Kindergarten registration for Chagrin Falls Schools opens Feb. 2 for families with children entering kindergarten in fall 2026...
Kindergarten Registration Opens
Kindergarten registration for Chagrin Falls Schools opens Feb. 2 for families with children entering kindergarten in fall 2026. Registration is completed online through the district website.
Families are encouraged to visit chagrinschools.org for detailed information about starting kindergarten in Chagrin Falls Schools. The page is updated periodically with details about upcoming kindergarten meet-ups, school tours, important dates and resources to support families through the transition to school.
Children are eligible for kindergarten if they turn 5 on or before Aug. 19, 2026, the date the district begins school for the 2026-27 school year. Chagrin Falls Schools offers both half-day and full-day kindergarten options. Full-day kindergarten is tuition-based with a $200 non-refundable deposit required to hold a seat. Students who complete registration by March 20 will be guaranteed placement in the full-day program.
Parents and caregivers still deciding on kindergarten enrollment are invited to attend a kindergarten open house on Feb. 21 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Gurney Elementary School. The session will provide an overview of Chagrin Falls Schools, a building tour, and insight into the district’s approach to K-12 education.
Additional kindergarten information, including daily schedules, summer Safety Town details, and answers to common questions, can be found on the district website.
Questions may also be directed to registration@chagrinschools.org or 440-247-5500, ext. 4004.
District Awarded State Bus Safety Grant
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools has been awarded a $29,827 Ohio School Bus Safety Grant to support safer transportation for students. The grant is part of a statewide effort to help districts improve school bus safety through updated equipment and technology.
The funding will allow the district to make targeted safety upgrades to its bus fleet and aligns with the district’s focus on student well-being and strategic use of resources.
“This grant helps us strengthen the safety systems already in place on our buses,” said District Transportation Supervisor Mike Morgan. “Every improvement we make supports our drivers and protects the students they care for every day.”
Superintendent Jennifer Penczarski shared that safety is a shared priority across the district. “Student well-being extends beyond our classrooms,” she said. “Securing this grant funding allows us to make important upgrades while being thoughtful stewards of district resources.”
Behind the scenes, district operations and planning played a key role in securing the award.
“This investment reflects the careful planning that happens behind the scenes to support student safety,” said Director of Operations and Strategic Resourcing Chris Woofter. “Using grant funding allows us to make targeted upgrades to our transportation systems while maintaining efficient operations and long-term sustainability.”
Dr. Penczarski also recognized the staff effort involved in the application process. “This award reflects the expertise and dedication of our staff,” she said. “Their thoughtful planning and careful attention to the application process helped position our district for success and ensured we could secure funding that directly supports student safety.”
Chagrin Falls Schools was one of 371 districts statewide to receive funding through the Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program.
A Career Rooted in Service
When Christopher Woofter arrived in Chagrin Falls in 2011, he sensed immediately that this community was something special. Fifteen years later, as he prepares for retirement, that first impression has been reaffirmed again and again through a career defined by service, stewardship and a deep belief in education as both an academic and human endeavor.
Woofter joined Chagrin Falls Schools after serving 11 years in the Nordonia School District, where he had experienced firsthand the strain that financial instability can place on even the strongest school cultures. Drawn to Chagrin Falls’ reputation for fiscal responsibility and strong community support, he applied for the principal position at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School and was honored to be selected.
One of his earliest memories still stands out. Driving through the Village on a sunny May afternoon during dismissal, Woofter watched Intermediate School students walk confidently down East Washington Street – respecting traffic laws, greeting one another kindly, and interacting naturally with local businesses and neighbors. “It was clear these students were trusted—and they were living up to that trust,” he recalled. That moment captured what Woofter would come to know as a defining strength of Chagrin Falls: a community united in raising young people with both independence and responsibility.
As principal, Woofter cherished the shared experiences that brought learning to life beyond the classroom. From trips to the Cleveland Museum of Art and sixth-grade retreats at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center to winter concerts and beloved traditions like Walk to School–Walk to Town Day, he saw students grow not only academically, but socially and emotionally. He was equally inspired by the quieter moments – collaborative teacher meetings, thoughtful problem-solving and a staff united around student growth.
Service learning held a special place in his heart. Programs such as PAWS for Rescue Village, Pasta for Pennies and visits to South Franklin Circle helped students understand compassion and community responsibility. “Those moments reminded all of us that education is about developing both minds and hearts,” Woofter said.
After 14 years as a building-level administrator, Woofter transitioned to the role of director of operations, overseeing food services, transportation, facilities, maintenance and custodial services. The move allowed him to support schools systemwide while bringing a principal’s perspective to operational decision-making. He credits the district’s operations teams—and leaders such as Marti Goodwin, James Nace, and Mike Morgan—for their professionalism and unwavering commitment to students.
Among many accomplishments, Woofter is proud of improvements to transportation safety, investments in staff training, long-term facilities planning, and districtwide upgrades such as HVAC modernization and athletic facility enhancements. While often unseen, these foundational improvements ensured safe, welcoming environments where students and staff could thrive.
The most significant project of his career was serving as the district’s point person for the construction of the new Chagrin Falls Intermediate School. Completed on time and under budget, the project carefully preserved the historic 1914 building and 1940 gym and auditorium while creating a modern learning environment for future generations. The ribbon-cutting in August 2019 was a defining moment, made even more meaningful when Woofter toured the building with his parents. His father, who has since passed, called it “a national monument to the perfect school building.”
Beyond his professional roles, Woofter’s connection to Chagrin Falls was also deeply personal. He and his wife raised their two sons in the district, cheering them on as members of the Chagrin Falls High School wrestling team and sharing countless weekends with other Tiger families. They also became active in the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival and their local church – experiences that reinforced their sense of belonging and community.
As he looks ahead to retirement, Woofter plans to slow the pace, spend time with family and pursue passions such as hiking, baking, renovating houses and reflecting on what the next chapter may hold. While he has no immediate plans to return to education in a formal role, he remains committed to lifelong learning.
“I don’t have a particular way I hope to be remembered,” Woofter said. “If anything, I hope those I worked alongside felt valued, heard and supported.”
As Christopher Woofter closes this chapter, Chagrin Falls Schools celebrates a career marked by integrity, humility and a steadfast belief in the power of community. His legacy lives on in the buildings he helped shape, the systems he strengthened, and most importantly, the people he supported along the way.
Tigers of the Semester
On Jan. 21, Chagrin Falls High School honored 22 outstanding students during its Tigers of the Semester recognition ceremony for the first semester of the 2025-26 school year. The program recognizes students who exemplify outstanding work ethic, demonstrate a positive attitude and provide meaningful service to fellow students and teachers, with each honoree individually paired with a staff member who nominated them and celebrated their accomplishments.
Students honored include Brianna Baioni, Stuart Cain, Leo Calabrese, Max Canonico, Henry Cimperman, Chris Exline, Emet Ford, Penny Hatch, Carter Johns, Jacob Kay, Mac Livingston, Mae Livingston, Molly Nightwine, Dora Norton, Robby Setzer, Jack Shein, Dem Snyder, Audrey Solvesky, Christopher Solvesky, Cole Spear, Autumn Taylor and Zane Zabell.
High School Principal Amanda Rassi praised the students for their outstanding achievements, noting the importance of recognizing those who go above and beyond to make their school and community a better place.
The event highlighted the district’s commitment to acknowledging student excellence and fostering a supportive educational environment that encourages personal growth and achievement. Interact Club Advisor Karen Sindelar and Assistant Coordinator Janet Coriell coordinated the program.
Students Excel in Business Competition
Chagrin Falls High School Business Professional of America Club competed in Region 18 along with 18 other Northeast Ohio schools, including Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, Brecksville Broadview Heights High School, Cuyahoga Heights High School, Garfield Heights High School, Independence High School, Nordonia High School, North Royalton High School, Revere High School and Twinsburg High School), Bedford High School, Maple Heights High School, Normandy High School, Polaris Career Center (Berea High School, Brooklyn High School, Fairview High School, North Olmsted High School, Olmsted Falls High School Strongsville High School and Valley Forge High School, on Jan. 21 at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center.
The goal of the Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP) is to provide all students with the opportunity to demonstrate workplace skills learned through business education curricula. Students can compete in more than 90 events that are either judged event presentations or exams testing their knowledge. Students prepare for and compete in contests under six assessment areas including finance; business administration; management information systems; digital communication and design; management marketing and communication; and health administration.
Chagrin Falls Schools’ students shone bright with the following being recognized for their achievements, with seven students qualifying for the state competition on Feb. 23 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Top 8 Medalist:
Payroll Accounting: sophomore James Marcin; Small Business Management Team: freshmen Ameer Hamid, Lucas Guddy and Jack Rubin; and Health Administration Procedures: sophomore Darcy Osborn.
Fourth Place:
Banking & Finance: junior Ethan Nielsen; and Business Law & Ethics: sophomore Jack Shein.
Third Place:
Fundamentals Accounting: sophomore James Marcin; Economic Research Team: juniors Anton Flach, Durham Freese and Eric Goyzman; Personal Financial Management: junior Eric Goyzman; Financial Math & Analysis Concepts: sophomore Dominick Pantuso; Legal Office Procedures: freshman Lavanya Rao; Business Law & Ethics: junior Peter Mitchell; and Management/Marketing/Human Resources Concepts: junior Andrew Thompson.
Second Place:
Banking & Finance: junior Katherine Rosner; Financial Analyst Team: sophomores Dominick Pantuso, Jack Shein, Chris Solvesky and Nick Warner; Financial Math & Analysis Concepts: junior Eric Goyzman; Business Law & Ethics: sophomore Ben Lyndall; Broadcast News Production: juniors Brady Kaas, Ashton Martin and Robert Quinn; Visual Design Team: juniors Isabelle Deioma, Katherine Rosner, Claire Rubin and Alaina Woyt; Entrepreneurship: senior Zach Flaiz; Small Business Management Team: juniors Jude Bidar, Peter Mitchell, Ethan Nielsen and Colin Struk-Marn; Presentation Team: freshmen Claire Angle, Lavanya Rao, Caroline Slain and Sarah Walker; and Management/Marketing/Human Resources Concepts: junior Robert Quinn.
First Place:
Financial Math & Analysis Concepts: junior Ethan Nielsen; Java Programming: sophomore Nick Warner; Python Programming: sophomore
Dominick Pantuso; Advanced Interview Skills: freshman John Busby; Individual Presentation: sophomore Sedona Bundy; and Health Research Presentation: sophomore Darcy Osborn.
State Qualifiers
Students qualifying for the state competition on Feb. 23 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center include:
Banking & Finance: sophomore Katherine Rosner; Business Law & Ethics: sophomore Ben Lyndall; Java Programming: sophomore Nick Warner; Advanced Interview Skills: freshman John Busby; Python Programming sophomore Dominick Pantuso; Individual Presentation: sophomore Sedona Bundy; Health Research Presentation: sophomore Darcy Osborn; and Fundamentals Accounting (100): sophomore James Marcin.
