September 2013
Welcome
to another year of learning in the
high-performing Chagrin Falls Schools
Chagrin Falls SchoolS
SUPER NEWS
Table of
Contents Messsage from Superintendent 1 board briefs 2 100th Anniversary of grandstand
3-5
super spotlights 6 e-Communication reminders 7 chamber of commerce presentation
8
first day of school highlights
9-10
high school career exploration day
11
new math curriculum 12-13 super students 14 healthier lunches at Gurney 15 chromebooks update 16-17 engaged learning in science 18 Making a differenCE 19 Strategic plan community meeting
20
follow us on social media
21
Message From
Our Superintendent The opening of school is complete and teachers have quickly worked with students on transitioning back to school establishing classroom rules and setting a high expectation for students. This month, the board of education received and provided feedback on district goals and we have clear targets and outcomes for the 2013-2014 school year. A copy of these goals will be posted on the district web page by the end of September. Many of the initiatives highlighted in this edition of Super News will be articulated in this document. The district is striving to personalize the educational experience for every child and the work accomplished this year aligns with this commitment. The strategic planning work is underway as the district management team has been formed and has representation from the administration, board of education and community. This team will oversee the entire process to ensuring a quality plan that will be implemented over the next five years. Focus groups with all staff and students will be conducted this month as we finalize an executive summary that will provide a comprehensive analysis of our district for the strategic planning team. The first formal meeting within this process will be held on October 22nd at 7:00 P.M. in the Performing Arts Center. At this meeting, we will share the results
of the community survey conducted this summer and review the strategic planning process. Those in attendance will be invited to participate in the strategic planning process moving forward. This has been thoughtfully designed to engage all of our stakeholders in critical conversations about the future of our school district. Recently, the Ohio Department of Education released information on the Straight A fund. The state has set aside $250 million dollars in a competitive grant program to provide schools the opportunity to implement new and creative learning options for students. The grant must be used for projects that aim to achieve advancement in one of the following: student achievement, spending reduction or utilization of greater share of resources in the classroom. The intent to apply is due the first week of October with the grant submittal deadline being October 25th. The district is evaluating potential options and will be submitting an application for funding. This is an exciting time for our school district as we value our tradition and plan for our future. We appreciate the ongoing support of our community and value the opportunity to work with the young people that walk our hallways every day. Sincerely,
Robert W. Hunt Superintendent Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools bob.hunt@chagrinschools.org 440-247-4363 @Hunt_Edleader
1
A review of the SUMMER Board of Education meetings
chagrin falls “board briefs”
This section of the Super News is dedicated to providing the community highlights of the monthly Board of Education meetings. However, complete meeting agendas and minutes can always be accessed on the district website at www.chagrinschools.org. The Chagrin Falls Board of Education conducted three meetings in September. The September work session included an update from district Athletic Director Charlie Barch and High School Principal Steven Ast on the formation of a new athletic conference. The board of education took action accepting the invitation to the newly formed Greater Cleveland Conference at the regular meeting. This conference will be developed over the next year and a half as the district continues to participate in the Chagrin Valley Conference. The work session also included a comprehensive overview of the strategic planning process. The PowerPoint from this can be located on the district website on the superintendent’s page. The board of education encouraged community members to attend the kick off meeting for this process on October 22nd at 7:00 P.M. in the Performing Arts Center. The board of education also conducted a retreat this month to review board governance and receive an update on the facility master planning process. The board will continue to gather data on the master plan in preparation for providing this information to the strategic planning committee.
2
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools
Board of Education President: Anne B. Thomas, Ph.D. (440) 247-1227
Member: Mary Kay O’Toole (440) 338-8636
Vice President: Harry Cashy (440) 338-3510
Member: Michael Hogan (440) 543-5280 Member: Rob Weber (440) 247-7115
http://www.chagrinschools.org/boardofeducation.aspx
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District Celebrates
100-Year Anniversary of Stadium Grandstand Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of its stadium grandstands this year. The district kicked off the celebration at the first home varsity football game on Friday, August 30. There was a recognition ceremony at half time. Superintendent Robert Hunt recognized the Chagrin Falls Booster Club for all their work on the stadium, including the painting of “GO TIGERS” on the roof, installation of a new brick walkway, and the creation of a 100-year banner. There was also a commemorative ticket honoring the 100-year anniversary of the grandstands. “For 100 years, this stadium has served as a gathering place for the community of Chagrin Falls,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “It has served as a centerpiece for community development and enjoyment, while providing an arena for our students to develop important skills. It represents the strength of community and value of tradition that are fundamental in making Chagrin Falls so very special.” The stadium site was the original location of the Cuyahoga County Fair. As the fair’s popularity continued to grow, the concrete grandstand was constructed in 1913. Through the years, and because of the generous support of the Chagrin Falls Booster Club, Dads’ Club, Music Lovers, Chagrin Falls VFW, Giles Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, and numerous community members, improvements have continued to be made to the entire stadium complex and thousands of games and events have been played.
3
From Race Track Grandstand to Chagrin Falls Exempted Village
Schools Current Stadium Grandstand Celebrating 100 Years: 1913-2013
By Tom Mattern, Former Alumni Director, Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools In 1873, the Union Fair Association of Chagrin Falls purchased 34 acres on the south side of east Washington Street to build a half-mile long race track. One year later, because of the new track, Chagrin Falls was selected as the site for the Cuyahoga County Fair. At that first fair, as an extra-added attraction, a $10 purse was presented to the winner of a footrace once around the track. The victor in 1874 was Tom Bright of Chagrin Falls with a time of 2:38.5. Today, 139 years later, Chagrin Falls’ athletes still run on a portion of that track. The first football game played by Chagrin Falls High School took place at Washington Park on November 6, 1897. Washington Park was located at the old Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds (presently by the High School, middle school, and “Rec Center” campus). Thirty-Five people paid an admission charge of 10 cents to attend the game. Chagrins opponent was the Geauga Seminary team from Chesterland, Ohio. Chagrin was easily defeated by a score of 10 to 0. An interesting footnote is that former U.S. President, James A. Garfield, attended the Geauga Seminary during his high school years after some of his ABC’s in the one-room school houses of Chagrin Falls. As the fair grew to approximately 55 acres, improvements were continually made. The most significant was the construction of a permanent concrete grandstand in 1913. This is now the home stands that Chagrin Falls High School uses today.
4
The fair was moved to Berea in 1925 leaving the Chagrin Falls fairgrounds with a questionable future. In 1927 the Chagrin Falls Board of Education obtained permission from the Cuyahoga County Commissioners to use the fairgrounds for recreational and educational purposes. The obtained a 99-year lease with a fee of $1 per year. Finally, in 1955, the Board of Education bought the old fairgrounds from the Cuyahoga County Commissioners for $5,000. On September 27, 1929, Chagrin students filled the old grandstand for the dedication of the new football field and ¼ mile cinder track. The playing field had been moved closer to the grandstand. The score of the football game that followed the dedication ceremony: Willoughby H.S. 45- Chagrin Falls H.S. 0. In 1937 the Federal Government approved a $65,000 WPA grant for completing renovation work at the old fairgrounds. It wasn’t completed during the summer of 1937 because of “lack of funds”. Later, cooperation with the County Commissioners, the school board and the Federal Government, the WPA grant for completing renovation work at the old fairgrounds. It wasn’t completed during the summer of 1937 because of “lack of funds.” Later, in cooperation with the County Commissioners, the school board and the Federal Government, the WPA finished the project. A “bathhouse” was installed with showers under the grandstand. Wells were dug, a few electric lights were installed plus a pump for operating the swimming pool was added. The
“bathhouse” was used by the football team and their opponents. Before the addition of the showers under the grandstand, teams dressed at the old Philomethian School in the village and walked to the football field for the games. Once the games were over, they walked back to the schoolhouse on Philomethian Street to take their showers. The first major improvements came in 1944 when Carlyle S. Harris, Class of 1914, headed the Chamber of Commerce fundraising committee to light the stadium. Under his leadership, funds were raised and lights were erected one year later. Also born at that time was the Chagrin Falls Booster Club, under the leadership of George Camp, its first president. The first night football game at the stadium was October 18, 1945. Chagrin Falls beat Chardon 13-6. For many years the stadium was considered the most charming facility of its kind in Northeastern Ohio. Nothing was comparable. The first college football game ever played in the Chagrin Valley was played under the “new modern lighting system” at the old stadium on September 28, 1946. The night game featured Kent State University vs. Hiram College. A crowd of “5,000 or more” saw Kent beat Hiram 40-0. It was believed to be the first college football game ever played in a non-college town in Ohio. Former Cleveland Browns’ head coach Bill Belichick’s father, Steve Belichick, was the head coach at Hiram College. The Chamber of Commerce provided the original south side bleachers in 1946, and the Chagrin Falls Booster Club, Giles Foundation, and community members provided the funds to build the press box in 1963. Carlyle S. Harris once again contributed toward the final completion of this project.
The stadium was dedicated to C.S. Harris in 1967 after his donation of the new south side bleachers, perimeter fencing, and mercury light fixtures for the 1944 lighting system. Renovations were made to the old racehorse grandstand in 1984-1985 including installation of a new all-weather track. In 1989 continued renovation took place at the stadium. Track repairs, re-surfacing and stripping were completed in 1991. The Chagrin Falls Booster Club donated a new scoreboard in 1996. In 1997 the Chagrin Falls Booster Club, along with several interested parents and friends of the high school, renovated the space beneath the old grandstand to reestablish the varsity football locker rooms under the stadium. It was dedicated in honor of retired football coach, John Piai. New lights were erected in the summer of 2001. On Friday, August 26, 2005, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Harris Stadium Field for the dedication of a new artificial grass field. It is estimated that the field is used 600 times during the year. Renovations and additions to restrooms and concession stands were completed in 2009 through the generous support of the Dads’ Club, Booster Club, Music Lovers and labor and materials from the Chagrin Falls community. A new flagpole donated by the Chagrin Falls VFW was dedicated at C.S. Harris Stadium prior to the first home football game of the 2011 season. The plaque at the base of the pole is titled, “Honoring Those Who Serve.” More than 600 Chagrin Falls’ graduates have or are currently serving in our military. The all-weather track was resurfaced in the summer of 2012. The old grandstand has aged but continues to hold 100 years of great TIGER MEMORIES!
5
Super SPOTLIGHTS Leveraging Leadership and Creating Capacity for Digital Learners Chagrin Falls High School Principal Steven Ast, Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives Chris Woofter, and Directory of Technology and Information Systems Mike Daugherty were presenters at the 2013 Ohio Innovative Learning Environments Conference in Columbus on August 2nd. They discussed the process Chagrin Fall Exempted Village Schools follows to increase student access to technology in the district. They also discussed how the district intends on evaluating this long-term program and how other districts can implement a similar model. “The process that the district developed has moved the district from an average level of technology engagement to a vibrant model where individual students access digital tools on a daily basis for meaningful work,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. ----------------It’s the simple things that matter the most... Assistant Principal at Chagrin Falls High School Rob Winton made sure that no one was sitting by themselves at lunch during the opening weeks of school. -----------------
For the first home football game, the custodial staff of Mark Slusher, Dan Miller, Don Rauch, Adam Pealer and Jeff McLean worked very hard to set up for the Booster’s tailgate event, handle the parking, and clean up the stadium afterwards. They did all of this with extra effort and a smile. ----------------Special thanks to Laura Vilt, Gurney Cook and Jennifer Jones, Gurney Helper who have put in many hours preparing for the new Gurney lunch program by testing recipes, preparing everything from scratch, and learning a new order system with a new food vendor. ----------------Gurney Elementary’s Information Literacy Teacher Kelly Shanaberger spent all but one week at the school this summer going through 14,000 books in the library––re-organizing, re-shelving, establishing all new signage, re-arranging furniture, creating whole class teaching space, creating space for 12 laptops that students can use, painting murals, and learning as much as she could about her new teaching position. Amazing dedication!
Do you have news to share? If you know of a staff member - certified or classified - that goes above and beyond the call of duty, please email your submission to Charlene Paparizos, Director of Communications, Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools • charlene.paparizos@chagrinschools.org.
6
Reminder to Sign up for E-Communications Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools uses a variety of avenues to communicate to the district stakeholders. They encourage residents to sign up for e-communications by going to the district homepage at www. chagrinschools.org. In the lower right hand corner under Quick Links, there is an “E-Newsletter” icon to select. Residents can choose to receive updates from the district and/or individual buildings. Once a resident is registered, he/she also will receive the district’s new monthly digital magazine, Super News. The magazine can also be found on the district’s website. “I encourage all residents, even those that do not have children in the district, to sign up to receive our Super News publication,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “It is an excellent way for everyone in our community to stay connected with the great accomplishments and happenings in our district.” The district also has a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CFEVS) and most of the school administrators and principals have Twitter accounts.
FLYER CENTRAL . . . NEWS YOU CAN USE Be sure to check out the new FLYER CENTRAL page of our district website for events, programs, and information from various community and school organizations. You can find the FLYER CENTRAL gray box located on the right side of the homepage at www.chagrinschools.org.
PTO Calendar Events Now on District Website The PTO events can now be found on the district calendar at www.chagrinschools.org.
2013
August 2013
Staff Employee of the Year is
Mary Jo Czerr
and Teacher of the Year is
John Brownlow P. 9
Miss the August Edition of Super News? Click here to read: http://bit.ly/ChagrinFalls_SuperNews_Aug2013
Chagrin Falls SchoolS
SUPER NEWS
7
superintendents of chagrin falls and kenston speak at luncheon
chagrin valley chamber of commerce At the August luncheon of the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce, Superintendent of Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools Robert Hunt and Superintendent of Kenston City Schools Robert Lee spoke to a crowd of approximately 50 Chagrin Valley business, community and civic leaders about the changes in the Ohio Department of Education local report card, teacher and principal evaluation systems, and the state of education in Ohio today.
8
Special thanks to the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce for inviting both superintendents to help educate residents on the ever-changing state of education in Ohio. At the September Chamber board meeting, Superintendent Robert Hunt and Director of Operations and Strategic Iniatives Christopher Woofter discussed the opportunities businesses have in new business/school partnership program the district is beginning this school year.
memories of Chagrin falls exempted village schools
First day of school 2013
9
memories of Chagrin falls exempted village schools
First day of school 2013
10
high school seniors
career exploration day On Aug. 28, the Chagrin Falls High School seniors participated in a focus day that jump-started their senior year and the college application process. It was the second part of a program that began late last spring when seniors concentrated on writing the college essay. The morning began with a presentation by Shannon Beach delineating the senior research project, and a college application overview by Jennifer Newton. Students completed a graduation audit and each took the OCIS Career Inventory using the new high school Chromebooks, the first step in beginning research
that will tie in to the senior project in May. The rest of the day was devoted to work sessions for students to focus on a variety of tasks, including finetuning their resumes, editing their college essays, filling out college applications and consulting with the high school counselors. The day culminated in the Performing Arts Center with a skit on proper college interviewing techniques performed by students Tom Collins and Grace Juergens.
11
a look into common core standards
new math curriculum Math teachers in the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools are implementing new materials aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) this year. At the end of last school year, the College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) program (in grades 7-12) and Pearson’s enVision Math program (in grades K-5) were selected. Both programs were Board-adopted and initial teacher training occurred in preparation for the first year of full-scale implementation during the 2013-14 school year. “Our high school math department collaborated, visited other high-performing schools, and then decided on this program,” said Chagrin Falls High School Principal Steven Ast. “It is a different approach to math, with students working in teams to solve more real-world type problems.” The College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM) program has been successfully implemented within the Solon City School District over the past five years. This year, Chagrin Falls is joined by several other top-performing Ohio school districts, like Hudson and Beachwood, who have also chosen to adopt CPM. Students will learn to use new models and methods to think about and solve problems. They will develop powerful mathematical tools and learn new ways of thinking about and investigating situations.
“Through use of this new program, students will be making connections, discovering relationships, figuring out what strategies can be used to solve problems, and explaining their thinking. Learning to think in these varied ways and communicate about thought processes will be valuable not only within mathematical contexts, but also within other subjects offered throughout high school and beyond.” - Steven Ast, Principal Chagrin Falls High School
12
The problem-based lessons provide a balance of basic skills, conceptual understanding, and problem-solving strategies. Each lesson has a mathematical objective and focuses on one or more of the mathematical practices. Homework will practice ideas from the current chapter and previous topics, but spread the practice over several days and weeks so that students have time to become proficient with ideas and skills. Together, teams of students will complete problems and activities that will help them develop solution methods and master mathematical ideas. Each teacher will support students as they work, while encouraging them to maximize the opportunity to think and investigate with their team. Each topic will be revisited many times and will connect to other topics. Through the program’s focus on active participation of all students, ongoing team collaboration, problem-solving, and the development of high-level questioning techniques, students will understand mathematics at a deep and meaningful level. In addition to the support provided in the classroom, CPM has also created online resources, including help with homework, and a parent guide with extra practice. These are available at www.cpm.org.
Some things that families can do to help secondary students have a successful year: 1. Remind your child that daily participation within their study team is an essential part of this class. 2. Remind your child that daily homework assignments are an essential part of this class providing the repeated exposure to concepts resulting in truly learning the material. 3. Encourage your child to seek help immediately if they are having difficulty so that the problem can be remedied quickly. 4. Instill in your child that attendance is a requirement for success. Since mathematics is cumulative, time spent out of class puts more pressure on the student to get caught up.
The enVision Math program will be used with students in grades K-5 this year. This program integrates the use of technology in instruction, learning, and assessment. Each unit is divided into topics that correspond with the math common core standards. The program provides ongoing assessments that may be used as pre-assessments prior to instruction (to determine which students may already have mastery and/or their degree of mastery), post-assessments (following instruction to ensure mastery), and as progress-monitoring tools (to ensure students mastery is consistent, connected, and “on-track” throughout the school year). Opportunities for re-teaching and enrichment are provided within each lesson to support differentiated learning opportunities for the varying needs of students. Pearson’s focus MATH program is a supplemental program which parallels the enVision Math program, yet provides intensive intervention to students who are in need of additional supports and services. This program will also be implemented within the district this school year and is designed to fit within our existing Response to Intervention (RtI) framework. It identifies at-risk students early and seeks to accelerate student learning with instruction that is intensive, balanced, and individualized.
All K-5 Math teachers will receive additional training on use of the technology to support the new program in the next weeks. As the year progresses, families should expect to receive student login information to access online tools from their respective math teachers.
“We are excited about our new math programs and look forward to fully unpacking them with students this year. These tools will assist us in fully implementing the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics and bestpreparing our students.” - Becky Quinn, Director of Curriculum/Gifted Services Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools
Parents . . . Be sure to visit www.cpm.org for many videos, articles, and tips for helping your child.
a
1
Super Students Chagrin Falls High School Senior Karen Greenlaw Named as Semifinalist in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program
Chagrin Falls High School senior Karen Greenlaw has been named as a semifinalist in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced today the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Karen Greenlaw joins these other talented high school seniors who have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $35 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Greenlaw must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Approximately 90% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and more than 50% of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
Chagrin Falls High School Student Christopher Dobeck Named Chagrin Falls Rotary Club September Student of the Month Chagrin Falls High School senior Christopher Dobeck is the Chagrin Valley Rotary Club High School Student of the Month for September. Dobeck is the recipient of the 2013 Buckeye Boys State Outstanding Citizen Award from the American Legion. In school, he is active as a four-term class president of Student Council and is on the Speech and Debate Club, Engineering Club, founder of the Young Republicans Club, and played JV football in 2011. His activities outside of school include participating in the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Look Up to Cleveland program. He is employed by Opinions, LTD as a phone operations technician. Dobeck is considering a career in political science, anthropology, history (European or American), or linguistics. He currently is in honors English, AP Psychology, AP U.S. History, AP Micro Economics, AP Macro Economics, and is in his sixth year of studying Chinese. Each month, the Rotary Club recognizes a high school student who displays service and leadership qualities. Dobeck has been invited as a guest to an upcoming Rotary meeting to be honored.
14
Gurney Elementary students
enjoying healthier lunches As school let out for the summer at T.C. Gurney Elementary, planning was already underway for big changes to the school’s lunch menu next year. Part of Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools, Gurney was selected as the first in Ohio to receive a grant from the Life Time Foundation to make over its lunch program.
The Life Time Foundation grant covers the cost difference between the school’s current food budget and that required of the new menu. Additionally, the foundation collaborated with school staff and parents to help kids improve their health through exercise and improved diets at home.
“The alarming rise in obesity rates is putting the health of an entire generation at stake,” said Life Time Foundation Director of Operations James McGuire. “While the recent USDA mandates have greatly improved nutrition at our schools, additional change is needed. The Life Time Foundation aims to work collaboratively with forward-thinking, innovative school leaders, such as our new partners at Gurney Elementary, to further develop a healthy, delicious and sustainable model that can ultimately be adopted by other schools nationwide.”
“As educators, we are entrusted with our community’s children for more than six hours a day, five days a week, 36 weeks a year. With this privilege, I believe it is imperative we recognize the importance that the combination of nutrition and physical activity has on each child’s well being,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “We are excited to partner with the Life Time Foundation and help our students learn about -- and enjoy -- healthier food choices and an active lifestyle that can help them lead long, healthy lives.”
Gurney Elementary has launched a new, healthier menu with the support of the Life Time Foundation. Through the partnership, the Gurney lunch program has eliminated all unnatural ingredients currently in school lunches, including high fructose corn syrup, bleached flour, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial preservatives, trans fats/hydrogenated oils, hormones and antibiotics in beef, and where possible, hormones and antibiotics in other animal products. As healthy, natural alternatives are substituted for unnatural ingredients, the focus remains on ensuring students continue to enjoy the foods they love while leading a healthier way of life. Examples of food that are on the lunch menu include a veggie bar (baby carrots, grape tomatoes, chick peas, cucumbers, broccoli florets),
fresh fruit (mandarin oranges, peaches, bananas, kiwi, apples, grapes) Asian chicken bowl, rotini with homemade meat sauce, Bell & Evans chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, and homemade macaroni and cheese.
15
intermediate school sixth graders
learning on google chromebooks
16
Technology is changing the way students learn. Many of the students in our district have never known a world without high speed Internet access, Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia. These children have grown up in a technology-rich world and, subsequently, they think and solve problems differently than previous generations. The district technology committee met last October to discuss how the district could adapt to this new generation of learners. The outcome of these meetings was a recommendation to increase student access to technology using a device that would promote six core technology skills: critical thinking, research, collaboration, adaptability, communication, and presentation. In addition, the device also needs to be acceptable for the move to web-based assessments in 2014–15. Finally, the district’s network infrastructure would need to be upgraded to ensure the devices would have fast, reliable access to the Internet. At the beginning of this school year, the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District equipped every sixth grade student at Intermediate School with a Google Chromebook. A Chromebook is similar to a traditional laptop, but it does not run Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Office. Instead, the Chromebook runs Google’s Chrome OS. The device is deeply integrated with the Google Apps for Education suite of products that allows the students to create documents, spreadsheets, forms, and presentations similar to Microsoft Office. The
expectation is that the students will use this device in class on a daily basis. Students are allowed to take the Chromebook home at night and on weekends by contributing $50 per year to the district Technology Fund. Parents will also have the option of purchasing the device themselves in which case the contribution would decrease to $10 per year.
“It is only one week of having the Chromebooks and they are truly part of our routine now,” said Nancy Kevern, sixth grade teacher at Intermediate School. “Every student has one, every class, every day, fully charged, ready to go. We use them, close the lids, have a discussion, open them, use them again. It is seamless, embedded, purposeful… just as I hoped it would be.” The technology department has several other initiatives lined up for the 2013-14 school year as well. Chagrin Falls High School will be rolling out four mobile labs of Chromebooks. Gurney Elementary will be moving forward with a plan to put three to four iPads in each classroom. Teachers that are using five-year-old laptops will be receiving new machines this fall.
Progress of this initiative can be followed at www.greattechspectations.com.
17
Putting Newton’s Law of motion into action
engaged learning in science “Every object in motion tends to remain in motion unless an external force is applied to it.” Newton’s Law of Motion is being put to the test this month for all the budding eighth grade scientists at Chagrin Falls Middle School. Thanks to their teacher, Mr. Jeremy Rothstein, students are not just reading about the laws of motion in a textbook, but they are experiencing motion and forces with hands-on activities outside. Students worked on a speed lab. They skipped, walked backwards, and did a speed walk, all while doing mathematical calculations for motion. They also had another lab where they were able to race cars down ramps to calculate acceleration. In addition, students are able to describe Newton’s three Laws of Motion and how they affect the car in different situations (changing the height of the ramp and crashing the car to test inertia). Realizing that students who are engaged and interact with the material they are learning will increase their comprehension of the concepts, Mr. Rothstein, developed a hands-on activity that all of his students are enjoying. “We are integrating
18
movement and health into the science classroom,” said Mr. Rothstein. “I love it because it gets students outside the classroom using possible real-world scenarios. The students get a chance to extend their knowledge by using their data to estimate a time or a distance later in the lab. They are using the data to make a visual representation in the form of a graph.” “It was a fun lab because we got to be in groups, be outside, and test our speed,” said eighth grader Cade Salyers. Mackenzie Lurch agreed. “We got to skip and learned how to properly speed walk. I also enjoyed that the lab was outside and interactive.”
students donate to shoes and coats for kids
Making a difference Congratulations to our fall sports team athletes in grades 7-12 who came together to make a difference by collecting school supplies at the “Meet the Team Night� on August 18. Donations were given to the Shoes and Clothes for Kids 8th annual Stuff the Bus Drive.
SHAPING the VISION for our
KIDS’ FUTURE You are invited to the . . .
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools Strategic Plan Community Meeting
October 22, 2013 Performing Arts Center • 7-8:30 pm All are welcome to attend. DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE: - overview of the community survey results - overview of current school data -overview and invitation to participate in the strategic plan process
Help define the future of our schools!
Facebook • twitter • website • e-newsletters
follow us on social media The Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools intends to use a variety of avenues to communicate to the district stakeholders. The list below outlines the various methods to connect with the district through social media.
District Website
Visit us on the web at www.chagrinschools.org
Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CFEVS
Join the conversation on Twitter. Use #CFEVS. You can also follow the school district administrators: Robert Hunt Superintendent @Hunt_EdLeader
David Wessel Middle School Principal @CFMS_Principal
Christopher Woofter Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives @ChrisWoofter
Rebecca Holthaus Intermediate School Principal @RebeccaHolthaus
Mike Daugherty Director of Technology @MoreThanATech
Rachel Jones Gurney Elementary Principal @DrJ_cfprincipal
Steve Ast High School Principal @steven_ast
Charlie Barch District Athletic Director @ChagrinAD
Rob Winton High School Asst. Principal @robertdwinton
E-Newsletter
Would you like to be notified via email of what’s happening in the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District? Register to receive our E-Newsletter. Go to the homepage, www.chagrinschool.org. In the lower right hand corner, click the “E-Newsletter” icon to begin the registration process. Once there, click the link that says Create an Account. Fill out the forms and choose your selections. When you are finished, click the submit button and you are registered. Please note, you can login with the account you just created and edit your preferences at any time.
District All Calls
Our district uses an automated calling system to send out important messages such as school closings, school delays, or other valuable information when necessary. This service is only for the parents of district students. Parents will be eligible to receive these calls when they enroll their students. If you are a parent in the district and you are not receiving the automated calls, or if you need to change the number that these calls go to, please contact Pupil Services at (440) 247-4564.
400 East Washington Street • Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 • 440-247-5500
21