Whitney's Rockin' Review

A Note From Mr. Stacho:

Please continue to be patient with us as we work out the bubbles with regards to dismissal. The busses will run more smoothly and on time once the year gets going. The children also need time to learn the routine with regards to how they are going home. Please review with your child HOW they are to go home each night. If they are listed as a bus rider with us, we will send them on the bus. If you are changing their dismissal routine, we must have a phone call in the morning and a note stating that your child will be a car rider. If they are going to be a car rider every day, we need a note that states that.

We had a "rockin'" good start to the school year at Whitney. We talked with students about (click the link) "Zones of Regulation." Watch the video presented to students so that you can use the same terms and concepts at home.

I also "rapped" for the children. I hope to send a video home in the near future for you to see, but the kids helped me by singing the chorus: "I know I can. Be what I wanna be. If I work hard at it. I'll be where I wanna be." For those of you who might recognize the song, its by an artist named NAS from a few years ago and it's set to a classical back beat. Don't worry, the verses were re-written by me to reflect our expectations of behavior at Whitney Elementary. Be sure to ask your kids about it.

On Friday, August 20th we will be reviewing behavior expectations in every area of our building and talking about what PRIDE (P-Prepared, R-Respectful, I-Inclusive, D-Determined, and E-Engaged) looks like in each area at school - recess, lunch, the restroom, the busses, the hallways, etc.

Click "Behavior Matrix" to view our expectations and please review and reinforce these with your children every day.

Arrival and Dismissal

We need your help at arrival and dismissal in the carpool lane. Please follow these rules.

1) Pull all the way up to the front and as close to the car in front of you as possible. In the a.m., once you are stopped along the side of the building, students should exit the car . . . don't wait to be in the front two spots to have your child get out of the car.

2) Students should only enter and exit cars on the sidewalk/school side of the car. Please do NOT get your kids out of the car on the opposite side.

3) Children need to be able to independently get into and out of your car. Please do NOT put your car in park and get out of it to say goodbye in the morning. Say your "goodbye's" while in the car lane.

4) As soon as your child is on the sidewalk in the a.m. or in your car in the p.m., please pull forward to exit the car lane in a single file. DO NOT pull out of the line to pass anyone UNLESS directed to do so by a school staff member.

We appreciate your support in keeping our carpool lane moving safely and swiftly. These rules are essential to keep everyone safe as well as to keep as much traffic off of Whitney Road as possible.

Student Council Fundraiser

Student Council will kick off their annual fundraiser August 25th! It will run through September 8th. Look for fundraiser packets coming home with your child Wednesday, August 25th, and help us to sell, sell, sell! Check out some of the cool prizes for being a super seller and helping your school:

Whitney Night at SHS Football!

Please join our Whitney community at the SHS Football game vs. Midview on August 27th at 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss the Mustangs first home game as they battle the Midview Middies! Join other students and families of Whitney Elementary in this very special night of Mustangs football and spirit! Whitney families will receive a free student ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket ($7) on this night only. Please bring a copy of the flyer to the Pat Catan Stadium box office on Friday night.

*** For Whitney students who want to cheer the Mustangs as they enter the field, please report to the brick arch on the west side of the field (closest to the high school) no later than 6:30pm on Friday, August 27.

MUSTANGS TEAM SHOP - SHOP ONLINE NOW THROUGH SUN. 8/29

The “Back to School” online Mustangs Team Shop is open now through Sunday, August 29.

Shop for lots of great Strongsville gear, including personalized items! Visit https://mustangsteamshop-fl21.itemorder.com/ for the complete selection of items.

A portion of sales will be donated back to Strongsville City Schools.

Would you like to follow Whitney Elementary on Twitter....

For up to date highlights on Whitney Elementary, follow @WhitneyElement1 on Twitter!

GOOD NEWS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES!

Dear Parents/Guardians of Strongsville City School Students:

We are writing to tell you about an exciting opportunity for you and your child. Strongsville City Schools have a well -established partnership with a Behavioral Health Private Practice, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC, (NLA), that specializes in child therapy, adolescent therapy, and family counseling. All NLA therapists are Masters-level and licensed by the State of Ohio. They are able to diagnose and treat all emotional and behavioral health concerns.

We are pleased to be able to offer you the chance to work with an Ohio Licensed Clinical Therapist in an effort to improve your child’s well being. The following are just some examples of the topics we address in individual, group, or family sessions:

• Strategies for managing relationships with peers, parents and teachers

• Development of social skills and communication

• Ability to deal with teasing and bullying

• Understanding and treating addictions

• Coping skills for anger management, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders • Fostering good choices by decreasing impulsivity and distractibility

• Managing family problems

• Gender Identity Concerns

• Controlling Eating Disorders and Self-harm

Best of all, NLA is able to offer you this service at your school. NLA will send our trained therapists to your school to meet with your child individually during the school day or via teletherapy. Also, to make this easier for you, NLA counseling services are covered under most health insurance plans, including State Medicaid, Medicaid HMO’s (CareSource, Paramount, and Buckeye) and most private health insurance plans (Medical Mutual, Anthem, Aetna, Cleveland Clinic, etc). NLA does all the clinical work plus does the actual insurance billing for you.

This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to receive confidential sessions with a caring clinician. If you are interested in participating in this program, please return the bottom of this letter to your child’s school counselor. An NLA therapist will call to schedule an initial meeting with you to get your child started in the program and verify your insurance information.

Sincerely, Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Nancy Lowrie & Associates, LLC Counseling Program

Student’s Name_____________________________________________School ________________DOB:_____________ Parent/Guardian’s Name_____________________________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________ Cell# :_______________________Child’s Grade______ Parent/Guardian’s Email Address______________________________________________________________________ Insurance Co Name_____________________________ Member Name______________________________________

Insurance ID #_______________________________ Group# __________________Card holder DOB:_____________ _______________________

Stay Safe, Speak Up

Our Stay Safe, Speak Up student hotline is located on the website. It is located on the main page on the top green bar. Students who believe they have been harassed, bullied, victimized by fellow students, or have other concerns which may jeopardize the safety of students, employees, or school facilities, are asked to Speak Up! and promptly report the issue using our District’s student/parent hotline – accessible both online and by telephone.

Attention all fifth grade students and parents. (Repeat Item)

All fifth grade students have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument and become a member of the Strongsville City Schools Band and Orchestra team. Our band and orchestra teachers will be meeting with the fifth grade classes to demonstrate the awesome instruments students may choose to learn. They will also be providing information on how to become a Musical Mustang. All fifth grade students will be invited to join a special Beginning Band and Orchestra Google Classroom; be sure to check your school email. The beginning band and orchestra parent meeting will take place in the Strongsville High School Auditorium, on Wednesday, Sept. 8th at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be livestreamed for those who can not attend. Beginning band and orchestra lessons will start the week of Sept. 13th. We are looking forward to meeting you!

If you have any questions, please email your specific band/orchestra teacher. Thank You.

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS (Repeat Item)

COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect people, including students, teachers, and staff that may not be vaccinated. As we want to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone, we will continue to implement the following preventive measures for the 2021-22 school year in consideration of the recommendations provided by the Ohio Department of Health.

Vaccination. We will continue to share vaccination opportunities/locations for eligible students and staff.
Wearing Masks. Per the CDC, masks must be worn by all students and staff when riding on the school bus. When at school and indoors, masks are optional for students and staff, yet strongly recommended for those who are unvaccinated. When outdoors, masks are not necessary, but still are optional based on individual/family preference.
Ventilation. We will continue to implement our ventilation protocols to bring in as much outside air as possible and provide air filtration at the highest level possible for our existing HVAC units.
Social Distancing. We will strive to maintain 3 feet social distancing within classrooms, cafeterias, and learning spaces. Cooperative grouping opportunities for students may be phased throughout the fall based on COVID trends in the school district.
Additional Mitigation Strategies. We will continue to provide opportunities for regular hand washing / hand sanitizer use and educate students on proper respiratory etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes.)
Cleaning / Disinfection. We will continue to implement the same cleaning / disinfection procedures as were implemented last school year.
Health Screenings. Families/Staff continue to be required to perform daily health screenings and must stay at home when feeling ill and/or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms (CLICK HERE).
Contact Tracing, Isolations, and Quarantines. We will continue to perform regular contract tracing in combination with isolation or quarantine mandates as set by the Ohio Department of Health or other state/local mandates.

Note. The Superintendent may enact further restrictions, such as mandatory masking and increased social distancing by classroom, grade-level, or building based on COVID-related data and trends.

For additional information on the prevention strategies listed above and COVID-related restrictions in our buildings for the 2021-22 school year, click on the link below.

PREVENTION STRATEGY DETAILS

SCHOOL BUILDING OPERATING PROCEDURES / RESTRICTIONS

TRANSPORTATION (Repeat Item)

Transportation services will be provided to all students that live one (1) or more miles from their school and are not residing on a non-busing street. The communication timeline for transportation services is as follows:

Bus Stops/Pickup Time information can be accessed in families’ PowerSchool/Unified Classroom accounts beginning on August 2, 2021.

GPS Information for parents through the Here Comes the Bus app will be accessible on August 2,2021, as well. The app will be fully functional on the first day of school. You can CLICK HERE for enrollment instructions for the Here Comes the Bus app.

The health and safety of our students is our top priority and that is inclusive of their transport to and from school. To ensure their health and safety while waiting for the bus and riding the bus, and per CDC mandates, the following safety protocols will be implemented.

Bus Stops. Due to being outdoors, students are not required to wear facial coverings at their bus stop.

On The Bus. Unless a facial covering exemption is on file, per the CDC, all students and staff are required to wear facial coverings while riding District transportation.

Seating. There will be a maximum of two (2) students per seat with students in the same household

seated together. All students will have assigned seating.

Strongsville Public Library

***Please note the following September 2021 events being held on ZOOM virtually and presented by the Strongsville Branch Library. Registration and an email address are required for all events in order for us to send you the Zoom invitation. 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.

***Please note all branches of Cuyahoga County Public Library and the Administration Building will be closed on Sunday, September 5th and Monday, September 6th for the Labor Day Holiday. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, September 7th.

Cuyahoga Works – Need help with your resume or interview skills? A Cuyahoga Works Career Counselor will be at the Strongsville Branch on Thursdays from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. to meet with individuals in need of job search assistance. For more information, visit https://cuyahogalibrary.org/Services/Cuyahoga-Works.aspx To schedule an appointment, please call (216) 475-2225.

English as a Second Language. IN PERSON Thursdays & Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Aspire Greater Cleveland is once again teaching IN-PERSON classes to help non-native speakers learn English and validate their skills. Students must attend an ESOL/Citizenship orientation session before beginning ESOL or citizenship classes. If you are interested in attending these ESOL classes, please call Aspire at 833.277.4732 to register.

Computer Classes
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers computer classes for beginners to advanced. Classes are currently being held VIRTUALLY using the program Screenleap which requires a web browser and an internet connection. There is no additional software to download. Google Chrome is the recommended browser. A valid email address is required for registration. Registrants will receive an email with a link to join the class at least an hour before the start time. 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://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Computer-Classes/Virtual-Classes.aspx

Take & Make At Home Crafts!
Stop into the Strongsville Branch to see what the current take it and make it craft of the month is for All Ages. Each month the Youth, Teen, and Adult Departments are offering free craft kits to take home while supplies last.

Discuss & Design: Millennial Book Discussion. Wednesday, September 1st / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Attention millennials we're going virtual! Are you looking for something fun and different to do with your friends? How about a book club with a twist. We meet bimonthly, alternating between children's, teen, and adult books. We discuss the assigned book and design something that complements the title, subject, or book cover. Maker kits will be available as a part of this program and can be mailed to a branch near you for pick up! Our next discussion will be on the book My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. Register online to receive your materials and Zoom link to participate.

Fall Into Health. Tuesday, September 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th / 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
CSU nursing students along with licensed RN will provide health screenings, one-on-one chronic disease education and general health education with the focus being overall health and wellness.

Young at Heart Virtual Book Discussion. Tuesday, September 7th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
A book club for adults who love Children's and Teen books. The next discussion title is Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, 2021. Register online to receive the Zoom link for the discussion.

Zoom Virtual Preschool Storytime. Tuesdays, September 7th, 21st, and 28th from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Zoom Virtual Toddler Storytime. Wednesday, September 22nd and 29th from 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Zoom Virtual Storytime Baby & Me. Wednesday, September 1st, 8th, 22nd, and 29th from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Zoom Virtual Family Storytime. Thursdays, September 2nd, 9th, 23rd, and 30th from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us for rhymes, songs, fingerplays, and stories. You must register online to receive the Zoom link.

Virtual Studio Orientation. Saturday, September 11th from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or Monday, September 27th from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
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 in order to use the spaces. These orientations will be held VIRTUALLY ONLY. Patrons 11 & up can participate in the orientation and must turn in the User Agreement form at the branch in order for the orientation to count. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Galaxy in a Jar. Teens in Grades 6 – 12. IN PERSON - Monday, September 13th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Learn about the universe while creating your own galaxy to take home in a mason jar. Registration for this in-person event begins August 9th at 9:00 a.m.

Colorful Shrubs Through the Seasons. Tuesday, September 14th / 7:00 p.m.
With a bit of planning, you can create a welcoming and colorful landscape year round. The key is to plant perennials and shrubs that bloom at all different times of the year. The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County will introduce you to combinations of perennials, shrubs, and even small trees to achieve this effect. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, September 15th / 7:00 p.m.
Our Wednesday Evening Book Discussion has gone VIRTUAL and will be live on Zoom at 7 p.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 Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Strongsville Branch Library. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

First Page Book Club. Teens in Grades 6 – 12. Monday, September 20th / 7:00 – 7:45 p.m.
The Strongsville Teen librarian will read the first page of a few teen books of various genres. We will then discuss other books we have read and enjoyed. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Southwest General Health Talk: You May Be Losing More Sleep. Tuesday, September 21st / 10:00 a.m.
Everyone has an occasional restless night, but if sleepless nights are persistent, it can affect your health! A Southwest General Pharmacist will discuss ways to improve your sleep hygiene! Learn about medications that may cause insomnia and medications that may help. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Six Wives of Henry VIII. Thursday, September 23rd / 7:00 p.m.
Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. These were the fates of the six wives of Henry the VIII. Susan Cannavino will talk about each woman's personality, personal life and circumstances, as well as Henry the VIII's. You will be transported back to 16th century British court life. Register online to receive the Zoom link.

Whitney's Rockin' Review

Mr. Stacho's Newsletter - August 20, 2021

Whitney's Rockin' Review

Mr. Stacho's Newsletter - August 20, 2021

Reading Rocks at Whitney!

A Note From Mr. Stacho:

Arrival and Dismissal

Student Council Fundraiser

Whitney Night at SHS Football!

MUSTANGS TEAM SHOP - SHOP ONLINE NOW THROUGH SUN. 8/29

Whitney's Guide To Policies and Procedures!

Would you like to follow Whitney Elementary on Twitter....

PTA ITEMS!

GOOD NEWS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES!

Stay Safe, Speak Up

Weekly Red, White and Blue Calendar

Attention all fifth grade students and parents. (Repeat Item)

HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS (Repeat Item)

TRANSPORTATION (Repeat Item)

Strongsville Public Library

Mr. Glen L. Stacho