Munson Messenger
Issue 6 - September 21, 2023
Mark Your Calendars
School Events
September 21 - Title I Parent Meeting, 6pm in the LGIR at Chardon Middle School - see details below!
October 9 - Picture Day (retakes on November 13)
October 13 - No School (NEOEA Day - no staff or students)
October 16 - No School (professional development)
October 24 and November 7 - Conferences 4:30-8pm
October 31 - Fall Fest Parade and Parties
PTO Meetings - All meetings held at school. Everyone is welcome!
October 17 - 6pm
November 14 - 4pm
December 19 - 6pm
Contact Information
Mathew Prezioso, Principal
mathew.prezioso@chardonschools.org
Sandy Henderson, Secretary
sandy.henderson@chardonschools.org
Jen Cline, Clerical Assistant
jennifer.cline@chardonschools.org
Sarah Park, Nurse
Renee Kolenich, Medical Assistant
renee.kolenich@chardonschools.org
Main Office Phone
440-286-5901
Quick Links
Click here for the District Events Calendar
Click here for Annual Update Instructions (DUE SEPTEMBER 30 FOR ALL STUDENTS)
Click here for Community Flyers
Click here for Dismissal Forms
A Note From the Principal
Dear Parents and Guardians,
One of our school-wide focuses this year has been incorporating movement into our daily routines whenever possible. You may remember that many teachers and staff members participated in a book study last year; we read Dr. John J. Ratey's Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. Dr. Ratey is a psychiatrist and professor at Harvard Medical School. This book explores the evidence that aerobic exercise "is truly our best defense against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to aggression" (from Amazon). Based on our reading and conversations with other experts in the fields of education, psychology, and functional medicine, we are incorporating some of Dr. Ratey's suggestions into our daily routines here at Munson, and calling our new procedures the Munson Movement Program.
In the Munson Movement Program, teachers are encouraged to take daily movement breaks with their students. These movement breaks do not need to be long, intense, or complicated to be effective! Sometimes they include technology, like following a short dance, exercise, or stretching video, but often students will move into the hallway and practice walking through agility ladders or following a movement pattern on the floor (as pictured below). Our hope is that students and teachers will notice the positive effects of movement in both their bodies and minds! We will be sharing more information about the Munson Movement Program throughout the year. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out.
Thank you,
Mathew Prezioso
Principal, Munson Elementary
Mr. Prez's Pics of the Week
First grade movement breaks!
Infinite Campus Annual Update
The Annual Update must be completed by ALL Chardon Local Schools households every year, for every student, even if there are no changes. This ensures that you have created your Parent Portal Account so that we have the most accurate information for your student and household, so we may contact you promptly in case of an emergency, allows you to pay for student meals and school fees online, and gives you access to important forms and documents, including report cards. The window to complete the Annual Update will be open until September 30, 2023. Please find Annual Update instructions HERE.
The first class to have ALL Annual Updates completed will receive an ice cream party! The numbers that each class needs to complete are below. If you are not sure if your Annual Update has been completed, please contact the office.
🍦🍦 The Annual Update Ice Cream Race is ON!!! 🍦🍦 Mr. Buemi and Mrs. McClintock's classes are in first place with only FOUR Annual Updates left to complete! Followed by...
Mrs. Woodrow - 5
Mrs. Suszynski, Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Sobodosh, Mrs. Burress - 6
Mrs. Bates - 7
Mrs. Turk - 8
Mrs. Dinko, Mrs. Hardman - 9
Mrs. Elliott - 14
Topper Ticket Winners!
Topper Tickets are part of Munson's PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) system and are given to students as a special recognition when they demonstrate a Topper Trait - Taking Responsibility, Offering Kindness, and Persevering. Each day, we randomly select a few Topper Ticket winners from each grade level to receive a prize! Check the newsletter each week for their names!
1st: Scarlett Munn, Tyler Harwood, Carolynn Falatic, Grayson Griffin, Juliana Russell, Brandon Coleman, August Lanstrum, Lotus Frankenberry, Jocelyn Fox, DJ Schalchlin
2nd: Colten Walker, Taylor Dulla, Addy Parsons, Vinny Stipich, Brooklynn Nicholson, Landon Henderson, Blake Wallace, Rebecca Kinder, Isla Miller, Everest Galhotra
3rd: Alena Love, Jackson Paster, Kylie Turner, Benton McClung, Paige Kocevar, Theo Caruso, Lorelei Jewell, Declan Friel, Franklin Boyle, Vivan Paterson
NEW!!! We are randomly choosing one Topper Ticket winner to spin the Wheel of Fun on Fridays! These prizes are a step up from the usual, and could include things like having lunch with a friend in Mr. Prez's office, visiting a "secret" part of the school, an extra recess for your class, having your picture on the TV, and more! Congratulations to this week's winner - Mark Deren! Mark got to submit and write a fun fact on the chalkboard in the front entrance of the school!
Keep up the GREAT work, Hilltoppers!
Lunch Menu - September 25-29
Click HERE for the Food Services website, where you can see the weekly menu and find directions to add money to your child's meal account via Infinite Campus. Please note that when using a credit card or e-check payment to pay for your student's meals or fees via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, a 3.5% convenience charge will be added to your payment.
Monday 9/25 - chicken nuggets with blueberry loaf, seasoned corn, fruit, milk
Tuesday 9/26 - cheese quesadilla, salsa, refried beans, fruit, milk
Wednesday 9/27 - popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread, carrots, fruit, milk
Thursday 9/28 - mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce, green beans, fruit, milk
Friday 9/29 - Pizza Hut pizza, romaine tossed salad, fruit, milk
Title I
Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides students who qualify with extra instructional services and activities beyond regular classroom instruction. Click HERE for more information about the Title I program, and reach out to the school with any questions.
If your child qualifies for or receives Title I tutoring services, please join us at the Chardon Middle School LGIR TONIGHT, Thursday, September 21 at 6pm for an informational meeting. Learn how the schools receive federal funding, discuss literacy and math support, hear ways to support your child at home, and meet the tutoring staff from each building. Please PRE-REGISTER by clicking HERE and email Beth Crawford, Program Coordinator, at beth.crawford@chardonschools.org with any questions.
If you are interested but unable to attend in person, the meeting will be live-streamed online HERE.
Lost and Found!
We have quite a collection of lost clothing items, lunch boxes, water bottles, and more! Please ask your children to check the lost and found in the main hallway for any items that might belong to them. Also, make sure to label your student's items with their name so that we can help return them to their owners!
Recognize anything in the photo? Please have your child claim it! Thanks!
Save the Date for Music Concerts!
Chardon Schools K-12 Monthly Pledge Contest
Student Leadership Opportunity! Would your K-12 student like to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at a Board of Education meeting? Student leaders gain practice at public speaking, meet the Superintendent and Board President, and earn a Portrait of a Hilltopper certificate. Enter our monthly contest today for a chance to win! Click HERE to enter!
Stay Safe. Speak Up!
Chardon Local Schools partners with PublicSchoolWORKS to offer the Stay Safe. Speak UP! student safety and bullying prevention program. This 24/7, confidential reporting tool is available to students, parents, staff, and the community. Click HERE to learn about 3 easy ways to report bullying, and bookmark this page so you can quickly and easily access the reporting tool.
Munson Staff Spotlight
Each week, the Munson Messenger newsletter will feature a Munson staff member with whom your child likely interacts regularly. We hope this gives you a chance to get to know more of our wonderful staff members! This week, meet Mr. Prezioso!
What is your name and your job? Mat Prezioso, Principal
How long have you been at Munson? This is my 6th year at Munson. Before that, I was the principal at Hambden Elementary School.
What is your favorite thing about Munson? The great teachers and staff! I think we have the best of the best working here.
What do you like to do outside of school? I spend time with my 3 kids and my mom. I also coach soccer and run a lot - I'm trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. A newer hobby for me is playing the ukulele!
Munson PTO News & Upcoming Events
Follow the Munson PTO on Facebook and Instagram (@MunsonPTO) for news and regular updates on upcoming events. You can also email munsonelementarypto@gmail.com with questions or ideas. All Munson parents/guardians are automatically PTO members just by having a student attending Munson! We need volunteers with all kinds of availability, skills, and ideas. Thank you for your support!
PTO Volunteer Opportunities
Click the links below to sign up to help with PTO and classroom events this year! We truly appreciate your time and help!
PTO Committees Signups (includes special events like book fair, candy cane shop, teacher appreciation week, family fun and fundraising events, and more)
PTO Classroom Events Signups (includes room parents and class party helpers)