Surround yourself with positive people We become an amalgamation of our surroundings. Therefore, surround yourself with people who challenge you to be a better person at all times. It can be hard to do, but when we do this- we learn how to happy and the best version of ourselves. 10. Write down your gratitude The thousands of words that I write each week are my ways to show gratitude to you. I do not have to do this. I choose to. I write from my heart to show you why I care. Send someone a short note this week, an email, or a card. Pay it forward! 11. Prioritize As I started this newsletter by talking about checklists...write your goals down. Post your goals. Write a mission statement. Live it, Love it, do it. Do not procrastinate over tasks. Live with purpose! 12. Finish what you start Is the finish line a barrier, opportunity, or mile marker? The choice is in the eye of the beholder. Once you figure where you are on the map, remove the barriers that hold you back and seize every opportunity along the markers of your life. As Robert Frost notes, choose the road less traveled by....it will make all of the difference! Checklists
You thought you were done with my checklist concept. I have prepared for you numerous checklists throughout the year, and I am very conscientious about the one that will be posted below. Considering that hundreds of adjustments have occurred this school year, I am providing for you a list of big ideas and the events that connect to a typical end of the year. In the past, this was a no brainer to post all of the end of year dates and times. In this COVID year, ha----what hasn't changed. So, let me lead you into the disclaimer. This event calendar is as accurate as it can be as of the moment that you are reading it. For the latest adjustments and subsequent notes and files that accompany this calendar, please favorite this active document. Everything that is highlighted in this document is pending final approval from Geauga Public Health.
CHS Principal Podcast: Reflecting on the Quarter/ Preparing for the Finish LineScience Olympiad Qualifies for State Competition
Congratulations to the Chardon Schools Olympiad Division B team students, coaches and volunteers on qualifying for the 2021 State tournament, marking the 25th consecutive year that Chardon’s Division B team has qualified for States.
Following are the Chardon SO team’s 2021 regional results (top 6 individual placements) from Chardon High School:
Overcoming obstacles — that included not being able to field a full team due to COVID and some events not being covered this year — the CMS Division B team (which includes Chardon High School eighth- and ninth-grade students) placed seventh in the Science Olympiad Northeast Ohio Regional Tournament held on March 6. Showcasing the event’s results is the NEO Regional Tournament awards ceremony video, which premiered on March 20 and can be accessed via the following link: http://bit.ly/NEOSO_RegTourn2021.
Chardon Schools is proud of the individual accomplishments and the entire team and looks forward to the State event, which will be conducted virtually by Ohio State University on April 10. The full listing of State-bound teams can be found at: http://bit.ly/OHSOStateBound_2021. Science Olympiad, a national non-profit organization founded in 1984, is dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, thereby creating a technologically literate workforce and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. Traditionally, events cover earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and computer science. The National Science Olympiad has grown to include nearly 8,000 teams in 50 U.S. states. Media Contact: Kelly A. Misch Communications Director Chardon Local Schools kelly.misch@chardonschools.org Academic Decathlon State Competition
Courtesy of Mr. Al Herner
The CHS Academic Decathlon team has been navigating a rigorous State Competition throughout the month of March. Teams from around the state normally come together at a college (most recently John Carroll University) for testing, interview and speech performances, and even a head to head quiz bowl style competition. As with many activities this year, State Competition was forced into the virtual realm for all phases, culminating in a Zoom awards ceremony on Saturday, March 20th. Facing stiff competition in a tough division, Chardon represented well coming away with seventeen individual medals spread over all ten disciplines. Shout-out to the CHS Math department as the team picked up 4 medals in mathematics (the most in any category) including a gold. Team medalists include: sophomore Austin MacCartney with a bronze, senior Ben Perry with 2 bronze, senior Abigail Atchley with 1 bronze and 1 silver (Abby also carried the highest overall team score), graduating junior, Paige Yamamoto with 1 bronze and 3 Silver (Paige was featured in a pre recorded speech showcase during the ceremony), and our big winner, senior Brad Duchon with 2 bronze, 4 silver and 2 gold.
Of course none of this would be possible without the support of The Chardon Schools Foundation and their generous funding of study materials and entry fees. Thank you CSF! Art Piece(s) of the Week
"Teef" by Michael Lewis, Grade 10, Digital Collage
Ceramic mug by Kayla Oriani and jewelry dish by Lindsey Schaefer
Images of the Week
Physical Science students outside during this beautiful weather testing displacement
Next Week: Spring Break; School Resumes on April 6, 2021
Topper Bistro: Lunch Menu After Break
AWT: College v Career
AWT foundation has put together an educational event called Not College vs. Career: Why Not Both? An Educational Event. It is open to all high school seniors, juniors, parents, teachers and guidance counselors.
Register here Shining Star CLE 2021: Auditions Open in SIX DAYS!
AP Exam Fees are now Past Due
Just a reminder that the AP (Advanced Placement) Exam fees were due on March 5, 2021. Please log in to your Infinite Campus account to take care of these fees as soon as possible. Students whose fees have not been paid will not be permitted to test in May. The College Board has set the AP Exam fee at $95/test this year.
If you have any questions regarding the AP Exam, reach out to Tim Hurlbut at timothy.hurlbut@chardonschools.org in the Counseling Dept.
The Week in Reflection will return on April 9, 2021.
Have a beautiful break with your family and friends!
Douglas Murray, Principal 
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