Whitney Family Newsletter

• Week of Sept. 30 - Scholastic Book Fair
• October 3rd - Parent Teacher Conferences (11:30-3 & 4:30-7)
• Mum Pick-Up
• October 8 - Whitney Skate Night
• October 9 - PTA Meeting at 6:00
• October 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4:45-7:45

Mrs. Bongers 5th Grade: Wacky Hair Day

Mrs. Havel's 1st Grade: Classroom Campout

Mrs. Hunter's 5th Grade: Makerspace

Ms. Rice's 1st Grade: Classroom Campout

A BIG thank you to Mrs. Renfro, Mrs. Ganim, Mrs. Molls, Mrs. Fadenholz, and all the other parents and students who made our Whitney float such a success. What a fun night to spend with our Whitney family!!

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!

Famous Butter Braids, Mrs. Field Cookie Dough, Cake Rolls and More are COMING SOON!!!

In order for deliveries to arrive before the holidays, we will be starting our Stoller Fundraiser on Monday, October 7th. Please watch for forms with online ordering instructions to be sent home Friday October 4th.

Taking Orders until: October 21 with Delivery/Pick up: November 19 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM

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!

When looking at grades for these courses, please know that they are standards based and NOT traditional percentages/letter grades like you may be used to in the

past few years.

M= Standard Met

P= Progressing to Standard

N= Standard Not Yet Met

In order for our system to turn the student’s performance into standards- based grading, we have to put it in as a percentage. Each grade level and department has standards that students are working toward and this is what is being evaluated.

Although you may see a percentage, please ignore the percentage and look at the progression toward the STANDARD (M, N, P). Grades are not utilized in the sense that a traditional grading system uses them. You will see somewhere between a 50% and a 100%, but again, focus on the M, N, or P, as that is the official mark; the percentage is just a placeholder.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach to promoting positive behavior in schools. It focuses on creating a supportive learning environment where students can thrive academically and socially. PBIS emphasizes the following key components:

1. Prevention: By identifying and teaching appropriate behaviors, PBIS aims to prevent misbehavior before it occurs. This includes setting clear expectations for behavior in various settings within the school.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making: Schools implementing PBIS use data to monitor student behavior and make informed decisions about interventions and supports. This helps in identifying patterns and areas that need improvement.

3. Tiered Support: PBIS operates on a tiered system, providing different levels of support based on the needs of students. This includes universal supports for all students, targeted interventions for some, and intensive interventions for a few.

4. Collaboration: Effective implementation of PBIS requires collaboration among school staff, students, and families. Engaging all stakeholders helps in fostering a positive school culture.

5. Recognition and Reinforcement: PBIS encourages the recognition of positive behaviors through rewards and reinforcement. This not only motivates students but also helps to build a positive community within the school.

The PRIDE Reminder is a behavioral support tool used within our school to address both minor and major behaviors exhibited by students in any location at school. This system is designed to promote positive behavior and accountability among students.

• Purpose: The PRIDE Reminder serves to remind students of expected behaviors and the values that our school upholds.

• Consequences: The severity of the behavior will determine the corresponding consequence, which will be discussed with the staff member who issued the PRIDE Reminder. This ensures that all students understand the impact of their actions.

• Parental Involvement: Parents will be notified whenever their child receives a PRIDE Reminder, keeping them informed and involved in their child's behavioral progress.

• Support at Home: We encourage parents to support us by discussing the importance of positive behavior with their child, reinforcing the values we strive to instill at school.

Your partnership in this process is vital to fostering a respectful and safe learning environment for all students. Thank you for your support!

Calling all parents!! We need your help to make our class parties amazing this year! Whether you would like to be the head room parent, bring snacks, or plan fun activities, there’s a way for everyone to get involved. Let’s create unforgettable memories for our kids together. Details are in the link below. Sign up by 9/23!

https://forms.gle/KSN1FKGdVN4aToGN6