The Chagrin Falls middle and high school volleyball programs are gearing up for their annual Dig Pink! events, joining forces with the Side-Out Foundation to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research...
Spike Cancer With Dig Pink Events
The Chagrin Falls middle and high school volleyball programs are gearing up for their annual Dig Pink! events, joining forces with the Side-Out Foundation to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. The community is invited to participate in this meaningful initiative, with high school matches against Hawken scheduled for Sept. 24, and middle school matches versus Orange set for Oct. 9.
This year’s events offer multiple ways for supporters to get involved:
Game Dedications: For a $100 donation, varsity players will dedicate their game to honor breast cancer survivors, remember those who have passed, or support current fighters. Only 13 dedications are available, so interested parties are encouraged to secure their spot promptly.
Countdown Calendars: Starting Sept. 1, fans can contribute to team-specific calendars by selecting a day and donating the corresponding amount. This creative fundraising method allows supporters to choose between varsity, junior varsity, reserve, or middle school teams.
Direct Donations: For those preferring a straightforward approach, direct donations can be made through the Side-Out Campaign’s official website.
To incentivize participation, donors contributing $50 will receive a mini pink volleyball, while $25 donors will get a limited edition “Dig Pink” sweat towel, available on game nights while supplies last.
“This event is more than just volleyball,” said varsity volleyball head coach Kelly Holtz. “It’s about our community coming together to support a cause that affects so many. We’re excited to see everyone rally behind this initiative and make a real difference.”
The Chagrin Falls Volleyball program encourages early participation, as dedication spots and incentives are limited. For more information or to make a donation, community members can visit the official Side-Out Campaign website or contact the school’s athletic department.
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/digpinkchagrin24/home
Employee Recognition
On Aug. 15 during the Chagrin Falls Schools’ convocation meeting to welcome back staff, Director of Operations Chris Woofter presented the Ray Markuszka 20-Year Service Award to Sally Gallik, Jacquelyn Gerber, Curtis Howell, Brian Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Daniel Kerul, Joshua Maas and Ed Neptune.
Ray was a dedicated custodian on the 7-12 campus. He is best known as a loyal and hard-working man who put his heart into his daily job. In June 2000, Ray retired after 20 years of service to the district. Then shortly after his retirement, Ray suffered a heart attack that regretfully took his life.
“It is in Ray’s name that we show our appreciation to our staff members with 20 years of service,” said Woofter.
During the presentation, colleagues of the award recipients shared a few words.
Colleague Christopher Englehart celebrates colleague Sally Gallik’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “As a STEM teacher at Gurney, Sally engages students with creative projects, supports her colleagues, and brings humor and positivity to the workplace. Her dedication and impact on the school community are highly valued.”
Colleague Courtney Mooney honors Jackie Gerber’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “As a special educator, Jackie has been instrumental in supporting my son Braden, who has autism. Jackie’s innovative approaches, including communication cards, have significantly improved Braden’s ability to express himself. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, positively impacting the entire family and inspiring Courtney as a parent and educator. Jackie’s ability to understand and meet her students’ needs has made her an invaluable team member in the educational journey of children with special needs.”
Colleague Janet Adamoski honors Brian Johnson’s and Jessica Johnson’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Brian and Jessica for 16 years, witnessing first hand their incredible impact on our school community. Jessica, my English language arts co-teacher, inspires students with her creative lessons and passion for reading, implementing innovative programs like the Million Word Reading Challenge. Her organizational skills and willingness to embrace new ideas have been invaluable to our team. Brian, our math teacher and team leader, uses his unique sense of humor to connect with students and motivate our team. His coaching experience and initiative in creating programs like the Boys Club have helped countless students feel supported and engaged. Both Jessica and Brian have taken on additional roles, from cheerleading advisor to union representatives, further demonstrating their commitment to our school. Their dedication, creativity, and positive influence on students and staff alike have truly made a difference in our CFMS community over the past two decades.“
As math teachers colleagues Steve HassHill and Mike Sweeney honors Daniel Kerul’s and Joshua Maas’ 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by quantifying some of their experiences with facts such as, “They’ve worked with seven high school principals during their careers (eight, if you include an interim one from last year); Between the two of them, they’ve commuted about 375,000 miles to and from school — over 15 times around the Earth; and collectively, they’ve assigned and graded over 1,000,000 test and quiz questions! In all seriousness, they’ve inspired, motivated, developed, supported, and coached over 2,000 students each. And ‘infinity’ is the amount of gratitude we said they deserved.”
Colleague Vicky Powers honors Ed Neptune’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by saying, “Ed is an invaluable member of the bus garage team. He’s the early bird who prepares coffee for the drivers and wears many hats in his role. Ed troubleshoots mechanical issues, often deciphering drivers’ unusual descriptions of problems. He fills in as a bus driver when needed and maintains a playful rapport with colleagues, known for his practical jokes. Ed is a dependable friend and coworker, always ready to lend a hand both on and off the job.”
Colleague Jennifer Bencko honors Curtis Howell’s 20 years at Chagrin Falls Schools by sharing her experiences with Curtis as a teacher, colleague and fellow administrator. “Curtis has served this District in many roles during his time in Chagrin. He collaborates with colleagues and parents and works to meet student needs on a daily basis. As a parent, whose daughter was in Curtis’ second-grade class, I can attest to the relationship he builds with his students.”
2024-25 School Year Welcome
The Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District launched the 2024-25 academic year with a series of engaging events that brought together students, families and staff in a celebration of community and learning. The district’s theme, “Inspiring All to Grow & Thrive,” set the tone for a year focused on individualization, belonging, and partnerships.
The festivities began with a PTO-hosted playground meet-up for new Gurney Elementary families, followed by a special playdate for the Class of 2038 kindergarteners at South Russell Park. Mortimer, the district mascot, along with Superintendent Jennifer Penczarski and board of education members, were on hand to welcome the youngest learners.
Gurney Elementary held a student orientation on Aug. 21, allowing children to meet their teachers and classmates before the official start of school. The first day featured a whole-school assembly focusing on the CARES program – emphasizing cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.
Chagrin Falls Intermediate School hosted an ice cream social in partnership with Safe Routes to School, providing an opportunity for students and parents to tour the school and meet teachers. The middle and high schools kicked off the year with a well-attended “Meet the Teams” event, featuring the first performance of the high school marching band.
Chagrin Falls Middle School offered a Welcome Walkthrough for students to get acquainted with the school and schedule. Student leadership groups prepared information and prizes for their peers and everyone got to meet their teachers. There also were plenty of raffles on the first day of school for coveted prizes from Tiger Perk.
The high school welcomed the Class of 2028 with a freshman orientation, connecting new students with their LINK leaders who will guide them through their first year.
Throughout these events, the district emphasized its organizational drivers: Connect, Create, and Challenge, reinforcing the commitment to fostering growth and building strong community connections. As students returned to classrooms on August 22, the air was filled with excitement and anticipation for a year of learning and thriving together.
