Chardon Middle School’s Science and Fine Arts Fair held on the evening of Jan. 25 was well attended by families and community members...
Science & Fine Arts Fair Success
Chardon Middle School’s Science and Fine Arts Fair held on the evening of Jan. 25 was well attended by families and community members. The annual event, now in its second year, showcases the work of the school’s young scientists and artists in grade levels four through seven.
Student-created experiments, research projects, and investigations were on display throughout the second-floor hallways as part of the judged science fair, while the school cafeteria was host to over 20 student musicians and singers performing live against backdrop gallery of seventh-grade visual artwork.
Special thank you to G-TV for recording multiple highlights and conducting spot interviews at the fair. The replay can be accessed on the G-TV on-demand video page at geaugatv.org.
Reaching All Students Grant-Funded Analysis
A team of teachers and administrators from Chardon Middle School met with representatives from across the state on Feb. 23 in Columbus to analyze student achievement data and align practices for systemic improvement. The meeting was hosted by the Ohio Department of Education and facilitated by researchers from the American Research Institute and Boston University.
Chardon Schools participants included Chardon Middle School Principal Adam Tomco; CMS English language arts teachers Shalyn Swick, Rita Richardson and Cher Culliton; CMS intervention specialist Amanda Weaver; assistant Superintendent Ed Klein; and curriculum coordinator Kelly Moran.
The team conducted a root-cause analysis, examining barriers to academic growth for identified students specifically with literacy development and then reviewed research on multi-tiered systems of support.
The work is being funded for Chardon Schools through the $200,000 Ohio Department of Education’s Reaching All Students grant awarded to the District in October. The Reaching All Students initiative to support Ohio’s students is a key part of Future Forward Ohio.
The grant, which includes funding for such expenses as stipends, travel and substitute teachers, is for a two-year term, and the CMS team is spending the first year identifying systematic barriers to literacy development; with the goal of implementation, study and refinement in year two.
Dr. Klein stated, “We’ve been looking, for several years, at our gap-closing efforts, and the teachers gathered here have really isolated not just areas to address, but comprehensive strategies to support all students.”
Mr. Tomco added that the middle school is fortunate to have so many great teachers — “their professional knowledge of the Science of Reading and brain-based instructional strategies is powerful.”
Older Brother Mentors as Guest Reader
Chardon Middle School seventh-grade student Cooper LaMar was an excellent student mentor on Feb. 15, visiting with his first-grade brother Evan LaMar and Evan’s peers in Miss Green’s class at Munson Elementary School. Cooper served as the class’ guest reader that day, reading aloud “Pete the Cat Goes Camping” by James Dean.
This literary visit had a bonus of reunion for Cooper and Miss Green who was Cooper’s second-grade student teacher at Hambden Elementary five years ago.
Kindergarten Parent Meeting
Chardon Early Learning Center is hosting a kindergarten informational meeting on March 7 at 6 p.m. for parents and guardians of students entering kindergarten in the fall. The meeting will be held at the school, formerly known as Maple Elementary School, 308 Maple Ave.
Children must be 5 years old or older on or before Aug. 1 to attend kindergarten in the 2023-24 school year.
Registration is currently underway at www.chardonschools.org.
Enrollment questions may be directed to board secretary Christine Creviston at 440-286-0402, while March 7 parent meeting inquiries can be directed to the Chardon Early Learning Center at 440-285-4066.
