Two student teams from Chagrin Falls Intermediate School competed on April 7 and 8 at the Future Problem Solving State Bowl Competition at Solon Middle School...
Future Problem-Solving State Bowl Competition
Two student teams from Chagrin Falls Intermediate School competed on April 7 and 8 at the Future Problem Solving State Bowl Competition at Solon Middle School.
The first team included Anna Baker, Marie Kanzinger, MaryAnn Hoelzel, Kate Stephenson and alternate Nathan Hill. Team two included James Wilkinson, Mira Haines, Elizabeth Partain, Isaac Copley and alternate Sophia Stephenson.
Global Issues Problem-Solving (GIPS) is a course that was introduced this year at the intermediate school through the STRETCH Program for cognitively gifted students in grades 4-6. GIPS is a competitive component of Future Problem Solving Program International. Through the STRETCH offering, students worked as a team to research global topics and learn a six-step creative problem solving process. In competition, students applied this knowledge and the process to address a Future Scene, an imagined situation set in the future related to global topics in business/economics, science/technology and social/political issues.
The topic for the State Bowl was Identity Theft. In anticipation of this event, students thoroughly researched this topic. Students and coaches saw the actual State Bowl Future Scene for the first time during the timed portion of the competition on the evening of April 7. The team competition included all six steps, the same as the Qualifying Problem, which yielded entry into the State Bowl.
High-performing teams selected at the Ohio Future Problem-Solving Bowl will be invited to compete at the Future Problem-Solving International Conference on June 7-11 at the University of Wisconsin, in La Crosse, Wis.
“We are extremely proud of our coaches and students and look forward to the upcoming experiences,” said Becky Quinn, director of curriculum and gifted coordinator, Chagrin Falls Schools.
Difference Makers Celebrated
On April 18, approximately 100 staff members, community members, and students received recognition as a Chagrin Falls Schools’ Difference Maker. The program was held in the Performing Arts Center lobby and featured a breakfast made by the Food Services Department, a welcome from Laurie McCormack, director of community relations, and comments from Superintendent Robert Hunt.
“The Chagrin Falls Schools staff is fortunate to work in a community that supports education,” said Hunt. “We are surrounded by students, staff, parents and community members that consistently give back to their school and community. Today, we recognize these individuals.”
Students Anna Campbell and Sam Crandall also spoke to those in attendance about what a difference maker means to them.
“You are all difference makers because you are kind, caring, sincere and polite,” said Campbell. “You make our community the special place it is.”
Crandall said, “You may forget what you did for a person, but it will be remembered by the individual or community forever. As long as you are laughing and spreading positive ideas through your influence, you are making a difference. That is all anyone can ask for.”
The district began this initiative to identify and recognize the “difference makers” in the community. These are people that have positively impacted the life of another.
“This happens in our school and in our community on a daily basis,” said Hunt.
Those individuals recognized included:
Staff members: Stefanie Ashkettle, Dr. Shannon Beach, Julie Beckerman, Laura Berg, Ed Boehnlein, Anita Boumitri, Amy Catney, Janet Coriell, Mary Jo Czerr, Gary Dole, Lisa Dugach, Dr. Chris Fishman, Jackie Gerber, Youssef Hamid, Jan Hancock, Cindy Hanculak, Amanda Heintzelman, Kristy Holmes, Pam Hoover, Marti Jacobson, Angie Jameson, Lisa Janson, Brian Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Dr. Rachel Jones, Jean Kanzinger, Martina Kehoe, Nancy Kevern, Faith Kover, Ruth Loconti, Bob Lonchar, Meg Lynch, Cindy Matejcik, Kristy Miller, Kyle Patterson, Becky Quinn, Jay Schach, Kathy Shoenfelt, Jennifer Stone, Todd Thombs, Laurie Walsh, Kathy Warren, Sherrie Wooden, Michael Wujnovich,and Jana Young.
Community members: Lisa Buescher, Anne Durette, Phil Durette, Leah Eickhoff, Kathryn Fracci, Laura Fricke, Joe Gallin, Alex Gertsburg, Amanda Giannattasio, Erinn Grube, Lily Hill, Merrilu Hoffman, Addie Holdren, Kim Johnson, Claire Jones, Lynne Kessell, Jordan Kriegel, Ann Mitchell, Mariann Nanchoff, Beth Neumann, Jenny O’Brien, Liz O’Neil, Thomas Perotti, Amy Sellars, Ron Schuller, Cody Shell, Linda Suffron, Valerie Suffron, Paula Suzelis, Melody Thomas, Steve V. Thompson, Carl Venezia, Jesse Weinberger, Andrew Weingart and KC White.
Students: John Campbell, Alexis Christie, David Feucht, Victoria Field, Dylan Frank, Marie Kanzinger, Connor Lewis, Nadia McGinnis, Keira Moran, Katelyn Nelsen, Isabel Pulte, Madeleine Pulte, Rosie Rogers, and Ryan Waldman.
Special thanks to the following community organizations who sponsored this event: Chagrin Falls Booster Club, Chagrin Falls Dads’ Club, Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation, Chagrin Falls Historical Society, Chagrin Music Lovers, Chagrin Falls PTO, Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce, Safe Routes Chagrin and Tiger Prep.
Asher Approved as CFHS Principal
At the April 17 Chagrin Falls Board of Education meeting, Monica J. Asher was approved as the next Chagrin Falls High School principal. She will replace Steve Ast, who accepted a position with the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools. Asher currently is an assistant principal at Rocky River High School.
Prior to Rocky River High School, Asher was an assistant principal at Avon Lake High School. From 2010-2012, she was athletic director at Huron High School, an English teacher at Huron from 2006-2008 and an English teacher from 2005-2006 at Sig Rogich Middle School in Las Vegas, Nev.
Asher received a masters in educational administration and supervision and a bachelor of science in education from Bowling Green State University. She is currently working towards her doctorate in education/leadership studies.
“We had a great deal of interest in our high school principal position. Ms. Asher separated herself from other candidates throughout the process demonstrating strong leadership skills that align with the values of our school district,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt.
