Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2024-25 Vol. 9, Iss. 8)
Inspiring and Empowering Today's Learners to Build Tomorrow's Leaders.
IN THIS ISSUE - October 4, 2024
Important Dates to Remember
60 Seconds with the Superintendent
Issue 53 - SCS Operating Levy
SCS Earns State Report Card 5-Star Rating For 2nd Straight Year
SHS Student Named National Merit Commended Student
Mustang Spotlight - Margaret McKinley, 2nd Grade Teacher at Whitney Elementary
HUDL TV Broadcasts - Stream to Watch Athletic Events Featuring Our Student-Athletes
SCS Annual “Greet & Treat” Event - Monday, 10/28
Cleveland Cavaliers / SCS Night (Sun. 11/24 - 7:30pm)
View Your Student’s Online Activity With Blocksi Parent Portal
Right at School
Stay Safe. Speak Up!
Community Events
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, October 7 - 7:00pm
Strongsville High School Fall Orchestra Concert
SHS Auditorium
Wednesday, October 9
Parent-Teacher Conferences (Evening Sessions)
School is IN SESSION for ALL students
Wednesday, October 9 - 7:00pm
Strongsville Board of Education Meeting*
SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave.)
* SCS Board of Education Meetings are live streamed HERE
Friday, October 11
NO SCHOOL - Conference Comp Day
Wednesday, October 23
Parent-Teacher Conferences (Grades PreK-5 / Evening Sessions)
School is IN SESSION for ALL students
Wednesday, October 23 - 7:00pm
Strongsville High School Fall Choir Concert
SHS Auditorium
60 SECONDS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
SMS Art Teachers Mrs. Wray and Mrs. Valichnac collaborated on a project with their 8th grade students to create an amazing, colorful, collaborative art display for SouthPark Mall. This beautiful display is located on the first level of the Mall, next to Dillard’s. Click HERE to see and hear more about this impactful project!
ISSUE 53 - SCS OPERATING LEVY
Issue 53 will be on the November 5th ballot. Issue 53 replaces the previous 5.9 mill renewal levy for our District. Since Issue 53 is a 4.9 mill continuous levy, it will lower the tax rate for Strongsville residents, while still investing and offering more to students and families, as well as keeping the District financially stable through the 2028-29 school year.
At their meeting on Thursday, September 26, the Board voted on how we will continue to invest in our students and families if the levy passes. The Board also voted on what reductions will occur if the levy fails, as we would need to reduce $3 million out of the budget starting next school year (and every year thereafter) to address the $10 million reduction in annual revenue. The graphic below summarizes the plan and you can also CLICK HERE for more details.
SCS EARNS STATE REPORT CARD 5-STAR RATING FOR 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR
SCS is proud to have earned a 5-Star rating (Significantly Exceeds State Standards) on the State’s annual Report Card for the 2nd straight year! Strongsville City Schools is one of only 68 Ohio school districts, and one of just eleven school districts in Cuyahoga County, to receive the highest rating possible. In addition, all individual schools in our District received a rating of 4 Stars (Exceeds State Standards) or higher.
A detailed presentation of Strongsville City Schools’ State Report Card results will be delivered at the Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Board of Education meeting. The meeting begins at 7:00pm and will be held at the SCS Administrative Offices (18199 Cook Ave. / Strongsville / 44136) and also live streamed at www.scsmustangs.org/scstv.
Strongsville City Schools State Report Card results on the Ohio Department of Education website can be found HERE.
SHS SENIOR NAMED NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENT
Congratulations to Strongsville High School Senior Joelle Rush for being named a National Merit Commended Student. In order to be recognized as a Commended Student, Joelle finished in the top 3-4% nationally on the PSAT.
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - MARGARET McKINLEY, 2ND GRADE TEACHER AT WHITNEY ELEMENTARY
Mrs. Margaret McKinley teaches 2nd grade at Whitney Elementary. Mrs. McKinley has worked in our District for 20 years, with experience at all of our elementary buildings. She earned her undergraduate degree from Cleveland State University and her graduate degree from Baldwin Wallace.
“I love seeing students excited and open to learning new things. It is great to see the effort they put into their work. My students really keep me young and I learn new things from them everyday. They continue to help each other out and they are so generous and kind to each other.”
“I have always loved being part of the Whitney Elementary family. The teachers enjoy collaborating and planning fun activities for the students. It is great to walk through the hallways and have my past students say “Hi.” The PTA plans so many activities for the kids and they are so excited to see their teachers outside of the school day. It is a joy to come to work each day with our great staff and students.”
Thank you Mrs. McKinley for helping our 2nd graders be the very best they can be at Whitney Elementary! #ModelMustang
HUDL TV BROADCASTS - STREAM TO WATCH ATHLETIC EVENTS FEATURING OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES
Stream and watch SHS athletic events from Pat Catan Stadium and the SHS Main Gym on the new HUDL TV. Simply search for Strongsville High School at fan.hudl.com or download the HUDL Fan app in your app store. Gameday passes are $12.50 and grant access to all HUDL TV streams for that day. For example, if you purchase a pass to stream a JV volleyball game, you’ll also have access to the freshmen and varsity games, as they are held consecutively at the same location. Season passes are available for $195, offering access to all events on all streams throughout the season. Coming soon, we will also be streaming games from the SMS Main Gym and SMS Serpentini Field on HUDL TV.
SCS ANNUAL “GREET & TREAT” EVENT - MONDAY, 10/28
The Strongsville City Schools annual “Greet & Treat” event will be held at Strongsville High School’s Pat Catan Stadium on Monday, October 28 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Dress up in your best Halloween costume and collect candy and treats in an outdoor, family-friendly atmosphere. We will also be accepting donations of non-perishable items, especially cereal, canned fruits, canned vegetables, and Macaroni & Cheese, for the Strongsville Food Bank and other local food pantries that evening. We hope to see lots of families at this year’s “Greet & Treat” on October 28!
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS / SCS NIGHT (SUN. 11/24 - 7:30PM)
Don’t miss a special Strongsville City Schools Night with the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The Cavs battle the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, November 24 - Tip off is at 7:30pm. For families that purchase tickets, SCS students will be entered into a drawing to be a part of the Pregame Visiting Team Cheer Tunnel. Click HERE to purchase tickets.
VIEW YOUR STUDENT’S ONLINE ACTIVITY WITH BLOCKSI PARENT PORTAL
Over the summer, the District expanded its partnership with Blocksi to include student content filtering and alerts. We no longer utilize SecURLy for these services. Click HERE to view an informational flier about joining the Blocksi Parent Portal to gain insights on your student’s online behavior with their scsmustangs account, as well as set parental controls beyond the school. If you have any questions, contact Dave Binkley - Director of Instructional Technology - at dbinkley@scsmustangs.org.
RIGHT AT SCHOOL
Right At School is once again providing care for SCS K-5 students before and after school at each of our elementary buildings. For more information on registering with Right at School for the 2024-2025 school year, click HERE.
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
Body Confident Interactive Workshop - Friday, October 11
Thrive Through Tennis, a nonprofit organization based in Broadview Heights that offers tennis programs for underserved populations, is hosting an interactive workshop on Friday, October 11 from 1:00pm - 4:15pm for girls ages 10-15. This workshop includes group discussions, activities, and tennis play on the courts, with tennis pro led activities, applicable to all experience levels. Click HERE for the event flyer.
Jr. Cavs Youth Basketball League
Sign up now to join the Jr. Cavs Youth Basketball League through the Strongsville Recreation Department! Registration ends on October 13. Leagues are open for boys and girls ages K-12. Register at strongsville.activityreg.com. Click HERE for additional information.
Strongsville Community Theatre Annual Scholarship Benefit Show - A Tribute to Cole Porter
The Strongsville Community Theatre presents its annual scholarship benefit show on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26. The shows will take place at the Strongsville Senior Center, featuring "Jim's Little Big Band" along with a group of SCT singers presenting a wonderful program of delightful music of Cole Porter.
SCT has been able to award over $30,000 in scholarships to deserving Strongsville High School seniors pursuing the performing arts at the university level. The proceeds from this show will help SCT continue to offer these important scholarships.
Reservations are limited; please call 440-879-8817, or go online to purchase your tickets at strongsvillecommunitytheatre.com. Click HERE for additional information.
Strongsville Rec Center - Upcoming Programs
Register now for great programs at the Strongsville Rec Center, including Mad Science featuring interactive activities exploring the world of science and Crayola Imagine Arts Academy. Click HERE for additional information on each of these opportunities. Register at strongsville.activityreg.com
Two Youth Lacrosse Opportunities
** Rec Center Youth Lacrosse Clinic - click HERE for additional information and register at:
https://strongsville.activityreg.com/selectactivity_t2.wcs (Click on "2024 Fall" then "Sports-Youth" and then "Youth Lacrosse Clinic")
** Sunday Youth Lacrosse Clinics - FREE sessions every Sunday throughout the fall! Whether you’re an experienced player looking to sharpen your skills in the offseason or someone new wanting to try out this exciting sport, this clinic is perfect for you. Open to Grades 3-8 / Sundays (September 8 - October 20) / Girls 9am-10:30am; Boys 10:45am-12:15pm / at Strongsville Middle School Field / Questions: email: exec@stronglax.com
For Existing Players: Keep a stick in your hands and stay in top form! Our clinics provide an awesome opportunity to work on your game in a fun and relaxed environment. It’s a great way to maintain your skills and stay active, all for free!
For New Players: Curious about lacrosse? Bring a friend and come see what it’s all about! Our clinic offers a low-stakes, friendly atmosphere for trying out the sport. If you need equipment, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.
Treehouse Berea Programming
Treehouse Berea is offering many activities and opportunities for students. From Coding to Robotics to Minecraft Engineers - there's lots of great STEAM based enrichment experiences for kids ages 6-12. 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October Business Luncheon
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 (11:30am – 1:00pm)
City of Strongsville Update with Mayor Thomas Perciak
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville
Registration Opens: September 18, 2024
2024 Strongsville Community Business Expo
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Business to Business Networking: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Open to the Public, FREE to attend: 5:00pm-7:00pm
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville
To register your business to participate, visit: https://forms/strongville.org/business-expo-registration/
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
November Business Luncheon
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Ehrnfelt Rec & Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville
11:30am-1:00pm
Holiday Scholarship Dance
Friday, December 6, 2024 7:00p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Encore Event Center (formerly Michaud’s)
16808 Pearl Rd. / Strongsville
Strongsville Library
Please note the following October 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 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 Program information by going to cuyahogalibrary.org and click on Research & Discover to use the Press Reader resource here:
https://cuyahogalibrary.org/research-discover/resources-a-z/pressreader
IN-PERSON Storytimes. Storytimes are for Birth to Age 5 not yet in Kindergarten. No registration needed!
Baby & Me (Birth to 18 months with a Caregiver) - Mondays / 10:00 - 10:20 a.m. OR Thursdays / 10:00 - 10:20 a.m.
Preschool (Ages 3 - 5 not yet in Kindergarten with a Caregiver) - Mondays / 11:30 a.m. - Noon OR Tuesdays / 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. OR 11:30 a.m. - Noon
Toddler (Ages 19 - 35 months with a Caregiver) - Wednesdays / 10:00 - 10:25 a.m. OR 11:30 - 11:55 a.m.
Family - Thursdays / 7:00 -
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.
Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Saturday, October 5th or 19th / 10:00 a.m. VIRTUAL or on Monday, October 28th / 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.
Blood Drive. Monday, October 7th / 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 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).
Teen Knit & Crochet Club. Teens Grades 6 - 12. Monday, October 7th / 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Do you like to craft? Do you know how to knit, crochet, or hand sew? Bring your own project and come hang out with other teens who also love to make things! NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
Digital Navigator at Strongsville Branch. Tuesday, October 8th OR Wednesday, October 9th from 1:00 - 6:30 p.m. OR Friday, October 11th from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call us at 216.749.9420 to make an appointment with one of our Digital Navigators at a CCPL branch. Cuyahoga County Public Library’s 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 and more.
Internet Basics. Wednesday, October 9th / 10:00 a.m. - Noon. Learn how to enter and format text and images, change line spacing, and copy and paste in Microsoft Word. Saving and printing tips will also be discussed. Prerequisite: Experience using a mouse or Computer Basics. Earn a Northstar Digital Literacy Certificate for this class with the successful completion of an assessment. Learn more about this certification.
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
Southwest General Health Talk: Breast Cancer Awareness. Wednesday, October 9th / 7:00 p.m. Please join us for this special Southwest General Health Presentation sponsored by the Community Nurses. Whether you are in your 20s or have already gone through menopause, it helps to learn what's normal and what's not. Amanda Vitek, MSN, APRN-CNP, will speak on breast health, cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Amanda is a certified nurse practitioner with Southwest General Medical Group who cares for patients in the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General. Learn what changes to make to your daily routine to help protect your breast health throughout your lifetime.
What's the Deal with Dead Man's Curve & Other Really Good Questions about Cleveland. Thursday, October 10th / 7:00 p.m. Learn the answers to the questions native Clevelanders and newcomers have about the city, questions like: Why is Dead Man’s Curve so badly designed? Why is Burke Lakefront Airport still open? What makes Shaker Heights so great? There is a story behind everything in Cleveland and this program delivers them all. Join for an exploration for what makes Cleveland “Cleveland” with author Jim Sweeney.
Toddler Art & Sensory Play. Ages 1 - 3 with a Caregiver. Friday, October 11th / 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Engage your little one’s senses, develop skills, and build brain connections though open-ended art using a variety of tactile materials.
Teen Craft Night. Teens in Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, October 15th / 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Come join other teens for a fun and easy craft! In order to participate in youth programs that could be considered harmful, Cuyahoga County Public Library requires parents to complete a Release & Hold Harmless Form. The Release & Hold Harmless Form must be completed and returned one week prior to the start of the program. The completed form must be returned to the program location.
Blow off some S.T.E.A.M. After School. Grades 1 - 4. Wednesday, October 16th / 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Ignite your curiosity and creativity through this exploration of all things STEAM. Discover the elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math through hands on activities and exploration. Boost your problem solving and teamwork skills in this program.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, October 16th / 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 First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.
School Age Craft. Ages 9 - 11. Thursday, October 17th / 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Shake off the school day by getting artsy at the library! Registration is required. This program may include activities that could be considered harmful. In order for your child to participate you must sign the Release and Hold Harmless form and return to program location at least one week prior to the program start date.
Blood Drive. Monday, October 18th / 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).
National Chemistry Week Program. Grades 2 - 6. Saturday, October 19th / 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Come join us for fun, hands on activities that let you get close to the action! Be prepared to get in and get messy. Led by volunteers from the American Chemical Society. Registration is required. This program may include activities that could be considered harmful. In order for your child to participate you must sign the Release and Hold Harmless form and return to the program location at least one week prior to the program start date.
Utilize the Power of Psychology for Sustainable Leadership. Monday, October 21st / 7:00 p.m. Join us for this presentation on the book The Sixth Level: Capitalize on the power of women’s psychology for sustainable leadership written by Dr. Kathy Overbeke, Executive Coach, Family Business Consultant, Entrepreneur, Researcher, Author, and Speaker and Dr. Stacy Feiner, High Performance Psychologist, Family Business Consultant, Entrepreneur, Investor, Author, and Speaker. Book sales and signing will follow the event.
Strongsville Historical Society Presentation. Tuesday, October 22nd / 7:00 p.m. Join us for this special local history presentation presented by the Strongsville Historical Society.
Garage Band Basics. Wednesday, October 23rd / 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Learn about the basics of GarageBand, 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.
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, October 28th / 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 The Women: a Novel by Kristin Hannah. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.
Spooky Storytime. Ages 4 - 6 with a Caregiver. Tuesday, October 29th / 7:00 -7:45 p.m. Join us for spooky stories, a snack, a craft, and songs. Costumes welcome!
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.scsmustangs.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