Chagrin Falls Students at Gurney Elementary Learning with Chromebooks
The first grade classes at Gurney Elementary are busy using Google Chromebooks to enhance student learning. Currently, students have been using the Chromebooks in reading and math. In reading, students are able to practice decoding strategies with practice sentences on Google Classroom. They are also practicing their snap words by typing them in Google Docs, which has allowed them to learn basic computer skills like changing font size and color. In math, students are able to practice their math facts and eventually they will be able to use the Chromebooks to further practice what they are learning in class.
“Chromebooks are very motivating and engaging for our students,” said first grade teacher Rena Polien. “It is really neat seeing our students helping each other when they get stuck with a problem, such as how to find a tab or a certain key. It helps foster peer relationships and allows students to take a leadership role.”
Pictured In Top Left Photo: First graders at Gurney Elementary use Google Chromebooks to enhance learning.
LaunchNET Kent State Encourages Entrepreneurship for Local Chagrin Falls High Schoolers
On October 21st, junior and seniors from Chagrin Falls High School visited the Kent State University campus and participated in an entrepreneurial workshop designed to increase the students’ awareness and knowledge of the venture formation process, hosted by LaunchNET Kent State.
Lynn Buchinsky, one of LaunchNET’s Venture Advisors, facilitated multiple hands-on activities for the students, igniting their innovative mindset with challenges, idea generation, brainstorming techniques, and opportunities to pitch their ideas. The students learned about entrepreneurship via a Jeopardy-style game, talked with a Kent State student entrepreneur, and worked with a number of idea-generation tools. Then, student teams collaborated to find solutions for a problem that “bugged” them in their schools, which they then presented for prizes. Finally, they had an educational tour of the Fashion School and College of Business Administration, led by student facilitators.
“It was so great to inspire the students and their teachers and give them an opportunity to explore innovative solutions to everyday problems,” according to Ms. Buchinsky.
Pictured In Top Right Photo: Chagrin Falls High School juniors and seniors visit Kent State University
Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Students Attend Cleveland Orchestra Concert
On November 4th, all of the students at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School attended a Cleveland Orchestra concert at Severance Hall. Students heard music of many different composers, including pieces by Beethoven, Dukas, Ravel, Berlioz and Strauss. Students learned about the four families of instruments as they watched the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra perform. Music Teacher Susan Smith coordinated the field trip. “It was especially exciting because several of the musicians were relatives and community members of the students.”
Pictured In Middle Row Center Photo: Nick Vinci and Luke Cornell, Intermediate School students
Pictured In Middle Row Right Photo: Tori Seitz, Shelby Brett, Julia Ashkettle, and Nicolina Reid, Intermediate School students
Pictured In Bottom Right Photo: Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall
Breakfast with Santa to be held on December 3… Benefits Chagrin Falls Baseball Team
The eighth annual Breakfast with Santa to support the Chagrin Falls Baseball team will be held on Saturday,December 3rd at the Chagrin Falls Middle School cafeteria from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 am. Enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes served by Chagrin’s own baseball elves, photos with Santa, delightful crafts, including magical reindeer food and an incredible silent auction and raffle. Tickets are $10.00/person (under age 3, free). Reservations are required or to simply make a donation go to: https://fundly.com/cfhsbaseballbreakfast.
Pictured In Bottom Left Photo: Breakfast with Santa 2015 Team Photo
Intermediate School Students Raise Funds for Families in Guatemala
By Evan Teicher, senior, Chagrin Falls High School
Mason Hart, a fourth grader at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School, was born in Guatemala. Recently, he and his mother gave a presentation in Señora Heidi Stapulionis’ Spanish class about how many people in his home country are not as fortunate to have the natural resources we have such as clean water, food, education, and sound homes.
In order to help the citizens of Guatemala, fourth, fifth and sixth grade students in Spanish class came together to collect spare change to help those in need. Donations were collected through the first trimester and 100% of those donations will go to H(e)arts For Guatemala, a non-profit foundation started by the Hart family. Through the donations collected by the students, a family in Guatemala will receive a “roof” over their heads in the near future. The organization also recently announced that through its fundraising efforts, a family who was living in an alley now has safe, clean running water, an indoor shower and flushing toilet. As a thank you gift, each child that donated was able to make his/her own “worry doll.”
