Fairview Fast 5
District News from the Fairview Park City Schools
Dear Fairview Park City Schools Community,
Welcome to the February edition of the Fast Five Newsletter. Our students continue to work hard in and out of the classroom. I am excited to share some of their outstanding accomplishments with you here:
In January, our first graders at Gilles-Sweet Elementary showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills at the First Grade Arcade, designing and coding their own math-based games.
The Fairview High School Scarlet Singers hit a high note at the Ohio Music Education Association competition, earning a superior rating for their performance.
On the basketball court, Ava and Olivia Budzar have led the Fairview Warriors girls' basketball team through a memorable season, fostering a culture of teamwork and positivity.
Academically, Fairview High School reintroduced College Credit Plus (CCP) courses this year, allowing students to earn college credit without leaving campus, saving families both time and tuition costs.
These are just a few examples of the incredible things happening in Fairview Park City Schools. Our students continue to excel in academics, the arts, and athletics, and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication. Thank you for your continued support in making our schools a place where students can grow, achieve, and succeed.
Sincerely,
Keith Ahearn
Superintendent, Fairview Park City Schools
Game on! First graders at Gilles-Sweet Elementary put their creativity and problem-solving skills on display as they hosted the annual First Grade Arcade in January.
The First Grade Arcade is an event where students design and code their own mathematics games before inviting family and friends to the school to play.
“They have to use the math concepts of Friends of Ten or doubles,” First Grade Teacher Melissa Koenig explained. “Those are two things that we study for addition. I think it’s a culminating project. We wanted to do something where they create along with all the coding.”
For over 20 years, the Scarlet Singers have been hitting all the right notes at Fairview High School.
In January, the Scarlet Singers performed at the Ohio Music Education Association District 4 High School and Solo Ensemble competition at North Ridgeville High School.
“We received a [rating of] one, which is a superior rating,” Scarlet Singers Director Chrissy Karliak explained. “It’s the highest rating you can get, and I’m so proud of them. They sounded gorgeous, and they did such a beautiful job.”
The Scarlet Singers, an audition-only ensemble open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, began as an after-school club in 2003. It quickly gained popularity and transitioned into a formal class within a year. Initially a co-ed group, the ensemble shifted to an all-female SSA (soprano, soprano, alto) configuration not long after students returned to the school after the pandemic in 2021.
In this month’s edition of the FHS Alumni Spotlight, we highlight Nancy “Safari Jane” Tetzlaff from the Class of 1956.
Nancy “Safari Jane®” Tetzlaff and her husband, Col. Lawrence “Jungle Larry®” Tetzlaff, were well-known wildlife educators who operated Jungle Larry’s Safari at Cedar Point in Ohio before expanding their work to Florida. In 1969, they brought their animal presentations to the historic Caribbean Gardens in Naples, eventually transforming it into what is now the Naples Zoo. They both played a crucial role in the zoo’s development, turning it into a nationally accredited zoological park focused on education and conservation.
Ava and Olivia Budzar have been a dynamic duo on and off the court at Fairview. But this season, their senior year, has been one to remember.
The twins, who have played basketball together since third grade have played for Fairview for the last four years, earning four varsity letters.
“We’ve always been together, we’ve never been on different teams,” Olivia expressed.
Many changes were on tap for the Budzar twins at the beginning of this basketball season. First was a coaching change in the offseason, as Karen Swanson-Haan was named the new head coach in May 2024. The second change for the girls was an influx of younger talent to the team, including their younger sister, Ivy, who is in the ninth grade.
At the beginning of this school year, Fairview High School reintroduced College Credit Plus (CCP) classes, which provide students with an additional opportunity to earn college credit without leaving the school’s campus.
CCP is a statewide program in Ohio that allows middle and high school students to take college-level courses through partnerships with local universities and community colleges. The program helps students earn credits that count toward high school graduation and college degree requirements—often at no cost to families.
This year, CCP courses are available to students in two subject areas: English and Mathematics. Both subjects are taught by FHS faculty members Rebecca Hicks (English) and Will Morrison (Math). Students can earn college credits from Cuyahoga Community College after completing each course.
Sign up to Volunteer at 2025 Career Night on Mar. 19
We know you have a cool career…please come talk to Fairview Park students about it at Career Night 2025!
The Fairview High School & Middle School PTA is planning the 2025 Career Night for Wednesday, March 19 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Fairview High School gym. The HS/MS PTA is looking for volunteers to showcase their careers and chat with students during this casual open-house event. We aim to have 80-90 volunteers representing a wide range of careers. We are halfway to our goal with only six weeks until Career Night. Will you join us?
2025 Spring District Music Concerts: March 4-6
March is Music In Our Schools Month! Experience the music and talent of Fairview Park City School District students live in concert this March in Fairview High School's Frank W. Barr Auditorium. Students from Gilles-Sweet Elementary, Lewis F. Mayer Middle School and Fairview High School will perform each night.
District Choir Concert:
Tuesday, March 4 at 7 PM
District Band Concert:
Wednesday, March 5 at 7 PM
District Orchestra Concert:
Thursday, March 6
Grade 5 & 6 begin at 6 PM
Grades 7-12 at 7 PM
Fairview Stagecrafters Present "The Little Mermaid," Mar. 28-30
Join us “Under the Sea” as Fairview Stagecrafters and
International Thespian Troupe 8671 present Disney’s
The Little Mermaid in the Frank W. Barr Auditorium at FHS. Performances
will be March 28 & 29 at 7 PM and March 30 at 2 PM.
Click here to purchase tickets online or for information about sponsorship opportunities in the program. Purchase sponsorships by March 7th.
2023-2024 Annual Report
From big wins to inspiring moments, see all the incredible achievements from last school year in our 2023-2024 Annual Report. Information in our annual report includes our strategic plan, skills profile, financial stewardship, academics, arts, athletics, Class of 2024, our year in review and more.
Click here to view the 2023-2024 Annual Report or find it on our website at fairviewparkschools.org/
Warrior Wire Newsletter In Your Mailbox
The latest issue of our printed newsletter, the Warrior Wire, will be delivered to mailboxes in Fairview Park at the end of this month!
In this Winter issue of the Warrior Wire, we reflect on the success of last school year with a condensed version of our 2023-2024 Annual Report. We highlight a recent Book Drive held at Mayer Middle School in December, while previewing upcoming events this Spring.
Check your mailboxes for your issue of the Warrior Wire. You can also read the Winter issue online and view past issues at
Kindergarten & New Student Registration
Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open! Welcome to the Class of 2038!
The registration process is easy and 100% online at fairviewparkschools.org/
Find everything you need, including:
General information
Required documents
Frequently asked questions
Link to begin registration
Do you have a student who is new to the Fairview Park City School District next year?
New student registration for Grades 1-12 begins on Monday, March 3, 2025. Visit fairviewparkschools.org/
registration for more information and to begin online registration.