Veterans Week
This November, Munson Elementary’s Veterans Day committee hosted yet another highly successful week full of interactive experiences designed to help students and families learn more about veterans and also honor them.
Activities included third-grade students taking turns on the A.M. announcements to share facts about veterans and Veterans Day, while teachers provided a variety of veteran-themed classroom experiences for students in class and a take-home Bingo game for families to enjoy together.
Adorning the school’s hallways were bulletin board displays, including one that featured photos and short essays students submitted of their special veteran family members and why this veteran is important to them. Another bulletin board depicted the different branches of the military and the tools and equipment soldiers use in carrying out their jobs.
Munson Elementary students, parents, and staff also gave of their time and resources to fill over 100 stockings for veterans. This annual initiative is spearheaded by DeJohn Funeral Homes as a community participation event. Munson Elementary has contributed to this project for several years.
Meanwhile, the school’s annual Penny Wars drive had record-breaking success, made possible by the kind generosity of the school’s parents and students, raising $2,691.55 for veterans charities.
The culminating event was the highly anticipated, annual school-wide assembly on Veterans Day. The school was pleased to host eight local veterans, including Doug Davidson, Mike Gonzales, Camden McGee, William (Chris) O’Dell, Joel Ovanic, Marcus Schott, Steve Szeredy and Ryan Tasler. Chris Gaspar also attended as a guest with Doug Davidson.
The school is grateful to the veterans who not only volunteered their time to share their inspirational military stories with the student body but also provided space for a question and answer session with students. In addition, the veterans brought in memorabilia for students to study.
Munson Elementary’s Veterans Day Committee is led by child-specific educational assistant Rose Romans and includes school principal Mat Prezioso; third-grade teachers Michelle Burress and Asha Dinko; intervention specialists Amy Cohn and Brenda Soulsby; second-grade teachers Jen Turk and Melanie Elliott; Title tutor Rachel Diehl; child-specific educational assistant Rose Romans; and Chardon Middle School custodian Molly Thomas.
Mrs. Romans stated: “While the committee provides the framework, the success of our Veterans Week is truly due to the participation of the students and parents/guardians as well as the support from the Munson PTO and all Munson staff members. Thanks to all for making it a successful and informative week of learning about and honoring those heroes who have given so much for our country.”
Psychology Museum Visit
Over 40 Chardon High school students in Mr. Leikala’s Advanced Placement Psychology classes took a field trip on Nov. 10 to the University of Akron’s Drs. Nicholas and Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology. Special thanks to Chardon Transportation bus driver Mr. Piunno who provided bussing to and from the event.
The high school’s AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. The museum field trip allowed students to explore a historical record of psychology and related sciences via exhibits of artifacts, documents, films and photographs.
Rare and Vanishing Species Program
Hawk Creek Wildlife curator and education director Tanya Lowe visited Chardon Middle School fifth-grade classes on Oct. 20 to share an interactive presentation on the importance of protecting endangered species. Ms. Lowe is also a Chardon High School alumnus and sister to fifth-grade teacher Shalyn Swick.
The Hawk Creek’s Rare and Vanishing Species Program aligns with CMS’ life science-ecosystem standards and ties in with its social studies topic of human impacts on the environment.
As part of the presentation, Hilltopper students got an up-close view of a Saker Falcon, Trumpeter Hornbill, African Spotted Eagle Owl, and an Egyptian Vulture while learning about adaptations for survival, human impact on species, and preservation efforts for the species. They also heard about many various career choices that involve working with or for animals.
“N” is for Noodle
