The Chagrin Falls High School After Prom Parent Committee is hosting a ladies night out holiday boutique as its first fundraiser of…
Ladies Night Out Boutique
The Chagrin Falls High School After Prom Parent Committee is hosting a ladies night out holiday boutique as its first fundraiser of the year. Chestnut Hill Home, 27 N. Franklin St. in Chagrin Falls, will host the event Nov. 13 from 5:30-9 p.m. Entrance is $20.
There will be complimentary wine, beer and light hors d’oeuvres served, as well as holiday shopping and door prizes. Many area artisans and shops are participating.
In addition to the entrance fee, a percentage of the proceeds of all sales from the evening will be donated to after prom. The goal of after prom is to create a safe, sober and fun night for the junior and senior class students. Typically, 300 to 350 students attend after prom.
Gurney Principal Honored
Dr. Rachel Jones, principal of Gurney Elementary School, was named the 2014 Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) Distinguished Principal of the Year.
OAESA annually recognizes one middle school principal and/or one elementary school principal as Ohio Distinguished Principals of the Year. These principals represent Ohio in the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal program in Washington, D.C.
In addition to representing the state at the national conference, the recipients serve as leaders in our state by presenting at workshops, taking speaking engagements and participating on committees at the state level. They also receive a monetary award that may be used entirely at the principal’s discretion.
National Board Certification
Chagrin Falls teachers Ellen Jones and Lisa Todaro have made it through the challenging task to become National Board Certified Teachers twice.
The Gurney Elementary teachers received word late last month that each passed all the requirements to renew the certification. They are the first Chagrin Falls’ staff to go through the renewal process. Lisa earned her initial certification as a middle childhood generalist in 2004. Ellen earned hers as an early childhood generalist a year later.
Both say the process was time-intensive, especially on top of their hours in the classroom, but well worth the effort. The first time required well over 200 hours of work, including four written entries focusing on professional accomplishments and specific lessons, and a six-section assessment taken at a testing center. Re-certification required between 30 to 40 hours of work.
“The entries for our re-certification focused on how we have grown professionally since our initial certification. For both certifications, we were required to videotape two lessons and reflect on our teaching practices and how they impact student learning. Both processes focus on how you are making an impact on learning,” Ellen said.
Both see the certification as a huge professional accomplishment that helped them to “push ourselves as educators.”
“It has more clearly focused the way we think about our students and what methods we use to improve their learning,” Lisa said. “This personal reflection takes place daily in our teaching practices and also through continuing to develop professionally. Through the National Board Process, we learned the importance of continually reflecting on our practices and modifying our instruction to do what is best for our students and their learning.”
To other teachers considering applying for NBCT, they stress that it is a huge commitment, but one that is highly enlightening and worthwhile. They think any teacher would benefit from completing the process.
Gurney Principal Rachel Jones summed it up, “I am so very proud of these teachers.”
