Students in Amy Acton's fourth-grade Advanced Math 4 classes participated in the Noetic Learning Math Contest (NLMC) this spring.
Students in Advanced Math Score High in National Contest
Students in Amy Acton’s fourth-grade Advanced Math 4 classes participated in the Noetic Learning Math Contest (NLMC) this spring. The Noetic Learning Math Contest is a national semiannual problem-solving contest for elementary and middle school students. The goal of the competition is to encourage students’ interest in math, to develop their problem-solving skills, and to inspire them to excel in math.
During the contest, students are given 45 minutes to solve 20 problems. Many problems are designed to challenge students and to enrich their problem solving experiences.
The team winners were Brooke Lawrence, Graeme Blair, Jack Shein, Peter Mitchell and Anton Flach. These students also won National Honor Roll medals, as their scores were in the top 10 percent of all participants in their grade level.
Sixth-Graders Enjoy Retreat at Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Center
The week of May 6-10, Chagrin Falls Intermediate School sixth-graders attended a retreat at the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Center (CVEEC). Lessons were centered around the Cuyahoga River Watershed.
“The watershed provides a framework for exploring major ecological concepts in biotic communities, testing and analyzing water quality, discovering American history concepts relative to the watershed and examining environmental issues,” said teacher Ellen McKelvey.
Using the Cuyahoga Valley National Park as a backdrop, students are immersed in the environment allowing them to create connections to the natural world around them. Curricula at the CVEEC are designed to foster a hands on, minds-on approach to learning. They use a variety of tools for discovery including journals, GPS units, quests, digital cameras, scientific testing equipment and theme appropriate equipment. Students learn how to collect and analyze data, work cooperatively with peers, and create presentations for audiences.
“The sixth-grade team would like to thank all of our parent volunteers who spent time with us, without you this experience wouldn’t be possible,” said McKelvey.
CFMS Earns Award from Ohio Middle Level Association
Chagrin Falls Middle School (CFMS) has won a “Component Award” from the Ohio Middle Level Association (OMLA). The award is given to identify and recognize schools that implemented concept components in middle schools in an exemplary manner. Those who are recognized serve as models for other schools looking to improve their own middle school components.
The awards are given in several categories including advisor, staff development, scheduling, and teaming among others. The Chagrin Falls Middle School’s application for the award had to document what makes their practices exemplary in the category of interdisciplinary units and included a site visit from three representatives of the OMLA board. The award is for the seventh-grade cardboard Rec regatta unit of study.
In an email sent to CFMS Principal, Laila Discenza, the OMLA Northeast Regional representative wrote, “Thank you for your commitment to middle-level education. You are a powerful force for good and an inspiration to our region and state.”
The teacher team consists of Brian Johnson, Alison Hinesman, Jessica Johnson, Janet Adamoski, Courtney Polcar, Brooke Campbell, Cynthia Dean and Larry Richmond. They are invited to the annual OMLA State Conference in Columbus on Nov. 7 and 8, where they will receive their award and present their work. Discenza said that the unit is impressive but only accomplished due to their high functioning teamwork, collaboration and continued refinement.
CFMS Receives Recognition
The Ohio Senate sent a proclamation honoring Chagrin Falls Middle School (CFMS) for exemplary distinction. The proclamation was signed by Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof and state Sen. Matthew Dolan. It stated that Chagrin Falls Middle School was designated as an “Ohio School to Watch” by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.
The forum aims to promote academic performance and healthy development of young adolescents. They seek to make every middle-grade school academically excellent, socially equitable and responsive to the needs and interests of the youth. Their “Schools to Watch Program” developed criteria to identify high-performing middle-grade schools and have honored 465 schools across the country during their annual Schools to Watch conference.
The proclamation sent to CFMS said that each member of the staff has shown dedication in helping students attain their full potential. It went on to say, “Chagrin Falls Middle School has maintained high standards of academic excellence and increased teacher and student performance, and these achievements will serve as a model for others throughout the state to emulate.”
Student Recognized for Entry in Countywide Contest
Fifth-grader Katie Jones received recognition by the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District for her entry into the “3Rs” contest.
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District “3Rs” contest is held in honor of Earth Day to remind people to “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Students in grades K-12 throughout Cuyahoga County submitted entries to this annual contest in the form of a photo or drawn picture. Entries were broken down into age groups and Katie was one of three entries in the age 11 category.
Katie’s picture was titled, “Which World Would You Rather Live In?” and showed the difference between a world full of factories and industrialization compared to a world with trees, sun and clean air.
Chagrin Falls Intermediate School teacher Cory McNamara said, “I am so proud of Katie. She used her talents in drawing to create her winning masterpiece.”
Entering the contest was voluntary and Katie was rewarded for her efforts with a box of fun prizes from the Cuyahoga County Waste District. See Katie’s work on the CCWSD website:https://cuyahogarecycles.org/vote_3rs_photo_contest.
Rotary Teacher of the Year
Eighth-grade teacher Marissa Ausperk was recognized as the Chagrin Valley Rotary Teacher of the Year Award. She has impacted hundreds of students during her time as an English teacher, professional Learning Community team member, and state and national presenter.
Ausperk is described as having a passion for learning and instills this same passion in each of her students and peers. She is always determined and compassionate and she is completely dedicated to creating new data-driven lesson plans that still engage the student.
Chagrin Falls Middle School Principal Laila Discenza said, “One could not only see but hear and even feel the energy in her classroom on a daily basis. You may be walking the hall when you hear a class of 13 year olds in unison shout, ‘Oh yeah!’ when they respond to her, depicting that they are ready for the next part of the lesson.”
Ausperk brings her lessons to life like with hands-on experiences. When her class read the book, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,”she took her students to a synagogue for a presentation called “Face to Face” where they heard from a real Holocaust survivor. Aside from group lessons, Ausperk is the eighth-grade advisor and treats each student as an individual, giving them one-on-one feedback so they can reflect and analyze their work and grow.
She uses a tool known as “Edulastic,” to create test questions directly related to standards that provide instant results and assist with student item analysis. Ausperk motivates and cares for her students and her eighth graders know that she will not allow them to quit or fail.
“There is no doubt that young adolescents love Mrs. Ausperk. And she is also highly regarded by her peers not only on her team, but in her school, her district and beyond,” said Discenza.
Ausperk works closely with her team of teachers to assist with data organization while sharing her knowledge of programs that can be used in every type of discipline. She is always working to improve her skills and has attended conferences through Kent State University and joined the “Writing Ourselves” project, which is a digital writing portfolio for students. She also presented at the Ohio Middle Level Association State Conference on the topic of digital portfolios.
Her other accomplishments include attending the National Conference of Teachers of English Language Arts in Texas and leading a staff meeting to help the staff at Chagrin Falls Middle Schoolwith creative ideas. She also shared information at the Chagrin Falls Schools’ Board meeting on professional development opportunities and how this can increase the knowledge of teachers and in turn, students.
Discenza said, “Marissa Ausperk is a teacher that every school would want to have on their staff and every parent would want their child to have. She helps kids academically, socially and emotionally. She helps to cultivate a culture of connectedness and collaboration for students and adults. We are so grateful to have her at Chagrin Falls Middle School.”
Seal of Biliteracy Earned
World language teachers at Chagrin Falls Schools have developed and implemented a successful K-12 world language program that acknowledges and reinforces the language proficiency and cultural awareness by encouraging students’ proficiency in multiple world languages. The state of Ohio recently passed a law allowing a Seal of Biliteracy to be affixed to high school diplomas. The prestigious designation means that the student is proficient in two languages (one is English) after taking a nationally normed assessment (AAPPL). Students must score at a proficiency level of at least Intermediate High in all modes of the tested language, which indicates that they would be able to effectively use their language skills in a business or professional setting.
AP World Language teachers Laurie Walsh (Spanish) and Christine Briggs (French) are pleased to announce that the following 31 seniors have earned this distinction and will wear an honorary red cord at graduation:
Jack Amendola- Spanish, Nicholas Angelino-Spanish, Marguerite Augier- Spanish, Hanna Bookman-Spanish, Iris Carlson-Spanish, Courtney Curtiss- Spanish, Madison Dishler- Spanish, Lucy Fricke-Spanish, Helen Goble- Spanish, Zachary Goodwin- Spanish, Niah Johnson-Spanish, Nova Klein- French, Rory Klein-Spanish, Stephen Kruszenski -Spanish, Laila Latifi-Spanish, Peyton Lelonis-Spanish, Matthew Miller- French, Margaret Munday-Spanish, Lisa Nazelli-Spanish, Kathryn O’Malley-Spanish, Emma Orazen-Spanish, Aaron Passalacqua-Spanish, Abigail Patton- French, Alice Patton-French, Allison Pilotti-Spanish, Camryn Safenovitz-Spanish, Duncan Taber-Spanish, Emma Vaccaro-Spanish, Michael Vandertill-Spanish, Brooke Weston-Spanish and Kelly Wynveen-Spanish.
