Topper Talk
News from Chardon Schools 9.24.19
HOMECOMING WEEKEND
GRATITUDE to all of the STAFF, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS - including Pastor Photography and Geauga-TV, and STUDENTS who made Homecoming Weekend 2019 a great success and so much fun with memories to cherish! And congratulations Hilltoppers on the 20-17 win against Riverside on Friday night!
2018-19 DISTRICT REPORT CARD
The Ohio Department of Education released District/School Local Report Cards on September 12, 2019. The local report card is one measure of the effectiveness of our district, and includes comprehensive data for us to evaluate the alignment of our academic programming and provide affirmation of our work towards our mission: High achievement for all students, where learning is our most important work.
Highlights from the 2018-19 District Report Card:
Overall District Grade of B (more than 30% of districts in Ohio achieved a B or better rating)
Achievement on 20 of 24 indicators
District Performance Index Score of 101.8
For the third year in a row, Chardon is ranked in the top 10% of districts state-wide as measured by District Performance Index Score.
BEHIND THE SCENES - PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN
Throughout the Fall, Topper Talk is sharing photos, videos and testimonials that give you a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges the Chardon Local School District experiences due to its outdated, aging and deteriorating buildings. Also, see #TopperFacilities on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional photos, videos and testimonials.
A Word on Facility Challenges
by Ms. Carrie Korenke, Chardon High School World Language Teacher
"As a 1996 alumna of Chardon High School, I could not be more proud to have returned as a teacher to my alma mater. However, what I am not proud of are the facilities that I have to work with trying to educate the 21st century learner.
Many times I have been forced to change a lesson around because I am unable to execute it due a classroom size of roughly 500 square feet. Due to the classroom size, instead of using today’s educational methods, I am forced to have kids seated. I want my kids to get up and moving, to be able to walk around the classroom for a partner chat, a gallery walk on Hispanic art, or even engage them in a move around the room type game.
Classroom size also presents a problem as an AP Spanish Language and Culture teacher. Whenever we practice any part of the exam that has them doing a recording [SEE PHOTO BELOW], the kids are supposed to be 6 feet apart from each other, per the College Board. As the photo clearly shows, this is not even close to reaching that AP requirement.
A larger classroom would allow my AP kids to practice for the AP exam exactly how they will be expected to perform the day of the exam."
UPCOMING ELECTION DAY FACTS
CHARDON SCHOOLS HAS BOND ISSUE 21 ON THE BALLOT.
Election Day - November 5, 2019
Early Voting Begins - October 8, 2019
New Voter Registration - register by October 7, 2019 to be eligible to vote in this election.
(NOTE: 17 year olds who will reach their 18th Birthday BEFORE November 5 can likewise register BY OCTOBER 7 to vote in this upcoming election.)
Questions about where or when to vote or register? Contact Geauga County Board of Elections at 440-279-2030 or visit https://boelections.co.geauga.oh.us/
BOND ISSUE 21 FACT of the WEEK
FAQ: If enrollment is declining why is the District considering new facilities?
Our enrollment is declining and one of the outcomes of the District's Facilities Master Plan is to streamline our buildings even further. More importantly, however, our aging, inefficient schools are the problem this bond issue will address.
The District undertook a significant reconfiguration effort in the 2018-19 school year that resulted in consolidating students into fewer buildings and taking Hambden Elementary offline. While this was never a solution to our building needs, it did help us contain costs and has allowed us to operate more effectively.
For additional Facilities/Bond Issue 21 FAQs, visit: Facilities Master Plan
The District invites you to ask Facilities/Bond Issue 21 questions via email at facilities@chardonschools.org or call Superintendent Michael Hanlon at 440-285-4052.
CHS ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT
DOMINIC FERRANTE, CLASS OF 2016
- "First and foremost was being the anchor on the CHS morning news - this is where I learned my passion - currently my career goal.
- Running for Homecoming King. The excitement and all the work put into it was stressful but also fun at the same time!
- Becoming the field commander of the band. This happened my senior year at Chardon. Being able to conduct our entire band and learn all the different ways to conduct was another favorite memory of mine at CHS!"
MOST VALUED CHS EXPERIENCES:
"The relationships that I have built with so many people from CHS. The staff at Chardon was amazing beyond words. Each staff member that I came in contact with was beyond supportive of me and my goals in life. Each helped me build myself to be the best me I can be. CHS was the foundation to my life and the teachers at CHS were the building blocks."
POST-GRADUATION JOURNEY:
"After graduation from Chardon, I am now currently attending Bowling Green State University going into my senior year of college, where I am studying media production and studies. To make big words sound small it’s basically television production. At BGSU, I work at a local PBS station where we broadcast almost all of the BG sports and basketball is broadcast on ESPN.
During the summer before my senior year I was an intern at WKYC-3 here in Cleveland. Here I was able to learn some real hands on experience in the news world. My time there was short, but I loved everything about working there. My goal is to go back to channel 3 and turn that into a full time job."
ADVICE TO CURRENT CHS STUDENTS:
"My advice to students at CHS would be to put yourself out there as much as possible and get involved in as much as possible. This is what I did at Chardon and it taught me so many different life skills and relationships. Life is all about who you know and my connections with teachers at Chardon still help me to this day. Remember keep your friends close and your enemies closer because you never know when you may need help from someone who has the connection you need to get to the next phase in life!"
[View Dominic's WKYC Newscast Demo here]
A DAY IN THE 2019-20 LIFE OF CHARDON SCHOOLS...
Chardon High School
Walking & Working Wednesdays
"Today we visited Big Lots and Tractor Supply where students found items for mock scenarios. Then they got to enjoy a family style lunch and split their bill."
~Mrs. Amanda Bunker, Chardon High School Teacher
Chardon Middle School
Held on September 21, Team Day was Chardon Middle School's culminating interactive event for the school's One School One Book endeavor. Recently, all students (& staff!) finished reading the book Rules by Cynthia Lord. Friday's weather provided a perfect day for students to enjoy the outdoor Team Day event as they worked together and rotated from station to station. Activity stations included Human Knot, Focus Ring, All Aboard!, Grid Maze, and Pipeline. These team-building activities encouraged students to employ such soft skills as cooperation, trust, being considerate of others, group communication, patience and problem solving.
COOL FACT: In the Opening Group activity, students were challenged to line up in order by birthdays without speaking!
Munson Elementary School
YOGIBO FURNITURE
Tiny Toppers Integrated Preschool
DINO WEEK
"Our teachers provide varied opportunities for exploration & choice. Individual expression, collaborative problem solving, & experimental inquiry are all part of our curricular programming. The Tiny Toppers' dinosaur dig expedition was dino-mite!"~Dr. Kelly Moran, District Curriculum Supervisor
[photo credit: Ms. Kristen, Tiny Toppers Teacher]
PBIS DISTRICT RECOGNITION AWARD
Did you know that Chardon Schools was designated by its State Support Team as a recipient of the Ohio Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) District Recognition Award for 2019? Congratulations to Munson Elementary, Park Elementary, Chardon High and Chardon Middle schools on this achievement! Official recognition will take place at the 5th Annual Ohio PBIS Showcase in December 2019.
Another piece of exciting news - Tiny Toppers Integrated Preschool, which was just established in 2018-19, is already in the initial phase of PBIS implementation!
PBIS, which is funded by the Ohio Department of Education, is designed to enhance social, emotional and academic outcomes for all students and focuses on prevention rather than punishment.
Park Elementary School
STUDENT KATIE BRINKLEY OPTS to READ to PEERS
Park Elementary has instituted a ticket program as part of its PBIS practice. Students earn tickets for positive behavior, and there is a list of options that students can choose from in exchange for the tickets. Recently in Mrs. Donna Picone’s second grade class, student Katie Brinkley chose to use her earned tickets to read a book to the class. Katie selected the book “The Duckling Gets a Cookie”, first practiced reading the book at home and then officially read it to her classmates earlier this month.
WHOOO DO YOU KNOW in CHARDON SCHOOLS?
TOPPER TEACHER OF THE WEEK:
MR. TIM ARMELLI
School: Chardon High School
Currently: I teach Health to mostly 8th and 9th grade students. I also teach 8th grade Physical Education and a course called Training and Conditioning, which is a Physical Education class for high school students.
Teaching Experience: 41 years, of which 22 have been in Chardon
I did also coach football and wrestling for almost 40 years, but as of 2017 I no longer coach. My time is now spent just in the classroom.
What I Most Hope to Impart to My Students: Acknowledge people in your life everyday that make you better, attempt to be great at all you do, do what is right, and be a part of something bigger than yourself.
A Favorite Book: The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews - every action and every decision we make has a rippling effect that affects everyone around us. Because of this rippling effect we each have a responsibility and obligation to everyone around us. Everyone’s life matters.
Hobbies: visiting Major League Ballparks
Motto: “It’s a beautiful day.” It is just a daily reminder to myself that life is good, and we should look for the good in each day and each other.
STAFF STAR OF THE WEEK:
MS. DINA DISANTO
Title: Secretary
School: Chardon Middle School
Years of Service: 25
Favorite Part of the Job: I love helping the students. I really like the fact that they still talk to you and don’t look at you like you really don’t know what they are going through. If you could say or do something for one student in your career, you did a good thing.
Favorite Place: The beach is my most happy place.
Hobbies: I make wreaths. I used to craft before my full time job. So now I make them for gifts for family members or friends.
Fun Fact: I love Halloween and dressing up.
NOTE OF GRATITUDE...
Thank you to Mrs. Kelly DiCato for bringing recycling back to Chardon High School!
With much thanks to Mrs. DiCato's efforts at coordinating with Royal Oak Recycling over summer break -- CHS staff are once again able to collect paper/cardboard/phone books/colored paper/shredded paper in their classrooms/offices. This also means that any cardboard boxes used for deliveries to CHS can be recycled in the bins, provided that the boxes are broken down beforehand.
Topper Time students are part of the effort - collecting the gathered recyclables from throughout the building each week and taking them to Royal Oak Recycling's Paper Retriever® recycling bin in the CHS gymnasium.
With over 25,000 distinctive green and yellow bins worldwide, Paper Retriever® has been providing FREE paper recycling services and fundraising opportunities to schools, places of worship, and other organizations for more than 15 years.
STUDENTS in SERVICE to OTHERS
[photo credit: CHS Science Teacher Mr. Rob Mizen]
ACADEMICS
[photo credit: CHS Principal Mr. Doug Murray]
VISUAL ARTS
Ms. Flaherty's CHS 8th grade students have been working to create slump mold dishes.
ATHLETICS
Lacrosse
On September 16, the Chardon Board of Education unanimously approved boys and girls high school lacrosse as varsity sports beginning with the 2020 season. Congratulations to players, coaches and lacrosse club members!
Note to CHS Lacrosse from Chardon Athletic Boosters:
"Congratulations! The Chardon Athletic Boosters are ready to serve."
Girls Cross Country
Photos (see photo collage below) from Saturday's Cardinal Invitational - photos courtesy of Ohio Varsity.Missed an Issue of Topper Talk?
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IMPORTANT DISTRICT DATES
OCT 11....NO School for Students (NEOEA Day)
NOV 11...Veterans Day
NOV 27...NO School for Students (Conference Comp Day)
NOV 28...NO School (Thanksgiving Break)
NOV 29...NO School (Thanksgiving Break)
INFINITE CAMPUS 2019-2020
Infinite Campus Login Instructions
PARENTS/GUARDIANS: Please log in to Infinite Campus via the Parent Portal to complete the following for each child:
1) Pay School Fees - Instructions
2) Annual Update - The window to complete the Annual Update will be open between August 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019. Each student must have an Annual Update completed online each year. After logging in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, on the bottom left toolbar, click "More" then select "Online Registration" to complete the annual update for each student. This update must be completed EACH school year for ALL students - returning students and recently registered new students. Questions? Call the Board of Education office at 440-285-4052.
Chardon Local Schools
Email: communications@chardonschools.org
Website: chardonschools.org
Location: 428 North Street, Chardon, OH, USA
Phone: (440) 285-4052
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChardonHilltoppers/
Twitter: @ChardonSchools