KIRTLAND LOCAL SCHOOLS AWARDED EXCEPTIONAL FIVE-STAR RATING ON 2023-24 STATE REPORT CARD
On September 13, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce released the 2023-24 State Report Cards for both individual buildings and districts. While we all understand that a truly outstanding school system is defined by much more than just a report card, it does provide us with valuable insights into our students’ achievements.
I am thrilled to announce that our district has been awarded an exceptional five-star rating, the highest attainable recognition! Furthermore, our overall Performance Index has reached unprecedented heights, marking it as the highest in at least the past nine years. This remarkable accomplishment has placed our district within the top 7% of all school districts in the state, reflecting the dedication and hard work of our students, staff, and community.
Our students have demonstrated remarkable progress, achieving at levels surpassing those prior to the pandemic. Since 2020, our scores continue to increase on state tests, ACT, and AP tests. This is truly a momentous achievement, and I couldn’t be prouder of our collective efforts.
I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all our students, staff, and community members for their role in making this success possible. Your unwavering support and commitment to our school district have played a pivotal role in this outstanding achievement as well as educating the whole child.
- Dr. Chad VanArnhem, Superintendent
OVERALL RATING ( H H HHH
The Overall rating is calculated by a weighted formula of all other rated components.
)
ACHIEVEMENT
( H H HHH )
The Achievement Component measures students’ academic achievement using each level of performance on Ohio’s state tests.
PROGRESS
( H H HHH )
The Progress Component measures the academic performance of students compared to expected growth on Ohio’s state tests.
GAP CLOSING
( H H HHH )
The Gap Closing component shows how well schools are meeting the performance expectations for our students in English language arts, math, and graduation. It also measures how schools are doing in supporting English learners to increase language proficiency, reducing chronic absenteeism for all students, and identifying gifted students and providing gifted services.
EARLY LITERACY
( H H HHH )
The Early Literacy Component is a measure of reading improvement and proficiency for students in kindergarten through third grade. Five stars means the district exceeds state standards in academic achievement.
( H H HHH )
The Graduation Component is a measure of the four-year adjusted graduation rate and the five-year adjusted graduation rate.
COLLEGE, CAREER, WORKFORCE, AND MILITARY READINESS
( not rated this year )
The College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness Component measures how well-prepared Ohio’s students are for all future opportunities.
NEW LEADERSHIP AT KIRTLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS BOARD APPROVES MISSY GODINA AS PRINCIPAL
The Kirtland Local School District Board of Education has approved Missy Godina as the new principal of Kirtland Elementary School (KES) for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The decision, made on Tuesday, July 9, comes after an extensive search process that attracted 25 applicants.
Godina succeeds Katy Nagaj, who has accepted a position as the Director of Teaching and Learning at a nearby district’s central office. During her four-year tenure, Nagaj led KES through the challenges of the pandemic and implemented several successful programs.
“It has been my pleasure and honor to serve as the principal of KES for the past four years,” said Nagaj. “I am grateful to have been surrounded by the dedicated and hardworking staff as well as the supportive families, as we all worked together to help our Hornets grow and achieve!”
The search for a new principal involved initial screenings of six candidates, with two finalists presented to a panel of parents, staff, and administrators. Godina emerged as the top choice, bringing with her more than two decades of diverse experience in education.
Godina’s career includes roles as an intervention specialist teacher, elementary school principal, high school assistant principal, instructional coach, and special education coordinator at Euclid City Schools and Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She has established herself as a strong instructional leader, having led various professional
development initiatives, including training for the school’s newly adopted CKLA reading program.
Upon her appointment, Godina expressed her enthusiasm: “I am so grateful for the opportunity to take on the role as Principal at Kirtland Elementary School. I am committed to collaborating with students, staff, and families to foster the minds of Kirtland’s youngest learners.”
Colleagues speak highly of Godina, describing her as hardworking, collaborative, and dedicated to student success. Her background in both regular and special education is expected to be a valuable asset to KES and the district as a whole.
“We are very excited to welcome Mrs. Godina to Kirtland,” said Superintendent Chad VanArnhem. “We are fortunate to have someone with her background, knowledge, and experiences to lead Kirtland Elementary School. She has a strong work ethic and has successfully led in a variety of educational positions. We are excited for the students, staff and community to meet her.”
Godina received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Inspired Leaders Principal Licensure Program all from Cleveland State University.
She is a lifelong Euclid resident where she still resides with her husband Joe, and three children.
As Kirtland Elementary School prepares for the new academic year, the community looks forward to welcoming Godina and continuing its tradition of educational excellence under her leadership.
KIRTLAND TEACHER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS LITERACY EDUCATION AWARD
The Kirtland Local Schools are proud to announce that Jamie Kamensky, a middle/high school intervention specialist and coach in the district, has been awarded the Sharon Parks Memorial Scholarship Award. This distinguished recognition comes as a result of her outstanding commitment to literacy education and the positive impact she has made on her students’ lives.
With 13 years of experience in education, Kamensky manages a Resource Room class for Functional Mathematics and Functional English Language Arts, while also supporting general education classes. Her implementation of the Wilson Reading Program over the past two years has shown remarkable results, aligning with her primary goal of teaching students how to succeed in life.
The Sharon Parks Memorial Scholarship is given in honor of Sharon Bulley Parks, a Wilson trainer who was committed throughout her life to her students and fellow teachers. The scholarship was established after her passing in 1996. Each year, it is awarded to an educator who has demonstrated the spirit of the Wilson mission in their career and has exemplified a commitment to literacy. Wilson Language Training provides literacy programs for students and training for educators for the past 35 years.
Nominated by fellow teacher and Kirtland’s District Wilson Language trainer, Alice McGinnis, Kamensky was selected for her steadfast dedication to Wilson’s high standards in literacy instruction. Her supervisor, Kristen Schutte, commended Kamensky’s exceptional work
and the difference she has made in students’ literacy development.
As part of this honor, Kamensky was a guest at the Wilson Conference, held at the Hilton Park Plaza in Boston, MA, on July 22-23. She was formally recognized for her achievements during the conference luncheon on Monday, July 22.
“We are incredibly proud of Mrs. Kamensky’s achievement,” said Kirtland Superintendent Chad VanArnhem. “Her dedication to improving literacy among our students exemplifies the high standards we strive for in Kirtland Local Schools. This award not only recognizes Jamie’s hard work and dedication to students, but also reflects positively on our entire educational community.”
KIRTLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPANDS ELECTIVE OFFERINGS
Kirtland Middle School (KMS) introduced an array of new elective classes this fall. The expanded curriculum aims to provide students with diverse learning opportunities across various disciplines.
Sixth-grade students benefit from a rotation of four classes: general music, where they learn piano and ukulele; wellness; art; and a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) class developed by Dr. JP Moran.
Additionally, these students participate in alternating choir and band sessions, receiving focused instruction based on their instrument or voice type. Students participate in combined practice sessions every few weeks during 82-minute block classes.
When not attending band or choir, 6th-grade students have the option to participate in either a focused art class
or a technology course created by KMS teachers Edward Bradac and Glorianne Camburako.
Seventh-grade students follow a similar structure with notable additions. A new photography class, designed by Michelle Mastrangelo, and Lego Robotics (Stage 2), led by Heidi Grunenberg, are available to seventh-graders.
For 8th-grade students, band and choir are offered as daily courses, mirroring the structure found at the high school. Other elective options for 8th graders include physical education, a new half-year high school credit health class, focused art, 3D art, Lego Robotics (Stage 3), French, and Spanish.
These new electives aim to broaden KMS students’ educational experiences and skills as they progress toward high school and beyond.
Ed and Barbara Wilson, Founders and creators of Wilson Language, with Jamie Kamensky with husband, Matthew.
KIRTLAND HIGH SCHOOL LAUNCHES VIDEO MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
This fall, Kirtland High School (KHS) has been taking significant leaps into the digital age with the launch of video morning announcements. Spearheaded by two rebranded media classes, this initiative is not only changing how information is disseminated within the school community but also providing students with realworld media production experience.
The two classes at the heart of this initiative, “Creating and Editing Digital Graphics and Video” and “Advanced Broadcasting and Design,” meet together during 5th period. Open to upperclassmen this year, these yearlong courses have a total of seven students enrolled between them. While KHS has offered similar classes in the past, these new courses place a stronger emphasis on video production, building upon the foundation of graphic design skills developed in classes that have been previously offered at KHS.
The daily announcements, which air on the “Kirtland High School Media” YouTube Channel, showcase the students’ hard work. Teachers, staff, students, and clubs submit information via a Google Form, which the students then transform into engaging scripts and visually appealing broadcasts using the skills they are learning daily in the classroom.
To bring their visions to life, students are utilizing a mix of technology, from shooting videos with cell phones and cameras to using Chromebooks connected to TVs as teleprompters. They edit their productions using Adobe Premiere software. A dedicated broadcasting area has been set up in the back of The Nest, complete with a branded background and news desk, providing a professional backdrop for the daily announcements.
“The content of these broadcasts is diverse, featuring sports highlights, upcoming events, and important school information.
In addition to the two advanced classes, KHS offers a Design Techniques class open to underclassmen, providing a foundation in design and editing using programs like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Premier and Canva. This class, with eleven students currently enrolled, serves as a stepping stone to the more advanced media courses.
The impact of these classes extends beyond the school walls. In September, students worked on a commercial for Kirtland Dental, collaborating with Dr. Jeffrey C. Bailey, a local dentist, to create professional-quality content for the community. This real-world project allowed them to apply their skills in script writing, set design, filming, and video production for an actual client.
As the program continues to evolve, it promises more opportunities for students to develop their media skills, preparing them for potential careers in the digital media landscape.
To bring their visions to life, students are utilizing a mix of technology, from shooting videos with cell phones and cameras to using Chromebooks connected to TVs as teleprompters. They edit their productions using Adobe Premiere software.
KHS FEATURES TRIO OF BUSINESS-FOCUSED COURSES FOR 9-12 STUDENTS
Kirtland High School (KHS) has recently expanded its curriculum with the introduction of two new courses Introduction to Business and Marketing, and Financial Literacy. (Financial Literacy, which was previously offered as an online class, will now be offered as an in-person class.)
These classes, taught by new Kirtland staff member Kim Ruggeri, aim to equip students with essential skills for their future personal and professional lives.
Financial Literacy, is a semester-long course required for all freshmen to graduate. The course focuses on teaching students the importance of financial planning and how to make informed decisions about money management. “I want students to understand the importance of their financial decisions,” said Ruggeri. “We’re teaching students the best way to use their money to have the quality of life they want.”
The Financial Literacy curriculum covers a wide range of practical topics, including credit cards, bank loans, and insurance. Students engage in activities such as tracking expenses and comparing their spending habits to teen spending statistics. Real-life scenarios involving car prices, insurance costs, and gas expenses are incorporated to provide students with a realistic understanding of financial responsibilities. The course also explores career options, expected salaries, and lifestyle choices to help students plan for their futures.
Introduction to Business, a year-long elective open to students in grades 9-12, provides a comprehensive overview of the business world. The course begins with
an exploration of the U.S. business environment, global business, and business ethics. Later chapters introduce students to the various disciplines of business, including management, marketing, finance, and accounting. Ruggeri plans to enhance the learning experience by inviting guest speakers within the community. “I really want students to hear from other people in the community about their jobs and receive career advice,” said Ruggeri. The course combines lecture-style teaching with project-based work, including a planned collaboration with local businesses where students will conduct research and present ideas to business owners.
Marketing, another year-long elective for grades 9-12, delves deeper into specific aspects of marketing for businesses. Students are learning about product development, pricing strategies, promotion techniques, and customer outreach.
The highlight of the Marketing course is a year-long project to develop a spirit store at KHS. Students will soon begin conducting research on other school spirit stores, developing surveys, and gathering input on desired products, and learning about pricing. “We’ll teach them the process of competitive and consumer research, and then start to make decisions,” Ruggeri explains.
The class will also collaborate with the school’s design classes to create products and branding for the store. With these new offerings, KHS is providing students with valuable opportunities to develop real-world skills and explore potential career paths.
KIRTLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOSTS 10TH ANNUAL WALK-A-THON
Kirtland Elementary School (KES) celebrated a decade of stepping up for fitness at their 10th annual Walk-A-Thon on September
13. Kirtland students, faculty, staff, and families came together to walk the track before the football game against Independence Local Schools.
This event could not have been a success without the Kirtland community coming together. The PTA welcomed families at the gate and Kirtland Middle School students
helped participating KES students count their laps. Several organizations, including the football moms, Boosters, PTA, and other community partners, also came together for this night of wellness, fun and support.
Funds from the event will go towards technology software, grade level field trips, new musical instruments, art supplies, library books, sensory equipment, and individual classroom needs.
KHS STUDENTS EMBARK ON LIFE-CHANGING STUDY ABROAD ADVENTURE IN FRANCE
Brimming with excitement, two Kirtland High School (KHS) students are immersing themselves in French culture during a transformative year abroad.
Silvia Ingram and Payton Sanzo will both be spending the 2024-25 school year studying abroad in France. Both girls have been studying French at KHS and were eager to expand their learning beyond the walls of the school building. After years of listening to Madame Heather Klemens talk about her own experiences studying abroad, they started showing curiosity about going abroad themselves.
Klemens quickly put them in touch with a local American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Program liaison. The girls completed a lengthy and detailed application process
and were both rewarded with not only being accepted into the program, but also receiving their top country of choiceFrance.
Silvia will be staying in Tulle, France, near Bordeaux. Payton will be staying in Saint-Marcel-d’Ardèche in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
AFS is a well-known international youth exchange organization. Kirtland has a long history of hosting exchange students, especially with AFS. They offer international student exchange programs all over the world. Opportunities are available to not only study abroad but also to host a student from among 80 diffeent countries.
Studying abroad is truly a life-changing experience and Kirtland Schools wish Silivia and Payton an amazing year in France.
KIRTLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HONORS
FIRST RESPONDERS WITH PATRIOT DAY PARADE
In observance of Patriot Day on September 11, Kirtland Elementary School’s (KES) staff and students came together to honor the community’s first responders with an outdoor parade in the KES parking lot. Officers from the Kirtland Police and Fire Departments and Waite Hill Police drove through the school’s parking lot as students lined the drive, cheering and displaying their appreciation for the important work they do. Members of the Kirtland Police and Fire departments also joined the students for lunch.
The students and staff expressed their gratitude by waving, clapping, and sharing heartfelt signs, letters, and cards. In the classrooms, teachers took the opportunity to discuss with students the significance of
first responders and the vital role they play in keeping the community safe. Over the years, the school has been honored to welcome Kirtland Police officers as guest readers, forging a special bond between the students and those who protect them.
“September 11th is a time to reflect on the extraordinary bravery of first responders who put their lives on the line for others,” said Superintendent Chad VanArnhem. “Our goal is to recognize the dedication of our local heroes who continue to serve and protect Kirtland. We deeply appreciate the efforts of our police and fire departments, and are thankful for them every day.”
A successful school district places a high degree of importance on ensuring that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential inside and outside of the classroom. This Quality Profile helps characterize the overall educational value provided by the Kirtland Local School District in areas that matter to our community.
MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY
Hello Kirtland Community,
I am so appreciative of the support of all of our stakeholders which ensured we had a very smooth and successful start to the 2024-2025 school year.
This school year, we will continue to use the four pillars of our strategic plan to drive our instruction and practices in the district. The first pillar of the plan focuses on personalized learning. Our staff will continue to look at ways to provide students what they need to stretch their learning. The elementary school will be looking at some new math curriculum while the middle school will be integrating the Writing Revolution into all subjects. The high school has added business and computer science classes to provide more electives and in person learning opportunities. We will also continue to have a focus on the whole student while looking to improve their academics and learning. The middle school has added a fitness area, similar to the one at KES, that students will be able to use for movement breaks during their study halls, physical education, and as needed for student interventions. Research supports providing physical activity breaks for students to help with focus, improved learning, improved behavior, better physical and mental health.
Our second pillar is providing a safe and secure environment. The district has made numerous safety upgrades to the campus. Quarterly district safety meetings take place with school staff and our police and fire departments. We are fortunate to have a full time Student Resource Officer on campus daily. I would like to remind everyone in our community, and ask parents to remind their students, if anyone hears or sees something that is a concern around safety to notify a building administrator or the police right away.
Our third pillar is well-managed finances. Our district takes great pride in using our tax dollars responsibly. We have not asked for new general fund money since 2012; this has been accomplished through shared services with other districts, zero based budgeting, advertising, fees, seeking grants and demonstrating fiscally responsible practices.
The last pillar is engaging the community. An area that separates the Kirtland Schools from so many others is the amount of community support we have. We are so fortunate to have so many groups supporting us. We want to make sure we provide opportunities for those in our community to be heard as well. I will be hosting three Coffee & Conversations with the Superintendent at Honey’s. The first one was in September. The next two are being held on January 15 and April 2 at 8 a.m. This is a great opportunity to ask questions or hear about what is taking place in our district. While we have many groups supporting us, I am also very proud of our Kirtland students who reciprocate the help by giving back to the community. Last year, the Class of 2024 earned more than 5,250 hours on their own!
Thanks for all of your support and Go Hornets!
Chad VanArnhem Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Josh Hayes, President josh.hayes@kirtlandschools.org
Shannon Green, Vice President shannon.green@kirtlandschools.org
Sheila Dikowicz, Member sheila.dikowicz@kirtlandschools.org
Dr. Matt Whittaker, Member matt.whittaker@kirtlandschools.org
Jonathan Withrow, Member jonathan.withrow@kirtlandschools.org
WE BELIEVE IN:
• Cultivating a personalized learning environment for all students.
• Providing a safe, positive, and productive atmosphere.
• Increasing communications within the schools, families, and the community.
• Encouraging innovation and cultivating a sense of intellectual curiosity.
• Treating all persons with respect and dignity.
• Empowering students to have a voice in our democracy.
ENGAGED COMMUNITY
Our community is paramount to our success. We continue to focus on engaging our alumni, increasing parent communication, engaging the community, partnering with businesses, and increasing student and community interaction. Our students are working to engage with our community in a variety of ways, especially through community service projects. The Class of 2024 had more than 5,250 hours of community service! We are extremely thankful and appreciative of the partnerships with Kirtland Kiwanis, PTA, Academic Boosters, Kirtland Area Service Council, Music Boosters and Athletic Boosters. Our elementary students continue to give thanks to our local first responders on Patriot Day on September 11 with their annual parade. We also have more than $500,000 committed to the district in naming rights and sponsorship.
Kirtland Elementary School
- Students honored first responders during an outdoor parade on Patriots Day.
- KES held its annual Walk-a-Thon fundraiser in October and raised more than $15,000 for wellness-related resources for the students.
- KES was awarded PBIS Gold.
- 4th and 5th graders wrote Veterans Day letters to Veterans at a local assisted-living facility
- Elementary School Art students created holiday cards for our partnerships in the community.
- A food drive was held for Kirtland Area Service Council.
Kirtland Middle School
- Students volunteered to work at Pancakes with Santa.
- Students visited the rehabilitation center on Halloween in costume.
- Students made holiday ornaments for the rehabilitation center.
- Students worked at the Kiwanis Senior Holiday Dinner.
- Students volunteered to run the concession stand at girls’ and boys’ basketball games.
- Students run a recycling program.
- Students put together Easter baskets for families in need.
- Students volunteer as servers at the Kirtland Senior Citizen dinner.
- Students volunteer to help with Holiday Boutique.
- Students and families participated in the 1st ever “Screen Free Week”.
Kirtland High School
- Food drive for Kirtland Area Service Council.
- Penny Wars for Project Hope raising $600.
- PTA Holiday Boutique.
- Breakfast with Santa.
- First Lego League Mentoring.
- Tutoring.
- Kirtland Youth Basketball League Volunteering.
- Tech Department Help.
- Kirtland Key Clubbers attended Ohio Key Club DLC to celebrate a year of service and the installation of the new Board. Kirtland Key Club earned many honors. Kiera Fortney was installed as Secretary-Treasurer for the Ohio District; Drew Duncan earned Distinguished Club President and a $1000 Key Club International scholarship and Marin Haupt won the DLC pin design contest. Our club won 1st place for the K-Family Project, 1st place for Service Project, and 1st place for digital poster contest categories. Our club also earned recognition for Key Club International Week and Teacher’s Appreciation Week programs. We had a great time celebrating service leadership.
- Seniors participated in a community Service Day as part of their Senior Experience, providing service to different community businesses, such as Holden Arboretum, Penitentiary Glen, Lake Farmpark, Kirtland Service Department, and Kirtland Elementary School.
The Kirtland Local Schools provide a good value for our taxpayers’ investment in our schools. The district works hard to stretch tax dollars and is recognized at the state level for our efforts in fiscal stewardship. While Kirtland’s effective millage rate ranks in the middle of Lake County, the school district is:
• Ranked in the top 8% of public school districts in Ohio
• #15 out of 611 Ohio districts in the gifted ranking
• The only 5 star rated district in Lake County
• 1 of only 18 districts in Ohio to have a five star rating in every category
• Has 79% of teachers with at least a Master’s Degree
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
WICKLIFFE CSD
WILLOUGHBY-EASTLAKE CSD
FAIRPORT HARBOR EVSD
PAINESVILLE CSD
KIRTLAND LSD
MENTOR EVSD
RIVERSIDE LSD
MADISON LSD (LAKE CO.)
PERRY LSD (LAKE CO.)
WICKLIFFE CSD
WILLOUGHBY-EASTLAKE CSD
FAIRPORT HARBOR EVSD
PAINESVILLE CSD
KIRTLAND LSD
MENTOR EVSD
RIVERSIDE LSD
MADISON LSD (LAKE CO.)
PERRY LSD (LAKE CO.) COMPARABLE LAKE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ TAX RATES
EXPENSES
37 RECEIVED HONORS DIPLOMA 37 GRADUATED WITH A FOUR-YEAR ACADEMIC LETTER
3 NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLARS
12 GRADUATES EARNED A 30+ ON THE ACT
17
5,250 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS LOGGED BY SENIORS GRADUATES EARNED A 28+ ON THE ACT
GRADUATES OF THE CLASS OF 2024 ARE ATTENDING 22 DIFFERENT COLLEGES.
• Baldwin Wallace University
• Bowling Green State University
• Cleveland State University
• Cuyahoga Community College
• Ithaca College
• John Carroll University
• Kent State University
• Lakeland Community College
• Miami University
• Ohio University
• Siena Heights University
2023-2024 School Year Highlights
• Our FTC team qualified for the state competition for the past three years, and engaged in countless outreach activities
• The Academic Challenge team took 2nd place on WEWS Academic Challenge show and Runner-up in the second annual CVC Academic Challenge Tournament
• Our National Honor Society senior members logged more than 525 hours of peer tutoring and 760 hours of service
• Our Key Club seniors raised $600 for Project Hope and sponsored the Charter to start a K-Kids Club at KES
• The College of Wooster
• The Ohio State University
• University of Akron
• University of Cincinnati
• University of New England
• University of Pittsburgh
• Utah State University
• West Virginia University
• Woodbury University
• Wright State University
• Youngstown State University
• One Student Earned Distinguished Club President by the Ohio District Key Club (Drew Duncan)
• Our Drama Club put on a fantastic production of “Moriarity’s Revenge” this Spring
• Our Choir had 6 public performances this year, including OMEA District High School Band & Choir Festival held at CSU
• Our Band had more than 25 public performances, and is truly the heartbeat of our school
1
STUDENT EARNED A PERFECT ACT SCORE
23
STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM AUBURN CAREER CENTER
Academic Highlights
282 AP EXAMS TAKEN BY KHS STUDENTS IN 2023-2024
1
STUDENT EARNED A BACHELOR’S DEGREE
• Kirtland High School is a 2024 Best High School, based on rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
• Kirtland High School is ranked #1 in Lake County
• Kirtland High School is ranked #16 in Cleveland
• Kirtland High School is ranked #55 in Ohio (out of 741 schools ranked in Ohio)
• 23 KHS Students Graduated Summa Cum Laude (4.25+ Cumulative GPA)
• 8 KHS Students Graduated Magna Cum Laude (4.00 - 4.249 Cumulative GPA)
• 13 KHS Students Graduated Cum Laude (3.75 - 3.999 Cumulative GPA)
282 Advanced Placement Exams taken by 114 Grades 9-12 KHS students in 2023-2024
21 KHS students were named AP Scholars in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level AP exams.
3
STUDENTS EARNED TWO ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES
11 AP SCHOLARS WITH DISTINCTION FOR EARNING AN AVERAGE OF 3.5 ON ALL AP EXAMS TAKEN, AND SCORES OF 3 OR HIGHER ON FIVE OR MORE OF THESE EXAMS.
2 AP SCHOLARS WITH HONORS FOR EARNING AN AVERAGE OF 3.25 ON ALL AP EXAMS TAKEN AND SCORES OF 3 OR HIGHER ON FOUR OR MORE OF THESE EXAMS.
Athletic Highlights
• At least 6 Seniors committed to playing Athletics in College.
• 10 Team Championships in the Chagrin Valley Conference the last two years.
• 8 All-Ohio Athletes.
• 3 Chagrin Valley Most Valuable Players.
• 25 ALL Chagrin Valley Conference 1st team award winners.
8 AP SCHOLARS FOR EARNING AN AVERAGE SCORE OF AT LEAST 3 ON THREE OR MORE AP EXAMS.
• 11 All Chagrin Valley Conference 2nd team award winners.
• 10 CVC Honorable Mentions.
• Football team named State Champions for the second year.
• 1 Girls’ Soccer State Championship.
• Girls’ Flag Football team named NEO Cleveland Champions for the third year.
The Kirtland Local Schools offer athletic opportunities for students at the middle and high school levels. A well-rounded education includes a variety of opportunities. The Kirtland Local Schools believe there is more to our students than test scores. Athletics and extracurricular activities build character, teamwork, and engagement. Kirtland High School offers a wide variety of clubs, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities for students. Kirtland Middle School offers nine clubs and ten athletic teams for students.
Athletic Highlights
FALL SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
Kirtland’s fall sports teams enjoyed their fair share of success in the 2023 season. The Hornets’ boys’ soccer team won a Division III district championship and the girls’ cross country team ran its way to the regional meet with Ainsley Borthwick qualifying for the state championships.
In volleyball, the Hornets earned a share of the CVC Valley Division title with a 9-1 record and advanced to a Division III district championship game. Senior Nina Loncar and head coach Ricky Sanders earned CVC Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors, respectively.
Kirtland’s young golf team returned every starter in 2024, including freshman Nick Nead, who was named first-team all-conference. The Hornets advanced to a Division III district championship in volleyball, and the football team claimed its 7th state championship in school history to cap off the fall sports season. The Hornets made their 12th appearance in the state championship game in the past 13 years.
WINTER SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
Kirtland’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams again enjoyed successful seasons. The Hornets finished 16-7 overall and 8-2 as the CVC Valley Division runner-up in boys’ basketball while the girls’ team finished 12-11 and 5-5. Three players—Nick Barisic, Kristiana Katic, and Emily Ridgeway—earned first-team all-conference honors while six more Hornets earned either second-team or honorable mention honors.
Kirtland’s swim teams earned all-conference honors in four different events, and two wrestlers earned All-CVC honors on the mat.
SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
Kirtland’s 2024 spring sports season ended with the Hornets’ girls’ 4x800-meter relay team running the second-fastest time in school history at the 2024 OHSAA State Track & Field Championships. Izzie Copeland, Megan Urbanick, Ainsley Borthwick, and Sylvia Vosicky teamed up to finish that race in 9:47.83, earning 14th place overall. As a team, the Hornets won 10 individual or relay titles at the CVC meet, and eight individuals and one relay team competed in the regional championships.
Kirtland’s baseball team earned a share of the CVC Valley Division title after finishing the year with a 18-8 record overall and a 10-2 mark in conference play. Nine players earned allconference honors. Trip Thaler, Tyler Turk, and Gino Blasini earned All-Ohio honors. Kirtland’s softball team struggled to a 1-17 record this spring in head coach Jerry Jeffrey’s first season guiding the Hornets. Four players earned all-conference honors.
Kirtland’s boys’ tennis team finished second at the CVC Lake Division tournament with five players earning All-CVC awards.
HIGHLIGHTS
Wellness of Students and Staff is a Top Priority
Wellness is top priority for both students and staff at the Kirtland Local Schools. The district’s wellness program is thriving and all grade levels at each building continue to take part in programs and activities this school year. In a partnership with the district’s Wellness Committee, numerous initiatives are taking place in classrooms as well as in homes. The Wellness Committee, which consists of members of the administration, staff, students, and parents, has met quarterly over the past few years. The committee is always looking for ways to promote wellness for all stakeholders, which aligns with the district’s strategic plan of promoting healthy choices for students.
Kirtland Elementary School:
• Student wellness room.
• World Kindness Day.
• Lunch Bunches.
• Monthly Student Meetings teaching and rewarding students for positive behavior.
• Classroom guidance lessons for emotional awareness and management.
• Action for Happiness monthly calendar of prompts.
• KMS Building Leadership Team (BLT) led Staff Wellness Activities.
• October and November lap challenge.
• Biggest Loser Challenge.
• Screen Free Week.
• Pancake Breakfasts.
• Newly completed Fitness Room - offer alternative movement activities for students.
• Student Leadership Council - group of 18 students that work to insure student voice is heard by school administration.
• Wellness Class Elective.
• Class Fitness Breaks.
• NAMI Presentation grades 6-8.
• “Shout Outs” week associated with PBIS.
• Field Trips:
- 8th grade: DC, Face to Face Presentation at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation, Auburn Career Center tour.
- 7th grade: Chicago.
- 6th grade: Camp, ACC - CPR training.
• Spelling Bee.
• Scholars Breakfast, awards, etc.
• Erin’s Law Training for grades 6 and 7.
• Peer Leaders Group - Approximately 20 8th grade students mentor 6th graders in their first year at KMS.
Kirtland High School
• 9th grade Welcome/Orientation Day.
• Wellness Class Elective.
• New Student Welcome Luncheon.
• 11th & 12th grade Peer Leaders mentored all 9th grade students in small groups throughout the year. The students participated in many activities together including study strategy and team-building exercises.
• NAMI Presentations for all 9-12 students
• Friendsgiving, Unity Week Activities, Cookies & Cocoa with the Counselors, Sources of Strength Week, and an Activities Fair.
• Sources of Strength presentations with KES students.
• All School Play - “A Christmas Carol.”
Community Partnerships
KMS and KHS partner with outside organizations such as Crossroads Health, Laurelwood Hospital, LifeAct Mental Health Presentation, LifeBanc Organ Donation, and NAMI Ending the Silence presentations.
Staff Wellness
- District Wellness Club.
- Staff fitness room.
- Walking challenge.
- Wellness BINGO.
- Book Club.
- Biggest Loser Challenge.
Performing Arts Highlights
From seasonal school and community concerts and OMEA competitions, honor choirs and festivals, to master classes with composers and field trips to Playhouse Square and even, Ohio University, students have great experiences in our district’s music program.
Kirtland Local Schools offers…
• High School Choir.
• Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth-Grade Choirs.
• Elementary Choir.
• High School Band.
• High School Jazz Band.
• Seventh and Eighth-Grade Band.
• Drama Club put on a great performance (performing “Moriarty’s Revenge” in the spring.
• 5th Grade Play performances - 5th Street Theatre: “Christmas Carol” and “S’cool.”
VOCAL
• Students in the Kirtland High School Choir and the Kirtland Hornet Marching Band participated in the Kirtland Music Boosters’ annual ‘Tag Day’ fundraiser in October.
• The Kirtland High School Choir and 8th Grade Choir both performed in Fall, Winter, and Spring Choir Concerts.
• Four students from Kirtland High School Choir attended the OMEA Districts IV & VII High School Band & Choir Festival on the Cleveland State University campus in November.
• 5th Grade Choir, 6th Grade Choir, and 7th Grade Choir performed in Winter and Spring Choir Concerts.
• Select students from the 7th, 8th, and KHS Choirs attended the ‘BW Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert’ in December.
• 10 choir students from 7th-9th grades attended the OMEA District VII Junior High/Middle School Honors Choir Festival held at Solon Middle School in January.
• 7th and 8th Grade Choirs had a joint field trip with 7th Grade Band to Playhouse Square to see ‘Annie’ in March. They also had a group dinner provided by Mike’s Market before the event.
• The Kirtland High School Choir attended and participated in the LCMEA (Lake County Music Educators’ Association) Choir Festival held at Riverside High School in February. During the two weeks leading up to the event, our choir students had three field trips where they went to Riverside High School, and collaborated with the Riverside High School Choir to rehearse the combined choir pieces for the festival.
• Select students from the 6th-8th Grade Choirs
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participated in the ‘Music in the Parks Festival’ held at Cedar Point on May 4. These students prepared their performance pieces during Homebase time, and two after-school rehearsals.
• The Kirtland High School Choir performed at the Kirtland Music Boosters’ Inaugural “A Night of Music” event held at Sausalito on May 7.
• The Kirtland High School Choir and 8th Grade Choir combined forces to perform “The Star Spangled Banner” and the “Kirtland High School Alma Mater” at Kirtland High School’s Graduation Ceremony held at Mentor High School in May.
BAND
• KHS Band members performed 31 public performances.
• In addition to the public performances, 14 members of the high school concert band performed solos at the Kirtland Solo & Ensemble adjudicated event.
• Select members of the high school Concert Band also performed for the Kirtland National Honor Society induction ceremony and caroling in the halls.
• KHS Marching Band members toured Ohio University while being hosted by their music department.
• KMS and KHS Low Brass ensemble participated in the 43nd annual Tuba Christmas, along with 500 other Tuba players, hosted by the University of Akron.
• Kirtland Band members also participated in the Lake County Music Educators’ Marching Band Festival, the Ohio Music Educators’ Association’s District 7 & 4 Honors Band at Cleveland State, and the OMEA Jr. High Honors Band.
• The Kirtland Jazz ensemble performed at the Kirtland Music Boosters’ Inaugural ‘A Night of Music’ event held at Sausalito on May 7.
• The 8th Grade Concert Band performed at the “Music In The Parks” music festival and received Excellent ratings from both adjudicators.
• The 7th Grade Concert Band, in conjunction with 7th and 8th Grade Choirs, had a joint field trip to Playhouse Square to see ‘Annie’ in March. They also had a group dinner provided by Mike’s Market before the event.
• The high school Concert Band and Kirtland Jazz ensemble continue to successfully perform compositions and arrangements that are rated a Grade 3 and Grade 4 level of difficulty. (Band Curriculum/sheet music is rated on a Grade 1-5 system).
• The “Near Peer” band tutoring program has provided middle school band students with more than 150 hours of music tutoring.
1200
CHROMEBOOKS
PROVIDED FOR GRADES K-12
25+
INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS FOR STUDENT USE
Examples around the District:
Computer Classes
- Learn about and upgrade computer hardware.
- Programming in Java and JavaScript.
- Google Apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
Art Classes/ Art Club
- Adobe Illustrator and Premiere software programs.
30+
TOUCH-ENABLED DEVICES FOR STUDENTS 100%
KIRTLAND STUDENTS ENGAGED IN 1:1 TECHNOLOGY
- Students create/draw vector graphics from scratch making the traditional art classroom digital.
- 3D printer.
- Students create videos and graphics, such as the homecoming candidate video.
- Digital photography and video editing.
- DSLR Cameras.
- Graphic design.
Yearbook Club
- Adobe Photoshop, DSLR cameras.
Media Club
- Streaming live events through Boxcast.
Hackerspace
- 3DPrinting, T-shirt Printing, digital cutting, poster printer, video studio.
Robotics League
- Built and programmed robots. Designed parts and printed them on a 3D printer.
- Qualified and competed at the State Competition in Dayton Ohio, placing 16th in the state.
- Built robots to use at Rockwell Automation and Great Lakes Science Center.
- Taught a programing workshop at Rockwell Automation.
- Work with Rockwell Automation at Great Lakes Science Center to have students program Robots.
Student Tech Helpers
- Robotics Team members helped to fix damaged chromebooks.
- Media students fulfilled requests for digital and print products.
- Students helped run and produce content for the digital scoreboard.
Teachers using Technology to Inform Instruction
- Assessment tools like mClass, NWEA MAP, and the CRS.
- Tech Tools used to create an MTSS Tracking Process.
Technology at Kirtland High School:
• A computer lab with high-end, up-to-date computers.
• 3D Printer, Vinyl Cutter/Printer, Shirt Printer, videorecording and editing equipment.
• Digital Scoreboard.
Technology at Kirtland Middle School:
• 3D Printer in the Robotics lab.
• Lego League qualified for state and received a first-place award for their presentation.
• The middle school has three interactive digital viewboards and by next year, all language arts and math teachers will have them in their classrooms.
Technology at Kirtland Elementary School:
• 3D printer in the STEAM Classroom.
• All classrooms K-4 have interactive digital viewboards.
• Fifth-grade classrooms have Smart TVs for screen sharing and ipads for connectivity to the TVs.
• Smart TVs installed in the art room, guidance room and IS classroom.
• Live-streamed morning announcements every day broadcast from the STEAM Innovation Center.
Kirtland Local School District
9252 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, OH 44094
440.256.3311
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 15
November 18
November 27-December 2
December 3
December 12
December 16
December 23-January 3
January 6
January 20
K-12 Conferences - No School for Students
Regular Board of Education Meeting
Thanksgiving Break - No School for Students
Winter Choir Concert - Grades 8-12
National Honor Society Induction
Regular Board of Education Meeting
Winter Break - No School for Students
Teacher Work Day - No School for Students
MLK Day - No School for Students
BOARD OF EDUCATION
President: Joshua Hayes
Joshua.Hayes@kirtlandschools.org
Vice President: Shannon Green
Shannon.Green@kirtlandschools.org
Sheila Dikowicz
Sheila.Dikowicz@kirtlandschools.org
Matt Whittaker
Matt.Whittaker@kirtlandschools.org
Jonathan Withrow
Jonathan.Withrow@kirtlandschools.org
Superintendent: Chad VanArnhem
Chad.VanArnhem@kirtlandschools.org
Director of Pupil Services: Kristen Schutte Kristen.Schutte@kirtlandschools.org
Treasurer: Ryan Pendleton
Ryan.Pendleton@kirtlandschools.org
Transportation Director: Kelly Coates Kelly.Coates@kirtlandschools.org transportation@kirtlandschools.org
FOLLOW US
Chad VanArnhem on Twitter @KLSDSupt
Kirtland Schools on Facebook @KirtlandSchoolsOH
Kirtland Schools on Twitter @KirtlandSchools
Kirtland Elementary School on Twitter @MrsGodinaKES
Kirtland Middle School on Twitter @KCSDMrRace
Kirtland High School on Twitter @MrPuskasKHS
Kirtland Hornets athletics on Twitter @kirtlandsports
Kirtland Elementary School 9140 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, OH 44094
440.256.3344
Principal: Missy Godina Missy.Godina@kirtlandschools.org
Kirtland Middle School 9152 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, OH 44094 440.256.3358
Principal: Bob Race Bob.Race@kirtlandschools.org
Kirtland High School 9150 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, OH 44094 440.256.3366
Principal: Victor Puskas Victor.Puskas@kirtlandschools.org
Assistant Principal: Matt Paul Matt.Paul@kirtlandschools.org
Athletics
Athletic Director: Matt Paul Matt.Paul@kirtlandschools.org
Kirtland Athletics at www.kirtlandhornet.org | Kirtland Local Schools at www.kirtlandschools.org
