Chagrin Falls Schools

March 28, 2013 by Staff Report

Middle School Family Groups

For the first time ever, Chagrin Falls Middle School students have been divided up by mixed grade and gender into family groups that meet on Tuesdays for 25 minutes. The purpose of these non-graded groups is to build relationships and promote a climate of tolerance and acceptance within the middle school.

Recently, Mrs. Carole Dennison and Ms. Christine Neimeier’s middle school family groups got together with Mrs. Ellen Jones’ second-grade class to complete a mini-service project. Mrs. Jones’ students traveled to Sands Community Room where they met up with their middle school counterparts.

After a brief explanation of the purpose of the day’s activity, students got into pre-arranged small groups of both older and younger students and created springtime cards for the children in St. Jude’s Hospital. More than 80 original, creative cards were created by this artistic group in just under an hour. It was nice to see how well the younger and older kids interacted for a common good.

CFIS General Music Concert

The Chagrin Falls Intermediate School recently held its fifth and sixth-grade general music concert under the direction of music teacher, Mrs. Susan Smith. Mrs. Julie Hoffman served as the accompanist. Students performed traditional folk songs and original compositions.

Each piece performed had a creative element determined by the students. The elements included form, rhythm, melody, movement and acting.

One of the most well received drum ensembles was titled “Ice Cream.” The audience was treated with the melody of the ice cream truck while sixth-grade students ran down the aisles to purchase their “ice cream.” Students began the ensemble with rhythms, which they created and played using ice cream sprinkle containers. The ensemble then transitioned into traditional world drumming instruments.

The most beautiful piece of the evening was a Native American piece titled, “Sioux Lullaby.” Emmie Ferguson began the piece by singing the lullaby while rocking a Native American baby doll. The piece included recorders, metallophone, wind chimes, finger cymbals and shakers. The students did a wonderful job making this a stunningly beautiful piece.

The final piece was a composition with original melodies written by Ally Ducas, Clay Luce, Julia Crandall and Rachel Rowell. Sixth-graders learned to play the melodies written by their classmates on xylophones and recorders.

Mrs. Smith wrote the accompaniment that was played on glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones, wind chimes and the gong. The students did a beautiful job putting the piece together and performing the composition for the audience.

Arabic Calligraphy Workshop

The Chagrin Falls High School Arabic classes recently hosted a workshop in Arabic calligraphy by Dr. Nihad Dukhan. Dr. Dukhan was born in central Gaza, Palestine, but moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1983. He received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo in 1996. He has worked in Chicago at the University of Puerto Rico and is currently an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Mich.

Professor Dukhan is active in promoting Arabic calligraphy and increasing people’s awareness of its cultural significance through exhibits, lectures and workshops. His intent is not only to attract the Arabic speaking audience, but to also penetrate barriers and touch other languages and cultures.

Dr. Dukhan’s modern designs do not conform to the strict rules of classical Arabic calligraphy. They are highly stylized, but remain legible with tremendous simplicity.

He started pursuing and refining his personal modern form around 1989. His work has been exhibited in major U.S. cities and sold in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Japan. His commissioned designs include company logos, book covers, CD jackets, wedding invitations and others.

Professor Dukhan’s visit was financed as part of a Qatar Foundation Grant awarded to Chagrin Falls High School Arabic teacher Fadia Hamid.

Book Discussion Set

Please join parents in Chagrin Falls and the Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) parent committee in reading “Teach Your Children Well Parenting for Authentic Success” by Madeline Levine, Ph.D., on April 5 at 9:30 a.m. in the Sands Community Room.

Facilitators will include Chagrin parent Mary Jo Weber and SAY committeeperson Julie Beckerman.

For more information, contact Nancy Schaumburg, SAY coalition coordinator at 216-320-8469 or visit the Chagrin Falls School District’s main webpage.