Rotary Club “Today’s Teacher”The Chagrin Valley Rotary Club recently honored…

May 23, 2013

Rotary Club “Today’s Teacher”
The Chagrin Valley Rotary Club recently honored Chagrin Fall Middle School science teacher Cynthia Dean as the recipient of the “Today’s Teacher” for 2013 award. The award acknowledges a teacher’s efforts on behalf of his or her students and community and represents the very ideal of Rotary, “Service Above Self.”
Cindy graduated from Bowling Green State University and started her teaching career in 1978. Chagrin Falls hired her as the seventh-grade science teacher in 1991.
Her love of teaching middle school science started earlier in her career when she was hired to teach sixth, seventh and eighth-grade science in a private school in Cleveland Heights. Cindy enjoys teaching as a profession. She is not only teaching the students new science concepts, but she learns with the kids as well. There is always some new discovery both in science and technology that she can incorporate into her lessons.
CFMS Principal Rebecca Holthaus said of her, “Cindy Dean is a true example of a great teacher and role model for our children. Her positive connections with students, her knowledge of content, and her passion for the profession make her most deserving of this award. Cindy’s belief that students should always come first is reflected in the work she does in the classroom as well the time she commits before and after school. Her leadership continues to move our middle school forward in programming and initiatives.”
School District Receives EPA’s Energy Star Award
Gardiner, a full service HVAC, energy services company, presented the Chagrin Falls School District with an Energy Star award at a recent board of education meeting. Both the high school and middle school achieved a score of 80 for excellence in energy utilization and efficiency. This rating meets the requirement of a score of 75 or greater. The United States Environmental Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star label signifies that the district’s building performed in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.
In the state of Ohio, approximately 2 percent of the schools meet this high standard of performance. The award mentions that “The Chagrin Falls School District has demonstrated strong leadership in this area from the school board, administration, teachers, and facilities staff.”
The K-12 schools that are Energy Star labeled cost an average of 40 cents less per square foot to operate than K-12 schools without the Energy Star label. With the energy conservation measures (ECMs) that Chagrin Falls Schools have implemented, the district is saving $138,445 in energy a year based on current rates.
Energy Star (trademarked ENERGY STAR) is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products originated in the United States of America. It was created in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Since then, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have adopted the program.
Phi Beta Kappa Recognition
Senior Meghan Judge was recently honored by the Cleveland Association of Phi Beta Kappa representing Chagrin Falls High School. She received her recognition at a reception at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven where Grant Cornwell, president of the College of Wooster, was the keynote speaker.
For more than 50 years, the Cleveland Association of Phi Beta Kappa has recognized academic achievement among graduating seniors at public, private, and parochial high schools across Northeast Ohio. This year, teachers at 119 participating schools had the opportunity to select one student in their graduating class who is not only in the top ten percent of the class but also “demonstrates qualities of academic honesty, inquiry into scholarship matters which goes beyond assignments and requirements, a creative involvement in scholarship, and great interest in things of the mind.”
The award is considered by many to be one of the most prestigious honors a high school student can receive. Each student’s name is engraved on the Phi Beta Kappa plaque that is permanently displayed at each school.
Phi Beta Kappa, an academic honorary for college students, is the oldest and most prestigious organization of its kind in the United States. It was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776.
The Cleveland Association draws its membership from over 3,700 residents of the Greater Cleveland area who were inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society as college undergraduates. The Cleveland Association is one of over 50 similar Phi Beta Kappa associations across the country comprised of local Phi Beta Kappa members.
Excel TECC Students Honored
Chagrin Falls High School is one of nine local schools that make up the Excel TECC consortium. The Excel TECC programs are designed to provide expanded educational options to all students in the areas of career technical education. These include college preparatory, tech prep, school-to-work and other educational learning opportunities in the fields of medicine, computer programming, business, visual and performing arts, construction trades and cosmetology to name a few. Through the close cooperation of school personnel, parents and business and industry, students have exciting choices to grow, learn and prepare themselves for the future.
Several Chagrin Falls students have recently been honored in Excel TECC programs. They include: Dan Hoy, Performing Arts Academy Departmental Junior Award; Conor Johnson, Marketing first place team DECA District 10, Retail Management state qualifier, and Departmental Senior Award; Grant Lingafelter, Marketing second place team DECA District 10 and Sports and Entertainment state qualifier; Chandler Pisczak, Marketing second place team DECA District 10 and Sports and Entertainment state qualifier;
Creighton Stephens, Marketing second place DECA District 10 and Retail Marketing Series state qualifier; Cameron Sulik, Auto Mechanics Department Senior Award; Brian Szymowicz, Marketing second place DECA District 10 and Business Services Series state qualifier; and Kevin Turk, Environmental Education second place team District 3 Landscaping, fourth place individual District 3 Landscaping and 13th place team state Landscaping.
Business Ethics Discussion
Junior Achievement’s “Excellence and EthicsAn Executive Speaks” program sponsors community leaders who convey the message to high school students that responsible, ethical behavior is the cornerstone of success. This exciting program explores the role of ethics in school life, personal interactions and business dealings. Junior Achievement’s Excellence and Ethics fosters students’ ethical decision-making as they prepare to enter the workforce and take part in the global marketplace.
As part of this program, students in Mr. Jim Serluco’s high school economics class were treated to a presentation by Mr. David Lingafelter, president of Moen Incorporated. As president, Mr. Lingafelter is responsible for leading and managing Moen Inc. today and into the future. He articulates a clear vision and strategic direction for all business units and ensures their effective execution of measurable goals and objectives.
Junior Achievement inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. Worldwide, Junior Achievement is the largest and fastest-growing non-profit provider of entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness education.
School Lunch Grant Finalist
Gurney Elementary School has been named a finalist for a school lunch grant from the Life Time Foundation. As part of its “Healthy Kids, Healthy Planet” mission, the Life Time Foundation is undertaking the goal of positively impacting children’s health and wellness through an initiative designed to inspire healthier food and increased awareness in the nation’s schools. This involves a focus on addressing ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, bleached flour, added sugar, food coloring, artificial preservatives, trans fats, antibiotics and hormones currently in the food children consume. The grant would fund the changes to the school’s lunch menu to eliminate these ingredients and provide resources to parents to assist in also making these changes at home.
Community members and parents are invited to an information session on May 30 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Gurney cafeteria to show their support of this great opportunity and to learn more about how the program works. Community support for the school lunch changes are a large part of the grant’s final selection process, and parents and community members are encouraged to attend.
Memorial Day Ceremony
Sixth-graders at the Chagrin Falls Intermediate School have been memorizing the Gettysburg Address, the famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln. As a long-standing tradition in Chagrin Falls, the winner of the contest will recite the Gettysburg Address at the Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery. The runner-up will read Logan’s Orders proclaiming a day set apart to honor those who have served our country.
This year’s winners were Chandler Wood for the Gettysburg Address and Camryn Safenovitz for Logan’s Orders.