60 SECONDS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
We have seen and heard some fantastic performances this month from our very talented musicians. Click HERE for this week’s episode and enjoy some highlights of the Winter Concerts from our elementary, middle school, and high school students!
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - MR. MIKE HICAR, BUS DRIVER / SCS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
Mr. Mike Hicar is a Bus Driver for our District’s Transportation Department. Mike has been driving for five years for Strongsville City Schools. A U.S. Postal Service retiree, he enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren, when he is not behind the wheel transporting students in our District. According to Mike, this role provides him “the opportunity to work in public service in my residential community.”
“Safely getting students to and from school is the top priority for our Transportation Department. This is accomplished because of our great team. One of the best parts of my job is the camaraderie and being able to work alongside my fellow bus drivers and aides. They are truly the hidden gems of our District,” said Mike.
Thank you Mike for your continued efforts in our District and being a part of this great transportation team! #BeTheDifference
NEW STEAMERS INSTALLED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KITCHENS
Our District's Maintenance staff are installing new steamers in our elementary school kitchens. Steamers will provide greater efficiencies (faster cook times) and more flavorful food - items retain more flavor and nutrients when cooked in steam. Steamers will be operating in all of our elementary school cafeterias when we return from winter break!
KINDERGARTEN INFORMATIONAL MEETING FOR 2023-24 - WED. 1/11 (5:30PM)
There will be an informational meeting for parents of incoming kindergarten students (2023-24 school year) on Wednesday, January 11 at 5:30pm. The virtual informational meeting will be live streamed HERE.
Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) requests for the 2023-24 school year will once again occur exclusively online. Online FDK requests will begin at 8:00am on Thursday, January 12. Click HERE for the informational flyer
GUEST SPEAKERS IN SHS CLASSES
The high school welcomed several guest speakers over the past few weeks, providing students “real world” examples of concepts, projects, and lessons they are experiencing in their classes. Thanks to Michelle Anthony of Subin Insurance, Bill Nicol of Serpentini Chevrolet, and Sarah Bass and Carrie Wood of Erie Bank for their insight and time spent with Mrs. Kubaitis’ and Ms. Deutsch’s Financial Algebra classes. And thanks to Gabe Spiegel of FOX 8 Cleveland for sharing his industry experiences with Ms. Keirn-Swanson’s Broadcast Journalism class.
STRONGSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL WRESTLERS WIN TOURNAMENT
Congratulations to the Strongsville Middle School wrestling team for capturing first place at their conference “East vs. West” showdown. This team has many student-athletes who are participating in the sport for the first time - they have shown great growth and development so far this season!
WINTER CONCERTS - WATCH THEM ON-DEMAND
Wonderful winter concerts showcasing our instrumental and vocal groups have been happening at all of our schools. If you can’t make it to a “live” concert or want to see an encore performance, click HERE for all of the concerts you can watch “on demand” now and throughout winter break.
RIGHT AT SCHOOL - BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR SCS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FAMILIES
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, please click on the following links to access websites dedicated to each of our elementary school locations: Chapman, Kinsner, Muraski, Surrarrer, Whitney
STAY SAFE. SPEAK UP!
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).
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Baldwin Wallace Holiday Math Mini-Camp (Sat. December 17)
Kick off winter break with amazing hands-on math fun at Baldwin Wallace’s Holiday Math Mini-Camp on December 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kindergarteners through sixth graders will enjoy holiday math-themed crafts, games, puzzles, and learning activities with brilliant and talented Baldwin Wallace University faculty and student mathematicians!
Drop off your kids at the Knowlton Center to get holiday errands and shopping done and we’ll have a blast! In addition, kids will have math takeaways sure to snowball into many more hours of fun to stay engaged with math over holiday break!
The camp is $70 per student, which includes lunch, crafts that can be holiday gifts, and take-home activities. A Sibling Discount of 10% off per additional child is available and will be automatically credited at checkout. Click HERE for the event flyer. Questions? Please email dcl@bw.edu
Winter Chess Camp - Strongsville Rec Center
Winter Chess Camp is coming to the Strongsville Rec Center! Winter Chess Camp (for ages 6 – 12 years) is a super-fun, high-energy chess experience in which kids celebrate a new chess tactic each day with silly videos, music driven puzzlers for prizes, colorful silicone TactixBands, and so much more! Winter Chess Camp meets for 3 hours in the afternoon for a full week - Monday, December 19 - Friday, December 23. Click HERE for the event flyer. Space is limited and registration is currently open. You can register by calling the Rec Center front desk at 440-580-3260 or online at https://strongsville.activityreg.com
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January Luncheon
“Business Branding & Incorporating Social Media” with Andor Creative
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
11:30am - 1:00pm
Strongsville Library
Please note the following January 2023 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.
*The Library and Administrative offices will be closed December 24th & 25th for the Christmas Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Monday, December 26th at 9:00 a.m.
*The Library and Administrative offices will be closed December 31st and January 1st for the New Year Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Monday, January 2nd at 9:00 a.m.
*The Library branches and administrative offices will be open normal hours on Monday, January 16th, 2023: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
IN-PERSON Storytimes. Strongsville Branch Library will resume storytimes in-person in January. Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays and stories. No registration needed!
Baby & Me. Birth to 18 months with Caregiver. Mondays / 10:00 – 10:20 a.m.; Thursdays / 10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Preschool. Ages 3-5 not yet in Kindergarten with Caregiver. Mondays / 11:30 a.m. – Noon.; Tuesdays / 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.; Tuesdays / 11:30 a.m. – Noon.
Toddler. 19 – 35 months with Caregiver. Wednesdays / 10:00 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.; Wednesdays / 11:30 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
Family. All Ages with Caregiver. Thursdays / 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Young at Heart. Tuesday, January 3rd / 7:00 p.m. A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for January's discussion is Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff, 2021. No registration. Everyone Welcome!
Computer Classes IN PERSON. Cuyahoga County Public Library offers computer classes for beginners to advanced. Classes are currently being held in-person as well as some VIRTUALLY which requires a web browser and an internet connection. There is no additional software to download. Google Chrome is the recommended browser. A valid email address is required for registration. Registrants will receive an email with a link to join the class at least an hour before the start time. 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://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Computer-Classes/2021-Virtual-and-In-Person-classes.aspx
Saturday, January 14th / 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Adobe InDesign.
Wicked CLE. Tuesday, January 10th / 7:00 p.m. Award-winning true crime author Jane Turzillo brings together the strippers, gangsters, robbers, shady politicians and more from Cleveland’s to rough and rowdy past. From world-class museums and popular sports teams to peaceful parks and charming neighborhoods, Cleveland has a lot to offer. But it has a wilder, darker side. Along the one-block passageway called Short Vincent, tourists and celebrities mixed with bookies and mobsters for drinks and dinner, underworld gossip and all kinds of “entertainment.” In 1969, Ted Conrad disappeared with $215,000 in stolen cash. An obituary more than fifty years later finally told the authorities where he went. In the wee hours of March 24, 1970, someone slipped up to the front of the Cleveland Museum of Art and planted a bomb on the marble pedestal that supported Rodin’s The Thinker. Who and why remain unknown.
Family Science Night: Sound. Ages 3 – 5 with Caregiver. Wednesday, January 11th / 7:00 – 7:45 p.m. Come make some noise as you learn about the science of sound with hands-on experiments and musical activities.
Blood Drive. Friday, January 13th / 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).
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, January 18th / 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 January discussion title will be The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.
iMovie Basics. Thursday, January 19th / 7:00 p.m. Learn about the basics of iMovie, 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.
Studio Orientation. VIRTUAL on Saturday, January 21st / 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. OR IN PERSON on Monday, January 30th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. 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 or in-person sessions.
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, January 23rd / 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 always welcome. We welcome all adults interested in reading and discussing great books! Our next discussion title will be The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.
Family Science Night: Snap Circuits. Wednesday, January 25th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Snap Circuits electrical components provide hands-on experience designing and building models of working electrical circuits. Snap Circuits are appropriate for ages 8 to 108. Registration is required. When registering, please register as a family. Space will be limited to 10 families.
Iditarod Trail Adventure. Tuesday, January 31 / 7:00 p.m. Learn about the unique Iditarod Sled Dog Race past and present as Eleanor Csizmadia returns home from the 2022 Iditarod! Fresh off predicting the last two races, Eleanor is ready to share her knowledge and fun facts about her favorite sporting event in the world. Learn how to follow the race from home and what makes the event so special. This presentation is sponsored by the Friends of Strongsville Branch Library.
Stay Connected with Strongsville City Schools
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
Twitter: @strongsvillecs