Colorful outfits, kind words and meaningful moments filled the halls of Chagrin Falls Intermediate School during Kindness Week, an intentional focus on empathy, inclusion and leadership...
CFIS Kindness Week
Colorful outfits, kind words and meaningful moments filled the halls of Chagrin Falls Intermediate School during Kindness Week, an intentional focus on empathy, inclusion and leadership. Led by school counselors Annie Schluep and Elizabeth Wolfgang, the initiative was part of the school’s social inclusion programming for students in grades 4–6 and encouraged reflection on how kindness shapes community and how individual actions affect others.
“We want students to understand that kindness isn’t just a theme for a week,” Schluep said. “It’s something that shows up in the small, everyday moments that create a ripple effect and shape our school culture to help everyone feel connected.”
Leading up to Kindness Week, students participated in Guidance Encore lessons that introduced themes of empathy, communication, and inclusion. During the week itself, those lessons came to life. At lunch, students responded to kindness prompts that were displayed throughout the building, participated in Kindness Bingo, and posed for photos at the “Be the I in KIND” banner using props created by sixth grade students. Kindness shout out containers placed on each floor allowed students to recognize peers who were “caught being kind.” Each day, these messages were collected and shared during announcements, offering moments of celebration and reflection. Spirit days reinforced the week’s themes, encouraging students to express kindness through creativity and self-expression, from wearing yellow to “let kindness shine,” to workout clothes that symbolized problem solving, to crazy socks and hair that brought smiles, and finally, shirts with positive words that emphasized how language matters.
One of the most meaningful experiences of the week took students beyond CFIS. A group of students traveled to Gurney Elementary to spend time with younger students during lunch and recess. The visit gave intermediate students an opportunity to model kindness and leadership while strengthening connections across buildings.
Kindness Week provided intentional opportunities for students to practice leadership in everyday moments. Recognizing a peer, helping a younger student or choosing words carefully may seem small, but these actions shape how a school community feels and functions. The week reflects the district’s focus on social inclusion during the intermediate years, when students are developing a stronger sense of identity, responsibility and leadership. Through structured lessons and shared experiences, students were encouraged to see kindness not as a single event, but as a daily choice that builds trust and belonging.
“Kindness Week is a time to connect with our classmates and focus on being inclusive,” said sixth-grader Liam Dixon. “It is a chance for CFIS to come together as one to reflect on the importance of being a leader.”
Speech and Debate Coach of the Year
Chagrin Falls High School speech and debate coach Corinne Lashley has been awarded the C. Frederick Snook Speech and Debate Coach of the Year Award for the Northeast OSDA (Ohio Speech and Debate Association). The prestigious recognition honors her exceptional dedication to students and the program while commemorating the legacy of the beloved and influential coach and teacher, Fred Snook, for whom this award is named.
Lashley puts in countless hours after school and on weekends, coaching students and adjudicating events throughout the region. As Cleveland OSDA leaders announced during the award presentation, she gives up almost every Saturday for competitions and coaching responsibilities while maintaining her commitment to family, often relying on FaceTime to stay connected with her toddler son while away at tournaments. “Corinne juggles it all like a rockstar,” said colleague Courtney Polcar.
The Coach of the Year award recognizes not only coaching excellence but also the personal sacrifice and dedication that go into building a successful program. Lashley’s students have benefited from her expertise, enthusiasm, and unwavering support as they develop critical thinking, public speaking and argumentation skills.
Book Tasting Transforms CFMS Innovation Center
The Innovation Center (IC) at Chagrin Falls Middle School recently became the “IC Cafe”—a unique “book tasting” event designed exclusively for seventh- and eighth-graders. The initiative aimed to make discovering new books a high-quality learning experience, aligning with the district’s mission to Inspire All to Grow and Thrive.
Led by library media specialist Maria Sargiovanni and library assistant Christina Cline, the event created a relaxed, cafe-style environment where students were invited to connect with literature through more than 24 high-interest titles on display. Students sampled “Tiger Perk” drinks, entered prize giveaways and, most importantly, found new books to love.
Instead of a simple checkout, the IC Cafe encouraged students to be literary critics. Students were challenged to analyze book elements, including cover art and summaries, identify the story’s mood, from humorous to intense, and compare traditional prose with modern graphic novels to see how each style communicates a message.
The primary goal was to encourage critical thinking about how stories are told and how reading connects directly to personal interests, supporting the district’s focus on student well-being by fostering a culture of belonging and growth mindset.
The event is a direct example of how Chagrin Falls Schools is working to create experiential learning opportunities for students by moving beyond traditional learning to emphasize choice and curiosity.
“Providing events centered around choice, such as the Book Tasting, helps drive student engagement and personal literacy development,” says Maria Sargiovanni. “Students have opportunities to explore texts without pressure, helping them truly see themselves as readers.”
By transforming the Innovation Center, the IC Cafe highlighted the important role reading plays in student engagement and growth. It also reminded students that discovering the right book can start with curiosity and a willingness to explore.
“The library serves as a safe space for all to explore curiosity, choice, and meaningful learning,” she continues. “Students can pursue their own questions and interests, transforming independent reading into a lifelong habit of discovery, learning and joy.”
Marketing Students Excel in Ohio Business Plan Contest
Students from Chagrin Falls High School’s Fall marketing course have been recognized with honorable mention honors in the prestigious thinkBIG! Online Business Plan Writing Challenge through the Veale Youth Entrepreneurship Forum, a statewide competition that showcases student innovation, entrepreneurship and business strategy skills.
SophomoreJustin Bookman, senior Matthew Busby and sophomore Henry Horvath earned this distinction for their business plan titled “StayPut”, bookbags that focus on preventing tipping and spilling by automatically stabilizing themselves when placed on the ground or a surface. Senior Cayden Vilneff was also named honorable mention for his business plan “FreshLoop,” a technology-enabled small business that reduces food waste and grocery costs by connecting consumers with surplus, near expiration food from local grocery stores, bakeries and cafes through a mobile app and pickup hubs.
The thinkBIG! Challenge invites students to develop comprehensive business plans that demonstrate creativity, market research, financial planning and real-world feasibility. It is designed to encourage young entrepreneurs to explore business ownership and innovation while gaining hands-on experience in market analysis, budgeting, operations planning and marketing strategy. Entries are evaluated by industry professionals and business leaders from across Northeast Ohio.
The Honorable Mention recognition places these students among the top competitors statewide, highlighting their ability to think strategically and apply classroom learning to real-world business scenarios. These students will be recognized at the thinkBIG! Summit on March 3 at Case Western Reserve University.
“This recognition reflects the hard work, creativity, and entrepreneurial mindset our students bring to the classroom,” said business teacher John Bakalar. “Competing at this level requires strong research, critical thinking and communication skills. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishment.”
Participation in competitions like thinkBIG! supports Chagrin Falls High School’s commitment to preparing students for college, careers, and future leadership roles in business and beyond.
Rotary Student of the Month
The Chagrin Valley Rotary Club is proud to announce Liam Gambrill as the February Student of the Month from Chagrin Falls High School.
Liam has distinguished himself academically with a 3.9 GPA and a 1380 SAT score while challenging himself with Advanced Placement courses including AP Environmental Science, AP Government and AP Physics 1, along with Honors Chemistry. His dedication to rigorous coursework demonstrates his commitment to academic excellence.
Beyond the traditional classroom, Liam has pursued his passion for culinary arts through the ProStart curriculum, a program endorsed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. This comprehensive program covers culinary mathematics, restaurant business management, marketing techniques, menu planning and design and restaurant equipment analysis. Through the program’s internship component, Liam works 12.5 hours per week in the food industry, gaining valuable real-world experience while earning articulated college credit.
Liam has also showcased his culinary talents through competitive cooking events with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), further developing his skills in the culinary field he’s passionate about pursuing.
On the athletic front, Liam earned second team all-region honors in lacrosse his junior year. His leadership qualities shine through both on the field and in the classroom during laboratory work. He identifies staying calm, taking responsibility, and holding others accountable as his most valued leadership traits – skills he has honed through his athletic and academic pursuits.
Community service holds special meaning for Liam, who teaches an Elder class at Beachwood focused on affordable healthy eating and nutrition education. “It just feels good to give back,” he says of his volunteer work, demonstrating the altruistic nature that defines his character.
Looking toward the future, Liam plans to study hospitality management with aspirations of restaurant ownership and design. “I’m understanding what I like to do by working in kitchens,” he explains, recognizing that his hands-on experience is shaping his career path in the food service industry.
Described as genuine, artisanal and academic, Liam Gambrill exemplifies the qualities the Rotary Club seeks to honor in outstanding students who excel academically, serve their community and demonstrate leadership.
Student Earns First Place in Regional Model Home Design Contest
Chagrin Falls High School student Harrison Horvath and his teammates earned first place in the 2026 Student Model Home Design Contest, “The Great Big Move-Up Home,” following competition on Jan. 24.
Horvath competed alongside Eric Liedtke of West Geauga High School, Colby Blaser of Aurora High School and Caleb Rivchun of Orange High School as part of the Excel TECC CADD Engineering Technology program. The regional competition challenged students to design and construct a detailed model home that met strict design parameters and was evaluated using a comprehensive industry-style rubric.
Student teams were required to incorporate both green features, such as low-flow showerheads and indoor air-purifying plants and smart home features, including smoke detectors with carbon monoxide sensors and enhanced smart thermostats. After an initial round of judging, teams were given the opportunity to defend their designs and clarify rubric criteria before final scores were submitted.
Using professional engineering platforms Revit and AutoCAD, students designed the home and produced detailed blueprints before constructing a physical model with laser cutters and 3D printers. Their winning design stood out for its technical accuracy, sustainability features and overall execution.
The Student Model Home Design Contest is held in conjunction with the Great Big Home & Garden Show, and the team’s award-winning model home was on display at the I-X Center from Jan. 30 through Feb. 8.
