Chemistry Comes Alive
Students at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School received a lesson in slimy science when COSI (Center of Science and Industry) brought its traveling science program, “It’s Simply Chemistry,” on Feb. 3. The innovative, interactive program stimulated the imaginations of the next generation of scientists and chemists by allowing students to explore chemistry through simple experiments designed to introduce new science principles.
The day began with a 45-minute assembly introducing the students to how chemistry affects their everyday lives. COSI’s Chemistry Detective solved the mystery of the missing slime ingredients by identifying acids and bases, determining unknown substances and decoding an invisible message. The fun and educational assembly was followed by hands-on activity sessions during which the students made their own COSI Super Slime, created endothermic and exothermic reactions and learned to identify unknown substances using chemistry.
The COSI On Wheels program aligns with Ohio Academic Content Standards, compliments the National Science Education Standards and allows students to learn about the fundamentals of chemistry through scientific experimentation. COSI is a hands-on science center located in Columbus. Each year, more than 300,000 students take part in COSI On Wheels programs, and in the past 30 years, COSI On Wheels has brought hands-on science into the lives of more than 7.5 million students across the Midwest.
Hands-On Experiment
Gurney Elementary second-grade students in Mr. Ben Rose’s science class recently completed a lesson on weather. They discussed the similarities and differences between hurricanes and tornadoes.
Writing Styles Using Popcorn
Gurney Elementary School first-graders in Vicky Pelsozy’s class are taking a creative approach to learn about opinion writing. Students were given a sample of both butter and kettle popcorn to try. They then picked which they liked better and needed to write and give reasons why.
“They are learning to write support for their opinions,” said Pelsozy.
Students also brought in collections of five items and needed to write which was the best in the collection and why. Later in the unit, they will write restaurant, book, toy and food reviews.
“It is a pretty amazing unit and so motivating. It is part of the Lucy Calkins curriculum for writing that the kindergarten and first-grade teachers have adopted and are using,” says Pelsozy.
Outstanding Tech Administrator
Mike Daugherty, Chagrin Falls Schools’ technology director, is the ITIP Ohio ISTE Affiliate 2016 Outstanding Technology-Using Administrator of the Year. The award is organized by the Instructional Technology Integration Partnership of Ohio (ITIP Ohio), a non-profit organization created for the purpose of further promoting the use of instructional technologies in Ohio’s classrooms.
ITIP fields nominations from administrators around the state of Ohio and all nominees are scored by committee with a rigorous rubric addressing how the nominee has served as a strong leader who promotes and seeks out new opportunities for technology integration practices in his/her district; how the nominee has worked to ensure all staff within his/her school/district are provided relevant, quality professional development; how the nominee has advanced the district’s technology plan through collaborative efforts within and outside the school/district; how the nominee has utilized technology to foster teacher and student success in the school/district; and how the nominee has demonstrated effective and creative uses of technology support staff to support and enhance the school/district mission in regard to technology integration.
Cited in Daugherty’s nomination narrative were his innovations including Web Wednesday and the 21st Century Skills contest, the thoughtful planning that resulted in a successful rollout and integration of Chromebooks in grades 2-12, the positive impact that they have had on student achievement and the personalization of learning. Also cited was his involvement with NEOTIE and his collaboration with other districts and professionals at WVIZ, OSBA, TILO and the Google Roadshow.
“Mr. Daugherty has served as a leader in the field of technology within our district by assisting with the crafting of an aggressive vision to integrate technology to support student learning. His work in collaboration with our staff has transformed the utilization of technology within our district,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt.
Mike will receive his award the Ohio Educational Technology Conference in Columbus. As a result, he receives free registration to the Ohio Educational Technology Conference (OETC), ISTE Membership, an ISTE “Making IT Happen” jacket and free registration for the 2015 ITIP Ohio Summit Featuring Google in Education. Mike is also entered into ISTE’s international award program (www.iste.org).
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for Gurney Elementary School will be held for students entering kindergarten in the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District on March 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gurney Elementary, 1155 Bell Road.
Both half-day kindergarten and full day kindergarten are offered at Gurney.
Full day kindergarten is tuition-based at Gurney Elementary. Information regarding the tuition and instructional programming for a full day of kindergarten will be available at registration. A $200 non-refundable deposit will be required at registration to hold a spot for your child in a full day, every day kindergarten class. Parents have until May 13 to make this choice.
Children 5 years old on or before Sept. 30 are eligible for kindergarten for the 2016–17 school year.
Please bring the following required documentation: child’s original birth certificate; photo I.D. for the parent; proof of residency (current utility bill, tax bill, lease or rental agreement); custody documents, if appropriate; immunization records must provide record of what the child has received; completed registration packet.
Registration will not be accepted without all of the required documents.
Please allow approximately 20 minutes to complete the registration. It is recommended that parents print and fill out the registration packet prior to the registration date. The registration packet is on the district website: www.chagrinschools.org.
It is not necessary to bring the student on the day of registration.
A kindergarten kickoff meeting for parents will be held on April 7 at 6 p.m. and kindergarten screening will take place May 12 and May 13 at Gurney Elementary School.
More information will be available at registration. For questions, call 440-247-5500, ext. 4102.