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9/14/2020 The Week in Reflection: 9/18High Achievement For the past eight years, I have served on the administrative team. I love every second of what I do at Chardon High School and I am deeply humbled at the direction we are moving. Every day is a new experience for us with 1,200 students and 100 staff members in the building and a day to get better and be better. The focus on our mission is the heart of our daily decisions through a lens of our core values. The flexibility and adjustments that our team organized and prepared for to return to learn simply was outstanding. I am proud of every student, staff, counselor and administrator for their flexibility to these new times. We have accomplished so many extraordinary tasks that build upon and refine the treasured traditions and outcomes of being a graduate of Chardon High School. Yet, the best experiences are the ones that take me back into the classroom. This week, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in classrooms. Seeing students and staff collaborate, problem solve, and create-- energizes me each day. Our students enjoy when we see them demonstrate their learning in the classroom. Over our time at Chardon High School- Mr. Bandiera, Mr. Higham, and I can walk into a room and the students and staff treat us like a class member--not an observer. The mission of our school lives within the lessons that we share each day. We also had the opportunity to meet our teachers in a virtual open house. Although our numbers were lower than in previous (in-person) years, the opening videos were very helpful for our parents and even our staff members to hear about the curriculum. If you missed the videos, you may watch them here. Working each day with a compass and a purpose drives the standards that we teach and the climate that we create at Chardon. We have something special here...and it didn't happen by chance. We are a family, and a community of learners. Leadership is organic. Leadership is intentional, shared, and reciprocal. The teachers work so well together and the students share in the construction of their learning. It is hard work that truly prepares students for the 4E's that we preach: Employment, Enrollment, Enlistment, and Entrepreneurship. Teaching is my passion. My purpose is to serve and inspire others to find theirs in any capacity that I can encounter students and staff. Wow, do I love what I do --and completely love the shared vision that our educators present in their arenas of learning. Teachers encapsulate so many roles each day. They are not only licensed educators--they are counselors, caretakers, facilitators, leaders, guides, planners, collaborators, statisticians, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters; a vessel of knowledge and experiences who serve and are often underappreciated. Learning is so important to effective leadership. Last year, I have headed back to school. I have joined some of my principal friends in a superintendent cohort program at Ursuline College. Somehow, I am in my last class and need to complete sixteen projects to earn my superintendent's license. Between the day to day work hours, activities, coaching, teaching, COVID school planning, and a student...organization is critical. I look forward to use the lessons that I am learning to continue the work of leading our students and staff at Chardon High School. As I shared in previous years, one of the ways that we record our mission driven outcomes is through our school profile. Each year, our counselors collect information and document data points that work as a companion to the state report card. Although, data from the report card is not being fully completed this year due to emergency remote learning---our school profile was updated. Take some time to see the great information enclosed. CHS Principal's Podcast: 9/17...and the winner of Shining Star CLE is...Ethan Peterson!Ethan Peterson represented Chardon High School last Sunday night as a part of the Shining Star CLE. This singing competition/ scholarship opportunity was aired on YouTube and over 8,000 people viewed the competition. Ethan went from being in the top 10 singers in Northeast Ohio, to the top 4 on the show....leaving it up to the voters to choose the winner. Ethan's performance and extraordinary fan base drove him to the top! Ethan will receive up to a $10,000 scholarship and brought home an additional $2,500 for the CHS Music department. I had the opportunity to call Ethan on Sunday and it was my joy to hear his enthusiasm and love for his family, school, and community!  National Merit Semifinalists!
In early September, about 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as Semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state. NMSC provides scholarship application materials to Semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each Semifinalist. Congratulations to Jeffery Fletcher, and Brendan Sarbach for being recognized for this extraordinary accomplishment! Jeffery is interested in Chemistry and the medical field. He is still considering his college options but has narrowed his search to Duke, Stanford, Ohio State University, and the University of North Carolina. Brendan is interested in studying English. He is still considering his college options but has narrowed his search to Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Ohio State University. This is just the beginning of many accomplishments from these exceptional young men! We are so proud of you! Schedule for the Week of September 21-25 Our students in all models have done an extraordinary job adjusting back to school. It is important to note (after replying to several emails) that all students -whether in the building, hybrid, or in the blue model, follow the regular (yellow) bell schedule. In one of my first videos, I share that three systems needs to work like gears aligning and moving together. With that in mind, whatever schedule we are running in the building is the schedule that students at home need to follow. We do not have teachers earmarked solely for online learning; therefore, all students need to follow the schedule that we are running in the building. Please continue to stay tuned in to district communications pertaining to any adjustments to the schedule based on county levels. Monday, September 21: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS Tuesday, September 22: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS Wednesday, September 23: Periods 2, 4, 6 (red schedule) ALL STUDENTS Thursday, September 24: Periods 1, 3, 5, 7 (black schedule) ALL STUDENTS Friday, September 25: Periods 1-7 (white schedule) ALL STUDENTS ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL AND ATTENDANCE - Regular attendance and promptness to class are necessary for the continuity of learning and the development of good habits. The following are considered legitimate absences from school: personal illness, illness in the family, quarantine of the home, religious holiday, legal obligation, medical appointment, death of a relative, or emergency circumstances which, in the judgment of school authorities, constitute sufficient cause for absence. Doctor’s notes may be requested by school authorities if a student accumulates excessive absences. Parents must call the school when children are absent. State law requires that the parent be contacted at home or work if the school is not called. An unexcused absence will be treated as a truancy offense and dealt with accordingly. Please call the high school at 440.285.4057 (press #1) prior to 8:00 a.m. to report absences. This is available 24 hours a day. Financial Aid Night: Monday, September 28th 7:00 pm Below is information for Chardon seniors and their parents regarding the upcoming Financial Aid Night virtual presentation which will take place on Monday, September 28th 7:00 pm. LEAF will be presenting a virtual Financial Aid Night presentation to Chardon School seniors and their parents on Monday, September 28th at 7:00pm. The presentation will focus on all aspects of the financial aid process. Topics to be covered will be the FAFSA form, CSS Profile, scholarships, grants, loans and other items related to college access. Please join LEAF for this virtual presentation by visiting meet.google.com/zox-cymq-jfa or Join by phone (US) +1 920-461-1934 PIN: 102 565 505# Topper Bistro: Message and Lunch MenuThe following list of FAQs is designed to help answer parent/guardian questions we have received regarding the FREE (through *December 31, 2020) USDA-approved breakfast/lunch program, which is being offered to all Chardon Schools students as part of an emergency relief plan. Information about this exciting free breakfast/lunch program was emailed to all families via the September 12, 2020 Blackboard Email. Please click this link to review the email in full if you have not yet had the opportunity to do so. (*Note: Chardon Schools expects the free meals to all district schools program to extend through *December 31, 2020 unless funding becomes no longer available from Congress prior to that date - in which case the free program would end sooner.) For 100% Virtual students, when is the deadline for parents/guardians to register for 5 days' worth of meals in order to receive meals on the first meal distribution day (Wednesday, September 23)? The deadline for registering for Wednesday, September 23, pickup is by 12:00PM (noon) on Thursday, September 17. Please complete the following Sept 23 100% Virtual Student Free Meals Registration Google Form prior to this Thursday's deadline in order to reserve your spot for September 23. After 12:00PM Thursday, September 17, the Form will be closed to responses for the September 23 distribution date. For 100% Virtual students, how do parents/guardians register their students for 5 days' worth of meals in order to receive meals on the second meal distribution day (Wednesday, September 30)? The Google Form (same url) will be re-posted to the Food Service page of your school's website every Thursday evening with the following Thursday's 12PM deadline and Wednesday distribution date. We will send out an email reminder each week as the new deadline approaches. For 100% Virtual students, is 12:00PM on Thursdays the set deadline for meal pickup on the following Wednesday? Yes. At this time, we have set in place a 12:00PM Thursday deadline - each week - for the following Wednesday's food pickup. If at any time, there are changes made to that deadline, families will receive advanced notice via email. Are there qualifying criteria that a family of a 100% Virtual student(s) or In-Person student(s) must meet in order for their student(s) to receive a free breakfast and/or lunch through the USDA program that ends *December 31, 2020? No. There is no criteria to be met, and that includes no analysis of financial status, in order for Chardon Schools students to participate in this open-to-all free meal program that became effective September 14, 2020 and is expected to end *December 31, 2020. Really? Free food? Yes! In sum, for a limited time (runs through *December 31, 2020), there really is such a thing as a "Free Lunch" (and Breakfast!) for all interested students at Chardon Schools. For 100% Virtual students and In-Person students, are families required to complete a Free and Reduced application in order to qualify for the current program of free meals for students? No. This is not a requirement, but it is highly recommended (see additional information below on benefits) if you think you may qualify. Where can I find a hard copy or online version of the Free and Reduced application? Please visit the Food Service Department page of our district website or go to the Food Service tab of your school's web page to locate the links to the applications. If I think I may qualify for the Free/Reduced program when the Free Meals program ends in December, what are the benefits of completing a Free/Reduced application for my children at this time?
Questions? Please contact josephine.culliton@chardonschools.org.
Students, be sure to have your student ID at all times. It is your lunch card, open campus check-in, and hall pass Morning Drop Off/ Pickup ProceduresWe are still noticing some ways that we can refine the system for transportation in the morning and afternoon pertaining to parent drop-off. Please review this document to best understand the morning and afternoon system. Please note that we are communicating daily with Chardon Middle School and Maple Elementary to best expedite a clean system. Maple Elementary parents and Chardon Middle School parents may not enter our lots prior to our dismissal times. Chardon High School For students at Chardon High School (grades 8-12) being dropped off and/or picked up, the procedures remain the same as last year. Parents dropping-off/picking-up at Chardon High School enter the school campus via Maple Avenue, drive in front of the high school, and exit the campus via Memorial Drive onto Chardon Avenue. Students at Chardon High School (grades 8-12) riding the school bus will enter the school building via the 200 hallway entrance (via the transportation compound). School buses will be staged for students in the afternoon in front of the high school, on Memorial Drive, and in the Alcan; and will exit the campus both via North Street and Memorial Drive. All Parents/Guardians Please be mindful of the following:
   Chardon Service LeadershipLast Thursday, the Chardon Service Learning Class volunteered at Gearity Elementary's monthly food bank. They repackaged and helped distribute 4000 lbs of fresh produce donated by the Cleveland Food Bank. Social distancing, mask, gloves, hand sanitizer were all utilized in this outdoor volunteer project. Friday Night HighlightsLast Friday was the first week that I could make a highlight video from the football game. Enclosed is Chardon v. Kenston Chardon v. Riverside (Online): Friday, September 18 Images of the Week National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month  September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We are using this month to raise awareness and break the stigma around mental health and suicide prevention. Knowing how to reach out and get help for oneself or a friend can make a major difference for someone. Below are two short videos from the seizetheawkward.org campaign talking about how to start the conversation with someone you care about. ResourcesFamily Reference Guide Chardon High School Student Handbook Teacher Resources for CHS Students (Updated Soon) Student Acceptable Use Policy Chardon Athletics Twitter- Follow @chs_dmurray and @chardonhs Remind 101- Text @chardonhs- to the following number 81010 Chardon High School Google Calendar Chardon Athletics Sports Calendar Please see the district site for COVID-19 updates Have a wonderful weekend!
Douglas Murray, Principal Comments are closed.
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