The Chagrin Falls High School Drama Club will be performing Disney's “Beauty and the Beast” March 7-9 at 7 p.m. and March 10 at 2 p.m. at Chagrin Falls High School Performing Arts Center...
Drama Club Presents Beauty and the Beast
The Chagrin Falls High School Drama Club will be performing Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” March 7-9 at 7 p.m. and March 10 at 2 p.m. at Chagrin Falls High School Performing Arts Center. The show is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. This “tale as old as time” is filled with spectacular costume and set opportunities or, even more simply staged, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast offers a great opportunity to bring the community together for family theatre at its best.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students.
Tigers of the Month
The Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Tigers of the Month are for students who show consistent behaviors. It doesn’t mean the student has to be the best behaved or have the highest grades. This award is for the student who continually tries to do their best. They may make mistakes but are approaching their school experience with a “YET” mindset. This month, teachers have recognized students for displaying this month’s theme: kindness and empathy. February Tigers of the Month are Sofia Jacobson, Lyric Medina, Ally Freeman, Charlotte Thompson, Henry Brandenburg, Tyler Johnson, Molly Gill, Macy Antil, Mirabel Kwok, Gabby Radomsky, Morgan Fetzner, Eddie Mitchell, Brady Shisila, Chelsea Tattershall, Emma Bennett, Morgan Baumgart, Tatum Perkins, Trevor Levey and Harper Kruse.
CFMS Students of the Month
The mission of the Chagrin Falls Middle School Students of the Month is to acknowledge and reward students for exemplary performance. The students depict Tiger Techniques: Think, Integrity, Grit, Effort and Responsibility. Each month, the seventh and eighth-grade teams collaborate and choose a male and female “Tiger of the Month” and the students receive personalized tiger water bottles from the PTO.
Tigers of the Month for February are seventh-graders Maddie Livingston and Quinn Warren; and eighth-graders Lilia Cowan and Liam Jerina.
Maddie Livingston demonstrates exemplary manners and a willing attitude. She always shows respect to her peers and adults. Working with Maddie is a pleasure and the questions she thinks to ask help to extend everyone’s understanding. In addition to her strong work ethic, Maddie’s curiosity makes the Chinese class fun to teach. Maddie is also a hardworking and talented musician, who makes the seventh-grade choir better through her participation and questions. In English language arts, Maddie is always thoughtful in her reading and writing contributions, works well with any peer and is always prepared for class.
Quinn Warren keeps his teachers and classmates laughing. He has a witty sense of humor to match his inquisitive nature. Quinn’s ability to interact with intellectual tasks sets him apart, and he has a talent for communicating his ideas to other students. Quinn always adds great discussion points to Socratic Seminars and he continues his passion of speech in the Speech and Debate Club. Quinn consistently goes above and beyond, giving 110% in Chinese class.
Lilia Cowan is consistently ready to learn, always with a smile. She is perceptive, inquisitive and clever. She gives great effort to all of her classes. Lilia is always looking to improve her skills and is a growth mindset role model. Lilia’s leadership helps her classmates achieve great things! She is a dependable classmate that others can turn to for help on knowing what is due and when, for explanations of how to be successful on an assignment, and to win team games. Her friendliness helps to make the school a fun place to be.
Liam Jerina worked well with his Project Lead the Way teammates to generate ideas and to problem solve. His quiet disposition and thoughtfulness put his teammates at ease and increased team productivity. Liam is always very analytical and thoughtful when answering questions in class. He participates and is an active member of the classroom community. Liam is an amazing member of the eighth-grade band who shines with his determination and positive attitude each day in rehearsal. Everyone is so proud of his hard work and dedication to the band program.
Golden Ticket Book Reveal
Roars of excitement filled Gurney Elementary School on Feb. 28 for the annual reveal of the next One School, One Book selection. The beloved tradition has students, teachers and parents all reading the same book together over a month.
This year’s book was unveiled in spectacular fashion when none other than Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompas sent a letter to Dr. Jones inviting Gurney students and staff to meet him outside the Wonka Factory gates the next morning. Students left the building pondering who would get a Golden Ticket and planning their return the next morning. After a dramatic entrance the next day, the fictional candy maker presented golden tickets and copies of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” to delighted students.
As Mr. Wonka himself emerged through the Wonka factory gates, 500 Gurney students grew silent. Once the Oompa Loompas passed out the Wonka Bars, which were actually wrapped “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” books, Mr. Wonka told the students to unwrap and look for a golden ticket.
“The gym filled with cheers as every single Gurney student ripped open the wrapping to find Mr. Wonka’s special book and a golden ticket,” said Principal Rachel Jones. “They all waved their golden tickets above their heads in excitement!”
That’s when Mr. Wonka revealed to all that this year’s books for One School One Book was none other than “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Bringing the whimsical world to life even further, a giant Wonka gate archway was constructed by the Chagrin Dads’ Club and placed at the gym entrance. Students enjoyed walking through the magical gates into the Wonka Chocolate Factory and seeing the flowing chocolate river. Chagrin PTO members transformed each hallway of the building into a room of the chocolate factory.
Over the next month, Gurney students, staff, and families will connect with Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the themes in the book in many ways. Students will take a replica Willy Wonka home then write or draw a picture of the fun they had with him. Each Friday a masked reader will read the nightly reading. Students will try to guess who is reading before the reveal on Monday morning. The service project this year is in conjunction with the Harvest for Hunger food drive connecting it to how Charlie and his family couldn’t afford healthy foods. In addition to classroom activities, students and their families can participate in a scavenger hunt in downtown Chagrin.
A special thank you goes out to retired intermediate school teacher Gary Dole for transforming into Willy Wonka and to the Oompa Loompas, current intermediate school students Avery Gebler, Mairead Malley, Grace Pelsozy and Emma Uehlinger who surprised Principal Rachel Jones with the letter from Willy Wonka.
Rotary Student of the Month
Chagrin Falls High School (CFHS) senior JP Zimmer has been selected as the March 2024 Chagrin Valley Rotary Student of the Month. Zimmer was chosen based on his leadership and service qualities he has displayed in the community.
Zimmer has earned several awards during his time at CFHS including first place Regional Business Professionals of America Small Business Management Team. In addition to being a member of the Business Professional of America, he also is involved in Cleanland Litter Pickup and played lacrosse for four years and football for two years.
Outside of school, Zimmer enjoys flying and achieved his private pilot’s license and instrument rating. He also enjoys traveling around the country and gaining experiences along the way.
Zimmer started a landscaping business, WR Landscapes, in 2016 and worked after school, weekends and summers. That business has now been sold. He also worked at Geiger’s Ski and Sport and in aircraft management with Avit Flight Academy.
His volunteer experience includes feeding, clothing and helping the homeless in Cleveland through True Freedom Ministries. He also has volunteered his landscaping services, such as when he cleaned up the Chagrin Falls Park Community Center Garden.
In school, Zimmer has taken several accelerated classes including AP U.S. History, AP Government, AP Economics, AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Spanish, and College Credit Plus English. He plans to major in finance at The Ohio State University.
