Whitney's Galaxy Gazette
Mr. Stacho's Newsletter - March 6, 2020
We're Out Of This World!
Scholastic Survey Report: The Value of Parents Reading With Children - Part 3
"Children still prioritize reading for pleasure. And most kids still value printed books.
Half of all children ages 6-17 (51%) are currently reading a book for fun, and another one in five (20%) just finished one.
Nearly two our of three children (65%) - up from 2012 (60%) - agree that they will always want to read books in print even though there are e-books available."
One School - One Book
Attention Parents of Non-English speaking students.
Our final results for Box Tops are in, Whitney!
Attention Parents of 5th Graders
Scholastic Book Fair
"Scholastic will run its spring book fair from March 9-March 13. We are looking for volunteers to help our students during their preview and shopping days at the fair.
The Sign Up Genius also contains March 6 as a set up date and the evening of March 11 (during the Art Show/Cultural Festival).
Please find the link to the Sign Up Genius below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4DAAA628A0FE3-scholastic
As always, thank you for your help and support!"
Thank you so much,
Bethany and Heidi
Important Literacy Events Coming Soon!
Dear Parents,
We have several "events" coming up to focus on literacy. Each of these events is very important to shine a light on the importance of READING! Please do whatever you can to promote and support these events.
* PTA Read-A-Thon Fundraiser - Begins February 24th. See letter below. Details on this program will be sent home with students.
* "One School - One Book" - February 24th - March 20th. Please do your best to read each night as a family according to the calendar that was sent home.
Read-A-Thon Updates....
Please help with our upcoming Cultural Festival and Art Show
Dear families and friends of Whitney,
I am so excited to partner with Mrs. Kerr and our Whitney PTA on Wednesday, March 11 for our Whitney Art show and European Cultural event! All year long we have been learning about music from Europe in my music classes. So far we have briefly discussed England, Norway, Italy and Germany. We have many more to visit. Now it is time to let the experts take over!
I hope to have Whitney families (like yours) share their culture with a table display. You could bring in objects from your country and/or dress in traditional clothes. You could show your own art, written language or share a sample of traditional food! It is my hope that you can have someone “man” your table (stay at the table) to answer any questions the students or parents might have about your country or your food sample (if you choose to bring one). The Chardon Polka band will be performing this year. Make sure to wear your polka dancing shoes.
It is my vision - that after the students and their parents find their artwork in the hallways and visit the bookfair in the media center, they will come to the gym and visit your tables that are going to be placed around the perimeter of the gym.
If you are bringing a food sample could you please have a list of ingredients or recipe at your table so parents can check ingredients for food allergies. (Parents might also want to try your recipe!) If you have a serving utensil - please bring one. I have told all the students they need their families permission to try a sample and it will be small so they should only take one. (like samples at Costco) If you could help me with this I would appreciate it. Parents should be with their Whitney student and give permission for them to try a sample.
The art show will begin at 6:00 p.m. so I am hoping that you can arrive earlier to set up your table. (We are totally flexible with your arrival time - no worries) Doors will be open at 5:30 p.m. for you. Let me know if you need assistance.
If you need help running your table or need to step away - I will try to help or find someone to help me!
This is totally voluntary!! - If you are attending and have not turned in a paper please send me an email or phone call so I know to have a table for you. You can also let me know if you need any extra items (extension cord - outlet etc. . . ) Space is limited so please turn in the attached paper to Mrs. Gonczy if you would like to share your family's country at our art show and cultural night.
As always any questions please contact me with any questions.
Sign Up for a Table at the European Festival
Mrs. Gonczy
Class dojo
268-5870
Parents of 5th Graders - Save The Date
The 5th Grade Recognition Ceremony will take place in the Whitney Multi-Purpose Room on Friday, May 29th at 11:15 a.m. At the conclusion of the program (around 1:00 p.m.), students will be clapped out by the Whitney student body. Parents are welcome, at that time, to take their 5th graders with them. Please be on the lookout for additional information in the coming weeks regarding this event and the end of year party for 5th graders that will take place on Thursday, May 28th.
Whitney PTA Carnival News
Student Council News
March Spirit Days:
March 6: March into March: Wear boots!
March 13: March Madness: Wear basketball or college team gear!
March 17: St. Patrick's Day: Wear Green!
March 20: Get Ready for Spring: Wear bright colors, flowers, Hawaiian shirts!
MakerSpace is requesting shoe boxes for our upcoming Leprechaun Trap contest.
Election Day on March 17th.
Mustangs Spring Run + Wellness Fair
A message from our guidance counselor, Mr. Schibley
Family First Night - Monday, March 16
Family First Night - Monday, March 16. The intent of this night is for families to spend quality time together in the evening (making dinner, holding a game night, watching a movie, engaging in family activities, etc.). There should be no homework assigned this night, no tests given on Tuesday 3/17 , and no District after school activities scheduled. For Whitney, our One School - One Book initiative of having families read together each night is a perfect activity .
Strongsville Public Library News
***Please note the following March 2020 events at the Strongsville Branch Library. Registration is required for most events. 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.
Year-Round Story Times!
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers story time sessions year-round for children Birth to Age 5. Our story times are in full swing for Winter. Please call the library or stop by the Children’s Desk for more information.
State of the Art Recording Studio Open to the Public!
The Strongsville Branch Library has Audio and Video Recording Studios open to the public. Customers interested in using Garage Band, iMovie, and the Adobe Suite to create sound recordings, video recordings, and more are welcome to sign-up for studio time up to one week in advance. In order to use the studio, customers must first attend an orientation session. Drop-in orientations will be held on Tuesdays - Audio studio orientation from 2:30-3:00 p.m. Video studio orientation from 3:00-3:30 p.m. and Saturdays, Audio studio orientation from 9:30-10:00 a.m. and Video studio orientation from 10:00-10:30 a.m. No registration is needed. Please show up on time for these orientations. For more information on the studio and how to book studio time, please call (440) 238-5530.
Computer Classes
Cuyahoga County Public Library offers computer classes for beginners to advanced users. Many of our classes offer Northstar Digital Literacy Certification. 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 https://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/Events/Computer-Classes.aspx
Here are the upcoming classes:
Wednesday, March 4th / 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Excel 1.
Wednesday, March 4th / 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Excel 2.
Thursday, March 5th / 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Excel 3.
ESOL/Citizenship Orientations. Thursday, March 27th / 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Aspire Greater Cleveland provides free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and citizenship classes at Strongsville Branch Library. Students must attend an ESOL/Citizenship orientation session before beginning ESOL or citizenship classes. For more information and to register, please call 833.ASPIRE2 or visit aspiregreatercleveland.org.
ESOL Classes. Thursdays & Fridays / 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Aspire Greater Cleveland provides free ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes at Strongsville Branch Library. Classes will be every Thursday and Friday through June 12th, 2020. Interested Students must attend the ESOL/Citizenship orientation session on March 27th before beginning ESOL or citizenship classes. For more info, call 833.ASPIRE2 or visit aspiregreatercleveland.org.
Just4You Student Friends. Ages 10-18. Saturday, March 7th / 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Get involved at the branch and connect with your community.
Teen Sewing 101: Scrunchies. Ages 10-18. Tuesday, March 10th / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Learn basic sewing skills and create a hair scrunchie. Participants may be recorded and/or surveyed to capture program's effectiveness. More information can be found at cuyahogalibrary.org/parent-options. All participants must complete a Release & Hold Harmless form.
Sounds of the Bagpipes. Wednesday, March 11th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with local bagpiper Colin Donahue! Local bagpiper, Colin Donahue, will narrate the rich history of the highland bagpipes, one of the world’s oldest folk instruments. Mr. Donahue will also perform some fun and popular pipe tunes!
Zentangle Found Poetry. Thursday, March 12th / 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Join Certified Zentangle Teachers Cathy Zavodny and Michelle Rodgers in creating this unique Zentangle inspired technique of Found Poetry. You will be using a page from a book, finding words that stand out to create a poem, statement or thought and then create tangled works of art around those words. The result will be your own unique page of poetry art!
Parkfit Mall Walkers Wellness Talk: Fit Healthy Nutrition Into Your Lifestyle. Tuesday, March 17th / 10:00 a.m.
Join us the third Tuesday of each month for this special wellness talk sponsored by Southwest Hospital. Amy Dunbar, Registered Dietitian at Southwest General Health Center, will be here to discuss how healthy food choices and physical activity can become your lifestyle. The ParkFit Mall Walkers Club is a combined effort of Southwest General and SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. The Club provides an opportunity for community residents to improve their health by walking for exercise in a safe interesting and climate-controlled facility. Walk at the mall first then come over to the Library for this informative wellness talk! For more information call (440) 816-4037.
Good Morning, Strongsville Speaker Series: Don’t Slip Up: Tips for Preventing Falls. Wednesday, March 18th / 10:00 a.m.
Please join us for our bi-monthly Good Morning Strongsville Speaker Series. Each month we bring a special speaker of interest to seniors and residents of Strongsville. Falls are a major cause of accidental injury especially for older adults. There is no need to fear as long as you are prepared. A speaker from Southwest General will be here to discuss fall risks such as medical conditions, certain medications, and hazards around the home. They will also share tips on how to prevent falling so that you can continue living a healthy, happy, and safe life. Refreshments served.
Wednesday Evening Book Discussion. Wednesday, March 18th / 7:00 p.m.
Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. New Members Welcome! For this month, we are reading An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Books can be picked up at the check-out desk. Registration for this program is not needed. Join us for an evening of great discussion!
Toy Time! Ages 0 – 5 with a Caregiver. Friday, March 20th / 10:00 a.m. – Noon.
Drop in with your child for some quality play time with other children and our educational toys! Make friends, read books, have fun! No registration required.
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Friday, March 20th / 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.
Monday Afternoon Book Discussion. Monday, March 23rd / 2:30 p.m. Meets the 4th Monday of each month.
New Members Welcome! Our next discussion title will be There, There: a Novel by Tommy Orange. Copies of the book will be available for check-out at the circulation desk. Join us for great discussion!
Great Lakes, Great Beer, Great Stories. Tuesday, March 24th / 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Michael Williams, Certified Cicerone® from Great Lakes Brewing Company will tell the story of GLBC’s history, and share the people, places, and phenomena behind the brewery’s beloved beers.
American Red Cross Blood Drive. Monday, March 30th / 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.