ON THE HILL - FINAL 2024-25 EDITION

Principal - Mr. Adam Tomco (8th Grade/Seniors) EMAIL

Asst. Principal - Mrs. Christina Sherwood (Fresh-Juniors M-Z) EMAIL

Asst. Principal - Mr. Edward Yeomans (Fresh-Juniors A-L) EMAIL

Athletic Director - Mr. Doug Snyder EMAIL

Mr. Douglas Higham (Athletics) EMAIL

Secretary - Mrs. Jenifer Goodwin EMAIL

ATTENDANCE LINE: 440.285.4052

Website: www.chardonschools.org

Address: 151 Chardon Avenue

Main Office Phone Number: 440.285.4057

CHS COMMUNITY,

The 2024-25 school year has officially wrapped up! This past Friday was truly a special day, as we welcomed the Class of 2030 to the high school and, later that evening, celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2025.

Looking Ahead to 2025-26: Schedule Changes

As we prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 school year, I want to update you on a few important changes to our daily schedule:

• High school doors will now open at 7:20 AM with bus drop-off.
• Students will gather in the cafeteria and gymnasium bleachers until 7:40 AM.
• School will officially start at 7:45 AM and end at 2:40 PM. These changes WILL NOT impact the instructional day at Chardon Middle School.
• We're transitioning back to a traditional 8-period school day. Students will have seven, 50 minutes content classes and one 50 minute lunch period.
• During the lunch period, all students will have a 23-minute study hall opposite their lunch or a science lab period.

A copy of the full schedule is posted below.

A comprehensive "Back to School Guide" will be shared later this summer, detailing our school calendar of events, important dates, and general back-to-school information.

For the time being, ENJOY YOUR SUMMER BREAK!

Mr. Tomco

We're thrilled to congratulate the Class of 2025 on their commencement, which took place on Friday, May 23.

A highlight of the ceremony was Mr. Al Herner's incredibly powerful speech. He shared his journey to becoming a teacher and establishing roots in Chardon, and he underscored the impact of short, yet profound, messages. He emphasized the power in phrases like: "I'm sorry," "I love you," "I forgive you," and "I need help."

A HUGE THANK YOU to Mrs. Christina Sherwood, Mrs. Brandi Giddings for their organizational expertise with graduation. I would also like to thank the Chardon Local Schools Board of Education members, Mrs. Karen Blakenship, Mr. Todd Albright and Mrs. Andrea Clark as well as Dr. Michael Hanlon, Mrs. Deb Armbruster and Dr. Ed Klein for attending graduation.

You can view the entire graduation ceremony and beautiful pictures from Pastor Photography by clicking the buttons below.

Looking ahead, we've already started discussions to host next year's graduation at Parkside again. We'll finalize those plans once their booking calendar opens.

Please click the banner below to review the updated and recently Board of Education-approved 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.

Mr. Dwight Goss is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. We're truly going to miss his remarkable stories, his special way of connecting with every child, and the genuine care he brought to our students each day.

Please take a moment to read his heartfelt THANK YOU letter, posted below.

In 1991, I walked into a Chardon classroom for the first time. I couldn’t have known then just how deeply this school district—and this town—would become a part of who I am.

Over the years, my wife and I have built our life here. We’ve found not just a home, but a community that has welcomed us, supported us, and helped us grow in ways too numerous to count. We also raised our child here—who I had the unique privilege of teaching not once, but twice in my own classroom, and who is herself a proud graduate of Chardon High School. That experience, both as a teacher and a parent, only deepened my appreciation for the heart of this district.

In the course of my teaching career, I’ve had the honor of working with somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 students. In recent weeks, many of them—some just graduated, others from years ago—have reached out with handwritten notes, emails, or kind words wishing me a happy retirement. Their thoughtfulness has touched me deeply. Knowing that something from our time together stayed with them, enough to prompt a message, sometimes years later, is one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences of my life.

To all 34 years of students, thank you for your curiosity, your resilience, and your trust. To the parents, thank you for sharing your children and your partnership. To my fellow teachers, thank you for your camaraderie, creativity, support, collaborations and dedication to the work. To the administrators and board members, thank you for guiding and supporting the work we do every day.

This work has been the delight of my life. I’ve been lucky enough to make a living as a storyteller—sharing the sweeping, complex, and often inspiring stories of American history and geography. Stories of human triumphs, failures, redemption, and of the victories that emerge when 'We the People' have had the courage to learn from our mistakes. It’s been a privilege to help students find themselves in the larger story of this country and its people and places. Making connections between the past and the present, and helping students see themselves as part of the unfolding story of humanity, has been more of an honor than I can adequately express.

Thank you, all of you, for making this journey so meaningful.

With gratitude, affection, and blessings to you all,

Dwight Goss

Mr. Brad McGovern has retired from Chardon Local Schools. Mr. McGovern was a dedicated science teacher known for his professional demeanor and, notably, his engaging, hands-on approach to science. Many of you might remember him on the football field, launching rockets with his students. This hands-on method not only made learning exciting but also deeply reinforced scientific concepts by allowing students to experience and experiment firsthand.

Mr. Rob Mizen is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. Mr. Mizen made a significant difference in the lives of many students, both in his science class and through his impactful service learning projects, including "Jeremy's Kids" and the Gearity Foodbank trips. His Hawaiian shirts, memorable stories and life lesson speeches, will truly be missed.

Mrs. Karen Fisher is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. Mrs. Fisher's quiet strength, demonstrated through her calm demeanor, and her unwavering commitment to doing whatever is best for kids have been truly invaluable to our school community. La escuela secundaria Chardon y la escuela secundaria Chardon extrañarán a la Sra. Fisher enseñando español.

Mr. Dan Robertson is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. Mr. Robertson's Physics classes were incredibly interactive, often featuring engaging labs that allowed students to directly apply and explore scientific concepts. His commitment to hands-on learning, along with memorable touches like his holiday tree adorned with science-themed student decorations, created a unique and effective learning environment.

Mr. Mark Shafer is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. Mr. Shafer will be remembered for his high expectations for both his students in the classroom and his cross country and track athletes. Known affectionately as the "data guy," he consistently had a spreadsheet to support his insights and decisions. Many will also miss his booming voice enthusiastically shouting out running times to his athletes on the course and track.

Mr. Doug Snyder is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. Known by many as the GOAT, Mr. Snyder consistently made sure student-athletes and coaches were his top priority. He worked tirelessly to ensure the success and smooth operation of all athletic events, always striving to give our athletic teams the best possible chance to compete and succeed.

Mr. Al Herner is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. He was a dedicated ELA and CCP business teacher at Chardon High School. Mr. Herner also led our Academic Decathlon team to an impressive 8th-place national finish this year. His students' affectionate team names like "Fraken-Herner" show his positive connection. His distinctive voice at athletic contests and assemblies will be missed.

Mrs. Lora Babic is retiring from Chardon Local Schools. The support and passion she has displayed in helping students be successful in the classroom made a significant impact on their learning. Never backing down from different content across all grade levels, Mrs. Babic was willing to learn anything to help students succeed.

Las Fallas de Valencia is a celebration in Spain in honor of the carpenter San José, and celebrates the end of winter and the new beginning that Spring brings. The people of Spain build float-like structures all year long and then burn them on the final night of the celebration, known as la cremá. Some of the structures are as tall as 98 feet! This year, Sra. Korenke’s Spanish IV class learned, researched and wrote about las Fallas. The project culminated in building their own falla to burn! Under the supervision of Mark Jonovich from the Chardon Fire Department, the classes burned their Fallas. Thank you Mr. Jonovich for helping us and Mr. Tomco for allowing us to see our projects come to fruition. Great job, Spanish IV classes!

This is just a reminder that all pupils entering the 12th grade for the 2025-2026 school year are

required to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease. Also, any newly enrolled students at

CHS from outside of the school district are required to provide immunization records for your

student(s). If you provided records at registration, please disregard this reminder. All necessary

vaccine records are due no later than August 27, 2025.

May 28: FINAL Grades Posted in Infinite Campus