PRINCIPAL'S UPDATES
Dear CFMS Families,
Chagrin Falls Middle School will show what they know on state testing beginning this Wednesday, April 14th. Students will be most successful if they:
- Get a good night’s rest before each test.
- Eat a healthy breakfast.
- Have a charged chromebook.
- Get to school on time.
- Go to class prepared with a good attitude.
Students will be testing during the first block and the remaining blocks will be attended as usual. In order to make up for the missed or shortened classes, Fridays will be adjusted. The virtual classes will be periods 1, 2, 3, and 4. Also, during the Science test, blocks 1 and 2 will be flipped for all. The document is HERE for review.
Advisory teachers have spent the past few weeks with the students providing test prep and will review with them this week test details, the schedule, and tips. We will also provide some mints and brain breaks before the tests to get students ready!
Lastly, it will be greatly appreciated if you could reinforce the following reminder for students. Arrival: There are three entrances and using the entrances without a line (as the main entrance has currently had) will keep students from being marked tardy to school. Please look to use the cafeteria entrance as there are multiple doors and temporal scanners. There is also a makerspace entrance for car riders.
Thank you so much for your support and flexibility this school year!
Proud to be a Tiger,
Laila Discenza
Principal, Chagrin Falls Middle School
342 E. Washington Street
Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022
(440) 893-7695 x 4301
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Attention 8th Graders!
April 14th - Due date to order Class T-shirt/Graduation Ticket Combo!
Click HERE for the details!
**State testing dates are listed in red. On testing dates please avoid scheduling appointments for your child before the lunch break @ 10:50am
April 14: ELA testing grades 7 & 8
April 15: ELA testing grades 7 & 8
April 19: Science testing grade 8
April 20: Science testing grade 8
April 21: Math testing grades 7 & 8
April 22: Math testing grades 7 & 8
May 21: 8th graders application deadline for Ed Foundation Student Board
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If your child will miss school on any scheduled school calendar day please refer to the attendance procedures outlined in the attendance section of this newsletter or on the MS homepage. If you have questions please call the office 440/247-4746.
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Congratulations to our March Students Of The Month!
7th Graders: Savannah Brent and Eric Nemunaitis
8th Graders: Emma Thatcher and Tys Hilbers
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Our morning announcements are presented live each school day at 7:45am. Parents you are welcome to login and listen to them....hear about what's happening in school!
CLICK HERE or go to the MS Homepage and click on ANNOUNCEMENTS on the left side.
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- International Day Event seeing parent volunteers
Presentations will take place from 12:00-12:30 p.m. On Monday, May 3 & Wednesday, May 5
You can present 1 or both days. All presentations will be virtual (Zoom or Google Meet), as no guests are permitted in the building for health and safety reasons.
If you are willing to volunteer, please fill out this Form.
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Ms. Fenton's Art Class Weekly Challenge -3rd Grading Period:
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ATTENTION students who will be enrolled in AP World History at CFHS in 9th grade in the 2021-22 school year
Please visit HERE to see the NEW dates/time for the AP World History Boot Camp to be provided this summer (free of charge). Register via Google Form - https://tinyurl.com/APWorldBootCamp2021 - as soon as possible, to claim your spot. AP Boot Camps will best-prepare you for success in the 2021-22 school year!
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Grant A Guitar Scholarship Essay Contest
The Grant A Guitar Scholarship is awarded each year to students in order to foster music appreciation and fluency – and, ultimately, to amplify the power that music has to improve our daily lives.
Has music helped to keep you connected in this age of quarantines,
isolation, and shutdowns?
Tell us about it in an original essay and you may be eligible to win a guitar and lessons – even if you have never played a note or plucked a string!
The 2021 Grant A Guitar Scholarship is NOT a skills-based contest.
Submit an essay in the month of April on how music has helped keep you connected to the people and beliefs that you hold most dear and you may be this year’s recipient of a Grant A Guitar scholarship.
(At least) one high school student will receive a guitar and lessons worth $1,000, and
One middle school student will receive a guitar and lessons worth $500
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We are unable to accept online payments through Final Forms for the next few months. Parents will need to pay by cash or check. Final Forms is transitioning to a new payment processing system which limits our ability to accept payments. Payments may be submitted to the school office. |
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- HS Womens Soccer Information For 8th Grade Girls
Attention 8th grade girls. There will be a Lady Tigers 2021 Soccer Team meeting - Tuesday,April 6th from 10:50 - 11:15 in the high school gymnasium We will be discussing the summer training opportunities, tryouts & the fall season. If you are interested in attending please have your first block teacher email Mrs. Miralia in the MS office. 8th grade girls who are signed up will be permitted to go to the meeting on Tuesday during your recess time. If you are unable to attend, email Coach Malone. Pamela.Malone@chagrinschools.org
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- Summer Girls Volleyball Camp June 21-25
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- Power of the Pen Regional Tournament News
Congratulations to our CFMS Power of the Pen club on their participation in the Lake Erie regional tournament on March 13th! All of the seventh and eighth graders performed strongly, and went up against some tough competition. The students are tasked with writing a completely original piece based solely off a prompt they see for the first time - and only have 40 minutes to write it! That takes some skill! Hats off to all the participants!
A special shoutout goes to 7th grader Marie Cain - Marie received the "Director's Choice" award for her round 2 writing entitled "The GOAT". Way to go, Marie!
Also, be sure to congratulate 7th graders Marie Cain and Patrick Davidson, for qualifying for the state POP tournament! They will be competing against the best writers in the state on May 15th, in a tournament hosted by Otterbein University. Congratulations, and let's go Tigers!
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- Boosters Online Auction April 9-11
The Boosters Annual Auction will be Online this year and it is going to be a HOOT! Preview the Auction today at www.biddingowl.com/CFBoosters. Bidding begins Friday, April 9, @6PM and ends Sunday, April 11@6pm. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to bid on 4 tickets to a Browns Football game, a week of sports camp through CF Community Ed, Naming Rights for the HS/MS Street Signs, and so much more! The Boosters Organization continues to support the Chagrin Falls School District and our Student-Athletes. Thank you for your support.
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- Ed Foundation Student Board Application for Current 8th Graders
Application deadline is May 21st. Application and informational letter was emailed to 8th grade students and their families on March 31st and is also available on the 8th grade google classroom.
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- Community Education Spring/Summer Brochure
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ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL |
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Report absences: to the attendance line 440/247-4790 or the MS Office 440/247-4746.
You may email teachers or coaches additionally however for any absence to be excused the office needs to document communication with a parent/guardian.
Please remember that there needs to be an approved excuse for visiting virtually.
Submit doctor appointment verification slips to the school following any appointment absences.
Student logged on late to a virtual class: Teachers are in charge of their classroom attendance. If your student logged into class late and was marked absent have student communicate with teacher and request to have their attendance adjusted. Teacher will notify attendance office what time they reported to class to be marked tardy instead of absent. Attendance can not be adjusted with teacher verification.
Do you have absence paperwork to send to the school?
Email: CFMSattendance@chagrinschools.org
Fax: 440/247-4855
Mail: 342 E. Washington St. C.F., OH 44022
Have a question for our school nurse?
Call the school clinic 440/893-7695 ext 4304 or the District Nurse Cell: 330/998-3350
email: debra.elam@chagrinschools.org
Quick Reference for understanding absences as they appear in Infinite Campus
Medical= student is home ill or at a medical appointment. Student is not expected to attend class virtually but can absolutely choose to do so. Student will not be marked unexcused if they do not log in.
Visiting Virtual= Student is home but is not ill. This is a family choice. Parent is requesting that their student not attend class physically out of an abundance of caution. The student is not being told to stay home and quarantine. Student is expected to log on virtually. Student will be marked unexcused if they do not log in.
Quarantine= Student is home due to Covid related issues. Student is expected to log on to class virtually if not symptomatic and ill. Student will be marked unexcused if they do not log in.
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One day until spring break! Can you believe it is here already? In some ways, I feel we just celebrated the New Year and in others, I feel we have been through a long, well-fought war!
As you embark on your travels, near or far, I want to wish you a safe, healthy, fun and relaxing time. As your child(ren) prepares to return to school on the 29th, please consider the possibility of your child needing over-the-counter medication at school. Missing school for common complaints such as, headaches and menstrual discomfort, can be easily remedied with Tylenol, Advil or the like. Please refer to the Middle School Health Services Home Page for the link to the Medication Administration form that needs to be completed by the family physician and parent. Once complete, please place the form and the medication in a baggie with the child’s name and grade level. When arriving at school, your child(ren) can drop the baggie off at the Clinic.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. The Middle School Clinic phone is 440-893-7695, X4304.
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April is National Stress Awareness Month. You’re definitely not alone if you ever felt overwhelmed. Everyone feels stressed from time to time, especially as we get older and take on more responsibilities. It helps to find that healthy balance in our lives.
Here are some great ways to keep your mind clear and de-stress if you find yourself getting too overwhelmed.
- Exercise. It gets endorphins pumping through your brain, which triggers a happy feeling. Exercise lowers your body’s stress hormones like cortisol, and releases chemicals that make you feel more at peace.
- Use diffusers, dim the lights or listen to soothing music. Then take a deep breath and count the things that make you happy.
- Reduce caffeine, which can make you jittery, which can cause stress and anxiety.
- Spend time laughing with friends and family (even distanced or on Zoom). Let yourself have a good time!
Kyle Patterson
School Counselor
Chagrin Falls Middle School
440-247-5500 x4307
@PattersonCFMS
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Mental Wellness Highlight |
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Mental Wellness Corner - this month’s topic… Helping others, a follow up
I came across this article after I wrote last month’s contribution to the newsletter, and thought this may be helpful to some parents. Last month, I wrote about the mental health benefits of helping others, but that assumed your child WANTS to help others.
It begs the question, how do we help children develop the desire to help? While the article linked above is geared toward younger children, I think the practices described can be adapted to most ages. The article explores two basic concepts: Welcoming any help your child is willing to initiate, and asking your child to help in small ways (called “subtasks”) with chores you are doing.
When it comes to allowing your child to help, this may seem obvious, but I think we often decline the help when we know the task will not be done well or will mean additional work for us when they are finished. It is important to recognize that we are playing the “long game” when it comes to children initiating this type of help. While in the beginning it may mean more work for us, eventually they will hone that skill and we can take it off our plate completely!
Having children help with “sub tasks” can truly be any piece of a chore you are completing- getting the vacuum from the closet, emptying their own trash can, taking folded clothes upstairs, etc. By asking them to collaborate, we create a sense of team work that sends the message that we all pitch in together, rather than any one or two people being in charge of a bulk of the work.
Jennifer Bencko
Director of Pupil Services
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools
Jennifer.Bencko@chagrinschools.org
(440) 247-5500 ext. 4014 (office)
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342 E. Washington Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Main Number: (440) 893-7695
Administration: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4301
Adm. Asst.: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4302
Athletic Office: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4337
Attendance: (440) 247-4790
Clinic: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4304
Fax: (440) 247-4855
Guidance: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4307
Lobby: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4303
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CHAGRIN FALLS MIDDLE SCHOOL |
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