The Chagrin Falls Booster Club once again presents a fun, family-oriented fitness opportunity for all ages.
Chagrin Falls Turkey Trot
The Chagrin Falls Booster Club once again presents a fun, family-oriented fitness opportunity for all ages. The Chagrin Falls Turkey Trot is a 3.1-mile walk/run through Chagrin Falls.
The race starts at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 at Chagrin Falls High School.
Registration until Nov. 25 is $30. After Nov. 25, the price is $35. Online registration ends on Nov. 25 at midnight.
Registration continues on Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Chagrin Falls High School. Event day registration is from 8:30-9 a.m. at the high school. Fine Grinds mobile coffee truck will be at the event this year.
The race will have official chip timing, prizes and awards for the top three male and female runners. There will be trophies for the top runners in each age group. The first 1,500 registered participants will receive a long-sleeved tech T-shirt.
As a family friendly event, the Chagrin Turkey Trot wants to see the whole family on race day. For families of four or more that register together, each registration will receive a $5 discount.
Race packet pickup is Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Chagrin Falls High School.
The Chagrin Falls Booster Club thanks Title sponsors Fifth Third Bank, Superior Beverage Group and Elk+Elk. Platinum sponsors include Ancora, Pradco, Peppertree Capital, Huntington Bank, Chagrin Pet, Schmahl Orthodontics, Snavely Group, Karen Eagle Group. Gold sponsors are The Campus of Anna Maria, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Clinic, Willoughby Supply, Dentistry at Winbury, Snow Bird Car Service, Accellis, ReSet Lounge. Awards are provided by Chagrin Valley Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center.
For more information or to register, go to http://www.chagrinturkeytrot.com.
CFHS Named to Newsweek’s Top 5,000 STEM Schools
Newsweek announced its ranking of the top 5,000 STEM high schools for 2019, honoring excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Chagrin Falls High School earned the number 670 ranking in the nation.
With its long history of reporting on scientific breakthroughs, technological revolutions, and societal challenges, Newsweek partnered with STEM.org to rank America’s Best STEM High Schools. The list includes schools in every region of the country that offer skilled teachers who keep up with developments in these fields and who create dynamic learning environments to engage their students.
The top 5,000 schools were curated from STEM.org Educational Research (SER) using a proprietary scoring logic that took into consideration a broad set of quantitative and qualitative data inputs collected from the second quarter of 2015 to the third quarter of 2019. The purpose was to determine which primary/secondary institutions in America best offer students experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)—as defined by the Congressional Research Service—while preparing them for post‐secondary outcomes. Additional factors, including affluence and median household income, were taken into consideration in compiling the rankings.
“Children don’t realize it, but they’re natural STEM students,” says Nancy Cooper, NewsweekGlobal Editor in Chief. “We need to make sure that innate drive, curiosity, and creativity aren’t lost along the way. These high schools are helping to ensure America’s future in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is in good hands.”
“Providing students with STEM opportunities isn’t enough – we also want to support and nurture the growth of our students within the STEM fields,” said Principal Monica Asher. “I am most proud of the fact that our teachers are incredibly thoughtful regarding the support they provide to students in and outside of the classroom. They encourage our students to be creative, innovative and curious, all which contributes to an environment that is ideal for the STEM focused student.”
“Many school districts have worked hard to incorporate STEM educational opportunities for young people,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “Our success is frequently a combination of a willingness to introduce and support new, relevant programs and a high quality, student-centered teacher.”
Newsweek’s Nov. 15 special double issue is available on newsstands now and includes the top 5000 STEM high schools.
Fine Motor Boot Camp
Gurney Elementary School students have been working on activities from the Fine Motor Boot Camp program. Last year, the school received a grant that allowed occupational therapist Stephanie Cohen to train kindergarten teachers in the program and how to set it up in each classroom. These activities are quick and fun ways to build fine motor muscles in fingers. Activities are switched every week.
Watershed Field Trip
By Chagrin Falls Middle School student reporters Melina Humphrey and Izzy Angel
Seventh-grade students traveled to the West Creek Reservation Watershed in Parma on Oct. 23 and 24 to learn about watersheds and erosion. Students did a chemistry activity to test the water’s PH levels. Students also went on a hike and collected insects and animals in the water. Students examined the organisms and tried to identify them based on their appearance. They looked at leaves, roots, and animals. There were woolly bears, praying mantises, snakes, grasshoppers and other animals on the trail. Students also learned about how to make root beer out of the roots.
One of the indoor activities simulated Lake Erie for students to observe erosion in the lake. Students had to add trees and rocks to the simulation to observe the way the water flows and how rocks and trees can help stop erosion.
Student Margaret Vanderbilt enjoyed the field trip. She said, “It was pretty cool. I liked using chemistry because we were able to test the water. We got to walk around and see the environment.”
Chaperone Krista Hunter also enjoyed the field trip. Her favorite part of the day was looking for organisms in the stream. She said, “The field trip was a wonderful hands-on science learning experience.”
Donuts with Link Crew
By Carolyn Bencko, senior and staff writer for The Tiger Times
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Chagrin Falls High School freshmen attended Donuts with Link Crew in the commons, hosted by junior and senior Link Crew leaders and Link Crew supervisors assistant principal Amanda Rassi, teacher John Scott, and counselor Mark Iammarino. Freshmen had the chance to eat raised and glazed donuts while reconnecting with their Link Crew leaders and peer group.
Freshman Elana McGinnis attended the event and thinks Link Crew has benefited her so far in high school. “Link Crew leaders have made it easy for us to fit in and have helped us to not be nervous for our first year,” said McGinnis.
The goal of Link Crew is to help transition freshmen into high school and form relationships across grades. Donuts with Link Crew is the first large event held by Link Crew after orientation, so it is meant for leaders to check in with their freshmen.
Senior Link Crew leader Molly Barr had a positive experience with her group, who she feels she has already formed relationships with. “We can connect well with our freshmen at these events because we are able to ask them personal questions to get to know them better and spend quality time together as a group,” said Barr.
Groups had time to talk about their first quarter in high school and address any difficulties as well as successes. Leaders also informed freshmen about upcoming events throughout the school and gave advice regarding classes and teachers.
Outside of events, Link Crew acts as a helpful resource for many freshmen. “They are helpful when I need something and it’s good to know I have someone that will answer questions if I have any,” said freshman Oakleigh Neithammer.
The Link Crew experience not only affects the freshmen but the leaders as well. Leaders enjoy being able to act as a role model for younger students, having the opportunity to meet new people, and learn leadership skills.
“Being a Link Crew leader has definitely made me more outgoing towards underclassmen. I have also developed more leadership skills that will help me throughout my whole life,” said Barr. The energy of the leaders also encourages freshmen to become leaders when they are upperclassmen. McGinnis and Neithammer both reported that they want to become leaders when they can.
The next large Link Crew event will take place towards the end of the semester. At Cocoa and Cram, leaders will help freshmen prepare for their midterms and enjoy hot chocolate while doing so.
CFIS Have Hands-On Experience with Popular Novel
Sixth-grade students at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School were able to create rafts and “one-pager” posters connecting to the novel “Refugee” by Alan Gratz.
The story is about three children from separate eras who are fleeing the turmoil in their own countries in hopes of a safer life in another place. Students worked in the Maker Space in small groups to complete the challenge of building a raft. Each group was given a bag with a wide assortment of supplies. The activity connected to the main character in the book, Isabel, who escapes from Cuba on a raft to Miami.
While some students worked on the raft, others were in the classroom creating a poster that incorporated quotes, symbolism, themes and characterization from the book.
Students connected the reading of the novel with the planning of the novel that they themselves will be writing in November for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Local author Mara Purnhagen discussed novel writing with the students and helped prepare them in planning their novels.
The lesson wrapped up on Oct. 30 when parents were invited to come and hear student presentations about their raft building experience and poster making. Students competed in a raft floating contest as they aimed to see how many quarters their raft would hold before sinking.
Students made stronger connections to the text with these experiences.
“I think this experience helped me understand the book more,” said student Jacob Kay. “The activities got me thinking and I was more interactive with the book.”
Student Natalie Zalud said, “It helped me see how hard it would be to build a floating raft and now I know how hard it was for the characters to build just their little boat.”
“This experience would not have been possible without all the parents who volunteered in the Maker Space,” said teacher Katherine Owen.
