On Sept. 24, Chagrin Falls Intermediate School performing arts students were able to get up close and personal with Broadway performer Aaron de Jesus, who is currently in Cleveland starring as Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys” at Playhouse Square...
Students Meet Jersey Boys Star
On Sept. 24, Chagrin Falls Intermediate School performing arts students were able to get up close and personal with Broadway performer Aaron de Jesus, who is currently in Cleveland starring as Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys” at Playhouse Square.
This fall, choir and play director Pat Haynish and play director Robb Sapp are doing the Broadway version of “Peter Pan” with actors in fifth grade and older. As a part of the educational process, weekly workshops are held for all the student cast members with musical theatre professionals. De Jesus led the students in a vocal workshop at the intermediate school auditorium. He taught them some very important skills for how to be successful while singing and dancing on stage.
“This is such an amazing opportunity for our students,” said Haynish. “The students are not only learning, but they are getting inspired from meeting and hearing the stories of Broadway performers like Aaron.”
The Broadway version of “Peter Pan,” sponsored by Chagrin Falls Community Education and directed by Pat Haynish and Robb Sapp, will be performed in the Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Center (located on the 7-12 campus) on Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.
The cast is made up of students in grades 5-12 plus area college students and adults. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for senior citizens and students. Tickets may be obtained by contacting Chagrin Falls Community Education at 440-247-5375.
Perfect ACT Scores
Leah Gillespie, senior at Chagrin Falls High School, earned the highest possible ACT Composite score of 36. She joins Dan Berlin, senior, who also had a perfect score. Nationally, while the actual number of students earning the top score varies from year to year, on average, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn the top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2015, only 1,598 of more than 1.92 million students earned an ACT Composite score of 36.
The two students prepared for the ACT in different ways. While Berlin worked on numerous practice tests, Gillespie attended tutoring sessions in English and math.
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1–36, and a student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take the optional ACT writing test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.
In a letter from the ACT chief executive officer recognizing this exceptional achievement, the CEO stated, “Your achievement on the ACT is significant and rare. While test scores are just one of multiple criteria that most colleges consider when making admission decisions, your exceptional ACT Composite score should prove helpful as you pursue your education and career goals.”
ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges. Exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.
Although undecided, Berlin has his sights set on becoming a Blue Devil at Duke University. Gillespie is narrowing her college choices between Boston College, Georgetown University and the University of Chicago.
Scientists of the Week
In Stephanie Malley’s first-grade class at Gurney Elementary School, students are enjoying the opportunity to be a “Scientist of the Week.”
“The student takes home the folder with an ongoing record sheet for the class so the student is able to choose an experiment that hasn’t been done already,” said Malley. “We are using YouTube videos as a guide to find an experiment that interests the student. Each student completes a scientist of the day record sheet with hypothesis, materials, steps and results. I also find a video on YouTube showing the experiment and share it with my students in our Google classroom on the Chromebooks so they can see the experiment performed in a different way and we review our new science words learned like density and chemical reaction.”
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Daniel Berlin and Leah Gillespie are recognized at the September Board of Education meeting for achieving a perfect ACT score.
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Gurney first-grader Mackenzie Zdesar observes a chemical reaction as the “Scientist of the Day.”
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Brenna Sincaglia performs in front of Aaron de Jesus.
![Submitted Congratulations to the Chagrin Falls’ students who successfully completed the summer 2016 Math Bridging to move into advanced math coursework this school year. They are (l to r) seventh-graders Calvin Struk-Marn and William Gottschalk, sixth-graders Alyssa Zaffiro and Grace Svette and fifth-grader James Rose. [Not pictured: seventh-grader Alex Kacir, sixth-graders Caitlyn Young, Kenny Clark and Rory Brosnan and fifth-graders Colby Wells and Alexander Kroon.]](https://geaugamapleleaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Summer2016MathBridging.jpg)
Submitted
Congratulations to the Chagrin Falls’ students who successfully completed the summer 2016 Math Bridging to move into advanced math coursework this school year. They are (l to r) seventh-graders Calvin Struk-Marn and William Gottschalk, sixth-graders Alyssa Zaffiro and Grace Svette and fifth-grader James Rose. [Not pictured: seventh-grader Alex Kacir, sixth-graders Caitlyn Young, Kenny Clark and Rory Brosnan and fifth-graders Colby Wells and Alexander Kroon.]
