The Chardon Board of Education voted at its Feb. 22 regular meeting to affirm the current grade level configuration of the district’s schools...
February Board Meeting
The Chardon Board of Education voted at its Feb. 22 regular meeting to affirm the current grade level configuration of the district’s schools. In prior weeks there had been community discussion concerning the status of the district’s current building/grade level configuration.
Earlier on in the meeting, Hilltopper faculty — comprising 17 teachers and principals in all — presented a report on the positive impact of the current grade level structure, including countless academic, intervention, social-emotional, physical spacing and professional learning opportunities experienced across all grade levels as a result of the district’s reconfiguration model implemented in 2018.
Chardon High School eighth-grade student Aubrey Fetchik and juniors Julianne Sweet and Sidney Nagaj also took the podium that evening to share their own firsthand eighth-grade experiences of moving from Chardon Middle School to CHS.
In a follow-up communication to families on Feb. 25, Superintendent Michael Hanlon stated, “It is important to note that our district grade level configuration remains a work in progress, and we will continue to evaluate and make adjustments to maximize our district’s mission of high achievement for all students, where learning is our most important work.”
A video excerpt of all faculty and student presentations from the meeting, as well as a 35-page analysis report on cost-savings and enrollment in relation to the current configuration as presented at the Oct. 18 board meeting, are available in a district news article at https://bit.ly/CONFIGURATION.
Spring Musical Opens March 10
The Chardon High School Drama Club will take the stage for its spring musical production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” beginning on March 10. Both the cast and crew and adult coordinators have been working hard to create a spectacular show and hope the Hilltopper community will come out and support the upcoming performances.
Performances are March 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. and March 13 at 2 p.m. All four shows will be performed at Park Auditorium 111 Goodrich Court.
Student and senior tickets are $10 each, and adult tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased in-person at Park Auditorium March 10-12 from 5-7 p.m. and March 13 from 12:30-2 p.m. To purchase tickets online, visit the Tickets tab at www.chardonschools.org.
Middle School Visits Museum
Fourteen seventh-grade students from the school’s Arthur Holden Leadership Institute program embarked on a field trip to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History on Feb. 24. The school’s seventh-grade AHLI program, which is co-advised by CMS science teachers Melissa Efantis and Jackie Brown, is made possible by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation in cooperation with Lake County YMCA and additional community partners.
Mrs. Efantis said the students had a wonderful day at the museum learning about leadership, soil and careers in science through activities that included the hands-on exploration of an indoor soil dig exhibit and impromptu interviews of museum scientists to learn about their jobs, training required, their experiences and ways in which they demonstrate leadership skills through their work.
The AHLI program at CMS is designed to enrich student leadership and character development through an exploration of math and science literacy in a three-year experience that begins in the sixth grade.
CMS Hosts Math Contest
Chardon Middle School was pleased to be one of several area sites hosting the Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Mathematics-sponsored math contest, an annual event now in its 40th year. The middle school welcomed 70 CMS, Notre Dame Elementary and Madison Local School District fourth- and fifth-grade students excited about math on the morning of Feb. 26.
The contest is designed to cultivate enthusiasm in fourth- and fifth-grade students in mathematics; recognize students for their interest, perseverance and talents in mathematics and problem solving; challenge students in an energizing and competitive setting; and celebrate the young mathematicians’ achievements.
“Great morning for the 4th and 5th grade GCCTM math competition,” said CMS teacher Becky Mele. “Such awesome mathletes.”
