Back-to-School: Nominate a Whiz Kid!

What parent doesn't want to brag about the accomplishments of their student or athlete? Here's another chance to do that!

You tell your neighbors, you tell your family and friends, you even tell the cashier at the grocery store sometimes ... why not tell Cuyahoga Falls Patch too? It's time to start braging about students again by featuring them as a Whiz Kids on the site. Here's all you need to do to have your child or a student who should be recognized on the site: (Be sure to include all of the following information.) ●      Nominator's Name ●      Nominator's email ●      Whiz Kid's name ●      Age ●      School and grade ●      Accomplishment ●      Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?) ●      A photo of the student Email all of this information to Local Editor Lindsay McCoy at Lindsay.McCoy@Patch.com. Anyone can nominate a Whiz …

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Falls Snapshot: Bolich Garden Grows

Students planted a pizza garden in the spring to eventually share with the school cafeteria.

Two school gardens that were built by students in the spring are now sprouting veggies. In participation with the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, a NFL and National Dairy Council initiative to promote health for the next generation, the school used a $3,000 grant to build the pizza garden. The plan; to serve the fresh produce at a salad bar in the school’s cafeteria. The in-school program requires 60-minutes of daily activity and the availability of nutrient-rich food. 

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Falls School District Selects Two Finalists for Superintendent Position

Board seeks to have Holland successor in place Aug. 1.

The Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education has narrowed the field to two candidates for the position of district superintendent. Final interviews will take place June 14 and 15. Candidate Domenic Paolo, superintendent of Fairport Harbor Exempted Village School District, and Candidate Dr. Todd Nicholas, superintendent of Bucyrus City School District, have been selected from among 20 original applicants to the position. A previous finalist, Cara Riddle, New Albany-Plain Local School District director of human resources, withdrew her application to accept a superintendency elsewhere, said Dr. Paula Snyder, director of human resources for Cuyahoga Falls schools. Snyder said along with Nicholas, Paolo and Riddle, the previous, first-round candidates…

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Summer Reading Program Kicks-Off

Children are encouraged to record reading habits during summer break.

Class is no longer in session, but young readers are encouraged to explore new stories and continue a reading routine at home. Registration for the Summer Reading Passport is underway at the Cuyahoga Falls Library. Readers can be registered in the Children’s Room or online. Participants are asked to log the amount of time they spend reading each day, then visit the library weekly to pick up a prize for their accomplishments. The program, which runs for eight weeks from June 3 to July 30, suggests children spend at least 30 minutes reading a book of their choice each day. Preschoolers are welcome to join with a parent and log about 15 minutes of story time each day. “The Summer Reading Program is for children of all ages,” said Joyce Bigam…

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Viewfinder: Woodridge High School Graduation

Woodridge seniors receive diplomas at Blossom Music Center.

Woodridge seniors received their diplomas Wednesday night at Blossom Music Center. The class motto is "Together we stand, together we fall, all for one, one for all." Class Officers: President, Joshua Conner Vice President, Maria Moore Secretary, Jared Page Treasurer, Nathan Volchko Senior Class Advisor Noleen Snyder The ceremony was principal Mic Becerra's last commencement for Woodridge High School. Becerra will become principal at North Royalton High School in the fall.

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Afi-Odelia Scruggs

9:57 pm on Monday, October 17, 2011

Hello, I'm photographer for Cleveland Heights and Beachwood Patch, so I often browse other sites for ideas. These are just beautiful. They are inspiring me to step up my game.   more ›

Special Election Results: Both Levies Pass

Click here to see the latest results for the Falls schools levy and library levy.

Both the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools replacement levy and the Cuyahoga Falls Library levy passed Tuesday night.  Follow Cuyahoga Falls Patch for more coverage! The "Final Unofficial Results as of 10:35 p.m. Issue 3: Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Replacement Levy: WITH 43 OF 43 PRECINCTS COUNTED FOR THE TAX LEVY . . . . . . . . 3,261       52.42 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY. . . .2,960       47.58     Issue 16: Cuyahoga Falls Library Levy: WITH 43 OF 43 PRECINCTS COUNTED FOR THE TAX LEVY . . . . . . . . 3,290       52.93 AGAINST THE TAX LEVY. . . . 2,926       47.07   Click here to see results for other Summit County issues. Here's a look at coverage from the polls throughout the day: 

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VIDEO Falls School Board Not Ready to Continue Talks About Sharing

With a short time frame to replace Superintendent Ed Holland, the Cuyahoga Falls School Board still isn't on the same page with sharing its new district leader with Woodridge.

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Mike Penta

12:02 am on Sunday, April 24, 2011

The sharing of a superintendent will save the Falls District about $38,000 in salary (Assumptions: Woodridge's current superintendent is the person of choice to oversee both districts, he doesn't receive an increase in salary to oversee both districts, and a 70/30 ADM.) That's not a significant savings when you consider a $50 million dollar budget. The challenges sharing a superintendent presents…   more ›

VIDEO Woodridge and Falls School Boards Meet to Discuss Sharing a Superintendent

A facilitator asks board members from each district to weigh pros and cons.

The Cuyahoga Falls and Woodridge School Boards held a joint meeting at the Summit County ESC Thursday night to discuss the possibility to move forward and investigate sharing a superintendent. A facilitator asked each board member what the opportunities and challenges might be, and what lingering questions and information they need to have before making a decision. At the end of the special meeting, three of the five Falls school board members told the facilitator they did not feel they were ready to move forward with the Woodridge board at this time. Cuyahoga Falls School Board President Therese Dunphy tells Cuyahoga Falls Patch, that the board will have an opportunity to discuss sharing a superintendent with Woodridge at its April 25 …

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Lindsay McCoy

8:42 am on Friday, April 22, 2011

Thank you for sharing your thoughts Mike! I'll post another update with more details on this story soon!   more ›

Woodridge Schools to Take Levy Off May Ballot

The Woodridge school board votes to take the district's levy off of the May ballot.

With the uncertainty of state funding cuts and higher gas prices expected in the summer, the Woodridge Local School Board followed its superintendent's recommendation to remove the levy that was to be placed on the May ballot. “So many of the facts have changed since we voted to put this measure on the ballot in January,” said Cheryl Hoover, school board president. The board approved the measure in a unanimous vote at Tuesday night's special meeting. “It’s been very difficult. We put a lot of effort forth for the levy already,” said Walter Davis, Woodridge superintendent. “You don’t like to start something and not finish it, so I’d like to use the word delay.” The board had voted back in late January to place a 6.7-mill levy on the May …

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Whiz Kid: Julie Rooney

Julie is a high school athlete and participates in various school and community projects.

Name: Julie Rooney Age: 18 School: Stow-Munroe Falls High School, senior  Accomplishments: National Honor Society; Linus Project participant (makes blankets for sick); Academic letter (4 years); Cuyahoga Falls Optimist Club Award winner (leadership); Softball NOC All-Star (2 years); First Team All NOC Softball; All NOC Basketball; Basketball letter (4 year). "Julie pushes herself to always do her best and leave everything on the floor," said Valerie Bonacci, assistant high school athletic director. "Coach Podges gave the girls basketball team a quote for the year: 'Today give all that you have, for whatever you leave inside, you lose forever.' Julie lives and plays with this in mind. "She says she doesn't dwell on past mistakes so that she…

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