The kindergarten students at Gurney Elementary School learned persuasive letter writing as part of a campaign to get the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop to create a new flavor of popcorn...
Gurney Students are Persuasive
The kindergarten students at Gurney Elementary School learned persuasive letter writing as part of a campaign to get the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop to create a new flavor of popcorn. The Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop has been around for over 70 years as a well-known artisan popcorn maker. They craft small batches of popcorn locally while using only the finest natural ingredients.
Students were given the task of brainstorming a new flavor of popcorn and presenting their idea to the class. Kindergarteners had to be able to discuss ingredients in the popcorn, the flavor, and what the final product would look like.
Each of the six classes narrowed their list of potential flavors down to one flavor recommendation for a total of six suggestions. The entire kindergarten grade level then had to choose which flavor out of the six to present to the popcorn shop as a potential new dish. Flavor suggestions included Rainbow Skittles, Superman Ice Cream, Pineapple, Cotton Candy, Chocolate Milk and Marshmallows, and Pizza.
Students chose one of the flavors and wrote an individual opinion letter to the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop, naming their flavor choice and at least one reason why it should be added to the shop’s menu. While eating freshly popped popcorn, kindergarteners learned how to write an appropriate greeting, an idea and a closing within the letter.
The letters were delivered to the Popcorn Shop before spring break and reviewed by the staff and COO for the Popcorn Shop, Patti Raymond or “Patti Popcorn.” Families of the students were encouraged to create their own recipe for one of the top six flavors and drop it off at the Popcorn Shop for inspiration and a physical sample.
On April 28, the winning flavor was announced as Superman Ice Cream flavored popcorn. The announcement came on National Superhero Day and the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop followed up by delivering the new flavor popcorn to the kindergarten students this past week.
Aide for Gurney Elementary School Mary Czerr created a miniature popcorn shop storefront in the kindergarten hallway for students to enjoy after the announcement came. Superman Ice Cream popcorn is now available for sale in the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop.
Tigers of the Semester
The Tigers of the Semester Award is presented to students who exemplify a positive attitude, work ethic, achievement in the classroom and service to fellow students and teachers at Chagrin Falls High School. Teachers nominate one student from their classes that impressed them with their achievement, attitude, hard work, willingness to help others and growth during the first half of the year. First semester Tigers were honored with a virtual presentation. The award program is sponsored by Interact Club and advisors Karen Sindelar and Janet Coriell and organized the interactive presentation that featured personalized messages from each teacher who nominated a student.
Tigers of the Spring Semester of the 2020-21 school year are Anna Baker, Amelia Bencko, Isaac Bourne, Clayton Briggs, Sofia Clark, Ava Freucht, Thomas Gregoire, Celia Hawk, Ed Jansen, Ellis Johnson, Zoe Jones, Colin Joyce, Leah Kler, Zach Lechman, Connor Lynch, Noah Melhem, Jimmy Mooney, Riley Myers, Sadie Nachtwey, Camille Paoletta, Jenivy Par, Jackson Reider, Erick Rochette, Rita Schneider and Kailey Stec.
“Given the structure of education, it is easy to point to test scores and athletic achievements when recognizing students, however, recognition like this is important as we want to celebrate characteristics like kindness, compassions, work ethic and service,” said Principal Monica Asher “I am thankful to work in a school where I see these qualities demonstrated daily by our students–these students embody these qualities without expecting recognition.”
