Kindness Week Feb. 20-23 offered prekindergarten through seventh-grade students a four-day schedule filled with spirit days, kindness challenges and fundraising for a local non-profit organization...
Kindness Week Raises $5.4K
Kindness Week Feb. 20-23 offered prekindergarten through seventh-grade students a four-day schedule filled with spirit days, kindness challenges and fundraising for a local non-profit organization. Elementary school counselor Erika Barnett was the key organizer of Kindness Week 2024.
Spirit days saw students at Chardon Early Learning Center, Chardon Middle School, Munson Elementary and Park Elementary arriving to school in costumes aligned with the day’s theme, including dress as your dream job day, favorite book day, dream vacation day and slumber party day. Each day was also tied to a meaningful, kindness challenge such as practicing good manners, reading a book to a sibling, helping a friend with homework, assisting with a household chore after school and more.
As a capstone project, students engaged in fierce but friendly fundraising competitions in their classrooms all week, collecting funds for the Lake/Geauga chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. in Chardon. SHP is a nonprofit that builds beds for children in need.
By week’s end, preK-7 students and their families surpassed pre-set goals, collectively raising a whopping total of $5,400.
Of that total, Park Elementary, with a school goal of $1,000, had ultimately doubled its anticipated generosity, amassing $2,264 for SHP. Top fundraisers earned a “Pie the Principal” opportunity for a school assembly. Principal Jill Makee made good on the pie promise, hosting a school-wide assembly on Feb. 26 wherein the 23 top fundraisers gently tossed pies at her face to the excited roar of students and staff in the audience.
Following the rousing event and with her face all covered in whipped cream, Mrs. Makee told students that while it was a sticky situation, it was worth it as “nothing can compare to being without a bed or basic needs met.”
Mrs. Makee added, “Your compassionate contributions during Kindness Week truly embody the spirit of community and kindness that we strive to instill in our students at Park. Thank you for helping us make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Student Orator Achieves Rare Back-to-Back OSDA State Championship
Chardon State Championship history has been achieved once again by Chardon High School senior Charlotte Jons — this time on March 2 after she clinched her second consecutive state championship in Program Oral Interpretation after seven rounds over the course of two days of competition at the Ohio Speech and Debate Association State Tournament held at Wooster High School in Wooster.
For the 2023-24 season, Charlotte curated a POI piece on the purpose and complexities of womanhood.
Over 1,000 students from more than 100 Ohio high schools competed at the state level on Saturday, with Charlotte, among 66 vying for the top seat in POI.
Charlotte is a four-time OSDA state qualifier and the first in Chardon to ever qualify in speech and debate at the state level, earning her first state championship in 2023. She is also a National Speech and Debate Association national tournament qualifier set to compete in Iowa June 16-21, representing the second consecutive year Charlotte will take the national stage.
CHS OSDA Coach Amy Roediger stated, “To be the OSDA state champion once is a huge accomplishment. To repeat that feat is a very rare occurrence.”
The Chardon Board of Education has invited Charlotte, Coach Roediger and family to the March 18 regular board meeting where board President Karen Blankenship will present a resolution in honor of Charlotte’s exceptional OSDA state championship achievements and NSDA national championship qualifications.
Spring Musical Invitation
The Chardon High School Drama Department invites the community to come sit back and enjoy as its spring musical production of “Into the Woods” takes the stage March 14-17 at Park Auditorium 111 Goodrich Court.
Written by James Lapine, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, “Into the Woods” is presented by CHS Drama through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
“Into the Woods” delves into the world of the Brothers Grimms’ fairy tales, but with a twist. In two acts, the story follows many familiar fairy tale characters as their wishes are granted and the consequences that ensue. The characters must come together to survive, but whether they will live happily ever after remains to be seen.
Showtimes for the March 14-16 performances are 7 p.m., and the March 17 matinee begins at 2 p.m. Doors will open 30 minutes before each show for ticket sales and reserved seating.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens and are available for advanced purchase online at chardonschools.org until 2 p.m. on March 17. In-person presales are at Park Auditorium March 7, 11, 12 and 13 from 4:30-6 p.m.
Dress rehearsal on March 13 at 7 p.m. is a free-of-charge performance offered exclusively for community senior citizens and Chardon Schools staff. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Questions can be directed to Heather Patterson at heather.patterson@chardonschools.org or by calling 440-285-4052.
