Mustang Moments

Wednesday, February 7

Parent Teacher Conference Night (Preschool) - 3:45pm - 6:45pm
Parent Teacher Conference Night (Grades K-5) - 4:45pm - 7:45pm
Parent Teacher Conference Night (Grades 6-8) - 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Thursday, February 8
Parent Teacher Conference Night (Grades 6-8) - 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Parent Teacher Conference Night (Grades 9-12) - 3:15pm - 6:15pm

Thursday, February 8 - 6:00pm
College Credit Plus Informational Meeting (Virtual)
Click HERE to access the meeting

Thursday, February 8 - 7:00pm
Strongsville Board of Education Meeting*
SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.)
* SCS Board of Education Meetings are live streamed HERE

Friday, February 16 - NO SCHOOL
Staff Professional Development Day
Asynchronous Day for HDK

Monday, February 19 - NO SCHOOL
Presidents Day

Confused about some of the talk in the community regarding the renewal levy for Strongsville City Schools? A virtual "Community Conversation" was held recently, with the opportunity to learn the facts and clear up some of the misinformation about this renewal levy on the March ballot. Dr. Cameron Ryba (SCS Superintendent), Mr. George Anagnostou (SCS Treasurer), and Mr. Richard Micko (SCS Board President) presented renewal levy facts and information. If you missed it, this Community Conversation can be viewed at www.strongnet.org/scs-tv. If you have further questions you would like answered about the renewal levy, please click HERE. Additional information and facts about the SCS Renewal Levy can be found on the District website or by clicking HERE.

Our Chapman 5th graders had the opportunity to research a US National Park. Their project included creating a diorama and a tri-fold board which they presented to their classmates. Parents and family members also were invited to Chapman to hear the students present on what they learned about their National Park. Click HERE for this week’s ‘60 Seconds’ episode to hear more about the exciting research projects conducted by our Chapman 5th graders!

The Strongsville High School Dance Team earned the title of STATE CHAMPIONS this past weekend at the OASSA Dance State Championship! The competition was made up of the best teams from across Ohio. After 11 hours of intense competition, the team not only became State Champions in the lyrical category, but also placed in the top 5 in the state for every category they entered and received a nomination for Best Choreography of the day. The work ethic and dedication of this team is nothing short of amazing and has truly paid off. The team is under the direction of Coach Mackenzie Grimm and Captain Katie Sanuk. The team would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the Strongsville Athletic Boosters for funding their States entry fees this year and for all of their support along the way. Congratulations to the SHS Dance team for this remarkable achievement: Bryar Amalong, Natalie Arslanian, Keira Calloway, Brinn Conlon, Annalisa Crowder, Eliza Gorman, Maddie Gorman, Ella Grebey, Kate Jurcich, Peyton Kaufhold, Liana Kravec, Anna Moravcik, Maddie Morris, Joelle Rush, Katie Sanuk, Kylee Sanuk, Megan Schuff, Lizzie Stetter, Mackenzie Teague, and Zoey Tran.

Where can you spend 90 minutes on one evening, in one location, and interact with over 40 Strongsville City Schools students and staff through nearly 30 stations representing every level and building to learn firsthand the exciting work happening in our District? The annual SCS State of the Schools event on Tuesday, February 13th at 6:00pm.

This year's State of the Schools will be held at Strongsville Middle School and will not only feature a brief presentation by Dr. Cameron Ryba (SCS Superintendent), but also an opportunity for attendees to participate in interactive activities and displays led by SCS students and staff - allowing everyone to experience the great work being done by SCS staff and the student growth happening throughout the District!

Make plans to attend and see the outstanding work of Strongsville City Schools - Inspiring and Empowering Today’s Learners to Build Tomorrow’s Leaders.

Mike Cummins is in his 9th year at Strongsville City Schools and is a skilled maintenance worker for our District. Prior to his current role, he also has been a substitute custodian, a second shift custodian at Chapman, a delivery driver, and a Maintenance Assistant for SCS.

“Every day is different for the staff in our Maintenance Department. We work in all of the buildings and are always involved in different projects. The teamwork in our department is great. We have a shop full of knowledgeable guys, and everyone is willing to share their knowledge and experience as we work together to accomplish each job. We have been able to save our District tens of thousands of dollars per year because of the projects that we can handle in-house with our team. Some of my favorite projects have been the concrete work at the new tennis courts, building the outdoor pavilion at Muraski, and reconstructing the classroom and life skills area at Strongsville High School. ”

“I am proud that we can play a part in helping kids grow and develop. We make sure every day that the buildings in our District are safe and secure. Having been around the District for a number of years, it’s great to know that you can - and do - have an impact on students.”

Thank you Mr. Cummins for being part of a great Maintenance Department and for your continued valuable work in our District! #ModelMustang

At Whitney Elementary, ten 5th graders have been selected to have their writing published in an anthology by Young Writers. In the fall, Mrs. Ambroziak and Mrs. Bongers collaborated on a writing enrichment project through Young Writers called the Spooky Sagas Contest. The task was to write a suspenseful story in under 100 words. Submissions were judged on creativity, craft, originality, and compared with students all over the country. The ten published authors include: Anya Annamaneni, Lydia Belvin, Chloe Cai, Abigail Hantak, Natalie Jennings, Dylan Smith, Riya Sridharan, Alina Stone, Luciella Stone, and Joshua Storm. The anthology will be published this April. These students remain eligible for the grand prize to be announced soon!

ATTN: Students currently in grades 6-11. If you are planning on continuing in, or taking any classes next school year (2024-2025) through College Credit Plus, the informational meeting is planned for February 8th at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be virtual as it has been the last few years. The link to join the meeting can be found HERE and will go live just a few minutes before 6:00 pm. Please plan to attend as there is lots of important information that gets covered. Even if you plan to take College Credit Plus classes offered at SHS with our teachers, you still must complete all steps required to participate.

We are preparing for the 2024-2025 cheer season! We will have a parent/student-athlete meeting on Monday, February 12th at 6:30pm in the SHS Auditorium. During this meeting we will cover expectations, schedule and tryouts. We encourage anyone interested in cheering to attend as we will be making some adjustments to our guidelines that may accommodate more to try out than in past seasons. We are excited for next season and look forward to meeting you at the Monday, February 12th meeting. If you have any questions please feel free to email Coach Orlosky at jorlosky@scsmustangs.org.

Click Here to Register for the 2024-2025 Cheerleading Tryouts

Congratulations to the Strongsville Special Olympics Basketball team that competed at SPIRE Institute and won four games to advance to the State Championship games at BGSU the weekend of Feb 23rd. The team is coached by Syd Mertz and includes SHS current students and alumni: Paige Applegate (SHS Class of 2024), Alex Barth (SHS Class of 2015), Mark Donifrio (SHS Class of 2012), Jake D'Orazio (SHS Class of 2019), Phillip Fischer (SHS Class of 2019), Caden Hudson (SHS Class of 2025), Frank Zachlin (SHS Class of 2001), and Coach Matt Kosik (SHS Class of 2002).

Celebrate Mustangs Girls Basketball alumni, Reagan Bass (SHS Class of 2021), on Wednesday, February 14 with the launch of her first ever collegiate trading card. All fans in attendance at the Girls Basketball games that evening (SHS vs. Medina) will receive an officially licensed University of Akron Reagan Bass Trading Card, courtesy of Greenie Sports Cards. Attendees will have the opportunity for a “meet and greet” with Reagan, prior to the varsity game (Senior Night!) at 7pm and get their cards autographed by the SHS and University of Akron basketball star. Her accomplishments will also be celebrated during a special halftime presentation.

Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) requests for the 2024-25 school year are now happening exclusively online. Click HERE for information on full day kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year.

A virtual informational meeting for parents of incoming kindergarten students (2024-25 school year) was also recently held. This informational meeting can be watched on demand HERE.

Current 8th Grade students (SHS Class of 2028) and their families should have received information about upcoming deadline dates, as it relates to scheduling for next year. Please click HERE for a letter from the SHS Guidance Office outlining the important dates to remember over the next few weeks.

Junior and Senior students in Strongsville High School’s two-year marketing program (DECA) competed at the DECA District Competition last week against approximately 350 students from other high schools in the area. As part of the competition, students took a 100 question marketing test and presented a role play presentation in front of a judge. Both scores were factored into their final score. This year, only the top three individuals and teams advanced to the state level.

Despite the recent bad weather cutting into preparation time, our students showed resiliency in their hard work and efforts. Out of the 80 students at SHS who competed, 55 of them qualified to participate in the Ohio DECA State Competition in March. We are very proud of everything these students have accomplished! Click HERE for the complete list of SHS students headed to the DECA State Competition.

Doughnut lovers - here’s a treat for you, which also benefits the SHS Theatre Department. Order charitable, fresh to order, and perfectly glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts to support the upcoming SHS spring musical, Chicago: Teen Edition. From now until March 2, order a dozen (or more) doughnuts online HERE and 50% of orders will be donated back to the SHS Theatre Department. Orders MUST be made through the fundraising link and are NOT LIMITED to the local Middleburg Heights location - so please share with family & friends in other cities and states.

SHS Wrestling Alumni Night will take place on February 9th at 7pm in the SHS Main Gym. Let’s pack the stands with wrestling alumni! All alumni will also receive free admission to the match - please register HERE.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court is once again celebrating Black History Month by displaying student artwork on the first floor of its downtown Cleveland building. Strongsville High School National Art Honor Society students, under the guidance of Ms. Trussa, have several tribute portraits on display. Click HERE for their amazing artwork. You can also see the artwork displayed on the first floor of the Cuyahoga County Justice Center (by the north windows) during normal business hours until the end of this month. SHS student artists who have tribute artwork in this gallery (and their portrait subjects): William Began (Bob Marley & Jimi Hendrix), Gabriella Burlinghaus (James Baldwin), Abigail Eckels (Marsha P. Johnson), Bethany Horn (Whitney Houston), Emma Keeling (Malcolm X), Mercury Lawson (Shirley Chisholm), Isabella Maldonado (Ronnie Spector), Chloe Mance (Tina Turner), Amanda Merriman (Sarah Vaughan), Rheanna Mitchell (Martin Luther King, Jr.), Heyda Sai Sangam (Ruby Bridges), Lyla Ramage (Marsha P. Johnson), Aayushi Shrivastava (Bessie Coleman), Carm Sobeck (Minnie Riperton), and Haley Walkuski (Sidney Poitier)

"Here Comes The Bus" is an app for SCS families to track busing information and routes for their student(s), as well as real-time notifications.

The app and complementary website (www.herecomesthebus.com) - available on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, or personal computer - enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus on its daily route.

Download the "Here Comes the Bus" app to monitor daily transportation information. Families that utilized the app last year will need to delete last year’s student information and add their current year information in order to receive the latest routing details and updates. Click HERE for additional information and instructions on utilizing the app for your student's bus routes.

Our District partners with the nationally recognized school enrichment provider, Right At School, to provide before- and after-school care for elementary students. Right at School offers before- and after-school care every weekday (Monday-Friday) at each of the elementary school buildings in our District. For additional program information and/or to enroll your student, please click HERE.

Strongsville City Schools encourages students, teachers, staff, parents, and other members of our community to report any instances of potential violence, bullying, self-harm or any other issue where students may be at risk. Click HERE for additional Stay Safe. Speak Up! Information on the District’s website. Reporting incidents can be made anonymously online or through a toll free number (​1-866-listen2me / 1-866-547-8362).

Strongsville Community Theatre - Auditions for “Our Town” (February 5-6)
The Strongsville Community Theatre is holding auditions for their production of “Our Town” on Monday, February 5 and Tuesday, February 6 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Strongsville Senior Center (18100 Royalton Road). ALL ROLES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL AUDITIONERS AGES 14 AND UP. Rehearsals will begin in early March with the majority being held at Strongsville High School’s "Little Theater” (20025 Lunn Road). Rehearsals will consist of Monday thru Wednesday evenings from 7-10pm. There will be a few Sunday and Thursday evening rehearsals in early March. Click HERE for the audition flyer.

Baldwin Wallace STEM Adventures
Baldwin Wallace University’s Division of STEM Initiatives is hosting a variety of STEM programs and events this Spring for students in grades K-12 and families. Click HERE for the list of programs being offered on BW’s campus or visit bw.edu/DCLSTEM.

Volunteer Opportunity for High School Students

A Special Wish Foundation Northeast Ohio is once again partnering with SouthPark Mall to host the Princess Ball event on Sunday, February 11th. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go towards granting a Big Wish for a deserving A Special Wish child in northeast Ohio. The event is in need of volunteers and looking for high school students to assist. Details are below:

Volunteer Schedule:

Registration: 7:00 am – 7:15 am

Shift Meeting + Station Assignment: 7:15 am – 7:45 am

Volunteer Shift: 7:45 am – 12:30 pm

*Total volunteer hours = 5.5 hours

To sign up for this volunteer opportunity, please email Robin at robin@aspecialwishneo.org – please include your preferred t-shirt size in the email to receive a volunteer t-shirt at registration.

Join the Strongsville Special Olympics family! Strongsville Special Olympics has a number of sports opportunities for ages 8 and up. Participants can gain new sports skills, attend annual dances and picnics, and make lifelong friends! Email strongsvillespecialolympics@gmail.com for additional information or click HERE.

Youth Lacrosse - Spring Registration

Come be a part of America’s fastest growing sport! Strongsville Youth Lacrosse has been growing since 2008 and registration for the 2024 season is now open for boys and girls in 2nd-8th grades. Indoor practices begin in mid-February and the outdoor season runs from late March through May. All experience levels welcome. All information is included on the registration site - click HERE.

Treehouse Berea Programming

Treehouse Berea is offering many activities and opportunities for students. From Battle Bots to Coding to Minecraft Engineers - there's something for kids ages 6-13. Visit treehouseberea.com to learn more or click HERE for the flyer about the available activities.

Strongsville Chamber of Commerce

Please note the following upcoming events hosted by the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce. Registration is required for all events. Please call 440.238.3366 for more information or to register. Those interested in the following events may also visit the Chamber website (www.strongsvillechamber.com) to register and see additional event info.

*** 2024 CHAMBER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! ***
Graduating Seniors in the Class of 2024 who are residents of Strongsville are invited to apply.
Please visit the Chamber website at www.strongsvillechamber.com.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024.

UPCOMING EVENTS
February Business Luncheon
“Aerozone Alliance: Where Innovation Takes Flight”
Presented by Hrishue Mahalaha, & Mary Jo Schmidt, Aerozone Alliance
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Road
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
11:30am - 1:00pm
Registration is Open, please visit www.strongsvillechamber.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
March Business Luncheon State of the City Address, Presented by Mayor Thomas P. Perciak Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Road
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 11:15am - 1:00pm
Registration Opens February 17, 2024

2023 Strongsville Homecoming Festival
July 24 - July 27, 2024

Strongsville Library

Please note the following February 2024 events presented by the Strongsville Branch Library. Please call (440) 238-5530 to register or for more information. Customers may also visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org to register and to see more library event information.

CCPL Winter Program Guide The Cuyahoga County Public Library program guide is now digital! Want to find out about all the amazing library programs and resources happening around the system? You can view our Fall Program information here: https://www.pressreader.com/document/4050

English as a Second Language Classes by Aspire Greater Cleveland. If you need to learn English or improve your language skills, we can help. Aspire Greater Cleveland offers FREE beginner, intermediate and advanced-level English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. Strongsville Branch will be hosting morning classes on Thursdays and Fridays. Please call 833.ASPIRE2 (1.833.277.4732) to register or visit https://cuyahogalibrary.org/services/adult-education/aspire-greater-cleveland for more information.

IN-PERSON Storytimes. Strongsville Branch Library storytimes are on back in session in January! Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. No registration needed.

Preschool. Ages 3 – 5 not yet in kindergarten with caregiver / Mondays at 11:30 a.m. – Noon or Tuesdays at 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. – Noon.
Toddler. Ages 19 – 35 months with caregiver / Wednesdays at 10:00 – 10:25 a.m. or 11:30 – 11:55 a.m.
Baby & Me. Birth – 18 months with caregiver / Mondays at 10:00 – 10:20 a.m. or Thursdays at 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.

Family. All ages with caregiver / Thursdays at 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Playdough Palooza. Ages 3 – 6. Saturday, February 3rd / 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Do you like to squish? Pull? Roll? Join us for a center-based program starring Playdough. Dress for mess!

Teen Board Game Club. Grades 6 – 12. Monday, February 5th / 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Come join a monthly group where we learn and play a new game each month! Just stop in! No registration required!

How AI is Impacting our World. Monday, February 5th / 7:00 p.m. Integration and technology educator Gary Arnosk will cover a brief history of the inception of computers using speech-to-text and voice recognition, the employment of smart phones and digital assistants, and the development of augmented and virtual reality combining with the future of autonomous vehicles and ChatGPT.

Digital Navigators. Tuesday, February 6th / 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 7th / 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Call for Appointment. Call us at 216.749.9420 to make an appointment with one of our Digital Navigators at a CCPL branch. Our Digital Navigators service offers one-on-one assistance to help you or someone you know connect to the internet, get a device, set up a telehealth appointment.

Young at Heart Book Discussion. Tuesday, February 6th / 7:00 p.m. A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for our next discussion is Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O'Shaughnessy. No registration. Everyone Welcome!

Garage Band Basics. Wednesday, February 7th / 7:00 p.m. Learn about the basics of Garage Band, available in our Recording Studios. We'll review the software and answer questions you may have. We will also review Studio Orientation materials so all participants will be free to use the Recording Studio after the program.

Saturday Crafter-Noon! Ages 3+ with Caregiver. Saturday, February 10th / 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. If you’re not sure what to do on the first Saturday afternoon of the month, look no further! Create a one-of-a-kind craft in our storytime room. While Supplies Last!

CreativiTeen. Teens in Grades 6 – 12. Wednesday, February 14th / 3:30 – 5:15 p.m. Drop-in to the TEEN AREA any time between 3:30 and 5:00 for a craft, technology demo, or other activity! No registration required. While supplies last.

Heartfelt Gingerbread House Program. Ages 3 – 6 with a caregiver. Wednesday, February 14th / 7:00 – 7:45 p.m. Celebrate love and friendship by building a "Loving Home" out of graham crackers, frosting, and candy! We'll share a story or two and listen to songs to inspire our artistic talents.

Healthy Shopping 101. Thursday, February 15th / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. This workshop will focus on the beginner steps when starting your journey to clean eating and will teach you how to start where you are! We will focus on what healthy products you can purchase at your local grocery stores (e.g., Aldi, Save A Lot, Walmart). Roubideaux is the owner of Food with a Purpose. Registration is required and begins on January 15th at 9:00 a.m. Space is limited.

Kindergarten Countdown: Goal Setting. For children entering Kindergarten this Fall & their Caregivers. Friday, February 16th / 11:00 a.m. – Noon. Join us as we help your child build kindergarten readiness skills in a program aligned to Ohio’s Early Childhood Standards. This session, we will focus on goal setting.

Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Saturday, February 17th / 10:00 a.m. VIRTUAL or on Monday, February 26th / 7:00 p.m. IN PERSON Have you ever thought about recording your own music, making a video, digitizing memories and more? The Strongsville Branch Library is home to both Audio and Video Recording studios that can help you do just that! You must go through an orientation to use the spaces. Patrons 11 & up can participate in the orientation and must turn in the User Agreement form at the branch for the orientation to count. Register online to attend the virtual session.

Minute to Win It Challenges. Ages 9 - 11. Monday, February 19th / 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. You have only 60 seconds to complete a variety of challenges to win it all. From stacking cups without using your hands to a marshmallow toss. Do you have what it takes?

Excel Advanced Methods and Tools. Tuesday, February 20th / 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Learn how to use some of the advanced functions available in Excel, including lookup, logical functions and conditional summary functions. Other topics include data validation, Goal Seek, Scenario Manager and Data Tables. Prerequisite: Excel Basics; Excel Functions Overview encouraged

Cuyahoga County Public Library offers computer classes for beginners to advanced. Registration opens 30 days before the start of the class and closes prior to the start of the class. To see a full class list, descriptions, and to register, please visit https://cuyahogalibrary.org/classes-events/computer-classes

Teen Craft Night: Rainbow Tassel Keychain. For Teens in Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, February 20th / 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Using macrame rope and embroidery thread, learn how to wrap and make a trendy rainbow tassel keychain.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, February 21st / 7:00 p.m. Our Wednesday Evening Book Discussion meets at 7p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be The Other Dr. Gilmer by Benjamin Gilmer. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.

Blood Drive. Friday, February 23rd / 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. In just an hour of your time you can help save up to three lives. Make sure hospital patients get the treatment they need. Donate blood today. For more information or to make an appointment visit www.redcrossblood.org or call the American Red Cross at 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).

Read Around the World. All Ages. Saturday, February 24th / 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The Strongsville Kiwanis Club sponsors this annual event for all ages. Each child attending can choose a new book to take home. No registration is needed for this free event. Members of the Strongsville Kiwanis Club will be available to read books to the children. The St. Joseph and John’s Builder's Club members will perform puppet shows throughout the event. There will also be face painting, storytelling, and light refreshments.

Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, February 26th / 2:30 p.m. The Monday Afternoon Book Discussion meets at 2:30 p.m. in the Library on the 4th Monday of each month. No registration is required. New members are always welcome. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel by Shelby Van Pelt. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.

Strongsville High School * Muraski Elementary *

Strongsville Middle School * Surrarrer Elementary *

Chapman Elementary * Whitney Elementary *

Kinsner Elementary * Early Learning Preschool

Website: www.strongnet.org
Location: Strongsville City Schools, 18199 Cook Avenue, Strongsville, OH, United States
Phone: (440) 572-7000
Facebook: facebook.com/strongsvillecs
Instagram: @strongsvillecs

Twitter / X: @strongsvillecs