Chagrin Falls PTO

Click to download the September 24th CFIS Building Newsletter.

The Intermediate School staff report was presented by Katie Gill.

• Safety Assemblies -The IS enjoyed two assemblies this year.  On opening day, Mr. Murphy spoke to the students about expectations and tips for success.  Officer Libbons also came to speak to the students about stranger danger and safe walking to and from school.  A couple of weeks ago, someone from the bicycle shop downtown came to speak to students on bicycle safety and to kick off a class being offered on the next two early release days.  Accent on Youth, made up of high school students and director Julia Kolibab also did a skit on bullying while walking to and from school.    They all did an outstanding job.
• Aims Web – Three times a year we give all of our students a short reading assessment that has students read three different passages aloud and we track the number of words read correctly in one minute.  This gives us benchmarks for each grade level and we re-administer these probes to students who are at-risk. We also give a short comprehension test and a math test for the same purpose.  We just finished the fall administration of these tests and will use this data to inform our instruction and help place students in certain intervention classes for RTI.  Intermediate School has had 2 good years of value added and working hard to maintain this record.
• Intervention Classes - Our students have intervention classes every other day.  At least one day a week our at-risk students will receive intervention in a small group setting as part of RTI and will use a specific program to help get them to grade level in reading and math.  One day a week all other students will be working with teachers to help stretch them academically.
• Netbooks – Nancy Kevern and Cory McNamara are piloting Netbooks in their classrooms for the district.  All students in sixth grade will use the Netbooks in science class and they are working with Abby Thacker from Smart Solutions on ways to use the Netbooks to support curriculum and instruction.  There is nothing more awesome than to walk in to a classroom and see every student on a Netbook.
• One Book/One School – National Program called One Book/One School  (check it out here ) where at some point during the year everyone in the school will be reading the same book and doing activities together at home and at school.  This program is designed to get students and parents reading and talking together about literature. Stay tuned for more information.
• Professional Development Days – We will be working on data analysis and training on the new language arts program.  We will be focusing on our Intervention Program and Short Cycle Assessments for the remainder of the year.
• Compass Learning – Teachers will be getting trained in Compass Learning which is a computer program that our students will be using primarily in reading and math in place of Study Island from last year. 

The Intermediate School PTO report was presented by Cindy Ellis.

1.     Teacher Luncheon – Thank you to Sandi Ferguson

2.     New Parent Tea – Thank you to Laura Fricke

3.     New Fundraiser for CFIS – on select early release days, grades will be bused to Chagrin Cinemas for a movie and snack. Proposed $20 per child. More information to come.

More art from the Spring Art Show. Hope you didn't miss it!

The Intermediate School report was presented by Amy Acton.

• Thank-you to the PTO for the teacher appreciation lunches and for the financial grants to help the school.

• Sarah Reed has been nominated for Rotary Teacher of the Year.  Good luck!

• It is our hope that all parents will use Progress Book as an aid in communication about assignments, homework and student grades.  Please take the time to look at Progress Book on a regular basis.  If you have any questions, please contact your teacher or Mr. Murphy.

• Concert Season/Art Show:   Our staff and students did an outstanding job with this year’s spring concerts and art show.  Ms. Riley with the help of many volunteers, thank you, had a beautiful art show for everyone to enjoy.  Our fifth and sixth grade band, orchestra and select choir sounded great under the direction of Pay Haynish, Kathy Shoenfelt and David Clare.  (Editor’s note:  See an excerpt from a concert in the short video above.  They sounded great!)

• Candy Grams :  PAWS (People Always Willing to Serve) which is our student service learning group just finished a project called Candygrams.  The Candygram sale raised $392.75 for Autism Speaks.  PAWS also sold tie dye shirts during the art show. This sale raised $680, which will be donated to the Red Cross for Haiti relief.

• Science Days
  • Barb Currey sponsored and organized a 4th and 5^th Grade Science Day on two different days.  Thank you to all the parent volunteers for coming in and helping.  It was amazing!  Students did a variety of activities and experiments to investigate sound, electricity, pressure, motion, and physical and chemical changes.  The children learned a lot and it was a ton of fun!

• End of Year Activities :  Thank you for all your help with the following end of year activities:   Talent Show, Cook out,  Field Day,  Awards Assembly,  Clap-out,  Slide Show
• Assembly:  Thank you for the whole school assembly on May 11 in the morning with the dance company from New York.  It was a very entertaining and motivating for our students.  It was important for them to see the tie between the arts and academics.
• Student Council:  Student council is organizing a blood drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross.  We had our kick-off assembly on April 30 and the drive is May 21, 2010.

• The City Project:  The Acton/McHugh annual City project for their 4^th grade classes in well underway. You can check it out at our city project online.

• Upcoming Dates
  • May 20: Grades 5-12 Strings
  • Festival in PAC
  • • May 26: 6th Grade Visits Middle
  • School in AM, Career Day in PM
  • • May 28: NO SCHOOL for K-6
  • ONLY
  • • May 31: Memorial Day
  • NO SCHOOL
  • June 3: Third Graders visit CFIS
  • • June 4: Fifth Grade goes bowling
  • 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
  • Sixth Grade Dance
  • 7:00-9:30 PM
  • • June 7: Field Day & Slide Show
  • • June 8: Last Day of School
  • 1:15 Dismissal
  • Awards Assembly/Talent
  • Show/Cookout

CFIS PTO Report

The Intermediate School report was presented by Jen Bencko.

• We will be distributing the spirit wear orders on Wed. May 26^th from 6-8 at the REC center.  This is a change in date due to the delay in the delivery of a couple of items.  All that ordered were notified via email and phone calls of the change.  We had an additional 30 orders this sale.  Some items are still available to purchase-contact Debbie Weber with questions
• Field day and the end-of-the-year cookout are right around the corner.  We’re looking for tricycles- contact Lorna Nafzinger if you have one to donate/ let us borrow.
• On May 11^th the IS students were treated to performance by the Jim Linehan Dance Group.  The performance was very well received by the kids.  Would definitely consider this group again and recommend it to others. (You can see video of this group in last month’s CFIS PTO report.)
• The IS celebrated teacher appreciation day on May 5^th.  Jill Andrews pulled together yet another wonderful luncheon.  Thank you Jill.
• Volunteer forms for beginning of the year help (CFIS) (104) and committee chairs for 2010-2011 (CFIS) (181) were sent in the most recent newsletter and hard copies followed the following week.  Responses are very slow in coming back.  We will resend the electronic copy in this month’s newsletter.   Download and send them in to school OR by email if you can scan and attach.   (Editor’s Note:   If you are computer savvy, you can help us test our new online form system at the Acrobat.com site by downloading and filling out our Beginning of the Year Help At CFIS form.  Once you have downloaded the form to your computer, you can fill it out and submit your responses to our PTO account electronically.   All you need is any version of an acrobat reader on your computer.  Give it a try.  If this works, it could help us limit paper forms. )

Spring arrives in Chagrin! CFIS trees are blooming with jackets. Let's hope the nice weather sticks around.

The Intermediate School report was presented by Lisa Blackwell.

• Pi Day The Intermediate School is celebrating Pi day! This is one of the many fun traditions at our school.  As many of you may remember, pi day is March 14, and it starts at 1:59 (3.14 159). On March 15, all the students in the school will write the most digits that they can remember. The student from each grade that memorizes the most digits of pi will get a pie of their choice. The homeroom that has the highest average will get Eskimo Pies. The school records are: Sixth Grade: Emily Hellwig 404 digits (2005), Fifth Grade: Ricky Kochert 303 digits (2005), and Fourth Grade: Dale Klose 215 (2005). Can any of these records fall? Students can access the first thousand or so digits of pi on Mr. Dole’s website!

• Progress Book It is our hope that all parents will use Progress Book as an aid in communication about assignments, homework and student grades.  Please take the time to look at Progress Book on a regular basis.  If you have any questions, please contact your teacher or Mr. Murphy.

• Family Movie Night Friday, March 5, was Family Movie night at the Intermediate School Auditorium.  Students came to see Back to the Future and student council sold snacks.  It was a fun night and a big success.

• Thank You Spring conferences were held February 22 and 24.  We moved them up this year so that students would have more time to use the information from conferences to make improvements in the year.  Thank you so much for the delicious dinners.  Mrs. Andrews did a fantastic job as usual.

• Book Fair Book Fair was held from March 1-8.  Thank you to all the parents who volunteered their time to help out that week.  It was a big success.

• Destination Imagination On Saturday the following students competed in the Destination Imagination Competition at Beachwood High School. Sara Currier,  Malcolm Dempsey, Catie McLennan, Jacob Moore, Reed Sampsel, Alex Amata, Garrett Curtis, Johnnie Wilson, Bennet Eagle, Jennie Stemler, Caroline Digel, Kyra Jeckering, David McCuaig, Rem Weber, Erica Smith, Patrick Emery.    The Snack Lovers team won the DaVinci Award and took First place in their competition.  The Snack Lovers will be going to the State competition on April 17th.    The Flying Monkey’s took second place in their competition.   A great big congratulation goes out to all the teams for a fantastic day!!

• Concert Season ‘Tis the season for concerts at the Intermediate School.  We recently had the fourth grade strings/recorder concert.  Those students did an outstanding job as this is the only concert for them this year.  We have fifth and sixth grade general music concert on March 25 at 7:00 pm in our auditorium.  This is the first year that these students will be performing at night.  Then on May 4 we will have the band concert and on May 6 we will have the orchestra and select choir concert.  From May 4-May 6 we will also be having our art show.  This is an exciting time of year for our students to showcase their talents.

• Ohio Achievement Tests Our students will be taking the Ohio Acheivement Assessment (new name) the week of April 19.

• General Info The student council helped raise $1,000 for Team Lindsay with a dance.

CFIS PTO Report

The Intermediate School was presented by Amy O’Neil.

• The IS will start round two of our spirit wear sale on April 4^th.   You can download the form here. (104) .  The sale will run through April 22^nd.  Flyers will go home in all school newsletters next week.  We will be setting up tables during lunch at the IS to market the items to the students.  Information will also be available on the district website.

• An enrichment day is being planned for IS students sometime during the month of May.  We are looking into a dance troupe to perform and are currently in contact with them to determine possible performance dates.

• Teachers were treated to conference dinners courtesy of the hospitality committee, chaired by Jill Andrews.  Thank you to Jill for all her hard work each time conferences take place.

• The IS Book Fair was held the first week of March.  Sandi Ferguson organized volunteers and operations went smoothly.  Thank you Sandi.

• Movie night was a big hit, as usual.

• The 6^th grade Talent Show planning is underway.

Although there was no report from the Intermediate School this month, Chuck Murphy supplied this information:

• IS Night at the Basketball Game-Friday, February 5, was Intermediate School night at the boys basketball game. Student council helped to promote the event.  Ms. Shoenfelt led a group of fifth and sixth grade band students in playing the National Anthem.  Students and teachers played “knockout” during halftime. 
• Progress Book- It is our hope that all parents will use Progress Book as an aid in communication about assignments, homework and student grades.  Please take the time to look at Progress Book on a regular basis.  If you have any questions, please contact your teacher or Mr. Murphy.
• Family Movie Night-Friday, March 5, will be the Family Movie night at the Intermediate School Auditorium.  This is a change from went originally home with students on the first day of school.  Student council will be picking the movie and organizing the event.  It is a lot of fun and we hope to see you there. 
• Conferences-Spring conferences will be in February 22 and 24.  We moved them up this year so that students would have more time to use the information from conferences to make improvements in the year.  It is up to the teachers and parents if a spring conference is needed.
• Book Fair-Book Fair will be from March 1-8.  Barb Graham will be running the book fair through the library and a schedule will follow.  Thank you in advance for any parents willing to help.
• Thank You-Thank you to the PTO for all your help and support.  It is a pleasure to work with you.

The IS PTO Report was read by Gwenn Klose.

• The Intermediate School will hold a second spirit wear sale in March/April.  We will be advertising in the school newsletters and at lunch periods.  Check out the Fall Order Form (91) to see what will be offered.
• The committee for the 6^th grade talent show is currently being formed.  There will be an informational/organizational meeting on Feb. 26^th at Amy O’Neil’s home.  If anyone is interested in helping with this event, contact Amy through our PTO email .
• Mr. Murphy expressed his gratitude for the cleaning service that has been provided courtesy of the Murphy Fund.  Per discussions with Mr. Murphy, this service will continue throughout the next year and will again draw from the Murphy Fund.
• A grant was approved for the 4^th grade.  The grant request was for materials that would be used to design a science day in which all 4^th graders would participate, completing several different science experiments throughout the day.

Intermediate School –Mike Wujnovich

• IS Night at the Basketball Game

Friday, February 5, will be Intermediate School night at the boys basketball game. Student council will be helping to promote the event.  Ms. Shoenfelt will have a group of fifth and sixth grade band students to play the National Anthem.  There will half time activities for students as well.

• Early Release Day

This month we studied Understanding by Design.  This is something we work on every other month and now have finished going though the main points in the book.  Teachers had time to work on a unit using the UbD design template.

• Progress Book

It is our hope that all parents will use Progress Book as an aid in communication about assignments, homework and student grades.  Please take the time to look at Progress Book on a regular basis.  If you have any questions, please contact your teacher or Mr. Murphy.

• Family Movie Night

Friday, March 5, will be the Family Movie night at the Intermediate School Auditorium.  This is a change from went originally home with students on the first day of school.  Student council will be picking the movie and organizing the event.  It is a lot of fun and we hope to see you there.

• Fox 8 “Cool School”

Thank you to all the parents who helped us win the Fox 8 “Cool School” Award.  It was a lot of fun spending a couple of days voting and having Fox 8 come to visit our school.  If you have not seen the broadcast, you can view it on the Fox 8 web page (or see it above!)

• Conferences

Spring conferences will be in February 22 and 24.  Read More…

Upcoming Dates

October 29, Sixth Grade Retreat Parent Meeting, 7:00, auditorium

October 30, Halloween Parties

November 6, Blue Ribbon School Award Assembly
November 10, Early Release Day
November 10 and 12, Conferences

School News

The school report was presented by Katie Brent.

•    Red Ribbon Week
Chagrin Falls Intermediate School will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week the week of October 26.  Mr. Bondy has organized many activities including teaching lessons on drug and alcohol in grade four.  We will also have an assembly where a speaker will talk about their career and relate that topic to the ways that drug and alcohol misuse would affect that career.  We will also have daily quiz questions on the PA each day with prizes for students with the correct answers.  Finally, we will have theme days for students to help celebrate the week.
•    Early Release Day
At the last early release day, the staff continued their work of studying Achievement Test Data.  This data helps to inform instruction for our regular classes and the Intervention classes.  We also had a yoga instructor come in to help us learn stress reducing techniques for both the staff and students.  She provided several ideas that can be used with students in the classroom.
•    Progress Book
It is our hope that all parents will use Progress Book as an aid in communication about assignments, homework and student grades.  Please take the time to look at Progress Book on a regular basis.  If you have any questions, please contact your teacher or Mr. Murphy.
•    Sixth Grade Camp
We are once again looking for parent volunteers to chaperone our sixth grade retreat.  This is an awesome event that creates memories that will last a lifetime.  We will be going on retreat for three days during the week of January 4th.  There will be a parent meeting on October 29 at 7:00 in the IS auditorium.  Please contact Nancy Kevern or Cory McNamara if you are interested in being a chaperone.
•   Washington DC Trip
Ms. Gill and Mr. Murphy will be heading to Washington DC on November 2 and 3 to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award.  We are planning a short assembly for the school which is tentatively set for November 6.
•    COSI Assembly
We are once again looking for parent volunteers for the annual COSI Assembly.  The theme will be Investigating Energy.  The assembly is will be December 11.  Thank you to the PTO for funding this event.  Our staff and students look forward to it every year.
•    Conferences
The IS will be having student-led conferences on November 10 and 12.  If you haven’t signed up for a conference please contact the office or your child’s teacher. If you would like a parent only conference, please let your child’s teacher know.
•    Upcoming Dates
October 29, Sixth Grade Retreat Parent Meeting, 7:00, auditorium
October 30, Halloween Parties
November 10, Early Release Day
November 10, Conferences
November 12, Conferences

PTO NEWS

The Intermediate School PTO Report was presented by Lynn Hardacre.

•    The Intermediate School has been named a “Blue Ribbon School” by the Department of Education.  There will be an assembly in early November where the award will be presented to the school and the PTO will organize and sponsor a celebration in the classrooms following the ceremony with “blue ribbon cupcakes” for the students.   Mr. Murphy feels it is important for the students to feel a part of this accomplishment.

•    The Intermediate School fundraiser is going to be a “Spirit Wear Sale” this year.  T-shirts, shorts and visors are being made for the girls, under armour type shirts and baseball hats for the boys.  These will be available in kid and adult sizes and we plan to have samples ready for Gurney and Intermediate School Conferences. Lenny May allowed us to use the licensed “Chagrin Tiger” on these items.   We are optimistic this will be a successful fundraiser and can continue for years to come, with changes in color or items from year to year.

•    Finally, The Intermediate School has approved one grant.  Cory McNamara requested a new digital camera.  The amount approved was $400.00.