Chagrin Falls School News

September 17, 2020 by Staff Report

Student Receives National Recognition 

Jack Shein, a current fifth-grader at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School, participated in the Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) available through the Center for Talent Development within Northwestern University in the 2019-20 school year. The program provides gifted students in grades 3-9 with the opportunity to take above grade level nationally standardized tests. It includes the ability for students in grades 3-6 to take the PSAT 8/9 and students in grades 6-9 to take the ACT and/or SAT. Student results are normed against other gifted students who have taken the test in the grade level across the country as well as compared to the typical age students taking the test.

The Center for Talent Development recently notified Shein and his family that he would be nationally recognized for his success as being one of the top scorers, or top 5 percent in the country, on the PSAT 8/9 in 2019-20. He was the only student in Ohio in his grade level to receive this recognition. Although due to COVID-19, they were unable to present him with his award in person at Northwestern University. Jack and his family were able to celebrate via a virtual recognition event with the other top performers across the United States.

“Chagrin Falls Schools are incredibly proud of Jack’s willingness to stretch himself by participating in NUMATS,” said Principal Curtis Howell. “He has truly worked to maximize his potential. We applaud his achievements.”

Gurney Recognized for Remote Learning

Gurney Elementary School has been named an “i-Ready Distinguished School for Remote Learning” based on its usage during March-May 2020.

As remote learning and at-home testing are new for everyone across the country, teachers and administrators have had to overcome a new set of challenges in providing the highest quality of personalized education possible. iReady provides actionable, intuitive data for students in math and reading. The data reveals where students are their strongest and where they need further assistance to grow in their knowledge. Teachers are then able to provide a more targeted instruction to students with both print and digital curriculum resources and lessons. iReady monitors students’ online usage and test passage rates on their digital lessons.

“This is no small feat, and we hope you are incredibly proud of the work you, your staff, your students, and your families accomplished last spring,” said Melissa Martinsen, of Curriculum Associates, which operates the iReady platform. “We’re honored to partner with you, and we look forward to continuing to learn from you in order to inspire other educators to replicate best practices.”

National Merit Recognition

Chagrin Falls High School students Emily Collins, Owen McClintock, Jackson Quinn, Ian Rodgers and Luke Volpe have been named National Merit semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. There are approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The academically-talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

“I am incredibly proud of each of our National Merit semifinalists,” said Principal Monica Asher. “They have worked diligently throughout their academic careers and this honor demonstrates that hard work and dedication to their studies.”