Imagine a place on Earth where prosperity is not measured in “Gross Domestic Product”, like we tend to do in America. Imagine, instead, a place where “Gross Domestic Happiness” is the pride of the nation.

Such a place isn’t some fantasy-land Disney made famous. It’s a real nation hidden in the Himalayas, home to 754,000 people, called Bhutan.

Why does a country so many thousands of miles from Cuyahoga Falls matter so much to your school-age child or neighbor? Well, in attending our schools, chances are, the student in your life has befriended a native of Bhutan (or its nearby neighbor, Nepal).

You see, CFSD is now experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) attending school here. In 2012-2013, the number of ELLs was 78. Just two years later, the ELL student population district wide has nearly doubled to 148. And, say school officials, the trend is only expected to continue.

“Today, more than ever, we are a world without borders,” reminds Courtney Marcucci, a CFHS English Language Arts teacher who specializes in teaching non-English native speakers. “Increasing diversity in our schools affects everything we do, from busing safely to respecting a variety of unique and special beliefs.

Testament to Marcucci’s point, a recent accident that claimed the life of an Akron school bus driver led CFSD to take a deeper look at transportation safety. As a result, Transportation Supervisor Nicole Kiser worked with

Marcucci to stage a first-ever program designed to provide students who are learning English—even the littlest students—important “Rules of the Road” in America.

To do it, Marcucci brought together High School students also from Bhutan and Nepal who are proficient, now, in English as a second language. “Older students mentored younger students in their native tongue,” she explained, “which was incredibly effective so everyone, and critically important to student safety.”

The busing safety challenge made difficult by the fact that Cuyahoga Falls City Schools is now home to students from 20—yes twenty—different countries. And busing is only the beginning.

In classrooms all over the system, Marcucci and an increasing number of highly-skilled educators are redesigning specialized curricula tailored to meet the needs of tomorrow’s growing worldly learners.

“There’s a beauty to diversity that makes the extra work worthwhile,” Marcucci concluded. “The more we know, appreciate and respect the differences of others around the world, the more prepared we all become to succeed in the changing, shrinking world we’ll share tomorrow.

What Can You Learn From The Most Distant Lands On Earth?

Ask a Fellow Black Tiger!

CFCSD English Language Learner (ELL) Enrollment As of 10/15/14

As this photo proves, at every second of every day, it’s a new dawn somewhere in the world. How will you greet it? And how will you learn by embracing it?

Show Off Your Black Tiger Pride!By displaying this free “We Are Black Tigers!” yard sign, you are letting anyone that comes to our town know that they are in Cuyahoga Falls; Black Tiger Nation!

We want to paint the town Black Tiger, so if you want to help show your pride in your community, contact or stop in at the main office of your nearest Cuyahoga Falls City School.

There are a limited number of signs available! Don’t wait!

There’s never been a better time to become involved in your local schools. Go to cfalls.org and learn how you can help us deliver educational excellence in a changing world.

A Special Section Dedicated to Black Tiger Headlines & Achievements October 2014

RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS

The list of celebrities chilled by the recently-viral “Ice Bucket Challenge” now includes CFSD brass. Superintendent Todd Nichols, Deputy Superintendent Mark Gleichauf, Director of Human Resources Melvin Brown, Treasurer Dave Hoskin and Hal Kendrick have all taken the frigid bath.

“The ALS Association is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from people all over the world,” remarks the founding organization.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The Ice Bucket Challenge is designed to draw

attention to the need for a cure.

Should you wish to “selfie” a bath of your own, The ALS Association offers these cautions and tips:

• The Ice Bucket Challenge may not be suitable for small children, the elderly, anyone in poor health or animals of any kind, so please use good judgment.

• Please be thoughtful about water usage.

• Whether you take a bath or not, please consider making a donation to help find a cure for ALS.

• When doing the challenge, please use the hashtags #icebucketchallenge, #alsicebucketchallenge, and #strikeoutals.

Just in time for the 2014 edition of Homecoming, there’s magical news about another famed Black Tiger coming home. Cuyahoga Falls High School’s Arts Media and Design den is proud to announce our partnership with Jessica Wallis, Founder of Ballet in Cleveland and proud alum of CFHS.

We are fortunate to be working with someone with not only a true investment in the Falls, but also a woman that has been successful in making her dream of working in the arts a reality.

As noted on her website, Ms. Wallis began her company in 2012 and in this time, has presented world-class ballet dancers such as Ashley Bouder, Carlos Lopez, and Allison DeBana. Among her many projects, she is a co-producer of The Ashley Bouder Project; a project that our CFHS students will be privileged to experience.

Ashley Bouder, Principal Dancer with The New York City Ballet, and Phil Chan, General Manager

of Youth American Grand Prix, have partnered with Ms. Wallis and The Ballet in Cleveland to bring a performance of the highest caliber to Cleveland. We are truly excited that our Arts Media and Design students have been invited to attend the open dress rehearsal of this world premier production involving several of the finest dancers and choreographers in the world.

The partnership between The Ballet in Cleveland and Cuyahoga Falls High School started last May with an initial conversation between Ms. Wallis and Mrs. Jen Culver, Department Chair for the Arts at CFHS. Their creative minds were magical as they created an authentic experience like no other. Since this initial meeting, Ms. Wallis has spent countless hours in collaboration with our AMD teachers further developing this experience for our students. As a result, a number of lessons and curricular connections have been developed in preparation for the world premier event. Ms. Wallis was generous to the point of hosting our teachers during this past summer at The Ballet in Cleveland in the desire to fine-tune this experience.

All students will have the opportunity to travel to The Ballet in Cleveland located in the heart of Cleveland ‘s Playhouse District. This has been made possible in great part to the work of Ms. Wallis who has secured funding for our students as well as the work of a 13-year-old dancer, Emma Debski, from Canal Fulton. Emma started Bows 4 Ballet, a company where she makes and sells handmade bows and bun flowers donating all profits for scholarships so students in need can

attend The Ballet in Cleveland master classes. Emma has spent many hours making “Black Tiger” bows and plans to donate all her proceeds to support the cost of tickets for our students to attend the world premier dress rehearsal. CFHS students are helping to sell these bows for this cause.

September 17th marked the kick-off to this experience. CFHS students attended an assembly in the auditorium filled with information, inspiration, and excitement. Students learned about The Ballet in Cleveland and their opportunity to take part in the world premier. They were entertained by Emma, founder of Bows 4 Ballet, as well as her dance partner, Hunter, who performed a hip hop routine and a ballet dance in front of our AMD students. Needless to say, Jessica Wallis orchestrated a kick-off that had our students wanting to know more about both the performance aspect and behind the scenes dynamics of this business. They will get just this as Ms. Wallis is scheduled to come and interact three more times during the month of October to provide our students with more real-world information and experiences as they prepare for the big event.

We are extremely thankful for all of the hard work and time that Ms. Wallis has invested into the development of the AMD den and are thrilled to partner up with such an amazing business in the arts field – The Ballet in Cleveland.

To learn more about Ballet in Cleveland or Bows for Ballet, please visit www.balletincleveland.org; and www.balletincleveland.wordpress.com.

The Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation and Alumni Association now have a new and always-available home at www.cfsfaa.org!

Black Tiger family are welcome to access the site for:

• Scholarships & Educational Support

• Teacher Grants

• Distinguished Alumni Awards

• Top Tiger Awards

• Capital Improvements

• Alumni Association (Reunion coordination, All-Class Reunion, etc.) Access the Black Tiger Facebook page, too, at www.facebook.com/CuyahogaFallsAlumni !

CFSD Brass All Wet

This Year, “Homecoming” Means More

Tiger Alum Brings World Class Ballet Back To Cuyahoga Falls

All-Class Reunion Now 24/7/365

From www.balletincleveland.org: educational experiences renowned the world over are about to land gracefully at the CFSD school auditorium nearest you!

There’s never been a better time to become involved in your local schools. Go to cfalls.org and learn how you can help us deliver educational excellence in a changing world.