Meet The Candidates Forum
October 18, 2011
7:30 PM
Performing Arts Center

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 18 to meet the three candidates running for two seats on the Chagrin Falls Schools Board of Education. The meeting will be held in the Performing Arts Center located on the 7-12 campus from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Candidates Harry Cashy, Michael Hogan and Todd Lyle will discuss their qualifications, positions and vision for our school district as well as answer questions from the audience. Refreshments will be served in the lobby following the forum to provide an additional opportunity to speak with the candidates. You can submit questions by email now to Chagrin Falls PTO. Please attend!

Welcome!

The Chagrin Falls PTO is dedicated to promoting the education and welfare of the students of our school district. We look forward to a great year in 2011-2012 and invite your participation to help make that a success. Your support will help continue the tradition of excellence that characterizes the Chagrin Schools. To contact a PTO member, see the information under our “Contact” tab above.

Treasurer’s Report-Angie Debernardo

Update on the grants we approved at the last meeting.:

• At the High School, the 10 laptops requested for the Digital Art Studio have been received by the Art Department.
• The chemistry balance has been received by Mrs. Salyers.
• The printer for confidential records requested earlier in the year for the HS has been received.
• The Livescribe digital pens have been received by Sheri Halagan at Gurney.  The Math Clickers for Mrs. Cymanski and the Stair Risers for Mrs. Haynish  have been ordered .
• We are waiting on invoices for the three approved components of the kidsMoveSmart initiative.

Art Show ran slightly over budget  – only $65 – because the committee wisely decided to invest in reusable laminated signs for the sandwich boards instead of making new signs year after year.

We have received some of the checks from the Heinen’s Rewards program this year.  Here are the amounts:

• District      2214
• Gurney
• CFIS       1289
• CFMS
• CFHS
• We received the May Boxtops check for CFIS.  It was for $1459.

Final figure on the CFIS fundraiser profit this year:  $2692   GREAT JOB!!

Treasurer’s Report

May 18, 2011

Current Account Balances:

Money Market $ 19,802.00

Checking $ 93,729.00

Total:   $ 113,531.00

Accounts Payable: $ 4 5,132.00

TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDS $ 6 8,399.00

School Building Funds

Gurney $ 17,480.00

CFIS $ 6 ,385.00

CFMS $ 4 ,311.00

CFHS $ 2 ,017.00

Total Building Funds: $ 3 0,193.00

Other Fund Balances:

Class Fees $ 5 ,108.00

Student Enrichment $ 795.00

Professional Development $ 2 ,048.00

General Fund $ 17,848.00

Major Disbursements $ 5 ,261.00

Student Assistance $ 804.00

Special Programs $ 6 ,342.00

Other Funds Total: $ 3 8,206.00

TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDS: $ 6 8,399.00

First VP Report – Gigi Kuper-Lewis

• Membership Report: Final numbers for the year: 384 total members including 98 teachers/administrators

Second Vice President Report – Meg Nachtwey

Chagrin Falls Fine Arts Show, Grades 7 – 12

• Had a great group of volunteers, a good number so that the set-up and take down were not exhausting for anyone. The focus of volunteer efforts was for the event set-up and take down. Poster-hanging and things of that nature were minimized.
• A slide show during the awards program showing the student’s winning pieces, a mentor program with 6th graders, and some innovative art display equipment were added this year and will be considered again for next year.

• There is some concern from the chairs that the judging is a little rushed and that students are potentially being overlooked for recognition. The teachers should have a list of students, especially graduating seniors, who are serious about their work and make sure they are appropriately recognized. This has been noted for next year.
• $1000.00 budget was exceeded by about $70.00, but award stickers and ribbons had to be purchased this year, which last for 2-3 more years.

Financial Vice President’s Report – Laurie McCormack

School Supplies –

• MS, IS and Gurney have final supply lists, which will be posted on individual school web sites for those not purchasing Innisbrook boxes

• On-line sale runs May 20-June 30. Prices have been finalized and approved.

• Innisbrook order form flyer sent to Barb Wilson for approval (still waiting)

• Each school will include Innisbrook order form flyer in their May newsletter and in separate e-mail blasts

• Innisbrook flyer will be posted on the district web site.

• Innisbrook posters in MS, IS and Gurney.

Shopping –

• We received the TV for Mrs Riley.  We were able to buy it with our Giant Eagle points.
• We have received checks from Heinens totaling $7234.

Financial Planning and Research –

• Vote on recommended Challenge Day request for $2800 – passed

Board of Education Report – Mary Kay O’Toole

• Thanks to Mr. Edmund Leopold a few staff members- Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hunt, Dr. Jones, Ms. Desantis, Mrs. Malone and Mrs.Dennison attended the annual President’s Council on Sports and Nutrition in Washington DC last Tuesday. This gave them the opportunity to review best practices in these areas and make valuable connections. There will be a presentation on this trip at the upcoming Board meeting on Monday, May 23^rd @ 7pm
• Currently there are a number of interviews being conductive for new hires in the district such as Director of Curriculum, High School Assistant Principal, Chinese teacher (7-12^th), and Music teacher. It is hard to believe we are wrapping up this school year and preparing for next year!
• The Board will have the honor of presenting Board Recognition Awards at Monday’s Board Meeting at 7 pm. A pre-congratulations to our hard working, amazing students! Please join us!
• Chinese Students Exchange- On May 4^th the Chinese students arrived to open arms and warm hearts of our host families, district staff, students, and community. It started with a welcome ceremony in the PAC. There were many activities planned for them with our students, including a trip to DC. Our host families became attached quickly to their visiting student but with heavy hearts returned them back to China on Saturday! If you have an opportunity to speak to a host student/family please ask about their experience. Our district is very fortunate to be able to provide a positive, life changing experience for so many! A big thank you to Brenda Thompson for her hard work in organizing this exchange. Of course, this exchange developed from Mr. Thompson creation of the ‘Bridge to World’ Program – Thank You Mr. Thompson!

Administration’s Report – Dr. Rachel Jones

• President’s Panel on Physical Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition: I was fortunate to have been invited to attend a meeting of the President’s Panel on Physical Fitness, Sport and Nutrition last week in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Edmund Leopold took me, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Hunt, Mrs. DeSantis, Mrs. Dennison, and Mrs. Malone to this event.  We heard informative reports given to the panel, descriptions of the work panel members are doing across the country to promote fitness, presentations from model schools/districts across the country, and more.  We were able to make connections with representatives from some of the model schools, with representatives from various businesses related to fitness, and with panel members who are so informative and rich in research in this area.  In the end, my head has been swimming with the benefits of bringing more kinesthetic movement into our classrooms each day and ideas for connecting fitness to all core academics.  The Brain Breaks and the new GeoMotion Math equipment are a great start!
• Facilities:  Mr. Gabram has much going on related to our facilities for the summer.  You will be seeing work on our roofs, our vents will be upgraded, Gurney classrooms will be getting their projectors mounted, and more!  It’s been tricky scheduling these activities around all of the summer activities on each campus but we’ll get it all in!
• Delayed Starts:  Just a reminder that we will be having delayed starts next year instead of early releases.  We will have only 6 next year and they are noted on the district calendar.  The delay is 90 minutes for all four buildings.

High School

Administrative-Bill Koons

• Teacher Appreciation Luncheon thank you.
• Drug Dogs
• Youth Risk Survey
• Grading Issues/Chagrin Valley Summit
• Your Life, Your Choice- being discontinued
• National Merit Commended students
• CVC Sportsmanship
• Art Show
• Band Concert
• Choir Concert
• Students viewed video on texting and driving.
• OGT test results in

PTO-Colleen Mahoney

• Donna Ludwig coordinated the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon which took place in the Sands Community Room on May 6^th.  Thanks to all the volunteers who donated food to make it a special event for our teachers.
• On behalf of Dr. Koons and all the teachers at the high school, the section reps would like to thank the PTO Financial Planning and Research Committee for its generous disbursement to the high school.  Thanks to the hard work of many, the high school art, math and chemistry classrooms are receiving new equipment for student use this fall.
• From the high school counseling department, Karen Lewis will attend a workshop this summer to learn more about the Naviance Family Connection software currently available to CFHS students.  This online program helps students and parents access college and career information. The counseling department’s continuing exposure to the Naviance Family Connection program will benefit parents and students as they move through the college application process.
• In addition to using the Naviance system, the section reps thought it might be helpful for a group of senior parents to work with the counseling department and form a “parent’s advisory committee.”  This committee would pass along current information and advice to junior parents.
• Next year’s high school head section rep will be Mary Donley.  She will be joined by Yvonne King, Laurie McCormack, Cindi  Munday, and Mary Jo Weber.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Administration Report- Jen Remaley

• The middle school will be welcoming Anny Gua, 7-12 Chinese teacher and John Scott, 7-12 Social Studies teacher to the middle school next year.

• The middle school has adjusted our supplies list for next year. We will be color coding content areas and reducing the amount of supplies for next year.

• The middle school will host an Orientation/Open House for all parents on the evening of August 22. Details to follow.

• Our 8th grade Bridge to the World Project was a huge success. The Chinese students participated in a variety of activities including trips to North Chagrin Reservation, the Great Lakes Science Center, a Lake County Captains Game, and Kalahari Water Park. They ended their trip by traveling to Washington, D.C. with the 8th graders.

• The eighth graders traveled to Washington, D. C. last Wednesday. We had great weather and the kids had a great time.

• We held our Literacy Day on May 10. Our students made children’s books for our Gurney book buddies. Our students also participated in poetry slams and story telling n the afternoon.

• We are looking forward to our 8th grade end of the year celebration on June 6. Parents have been working hard to organize a great day for the students.

• Thank you for Teacher Appreciation and assistance during testing week.  We could not do what we do without the parents. Our partnership is invaluable.

• Kindness month: May. Kindness wall started where kids and teachers can write kind messages

PTO:  Julie Andrews

• PTO- Chagrin Falls Middle School recently hosted the annual CVC Art Forum for the second year in a row. The CVC art forum is open to all Middle Schools in the Chagrin Valley Conference. In addition to students from Chagrin Falls Middle School, 9 districts were represented and there were 12 workshops available.

• Chagrin Falls Middle School had the privilege of hosting Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger, two accomplished poets for the day on April 18. They taught our students the art of writing and performing poetry.
• The first week in May was packed with Ohio Achievement Assessments celebrated with a Roller skating party on the final day.

• Bridge to the World hosted  a weeklong visit from 13 Chinese students from Linhai, China packed with activities and cross cultural friendship building.

• Lori Guerrini directed a fabulous literacy day on May 10th and Gurney buddies joined us for this special event which included reading books that were written for them by our students.

• The eight graders (exchange students included) had a fabulous time in Washington DC touring memorials and museums, visiting with Congressman LaTourrette, seeing Gettysburg and visiting the Flight 93 Memorial.

• May is Kindness Month at the Middle School and some students presented at a very moving assembly which stressed the importance of recognizing that everyone has a deeper story.

• In May, Middle School students performed at an exceptional Spring Choral Concert and displayed many talented pieces in the Art Show.
• June 6th is Celebration Day for the class of 2015 with awards ceremonies, a cook-out at the Rec Center and the ever popular 8th grade dance.
• June 7th is the long awaited trip to Cedar Point.