Mustang Moments
Strongsville City Schools News (2017-18 Vol 2, Iss 15)
Strong Schools. Strong Community. Strongsville.
In This Issue - December 1, 2017
Important Dates to Remember
60 Seconds with the Superintendent
Senate Bill 8
Chapman Elementary ‘Right to Read’ Accomplishments
SHS Senior Suraj Srinivasan Finishes as a Regional Finalist in Siemens Competition
Mustang Spotlight - Mrs. Kim Zwolenik, 1st Grade Teacher at Kinsner
SHS Distinguished Alumni Nominations
Strongsville PTA Blanket Drive
SHS Hockey Game To Benefit Cleveland’s “Rockin’ Wildcats” Team
SHS Freshman Swimmer Jordyn Homoki Breaks Longstanding Records in 200IM
Positive Support Students Read to Preschool Students
‘Where I’m From’ Strongsville T-Shirt to Benefit SCS
SMS PTA Fundraiser at Chipotle - Mon. 12/4 (5-8pm)
SHS Cheerleader Fundraiser at Five Guys - Mon. 12/4 (5-8pm)
Chapman PTA Winter Wonderland Extravaganza (12/13-12/14)
Community Events
Important Dates to Remember
Thursday, December 21 - Tuesday, January 2 - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
Click HERE for a complete listing of December events in our District
60 SECONDS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT
This is always a special time of year with many opportunities to enjoy the very talented vocalists and musicians at our schools. Click HERE to hear more about the preparations for the holiday concerts happening in our District throughout the month of December.
SENATE BILL 8
Senate Bill 8 (SB8), recently approved by the Senate, would reinstate a portion of the Tangible Personal Property (TPP) dollars vetoed from the most recent state budget. If SB8 is approved by the House and the Governor, $767,479 of TPP dollars would be given back to Strongsville City Schools for FY18. Thank you to Senator Matt Dolan for listening to our District, and others around the State of Ohio, about the significant impact TPP dollars have on school budgets.
Please take the time to reach out to State Representative Tom Patton (614.466.4895 / rep07@ohiohouse.gov) before the House votes in early December and let him know how important SB8 and the TPP dollars are for our District.
CHAPMAN ELEMENTARY ‘RIGHT TO READ’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Congratulations to Chapman for their recent very successful ‘Right to Read’ week. Chapman students donated 94 new books to the Cleveland Kids Book Bank. As an entire school, the students read for a combined 36,418 minutes throughout the week! Chapman demonstrated their love for reading in many ways - well done!
SHS SENIOR SURAJ SRINIVASAN FINISHES AS A REGIONAL FINALIST IN SIEMENS COMPETITION FOR MATH, SCIENCE, & TECHNOLOGY
The Siemens Competition for Math, Science, & Technology honors the best and brightest students for their accomplishments – students who are changing the world for the better. This year out of the more than 1,860 projects submitted, 491 students across the country were recognized as semi-finalists, including just 10 from the State of Ohio. SHS Senior Suraj Srinivasan was one of the Ohio students recognized as a Regional Finalist in this competition. Congratulations Suraj!
MUSTANG SPOTLIGHT - MRS. KIM ZWOLENIK, 1ST GRADE TEACHER AT KINSNER
Mrs. Kim Zwolenik, first grade teacher at Kinsner Elementary School, is in this week’s Mustang Spotlight. Mrs. Zwolenik has been teaching in Strongsville for thirteen years, having worked at Zellers, Whitney, Muraski, and Center Middle School, prior to Kinsner. All but two of her nineteen years in teaching have been with first grade.
“The thing I like most about working with my students is watching them grow from the beginning of the year until the end of the year and knowing that I had something to do with it. It makes coming to work each day such a wonderful experience,” said Mrs. Zwolenik. “Each class is different and that’s what makes teaching so exciting!”
She adds, “I love working at Kinsner because of the true team spirit that we have. We can really count on each other for ideas and support.”
Thank you Mrs. Zwolenik for being a special part of the development of our first graders at Kinsner!
SHS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI NOMINATIONS
Know of a graduate of Strongsville High School who is an exceptional businessperson, community member, charitable volunteer, educator, etc.? We are now accepting nominations for the SHS Distinguished Alumni program. A new class will be inducted in April, 2018. Nomination forms can be found HERE and are due no later than December 15. #foreveramustang
STRONGSVILLE PTA BLANKET DRIVE
Strongsville Council PTA, in conjunction with all of the PTA units in Strongsville, would like to invite you to participate in a Holiday Blanket Drive. Their goal is to collect 200 new children’s and adult sized blankets for Strongsville families in need. If the goal of 200 blankets is reached, each family will receive 2 blankets. Please drop blankets off at any school in our District on or before December 6th so that they can be distributed before Christmas. For additional questions or information, please contact Laura Housum (lhousum@gmail.com).
SHS HOCKEY GAME TO BENEFIT CLEVELAND’S “ROCKIN’ WILDCATS” TEAM
The SHS Mustangs hockey team will be skating against the Cleveland Rockin’ Wildcats on Saturday, December 2 at 6:30pm at Strongsville’s OBM Arena (15381 Royalton Rd.). The Cleveland Rockin' Wildcats are members of the American Special Hockey Association (ASHA) and one of only 2 teams in Ohio participating in the ASHA. This program serves individuals with special intellectual or developmental needs through the sport of hockey. There will be an opportunity for fans to make a donation at this event - to assist with travel expenses for the Wildcats to participate in an upcoming New York tournament.
SHS FRESHMAN SWIMMER JORDYN HOMOKI BREAKS LONGSTANDING RECORDS IN 200IM
During the Mustangs opening swimming & diving meet against North Royalton (a 220-89 Mustangs team victory), freshman swimmer Jordyn Homoki broke both the school and pool records in the 200M Individual Medley. Congrats to Jordyn on setting new marks for this event!
POSITIVE SUPPORT STUDENTS READ TO PRESCHOOL STUDENTS
Strongsville High School students in the Positive Support class, led by Mr. Davenport, visited our youngest Mustangs at the Early Learning Preschool. The high school students read stories to a few of the classes at the preschool. It was a fantastic opportunity to be excellent role models and “give back” to the community!
‘WHERE I’M FROM’ STRONGSVILLE T-SHIRT TO BENEFIT SCS
Limited edition Strongsville t-shirts are now available at ‘Where I’m From’ in SouthPark Mall. All of the proceeds from the sale of these shirts will be donated to the Strongsville Education Foundation, and specifically for the funding of field trips for PreK - 5th and 7th grade students. The t-shirts retail for $29 and are a high quality, super soft, ultra comfortable tri-blend material and 100% made in the USA. Adult and youth sizes are available, both in-store and online at: https://whereimfrom.com/product-category/the-ville-fundraiser/
Get your “Ville” t-shirts today!
SMS PTA FUNDRAISER AT CHIPOTLE - MON. 12/4 (5-8pm)
Visit the Strongsville Chipotle (15029 Pearl Rd.) on Monday, December 4th between 5:00pm and 8:00pm. Bring in this FLYER, show it on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Strongsville Middle School PTA.
SHS CHEERLEADERS FUNDRAISER AT FIVE GUYS - MON. 12/4 (5-8PM)
Show your Mustangs spirit by making dinner plans at Strongsville’s Five Guys restaurant (15171 Pearl Rd.) on Monday, December 4 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. Proceeds from that night’s sales will benefit the Strongsville High School Cheerleaders! Click HERE for the event flyer.
CHAPMAN PTA WINTER WONDERLAND EXTRAVAGANZA (12/13-12/14)
Finish your holiday shopping and pick up some great items for those on your list at the Chapman PTA Winter Wonderland Extravaganza. This special shop will be open from 5:45pm - 8:00pm on December 13 & December 14 and features very affordable items - click HERE to see the event flyer and some of the items available through the Winter Wonderland Extravaganza.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Christmas In The Village
The gift of an Olde Fashioned Christmas is waiting for you on December 2-3, & 9-10 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm in the Strongsville Historic Village (13305 Pearl Road). The eight buildings and the grounds in the Village will be decorated in the style that covers the 150 years the village represents. Tell Santa your wishes, view the model railroad display, make a gingerbread house guided by Girl Scouts in the Lathrop House Great Room, buy some presents at the Olde General Store, enjoy Mrs. Claus’ refreshments, participate in a settler’s celebration with the pioneer family in the log cabin and more. Free parking is provided. Call 440.572.0057 for more information and visit
www.strongsvillehistoricalsociety.org to learn more about the Strongsville Historical Society and Historic Village. This is a free event but donations are delightfully welcome.
Strongsville Community Theatre Auditions
Two upcoming Strongsville Community Theatre shows are holding auditions - if you would like additional information, click the following links: Ten Little Indians and Godspell
Strongsville Jump Rope Club
Welcome back jumpers!! Our first session of the Strongsville Jump Rope Club is winding down. Remaining dates are Friday, December 8th & 15th from 5:00pm – 6:30pm at Muraski Elementary School, with instruction from the Heartbeats Jump Rope Team. We hope you are able to join us!! Please contact Dot Hepp at dot.hepp@roadrunner.com or call/text 216-924-1475 for more information.
Southwest General Safe Sitter Classes
Safe Sitter is a nationally recognized program, developed by a pediatrician, designed to teach both boys and girls, ages 11 -14, how to be safe and responsible sitters. Registration for the final class of this session (December 28) is happening NOW. Click HERE for additional details and registration information.
Strongsville Chamber of Commerce
Please note the following events hosted by the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce. Registration is required for all events. Please call 440.238.3366 to register or for more information. Those interested may also visit www.strongsvillechamber.com to register and to see more event information.
Holiday Scholarship Dance - Friday, December 1st
December Luncheon - Tuesday, December 19th
Strongsville Library
Please note the following December 2017 events at the Strongsville Branch Library. Registration is required for most events. Please call (440) 238-5530 to register or for more information. All events sponsored by our Friends of Strongsville Branch Library. Customers may also visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org to register and to see more library event information.
** All branches of the Cuyahoga County Public Library will be closed 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.
** All branches of the Cuyahoga County Public Library will be closed Sunday, December 31st and Monday, January 1st for the New Year’s Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, January 2nd at 9:00 a.m.
Year-Round Story Times!
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers story time sessions year-round for children Birth to Age 5. Our story time sessions are currently on hiatus for the month of December! Please call the library for more information about our upcoming Winter story time sessions which will start again in January.
Technology Training Classes
Cuyahoga County Public Library is offering a new series of technology training classes for beginners to advanced users. We are also offering more evening classes. All classes are free. Registration begins 30 days before each class date. Classes are for adults age 18 and over. To see a full class list, descriptions, and to register, please visit:
http://cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Technology-Training.aspx
Here are the December upcoming classes:
Monday, December 4th / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Windows 10
Gingerbread House Creations. All Ages with their Family. Saturday, December 2nd from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Hear some great stories and make a gingerbread house to take home for the holidays. Each family will be asked to bring in a candy decoration to share with the group. Registration begins Nov. 17.
Teen Math Skills. Grades 6 – 12. Tuesday, December 5th from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Brush up on your math skills with Sylvan Learning Center.
All Aboard the Valley Railway. Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Using historical images as well as recent ones Mike Kole from the Midwest Railway Preservation Society takes you on a pictorial journey that starts at Whiskey Island then travels through the Flats and the Cuyahoga Valley to Akron then to Canton and Mineral City ending at Valley Junction.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. New Members Welcome!
Our next discussion will be on Wednesday, December 20th. This month we will be discussing Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. Copies of the book will be available at the check-out desk. Registration for this program is not needed. Join us for an evening of great discussion!
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Friday, December 22nd from 10:15 a.m. – 3:15 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 (216) 431-3010.
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