Chagrin Falls PTO

Intermediate School: Cory McNamara
Halloween at CFIS:
Our Specials Teachers did an outstanding teaching job integrating the theme of Halloween around some large group student experiences. The students rotated through the art room, music room, and the gym as our specials teachers had some fun learning activities for the students. The teachers worked as a team with a good deal of planning and the event was outstanding. Photos are on our website and I’m working on an article with Mrs. Smith that we will submit to the newspaper. The fifth and sixth grade students had some excellent learning experiences around our Halloween theme in science and social studies. The fourth grade did the annual parade downtown. All in all it was a rather idyllic day.

Delayed Start at CFIS:
We had a very successful Delayed Start day with our staff on November 8th. The teachers worked through a chapter of the book, Focus by Mike Schmoker. We reviewed tried and true instructional strategies.

Veteran’s Day at CFIS:
In honor of Veteran’s Day, the Intermediate School’s Educational Aide, Melinda Redding shared family memorabilia of her father, a WWII veteran who served in the Marine Corps in China and became a POW at the hands of the Japanese. Her historic artifacts included personal letters, Western Union telegrams, newspaper articles, photos and more. Melinda’s father was a very brave man and his story is amazing. Our students to made cards for the Veterans and Mr. Kinney from our local V.F.W. will deliver them to the VA hospital.

Also for Veteran’s Day, Mr. Dole and Mr. Woofter took a group of students to the Triangle for the November 11, Veteran’s Day downtown commemorative service at 11:00 AM.

Conference Nights:
Student Led Conferences went very well. We had outstanding support from parents.

Report Cards:
Report Cards went out to families. One area of growth for our staff was to write meaningful and clear comments on the report cards. Mr. Woofter signed each report card and reviewed Fourth Grade reports in great detail.

Birds of Prey:
Our fifth grade students experienced an educational presentation from the Cleveland Natural History Museum on the topic of “Birds of Prey”. The presenter brought out some live birds including: a screech owl, a great horned owl, a red tailed hawk, and a turkey vulture. This event coincided with them dissecting owl pellets the previous week and learning about animal adaptations.

10 Munchkins:
Our students performed three weeks ago at the Playhouse Square Theater under the direction of Pat Haynish. As most of you know, Playhouse Square asked Pat to play “casting director” to ten “Munchkins” for the National Tour of “The Wizard of Oz”. All the students involved had been under Pat’s direction at some point in the Gurney Holiday Show, CFIS Select Choir, CF Summer Theatre Camp, MS/IS Drama Club, or the CFHS Musical. These students also appeared on the WKYC Show, “Good Company.” They represented our district with talent, class, and an outstanding level of professionalism.

IS PTO Rep: Gigi Kuper-Lewis,

• Conference dinners went well and were appreciated
• Is there a way parents can meet with more than the homeroom teacher for conferences (esp. for 5th and 6th graders who have several teachers throughout the day)? Mr. Woofter said he’d speak to grade level chairs and Ms. Holthaus to see how it works at the MS
• Halloween – next year all grades do the same?
• Goals – teachers and students discussed goals they have set for academic/social success at conferences and will be revisited throughout the quarter/semester/school year
• IS movie fundraiser dates are set : 1/27 4th grade, 2/24 5th grade and 3/16 6th grade
• Fundraiser over and top sellers and raffle winners will be announced this week
• Mr. Woofter encouraged staff to write meaningful comments on report cards, not just used the “canned” remarks – they were well-received
• Vote for IS as the FOX 8 COOL SCHOOL
• Ms. Kerlek and Mrs. Koval have started a “word of the day” over announcements
• This month’s delayed start time will be used by Mr. Woofter teaching a lesson to staff that Mr. Murphy constructed. It is based on lessons learned in the book FOCUS that gets to the core of what types of instruction are “tried and true” and should be the focus of classroom instruction
• Mr. Woofter mentioned that Mrs. Marlo will be contacting me about PTO helping fund books for this year’s ONE BOOK / ONE SCHOOL program
• Mrs. McHugh will be needing some volunteers to help clean out the book room

Middle School: Courtney Polcar

• On October 20, the principal took 18 eighth graders to WVIZ’s Town Hall Meeting on bullying. This event was sponsored by the Ohio Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. The meeting was televised and viewed by hundreds of schools in the nation.

• The MS staff is beginning to have discussions regarding next year to include having school pictures taken before school starts, dividing Open House so that 7th grade parents and 8th grade parents are in at different times, and adding another night of conference to accommodate more parents.

• We had to postpone our visit from Sue Blaney. We are still waiting for superintendent approval of the PTO grant we wrote to pay for her parent workshop. We hope to have her here in January and begin our parent book study soon after that.

• Challenge Day was a wonderful, but exhausting experience for the staff and students. The students have completed a follow-up questionnaire which we will use to develop programming for the remainder of the year. We have a committee of teachers and students working on our kindness committee. Thank you to PTO, Boosters Club, Dad’s Club and the Kids Move Smart initiative for their support of Challenge Day.

• The eighth graders left for Washington, D.C. on November 9. Although the trip was exhausting, the students were well behaved and had a great time.

• Kathleen Aranavage took a team of seventh grade student leaders to the Project Love “Kickoff to Kindness” on November 10. Karen Kreinberg also accompanied our middle schoolers with a group at high school students.

• We awarded our first Paw Pack winners of the month on October 21. Congratulations to Isabella Joseph, Robert Symkowciz, Emily Muckle and Reed Flynt. Their names posted on the front sign board for all to see. Thank you to Cheryl Clegg and Jesse Weinberger for their organization and the special treat they provided for our winners!

MS PTO Rep: Meg Nachtwey
• The Middle School Book Fair will run from Monday, December 5 – Friday December 9. We are looking for volunteers so please sign up! The link to sign up: http://www.wejoinin.com/chagrinfallsmiddleschoolbookfai
• The Middle School Staff was pleased with Challenge Day! The PTO reps have put together a list of questions for the administration about the activity. We will keep you posted… The Middle School staff is in the process of pulling together a report on the event.
• The Language Arts teachers have ordered this quarter’s required reading books through the MS PTO. We now have an arrangement with Fireside Book Store (similar to the High School) that allows us to receive a 20% credit to the MS PTO if we sell these books to the students at school, instead of them coming to purchase them directly at Fireside Book Store. This is a wonderful opportunity for the MS and PTO to earn some additional money to provide further programming for our students. The students pay retail price for the books (same as if they walked into the store), and we receive 20% of that cost.
• Another successful trip to Washington DC! Teachers will provide the details!
• Rebecca and Paula Suzelis are meeting with Stephanie Silverman of Your Teen magazine this Friday to brainstorm about hosting speakers (possibly Sue Blaney in January) with the magazine’s assistance w/securing funding and advertising.
• The date for Stop the Rollercoaster speaker Sue Blaney has been moved to January 26. Details will be coming!

The Middle School Administrative report for the month of February was submitted to the PTO by Rebecca Holthaus.

• We are holding bi-weekly resource periods. During these periods students receive intervention in math and language arts. We also have groups of students working on test taking skills and organizational strategies.

• All the host families have been established for our visit from our Chinese students. Students will be arriving on May 4 and leaving on May 14.

• We held Diversity Day on February 16. Students discussed bullying and effective strategies that we can use to create a safer middle school environment. This day kicked off our reading of The Fat Boy Chronicles. Thank you to the PTO for your financial support of this invaluable event. Your continued support of our student development programs is very much appreciated.

• We are hosting a parent book study on The Fat Boy Chronicles every Wednesday evening until March 9.

• The authors of The Fat Boy Chronicles will visit on March 14. The students will view the movie and participate in writing mini-lessons.

• Three smoothie machines are being donated to the middle school. We will kick off our smoothie sales on March 4. All students will be able to sample the product.

The Middle School PTO report was submitted by Julie Andrews.

• The Middle School is an exciting place to be!  The all school lock-in was a fabulous success, raising nearly $2000. There were 184 students in attendance and a DJ that was very well received. Two weeks later the students are still talking in the hallways about the fun they had.  Thank you to the parents who generously gave of their time to make this event fantastic.
• In the works, we have:
• The upcoming kick-off for the building wide reading of The Fat Boy Chronicles with Diversity Day on Wednesday 2/15.
• Celebration Day Committee is working hard to plan for the eighth grade student’s last day of school.
• The March Madness Dance will be held by Student Council.
• We are Skyping with the 13 Chinese students who will be hosted in our community and participating in the eighth grade Washington trip in May.

The High School Administration report for the month of February was submitted to the PTO by Bill Koons.

• We recognize the winter sports seniors with brief ceremonies before one of their final competitions.
• We denied a parental petition to allow sophomores to drive to school instead of waiting until after spring break.  The parking lots are shrinking due to the snow and sophomores would just add to the congestion.
• We are using the results of the eighth grade Explore tests and the 10^th grade PLAN tests to assist with scheduling.  We have 136/147 eighth graders in honors or gifted English.  Normally we have about ½ the class in honors courses.
• Interested sophomores traveled to Mayfield High School to view Opportunity Day, the day where the EXCEL TECC courses present their programs to prospective students.
• We gave free ice cream to students who wore red for American Heart Association day.
• The spring break trip to Egypt was cancelled due to the civil unrest in the country.
• We will attend a presentation at Kenston High School featuring Johanna Orozco, a young west side girl shot in the face by her boyfriend.  Her presentation deals with abuse, bullying, etc.
• Our state football team runner up banner will be unveiled on Tuesday, February 22 during halftime of the Trinity basketball game.
• Bloodmobile on Thursday, February 24.
• Tuesday, March 8 the faculty will discuss possible grading procedure changes for the class of 2016.
• Cum Laude Society induction on Wednesday, March 16 will feature guest speaker Mark Shapiro of the Cleveland Indians.  Mr. Shapiro will be introduced by Bob Lonchar, longtime employee of the Cleveland Indians.

The High School PTO report was submitted by Colleen Mahoney.

• Bingo: A great night of family fun!  Lots of Bingo and Raffle winners.
• Thanks to Chairperson Kelley Clegg;  Concession committee, Susan Schmiedicker, Mary Kay O’Toole,  Laura Fricke, Mary Rensel, Karen Eagle; PR, Jeanne Turk; Clean Up, Christine Shinkawa;  Raffle,  Franny Ross, Gwen McCuaig, Donna Ludwig, Kathryn Williams, Colleen Mahoney;  Child Care, Carolyn Petite and KeyClub Members.  Thanks to Dr. Koons who did a great job as a caller and stuck around to help clean up.  Thanks to all our bakers.
• This year’s fundraiser should clear about $2,000.  We had 250 people pay to play bingo, down a little bit from past years (350 players in the past).  Concession and raffle sales were consistent with last year.  The people that attended spent money.  The goal for next year should be getting more people in the door, through promotions at Gurney and the Intermediate school. Not being able to send flyers home, of course, impacts this event. New promotion ideas  include having volunteers in the lunch room with some sort of raffle /giveaway to raise awareness, putting stickers on kids’ shirts similar to “picture reminder day” stickers, sending out the reminder call from the school a day before the event.  All of the traditional promotional tools were used..website, newsletters, sandwich boards, Chagrin Valley Times, large posters with flyers attached.
• Conference dinner:  Section Reps are considering serving lighter fare on conference night.  Investigating options on healthy snacks to be brown bagged that teachers can take back to their rooms.  Our idea is to provide a snack on conference night and a sit down lunch for the holiday gathering and teacher appreciation.
• Welcoming committee: Section Reps are making calls to new families to see how they’re doing.
• Grant Requests:  High School requests should have come in from yearbook, school newspaper, debate, and literary magazine, Prism, and the Art teachers.
• Grading Scale Changes: Dr. Koons, the counseling Dept. and the faculty are reviewing proposed changes to our grading scale.
• College 101:  Rather than run the half day program that was offered last year to seniors, Dr. Koons will have a senior assembly featuring a University of Akron Police Officer who will discuss campus safety.  (This speaker seemed to get the most positive feedback from last year’s senior surveys.)  A Berkshire High School student involved in a bad car accident will also speak at this assembly.

In attendance:  Board – Julie Andrews, Katherine Collins, Angie DeBernardo, Lisa Fredrickson, Beth Judge, Gwenn Klose, Gigi Kuper-Lewis, Maggie Kwasny, Laurie McCormack, Meg Nachtwey, Liz O’Neil, Franny Ross, Alissa Stinson   Guests – Rick Bondy, Cindy Dean, Rachel Gebler, Bill Koons, Steve Thompson, Bill Koons

The meeting was called to order at 7:35pm by Gwenn Klose.

Secretary’s Report-Beth Judge

• Shared thank you notes.
• Thanks for prompt reports from presenters before meeting.

Treasurer’s Report – Katherine Collins

• Monthly financial report (click to download)

First Vice President’s Report – Gigi Kuper-Lewis

Membership:

Total membership : 350

Total gold membership : 59

Total $ deposited : $7364

Total staff/teachers : 83

Calendars :

Fireside – 229

Heinens – 80

Walk thrus – 108

Meet the teams – 7

Open Houses – 49

Soccer – 2

HS Bookstore – 17

Pupil Services – 5

MS – 2

New Parent Tea – 2

Bus Garage (1/2 price ) – 28

Total sold – 529

*Started with 1008 calendars, were charged for 1000 (7 were defects)

*sold 501 at full price

* 28 at ½ price

* gave away 240 comps

* 237 are left

*** total should be approx. $5150

Second Vice President’s Report -  Meg Nachtwey

Financial Vice President’s Report – Laurie McCormack

• School Supplies – We received rebate check for $2,253.
  • Shopping Credit Programs –

o   We have 323 families registered for GE (291 registered last year)

o   Heinen’s will not release 1st round of numbers until November.

o   Announcement is approved and submitted to district and all schools for web pages and newsletters.

o   Boosters and after prom committee sent out eblasts to their members.

o   Will send out eblast to PTO membership.

• Fundraising –

o   Gross receipts for fundraiser are $39,345 plus online Cherrydale orders to date of $1,219 totaling $40,564.

o   Cherrydale online ordering goes through December.  This will be advertised in each Newsletter and on the website.

o   Pick up is November 10^th from 2-8 in the Rec.

o   We will be getting $800 check from our Otis rep to cover the prizes that we bought.

• Grants – We received 7 requests this month.  1 HS and 6 Gurney.

Comments and Discussion

• Grants

o   PTO policy: no funding of field trip grant requests.  However, Gwenn noted funding exists for a student(s) in need if requested.

o   Gwenn noted submitted grants should be considered as a whole, before approving individual less than $500.  This is particularly important for repeat requests, which, perhaps, should be considered as school budget line item, such as field trips.

• PTO website

o   Contain only PTO related items, but the school calendar is included.

o   Angie noted PTO email membership list is a great tool for PTO marketing purposes.

o   Procedures and guidelines for utilizing the PTO email membership list are being developed.

• The efficacy of PTO General Meetings, due to repeat low attendance of the membership, was discussed. Options are being investigated so as to match the annual trend of low attendance and realities of the digital age, which makes physical presence significantly less important.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15pm.

Minutes approved via email by Gwenn Klose and Maggie Kwasny.

Download the [download id="53"] and the [download id="54"] .  (Conferences are November 16th.)

The High School Report was presented by Principal Bill Koons.

• Graduation Seating – We will probably keep the stadium closed until 10:00 a.m. on graduation Sunday to reduce people being shut out of seating due to blankets being placed earlier in the week.
• Cheering Section at Kenston football game
• Leadership Selection-

o   Sophomore Lauren Lang was selected to be the Hugh O’Brian Award outstanding sophomore leader.  Previous recipients were Ted Cogan, Jimmy Boldt and Ms. Anderson.  Lauren will spend a weekend at the University of Mount Union with other Hugh O’Brian leaders from Ohio.

o   Selected for Look Up to Cleveland was junior Olivia Kuenzi.  Olivia will now compete to be one of the fifty-five students from Cuyahoga County for this leadership program for juniors.  Previous recipients were Kathryn Mahoney and Matt Owen.

o   Selected for Leadership Geauga were juniors Katy Klespies and Emily von Wagoner.  Katy and Emily will meet monthly with students from the other schools in Geauga County.  Previous recipients were Brooke Kratche and Dan Driscoll, Bobby Winkelman, Kaitlin Wolfe and Mr. Brownlow’s son.

o   Selected to compete for the Chagrin Valley Chamber of Commerce scholarship were Brooke Kratche, Greg Singer and Sam Hollyer.  These three will compete against other high school students from the Chagrin Valley for a $1,000 prize based on their entrepreneurial and business skills.

• AP Scholars-We recognized our sixteen senior Advanced Placement Scholars with Distinction.  Chagrin Falls High School had 9 national AP scholars, 52 AP Scholars with Distinction, 17 Scholars with Honors and twenty-eight AP Scholars.  The entire list is posted on the guidance office window and outside Mrs. Ennemoser’s desk.
• Suicide Prevention-We are soliciting the freshman class to get their feedback about last week’s Suicide Prevention workshop.
• Tiger Rewards-To celebrate the good start of the school year, a great homecoming parade and bonfire, and winning 150 computers, we will begin a program called Tiger Rewards.  This is to recognize people who go out of their way to do good deeds.  For example Cam Rose and Katy Klespies promoted the suicide prevention walk.  Sarah Glass and Amy Trosin promoted the walk for diabetes.  Abby Dunegan is collecting plastic caps for a free chemotherapy treatment.  Mrs. Warren went digging through the recycling containers to collect plastic caps.  This program begins Monday in the cafeteria.  A handout will explain the program.  At the bottom of the handout will be a ticket for a free ice cream from the cafeteria.  Read the handout and use the ticket to get a free ice cream on Monday ONLY.
• Fall Play and Spring Musical-Casting has begun for Father Knows Best, the fall play.  Beauty and the Beast will be the spring musical.  Both productions will be high school students only and we will not double cast the musical.
• National Merit Semi-finalists-Thomas Donley, Sarah Greenlaw and Alec Kreger were designated as National Merit Semi-finalists based on their PSAT score above 212/240.  Seven students were Commended students based on their score of 201-211/240.
• Student Council Overnight-Held at Punderson each year for student council members and the administration to get to know one another and plan the upcoming school year.
• Pray Around The Pole -About twenty kids came to pray around the flag pole on Wednesday, September 22.
• Student Pictures-Occurred September 23.  Club pictures were October 12, staff development day. Information available through Ripcho Studios.
• Homecoming-Hall of Fame, Bonfire, parade, game, dance all went well.  The next election might be through Naviance.
• Marijuana incidents involving high school students were discussed.
• PSAT-Wednesday, October 13 for sophomores and juniors.  Freshmen had the annual Expect Respect assembly.  Seniors will sleep in and then took their script “11” picture.

The High School PTO report was presented by Franny Ross.

• Thirty high school parents signed up to be PTO volunteers.  They will assist with a variety of duties including, hospitality, fundraising, welcoming, special projects, office and clinic help.  These volunteers will be providing food for the November parent-teacher conferences and we thank them!
• PTO volunteers on the welcome committee greeted 14 new high school families with phone calls earlier this month.  The PTO welcome mentors will follow up with the new families throughout the year to see how they and their children are adjusting and to answer any questions.
• The PTO presented three new high school teachers with a “new teacher stipend” of $50 to assist them in setting up their classrooms.  The three new teachers are Jody Guerini, Jeffrey Womack, and David Arundel.
• This year’s high school fundraiser is the annual Bingo Night scheduled for Friday, January 21 from 6-9 pm in the middle school gym.  Kelley Clegg is the chairperson and her committee will meet soon to begin planning the event.  All the money raised at Bingo Night goes directly to the” high school building fund” to be used for PTO-approved grant requests.  The money finds its way back into the classroom in the form of equipment, supplies and materials to improve student learning.