Cardinal Local School District
Cardinal Local School District is a public school district in Geauga County, Ohio, that serves the village of Middlefield and the townships of Middlefield, Huntsburg and Parkman. As of 2019, 1100 students attended the district's three schools, Cardinal High School, Cardinal Middle School and Jordak Elementary School.
Cardinal Local School District Academics:
Cardinal High School offers 11 College Credit Plus (CCP) classes giving students an opportunity to earn up to 37 college credits. 37 seniors earned 609 college credits through the CCP program during their high school careers. Two CHS Seniors also earned Associates Degrees from Lakeland Community College in addition to their high school diploma. The World Language Lab at CHS allows students to learn French, Latin, Chinese, or German languages via online learning. 7 Advanced Placement and 16 Honors classes are offered at CHS. 21 AP exams were taken Seniors earned 35 AP credits 19 Seniors received honors diplomas in 2019. 8 CHS teachers are certified to teach CCP courses at CHS
6 computer science courses are available for students at CHS including web development, design, programming, and coding Every student in grades 9-12 has an iPad mini to complete coursework. 780 Google Chromebooks are available to students in grades K-8 to use for classwork, research, collaboration, and testing The District has 943 active google users. (includes students in grades 2-12 and staff) On average, the district receives 12,000 emails and sends approximately 2,000 monthly Teachers use Google Classroom to create/collect assignments and utilize time-saving features to work more efficiently. An 8th grader won the district & county spelling bees; finished third in Tri-County Spelling Bee A former CIS classroom was renovated into a state-of-the-art science lab for students to use for conducting experiments.
Middle school students have access to a green room, iPad and video editing software used to record school announcements and projects High School students have access to a green room, video cameras, video editing software and equipment, still cameras, a poster printer, and a photo printer The District participates in Early Release Wednesdays to provide teachers time to collaborate and discuss student learning, meeting learning needs, and assessment data Six seniors received the President's Award for Educational Excellence 21 seniors received the President's Award for Educational Achievement The CMS library is being renovated to hold a PHabLab where students will use STEM concepts for learning
Three fourth graders had their opinions on various national topics featured on the PBS program Newsdepth throughout the 2018-19 school year 7th graders are able to begin an Advanced Pathway route of study to prepare for College Prep classes in high school 8th graders can earn high school credits by taking Algebra I and Physical Science 25 seventh graders took an Honors Science class; 20 took Honors English; 19 took Pre- Algebra.
30 eighth grade students took Algebra I and 36 students took Physical Science; both courses count towards high school credit The JES Librarian participated in the GE Additive Education Program where she received a 3D printer and STEM curriculum to use in her classroom "Maker Space."
CLSD Arts:
The district held its first-ever Band Night at Moss Field in 2018; Marching bands from three other schools came to perform in addition to our Marching Thunder High school students are able to enhance their art skills by taking advanced classes including: Advanced Art, 3-D Art, Art History (CCP course), Digital Photography, and Independent Study All students have an opportunity to participate in the Middlefield Historical Society Art Show and the Geauga County Fair Exhibition Art Achievement Awards are given to eight middle school students (two per grade level) each semester K-4 students have art class for 40 minutes once a week; students also participate in a 30 minute weekly enrichment art class for one quarter
Student art is featured throughout the year in the Board of Education Office Concert band is offered daily to students in grades 5-12 with students performing two concerts a year at both the middle and high schools. The high school concert band represents all instrumentation and continues to increase in size and difficulty of music performed Students in grades 9-12 have earned superior and excellent ratings participating in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) solo and ensemble competitions. High school band students have participated in various honors band events including the Chagrin Valley Conference honors band and the Tri-State Honors Band festival. The CHS Pep Band performs at most home basketball games for both girls and boys.
The Cardinal High School Marching Band and Flag Line perform at all varsity football games during halftime, in various festivals throughout the season; they also performed at a Cleveland Cavaliers game. Students in grades K-4 receive 40 minutes of music instruction each week; quarterly enrichment periods give classes an additional 30 minutes of instruction. 4th graders begin using recorders from November until their concert in the spring as a way to get them excited for 5th grade concert band. A Recorder Karate at JES encourages students to practice and improve; as students successfully play a song, they receive a colored "belt" to note their achievement.
Each elementary grade level performs in one concert a year Choir is offered at both the middle and high school levels with each group performing two concerts a year. In 2017, a volunteer student choir was created for 3rd and 4th graders. Select high school students participate in the CVC Honors Choir annually. High school students can audition to be part of the 16- member Cardinaires show choir. Spring musical crew is made up of student volunteers who build the sets, stage the lights, and provide hair and makeup for the production. CHS students presented “A Midsummer Night's Dream" as their 2018 Fall Play. Several CHS students won Ovations Awards for their roles in the Spring Musical; costume & set crews also won awards.
Student Leadership and Activities:
Cardinal High School offers 13 varsity athletic sports. Cardinal Middle School offers 9 athletic sports. 14 Varsity school records were broken by six students during the 2018-19 seasons. Girls Volleyball -Kills in game (31) Girls Basketball -Rebounds in season (413) -Rebounds in game (26) -Career rebounds (910) -Blocks in game (7-tie) -Blocks in season (65) -Career blocks (118) -Assists in game (10) -3-pointers in game (5 - tie) -Career assists (237) Boys Basketball -3-pointers in game (7) -Steals in game (12) Varsity volleyball coach named CVC Coach of the Year. Varsity volleyball player named CVC Most Valuable Player.
Cardinal Athletes are routinely named to all-conference, regional, and district teams. In 2019, 3 seniors signed letters of intent to play athletics at the collegiate level. 32 student athletes received CVC All-Academic Awards in 2018-19. The Varsity Volleyball team was the 2018 CVC Champions and D-III District Runner-Up; was undefeated in conference play with a 14-0 record. Five CHS students competed in the Indoor State Track Championship; one student made the podium finishing 8th in weight throw. 12 seniors earned 4-year Letterman Lifetime Passes The 8th grade girls basketball team finished as runner-up in the CVC South Division. New LED lights and poles and sound system were installed at Moss Field with money from a permanent improvement bond.
Preston Superstore and The Chevy Network donated to cover the cost of refinishing the CHS gym floor; the new district logo replaced the former one. The CHS weight room was completely refurbished with new equipment, paint, and flooring thanks to donations from Tarkett, Fitness Plus, Cardinal Athletic Boosters, and Friends of Mike. The district inducted four new members into the Athletic Hall of Fame and three new members into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. The Middlefield Varsity Rec Football Team won the Tri- County Youth Football League Championship Game in 2018. The Varsity Football team won the Kinsman Cup for the second consecutive year with a 28-8 victory over Berkshire Athletes routinely named as local Players of the Week.
Two high school students were selected to play in the 2019 Ohio Varsity Underclassmen Showcase. One senior was a finalist for the 2018-19 Girls Basketball News Herald Player of the Year. A senior was selected as a Wendy's High School Heisman state winner; she was one of 7,500 winners from an application pool of 42,000. The Varsity Head Football Coach recorded his 100th victory as a head coach during the 2018 season. The Varsity Volleyball team was CVC Champions for four consecutive years (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) In 2016, a new school record was set: eight goals in a single soccer game; the feat ranks 7th in OHSAA history A 2016 graduate holds the school record for number of assists in Volleyball. (2,000+)
A senior was the unanimous selection as the Franklin B. Walter All Scholastic Award for Geauga County. One senior was selected as the Most Outstanding Student from Lake and Geauga counties by the State Support Team (SST) and Walter/Horn Awards Committee. Six high school students represented Cardinal at Buckeye Boys and Girls State events in 2018. The 2019 CMS Future City team placed 3rd overall at the state competition and received the "Best Moving Part" award for their earthquake simulator. The CMS Builder’s Club works with the East Geauga Kiwanis Club to complete service projects including community volunteer work, providing for a family in need at Christmas, and visiting residents in a local assisted living home.
CHS inducted 16 new members into the National Honor Society for the 2018-19 school year. CHS NHS held a Prince and Princess Ball for JES students to raise money for Relay for Life. The CHS Key Club worked closely with the East Geauga Kiwanis Club to organize a drive that collected donations to provide Thanksgiving meals, Christmas gifts, and Easter baskets to local families. One CHS student was selected as a delegate to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. Two students won first/gold in the SkillsUSA competition through Auburn Career Center in their fields of study, which were cybersecurity and landscape. One Cardinal/Auburn student qualified for the national Educators Rising Competition. Elementary students raise money for the American Heart Association by participating in Jump Rope for Heart.
CMS eighth graders participated in the STEM Olympics where they made spaghetti towers, cars, and geodomes. 50 eighth graders attended the Gettysburg field trip. JES students raised over $2,000 in the first Walk-A-Thon fundraiser event. Student councils at JES, CMS, and CHS are elected by peers and organize events like Spirit Week, school dances, powderpuff football, and blood drives at each building. Advanced communications classes and the addition of cameras and green screens at both the middle and high schools are providing students an opportunity to create daily and weekly video announcements. Middle school students volunteer to assist with shredding and recycling duties throughout the year.
A select group of middle school students in grades seven and eight attended the Camp Burton YLP Leadership Camp; students participated in leadership discussions & learning how to build positive relationships. The CMS Builder's Club collects donations annually for the Pennies for Patients. 18 students in grades 3-8 participated in the district Spelling Bee. JES fourth graders hold quarterly Entrepreneur Fairs. The JES Choir performs at various school events. CHS students placed 2nd, 3rd, & 4th in the Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Contest in 2019. CHS students participated in various speech and debate competitions. Two CHS students spoke at the state Safety Summit on school safety and measures in place at Cardinal.
Parent and community Involvement: A former classroom in the CIS building was completely renovated into a Science Lab thanks to donations from the community & alumni; students spent several class periods in the lab doing experiments with teachers and district science consultant, "Professor Z." JES and CMS hosted Reading and Math Family Fun Nights. JES and CHS students and staff both hosted local Veterans on Veterans Day treating them to breakfast and honoring them during special assemblies. Three Jordak 4th graders had their opinions on various topics featured on the PBS program NewsDepth throughout the 2017-18 school year. The Joe Peters Memorial Pig Roast and Cardinal Athletic Boosters graciously donated money raised at their event to cover a portion of the costs for 2018-19 pay to participate fees.
Preston Ford and The Chevy Network once again donated a brand new car for the Athletic Boosters to Raffle off as a fundraiser in 2018; proceeds went to pay to participate fees. An eighth grader had his Patriot's Pen essay selected to be read at the Middlefield Memorial Day Service in 2019. COSI on Wheels visited JES for an assembly on energy. Animals from the Akron Zoo visited JES to show students how animals eat the same foods we serve in our cafeterias. 3rd graders participate in the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program where students can win a $1,000 scholarship. The United Way donated hundreds of books to teachers The PTA, PTO and booster groups support student and teacher needs with donations to purchase supplies and cover costs for field trips, fees, and other events.
Schools
- Cardinal High School, grades 9-12.
- Cardinal Middle School, grades 5–8. (is also the newest school built in 2002-2003
- A.J. Jordak Elementary, grades K–4
Former schools
- Cardinal Intermediate (grades 3-4)
- Huntsburg Elementary (grades PK-5)
- Parkman Elementary (grades PK-5)