Chagrin Falls Middle School has announced its Students of the Month for March 2025, recognizing four exceptional students who exemplify the school's core "Tiger Techniques" values of Think, Integrity, Grit, Effort and Responsibility...
CFMS Students of the Month
Chagrin Falls Middle School has announced its Students of the Month for March 2025, recognizing four exceptional students who exemplify the school’s core “Tiger Techniques” values of Think, Integrity, Grit, Effort and Responsibility.
The seventh- and eighth-grade teaching teams collaborated to select two male and two female “Tigers of the Month.” Each honoree received special tiger water bottles provided by the school’s PTO.
Maura Sheridan earned recognition for her classroom leadership and consistent preparation. Teachers praised her friendly demeanor and willingness to volunteer for activities.
“Maura is a tremendous photojournalist with a great attitude! She puts effort and pride into all of her work,” noted one faculty member.
Jack Hanley was acknowledged for his academic excellence and helpfulness toward peers. Described as “an extremely intelligent student,” Jack has demonstrated remarkable ability to grasp and apply new concepts across all subjects. His musical talent as a violinist in the seventh-grade orchestra was also highlighted, along with his consistently positive attitude.
Stella Pace received accolades for her politeness, respectful nature, and dedication to academic excellence. Faculty members noted her clever observations that help study teams succeed and her patience in assessing her learning needs. Stella also serves as an “extraordinary photojournalist” covering school events and was described as someone who “radiates positivity, embodies inclusiveness, and strengthens the fabric of any community she is part of.”
Jackson Raleigh rounded out the honorees, recognized for being a kind and respectful role model. Teachers commended his consistent politeness and determination to excel. They also noted his infectious enthusiasm for puzzles and word games, remarkable analytical skills, and passion for music.
The Student of the Month program at Chagrin Falls Middle School aims to acknowledge and reward exemplary student performance that reflects the school’s core values and contributes positively to the learning environment.
District Receives Perfect Audit
Chagrin Falls Schools has received a clean audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, by the Auditor of State of Ohio’s office. The report confirms the district’s financial statements were presented fairly and in accordance with accounting principles, without any exceptions. The state auditors found no areas needing improvement in the district’s financial practices.
Additionally, Chagrin Falls Schools earned the highest possible transparency rating of four stars from the State Auditor’s Office, demonstrating excellence in financial disclosure and reporting practices.
The complete audit report is now public record and will be available on the treasurer’s page of the district website.
BPA Team Advances to Nationals
In a remarkable display of business and presentation skills, four Chagrin Falls High School seniors have qualified for the Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Competition after placing third in the state for their Small Business Management Team presentation.
Xander Burnight, Jack Medhurst, Tommy Mooney, and Charlie Pollock will represent Chagrin Falls at the BPA Nationals in Orlando, Florida on May 7-11, marking another milestone in the school’s rapidly growing BPA program.
The qualification came during the BPA State Competition held Tuesday, March 7 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, where eight Chagrin Falls students competed across various categories.
“This achievement reflects the tremendous growth of our BPA chapter,” said business teacher John Bakalar. “In just three years, we’ve gone from sending one student to the State Competition in 2022 to seven in 2023, and now eight this year with four advancing to Nationals.”
Several other Chagrin Falls students delivered impressive performances at the state level:
Zach Flaiz secured sixth place in the Health Care Presentation category
Durham Freese earned eighth place in Extemporaneous Speech
Renner Matta achieved 12th place in Personal Financial Management
The school community is rallying behind the four seniors as they prepare for the national spotlight in Orlando, where they’ll compete against top BPA teams from across the country.
Award Winning Graphic Novelist Couple Visits CFMS
Submitted by CFMS seventh-grader Amelia Ingold
Award-winning graphic novelists Misty and David Wilson visited Chagrin Falls Middle School (CFMS) on Monday, March 10 to promote their book, “Play Like A Girl,” and inspire readers and writers to follow their dreams.
During their engaging middle school assembly, the Wilsons dove into their life and process as writers and illustrators. They also explained the timeline to publishing a book in understanding connection for middle schoolers.
During the presentation, Misty helped connect students through activities like the debate about their favorite food, Pickle Pizza. When they talked about their new books and the creation process, the students were focused and excited. The students could not stop talking about the unique ideas the couple came up with, opening up a new door of possibilities to many students and igniting their imaginations.
Throughout the presentation, the authors shared their paths to becoming authors. Before becoming an author, Misty was an elementary teacher. She used to be a fourth-grade teacher, and she ended up falling in love with creative writing, using real-life experiences and fiction stories, her unique perspective creating magnificent stories.
Seventh-grade student Wrenn Warren said, “I was captivated by the creative process and I am so excited to read ‘Play Like a Girl.’”
In addition to that, two students, Rosemary Needham and Leo Fink, were the winners of the essay contest and presented speeches about the importance of storytelling. Their unique perspectives emphasized the importance of staying true to yourself and allowing stories to widen one’s perspective.
The book “Play Like A Girl” talks about Misty’s experience being the only girl on her town’s football team, as well as every girl’s middle school dream: she wants to be popular. She also is struggling with not having an understanding best friend by her side.
They also mentioned the inspiration for Misty’s new novel “Falling Like Leaves,” a mix between popular TV show “Gilmore Girls” and the Jenny Han novel, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” as the author’s unique inspiration coming out in September. Together, they are currently writing a young adult rom-com with a tentative name of “Second Hand Love.” David has a horror graphic novel called “Soulmates” coming out in spring 2026. Finally, they are creating a realistic fiction graphic novel about key parts from Misty’s childhood called “Griffin Girls.”
They held a book signing in conjunction with the school book fair on March 12, and everyone was captivated when they saw David perform live illustration demonstrations. Many adults as well as younger students were able to meet the authors at Literacy Night even though they could not go to the middle school assembly.
Eleventh-grade student Savannah Brent attended the writing workshop, and she noted that “Literacy night let me connect with other authors and helped me find solutions to problems I was running into [in the writing process]. It was overall a wonderful experience.”
In addition, senior student Amelia Strawn attended the evening event for the illustration workshop. She said, “Literacy Night was so much fun!! I’m attending Kent State University next year for college, and being able to meet Professor Wilson was an incredible experience. I will be taking his classes once the school year starts, and I’m thrilled to be working alongside him. Literacy Night allowed me to get a taste of what college may be like for me. I also shared my new children’s book with Professor Wilson and Mrs. Wilson, which was very helpful, since I received feedback for my story. I had an amazing time.”
Their visits left a lasting impression, encouraging students to embrace their creativity and pursue their own dreams in writing and illustrating. CFMS is grateful to the PTO for funding this opportunity.
One School, One Book
Gurney Elementary School recently came together as a community to participate in the annual One School, One Book (OSOB) initiative, reading “A Boy Called BAT” as a unified school. The story, which follows a young boy and his relationship with an orphaned skunk, provided a meaningful theme for students to engage with through reading and hands-on activities.
This year, the OSOB committee added a special new component – Gurney Service Day. Students in kindergarten through third grade took part in various service-oriented projects, extending the theme of compassion and care for animals beyond the pages of the book.
First- and third-graders teamed up to tie fleece blankets for kittens, ensuring that rescued kittens would have a warm and cozy place to rest. Second-grade students got creative in making cat toys. They filled ping-pong balls with rice, securing them with tape to create fun rattling toys for the cats. Additionally, they crafted catnip toys using socks, giving the shelter cats some much-needed entertainment.
Kindergarteners, with their big hearts, focused on expressing gratitude. They wrote thoughtful thank-you cards for the hardworking volunteers at Rescue Village, recognizing their dedication to animal welfare. They also created heartfelt cards for families adopting animals, spreading warmth and encouragement to those giving rescued pets a forever home.
The Gurney Service Learning Club played a key role in collecting all necessary materials for these projects. After school, members of the club boarded a bus to Rescue Village, where they personally delivered the handmade donations. The visit provided an eye-opening experience, as students received a behind-the-scenes look at the process of animal rescue and rehabilitation.
During their tour of Rescue Village, students had the opportunity to see a variety of animals, including bunnies, kittens, and dogs. One of the most exciting surprises was learning that Rescue Village is one of the few animal rescues that also cares for barn animals. Students met a horse and some pigs, making the visit even more memorable.
One particularly touching moment stood out – when a newly rescued puppy repeatedly returned to a third-grade student, Brooklyn Catani. The sweet interaction captured the heart of everyone present, reinforcing the deep connections that can form between people and animals in need.
Through the One School, One Book program and the newly introduced Gurney Service Day, students not only strengthened their love for reading but also learned the value of giving back. Their efforts made a tangible impact on the lives of rescued animals, demonstrating the power of kindness and community involvement. This meaningful initiative has surely left a lasting impression on Gurney students and the furry friends they helped along the way.
