Surrarrer Newsletter

September 29, 2024

A huge thank you to Mrs. Coleman, our reading specialist, who planned and organized Literacy on the Lawn. Check out the most recent 60 Seconds with the Superintendent to learn more! All students who attended received a free, new book thanks to the generous donations of Books-A-Million and Surrarrer PTA. We would also like to thank Wal-Mart for donating school supplies that were also given out. We hope you all had a wonderful time and we can't wait to see you next year!

Another huge shout-out to our PTA, families, students and staff who helped with the Surrarrer float for the Homecoming Parade! We had so much fun passing out candy and friendship bracelets!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Young

October

1st- PTA Fun Day Pep Rally/ Opening Ceremonies

3rd- Parent Teacher Conferences 11:30-7:00 pm *No School*

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7th-18th- IOWA-CogAT Testing for 2nd and 4th grade

8th- Picture Day

9th-PTA Meeting in the Media Center @9:30-10:30 am

9th- 3rd Grade Safety Trailer Presentation

10th- PTA Olympic Fun Field Day

11th- No School: Conference Comp. Day

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14th-18th IOWA/CogAT Testing Continues for 2nd and 4th grade

18th- PTA Rain Day for Olympic Fun Field Day

Attention Surrarrer SFL Cheerleaders: Be a part of our Olympic Field Day Opening Ceremony assembly and help spread school spirit with a fun cheer! Please wear your SFL Cheer sweatshirts to school on Tuesday, October 1st!

Birthday Book Club is Back!

The Surrarrer Birthday Book Club is an opportunity to donate a book to the Surrarrer Media Center in honor of your child's birthday. This is a special way birthday present for your child and a wonderful way to teach the importance of books! For more information click here: https://surrarrerpta.givebacks.com/store/items/1081004 Also, a letter will be coming home from school soon with more details. Thanks so much to all who participate!

If you are picking up a student, please pull into the LEFT side lot only! No cars should be entering the right side of the parking lot. We have several parents pulling in late, using the right side of the lot to pick up their students and it is causing safety concerns as buses are pulling in and out.

When we are born our brain is wired for speaking, not reading, so we need to work really hard to train our brains! We use multiple parts of our brain to read.

1. One part processes the sounds of a word. Example - we hear the word “bat” and our brain thinks of the sounds /b/ /a/ /t/.

2. Another part of our brain holds the letter combinations from written language so the sounds can be matched to the correct letters. Example - /b//a//t/ = b-a-t

3. We use another part of our brain to gather meaning for the word. Example - when we hear the word “bat” we may think of baseball, the animal, or a movement.

4. Then we use context to support the meaning. Example - The boy grabbed the bat and walked to the plate. Now we know which “bat”!

Our brain gets quite the workout with reading!

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!

If you have not already, please make sure to update your child's Powerschool. This is very important and your child will not be able to go on field trips if this is not updated! It needs to be updated at least 48 hours before the field trip. Please see directions below or contact Mrs. Lynn Gory for assistance.

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

Storytimes:
IN-PERSON Storytimes.
Strongsville Branch Library storytimes start up again in June! 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 -

Young at Heart. Tuesday, October 1st / 7:00 p.m.

A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for our next discussion is The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead. No registration. Everyone Welcome!

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.

Kindergarten Countdown: Sharing. For those entering Kindergarten in the Fall with a Caregiver. Friday, October 4th / 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 sharing.

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!

• Click HERE for the Welcome letter from our Food Services Department.

  
  

  To determine eligibility for free / reduced lunch, as well as various additional state and federal program benefits inclusive of possible district student fees being waived, an application must be completed online at PaySchoolsCentral.com. HERE is a link with directions to apply.

  
  

  It is important to note the following for those that qualify for Reduced Lunches in the 24-25 school year: The recently passed Ohio biennial budget includes a provision for the State to pay the meal charges for Reduced students ($0.30 for Breakfast and $0.40 for Lunch) effectively allowing them to eat for free. This will be in effect for 24-25 school years.

  
  

  CLICK HERE for the Free & Reduced Lunch Application.

  
  

  CLICK HERE TO GET TO LUNCH MENUS FOR THE YEAR

As a reminder, all school fees that have not been paid are now considered past due. To check the balance and pay outstanding school fees, go to Pay Schools Central by clicking HERE. In addition to Pay Schools Central, school fees can be paid by cash/check to your student’s building secretary or with the Treasurer's Office. If you have questions related to this, please contact the building secretary or Melissa LePage (mlepage@scsmustangs.org) within the Treasurer's Department. As we are approaching a new school year, as well as the start of fall sports, per Board of Education policy, the consequences for outstanding prior year school fees will prohibit students from participating in any school extracurricular activities (i.e., athletics, student council, school clubs, etc.), field trips, and school sanctioned dances / events that require a purchased ticket. For additional information on District Fee Collection Procedures and Consequences CLICK HERE.