Chagrin Falls High School inducted 28 students from the class of 2024 into the Cum Laude Society...
Cum Laude Society Induction
Chagrin Falls High School inducted 28 students from the class of 2024 into the Cum Laude Society. Cum Laude 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.
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 up to 20% of the senior class may be inducted.
Chagrin Falls High School Class of 2024 Inductees include Anna Baker, Amelia Bencko, Shlok Bhattacharya, Thomas Brennan, Liam Butler, Aiden Cabic, Jason Cheng, Alex Chinnici, Sofia Clark, Elena Goodwin, Sophie Hill, Samantha Holtz, Clara Ives, Taein Kang, Riley McClintock, Shannon McElhinney, Kelly Meador, Alessandra Mitchell, Natalie Nemunaitis, Isabel Nerpouni, Sven Nielsen, Margaret Oliver, Norah Pope, Julia Richard, Nicholas Rohde, Alexandra Scharpf, James Wilkinson and Tatum Yanchar.
CFIS Tigers of the Month for April
The Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Tigers of the Month are for students who show consistent behaviors. It doesn’t mean the student has to be the best behaved or have the highest grades. This award is for the student who continually tries to do their best. They may make mistakes but are approaching their school experience with a “YET” mindset. The following students have been chosen as the April Tigers of the Month for showing the characteristic of this month’s theme: leadership.
The students are Tiernan Moloney, Ethan Hull, Ryan Furlong, Henry Pace, Jack Mooney, Marko Sluder, Danny Flaiz, Leo Rybak, Daniel Lareau, Wesley Wyler, Lauren Burns, Gaby Hicks, Romy HIcks, Saryn De La Mare, Holden Slabe, Gigi Giordano, Ellie Plant, Frances Jewell, Kellen Kiffner and Soren Demming.
American Revolution Spirited Debate
In a captivating culmination of their nonfiction reading unit, fourth-graders at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School recently took part in a lively debate, reenacting the heated discussions that shaped the American Revolution. The interactive activity, a favorite among current and former students as well as the Chagrin Falls’ English language arts teachers, brought history to life in an engaging and immersive way.
For several weeks, students delved into the events leading up to the Revolutionary War, honing their nonfiction reading skills while learning about battles, leaders, allies and spies. They compiled their research into comprehensive American Revolution Books, laying the groundwork for their roles in the upcoming debate.
As the unit progressed, students were challenged to step into the shoes of those living during that pivotal era. They were tasked with considering the perspectives of both colonists and English loyalists, as King George III’s efforts to pay for the French and Indian War placed heavy demands on the colonies.
The fourth-graders were then divided into two sides: the Patriots, representing the colonists, and the Loyalists, supporting England. Through further research, they gained a deeper understanding of the viewpoints they were assigned to argue, even though the outcome of the war was already known.
With props and flags in hand, the students gathered for the highly anticipated debate, moderated by teachers Melinda Sawicki and Grace McDevitt. The classroom transformed into a vibrant stage, where the young orators showcased their persuasive speaking skills and critical thinking abilities.
One by one, the students took the stand, presenting well-researched reasons and powerful evidence to support their claims. Some even demonstrated quick thinking by offering rebuttals to their opponents’ arguments, adding to the authenticity of the experience.
The American Revolution debate not only reinforced the students’ knowledge of this pivotal period in history but also fostered essential skills such as public speaking, critical analysis, and the ability to consider multiple perspectives. As the students passionately argued their positions, they brought the past to life, gaining a deeper appreciation for the complexities and challenges faced by those who shaped the nation’s future.
“It was truly inspiring to witness our fourth graders engage with history in such an immersive and thought-provoking manner,” remarked Melinda Sawicki, reflecting on the success of the activity. “Their enthusiasm and dedication to their roles made this debate a memorable and educational experience for all.”
CFIS Students Design Board Games
At Chagrin Falls Intermediate School, Bryan McKenzie’s science students are taking a creative approach to prepare for the Ohio State Tests (OST). Inspired by a challenge from toy company Hasbro, the fifth-graders have been tasked with designing their own educational board games focused on life science, earth science and physical science topics.
The project, dubbed “OSTopoly,” began with students surveying their favorite science units. McKenzie then divided the class into groups of three, assigning each team to develop a unique board game prototype complete with a playing board, game pieces, directions and 20 question cards aligned with Bloom’s Taxonomy.
“Hasbro noticed a decline in board game purchases among fifth graders, so they challenged our class to create fun, engaging games that also reinforce science concepts,” explained McKenzie. “The students have really embraced this opportunity to apply their knowledge in an innovative way.”
Over the past week, the young game designers have been hard at work crafting their prototypes using supplies like Chromebooks, science books, and art materials. Fifteen of the question cards focus on lower-level concepts, while five cards test higher-order thinking skills based on upper levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
This past April, students had the chance to play-test all the games created by their classmates, providing valuable feedback and insights to further refine the prototypes.
“Not only does this project reinforce science learning, but it also develops creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities,” McKenzie noted. “The students are incredibly excited to put their games to the test against their peers.”
The “OSTopoly” challenge has ignited a passion for game design among McKenzie’s fifth graders, showcasing their ingenuity and commitment to science education in a truly unique way.
Staff Benefit from CCP Credentialing Grant-Funding
The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce released grant applications for districts, colleges and educational service centers to apply for College Credit Plus (CCP) Credentialing funding to support teachers. The teachers would be provided with graduate coursework in summer 2024 through June 2025 to enable them to teach identified CCP courses in the future. All school districts across the state were identified as Tier I, II, or III districts, relative to their current level of AP and/or CCP coursework available to students. Chagrin Falls was identified as a Tier III district, with the relatively highest number of CCP and Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings available to students when compared to districts across the state. Tier III districts were determined to have the lowest priority in these grant-funded opportunities for CCP Credentialing of teachers.
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools decided to partner in the grant application with the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio (NEO), joining a myriad of other districts from across Cuyahoga County, rather than to submit an application as a single district. Chagrin Falls Director of Curriculum and Gifted Coordinator Becky Quinn solicited interest from Chagrin Falls High School teachers in this project, gathered information to inform the grant proposal, and worked to gather teacher transcripts to determine coursework needed for CCP Credentialing. The ESC of NEO, under Nadine Grimm’s leadership, submitted this grant proposal on behalf of interested districts. The project supports teachers in accessing grant-funding for CCP Credentialing via Kent State in math and CCP Credentialing application in English and political science through Ashland University.
Chagrin Falls High School math teacher Michael DiGeronimo recently received notice that his application for CCP Credentialing to Kent State has been accepted and that courses will be covered by the ESC CCP Credentialing grant funds.
He commented, “This is such an amazing opportunity to grow in my field and to potentially be able to expand our CCP offering within CFHS in the future.”
Chagrin Falls High School social studies teacher John Scott recently received notice that he would be able to access a slot for the ESC CCP Credentialing grant funds via Ashland University.
He indicated, “I am so excited to become CCP Credentialed…this will grow my capacity as a teacher and support additional opportunities for our students in the future.”
Chagrin Falls High School English teacher Melanie Hoffmann and instructional technology coach Molly Klodor will also access ESC grant-funded CCP Credentialing via Ashland University in English.
Both Melanie and Molly agreed, “We’re truly looking forward to the graduate coursework ahead!”
Chagrin Falls High School Principal Amanda Rassi celebrated receipt of the grant funds, “Additional CCP Credentialing of our staff will help us to further personalize learning and be responsive to student needs and interests in the future.”
Becky Quinn commented, “We are so incredibly thankful for these grant funds from the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce. While the timeline to complete the CCP Credentialing coursework in this project is extremely fast-paced, our staff is rising to challenge and seizing this opportunity to grow and to possibly expand the offerings available to our students in the future.”
Superintendent of Chagrin Falls Schools Jennifer Penczarski added, “We are excited to have four staff members interested in committing to this project and appreciate the collaboration with Kent State, Ashland University, and the ESC of NEO to make this possible.”
