Disney’s “The Jungle Book KIDS” will be performed at the Chagrin Falls Intermediate School (CFIS) auditorium on April 29 at 7 p.m., April 30 at 2 p.m. and May 1 at 2 p.m...
CFIS Presents Jungle Book KIDS
Disney’s “The Jungle Book KIDS” will be performed at the Chagrin Falls Intermediate School (CFIS) auditorium on April 29 at 7 p.m., April 30 at 2 p.m. and May 1 at 2 p.m. The high energy youth musical is based on the Rudyard Kipling novel and the beloved 1967 Disney film.
The Chagrin Falls Community Education Showtime Junior! production includes a cast of 64 and a student crew of 14. The show is designed and directed by retired Chagrin Falls music teacher Pat Keller Haynish, with assistance from CFIS teacher Kathy Ohlrich.
The jungle is jumping with jazz in this exciting adaptation of the classic Disney animated feature film. Join Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie, Bagheera and the gang as they swing their way through madcap adventures and thwart the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan. Classic Disney song favorites include: “The Bare Necessities” and “I Wan’na Be Like You.” With colorful characters and that toe-taping jungle rhythm, the show is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for students and are available for all performances. To purchase, visit Tinyurl.com/CFCEtickets or call Chagrin Falls Community Education at 440-247-5375.
Cum Laude Society Induction
Chagrin Falls High School (CFHS) inducted 35 students from the class of 2022 into the Cum Laude Society. The society is among the oldest academic honor organizations in the country for high school students.
The Cum Laude Society was organized by Dr. Abram W. Harris, Director of the Tome School in Maryland, in 1906. He envisioned a society modeled after the well-known Phi Beta Kappa that would encourage and recognize true scholarship. Harris believed that a student’s scholastic achievement in secondary school was as important to recognize as other accomplishments made while in school.
The society is still based on three core values that come from Ancient Greece. These are Arete, which means moral goodness and living up to one’s potential; Dike, which is the concept of justice; and Time, which relates to being true to what is right and acting with honor.
The Cum Laude Society has 382 chapters throughout the United States, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Canada, England, France and Spain. Approximately 4,000 new student members are inducted each year and only 20 percent of the senior class may be inducted.
CFHS held the Cum Laude induction ceremony on April 7. It began with a welcome from CFHS Principal Monica Asher. Advisor to the society, Lisa Salyers, then gave a history and motto of the Cum Laude Society. The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Superintendent Jennifer Penczarski, Chagrin Falls Schools, and following her talk was the introduction and induction of the new society members by assistant Principal Amanda Rassi.
Cum Laude Society members are: Ella Angel, Sophia Avery, Robert Brosnan, Lance Buescher, Claire Coffey, Madalyn Couch, Aleeta Cowan, Matthew Daniels, Aubree Daugherty, Jozef Deruytter, Leo Fornara, Adam Hamdan, Celia Hawk, Calvin Hill, Rose Hoelzel, Alexandra Holtz, Carter Kilby, Sarah Lynch, Fiona Markey, Ryan Mateyo, Anne Mills, Emma Murphy, Emily Nemunaitis, Azzurra Opperman, Camille Paoletta, Jane Peck, Joshua Rooney, Brenna Sincaglia, David Skocic, Hansen Song, Claire Stinson, Trey Taylor, Maximillian Tucker, Brett Vaccaro and Andrew Zimcosky.
Students Enjoy Dancing Wheels Company Performance
On April 19, Gurney Elementary School students enjoyed a performance by Dancing Wheels Company, a physically integrated dance company that includes both “sit-down” wheelchair and “stand-up” dancers.
Students learned how the wheelchair dancers in The Dancing Wheels Company have mobility impairments. They may not be able to stand or walk without assistance, so they use a wheelchair as an adaptation to move. In the dance world, it is usually assumed that people need to have full use of their legs to be dancers. The Dancing Wheels dancers, however, use their creativity, talents and determination to show people that the ability to walk is not always necessary to dance.
Students also learned that by being open to accessibility options, the Dancing Wheels dancers are able to dance, which is something they enjoy doing and want to do. Other dancers who have worked with Dancing Wheels may or may not have other types of disabilities such as hearing or vision impairments. For each person, the type of adaptations that are made, the way that person dances and the contributions to the dance company are truly individual.
“These dancers exemplify COURAGE and are beautiful performers,” said Gurney Elementary School Principal Rachel Jones. “It was especially fun when they taught students some of their dance moves.”
Special thanks to the Chagrin Falls PTO for helping to make the assembly possible for the students and staff.
The dance troupe was established in 1980 by Mary Verdi-Fletcher. Verdi-Fletcher who was born with Spina Bifida and uses a wheelchair for mobility, created the dance company to provide an opportunity for all people of all abilities to experience the artistic expression that dance provides. The Dancing Wheels School is located in Cleveland and is the only school in Ohio focused on fully physically integrated movement and dance classes.
CFMS Wins the Iron Giraffe Challenge Super School Award
Water for South Sudan is a nonprofit charity whose mission is to deliver sustainable quality-of-life services to and with the people of South Sudan by efficiently providing access to clean, safe water and improving hygiene and sanitation practices in areas of great need.
By raising $25,576.47, the Chagrin Falls Middle School (CFMS) class of 2026 won the Iron Giraffe Challenge Super School for raising the most money in the country.
By winning this year’s Super School Award, CFMS will have a video call with the founder of Water for South Sudan, Salva Dut.
Salva Dut was born in a rural village in southwestern Sudan to the Dinka tribe. At 11 years old, the Sudanese Civil War reached his village and separated Salva from his family. He joined thousands of boys, famously known as the “Lost Boys,” on their journey by foot to seek safety in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. After living in refugee camps for 10 years, Salva was given the opportunity to move to the United States, where he was embraced by a family in Rochester, N.Y. Several years later, Salva learned that his father was still alive in Southern Sudan but was suffering with disease caused by waterborne parasites. His father’s illness inspired Salva to help both his father and his country by bringing clean water to those in need. This was the beginning of Water for South Sudan.
This past February, Water for South Sudan was able to put two new wells in South Sudan because of the efforts of CFMS. This makes a total of three wells CFMS has been able to raise enough money for. There are hopes to build a fourth well after this year’s fundraising efforts. They are only $7,400 away. Each well costs $15,000 to build.
This year’s Chagrin Falls Schools’ Cardboard Regatta fundraiser event will take place the morning of June 2 at the Chagrin Rec pool. Students are currently forming teams and organizing their fundraising efforts. Students will be sending out links to their fundraising pages within the next few weeks.
“This project is inspiring for so many reasons. The teachers work collaboratively to create meaningful, relevant connections while students work towards a common goal and develop deep understanding in multiple contents and global empathy,” said Principal Laila Discenza, Chagrin Falls Middle School. “Community members donate and support and the outcome is fresh water access is for those in need. What a wonderful way we all come together. It’s a true experience for all involved.”
