Dear CHS Parents/Guardians:

As a Chardon native, graduate and educator, I am proud to call Chardon my home.

Every summer, my family takes a little trip to our favorite little destination. This peaceful time away allows us to refresh, and feel renewed before the school year begins. When you think about trips it is all about the planning. The list-making, packing, and remembering every detail before you even navigate your way to the destination takes a special craft.  The stress of planning eases as you place your first step onto the sand and walk in the water. It is a type of cleansing for me that I long for each summer.  Sand, Sea, Sun. Repeat. You really cannot measure the peace that comes from time away from the hustle of life. The best part of the trip was spending every single second with my family. This job has long days and nights, and to have scheduled time away is the ultimate gift.

I was fascinated with the tide cycles while we were at the beach this summer. Seeing the calm sea turn into a wave of energy and return to calmness really reminded me of our school cycles. Right now, we are finishing all of the details on this new 23-24 “trip” and soon we will place our feet back into the swing of school. Just like the sea, we will see the high tide of constant things to do and schedule ---which will eventually calm into regular routines---before the next tide of tasks arrives. This cycle continues every month and crowns with the biggest tide of emotions at graduation. Our lives are much like tide cycles. The more that we plan and prepare for these cycles at the ocean and in our lives--, the better we are equipped for our response to seize each day.

As any trip takes you away from home, it also reminds you of how amazing our hometown is. We live in a beautiful community with extraordinary people. A community is built by the foundation of humble hands and the passion of hardworking men and women. Chardon is such a wonderful place to raise a family. Our school becomes an extension of your family with all of the learning and activities that our children get involved in. The foundation that we share is our shared community values.

I am beginning my 11th year as an administrator in Chardon. I have to tell you that the most enriching experience is talking with the students that walk into my office to check-in. Our students are so welcoming, energetic, humorous, and love to connect with adults. 

Over the course of the last decade-plus, the stigma of the office has turned into an opportunity for each of the administrators to build relationships with our students. When we say that we love our kids--we truly mean it. They energize us to be more and to give more. They allow us to live our core values more when we are visible to our students and staff. 

The culture of our school lives within our connection with our students and staff, and we celebrate the many ways that we grow as a community. We just graduated the 150th class from Chardon High School. Those students left their legacy in the classroom, on the field, community, and state. The leadership they provided set the standard for the students walking the halls.

As we transition into a new academic year, we are looking forward to the legacy that the Class of 2024 will be branding. This class has so many unique talents: Fine and Performing Artists, Accomplished Athletes, Academically Gifted, and Servant Leaders. We are also looking forward to experiencing the new renovations that took place since our Christmas flood (that was an unexpected tide). 

Everything is so ripe for our community to refine our core values and live our mission of high achievement for all students with a renewed emphasis on learning. This season is prime for traditions to bloom all over this campus with student activities, personal relationships, personalized learning, and a commitment to renewing our mission, vision, and values.