CFHS Receives RecognitionThe Washington Post recently released their list of…

April 25, 2013

CFHS Receives Recognition
The Washington Post recently released their list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. This year’s list contains over 1,900 schools. Chagrin Falls High School was ranked #1 in Northern Ohio and #5 in the state. In addition, Chagrin was ranked #17 in the Midwest Region, which is comprised of nine states.
The Washington Post’s Jay Mathews has been ranking the most challenging schools in the country since the Washington Post began their endeavor in 1998. America’s Most Challenging High Schools ranks schools through an index formula that’s a simple ratio: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.
Surgeon Talks to Classes
Dr. Brian Donley, director of the Center for Foot and Ankle Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, spoke to Lisa Salyers’ Chagrin Falls High School’s anatomy and physiology classes about what it takes to be an orthopedic surgeon, sports injuries and treatment options available to his patients.
Facilities Input Requested
On April 30 at 7 p.m. in the Chagrin Falls School District’s Performing Arts Center, a meeting will be held to discuss the district’s facility master planning process. As part of this process, the district would like to engage the community on a conversation about current and future facility needs within the school district. The entire community is invited to attend the meeting to receive an overview of the master planning process and provide input into the future of our school’s facilities
Performing Arts Series Announces Season Finale
Chagrin Arts will wrap up its 2013 Performing Arts Series on April 28 at 3 p.m. in the Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Center located on the 7-12 campus at 400 E. Washington St. They will present “The Making of Music Man.” It will be a wonderful family event with professionals playing the lead parts and Bill Rudman of Sirius XM and NPR radio doing the narrative.
Chagrin Falls Music Department Chair Pat Haynish was asked to recruit and direct the 30-member chorus. It will feature Chagrin students in grades 8-12 plus two additional students from other schools. Chagrin Falls Intermediate School sixth-grade select choir member Luke Rathbone will play Winthrop.
Tickets are $5 for students and $20 for general seating. Tickets may be reserved by stopping by the Chagrin Arts office, 88 N. Main St., or calling 440-247-9700.
College Focus Days
The Chagrin Falls High School counselors have planned two college focus days for students to be held in the spring.
On April 17, sophomores spent part of the morning taking a practice PSAT exam. This is a prelude to the fall PSAT that is also the National Merit Qualifying Examination and is designed for juniors. After the test, sophomores spent the second part of the day visiting a college campus, meeting with an admission counselor and learning about the necessary components of a college visitation. The counselors are particularly grateful to Chagrin Falls parent Cathy Digel who was the point person in planning the visits with Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University and Kent State University.
A second phase of the college spotlight will occur when juniors participate in a focus day on May 28 that will include college planning and a college essay writing workshop. There will be an opening address by Mrs. Patricia Rossman Skrha, director of undergraduate admission at Baldwin Wallace University.
Students will rotate among four main sessions that include writing the college essay, essay case studies, college Naviance activities and a writing period. They will work with their English teachers, college admission staff and high school counselors. This will be followed up in the fall when these rising seniors will participate in a second focus day that will give them an opportunity to have their essays critiqued by peers and professionals and to work on their college applications.