As the 2024–25 school year draws to a close, North Royalton City Schools are proud to recognize and celebrate the exceptional achievements of our students across all grade levels. From academics and the arts to athletics, leadership, and service, students at North Royalton Elementary, Middle and High Schools have once again demonstrated excellence, character, and Bear pride.
Academic, Artistic & Leadership Highlights – North Royalton High School
The District is proud to announce two National Merit Finalists: Angelina Mondi and Emma Siegel, who were also recognized with the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa award.
Sarah Thomas was published in The Alcott Youth Magazine, and Naisha Chopra, along with teacher Mr. Rhodes, were recognized through the 2025 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Awards. The Science Olympiad team advanced to the state level, while members of the World Affairs Club/Model UN earned Honorable Mention Best Delegate awards: UN Office on Drugs and Crime and Albert Armin (Gr. 11) and Quinn Daiker (Gr. 9) - representing New Zealand.
In the arts, junior Nyah Palmer received multiple Gold Keys in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Her Gold Key works will be judged nationally in New York City. Sana Hameed, also a junior, was a finalist in the Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out Award.
Kees Driesen was named Cleveland Police Explorer of the Year, and Gurucharan Ganapathi received a PTA Reflections Award. Several students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society, including Giancarlo Gulasey, Samantha Hastings, Zeke Johnson, Yuliia Kleban, Nicholas Koukios, Dylan Nikiel, and Cadence Waller.
Royal Harmony, NRHS's show choir, celebrated their most impressive competitive season to date. They were in the top five finalists in every competition they attended this year with their competition show, "I Am Because We Are". Throughout the season, they earned multiple 1st place division awards as well as 4th overall, 3rd overall, 2nd overall, and Grand Champions of the Kenton Cup. They also brought home several caption awards such as best costumes, best instrumental combo, and best vocals.
The NRHS Theatre Department presented a sold-out fall musical production of Shrek the Musical with more than 100 students between cast, crew, and pit orchestra, and followed it up with a spring production of Alice in Wonderland, including a sensory-friendly performance and community tea party. This production showcased 65 students who worked on and off the stage.
The NRHS Choir performed at the Baldwin Wallace Choral Gala, sang the national anthem at a Cleveland Monsters game, and went to New York City over spring break. Students also represented the school at the Suburban League Honor Choir.
Musical Excellence Continues
The Marching Band had a stellar season, earning Grand Champion titles at multiple competitions, including Sandusky-Perkins and Maumee, and received a “Superior” rating at OMEA State Finals—marking 34 consecutive years of Superior ratings.
The Wind Ensemble performed at Severance Hall for the Northeast Ohio Band Invitational. All four high school concert bands earned Superior ratings at the OMEA District Adjudicated Event and competed at the State Adjudicated event this spring.
Athletic Accomplishments
Our student-athletes also achieved greatness:
Football was Suburban League Champions
Girls Soccer finished as State Runner-Up and the boys made the elite 8 in the state.
Boys Basketball made it to the State Final Four
In Wrestling, Mannix Wasco placed 4th and Sophia Antonio took 3rd at States. Anna Tsirambidis qualified for the state tournament in her first season wrestling
In the pool, Jacob Florio and Max Lozinak placed at the State Swim Meet
Boys softball and baseball teams were District Runners-Up
Girls softball was Suburban League Champions
Marissa Ratliff placed first in the pole vault at the State Track Meet
Boys tennis won the conference championship
North Royalton Middle School Celebrates Growth and Impact
NRMS had a year full of academic success, leadership opportunities, and community engagement. In writing, three Power of the Pen students—Katie Scheff, Vivian Smith, and Mirabelle Catrina—qualified for the state competition. Mirabelle reached the final round.
The school hosted its Annual Leadership Conference, welcoming 200 students from 12 regional schools, and featuring motivational speaker Dee Hankins.
In an inspiring act of community service, a group of seventh-grade boys led a food drive that brought in 2,400 items, part of over 6,000 items collected school-wide.
Positive behavior initiatives included catered lunches for monthly winners and the launch of the BEAR Way Shop, where students earned and spent reward tickets, while nominated peers helped manage the store.
NRMS also celebrated a joyful Fourth-Grade Spirit Night where W.E.B. (Where Everyone Belongs) leaders helped welcome the students and expanded its Unified Sports program, participating in and hosting inclusive events such as bowling tournaments, a dance party, soccer, a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball clinic, and a track and field event. At the Dance the Day Away Unified Sports Dance Party, local schools joined NRMS students with the goal of having students meet one another before the competitions started.
The school has applied to become a Nationally Recognized Unified Sports School, underscoring its commitment to inclusion and connection.
Elementary School Accomplishments
North Royalton Elementary School had a year filled with community connection, academic excellence, and student engagement. The school year began with an incredible turnout at the annual Back to School Bash in August 2024, where over 1,000 people gathered for food, fun, and fellowship—highlighted by appearances from popular local food trucks like Swenson’s and the Cleveland Cookie Dough Company. The school’s musical Welcome Back video, themed around Aladdin, was also a major hit, reaching over 3,000 views and setting a joyful tone for the year ahead.
Community engagement remained strong throughout the year, with more than 600 people attending the annual Cedar Point Family Day in June 2024. The event was so successful that plans are already underway for this year’s celebration, scheduled for June 29, 2025, and open to all District families.
Students demonstrated both heart and perseverance through their involvement in Girls on the Run, with nearly 50 girls in third and fourth grade participating in the fall season, culminating in a 5K in Mayfield in November. The program continued its momentum in the spring semester, with another nearly 50 participants completing a 5K in Akron in May. In addition, NRES students raised a remarkable $19,909.29 for the American Heart Association through the Kids’ Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs, underscoring the school’s commitment to health and service.
Academically, the school launched a Whole School Book Club in January where every student received a copy of The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. The campaign culminated in a highly successful Family Literacy Night in February, which brought together nearly 1,000 students, family members, and staff for a celebration of reading. Literacy was further promoted throughout the year via the Book Vending Machine initiative, sponsored by the PTA, which allowed over 300 students to earn books and helped foster a love of reading across grade levels.
NRES also emphasized real-world learning through its partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center to host Career Week from May 5–9. This week-long event introduced students to a wide array of career pathways and future opportunities. Meanwhile, academic achievement was evident in state assessments: third-grade students achieved an 88% passage rate on the Ohio State Tests in Math, and fourth graders outperformed with a 90% passage rate.
To round out the year of service and engagement, the school collaborated with the PTA to organize Family Service Night in April, offering students meaningful opportunities to give back to the community alongside their families. Altogether, it was a year of joy, achievement, and collaboration for North Royalton Elementary School.
From the classroom to the stage, from the court to the community, our Bears continue to rise to the occasion. Congratulations to all students, staff, and families on a fantastic year!