Principal: Christina Sherwood EMAIL

Asst. Principal: Anthony Forfia EMAIL

Secretary: Diana Norris EMAIL

Nurse: Jen Trittschuh, RN EMAIL

MAIN OFFICE/ATTENDANCE: 440-285-4062

Website: www.chardonschools.org

Address: 424 North St.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Hilltopper Families:

Fall is officially here, and that means fluctuating daytime temperatures. Please make sure your student's name is on their belongings (hats, coats, hoodies, etc.) as this helps us identify who to return it to should it become separated from your child.

We had another very successful 7th grade baseball day, and we are so grateful to the PTO and parent volunteers who help make this day possible. It's so great to see the kids play with the "big kids" from the high school; it's hard to believe they were once the 7th graders playing with other high school students.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Mrs. Sherwood & Mr. Forfia

IMPORTANT DATES!

Please note the following important dates:

September 28th: 6th/7th grade robotics/2:45-3:40 PM/Room 222

September 30th: 5th grade beginner arcade makecode/2:40-4:00 PM/Room 200

October 5th: 4th grade robotics makecode/2:45-4:00 PM/Room 200

6th/7th grade robotics/2:45-3:40 PM/Room 222

October 6-8th: Book Fair (Media Center)

October 7th: PTO Meeting/ 4:30-5:30/LGIR

Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:00 PM

Kind Kids Meeting/2:45-3:40 PM/ Media Center

5th grade beginner arcade makecode/2:40-4:00 PM/Room 200

October 9th: NEOEA Day/No School

October 12th: 4th grade robotics makecode/2:45-4:00 PM/Room 200

October 14th: Chess Club/2:45-3:45 PM/Room 108

5th grade beginner arcade makecode/2:40-4:00 PM/Room 200

7th grade AHLI meeting/2:45-4:15 PM

October 15th: 6th grade AHLI meeting/2:45-4:15 PM

Student Council meeting/2:45-3:45 PM/LGIR

Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:30-7:30 PM

October 21st: School picture retake day (ALL SCHOOL)

Chess Club/2:45-3:45/Room 108

ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

HB 96 requires that we track student attendance, regardless of absence reason, and once a student reaches the 5% thresh hold, the school must begin interventions.

Picture retake day for the whole school is Wednesday, October 21st!

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE SIGN UP

Please use the link to sign up for parent teacher conferences October 7th, October 15th, or November 5th.

Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

CHESS CLUB IS BACK!!

Hey 5th, 6th, and 7th graders! Do you want to learn how to play chess? Already know how and want to challenge your friends? Or maybe you just want to have fun and meet new people? Then Chess Club is the place for you!

📅

WHEN?

Oct 14 & Oct 21

(Wednesdays)

🕝

TIME?

2:45 – 3:45 PM

(Prompt pickup)

📍

WHERE?

Room 108

How to Join

You don’t need to be a chess expert—everyone is welcome, and we’ll help each other learn and improve! Spots are limited to 20 students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Have your grown-up fill out the Google Form in the September 25 Parent Update to sign up.

Additional Details

Chess Club will consist of two meetings per month until winter break. Please plan for a prompt pick-up at 3:45 PM directly following each meeting.

👉 Click Here to Fill Out the Google Form

We can’t wait to see you there and get our game on! 🧠♟️

TOPPER CASH SCANDAL!

As you may know, we have converted to paper Topper Cash as part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. Students use this Topper Cash to "purchase" rewards from classroom teachers and end of the month reward opportunities during their lunch period. It seems a few students are making photo copies of their Topper Cash and a few others are selling items for Topper Cash. Please understand that neither of these behaviors align with the intent of the reward, nor do they comply with student expectations. If any teacher finds students engaging in either behavior, they will forfeit the Topper Cash they have accumulated thus far. We appreciate your support and understanding.

THOMAS EDISON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEM EDUCATION

Please see letter from The Ohio Academy of Science

Dear Ms Sherwood:

CONGRATULATIONS! I am pleased to announce that your school, Chardon MS, along

with your nominated teacher(s), will receive the Governor's Thomas Edison Award for

Excellence in STEM Education and Student Research for the 2025-2026 school year. A copy

of the Press Release will be emailed to you...

Please contact us at any time if you have questions regarding student-originated,

inquiry-based science education or other youth science opportunities for your school

and community.

Congratulations on receipt of this award, and best wishes for a successful school year.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Woytek

Executive Director

The Ohio Academy of Science

KINDNESS CLUB RETURNS!

Kindness Club

Advisors: Caitlyn Kozelj and Carly Snow

Contact: Caitlyn.Kozelj@chardonschools.org, carly.snow@chardonschools.org

Grade Level: 4-7

Fee: None

Kindness club is open to all grade levels. We will meet once a month on Wednesdays after school in the CMS media center from 2:45-3:40pm

Kindness club is a student-led initiative to spread positivity throughout the school. We will be participating in group kindness activities along with planning and implementing special projects throughout the school year to promote kindness among students and staff, as well as possible community kindness projects.

There will be two groups this year, each with a maximum of 14 students, each group will meet one Wednesday per month. Members will need to select one group to register to be part of. See registration links below.

Please fill out the following information to register by Friday October 2, 2026.

The first meeting for group 1, Kind Kids: will be on Wednesday- October 7th.

The first meeting for group 2, Care Crew: will be on Wednesday- October 21st.

The Kindness Club will meet on the following dates:

Group 1: Kind Kids Registration link: click here for the google form

October 7, 2026

November 4, 2026

December 9, 2026

January 6, 2027

February 3, 2027

March 3, 2027

Final meeting:

April 7, 2027

Group 2: Care Crew Registration link: click here for the google form

October 21, 2026

November 11, 2026

December 16, 2026

January 20, 2027

February 17, 2027

March 17, 2027

Final meeting:

April 28, 2027

FROM THE COUNSELORS

4TH & 5TH GRADE MOVIE NIGHT HOSTED BY STUDENT COUNCIL

FROM THE PTO

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook! CMS Hilltoppers PTO

Book fair volunteers needed! The fall book fair is scheduled for October 6th, 7th (parent teacher conferences), and 8th. Anyone interested in volunteering for this should contact Amanda Moore at 440-321-5692. (Text preferred)

Parent Teacher Conference Meals Sign Up

Please consider signing up to help with parent-teacher conference meals.

Parent teacher conference meals

Conference Meal Monetary Donation

Mums Pick Up Information

Pick up your mums on Saturday, September 26th from 8-11AM in the CHS Student Lot.

Sign Up to HELP with the Book Fair!

Use the following link to help with this year's book fair October 6-8th. PTO is also looking for someone to take over the book fair beginning next year since Ms. Moore will not be running it after this year. You can text her directly at 440-321-5692.

Book Fair Sign Up

The book fair will be open from OCTOBER 6TH - OCTOBER 8TH for students to visit and purchase books during their ELA time. A schedule has been created and your child's ELA teacher will share their assigned date. Payment methods are Cash, Credit Card and Checks made payable to Chardon Local Schools. You also have an option to set up an ewallet for your student at the following link:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/chardonmiddleschool

Please note that all books shown on the Scholastic homepage link might not be available at sale.

Book Fair would not be possible without our wonderful volunteers! Please consider giving time to make this event possible for our students!

Spirit Wear Sale

Your quick link to all things Chardon Spirit!

FROM THE NURSE

Hello parents,

Important Health Reminder: Keeping Our School Healthy
To stop the spread of contagious illnesses, please keep your child home if he or she has a temperature of 100°F or higher or if your child has symptoms of illness without a fever.
The 24-Hour Recommendation:
Students should remain home until they are fever-free for a full 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications (such as Tylenol or Advil).

Why? Medication lowers body temperature, but it does not stop the spread of germs. Once the medication wears off, the fever often returns, putting classmates and staff at risk.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our classrooms safe and healthy.

We still have 2 cases of hand, foot, and mouth in the upper grades along with 2 cases of strep in the building.

Vision testing is complete, and letters have been sent home if your child needs seen by a doctor.

Hearing tests for 5th grade will be done 9/29/26 with new-to-the- school district kids following.

Jennifer Trittschuh, RN; BSN; LSN

IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

Attendance Line 440-285-4062 (before 9:00 am):

Sick/Not Feeling well
Dentist/Doctor Appointment
Early Dismissal (please give us at least 2 hours notice)
Other

Report absences:

Please leave a message on the attendance line (before 9:00) or speak to one of the secretaries.
Notes - student should bring to the office
Please do not leave a message on a secretary's personal voicemail (she may be absent).
If you inform the teacher please also contact the school office.

Change in Dismissal:

If you need to change how your child is getting home, please call the office as soon as you know so we can get the message to your child.

Tardy - students must be in their classroom by 7:35 am or they will be considered tardy.

CLSD PARENT STUDENT HANDBOOK

Please click the banner below to review the updated and recently Board of Education-approved Chardon Middle School Addendum to the CLSD Parent-Student Handbook. This handbook is published annually to help ensure a safe and productive learning environment for students, staff, parents, and visitors. It outlines students' rights, responsibilities, and the consequences for misbehavior. Included in the district handbook is an addendum specific to Chardon High School. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the school administration.

CMS Addendum to CLSD Handbook

CELL PHONES/SMART WATCHES/GIZMOS/PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES

Cell Phones/Smart Watches/Gizmos/Personal Communication Devices

A reminder that students will be prohibited from using cell phones or other devices during the instructional day. This policy prohibits the use of these devices by students during any period of time in which a student is expected to be in attendance. This applies to formal instruction time as well as other supervised activities such as recess, meal periods, field trips and the transition between classes.

Students may not have their phones on them at any point in the school day.

This policy is in alignment with state law and Ohio Department of Workforce and Education guidelines prohibiting the use of such devices by students during the instructional day.

News from the Middle