The Champion Chronicle Fall 2019 Edition

The Champion Chronicle Fall Edition 2019

Champion Local Schools

IN THIS EDITION

ON THE FRONT PAGE

Superintendent's Message High School Flash Mart Store Make a Difference Projects STOMP Program Middle School Choir Read 4 Fun Student Spotlight Teacher Spotlight High School Softball Team

Top Row: Champion Military Appreciation Night 2019 held during Champion's high school football game.

Middle Row: The Middle School Choir performs at 5th Grade Grandparents' Day (pictured left) and elementary students participate in Haggerty Phonics (pictured right).

Bottom Row: The Middle School Choir at 5th Grade Grandparents' Day (pictured left) and elementary students take in the District Pep Rally (pictured right).

Superintendent's Message

MR. JOHN GRABOWSKI Superintendent, Champion Local Schools

I want to congratulate our Middle School staff and students for being awarded an overall 'A' on the 2018-2019 State Report Card.

The 2019-2020 school year is off to a great start at Champion Local Schools. Our students and staff continue to strive for academic excellence. With that said, I want to congratulate our Middle School staff and students for being awarded an overall ‘A’ on the 2018-2019 State Report Card. Also, students in 7th Grade English Language Arts, 10th Grade US History and 10th Grade Geometry had the highest passage rate in all Trumbull County Schools. Many of our student volunteer groups have been dedicating their time to projects that make a difference at Champion Local Schools and in the community. Those projects include collecting winter clothes for the Champion Pride Council winter clothing drive, collecting food for our fall food drive, trick or treating for canned goods, and many others. I am looking forward to the rest of the school year as we continue to work hard to ensure that all students have an opportunity to reach their potential at Champion Schools.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions -- you are invited to reach me by phone at 330-847-2330 ext.2.

Sincerely, John J. Grabowski Superintendent, Champion Local Schools

School Reports

H I GBuilding H SCHOOL

Champion High School students are building job skills by working at the school’s new Flash Mart store. Students work in the store Monday through Friday. They are learning money management, managerial skills and customer service. In the store, students can find school supplies and popcorn for sale. The goal is to teach students the necessary skills they need to succeed in their future job or career choices.

Reports

Building Job Skills

Champion Seniors Make a Difference

Champion senior students recently created “Make a Difference” projects with the goal of leaving a big impact on Champion Local Schools and the community. Forty-seven students in Mr. Sheldon’s class were tasked with choosing a project to make a difference, figuring out who will benefit from the project, and connecting it to “The Last Lecture.” The Last Lecture is a book written by Randy Pausch -- who wanted his last lecture as a professor to leave a lasting impact on his students. Mrs. Amanda Voorhies adopted this idea from Randy Pausch and challenged Champion senior students to find a way to make a difference in the world using Randy’s guide lines. Students built teamwork skills by working in groups on these projects. Some of the projects students worked on involve making an impact on the younger students at Champion Schools, planting trees in the community, raising money for various organizations, and organizing fundraisers.

School Reports

MIDDLE SCHOOL Building Reports

The Champion Academic STOMP Team aims to celebrate academic excellence and diversify cultural boundaries through stepdancing. This group, comprised of 28 middle school and high school students, headlines two academic pep rallies every year. The pep rallies honor Champion students who are excelling in school. Mrs. Sue Knepper and Jessyca Nagorski are Coadvisers.

"Everyone is welcome, everyone can belong," said Mrs. Sue Knepper.

STOMP Team Prepares for Upcoming Pep Rally

6th Grade Choir practices their "Bully Proof Song" for the upcoming concert on December 18.

The Champion 5th and 6th Grade Choir is hard at work practicing for their upcoming concert on December 18. The concert theme is “Cool to be Kind” highlighted by their “Bully Proof Song.” This is the first time the 5th and 6th Grade Choir will put on a show focused on spreading the message of kindness and compassion towards one another. Katie Ahmed, Champion Choir Teacher, aims to unify her students with this concert. Ahmed’s hope is for students to find strength and confidence through music and lyrics.

School Reports

E L Building EMENTARY SCHOOL Reports

Read 4 Fun is an interactive program through United Way held twice a year in participating school districts throughout Trumbull County.

In the fall, 2nd grade students enjoy story time with volunteer guest readers, complete a craft that is themed to the story, receive a book bag containing books for home, and enjoy a healthy snack.

This year's volunteers included: Stephanie Gabbard, Julianna Begalla, TeriAnn Naughton, James Naughton, and Brad Forrider.

United Way - Read 4 Fun

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT Mr. Dave Murduck Receives Two Awards

Mr. Dave Murduck is a science teacher at Champion Middle School. His passion for teaching and providing students with opportunities to experience science in impactful ways has earned him two awards this school year. Mr. Murduck was named State Board of Education District 7 Teacher of the Year, a top 4 finalist for 2020 Ohio Teacher of the Year, and North American Association for Environmental Education K-12 Educator of the Year.

The Ohio Teacher of the Year award program started in 1964 and identifies exceptional teachers statewide and celebrates their effective work in and outside the classroom. The NAAEE K–12 Educator of the Year Award is presented to an individual who is recognized for their exemplary efforts in promoting environmental education in K–12 classroom settings, as well as engaging community organizations to create a more sustainable future.

Mr. Dave Murduck exemplifies all of the above. He coordinates and advises Champion’s after-school Science Club and STEM Club, and has helped drive up student involvement. He created an after-school speakers’ bureau and he's an integral part of the district STEM Incubator Council. Mr. Murduck established an outdoor learning area with a watershed, helped with construction of two chimney shift towers to establish a new bird habitat, added on additional nest boxes for migratory birds and endangered bats, and planted native wetland seed.

In addition, Mr. Murduck formed the “Trout in the Classroom” program by which he and his students prepared for 100 temporary residents in the form of Rainbow Trout from the London, Ohio state fish hatchery with funding through a state “In-Step” grant written, submitted and secured by Mr. Murduck. He also established beehives that have filled critical pollination needs of the Trumbull County Agriculture and Family Education Center gardens, wildflower and natural areas.

The honeybee hives allow students to raise money for additional projects by selling honey and beeswax candles.

Students at Champion flourish under Mr. Murduck’s educational direction, support, and leadership.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Preston Cope Preston Cope is a senior at Champion High School. In the classroom, Preston is an exceptional student posting a 3.5 GPA. He’s enrolled in CCP classes at Kent State University and currently takes vocal lessons leading up to the school’s musical. Preston manages his academics while pursuing his passion for race car driving outside of the classroom. Preston has been driving race cars for three years. He has competed in over 150 races. He currently drives in the Rush Sportsman Modified Series and the Fastrak Modifieds at Mercer. Preston has continuously improved since beginning his racing career.

His love for racing started back when he was 5 years old. Preston used to drive go-karts and watch Nascar with his grandpa. He also credits his parents, Tim and Tracy Cope, for allowing him to pursue his dream career.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Skylar Scarnecchia Skylar Scarnecchia is the definition of a fighter, with the heart of a champion. She’s an 8th grade student at Champion Middle School who’s overcome leg and lung cancer. She’s been in remission for two years. Skylar was diagnosed with stage four cancer in 5th grade at just 11 years old. She had a golf-ball sized tumor in her foot. After several rounds of failed chemotherapy; Skylar had her leg amputated.

Skylar never let her battle with cancer or leg amputation bring her down. She’s adapted to a prosthetic leg, and continues to thrive. She’s currently a three-sport-athlete. Skylar plays volleyball, basketball and does track. Outside of sports, she’s no stranger to the spotlight. Skylar is an actress and a model and has dreams of continuing to do so long-term. She also has dreams of becoming a Paralympian in track, and a motivational speaker. Skylar's resilience and positive spirit helped her land The Cleveland Clinic Foundation's "Courage Award." The CCF has interviewed Skylar and will do a feature story on her.

Everything happens for a reason. I was chosen for all of this to happen because God knew I could take it and he doesn’t give us anything that we can’t handle.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Elementary School Student Council Front Row (left to right): Autumn Songer, 3rd; Teegan DiBell, 3rd; Gia Warzala, 3rd; Elynn Stewart, 3rd; Lincoln Strohm, 3rd; Quinn Kistler, 3rd; Madalyn Auxier, 3rd; Nathan Kittle, 4th.

Second Row (left to right): Macie Egner, 3rd; Trenton Williams, 3rd; Carly Dyer, 3rd; Autumn Priddy, 4th; Chloe Upshire, 4th; Taylor Rouan, 4th; Andrew Kish, 3rd; Sophie Lipscomb, 4th.

Third Row (left to right): Lukas McCloud, 4th; Maguire Nolan, 4th; Graham Seese, 4th; Caiden Freer, 3rd; Leah Pleacher, 4th.

THREE-PEAT

Champion High School Softball Team

A ring ceremony presentation was held Friday, September 6th before the first home football game to honor the Champion Lady Flashes Softball Team. The team received their state championship rings as a result of winning the 2019 Division III State Softball Championship. Â The Champion softball teams have been dominant over the past three seasons winning three straight state championships. The 2019 Lady Flashes had a record of 30-2, and in those 32 games the defense was stellar posting 22 shutouts. The team gave up no runs during the playoffs. In the past three years, the team record is 93-4. Â The Golden Flashes worked their way into the history books tying Akron Springfield for the most state championships in Ohio with nine.

Champion

Senior Citizen Advisory Council The Champion Senior Citizens Advisory Council strives to accomplish three goals.

1. To provide social events for our Champion Senior Citizen residents in partnership with the school district.

2. To recognize the many contributions our senior citizens make to this community.

3. To provide community service opportunities for our students through interaction with our residents by serving the meals and providing the entertainment for these events.

Champion Senior Citizen Advisory Council Events Champion Veterans Day Community Tribute

"Swing Into Spring" Dinner Theater Tuesday, April 7, 2020 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Champion High School Cafeteria Rotary Club of Champion "Senior Artist of the Year" Announced

Mark Your

CALENDAR

Champion Local Schools 2019-2020 District Calendar Champion Local Schools 2019-2020 Athletics Calendar

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

@champgoldenflash @championlocalschools

Champion Local Schools takes pride in staying connected with our community. Therefore, we invite you to follow us on our district wide Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Students, educators, and administrators are involved in many activities though out the school year. Through pictures and videos, our goal is to provide you with an inside look at what’s taking place in our buildings on a daily basis. Whether it’s new educational programs, school events, athletics and any other extracurricular activities.

We want you to have a front row seat to all the action.