The Chagrin Falls High School Orchestra performed at the OMEA State Orchestra Contest at Brunswick High School on March 2.
Orchestra Performs at State Contest
The Chagrin Falls High School Orchestra performed at the OMEA State Orchestra Contest at Brunswick High School on March 2. The orchestra performed three pieces in front of three different judges and then had to sight-read a piece of music in front of a fourth judge. The orchestra received straight superior ratings from all four judges. There were 35 different orchestras that performed at the event and only 13 received straight superior ratings.
Rotary Student of the Month
Chagrin Falls High School (CFHS) senior Evan Hardacre has been selected as the Chagrin Valley Rotary Student of the Month for March. Hardacre was chosen based on her leadership and service qualities she has displayed in the community.
Hardacre has been recognized for her academic success several times during her high school career. She received the Presidential Service Award for Volunteerism, with over 400 hours of community service completed in one year’s time. She also received the Exemplary Service Award and was awarded for her computer graphic and ceramic work at the Chagrin Falls High School Art Show.
In her time at CFHS, Hardacre has been involved with several clubs and sports. She has been a member of girls soccer, girls lacrosse, Art Club and Cha-Green Club. She also is a Link Crew leader, vice president of Interact Club, and president of Connect Club. Additionally, Hardacre is an editor for the senior section of the yearbook, makes the morning announcements, is on the Principal’s Advisory Council, was a cast member for the high school musical production of “Footloose” and is a tutor for English as a Second Language (ESL) and the Tiger Society.
Outside of school, Hardacre is a lifeguard at Chagrin Valley Recreation Center, special events and projects coordinator of the nonprofit LifeAct and overnight camp counselor at Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Camp Al-Gon-Quian. She also works with Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) as a delegate in 2017 and a facilitator in 2018 and 2019. Further, she writes the HOBY Ohio North newsletter for registered schools, students, and parents.
Her accelerated classes include AP United States Government, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, College Credit Plus English, and Independent Study Ceramics.
After high school, Hardacre plans to attend college where she will study media/public relations and communication.
Modeling the Future Challenge Semifinalist
Junior Ty Feeney was a semifinalist in The Actuarial Foundation “Modeling the Future Challenge,” a real-world competition for high school students who excel in math. As a team of one called “Team Tiger,” Feeney began the challenge in November 2018.
In this challenge, students learn to analyze data and create mathematical models to make predictions about what will happen in the future. The theme is related to technology, requiring students to identify and explain one way they predict technology will change the future.
“Future Cures” was this year’s challenge topic. Using their mathematical skills, students were asked to model how they expect new therapies to change the way disease could affect the healthcare industry, government or society.
Feeney began work on the first phase of the competition by responding to a set of business scenarios. Each scenario required simple mathematical modeling tasks and written responses.
Team Tiger was only one of 70 teams who qualified nationally for the semifinal program and was one of only four one-person teams nationally to be selected to move on to the next phase. In addition, Team Tiger was the only one-person team in Ohio to advance and one of only three teams selected from Ohio as a semifinalist.
In the next phase of the competition, semifinalist teams were matched with an actuarial mentor who provided guidance through two meetings. Feeney was challenged to select an area in which he thought the technology theme for the year, Future Cures, would change the future and identify and analyze data that helped him to mathematically model and characterize the expected change. A panel of actuarial professionals reviewed the competitors’ work and selected the finalists.
Feeney’s submitted report was required to be no more than 20 pages and include an executive summary, a technology overview, data methodology, mathematics methodology, results and conclusions and recommendations. It needed to identify the severity and timing of the change expected while identifying the data used, the mathematical methodology, the specific correlations between the data found that helped to characterize this change and the specific recommendations for how people, organizations, or government groups affected by this change should respond to it. Ty worked for two months and successfully submitted this report by the deadline.
Finalists for phase three of the competition were officially announced on March 8.
“While Team Tigers was not identified as a Challenge finalist, we are incredibly proud of Ty Feeney’s perseverance, effort, hard work and achievement,” said Becky Quinn, director of curriculum and instruction, Chagrin Falls Schools. “His participation in the program and his success as a semi-finalist in the Modeling the Future Challenge was realized while also actively training and competing as a member of the CFHS varsity swim team and carrying a course load which includes six AP courses this school year. Ty truly exemplifies Tiger Pride and breathes life into Mission: Possible.”
Speech and Debate Teams Have Incredible Season
The Chagrin Falls High Schools Speech and Debate Team ended its season on March 2 with the state finals at Jackson High School. Mikey King and Eli Shall placed second in Duo Interpretation; Margaux Augier and Livi Andresen were semifinalists (top 12) in Duo Interpretation; Mary Mahoney and Claire Lordan were quarterfinalists (top 24) in Duo Interpretation; Molly Miller was a semifinalist (top 12) in Original Oratory; and Maggie Mills and Sasha Haines were double octafinalists (top 24) in Public Forum Debate.
Additionally, Chagrin Falls High School placed top 10 among the more than 90 schools in attendance in Interpretation, including Duo, Humor and Drama and received an award for this at the state award ceremony.
Congratulations to all the members of the 2018-19 high school team that competed at states: Olivia Andresen, Margaux Augier, Sasha Haines, Celia Hawk, Mikey King, Claire Lordan, Mary Mahoney, Molly Miller, Maggie Mills, Eli Shall, Jillian Shulman, Brenna Sincaglia, Robert Snider and Delainey Wyville.
“I’m really proud of the team atmosphere our competitors created this season,” said head coach Ken Kasee. “They consistently supported and leaned on each other. Both the speech competitors and the debaters came together and spent time building strong friendships. From chow downs the night before tournaments to sing-a-longs on long bus rides, the group showcased their team mentality.”
The Chagrin Falls Middle School Speech and Debate Team also competed at states. Kate Stephenson won state champion in Original Oratory and Ella Snyder placed fifth. Avery Polcar and Elizabeth Rankin took third and Mira Haines and Anna Campbell took fifth in Public Forum. The team adviser is Courtney Polcar.
Congratulations to the members of the 2018-19 middle school team that competed at states: Julia Ashkettle, Phoebe Gleeson, and Kate Quinn (Dramatic Interpretation); Alexandra Scharpf (In Big Question); Mira Haines and Anna Campbell and Avery Polcar and Elizabeth Rankin (In Public Forum Teams); Kate Stephenson, Ella Snyder and Christina Bencin (In Original Oratory).
Highlights of the middle school season include:
Kate Stephenson swept every round this year until the second to last round at states, earning a first place ranking by every judge in each competition.
The 11 state qualifying students, along with 25 other dedicated Chagrin Falls Middle School members, have spent countless hours researching, preparing speeches, writing cases and competing against kids from some of the most prestigious Speech and Debate schools/ programs in the state. They sacrifice their Saturdays, often times leaving before 7 a.m. and returning typically after 6 p.m., and many of their parents also give their time by judging at these tournaments.
“The middle school team is grateful to the high school Speech and Debate members who consistently mentor and help coach different events,” said Polcar. “They are wonderful role models and teachers.”
“Speech and Debate students are confident communicators, critical thinkers, thoughtful writers and researchers who look at issues from many perspectives and then engage in respectful dialogue on a variety of topics,” said Polcar. “It is a refreshing change from a world so caught up in social media and test scores.”
Chagrin Schools Spring Art Show
Chagrin middle and high school art students will showcase their talents and creativity at the Spring Art Show opening April 11 in Hamlet Atrium. The show is a testament to the incredible art department and to the dedication of the students who work so hard to perfect their skill.
Showcased pieces will range from Scholastic and Governor award-winning student pieces, to film and digital photography artwork, to 2D and 3D pieces. Almost every middle school student will have a piece in the show.
Don’t miss opening night at 7 p.m. with live entertainment by the Chagrin Falls High School Jazz Band and an awards presentation at 8 p.m. by teachers, administrators and community leaders.
The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 11-14.
