Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2023-24 Vol 8, Iss 19)
VIEW WINTER CONCERTS ON SCS-TV
Wonderful winter concerts showcasing our instrumental and vocal groups were held over the past few weeks at all of our schools. If you missed a concert or wanted to see an encore performance, click HERE for all of the concerts you can watch “on demand” during winter break.
MURASKI 5TH GRADE STUDENTS RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPLIES FOR THEIR “PASSION PROJECT”
During the month of December, Muraski 5th graders worked on a “passion project.” The students spread awareness about the animals that are up for adoption at the local animal shelters - Cleveland APL and Berea ARF. The 5th graders created posters and also hosted a school-wide donation drive to collect much needed supplies for the shelters. Thank you to our Muraski 5th graders for bringing their passion project to life!
SHS JUNIOR STEPHANIE SPECK SELECTED TO PERFORM WITH CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA YOUTH CHORUS CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Congratulations to SHS Junior Stephanie Speck for being selected to perform as a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus Chamber Ensemble. This auditioned singing group is made up of 19 talented high school performers from across Northern Ohio who have performed with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for the holiday concert season at Severance Hall.
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - MRS. STACEY ARMSTRONG, INTERVENTION SPECIALIST AT SMS
Mrs. Stacey Armstrong has been with our District for 27 years. Mrs. Armstrong worked at Zellers and Kinsner Elementary Schools, before landing in her current position as an Intervention Specialist on the Captains Team at Strongsville Middle School. She does not live in Strongsville, but says that for the past 27 years “Strongsville has felt like home for me.” Mrs. Armstrong earned her undergraduate degree from Akron University and her graduate degree from Marygrove College.
“The best thing about working with students is that they all come in with unique personalities. Since I teach small groups of students at a time, we become like family. It is so rewarding to see children progress both academically and socially. I love helping students turn their weaknesses into strengths. My students know I believe in them and we all strive to embrace our differences while learning from one another. My classroom is a safe and fun learning environment for all of us. What I like best about Strongsville Middle School is our ability to work together as a team to meet the needs of all of our learners.”
Thank you Mrs. Armstrong for making a difference with our SMS students! #ModelMustang
KINSNER 1ST GRADERS COLLECT DONATIONS FOR STRONGSVILLE FOOD BANK
1st grade students at Kinsner learned the value of giving this holiday season. After reading the book Madi's Fridge, they worked on collecting items for the Strongsville Food Bank. They learned how to sort the donated items into categories and even organized it into data that they could further interpret and analyze. Most importantly, they grew their “Global” Model Mustang skills and made an impact on their community!
“HERE COMES THE BUS” APP FOR SCS FAMILIES
"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.
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 and/or to enroll your student, please 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
Join Strongsville Special Olympics + Volunteers Needed for Basketball Season
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.
Strongsville Special Olympics is seeking volunteers to help with their Basketball Skills Season. Students would supervise athletes as they travel around various stations, operate a skills station, and help encourage our athletes. The only training necessary is to be enthusiastic, have a positive attitude, and bring a smile! Our practices will be at the Strongsville Rec Center at 9 am on Sundays (1/7 - 2/18). Please click here to volunteer and contact us at strongsvillespecialolympics@gmail.com if you have any questions.
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 Library
Please note the following December 2023 and January 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.
*The Library and Administrative Offices will be closed on Sunday, December 24th and Monday, December 25th for the Christmas Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, December 26th at 9:00 a.m.
*The Library and Administrative Offices will be closed on Sunday, December 30th and Monday, January 1st for the New Year Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, January 2nd at 9:00 a.m.
*The Library and Administrative Offices will be OPEN on Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 15th regular business hours.
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.
Noon Year's Eve Storytime Special. Families. Saturday, December 30th / 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. You’re invited to ring in the New Year with us! If your little ones can't make it to midnight, stop by the library for a fun filled storytime filled with silly stories and songs. There will be a countdown to noon and an extra special ball drop to celebrate!
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.
Young at Heart Book Discussion. Tuesday, January 2nd / 7:00 p.m. A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The title for our next discussion is Maybe We're Electric by Val Emmich. No registration. Everyone Welcome!
Family Bingo. Ages 4 and up with Family. Saturday, January 6th / 11:00 a.m. - Noon. Please join us for several rounds of bingo and prizes. For ages 4 & up with their families. Please register all family members that will be attending.
Ukulele Fun for Youth. Ages 8 - 17. Monday, January 8th / 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of Strongsville Branch Library. Join Sheela Das, an Ohio Arts Council Roster Artist, for an engaging group ukulele session. Attendees will sing, learn, laugh and have fun playing the ukulele. You can bring your own or borrow one of our instructor's 25 ukuleles! The group will write and perform a simple Winter song together.
Ukulele Fun for Adults. Ages 18 and over. Monday, January 8th / 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of Strongsville Branch Library. Join Sheela Das, an Ohio Arts Council Roster Artist, for an engaging ukulele session to chase the Winter blues away! Strumming a ukulele is a relaxing and fun way to connect with others. Sing, learn, laugh and have fun playing a ukulele. Bring your own or borrow one of our instructor's 25 ukuleles! Accommodations are made for those with limited range of finger motion.
CreativiTeen. Teens in Grades 6 – 12. Wednesday, January 10th / 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.
Southwest General Health Talk: New Pathways to Improve Anxiety & Insomnia - A Guide to a Better Night’s Rest. Wednesday, January 10th / 7:00 p.m. Getting a good night’s rest is essential to function well the next day, yet getting to sleep, and staying asleep, isn’t easy for many people. Anxiety and insomnia are common problems that may hamper your ability to fall asleep. Dipali Desai, MD, family medicine physician/ Integrative Psychiatrist on the medical staff at Southwest General, will explore anxiety and insomnia, their symptoms, how they can affect each other, and what you can do to treat, manage, and potentially stop your anxiety or insomnia from disrupting your sleep.
Saturday Crafter-Noon! Ages 3+ with Caregiver. Saturday, January 13th / 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!
Minute to Win It Challenges. Ages 6 - 8. Monday, January 15th / 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 Functions Overview. Tuesday, January 16th / 10:00 a.m. – Noon. For those already familiar with Excel, this class will introduce a variety of functions, including text functions and summary functions. Additionally, learn about paste special, sorting and filtering with data. Prerequisite: Excel Basics
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: No Sew Scarves. For Teens in Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, January 23rd / 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Use felt and fleece to create your own winter scarf! This is a no sew craft and will not be utilizing needles or sewing machines.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, January 17th / 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 Honor by Thrity Umrigar. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library.
"It's a Toss Up" Game Night. Grades 1 - 4. Wednesday, January 17th / 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Challenge yourself and others with various tossing based games including Toss Across and horseshoes.
Puzzle & Board Game Swap. Thursday, January 18th / 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Join us to swap puzzles and board games! Have you completed all your puzzles and are looking for something new? Played the same games over and over? Bring those puzzles or board games in and swap them for something new and exciting! Please bring the original box if possible and include any special information if needed. Tickets will be given for each puzzle or board game brought. Tickets will be randomly pulled to decide the order of selection for choosing your new games or puzzles. Registration is requested.
Blood Drive. Friday, January 19th / 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).
Kindergarten Countdown: Counting. For children entering Kindergarten this Fall & their Caregivers. Friday, January 19th / 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 counting.
Audio & Video Studio Orientation. Ages 11 & up. Saturday, January 20th / 10:00 a.m. VIRTUAL or on Monday, January 29th / 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.
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, January 22nd / 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 Our Missing Hearts: a Novel by Celest Ng. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk.
Teen Sewing. For Teens in Grades 6 - 12. Tuesday, January 23rd / 6:30 - 8 p.m. Sewing machines and needles will be used during this program. Learn the basic parts and functions of a machine, practice basic stitches, and make a fun project! All materials and equipment are provided. No prior experience necessary.
Family Puzzle Connection. Tuesday, January 30th / 7:00 - 7:45 p.m. Join us for a spirited night of puzzle piecing competition! Each family will work on assembling 300-piece puzzles in a given amount of time. Please register as a family.
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
Instagram: @strongsvillecs
Twitter / X: @strongsvillecs